94: Magician vs Biker

The arena buzzed with tension as Doctor Strange stepped forward, rolling his shoulders. His measured confidence was clear, even as he faced the might of Lobo, whose brutish power had toppled legends.

Darius, leaning against a crystalline pillar at the edge of the arena, casually tossed the Time Stone toward Strange. The gem sparkled in the light, a kaleidoscope of green energy swirling within.

"You'll need it, Stephen," Darius said with a wry smile.

Strange caught it effortlessly, slipping it into the Eye of Agamotto around his neck. His cloak fluttered dramatically as he turned to face Lobo, who was cracking his knuckles.

"Magic tricks?" Lobo sneered. "You're really gonna try that rabbit-outta-a-hat crap on me?"

Strange merely smiled, raising a hand to conjure an intricate array of golden glyphs in the air. Each symbol pulsed with an otherworldly glow, the sigils spinning and locking together like a celestial clock.

"Let me tell you something, Lobo," Strange began, his voice calm but commanding. "Throughout history, sorcerers have always been the bane of gods, demons, and beings far beyond your comprehension. Not because of brute strength—no, we're not that crude—but because of the mind. Strategy. Understanding the universe's fabric and bending it to our will."

"Yeah, yeah, keep flappin' your gums, wizard." Lobo snarled, gripping his chain. "Let's see if you're still talkin' after I pound you into the dirt."

Darius snapped his fingers, summoning a radiant barrier of golden energy around the arena.

Darius interjected, his voice booming. "The barrier will contain the effects of the Time Stone. No one outside will notice your meddling, Strange. Have fun."

With a snap of his fingers, Darius leaned back to watch the unfolding spectacle, Verity perched on his lap.

Lobo charged forward, his chain whipping through the air like a serpent. Strange didn't flinch. He extended his hands, casting an Eldritch Whip that intercepted the chain mid-swing. Sparks flew as the magical construct tangled with Lobo's weapon, holding it firm.

"Magic isn't just about power," Strange said, stepping to the side as Lobo lunged. "It's about knowing when and where to strike."

With a flick of his wrist, Strange transformed the whip into a massive mandala that shot forward, knocking Lobo off balance. The Czarnian growled, shaking off the hit and charging again.

This time, Strange activated the Time Stone. The arena slowed to a crawl, every grain of sand floating mid-air. Lobo's movements were sluggish, his body struggling against the time dilation. Strange circled him, inspecting his opponent with clinical precision.

"You see," Strange continued, his voice carrying across the silent arena, "even the most powerful beings can be brought to their knees. Achilles had his heel. Fenrir was bound by Gleipnir. Typhon was sealed beneath Mount Etna. Brute strength means nothing when your opponent controls reality itself."

With a snap of his fingers, time resumed, and Lobo stumbled forward, disoriented.

Strange raised his arms, summoning torrents of fiery energy that spiralled into the shape of a dragon. The spectral creature roared, crashing into Lobo and sending him flying into the arena wall.

Before Lobo could recover, Strange followed up with a swarm of enchanted chains that shot from the ground, wrapping tightly around the Czarnian.

Lobo strained against the bindings, his muscles bulging as he roared in frustration. "You think some fancy ropes are gonna hold me?!"

"These aren't just ropes," Strange said, stepping closer. "They're the Shackles of Atum, forged from the essence of the primordial sun. They've held demons far stronger than you."

With a surge of strength, Lobo shattered the chains, his laughter echoing through the arena. "Nice try, wizard. But it'll take more than that!"

Strange nodded, as if expecting this. "Of course. Let's take it up a notch."

He clasped his hands together, and the arena darkened. Thousands of glowing glyphs appeared in the air, each one humming with power. Strange moved gracefully, his hands weaving through the symbols as he chanted incantations in an ancient tongue.

The glyphs formed a massive seal beneath Lobo, who glanced down in confusion.

"What the frag is this?!" Lobo yelled, attempting to jump away.

The seal erupted with blinding light, and spectral chains emerged, binding Lobo once again. This time, the bindings dug deeper, anchoring him to the seal.

"You see, Lobo," Strange said, his voice echoing with arcane authority, "you are powerful, no doubt. But power alone is meaningless against someone who can manipulate the very rules of existence."

The chains tightened, and the seal expanded, its edges glowing brighter. Strange floated above the Czarnian, his hands moving in complex patterns as he chanted. The air vibrated with magical energy, the sheer intensity causing cracks to form in the barrier Darius had erected.

"By the authority of the Vishanti, by the will of Agamotto, and by the ancient laws of magic, I bind you, Lobo, to the void between realms," Strange declared, his voice reverberating.

The seal erupted, and Lobo let out a deafening roar as his body was dragged into the glowing glyph. The arena shook violently as the spell took hold, pulling Lobo into a pocket dimension. The light dimmed, and silence fell over the arena.

Strange landed gracefully, his cloak settling around him. He adjusted the Eye of Agamotto, which now glowed faintly.

The crowd erupted into applause, Verity cheering the loudest. "That was awesome, Mr. Strange! You're like a wizard superhero!"

Natasha smirked. "Remind me not to piss him off."

Thor crossed his arms, scowling. "Bah, sorcery. Always cheating."

Darius chuckled, standing. "Well done, Stephen. A flawless demonstration of why sorcerers are not to be underestimated."

Strange bowed slightly, a rare smile on his face. "Thank you, Darius. It's always an honour to apply what you've taught me."

-

-

Darius stood from his seat, adjusting his referee-like attire with a satisfied grin. With a casual snap of his fingers, the intricate magical seal dissipated, and Lobo was yanked back into the arena with a loud pop.

The Czarnian tumbled onto the ground, his body glowing faintly with residual magic energy. He groaned, pushing himself up as the crowd leaned forward, curious about his reaction.

"Fraggin' wizard!" Lobo spat, shaking off the magical residue clinging to his leather jacket. He glared at Strange, who remained composed and unflinching. "You're good, I'll give ya that. But next time, I'm comin' prepared."

Strange offered a small bow, a hint of amusement in his otherwise stoic expression. "You're welcome to try, but you'll find that sorcery tends to favour the prepared mind."

Lobo growled, brushing off his jacket, but then cracked a toothy grin. "You got guts, Doc. I respect that. Hate it, but respect it."

Darius strolled forward, clapping his hands once to draw the room's attention. "Well, well, Lobo. You lost, which means you owe me. And as of now, you're in my service."

Lobo looked up, his face twisting into a mixture of annoyance and begrudging acceptance. "Yeah, yeah, a deal's a deal. What's the job?"

"First order of business," Darius said, his voice taking on a sharp edge, "you're going to give us the full details of Darkseid's forces. Spare no detail."

The Czarnian lit a cigar, taking a long drag before exhaling a plume of smoke. "Fine. Lemme lay it out for ya, but it ain't pretty. Ol' Stone-Face has got a lotta firepower in his corner."

The room fell silent as Lobo began pacing, recounting everything he knew about the Apokoliptian forces.

"First off, you've got the Parademons. Endless swarms of 'em, all programmed to kill, conquer, or die tryin'. They're the foot soldiers. Annoying, but nothin' your average hero can't handle if they're careful. Problem is, they don't stop comin'."

Lobo took another puff, his eyes narrowing. "Then you've got the Elite. Granny Goodness and her Furies? They're nasty. Sadistic as hell, and they've got the skills to back it up. Each one's a one-woman wrecking crew."

He cracked his knuckles, his tone darkening. "And then there's Kalibak, Darkseid's kid. Big, mean, and dumber than a box of rocks, but strong enough to tear through anything short of vibranium or whatever magic crap you've got."

The room absorbed the information in grim silence as Lobo continued. "Now, the big problem? Darkseid's got an armada of warships loaded with weapons that could nuke a planet into dust. And he's got his own version of a Death Star—a massive command ship called The Final Judgment . That thing can warp space, crush fleets, and unleash apocalyptic firepower."

Darius listened intently, nodding at the appropriate moments. Lobo hesitated before finishing, his tone grim. "And then, of course, there's him. Darkseid himself. If he shows up, it's game over unless you've got a miracle up your sleeve."

The weight of the information hung in the air as the leaders processed the grim reality of what lay ahead. Darius finally broke the silence, clapping Lobo on the shoulder. "Good work, Lobo. That's exactly what we needed."

Lobo grumbled, shrugging off the praise. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't expect me to write it down in a report or somethin'."

Darius turned to the group, his voice calm but firm. "This is the situation. We'll develop strategies based on Lobo's intel, but I need everyone ready for anything. This war is not just about survival—it's about proving our strength, honing our skills for what's to come. Use it as training, but don't underestimate the enemy."

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked toward the ceiling, his gaze seeming to pierce through dimensions. "I have something I need to take care of."

The room exchanged curious glances, but no one dared question him. Verity tugged at Darius' sleeve, looking up with wide eyes. "Papa, is it something big?"

Darius smiled warmly, stroking her hair. "It always is, my little star. But don't worry, I'll be back before you know it."

With that, he turned to Ororo and Diana, giving each a tender kiss. "Hold down the fort, my loves."

They both nodded, understanding etched into their expressions. And with a flick of his hand, Darius vanished in a burst of golden light, leaving the leaders to contemplate their next moves.

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