Chapter 46
Black Adam glides through the sky, Sivana clutched in his powerful grasp. As the city of Fawcett comes into view, the ancient antihero's brow furrows with confusion.
"What is this?" Black Adam rumbles, his deep voice carrying a note of bewilderment.
Sivana, his glasses askew, peers down at the bustling metropolis below. "It is a city, Black Adam. The world has changed much since your imprisonment."
Black Adam's grip tightens momentarily, his piercing gaze fixed on the unfamiliar landscape. "I know what a city is," he growls, the words laced with a hint of annoyance.
"Yes, but you've been asleep for thousands of years," Sivana interjects, his tone matter-of-fact. "Much has changed in that time."
Black Adam's jaw tightens, a flash of irritation crossing his features. "I was not asleep," he corrects, his voice low and dangerous. "I was imprisoned."
Sivana nods, adjusting his glasses as they descend towards the city. "And I have freed you from that imprisonment," he says, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The ancient warrior's eyes narrow, his gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar skyline of Fawcett City. Though he had once ruled over his own domain, the passage of time had clearly brought about vast changes to the world he once knew.
Black Adam's gaze sweeps over the city below, his expression etched with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. "Why have you freed me from my imprisonment, Sivana?" he demands, his voice rumbling with power.
Sivana adjusts his glasses, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Because science failed to help my sick family," he replies, his tone laced with a hint of desperation. "They need magic, and you can bring that power back to the world."
Black Adam's eyes narrow, a flash of understanding crossing his features. "Ah, I see," he muses, his voice tinged with a note of contempt. "So the Wizard has followed through on his threats, has he? He feared others like myself who would challenge his power." Black Adam's lips curl into a sardonic smile. "So, like the Rock of Eternity, it is hidden from the world."
The ancient antihero's gaze shifts to the people below, his expression a mixture of disdain and indifference. "Then what kinds of empty lives do these people live?" he murmurs, his voice dripping with condescension.
Black Adam lands in the middle of the road with a resounding crack and releases Sivana from his grasp. A car smashes into Black Adam, but he remains unfazed. "The city is strange," he rumbles, his deep voice laced with disdain as he surveys the unfamiliar surroundings. The car crumples against his invulnerable form, the driver's eyes wide with shock.
Black Adam turns and strides away, his cape billowing behind him. Sivana hurries to catch up, his shorter legs struggling to keep pace with the ancient warrior's long, powerful strides.
As they round the corner, they come upon a gathering of people in front of a towering corporate building. Protesters hold signs aloft, their faces etched with anger and determination.
"Why are those people gathering?" Black Adam rumbles, his brow furrowed in a mix of curiosity and disdain.
Sivana adjusts his glasses, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "They are protesting because they are angry," he replies, his tone matter-of-fact.
Black Adam's eyes narrow, his lips curling into a slight frown. "Why are they angry?" he asks, his deep voice carrying a hint of impatience.
"The man they are working for has stolen their livelihood," Sivana explains, his gaze fixed on the protesters.
At this, Black Adam's expression shifts, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. "Then the world has not changed as much as you believe, Sivana," he says, his voice laced with a touch of condescension. "Pharaohs still live off the labor of slaves."
Sivana nods, his eyes scanning the building. "I would assume the man they are protesting is up there," he says, gesturing towards the top floors.
Black Adam follows Sivana's gaze, his expression darkening. "Then perhaps it is time to remind these people of the true nature of power," he rumbles, his fists clenching at his sides.
Black Adam, his eyes narrowed with disdain, flies up the towering corporate building, lightning streaking behind him. As he reaches the top floors, he spots a man in an expensive suit arguing heatedly with a group of cowering subordinates.
"That must be the Pharaoh who has destroyed these people's livelihoods," Black Adam rumbles, his deep voice dripping with contempt.
Without hesitation, the ancient antihero crashes through the wall, his powerful hand closing around the man's neck. He dangles the terrified executive outside the window, the man's legs kicking frantically.
"AHHH! Help me! Help me!" the man cries, his eyes wide with terror.
Black Adam looks down at the man with disdain, his grip tightening. "Goodbye, Pharaoh," he growls.
With a sudden, ruthless motion, Black Adam releases his hold, and the man plummets to the ground, his body splattering as it hits the pavement below. Sivana, standing on the street, watches the whole horrific scene unfold, some of the blood spattering across his clothes.
Black Adam hovered above the protesters, his powerful frame casting a looming shadow over the crowd below. In his native tongue, he boomed, "Slaves, you are free!"
The protesters, startled by the sudden appearance of the imposing figure, recoiled in fear. They did not understand his words, and in their panic, they began to scatter, their cries of alarm echoing through the city streets.
Black Adam's brow furrowed as he observed the people's reaction. He had expected gratitude, not this cowering display. Hovering effortlessly, he surveyed the fleeing protesters, his expression darkening with each passing moment.
The people ran in all directions, their terror palpable. Some stumbled and fell, while others desperately sought shelter, their faces etched with a mixture of confusion and dread. The once-unified crowd had dissolved into a chaotic mass, their initial defiance replaced by a primal instinct to flee.
Black Adam's gaze swept over the scene, his displeasure evident. He had come to liberate these people, to show them the true power of a ruler, and yet they responded with nothing but fear.
Black Adam, frustrated by the protesters' fearful response, turned to Sivana. "Their language, teach it to me, Sivana," he demanded, his deep voice rumbling with impatience.
Without hesitation, Black Adam grabbed Sivana's head and used his magic to rapidly absorb the modern English language. As the knowledge flowed into his mind, he could now clearly understand the terrified cries of the fleeing protesters.
"Is he going to kill us?" one man shouted, his voice trembling.
"Let's get out of here!" a woman yelled, her eyes wide with panic.
Black Adam's expression darkened as he listened to their fearful words. He had expected gratitude and reverence, not this cowering display.
"They flee in fear from the one who saved them?" Black Adam rumbled, his deep voice dripping with disdain.
Sivana, his clothes still splattered with the blood of the fallen executive, hurried to Black Adam's side. "We need to go," he said, his voice laced with urgency.
Black Adam's gaze narrowed as he surveyed the chaos unfolding below. "Yes, we do," he replied, his tone dark and resolute. "I have seen enough of this world to know what must be done."
With a powerful sweep of his arm, Black Adam smashed the ground, creating a gaping hole that led to an underground tunnel. "What are we doing down here?" Sivana asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
"The Rock of Eternity may only be accessed from underground," Black Adam replied, his deep voice rumbling with purpose.
The ancient antihero reached out and pressed his palm against the tunnel wall. A shimmering door appeared, its surface rippling with magical energy. Black Adam's lips curled into a grim smile as he stepped forward, Sivana following closely behind.
"Yes, yes, I see it!" Sivana exclaimed, his eyes widening with excitement. "The Rock of Eternity at last!"
Sivana suddenly felt his body getting weaker. "AKK! My...My fingers, my bones. They hurt. What is happening to me?"
"You are utilizing magic," Black Adam rumbled, his deep voice echoing in the tunnel. "Though you may have the ability to see it, Sivana, your body is not enchanted to safely channel it. If something is not done, you will wither, and it will be painful."
Sivana's eyes widened in alarm as he felt the searing pain coursing through his limbs. "Then we must hurry! The Rock of Eternity must hold the answers we seek."
Black Adam nodded, his expression grim. He pressed his palm against the shimmering door once more, but a powerful barrier suddenly erupted, repelling him.
"No!" Black Adam growled, his fist slamming against the unyielding energy field. "I am unable to enter."
The ancient antihero peered through the barrier, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the interior of the Rock of Eternity. There, he could see the Wizard's body, his light dim and fading.
"The Wizard..." Black Adam rumbled, his voice laced with realization. "His light is dim, and his body is still. He must have given his power away. He must have chosen a new champion."
Anger flashed across Black Adam's features, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "And only the champion may enter..." he growled, his deep voice reverberating through the tunnel.
Black Adam and Sivana did not notice that a single Takacandroid was watching them. The small, mechanical hawk-like robot observed the pair intently, its glowing eyes scanning the scene. With a soft whir, the Takacandroid took flight, its wings propelling it swiftly away from the tunnel entrance. It had a mission to fulfill, a report to deliver to its creator, Haruka.
The Takacandroid soared through the air, its metallic body cutting through the sky with ease. It had witnessed the confrontation between Black Adam and Sivana, and now it carried that vital information back to its master. Haruka needed to know about this new threat that had emerged in Fawcett City.
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Give Power Stones so I can continue to write this story. If it does not gain any interest, I will drop it.
Advance chapters on my P@tE0N Najicablitz, which is also the best way to support me.