The World of Eternal Slumber - The War Room
The Dimension of Infinite Darkness stretched endlessly beneath a sky of perpetual twilight, purple annd white, the land was vast, limitless, its boundaries defined only by the will of its master, the Shadow Monarch. Mountains rose in the distance. Rivers of darkness flowed across the endless plains. And at the center the world, a castle stood a monument to the power of the Shadow Monarch, its spires piercing the eternal sky.
Inside the castle, the War Room was a full, the chamber was massive, its walls lined with banners bearing the sigil of the Shadow Legion. A table of black stone dominated the center, its surface etched with maps of the Dimensional Gap, it was mapped from the last time they were there.
Arthur Blackwynd stood at the head of the table, his shadow armor gleaming, his violet eyes fixed on the strategic display before him. Raven stood at his side, her hand resting on his arm, her expression was calm, but even she could feel the pressure from everyone gathered around her.
Around them, the Marshals and Generals of the Shadow Legion had assembled.
Bellion stood at Arthur's right hand, Ultra to his left, the shadow of the Kryptonian tyrant from Earth-3 stood with his arms crossed, while H'El's gaze fixed on the map, his mind already calculating tactical possibilities.
Galatea stood near the corner of the table, her hair gleaming, her eyes sharp and calculating. The shadow of the Supergirl clone had found purpose in Arthur's service, and she had become one of his most trusted commanders.
Beru hovered slightly above the ground, his insectoid form twitching with barely contained energy, his desire for battle was evident.
And in the sky above the castle, two dragons circled.
Kamish and Veythur flew, and they were arguing.
"You were always overrated ," Kamish growled, his voice carrying across.
"And you were always a coward," Veythur shot back, his tail lashing."Hiding behind the Monarch's power instead of earning your own, at least you found a purpose now..."
Even inside the castle, Arthur could hear both of them and his lips twitched.
"Focus," he said.
The dragons fell silent outside.
Behind the Marshals, the Generals had assembled. They stood in ranks, their eyes fixed on their monarch.
Steppenwolf stood at attention, his shadow form flickering, Foara Ul and Zod stood side by side, two Kryptonians who had once sought to destroy Earth, now serving the one who had given them purpose beyond their failed ambitions.
Quick and Hermes stood with thier arms crossed, Hercules and Empress alike stood ready.
Bellion spoke first.
"Monarch," he said, "we have most of our forces here, the absences are few, some of us stationed elsewhere in important places." He gestured at the map. "Considering that the enemy is in the Dimensional Gap for unknown reasons, alongside a mighty number of his demon army, one can only assume that they are trying to bait you into a trap, my Monarch."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"But I think the same as you," Bellion continued. "Even if it is a trap, a full attack from us will still be devastating. We just need to make sure that Baran does not escape, otherwise it would be for nothing."
Ultra spoke next, "Is it possible that the Elf Monarch should be there as well?"
Bellion's jaw tightened. "That is true. Baran is a coward who escaped our Monarch the last time they met... He wouldn't face us alone. And we know Legia lacks manpower, but he is still allied with the Dragon Monarch, it could be all three of them there."
Silence fell across the War Room.
Arthur's eyes swept across his Generals and Marshals, across the faces of beings who had once been monsters, heroes, gods, and men.
"I shall deploy all of my army that I have here," Arthur said, "to face the demon army head-on in battle."
He paused.
"But you, Bellion, Galatea, and Beru, you will stay with me."
Bellion's brow furrowed. "Monarch?"
Galatea's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
Beru's form twitched, a gesture that might have been confusion, but he still welcomed the idea.
Arthur's voice was calm. "I will not lead the battle, H'El and Kamish you will lead the Legion."
H'El straightened, his expression was filled with surprise, and acknowledgment.
"It shall be done, my King," he said.
Kamish's roar echoed from the sky. "I accept this honor, Monarch."
Arthur turned back to the map.
"I will isolate the Demon Monarch from his army," he said. "It will be hard, because he will not allow it. But I will pull it off." His eyes swept across his Marshals. "You are there with me for backup, if this is a trap, then be sure that both Legia and Sillad will be there. Sillad already messed up a trap before, he is smart. He will do his best not to make the same mistake again."
Raven spoke, her voice carrying a note of caution. "Sounds good, but what if it's the Dragon Monarch?" Her eyes met Arthur's. "Are we ready for this kind of fight?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Not possible." His voice was flat and certain. "The only reason I'm so confident in killing all three of them if I had the chance is that I'm sure the Dragon Monarch is not here at all." He met Raven's gaze. "He just fought a cosmic entity, Destruction. It will take him a long time to recover."
Raven nodded slowly.
"I believe the Monarchs are desperate," Arthur continued. "They are tired of waiting for the aid of someone who only cares about himself. They will try one last time with me before they swap their eyes toward the cowardly Rulers."
Raven's hand squeezed his arm. "Okay. Just making sure we are not walking into a serious death battle, I still have no idea what to expect from this fellow."
Arthur's smile was small, but confident.
"Don't worry. I don't enter battles with a disadvantage." He paused. "I am more than familiar with the Monarchs and their ways of warfare."
Galatea stepped forward, her voice clear and steady. "My King, I believe we are ready, I understand Zeus's responsibilities in Nyx, but shouldn't Doom and Igris join us in this campaign?
Arthur's expression flickered..
"No. They have other duties."
Raven smiled. "Which are arguably harder than the battle we are heading towards."
Arthur's smile widened. "Exactly."
He looked around the War Room, at his Marshals, his Generals, his army of shadows.
"If that is all," he said, "then we are done here."
He straightened.
"Our destination is the Dimensional Gap."
The room erupted in movement.
Generals snapped to attention. Marshals turned toward their posts. The dragons rose higher into the sky, their forms silhouetted against the eternal twilight.
Arthur Blackwynd stood with his hand on the table, his eyes blazing violet, his army ready to follow him even into the abyss.
"Let's move," he said.
.
.
.
.
Gotham - Arthur's Estate
Raven emerged first.
She stepped out of Arthur's shadow like a swimmer breaking the surface of dark water, her form coalescing from nothing into something solid. Her feet touched the floor, and she exhaled a long, slow breath.
She looked around the sitting room, at the ceiling and at the fire crackling in the hearth, its warmth a gentle embrace after the cold environment of the World of Eternal Slumber.
Arthur was just stadning there followed a moment later.
In simple clothes, his eyes, still faintly glowing, Raven turned to him "For some reason," she said, "your World of Eternal Slumber is far less suffocating than the house right now."
George, who had been standing near the bookshelves, raised an eyebrow.
"Ouch, Miss Raven."
Raven's eyes widened, she turned to face the butler, her hands rising in a placating gesture.
"I didn't mean it like that, George!" Her voice carried a note of genuine apology. "It's just..." She gestured vaguely at the house around them. "We rarely get the chance to stay here lately with a lot of things going on, and now even Kara is imprisoning herself in Clark's Fortress."
George's expression was calm.
"Give her time," he said softly. "Lady Kara is... adjusting. It is a process that cannot be rushed, please do try to understand her."
Raven sighed. "I know, even Arthur sees that we should leave her alone for some time."
"She will come around," George interrupted gently. "It's just a phase."
Raven opened her mouth to respond, but George had already turned to Arthur.
"Are you heading out again, Master Arthur?"
"Yes, though I won't be taking long this time." Arthur said.
His eyes found Raven. "Raven is accompanying me this time, to that place again." His smile widened. "So it wouldn't be dull this time around."
George's eyebrow rose again, "So a month or two?" he asked.
Arthur shook his head. "This means a year or two inside that dimension." He paused. "No. I don't think I'll be spending that much time, it will be very straightforward." His eyes hardened. "We are going for blood."
George's expression was filled with concern, "Then I wish you a good hunt, Master Arthur," he said quietly.
Arthur raised his hand.
A portal opened, a tear in reality, its edges crackling with violet light. The Dimensional Gap beckoned beyond it, its darkness swirling.
Arthur stepped toward it.
Raven paused at the threshold, turning back to look at George.
"Take care, George," she said.
George inclined his head. "Always, Miss Raven."
Raven smiled then she stepped through the portal following Arthur, disappearing into the swirling darkness.
The portal closed behind them.
George stood alone in the sitting room, the fire crackling softly, he looked at the space where the portal was and then he sighed.
"Good luck, Master Arthur," he murmured.
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