54 Vol III | Chapter XXIII

Author's Announcement

Welcome to the last chapter of Volume 3, although all the recent chapters have not been checked for any errors and their grammar, I apologize in advance :)

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"Gordon." Batman called as he landed on the rooftop with the large spotlight that was aimed at the dark sky with a symbol on it, before he walked over at the edge alongside with the homicide detective as they looked down onto the street below.

"Crimes are increasing, murder to be exact and it doesn't make sense, especially when it is mass killing. It is more alarming when the victims don't match with the criminals' when it is impossible that these people have ever met or associated in any way."

"I think there is something else - something that is huge - going on here. But it is not anything that the police can handle."

Gordon explains the whole context and reports that he has investigated thus far, but it is a comment that the detective made that had Batman considering.

"It is almost as if they aren't scared of the Dark Knight, anymore."

With a sharpened eyes and clenched fist, he responded. "We will see about that."

Before their talk could continue, he receives a call from Nightwing and he taps on his earpiece. "Bruce, I lost them in the sewers." Nightwing talks about going after them, despite Batman saying that they would reveal themselves regardless, but still he went on to chase them. However, it seemed that Dick had something else to say and so Bruce responded. "What is it?"

"Damian is here."

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After Jason and the guardsmen made their escape, Dick was quick to follow them shortly after but became lost at the maze that was the sewer.

However, after continuously searching despite finding no trail he stumbled upon someone that he would not expect to be here. "Damian?!" But it would seem that the young Robin would not be alone.

As he lines them up - like that of an older brother prepared to discipline them - he looks to those that were accompanying Damian. It consisted of Wonder Girl, Aqualad, and Terra.

"What are you all doing here?! It is dangerous!"

He exclaimed but not loud that it would echo through the sewers, but it was not a safe place to be, although he instead wanted to know why they were there.

"We were hunting down Deathstroke!" Damian answered with his arms crossed and agitated as if Dick was keeping them from resuming their hunt for Slade, but that did not affect Dick at all in letting them go, instead he ordered them to get back to the surface.

"You can't tell us what to do!" Damian was quick to say, and apparently the others felt the same way except Terra, who was more somewhat soft spoken, unlike Aqualad and Wonder Girl. "It seems that I can, unless you do not want to be accepted into the League."

His threat worked and it silenced them, and with them quieting down he decided to call and tell Bruce about this.

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Bruce hums as he approves on Dick leading them out, before he ends the call with him saying that he was about to be busy. "Well, seeing that there is crime popping at every corner and alleyway, it is an understatement that you will be busy." Gordon jumps in as he assumes what the call had been about.

"Send me every report and details, I'll take care of this." With such a reliable response, Gordon could only ever be grateful that they had the Dark Knight, but that did not mean that he would not be pulling his weight. "I hope that you do leave us some work for us to do." Then with that he started to make his move and left the homicide detective alone on the roof. 'Well then it's time to get back to work.'

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As Jason and the guardsmen got back on the move, before they continued back on traveling through the sewers they tended to Hylric's injury, seriously the grenadier was probably just the age that was just about to apply to college. However, Jason couldn't say anything about it when all he knew was to fight crime ever since Bruce took him in as Robin when he was just a kid.

If anything he was either on par or had it just slightly easier than Hylric, but he did wonder how that felt like to be a soldier - to be like a Robin but on a much larger scale by fighting in wars - but overall he had no opinion on the matter, just surprises that had him wondering as he inspected Hylric's face without the mask and helmet.

As Jason aids Masha in addressing Hylric's wound on the eye, he also took it as the time to speculate and read their body language, and although it did not provide much he took the time to look at each of their movements keenly. After they were done in addressing the wound the best they could with what they had on them, Masha taped Hylric's gas mask to at least keep it functional to an extent before they started to move again through the sewers once more.

After some time in their adventure through Gotham's large sewers, Jason inevitably considers that Scarecrow has entirely lost them, but that was exactly what Jason figured that Scarecrow would assume after waiting for them yet again - as another ambush waits for them - and Jason pulls out his dual pistol.

"Doesn't waiting tire you out or is it just me, since I don't have the patience for it?" Jason questioned as he and Masha aimed their weapon at the end of the tunnel, until a figure walked to the center of it and revealed itself.

"Just like fear, it sticks around and never disappears. I am always waiting until I get the chance once again to strike." Scarecrow said as he looked unbothered this time by the guns that were aimed at him.

"I got to say that it is a nice speech, but I don't really care." Jason said before he accompanies his response with bullets that were followed by Masha's as they shot at him.

As the Scarecrow ran for cover, Masha reached down for the slouched grenadier and had his arm over her shoulder as they approached the end of the tunnel, although they were being cautious and slow they entered a large space where other tunnels connect to it. But despite being careful, they were definitely not expecting what came next.

"You know your gas won't work on us!" Jason yelled as Masha dragged Hylric close as the sound of gas being released was heard, but all they received was a laughter that came from a maniac before the sound of Masha's lens and Hylric's began to break.

"Damn it!" Jason cursed as he ushered them to move faster to get away from this place, but their exit was blocked, and so were all the other ways that they could run to. Despite being absolutely safe with his mask concealing his whole head, he shoots at Scarecrow while simultaneously searching for a way out that has not yet been blocked.

But time was not on their side as the gas continued to become stronger, and the sound of glasses broke and followed by the sound of violent coughing that ensued panic and worry over Jason. 'Damn it! Damn it!'

It was not long after that both had fallen to the ground, their violent cough becoming weaker as they were reduced to weak gasp. "Damn you!" Jason continued to fire as Scarecrow evaded him, until a gush of air - like a whirlwind - forced all the gas away.

Jason and Scarecrow spared a moment to look at the intervention before Scarecrow was hit with a ray of magic that knocked him over some pipes as he fell unconscious on the wet dirty floor of the sewers.

"I am glad I got here just on time, it's good to finally put a face on a name, the Red Hood."

A woman appeared - her luxurious hair was jet black and wavy, and wearing a white button-up shirt with a black suit - as she said those words, but her focus was on the guardsmen that were nearly breathless as she casted healing spells.

"I am Zatanna, and I need to bring them to the Justice League's Watchtower."

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Meanwhile, someplace far and remote a lonesome man was standing over a ritual and was offering blood and decayed corpses, the man recited chants with a sickening tone and language until it invoked the presence of something in the Warp.

"Just as planned, Master - the Weaver of Fates."

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Author's Announcement

The next volume may contain more action on a larger scale, and possibly more involvement with the heroes and supervillains of the dc world! Also, finally the first scene that the cultist reappears again!