Shadow Monarch in DC

Chapter 509: The Dragon Monarch’s Offer

Arthur’s hands were on Didi’s shoulders, not roughly, his violet eyes, usually so controlled, so measured, were wide with something that looked almost like disbelief."Antares’s successor?!" Arthur’s voice cracked. "He killed Destruction of the Endless?"

He released Didi’s shoulders, stepping back as if the news had physically struck him. His hands fell to his sides, fingers curling into fists. His jaw worked, words forming and dying on his lips.

"Of course," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper."Of course he would go for him. Like you said.. his concept. It’s very much what the Dragon Monarch would want to have." He looked up at the sky, at the fading light, at nothing in particular. "And now he does have it."

"Damn it," Arthur continued, his voice hardening. "If I could only have sensed him before this happened... I would have prevented this."

Raven moved to stand beside him, her hand finding his arm. Her voice was calm, she had learned to think before acting and her grip on his arm tightened.

"Woah, hold on.. You don’t want to be reckless here, this is someone who managed to kill an Endless." She paused, letting the words sink in. "We might want to think rationally about what we can do, we need a proper plan to engage someone like this."

Didi remained quiet throughout the exchange. Her eyes were on Arthur, watching him with that ancient gaze. The wind moved through her short dark hair.

"I can’t sense him either," she finally said. "I’m afraid he is someone outside of my reach." She paused. "As much as you are, Arthur. I can sense you only because of your power, I only managed to find him through my brother, through Destruction, he just happened to be the one that ended him."

Arthur’s jaw tightened. "He should be much stronger now with the concept of Destruction."

"Yes."

"But I still think I can kill him." Arthur’s voice was flat, certain. "Once and for all. Though I will try to take the battle as far away from Earth as possible." He looked at the Gate, at the distant horizon. "This planet wouldn’t survive a full confrontation with him."

Raven’s voice rose, sharp with worry. "Are you planning to fight him on your own?!"

Arthur met her eyes.

"Yes. It is my responsibility, after all."

"NO, it is not!" Raven’s voice was firm, almost angry. "We have talked about this, Hell, even Clark said that when the time came, he would be glad to help. Everyone did!" She gestured at the world around them, at the Gate, at the distant lights of the island, at the entire planet. "I mean, we have fought strong foes before, we took over Hell itself!"

Arthur’s expression softened. He reached out, his hands finding hers.

"Raven.."

She fell silent.

"This is different." His voice was gentle but unyielding. "He killed an Endless. That means he was preparing for a long time, and he achieved one of his goals, I know that he is much like me, one with full control over his powers, commanding an army of millions of Dragons." He paused. "Dragons, Raven. One of them alone is a calamity to Earth, let alone that number."

Raven opened her mouth to speak.

"Destruction," Arthur continued, "is a very fitting theme for him. One he takes very seriously, so yes, I will take this fight somewhere else, far away from here. Alone." His hands squeezed hers. "Our destiny has always meant that we would clash someday."

Raven looked away, her voice was small, almost childlike. "But..."

Arthur released her hands and he turned back to Didi, and before she could react, he pulled her into an embrace.

Didi’s eyes widened. Her body stiffened just for a moment then relaxed into the hug. Her hands, hesitant at first, rose to rest against his back.

"I’m sorry about your little brother, Didi," Arthur said softly.

He pulled back, meeting her eyes.

"I will make sure to avenge him." His voice hardened. "I know how dangerous the Dragon Monarch can be, leaving him to roam the universe as a cosmic entity is something I cannot allow."

Didi’s expression was unreadable. "It is fine," she said. "It was his time."

She paused. "I have a message from the Dragon Monarch for you."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed. His hands fell from her shoulders towards her hands.

"He did leave one, after all."

Didi nodded. "He offered you an alliance, he said that you both seek strength and that you both hate the Monarchs and the Rulers, that you both embody a cosmic concept." She paused. "Or rather, only he does. Because I Death of the Endless, while I live, you cannot have full control of Death. And that is why he will always be the strongest. No matter what you do."

Arthur’s eyes blazed violet.

"He offered to rule with you," Didi continued. "To destroy the cosmic entities of the multiverse, to claim everything." Her voice dropped. "He said that if you refuse, your world will burn, the way he burned his."

The shadows around Arthur writhed. Violet energy flickered at the edges of his vision, dancing across his body, his skin, his eyes. His hands still holding Didi’s trembled with barely contained power.

He turned away and said nothing.

Didi watched him for a long moment. Then she spoke again, her voice softer this time.

"I have a proposition for you, Arthur."

Arthur didn’t turn around. "I know what you will suggest, and I will not hear it." His voice was flat, final. "I said I don’t want it."

Didi stepped closer. "That is the only way you will be able to ascend past the barrier that stands in front of you." She paused. "Which is myself."

Arthur turned, his eyes met hers.

"I don’t want power at the cost of your own demise."

Didi’s expression softened. She looked at him, really looked, as if seeing something she had not noticed before. "You were right about something, Arthur."

He raised an eyebrow.

"My job is not something anyone would wish to have." Didi’s voice was quiet, almost wistful. "I know what it can do. I know the weight of it, sometimes I find myself tired so tired that I have to remind myself how to be mortal once every hundred years. To have that mortal life, to experience what they experience."

Arthur’s voice was gentle. "Didi..."

She continued as if he hadn’t spoken.

"I have an alternative." Her eyes met his. "I would surrender my concept to you at the cost of myself ceasing to exist in the physical world." She held up a hand to forestall his objection. "But my job will continue to be fulfilled by a replacement I choose. One that would have no memory of my old self."

Arthur’s brow furrowed.

"And my old self," Didi continued, "would be part of you, like a ghost, haunting you wherever you go, one that would whisper in your ears every once in a while. Just to have a nice chat with you."

She smiled.

Arthur stared at her.

"That still sounds terrible," he finally said. "You will not have an actual form, and having you as a ghost doesn’t sound very pleasant for you or me."

Raven stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Yeah. It’s kind of an awful fate."

Didi’s smile didn’t waver. "It sounded like a great idea to me, I would be free of my role. Arthur would get my concept and he would not have a disadvantage against the Dragon Monarch, and I would be forever close to him, someone I think very highly of."

Raven’s face turned red. "So that’s what you really want..."

Didi looked at her, her expression innocent. "Is it wrong?"

Raven sputtered. "No... I mean, YES!"

Arthur looked between them, his expression filled with confusion. "How did a serious situation turn into this..."

Didi’s smile softened. She stepped closer to Arthur, close enough to touch.

"I will leave you to think about this," she said. "I have thought very well about this. And I think you should, too. Before it is too late." Her voice dropped. "My brother was no easy foe, The Dragon Monarch is severely wounded, it will take time for him to recover, and once he does..." She paused. "I am not sure what he will do next, or where he will show up."

Arthur was silent for a long moment.

"Alright," he finally said. "I’ll think about it."

Didi smiled and leaned in, and before Arthur could react, she pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

Raven’s eyes flashed.

Didi stepped back. Her form began to fade, dissolving into the space between spaces.

"Think carefully, Arthur," she said. "The multiverse itself is counting on you."

Then she was gone.

Arthur stood in the silence.

Raven’s voice was sharp, barely controlled.

"What a brilliant idea!" she said. "I know EXACTLY what she is thinking!"

Arthur turned to her, his expression puzzled. "It does sound like a good idea in theory. But the cost of her losing her entire physical self is just.."

"That is not what I am referring to.." Raven said.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

Raven folded her arms. "Wow. I am not sure if you are really airheaded about her, or if you are pretending that she doesn’t want you."

Arthur blinked. "Didi? Please, she is just too nice."

Raven’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "Mhm. Too nice and too touchy. And now she wants to be your eternal ghost that would be part of you."

"Okay.." Arthur said. "Let’s enter the dungeon now, shall we? We’ll talk about this later."

Raven’s eyes narrowed. "We will definitely talk about this later.."

Arthur walked toward the Gate, his steps quick, his expression carefully neutral.

Raven followed, her arms still crossed, her mind already planning the conversation they would have when this was all over.

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