Improvements

Dembe and I hugged I couldn't believe my eyes he was back, "Dembe it's so good to see you," I said with a large smile

"My friend I didn't die," he replied shaking his head

"But you could have. You didn't pick up the damn phone!" I frowned

"I couldn't find them," he replied letting out a sad sigh

"How is your family Are they okay?" I asked with heavy concern

A fond smile fought its way onto his lips, "they are fine physically, mentally they are shaken pretty bad. I had to relocate them and I will visit them soon,"

I nodded in understanding, "I'm sorry Dembe,"

He shook his head, "it is a part of the job,"

"No, it's not. I was careless and didn't take into account your personal feelings on the matter of going to that gathering," I replied bitterly

He sighed, "we both were careless and it won't happen again great people learn from their mistakes,"

"And we certainly are great," I laughed as the mood eased

Suddenly Dembe became serious, "I want to get stronger, I can't be so weak,"

"So you are going to take the bite?" I asked flashing my fangs

"Not yet, you have theorized the possibility of evolving into a higher form of a vampire I would rather take be bitten after that. Can your magic give me permanent abilities?" he asked

Suddenly I felt stupid.

I groaned in annoyance, "This is why I need you Dembe, I completely overlooked that,"

He nodded, "it's understandable,"

"Well then we should start combing the books to find what we would like," I pointed out while walking toward the library

"We?" he asked

"Of course, I will need an upgrade. Superman really gave me a wake-up call," I remarked dryly

"So fighting superman?" he asked

I noticed that Dembe seems more talkative. It's not bad just different.

"Let me tell you....."

-Batman Pov -

I sat at the bat computer watching the footage caught by several bystanders when Azreal and Superman fought. Most of it was bad, horrible quality but, I could still glean information out of it.

His abilities were strange, very strange, and unique. It makes me wonder how he got them. Was it a chemical accident like many of the villains I face or Is it something else?

The weapons he used appeared after he brought a book out, I can only think it is because of the book he stole from Gotham, it seems he even needs to read the pages.

I can make a counter to this easily. I also need to find a way to limit his strength, I saw that fire is especially deadly against him.

"Sir you should take a break," the aged voice of Alfred rang in my ears

Letting out a deep sigh I replied, "not yet,"

I could practically feel his disapproval, "is this newcomer that worrisome sir?"

Nodding slowly I replied, "yes left unchecked he could harm a lot of innocent lives,"

He could and that's why it would be wise of him to never step foot in Gotham again.

Suddenly an alarm began to sound, bringing up my cameras I saw a man in blue and red flying above Gotham.

I scowled, "what is he doing in my city,"

-Lucas pov -

Dembe and I finally found two things that he wants to have. One is the Mo Fuqian a cybernetic exoskeleton that goes over the skin it is so thin that no one would be able to tell he has an extra layer of skin but despite how thin it is the Mo Fuqian can protect the wearer from a lot of damage, the second thing which we are both getting is kind of weird we found it by accident when I looked up magical items in books.

Thus we were introduced to the wonders of DnD items, who knew some of these things could be so useful? I might even be able to pull out these things permanently. I learned that when summoning items permanently I need to know two things. One the cost of taking that item will reflect upon my magical reserves meaning like with my daylight ring it took x amount of magical power and I won't get that back until I dispel it. And two I can't overdraft on the item, if the item is too powerful then I will collapse and be drained for about half a day without even being able to use the item.

The Permanent things I already have were all relatively low cost but, with the new things, I'm pulling from books I'm begging to see the downsides of Libriomancy I need more magical power.

Without it, I will never be able to pull stronger things from books, I just need to figure out how. Of course, I could find a book that has an item that increases magical power but I don't know if the cost will be exactly what I will gain or even more.

It's all so complicated really, it's almost like I'm doing math but for magic. Honestly, I would rather be doing something else in my free time than computing the magical power I have to the items I want.

I pulled two Ram Rings from the DnD handbook on magical items, one for dembe and one for me.

"That will help you in a fight, for now, once I get stronger I will increase our arsenal," I told him

He smiled and put the ring on, "thank you,"

I nodded to him and got to work emailing and joining conference calls.

As I was getting ready to lay down for the night and crack open one of the new books I got my phone began to ring.

*triingg*

*triingg*

*trinng*

"What do you want?" I asked picking up the phone

"Don't be so hostile Lucas,"

I snorted at that, "or what?"

A heavy sigh reached my ear, "I just wanted to inform you I will be paying a visit to Starling City soon,"

I went silent for a couple of seconds, "that's good and all but you don't need to inform me,"

"I might make some trouble for Oliver,"

"He's a big boy but, come for my sister then I pull your innards through your mouth," I said in a cold tone

He seemed to pause at that for a couple of seconds, "and your mother?"

I scoffed, "she lost the right to be one years ago,"

"This is the Lucas I remember,"

"I never left," I replied a smile tugging at my lips as I hung up the phone

It seems more trouble will find its way into Starling city, it's interesting how the dc universe works some cities have all of these bad guys and mayhem while the rest just get to relax and wonder 'what is wrong with the rest of the world?'.

I checked my DCO account and saw some posts about Superman in Gotham. Batman surely wouldn't like that.

It's funny, with the creation of my little app it's almost like there is now a real-time tracker of superhero and villain sittings.

Before going to read, I gazed off into the moon, with the particle accelerator explosion happening soon it is just a matter of time before everything starts moving fast.

I need to take several steps to insure I come out on top of whatever I find myself stuck in.

-end-

A/N: so kind of an info dump chapter, wanted to explain more on permanent items. This is kind of my transition into the next arc and some light setup. I'm trying to not make him 'edgy' but I feel like a lot of y'all seem think anything darker is edgy. You gotta remember he spent years on that island killing and drinking blood, being tortured, and more. He is not what id call sound of mind, and if you noticed he is calling people other things besides human now as he is starting to see them as more than just blood bags. (not turning soft)

And with some saying, I'm nerfing superman I really can't see it.