Chapter 52

Haruka watched as the Vasquez children listened intently to Billy's plan. Eugene stepped forward, his brow furrowed in thought.

"But how will you be able to get back to the Rock of Eternity?" Eugene asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Didn't the Wizard say it was hidden from the mortal world?"

Billy nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I remember the way," he said, his voice filled with confidence. "There's a subway entrance that leads directly to the Rock."

Pedro, the gentle giant, spoke up, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Are you sure about that, Billy?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern.

Darla's eyes widened with excitement, and she bounced on the balls of her feet. "Ooh, a secret subway to a magical place?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder. "That sounds so cool!"

Haruka watched the exchange, his mind racing with the implications of their plan. He knew they needed to act quickly if they were to have any chance of stopping Black Adam, but the risk of exposing the Vasquez children to such danger weighed heavily on him.

Haruka winced as the lingering pain from Black Adam's attack coursed through his body. Though not yet fully healed, he refused to let it slow him down. Mary stood beside him, offering her support.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Haruka winces slightly as he shifts his weight, but he offers Mary a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine, but thanks," he says, his voice tinged with gratitude. The young woman's concern is evident in her expression, and Haruka appreciates the gesture.

Mary nods, her brow furrowed with worry. "You took quite a beating out there," she says, her hand resting gently on his arm. "I'm just glad you made it back in one piece."

Haruka knows she's right – his confrontation with Black Adam had left him battered and bruised. But he also knows they don't have the luxury of time to rest. "We need to focus on stopping Black Adam," he says, his voice steady. "I'll be alright. We need to get to the Rock of Eternity before it's too late."

Haruka, Billy, Freddy, Mary, Darla, Eugene, and Pedro enter the subway. The group approaches a seemingly ordinary subway entrance, its nondescript exterior concealing the extraordinary destination they seek.

Billy steps forward, his expression determined. With a firm grasp, he forcefully pries open the subway car's door, revealing a dimly lit, mystical passage beyond. The metal groans in protest, but Billy's superhuman strength overcomes the resistance.

Pedro, ever the pragmatic one, looks on with a skeptical gaze. "This is really going to work?" he asks, his deep voice laced with uncertainty. "Are we just going to some wizard's house?"

Darla, undeterred by Pedro's doubts, bounces excitedly on the balls of her feet. "It's not a wizard's house, silly!" she corrects, her voice filled with childlike enthusiasm. "It's a magic castle! Just like in the stories!"

Mary scanned the empty streets, noticing the eerie silence that had settled over the area. "Guess everyone's cleared out," she muttered, her brow furrowed with concern.

Eugene stepped up beside her, his expression grim. "Yeah, they're evacuating this whole part of the city," he said, his voice tense. "Black Adam's really doing a number on the place."

Billy tugged at the subway car's door, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Come on, work with me here," he muttered under his breath, his fingers tightening around the metal frame.

Freddy stepped up beside him, his arms crossed over his chest. "The subway car isn't going anywhere, Billy," he said, his voice laced with frustration. He leaned in, peering into the dimly lit tunnel beyond. "What's the deal? I thought you knew the way."

Billy shot him a quick glance, his lips pressed into a thin line. "I do know the way," he insisted, his tone defensive. "It's just... stuck or something." He gave the door another firm pull, but it refused to budge.

Darla bounced on the balls of her feet, her eyes wide with excitement. "Maybe it needs a little extra push?" she suggested, already reaching out to lend a hand.

Pedro, the gentle giant, placed a massive hand on her shoulder, gently holding her back. "I don't think that's a good idea, Darla," he rumbled, his deep voice cautious. "We don't know what's down there."

Haruka watched the exchange, his brow furrowed in thought. "There has to be a way to get this thing moving," he said, his voice calm and determined. "We don't have time to waste."

Billy suddenly heard a voice echoing through the dimly lit subway tunnel. "Say the word, Billy Batson," the voice whispered, gentle yet insistent.

Recognizing the urgency in the ethereal voice, Billy took a deep breath and called out, "Shazam!"

The moment the word left his lips, a surge of energy coursed through the subway car, and the group felt a strange sensation of movement, as if the entire structure was shifting. Haruka and the others watched in awe as the dull, concrete walls of the tunnel began to shimmer and transform, revealing a grand, otherworldly passage that led to an immense, floating island in the distance – the Rock of Eternity.

Haruka, Billy, Freddy, Mary, Darla, Eugene, and Pedro arrive at the Rock of Eternity. Pedro could not believe that worked. "I can't believe that actually worked," he says, his deep voice tinged with wonder.

Darla darts around, her eyes wide with excitement as she takes in the strange, otherworldly surroundings. "This place is amazing!" she exclaims, her voice brimming with childlike wonder.

Mary steps forward, placing a gentle hand on Darla's shoulder. "Darla, come back here," she says, her voice stern yet caring. "We don't know what kind of dangers might be lurking around."

Eugene furrowed his brow, turning to Haruka with a concerned look. "Do you think we can find anything here to stop Black Adam?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Haruka's eyes narrowed as he swept his gaze across the cavernous halls of the Rock of Eternity. "There better be," he said firmly, his jaw set with determination. He couldn't afford to fail - too much was at stake.

Haruka and the Vasquez children explore the cavernous halls of the Rock of Eternity, searching for anything that could help them defeat the formidable Black Adam. Their footsteps echo against the ancient walls as they peer into the various alcoves and chambers.

Mary leads the group, her eyes scanning the environment with a mixture of awe and caution. "Keep your eyes peeled, everyone," she says, her voice low. "We don't know what kind of dangers might be lurking here."

Darla skips alongside her, her boundless energy seemingly undimmed by the gravity of their situation. "Maybe we'll find a magic sword or a dragon!" she exclaims, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Eugene, ever the voice of reason, shakes his head. "I don't think that's what we're looking for, Darla," he says, his brow furrowed in concentration. "We need to find something that can actually help us stop Black Adam."

Freddy, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly perks up. "Hey, what about that door over there?" he says, pointing to a massive, ornate doorway that seems to shimmer with an otherworldly energy.

Haruka turns his gaze to the door, his eyes narrowing. "It's worth a look," he says, his voice low and cautious. "But be careful. We don't know what might be behind it."

The group approaches the door, and as they draw closer, they can feel the power emanating from it. Haruka reaches out, his hand hesitating for a moment before he pushes the door open.

The moment the door swings inward, a sudden gust of wind rushes out, nearly knocking them off their feet. Darla lets out a startled yelp, and Pedro instinctively steps in front of her, shielding her with his broad frame.

As the wind dies down, the group peers into the room beyond. The sight that greets them is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Massive, hulking creatures lurk in the shadows, their glowing eyes fixed on the intruders.

"What is that?" Freddy breathes, his voice barely above a whisper.

Haruka's hand tightens around the Shotriser at his side, his mind racing. "I don't know," he says, his voice tense. "But we need to close that door, now."

Before he can move, one of the creatures lunges forward, its jaws gaping wide. Eugene, reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, slams the door shut, narrowly avoiding the creature's grasp.

The group stumbles back, their hearts pounding in their chests. Darla clings to Pedro, her eyes wide with fear, while Mary ushers the others away from the door.

"Everyone, come on," she says, her voice calm but urgent. "We need to find another way."

As they move deeper into the Rock of Eternity, they come across a massive, ornate mirror. Billy steps forward, his brow furrowed in concentration, and reaches out to touch the surface.

Suddenly, the mirror shimmers, and the image of a woman appears. She is ethereal and beautiful, with a serene expression on her face.

Francesca, an ethereal figure, manifests before Billy Batson and his companions. Her voice is soft and soothing as she introduces herself.

"Greetings, Billy Batson and his companions. I am Francesca, and I have been waiting for you," she says, her serene expression unwavering.

Billy steps forward, his brow furrowed with questions. "Waiting for us? Do you know how to stop Black Adam?"

Francesca nods. "I do, young champion. But only you, Billy Batson, possess the power to defeat Black Adam. You and Black Adam are the only two beings who wield the magic of living lightning, and you are forever connected."

Freddy, his curiosity piqued, speaks up. "Who is this Black Adam, anyway? What's his story?"

Francesca's serene expression shifts as she begins to speak. "Black Adam's story is one of both tragedy and power. Centuries ago, in the ancient kingdom of Kahndaq, a young boy named Hurut was chosen by the Council of Wizards to become the Champion of Kahndaq."

The mirror's surface ripples, and an image appears, depicting a young boy with a determined gaze. "Hurut possessed a pure heart and a deep love for his people. He fought tirelessly to free Kahndaq from the oppression of a tyrannical ruler."

The scene shifts, showing Hurut in his Champion form, wielding the powers of the gods. "The Council of Wizards blessed Hurut with the powers of Shazam, granting him the strength to challenge the forces of evil."

Hurut's image is then replaced by that of a man, hardened by years of struggle. "Hurut's father, Teth-Adam, watched with pride as his son became the champion of their people. But tragedy struck when Teth-Adam was mortally wounded while protecting Hurut from their enemies."

The mirror shows a heartbreaking scene of Hurut transferring his powers to his father, a look of anguish on his face. "In a final act of love, Hurut gave his own powers to Teth-Adam, sacrificing himself to save his father's life."

Francesca's expression turns somber as she continues. "Teth-Adam, now imbued with the powers of Shazam, was consumed by grief and rage. He became known as Black Adam, a being of immense power and unrelenting vengeance."

The mirror's image shifts to show Black Adam, a towering figure shrouded in darkness. "Black Adam's quest for justice quickly spiraled into a thirst for power and control. He sought to remake the world in his own image, heedless of the innocent lives he destroyed."

Francesca's gaze meets Billy's, her eyes filled with a sense of urgency. "And now, Black Adam has returned, seeking to reclaim the power that was once his. Only you, Billy Batson, possess the ability to stop him and restore the balance."

The mirror's surface ripples, and the image fades, leaving the group in contemplative silence. Haruka's brow furrows as he processes the tragic tale, the weight of their responsibility pressing heavily upon them.

///

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.