(Gale POV)
[+100 CP Milestone]
[300 CP Remaining]
As much as I appreciate the increase in points, Grimoire, this is not the time… however, the second I think that, I could feel the book almost pout… I truly wonder if this thing is alive or not.
A part of me wonders if I could use Legilimency, given the fact that I am definitely within eye contact of Batman, but knowing him, he would probably immediately notice a presence in his mind. You could never know with prep time, man.
For a few moments, we just stand and stare at each other. The room itself going silent as the few others in the room just watch on, a couple of them tense, with my father just standing there almost amused at this.
"I received Robin's report. They were unauthorized and uninformed… you did well. Selena Gonzalez would not be alive if it weren't for you…" The bat glare, however, never seemed to let up.
"I can sense an alternate opinion, however… so tell me, what is the necessity of this display?" Batman then pulls out his communicator and projects a hologram of the two assassins.
"Both Black Spider and Hook have been taken to Blackgate Penitentiary; however, the second they woke up, barely any of the officers could approach them, as even when cuffed, their fight or flight response was triggered… thankfully, they had sedatives to calm the two down. Now, I would like to know what exactly you did to the two of them." You know, I could almost understand from his point of view. It could be a weapon to be used against an enemy or something to prepare against, but if there's one thing you never want to do, it is ask a magician about his spells.
Using my electrical control, I slightly begin hovering to match Batman at eye level and I simply say, "No."
Batman's left eye slightly rises as he doesn't seem surprised, which doesn't surprise me. "This isn't a suggestion, Solomon. We need something to place into the report. I'd also like to ask if this could be replicated against us." I couldn't help myself from beginning to chuckle. I could almost see one of his fists beginning to slightly tighten in annoyance.
"Again, I will have to refuse. I have never signed a contract, nor have we an accord. My magic is my own and it shall remain that way. Now let me ask you, are you willing to give up the knowledge on how you knew the three of them had already left the cave?" Batman then prepares to say something else, but before he can do so, I feel a presence behind me, and as I look to see my father, he places a hand on my shoulder, to which I retreat back to the ground.
My father, with a closed-eye smile, looks at Batman. "Batman, I believe we are all excited after today's events. I believe you're still slightly worried about your protégé. Now, I can understand your need to understand the process; however, I must remind you that a sorcerer's greatest strength is our secrecy… I will not have you interrogating my student right in front of me."
I couldn't help but smirk under my mask as I feel good that my father was standing up for me, and the two just continue to stare at each other, with my father never stopping his smile.
Batman then just looks back down at me. "Your performance today was adequate. On behalf of the Flash, Aquaman, and myself, we thank you for assisting the team…" You know, I could almost feel how curious Batman is to learn what I did, and as he reached towards my hand, I give him a handshake…
OK, seriously, what is with this guy and trying to sneak bugs on people? Isn't this whole guy's shtick bats?
However, checking to make sure he didn't put anything else, my eyes glowed green as I checked my hand and found that he had managed to reinforce his bugs with various enchantments. They were all low-level, so I immediately disabled them. The process itself barely took a nanosecond, thanks to Mental Partitioning.
And as quickly as he appeared, Batman walked away with Robin following close behind him, and as he gives me a small thumbs up, I return it. Flash and Kid Flash had already left, along with Aquaman and Aqualad.
As my father and I left the Hall of Justice, I stopped at one of the last steps before we exited the building.
Zatara, seeing that I had stopped, turned around and asked, "Is there something wrong, Solomon?"
I simply shook my head and looked towards some of the statues. "No, it's nothing. Just never imagined that I'd be grilled after every mission. Also, Master, would I be able to stay here for a few minutes? I would like to contemplate."
My father simply smiles with one of his classic mischievous smirks. "If you're going to do one of your long monologues, I will let you know that you need to be in bed within a couple of hours, my student. You still have to go to school." I almost laugh, as the classes are so easy that I mostly just spend the time practicing in the classroom within my mind.
The only reason I'm still going is that I do not want to leave my sister by her lonesome. She often comes by and talks to me in between classes. She's a very sociable girl, but I would assume due to our lifestyle, it's hard to connect with normal people. Most people can barely handle changes to their routine. How would they react to knowing that their friend could manipulate reality with a few words?
It reminds me of my sister and me in the fourth grade when she accidentally added herself as a sorcerer to impress someone she had come to view as a friend. In response, that person had to be mind-wiped because the spell had almost broken her fragile psyche.
Magic is a dangerous thing, especially the magic of this universe. I could still remember the look on my sister's face. I could tell how much losing that friend meant to her, so I continue to go to school while having to find alternate ways to leave, as the female population would constantly hound me. Truly, looking good is half the battle.
Zatara simply gave me a smile along with a small talisman that was meant to teleport me back to our home after he left. I waited a few moments and spread out my mana zone to check to see if anyone was around. After all of my practice, I could spread it for at least 10 miles without pushing it.
It's a strange thing. It's like a sixth sense that I never knew, but that is a topic for another day. After double-checking with my Mystic Sight, I used my tower's teleportation to appear right in front of the Cadmus facility. The fire had been put out, and it had been mostly abandoned. I again spread out my zone and after feeling it extend all the way down to the lower reaches, I disabled all the cameras.
After using some Notice-Me-Not charms, I walked into the building, passing by the lackluster security, and after finding the elevator that led down to the sublevels, I jumped down, going further and further until I reached the lower depths.
Walking over to Project KR, I spread my senses through the wall and after a few minutes, I found what I was looking for—Roy Harper. After walking in front of the pod, I used the same alchemy trick I did with Selena Gonzalez and created an exact copy of Roy Harper's body. Making sure that the nearby cameras were on loop, I opened the pod and as Roy Harper's body fell out of the pod, I caught it gently in my arms and as soon as I did so, I refilled the tank and placed the fake body inside.
After checking to make sure that Roy was still alive, I placed a small sleeping curse onto him that could be easily removed, and after teleporting him into the tower, I made sure to keep all evidence of my presence gone.
After searching the facility, I found the cave that held the Match, and after using Structural Analysis on him, I winced, noticing that his physical degradation, while slowed due to him being unconscious, still existed. This clone will be dead within the year. Making sure that there aren't any G-nomorphs, I created an exact copy and placed him alongside Roy within my tower. The copy will disintegrate on its own with the light. If they do show up, they'll find that it simply degraded due to its failed DNA.
After placing the two within a comfortable room, I looked at the clone of Superman and I genuinely felt pity for it. This is a being that will never understand why it exists. Its mind is basically empty, just a ball of emotion and pain. As I try to think of a way to help him, I can feel the Grimoire beginning to react.
[+100 CP Milestone]
[+100 CP Achievement: Save Roy And Match]
[500 CP Remaining]
[Rolling…]
For a moment, I wondered why the book was reacting like this, and as it opened, it shone with a golden light and as I felt its energy begin to permeate my being, I felt better, like I had just overcome something… but not just that—I could feel my magic had evolved in a way… and as if by instinct, I placed a hand on Match's head and began to use the golden energy to begin healing his fractured mind.
And as I did so, I summoned a bottle of elixir from my inventory, along with another just in case, and after making sure to carefully distribute it, again used Structural Analysis and began to see the elixir begin to heal his damaged DNA. I could see the individual strands repairing themselves as if proteins and the various other chemicals were being formed from nothing. It was almost beautiful to watch.
Within the recesses of Match's mind, I began to see the creation of an ego of all things. It was young, barely a mental spark, something equivalent to that of a newborn child.
I felt an emotion that was foreign to me. I felt pride. This was a being that was taking its own life in his hands. In my mind, I thanked magic itself for being as wonderful as it was, and after sending a nod of thanks towards the Grimoire, I felt an almost happy sensation as the book fluttered around the room.
As I focused, I summoned the book back into my hands and began to read the information pertaining to the new perk that I had received.
Rapturous Rhapsody Jump/Mending the Broken: (-200 CP): The Catalog's methods of recruitment can be harsh, often leaving deep scars on those they target. However, you have discovered a way to heal both yourself and others, no matter the extent of the damage. Your will is unbreakable, a bastion of strength that remains steadfast through any ordeal. Additionally, you possess the unique ability to mend the shattered remnants of others. Whether someone has been broken by external forces or their own inner turmoil, you can piece them back together, restoring them to their original state or even making improvements to better suit their needs and desires. You can fix them, Jumper. Your touch brings solace to others, turning their despair into hope.
[300 CP Remaining]
A small smile appeared on my face as I wondered if something was guiding me. I was somewhat afraid that it was another appearance-boosting perk, and while some of this perk seems to be a bit suspicious, I'll take the benefits. The golden energy is seemingly another appliance of my own magical energy, a type of purifying energy—not holy but something different. Maybe it is a type of magic that exists within a psychic frequency of some sort. Another topic to research. Yay…
And as I was feeling a bit confident, I pulled the mental trigger for it to roll again, and as it glowed with that same energy, I saw the results and again was genuinely surprised.
Marvel Primal/All-Speak: (-100 CP): You speak the All-Tongue, which all men hear as their native language. Also, you can understand all speakers. Doesn't help much with reading though.
Final Fantasy VII: Remake/Child of the Earth (-200 CP): As the guardians of Gaia, the Ancients lived in harmony with nature, carefully tending to the planet's needs. Now you too have their agricultural gifts. You are a skilled gardener and can help any plant reach its full potential. You can also convey basic emotions and ideas to animals, calming them and assuring them of your friendliness. Best of all, nature's creatures will be friendly towards you so long as you aren't hostile towards them. Live in harmony with nature, Jumper.
[0 CP Remaining]
On the one hand, I can now speak every single language as if it was the common tongue, and while I think this, I can feel information pertaining to various gardening techniques begin to fill my mind along with a new voice, something indistinguishable, and as I walked away from the bed, I looked out the window, and I swear I could hear a voice coming from the distance beyond the flowers…
Shaking myself out of that reverie, I checked on Roy Harper's condition, and while I am a bit saddened that they had to cut his arm off, I'm definitely sure that I can regrow the arm. Definitely gonna need to study up on some more potions and various chemical techniques, because while creating fake bodies is relatively simple, attaching a body part to a still-living body is something else entirely. I mean, look at a certain blonde guy to know the issues with living transmutation.
… Wait a minute this perk makes me more appealing to entities that exist in nature… and poison ivy exists along with the earth, having its own nature based deities… you know what we're just gonna discontinue that line of thought.
But for now, after making sure the two will be all right, I exit the room and leave them to their slumber. I'm going to need to think of a way to introduce Roy back to the world. To be honest, such plots and schemes were never my strong suit, so this may take some time.
For now, however, I return home, patting myself on the back for a job well done. And after entering my room, I dismiss my costume back to the closet as it repairs itself from today's battle, and after picking up some new clothes, I exit out of my room and see my family gathered for dinner. As I look at all three of them smiling, I take my seat, and as my mother kisses me on the forehead and my sister asks me if I can make some dessert, I feel satisfied—although a bit scared, as my sister's gaze is a bit terrifying. I may have unleashed something terrible onto the world.
(Ra's Al Ghul POV)
I was never one for loose ends. I have four of them. They were always the one thing that could bite me in the back, even after all of these centuries.
Sneaking into Blackgate was as simple as a cat catching a nearly dead mouse. As I made my way towards the cell block, I found two of my more useful assassins sitting in utter silence, and for Black Spider, that is unusual.
As I made my way in front of their cell, the two noticed me immediately and bowed as they should.
"Master," the two said in unison, and again I found Black Spider's more reserved tone a bit off-putting.
"Report."
"The job is done. However, there were complications. The sidekicks showed up, but we managed to subdue them… but… but then…" Black Spider's words were shaken, and as I gave him a small glare, he returned his gaze to the floor.
"This new guy, Solomon, showed up. He put us under some kind of illusion… it was… it was the stuff of nightmares…" Interesting… As I patiently let him continue, he explained that Hook managed to stab the woman before Solomon had appeared, and given the fact that the woman's body was in the morgue gave credence to the fact that the mission was a success.
However, I can't remove the feeling that something was off. After all of my years of plots and plans, this one felt unsatisfying…
"I am surprised that you two suffered little physical damage… based on your descriptions, I would believe that this new… hero… would do much worse." The two just looked down, ashamed at the fact that they were seemingly defeated by a novice. They can't get the look of those eyes out of their minds.
I simply turned away after making sure to unlock their cell. Truly, the fact that these heroes rely on such institutions to hold members of His League was insulting. As we left, I did manage to make a visit to the medical wing and found the two others I sent on the mission. They were still asleep. Truly, they were both failures. It barely took a few seconds for my blade to meet their necks. Their heads fell to the floor almost immediately. Making sure to clean my blade and return it to its sheath, I looked towards Hook and Black Spider, both of whom had already managed to find their equipment. However, the hook would need to be reattached to his arm.
"We are leaving… and be aware that while you did succeed, this failure against such a young novice will not be forgotten." They again kneeled before me, and I relished their fear.
And as we simply walked out the front door, I couldn't get that name out of my mind: Solomon… maybe this one will be different… he could be a match for the Detective… yes, that would be some fine entertainment. It's been so long since I've had a new curiosity.
(Hello again, guys and gals another chapter for y'all and I hope this one is as much to your guys's fancy as it is mine. And I hope you guys continue to enjoy this book even though I myself do not understand why you guys find it so fascinating. Also, if you guys are wondering how Black Spider and Hook are able to move it's because he really didn't break their legs. He only broke the legs of the other two assassins. Black Spider and Hook just feel like their legs have been broken multiple times.)