Martian Manhunter took Raven to the side as he tended to her, which, thankfully, seemed to be working as Raven started to calm down with the help of Martian Manhunter and her training in emotional control and meditation.
While this was happening, Superman walked forward with a smile as he looked at Sombra's hybrid form, covered in scales at the limbs and chest, with his lower legs fully draconic with sharp claws and two large horns from the side of his head.
"Well your highness …you have certainly have grown while I was gone"
As Sombra was about to exchange pleasantries with Superman, he was cut off as Batman moved past them near Black Adam's charred body, which was already showing signs of healing and was currently held in green chains constructed by Green Lantern, as he said, "What happened here?"
Sombra's face showed a frown; he didn't appreciate the tone one bit, but since he intended to keep good relations with the League and was even considering a possible position like Aquaman, he let it slide.
Well, that and the small detail that he was outnumbered and outmatched with the Crystal Heart out of Order at the moment.
But that didn't mean he would be polite about it. "This criminal has set his gaze on the riches of my home, and I have dealt with him in the only manner a man like him understands."
"By burning him alive?"
"He should be grateful, for I have not ended his life… I am being far more merciful than the likes of him deserves."
Batman's gaze narrowed at that as he turned to fully face Sombra, with Green Arrow on the side whispering to Green Lantern, "Who are you betting on? Batman's scary face or the man that seems to walk out of a villain's classic book?"
Batman continued, saying, "And what do you intend to do now? Prepare him for execution?"
Sombra didn't even entertain the question as he said, "I have no reason nor any intentions to answer a strange man in a ridiculous costume that has yet to mention his name to me on what decisions I make near my Empire."
"An Empire? You mean a single city of ghosts with a king that can apparently turn into a dragon? I would hardly call that an empire."
'I swear to god, if it is not for the fact that you have who knows how many overpowered heroes on your side, I would have slammed his face in the ice already.'
Superman stepped forward between the two as Sombra's eyes started glowing with green smoke, saying, "That's enough…. no offense, King Sombra… Batman simply doesn't trust anyone."
'Offense taken… in fact, I am starting to think Superman brought him just to ruin my temper and then use it as an excuse to banish me to the Phantom Zone.'
Sombra turned his gaze to Green Lantern as he moved to the body of Black Adam; Sombra felt Superman tense behind him, but he ignored it.
Once he arrived near Black Adam, he placed his gauntlet on the man's face as he turned to the heroes, saying, "I advise you to clear this area… What I will do will be quite big."
Green Lantern narrowed his eyes, but he took those unable to fly away as Superman, Raven, and Martian Manhunter took to the sky.
Sombra placed his gauntlet on Black Adam's face as the next second, magical crystals erupted from his hand, covering both himself and Black Adam as they kept growing non-stop until they were the size of a small hill.
Sombra released a breath as he stood up, the crystals making space for him as he moved and turned to leave the crystal prison… all the crystals moving to the side, making passage for him, and closing back after he passed.
'The crystals would steal his magic and store it for use later… without outside help, he isn't breaking outside of this… And as long as he is imprisoned for enough time to take all the magic away?…'
'I certainly won't mind having the magic for myself… All mine, Zehahaha.'
As he finally left the prison, Sombra turned his gaze to the heroes, each in a slightly defensive position except Superman, who actually showed a smile on his face and was completely relaxed as he said, "Calm down, everyone; I can hear Adam's heartbeats, he is just…. sleeping."
He turned to Sombra with an 'I knew you weren't as bad as you look' smile, which Sombra ignored, saying, "You brought your friends to check on the agents, correct?"
"Then let's get it over with."
Sombra raised his gauntlet upward as a large piece of crystal formed and was held by telekinesis as he stepped on it and floated to the Empire.
All the while, the original Sombra's memory was already demanding a thousand methods on which Batman needs to be tortured for his disrespect.
'No wonder the original Sombra lost… He literally had no patience whatsoever.'
Although his level of professional pettiness should be studied… 'It is quite impressive, if I do say so myself.'
(A little while later)
Now, Sombra expected many things… But entering the main hall to find Edward, the current single earth pony of the Empire, surrounded by four agents that were on the ground and groaning in pain…. was not one of his expectations.
'It seems that a few of the agents have woken up while I was… dealing with a certain psychopath with superiority issues.'
Martian Manhunter stepped forward as he calmed the agents, and then he started to check on them before moving to the ones that remained sleeping.
Thankfully, Superman's bright smile was iconic enough that the agents understood that they were quite safe.
Which is understandable; if Superman was in the same room as you, then you are either in the most dangerous spot or the safest…. depending on your views of the situation.
'It is at least nice to know Superman is still seen as HOPE even in this mashed-up universe.'
Sombra felt his eyebrow twitch in small amusement and irritation. 'Now…. How long am I going to pretend that I haven't noticed?'
'Have I offended her somehow?'
Since a certain half-demon had calmed down, he was feeling a gaze piercing through the back of his skull.
'Have she fallen to my charms?'
'Nah…. This isn't a romance novel… And I am quite sure that love at first sight doesn't include a panic attack.'
'Very well… I will use an ancient technique that solves all annoying issues… by ignoring them! Let future me worry about whatever demonic nonsense the daughter of a literal multidimensional demon conqueror is thinking about.'
But not all was bad, as Sombra finally left his hybrid form. He held the Crystal Heart in his two hands as he watched it fill slowly.
It seems having visitors isn't all bad… Except Batman; I already hate that man.
'Maybe hate is a strong word… I just find myself hoping he would self-destruct away from me.'
Sombra turned his gaze to Edward, who was standing awkwardly at his side, as Edward said, "I and Lily hid in the castle after the explosion, and I decided to check if they were alright since they were asleep and defenseless."
"And I may have not considered that my new crystal looks with my height made them panic."
"The few awake jumped me, and I…. reacted….."
Sombra turned to see the few agents that were sitting, who had obvious bruises, and one of them had a smack mark on the side of his face.
"So… you are telling me that you took down four highly trained soldiers on your own…. physically?"
"Uhhhh…. yes?"
Edward, who was now close to seven feet tall after his transformation and gaining earth pony magic, felt a gauntlet on his shoulder as he turned his head to see Sombra giving him the biggest, proud, toothy smile that was something between 'My MAN' and 'you have made me proud'…
'I may need to reevaluate how much an earth pony's physical strength is compared to ordinary humans.'
"Am I gonna be thrown in jail? I mean, it was a heat-of-the-moment sort of decision, and they all look like they belong to the military or something, so…."
"No… no one is dragging you to jail; now go and make sure the others are okay… especially Jack; I will not be surprised if he invented new methods in which he can cause me headaches."
Before Edward could answer, he was teleported away to outside the castle…. which caused him to throw up… something that would happen a few more times in the future until he grew used to magical teleportations.
(A few minutes later)
Martian Manhunter was almost done helping the agents, which resulted in most of them waking up.
Which started a whole new issue…. Some of those agents were original SHIELD agents who were brainwashed to be brought under the control of Hydra.
Those agents had the most stable state at the current moment because, although they remembered doing terrible things, they were willful enough to not allow the trauma to affect them severely.
On the other hand, there were ordinary individuals, those stolen as children, trained, and then used to infiltrate SHIELD.
Those were a mix of things…. they simply were a very big blank paper, not the same as children.
But it was the first time in their life that thinking for themselves without outside influence was possible.
They remembered everything—the innocents they killed, the training, and everything they did while serving Hydra. Some took it better than others; some cried in joy, while others looked lost.
Some had families they remember, and for those taken as infants, they had nowhere to go back to.
As much as Sombra was always talking about positives and benefits, he wasn't heartless.
The original Sombra was as uncaring as they come to the pain of others, which had partially been formed by the corruption of dark magic.
He still very much believed that he was willing to kill and do anything necessary for his new permanent or temporary home.
But he could understand their situation…. He was, after all, thrown into a similar situation when he got this new body.
And people have different mental fortitudes…. Sombra and his human self were simply on the colder side.
Not everyone can simply slam their face into a wall and get back up to continue living….
They need to cry; they need to mourn and grieve... which was fine.
Until those agents made their choices, he would make sure they were all protected.
Not just because he wanted their emotions for the Crystal Heart… but because he understood their situation far more than they probably realized, and having this empty city all to himself actually helped.
Because at least he didn't feel that he didn't belong… He had a home… which helped him in getting his head back on track.
So, he is helping them because he knows that everyone needs a home when they are terrified and confused.
*********
(A/N): Hello everyone In the next week I will update this story three more time since my finals are ten days from now….Yep I am going to get swallowed in the abyss of knowledge….Not to mention a lot more things are happening so all my other works are kinda gonna die for a small while until I finish my tests at least….But hey at least I will get a holiday afterwards and even if I get a work I would have my more time to enjoy writing…I may update each chapter every three or two days until the few chaps I have is finished and then I would stop until my tests end.
The only reason Sombra is going to get updated is because his chapters are already done and I only have to edit them with AI….