"Come face me!"
Slade didn't need to be told twice and he immediately drew his sword.
Flames soon coated the blade as he pulled it out of its sheath. Under the constant assault of heat, the blade wouldn't keep its shape for long, but he didn't plan on it.
"Raaggh!!" Slade roared, dashing towards Mera at speeds faster than the human eye could see.
Fortunately, Mera wasn't a human, she could see the mercenary's blade coming straight for her neck and so she raised her staff to block.
*Ding! Sizzle...* As soon as they made contact, steam started to rise, surprising Slade a bit, however, he didn't let it stop him.
The fight had just begun!
A fight between a highly trained mercenary and an Atlantean warrior was a sight to see.
Both knew how to fight, and knew how to kill as they ferociously went after each other's vitals in their high-intensity battle, ignoring the damage they were causing around them.
*Ding! Cling! Ding!* Each time their weapons met, there was an audible sharp sound which was followed by the ground cracking underneath the pressure of their strength.
Neither of the two gained an advantage since the battle started, and while Mera was calm, Slade was slowly losing himself to rage which was shown by his wild attacks.
'Get out of my way...Get out of MY WAY!!' Underneath the mask, Slade was going through another change, two horns started to project from his head. His helmet which was covering his face begun to crack until the sharp protrusions poked out, curving upward slightly.
Soon after, his nails started to morph into claws just as an elongated tail formed from his lower back.
Mera was a bit surprised by the change, but she brushed it off and continued to fight as she wanted to blow off steam.
She also had another agenda, one that she didn't want to admit.
'Is he watching me?... Wait! Why would I care?!' Mera was in awe of Ethan's strength, but she also hated him quite a bit for how she was treated recently.
She was royalty!
She was destined to become queen as soon as she completes her mission.
'My mission...I'll complete my mission...' Although she said to herself, she wasn't so sure of completing it anymore.
>>>><<<<
'Well, that was unexpected...' Ethan thought after watching Mera interfere with his fight. However, it did give him a moment to think and he made a decision.
He didn't want to kill Slade.
Ethan didn't know how it started, but he started to think about Alisa for some reason. Slade's current state reminded him so much of the girl and he couldn't help but frown.
'I knew that I didn't want to come back to this city just yet..' He sighed. 'Tydris would have called me an idiot right about now...but it seems no matter how much I change I won't be able to get rid of the human within me...isn't that a good thing?'
Ethan wasn't quite sure of where his thoughts were going, but he didn't have time to delve deeper into it as he could hear police sirens coming near their direction.
'Annoyance....let's just get this over with.' Finally, he made his move, neither of the two noticed until he stood in between them.
"Alright, that's enough. You had your fun." He said.
"You!..." Mera's disappointment quickly became apparent on her face, but she opted to keep her mouth shut and backed off without another word.
Slade didn't care for one moment and quickly tossed away his now deformed blade in favor of using his newfound claws to attack like he was some wild beast
However, it was all useless to Ethan, he held out his hand and simply caught Slade by his face, crushing the mask into pieces, revealing his aged face.
Looking at him, Ethan couldn't see anything left of the cool mercenary, he was just some mindless demon now.
'This is probably stupid, but I'll give it a shot. Hope there is something left to save.'
>>>>><<<<<
It all started when he used the demonic energy within his body, Slade started to feel like he was losing control of his body to someone or something. The last thing he could remember that he was desperately trying to kill a red-haired woman and then...complete darkness.
It was suffocating, it was like someone was squeezing his neck hard enough to make him suffer but not enough to lose consciousness.
A painful experience, however, it was not the worst part, memories of his past started to play through his mind like a movie, but it always highlighted the ones he wanted to forget.
It was like he was experiencing everything firsthand again with the slaughter of an entire village during the Vietnam War. He soon started to lose faith in the U.S military and then they experimented on him.
That time was a literal hell for him, especially when he found out that it wasn't what he signed up for...
He signed up to be immune to the truth serum not to be a metahuman, and then his son was kidnapped...
'Stop..' He tried to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth, and as a result, the volume of which his memories started with began to change, increasing ever so slightly by the second.
He didn't want to relive that day, but of course, it continued to show him exactly what happened.
Slade pleaded and begged for it to be over, he could see the hope drain from his son's eyes as he was held captive. He was trained with all sorts of weaponry, fighting styles, guerilla warfare, but he wasn't prepared for what happened next.
His life came tumbling down him, his son became mute, his wife shot his eye and then took his two sons away.
Slade didn't know what to do with himself afterward, but he continued his work as a mercenary even though it was the reason that caused his misfortune.
What was he doing?
He sure didn't know, but eventually, he got to the point where he retired from the lifestyle.
No more fighting.
No more killing.
Slade was done with it all, but unfortunately, his retirement was cut short after a phone call asking for his assistance.
Of course, he refused!
Of course....but 'they' didn't like his answer, and forced him to make a decision.
Why did they have to involve the people he most cared about?!
Just why?!
"Such a miserable life." Slade suddenly heard a voice, one that caused him to shiver at the mere sound. "I do feel sorry for you humans. Such pitiful and pathetic humans." The voice continued before letting out a laugh.
"What are you even living for? You will never have a normal life. The ones you love have all forsaken you...Why struggle?" Soon four pairs of giant yellow eyes appeared in front of Slade, staring him down like he was some small insignificant ant.
"You think after this they'll love you again? You're the reason they were caught. How unfortunate...Nothing you do will ever be enough..."
It was obvious that whoever was speaking had an ulterior motive, but the things they were resonated with Slade.
"Just give in...no point in fighting anymore." Although there was no mouth to be seen, one could tell that the owner of the eyes was pleased with the current state of the mercenary.
'Just what the hell am I doing...? I..' Slade despaired at the thought that all his struggling may be for nothing.
In the beginning, he was so sure of himself, he knew what he wanted to do with his life, but then it suddenly took a different turn.
If he had just followed orders then maybe he would still be with his wife, and maybe he would spending a grand life with his two sons
Everything was his fault!
EVERYTHING!!
The owner of the eyes watched the man sink further into despair. A welcomed outcome as it made it easier for the demonic energy to corrupt him, making the mercenary a pawn for a plan that will reshape the Earth.
"It's quite admirable that you lasted this long without losing yourself...but it looks like times u-' The voice stopped just as it felt foreign energy enter Slade's mindscape. The energy was overbearing, and it came in the form of golden light that started to illuminate the darkness.
" No! NOOOO!! "
Once the energy entered, Slade felt a warmth he never thought possible and he started to return to his normal self.
He didn't know why or how, but after thinking about his situation he started to become angry for a different reason.
"...Get the hell out of my body!!!"
>>>>><<<<
Several minutes later, the Gotham police were on the scene along with other emergency response teams. However, when they arrived they were left with a giant mess and no one in sight.
Buildings were smashed, the ground was scorched, it was like a mini apocalypse happened.
Soon after arriving, a brown-haired man in a trenchcoat and glasses walked out of a police car and started to survey the area a bit.
That man was James Gordon, the police commissioner who works closely with their cities protector, Batman.
At first, Gordon couldn't stand the caped crusader going around and taking the law for granted. However, Gotham was the type of city that breeds villains left and right, crime was rampant almost every single night, leaving the police overwhelmed.
But then came along Batman, truly a different breed as whoever thought of parading around the city in a bat costume?
Clearly someone insane, but Gordon won't deny how helpful the hero had been over the years and now there was more of them.
Vigilantes all over the world banded together to form what is called the Justice League, a team of heroes that stop all kinds of different threats.
The Commissioner lets out a sigh and turned his attention to the officer who was patiently waiting at his side to report to him.
"What do we got?" He said plainly.
"Honestly, sir? We found signs of what looked to be a fight, but there's nothing around for us to find a culprit. The only indication someone was here were these footprints." The officer answered, pointing to a specific area on the ground.
"Footprints..in solid concrete." James frowned as he stepped over to take a closer look at the footprints. "Someone with super strength huh?..."
"Should we...contact the Justice League?" The officer asked.
James didn't answer as his attention was something else. He spotted what looked to be fragments of some kind of metal material scattered to the side of the street.
It looked like it belonged to some sort of mask, one that he thought looked familiar.
"No...for now we handle this."
>>>><<<<
"Are you crazy!?! You didn't even know if it would work and you still did it?!" After the earlier incident, Raven was found reprimanding Ethan at a hotel they decided to crash for the rest of the night.
Ethan had gotten in contact with Wizard and asked for a place to stay as he was carrying an unconscious Slade.
The hotel was fairly popular as it was visited by a lot of Gotham City's millionaires due to its outstanding service and exquisite decor.
Wizard had called in a favor to let Ethan through the back as the hotel was secretly run by a mob boss which was also one of his buddies.
A total of 4 rooms were rented out to them, they were on the 5th floor of the 6-story hotel, the rooms were up to standard for a 5-star hotel. Two incredibly comfortable queen-sized beds, a bathroom with a walk-in shower, mini-fridge pre-filled with wine.
Everything was styled in a way that even a noble would find it acceptable, but Ethan didn't care about it and just threw the unconscious Slade onto one of the beds.
Mera wanted to say something, but she simply walked into an empty room and slammed the door shut.
Sandra and Cassandra retired to another room, but not without Sandra giving him a passionate kiss that conveyed everything she was feeling at the moment.
The assassin wanted to do so much more to him, but she decided to get her daughter settled in and it was extremely late.
Soon after though, Raven pulled him into the last opened room and started shouting at him, calling him irresponsible.
For what reason exactly?
He absorbed the demonic energy within Slade's body and converted it into his own.
The process was relatively easy, but he was taking a chance as this energy wasn't linked to just any kind of demon.
So many different things could have gone wrong, but he decided it was the best course of action for the moment.
"Hey, look I'm fine. Everything is ok." Ethan said, trying his best to calm down the enraged purple-haired girl. He didn't tell Raven what happened as he knew she would be upset, but she figured it out on her own.
Clever girl...
"EVERYTHING IS NOT OK!" The half-demon growled, grabbing hold of his collar. "If your plan failed you could have ended up controlled or even worse...Don't you care about your life? OUR LIVES?! Don't you understand?!"
Defending his decision was impossible as he knew he took a chance, he just happened to be lucky.
So, the only thing he could say was...
"I'm sorry." He frowned, looking directly into her eyes.
Raven looked at him as if she wanted to tear him into teeny tiny pieces, but soon her gaze started to softened and she cupped his face with her hands.
"You're a real idiot. And I don't know how I love you. Just promise...you won't take chances like that again?"
If Ethan knew of what was going to happen in the distant future he wouldn't have answered, but this was the present.
"Yes, I promise."
>>>><<<<
After everything was settled, Myra contacted Ethan and told him she completed the task he left her to do.
There was a reason that none of the unconscious Talons were found at the scene as they were moved out of sight by one of Wizard's friends.
Why gather them instead of just killing them?
Because it was time...
It was officially time to create Jester.
>>>>Several Minutes Earlier<<<<
In a dark undisclosed area, a man was watching the fight between Slade and a red-haired woman on a small screen on his desk.
A faint smile was present on his face right up until the source of the feed was destroyed and with nothing to watch the lights turned on revealing his scarred face.
It was Vandal Savage!
Not many would know this man as the man is over 50,000 years old. He started as a simple caveman until a certain meteor gave him increased intellect and immortality.
Vandal had been an influential figure, aiding emperors and conquerors of different times.
He believed himself to be a ruler, one that will lead the human race into a new age, but humans can't evolve without conflict.
And it was for that reason that Vandal despised the Justice League and created what is known as the Light.
Although it is called the Light, the organization works in the shadows, enlisting the vilest and the power-hungry people to take over the world.
It didn't matter where they came from, the only thing that mattered was to follow his lead.
Soon after the feed ended, an unknown man with a hooded green cloak walks into the room unannounced, but it didn't bother Vandal one bit.
"It looks like your plan failed. Too bad so sad...Hehehehe!" The man said with an eerie laugh.
"No, on the contrary, it went exactly how I planned it."
"Oh, you have something more planned? Why don't tell me? I'm good with secrets. You can trust me. Hehehe.."
"In the near future, you will know." Vandal said as he stood up from his desk and walked towards the exit. " You should focus on your side of things, instead of being here."
"Don't you worry your pretty little head! Soon we'll get rid of one of the strongest Justice League members. Isn't that exciting?" The strange man replied, pulling down his hood to reveal his smiling face.
If Harley was there to see the man's face then she would have gone ballistic and tried to kill him as he was someone she never wanted to see again.
Ghostly white skin, green hair, and a gigantic smile that would send chills down anyone's spine especially if one were afraid of clowns.
"Just make sure you do your job, Joker."
"Don't you dare call me by that name!" The man suddenly snapped causing his green hair to morph into snakes that hissed loudly at Vandal.
"My name is Demios! I am the god of terror! I will not allow myself to be called anything else!!!"
The man known as the Joker was long gone as his body being used by Demios. Demios worked alongside his brother and his father Ares against one of the world's strongest women.
Wonder Woman!
The god vowed for revenge, but he needed a compatible body to bind himself to the living and the Joker happened to be one.
However, ever since he took over the villain's body, Demios started to have problems keeping his sanity. He even started to take on certain traits that the Joker possessed, and that annoyed him to end.
Unfortunately, he was stuck in the body which means he would need to deal with it until he accomplishes his goal.
"I am above you! You should be bowing down to me!!" He shouted, releasing his divinity in the form of a green aura that surrounded his body like a cocoon.
"Well...I welcome you to try, but I strongly advise you shouldn't." Vandal smirked before leaving the room to go about his business.
Although he was furious, the god didn't do anything and glared at Vandal as he left.
"Curse you..." growled Demios, clenching his fists in a fit of anger. "Once I get what I want, I'll settle things with you...Hehehehe..."
"HAHAHAHA!! Ugh...why can't I get rid of this body's need to laugh..."