Gotham Transformed #310

Three years later

"A dark and foreboding municipality of corruption and crime," or so most people would think at the mention of Gotham City. It was a city that seemed to be in a perpetual state of decay, with crumbling buildings and neglected streets.

The cityscape was dominated by looming Gothic architecture, with gargoyles and other sinister-looking features that added to its ominous ambiance. The streets of Gotham were notoriously dangerous, with crime and violence being an ever-present threat. Gangs and criminals roamed the streets, and the police often struggled to maintain law and order.

Corruption was rampant, with many members of the city's government and law enforcement involved in criminal activity. But no more. Gone were the olden days, and Gotham looked distinctively different.

In merely three years, Gotham City underwent a remarkable, wonderous transformation. The once-dark and dangerous city transformed into a bright, bustling metropolis, free of crime and fear. The streets were full of vibrant colors and the sounds of laughter and music as people of all ages and backgrounds roamed freely without needing about their lives or their livelihood.

The city had undergone a massive renovation, with new parks, public spaces, and modern, even futuristic infrastructures. The dark, foreboding buildings had been cleaned up and repainted courtesy of the many non-profit projects started by Whitelock Industries over the past three years.

The cityscape was full of green spaces and gardens, solar panels and wind turbines provided clean energy to power the city, thanks to the newly created echo-protection department led by Dr. Pamela Isly, a former career criminal, now a dedicated environment activist and a public figure.

Crime had been eradicated, thanks to the efforts of the police force under Commissioner Deborah's competent leadership and cutting-edge equipment supplied for the local law enforcement agencies by Whitlock Industries for a token price, not even worth mentioning.

The employment rate was the highest in the world due to the community programs that provided education, job training, and mental health resources to those in need, implemented by the city's new mayor

Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot.

Perhaps, the only remaining vestige of the Old Gotham was the Wayne Tower, still standing tall in the center of Gotham's downtown and casting its dark shadow over the city as a reminder of what once was.

But even the Wayne tower was paled if you compared it to the bright white building beside it at the center of the city, standing equally tall with a mysterious gigantic green crystal hovering over it.

The people of Gotham could now live their lives without fear, enjoying the many amenities and comforts the city had to offer, and they did so, fully knowing they owed it all to one man, Grayson Whitlock. betterment

A Gothamaite, born and raised, the young man emerged from obscurity and fought for the advancement of the city of Gotham like no one else ever has, except maybe the Waynes.

However, unlike the Waynes, Grayson grew up in the city's streets. He knew what was needed to achieve change, enabling him to accomplish what they couldn't.

Or so the people thought, blissfully unaware of what transpired behind closed doors and the circumstances behind Gotham's transformation, but that's neither here nor there.

As for the young man whose efforts made this wonderous transformation possible, he remained unchanged. And, as always, he was untangling a mess left by someone else, albeit willingly, on this specific occasion.

...

Gotham

The catacombs beneath the city's center

As he floated above the center of a white magic circle, Grayson's eyes shined in a divine golden light as he recited a spell. "Kare nem besah. Emok ao raratah..." He muttered.

The more he spoke, the brighter the circle and his eyes gleamed, and he only stopped as the ground before he warped, an elderly, well-dressed man emerging from beneath it.

"There you are, you slimy bastard..." Grayson said with a smile, his eyes reverting to their normal state as he landed on the ground. "For guys who's been dead since the olden times... you've caused a lot of trouble..." He added as he walked up to the confounded elder.

"And who might you be...?" The man asked, frowning as he looked at Grayson, but the young man didn't seem to be interested in giving an answer. "Well, it matters not. I thank you for freeing me. Now step aside so I may see what the world has come to..." He went as he tried to walk past Grayson, but the latter quickly blocked his path.

"I'm afraid I can't do that... even in death, you've caused more damage than you can imagine..." Grayson said as he raised his left hand, a dark sphere of light slowly materializing over its palm.

The man looked at the spell slowly forming in Grayson's hand, causing his eyes to widen in shock. However, he quickly gathered his bearings once he realized he was in danger.

"I don't know what's happening here, nor what you mean, but..." The man said with a tone of grim resolve as he spread his arms wide. "But you will not rob me of my freedom, youngster," He added as two dark tendrils materialized in his hand.

Without delay, the old warlock swung the two tendrils at Grayson as one would use a whip, and the lash went flying toward the young man's face with a loud, harsh cracking sound.

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you were never free and will never be..." Grayson said, keeping his smile as she shook his head and caught the dark tendrils with his right. "Now of to hell with you," He added as he released the dark sphere floating over his other hand.

Before the shocked eyes of the old warlock, the sphere split into five smaller orbs, each heading for one of his extremities and levitating over his head, hands, and legs.

The four smaller orbs slowly expanded, transforming into dark magical circles and sprouting a thorny dark tentacle, all wrapping around the old warlock's head and limps.

"The current king of hell and his mother will have a hell of a time torturing your condemned soul..." Grayson said as he watched the tentacles start pulling the old warlock apart. "I wish I could say I sympathize... but I really don't..." He went on, shaking his head as the man's body split into five parts and was swallowed by the magical circles with a spray of blood.

"Now that the root of the desires is gone..." Grayson muttered as he retrieved a small napkin and wiped what little blood squirted on his face." It's time to deal with the symptoms..." He added as he turned to the crack in the ground from which the warlock emerged.

He kneeled before the dark chasm and reached into it, chuckling as the shadows came to life and wrapped around his hand. "Here goes nothing..." He said as he slapped the shades away and stood up before jumping into the abyss-like crevice.

...

Grayson opened his eyes and found himself in a pitch-dark space, causing him to frown as he failed to see anything despite using his countless magics, powers, and gadgets.

"Strange..." The young man muttered as he raised his hand before his face yet still failed to see anything. "Is this nothingness...?" He wondered but didn't get to overthink the matter as a spotlight suddenly shined on him, causing him to raise an eyebrow.

And before Grayson could do or say anything, another spotlight appeared, shinning over a wreathing pile of shadows faces that slowly began taking human shape.

"Hello, Shawn, Shawn Baker..." The shadowy figure said as it finally took a solid form identical to Grayson. "I've been looking forward to meeting you for years now..." He added, and his tone also resembled the young man's voice.

"Now that's a name I haven't heard in for a while now..." Grayson said as he furrowed his brows in confusion. "Who are--" He added, only for the shadow to cut him off halfway through his sentence.

"I'm one, but one of many... I, or rather we go by Gotham, but my original name was Grayson Witlock..." The shadowy figure said with a smile. "The former owner of the body you inhabit," He added in a careless tone.

"I know you have many questions... and they will all be answered if you merely listen..." The shadowy figure said, and Grayson merely nodded after a brief hesitation. "You already know what the city of Gotham has done to me..." He went in a calm tone.

"Well, I wasn't the first, nor the last..." The shadowy figure in a somber tone as he raised his hands, and countless spotlights appeared, revealing many shadows of humans of all shapes and sizes.

"Against our wills, we were brought here by a dark being whose only nourishment is the suffering of Gotham, forced to empower it without torment..." He explained in a casual tone that contrasted the severe nature of his words.

"We do not understand the truth of our captor, but after hundreds of years of imprisonment... I, or rather we, have learned to channel a portion of the energy meant to him to other ends..." He went on as he clenched his fist, causing the spotlight over the other shades to disappear.

"We learned to channel it toward other planes of probability... to your world, in which ours was a mere comic book story..." He concluded.

"So let me get this straight... you were responsible for bringing me here," Grayson blankly said, causing the shade to smile bitterly and nod. "And you brought me, hoping I'd purify Gotham and free you...?" He asked with a frown. despondent

"Yes... but you are only half right, my friend..." The shadowy figure said with a bleak sigh. "We didn't think you'd purify the city... we thought you'd destroy it," He added, shaking his head.

"We did not think anyone would even consider restoring Gotham after suffering its dark whims..." The shadowy figure said. "Even us, born and raised in this city, would not have been so merciful..." He went on, shaking his head.

"And no, our freedom does not require you to destroy Gotham..." The shadowy figure added before Grayson could speak. "By destroying the warlock, you've erased the source of corruption, freeing the city from the influence of the dark being, and us and by extension..." He added.

"In fact, we are happy you proved us wrong..." The shadowy figure said with a smile. "We are beings of pure resentment... we can only talk like this because we are speaking to you. We are pleased you do not share the burden of our hatred, though you might hate us..." He concluded, shaking his head

"You've got some nerve talking such nonsense in front of me..." Grayson said with a scowl. "But no... I don't hate you..." He added as he sighed after a short pause, prompting the shadowy figure to raise an eyebrow.

"I'd probably stop at nothing to make you suffer if you told me this three years ago..." Grayson remarked with a chuckle. "But I just can't bring myself to care... heck, you've already suffered enough," He continued, shaking his head.

"But now... I can only feel bad after waiting so long to see how my efforts would fare against the corruption before purifying it..." Grayson concluded with a chuckle as he scratched his head.

"Then you are a better man than us, Shawn Baker..." The shadowy figure said with a genuine smile. "But we're running out of time... do you have any questions?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Now that you mention it..." Grayson as he rubbed his chin in thought and paused. "Why a system of all things?" He asked as he looked at the shadowy figure with a confused expression.

"I'm afraid that one is on you..." The shadowy figure said, shrugging at Grayson's words. "We provided you with the power, but it was your subconscious mind's responsibility to shape it... and it chose a system..." He explained in a calm tone.

"So it shaped into something I'm familiar with and easy to understand..." Grayson as he raised an eyebrow, to which the shadowy figure nodded in agreement. "You said you channeled your power into a plane of probability where this world is a mere comic book story..." He added, taking a deep breath.

"Does this mean this world is a real one?" He asked with a frown.

"Even if we replied to that question... would you believe us if it contrasted what you wish to believe...?" The shadowy figure asked with a meaningful smile. "The truth of the matter is that you already know the answer... you always had..." He added, shaking his head.

"But let me ask you this... does the answer really matter in the grand scheme of things...?" The shadowy figure asked, tilting his head. "This world is like any other... it is only as real as you make it out to be..." He concluded.

"More cryptic bullshit... great..." Grayson said, rubbing the back of his neck with an exasperated expression. "As if I didn't get enough of that from Richard..." He added, rolling his eyes.

"But that is the beauty of it, Shawn Baker... no world without mystery or wonder is worth exploring..." The shadowy figure said. "And you've barely scratched the surface..." He added as dramatically he spread his arms apart.

"But we've run out of time... be on your way Shawn Baker..." The shadowy figure said as he relaxed his arms and chuckled. "This is no place for the living..." He concluded, and before Grayson could speak, he felt something tugging at his body, and his vision darkened.

Suddenly his vision returned, and he found himself in the catacombs that entombed the old warlock as he opened his eyes. "Fair enough, I guess..." Grayson said, bitterly smiling as he looked at the shadowy chasm and raised his hand.

Suddenly a white sphere materialized in his hand, and he promptly sent it flying toward the dark crevice. "Rest in peace..." Grayson said, his eyes shining in a golden light as he watched the light slowly eradicate the wreathing shadows within.