Chapter 609: Shazam's Thunder and Three Conditions
The Passing of the Mantle
In the dimly lit hall, an old man and a young boy sat on the steps, engaging in a conversation that spanned millennia.
Shazam, living in the Age of Gods thousands of years ago, did not understand the meaning of the newspapers, toys, and superheroes Billy spoke of, but he could sense the child's heart.
It was sincere, pure, and kind—a rare find.
To learn the magic to find his mother, Billy recounted every detail of his life over the years, including the shameful acts of stealing burgers and spare change. The old man did not look displeased. He had once been an orphan too, and he knew the pain of hunger.
The conversation lasted an hour before it ended.
Billy looked anxiously at the old man. "I've told you everything. Can you teach me the magic to find my mother?"
Shazam smiled, looking as if a huge weight had been lifted, revealing a sense of joy he had never shown before.
"Child, help me up."
Billy quickly helped the old man. The old man and the boy walked to the stone chair. The old man solemnly held his staff out before him.
"Now, take hold of it."
Billy hesitated for a moment. Encouraged by the old man's gaze, he slowly extended his hands. The moment his fingertips touched the staff, an unimaginable sequence of images exploded in his mind. In a flash, he saw six colossal figures:
On a golden throne, a white-haired king sat, his eyes profoundly deep, as if they could see through the cosmos and the world's very origin—that was the Wisdom of Solomon.In raging flames, a muscular man, whose physique was like marble, wrestled with a monster. His fists pierced mountains and stopped oceans—that was the Strength of Hercules.In a sandstorm-swept desert, a mountain slowly walked. Beneath it was a crystal-covered giant, carrying the towering peak from one end of the world to the other—the Stamina of Atlas was eternal.In the cloud-covered sky, dense lightning revealed a tall figure. His voice was like thunder, his gaze like a divine sword. Every breath stirred up storms—the Power of Zeus commanded the heavens.On a smoke-filled battlefield, a massive army of monsters surged towards a city. The moment the wall broke, a baby was born—The Courage of Achilles, the fearless warrior, who brought light to the darkest age.On a wind-whipped ocean, a figure appeared in the distance, vanishing into the sea of clouds the next second, carried by the winds and facing the waves, speeding through the storm-ravaged ocean—the Speed of Mercury astonished even Zeus.
A multicolored light flowed from the staff into Billy's body, carrying the blessings of the six Gods and an unimaginable power.
After a long time, the light slowly faded.
The old man looked even more ancient, while Billy wore a look of bewilderment. He felt like he had something extra in his mind, but he couldn't grasp it.
"Go back, child, and learn to control your power."
"Remember, be a good person."
With those words, a bright light surged forward. When Billy next regained consciousness, he was back in the taxi. The radio was still playing the same traffic report as before. He checked the time; only a few seconds had passed.
Billy was utterly bewildered. He had spoken with the old man for over an hour, yet only a few seconds had elapsed in reality.
Was it all a dream?
A Compromise with Diana
In the council hall, after the boy departed, strange footsteps sounded.
"Thank you for not interrupting me."
"You're welcome."
Diana smiled. "That boy is very good, though a little too young."
"He will grow up someday."
"You may not be around to see it."
Diana said heavily, "Your heartbeat is very weak. I estimate you don't have long to live."
"I have lived long enough. It is time for me to leave."
The old man looked up, carefully assessing the woman approaching him. Feeling the sincere light in her eyes, he sighed.
"It's a pity you arrived too late."
Diana shook her head, chuckling. "I have no interest in being your successor. My name is Diana Prince. I am from the Amazon tribe, the daughter of the current Amazon Queen, Hippolyta."
The old man's eyes widened. "You..."
Diana presented her golden chain.
"You should recognize this, shouldn't you?"
"The Lasso of Truth."
The old man was shocked again. "Who are you? How did you come here?"
"Like the others outside, I came through the crystal sphere in the underground ruins. I found my way from the Colosseum to the Hall and discovered some records about the Amazons in the library." She looked at the seven chairs.
"Did an Amazon once sit on one of these chairs?"
The old man nodded. "For a long time, the Amazon tribe acted as emissaries of the Olympian Gods. They always had a seat on the Council of Eternity."
Diana continued, "How did the Gods disappear?"
"I do not know."
"You are the guide of the Council of Eternity. How could you not know the whereabouts of the Gods?"
The old man closed his eyes, having lost the strength to speak further.
Diana frowned. After a moment of thought, she said in a low voice,
"I want to know the secrets of the Rock of Eternity."
The old man strained a smile. "You want the Rock of Eternity?"
Diana nodded, choosing not to conceal her intention.
"It should be preserved. My friends and I need it."
"Who are your friends?"
"A group of incredible individuals. We formed a team to protect Earth called the Justice League."
"Was that black-haired, green-eyed young man one of the Justice League?"
"Yes."
"Did he send you?"
Diana nodded again.
The old man fell silent, then sighed. "That man is dangerous, frightening like Death."
Diana smiled. "He is that kind of person—absurd in his actions, but he always adheres to his bottom line."
"You trust him?"
"Yes, completely. He is my lover."
The old man was silent. After a long time, he spoke slowly.
"I can hand the Rock of Eternity over to you, but only if you meet three conditions."
"What are they? Tell me."
"First, defeat all the monsters in the Colosseum to prove your strength."
"Second, travel to the Fourth Layer, the void filled with black mist, and find the exit to prove your wisdom."
"Third..."
The old man suddenly stopped. "I will tell you the third after you complete the first two."
Diana was slightly hesitant, not about her own abilities, but about the old man's physical state.
"Your condition right now?"
"I have the grace of the Gods within me. As long as I do not wish to die, I can last for a few more months."
"Very well, I accept your conditions. However, I need to go out and bring my other friends inside first."
The old man raised his hand. Light shimmered in his palm, conjuring a book.
"This book records one of the entrances and exits of the Rock of Eternity. Give it to your friend; he should be able to understand it."
Diana nodded, took the ancient book, and left the hall.
Watching her depart, the old man sighed. His initial intention was to leave the Rock of Eternity in Billy's care, but reality forced him to compromise. Both the terrifying green-eyed young man and the Amazonian Princess possessed extremely formidable power. Even in his prime, he might not have been a match for the two of them.
Perhaps it was time to pass on the Rock of Eternity.
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