Chapter 50 - Grail

---Mongolia, New Earth---

Giving me a rudimentary explanation of magic I quickly realized that The Spectre was too good of a teacher. Explaining magic at a level that was difficult for me to understand as neither of my worlds had magic. Telling me to feel for the pulse of life throughout the universe, I felt like he was asking me to do something I didn't quite grasp.

"I can't believe The Presence sent you to teach him.", the man said, "He isn't a divine being like you, he is a human."

"Aren't you the Phantom Stranger?", I asked.

"More like a pain in my side.", Spectre (New Earth) sighed.

"The feeling is mutual.", he chuckled, "Yes I am the Phantom Stranger. I came to see how badly he would teach you, and he didn't disappoint."

"Will you get off my case, I am doing my job.", Spectre (New Earth) said.

"Go on, I will watch.", he replied standing next to Raven.

Giving me a different explanation of magic, I still thought he was giving a horrible explanation. Closing my eyes I decided to see if I could sense magic energy while also tuning him out. I stood there for several minutes forcibly suppressing the voices I could hear till only nature could be heard. Letting myself sink into my senses I tried to see if I could feel magic.

Watching me carefully, the Phantom Stranger gave me a smile as he tipped his hat. Looking at him, Raven asked what made him smile.

"He will find his way just fine.", he said making chairs for them.

"Find his way?", Raven (Injustice) asked.

"He isn't like any of you, he is more like me in how he can access magic.", he replied, "I am curious to see how he taps into it."

Stopping his explanation The Spectre realized that I wasn't listening, and stood there silently observing me. Diving deeper into my senses I started to feel something like a pulse that ran through the universe. Like roots for a tree the pulse went in every which direction making their way across all reaches of the universe, and even beyond that.

Reaching out to the pulse, just touching it with my mind sent endless amounts of energy into me. As I was doing this they all watched the air around me start to glow as the air hummed. It wasn't a normal hum, but what they were hearing was the peaceful hum of life flowing through this universe. The sound soothed all of them as they remained in place.

"This...this sound is so calming, almost like it's at peace.", Raven (Injustice) said with a sigh.

"What he is tapping into is something that only a few have been privy too.", the Phantom Stranger (New Earth) said.

"What do you mean?", Wonder Girl (Injustice) asked.

"The magics you have access to are very much like the Lantern Corps, each is only a branch of the main source. With Raven it's Dark and with you it's Light, but for him he feels all of it.", the Phantom Stranger (New Earth) stated, "He can feel all the different branches, and is harmonizing with it. What you are hearing is the pulse of our universe, the very thing that embodies all of us."

"How did he do it so easily?", Wonder Girl (Injustice) asked.

"Two reasons...first is that his body naturally absorbs all forms of energy through the cosmos making him very receptive to the magic. Secondly, he is hiding something about himself that you don't need to know. It isn't anything major, but it's something that he doesn't want to share.", the Phantom Stranger (New Earth) said with a smile, 'The boy is a reincarnated soul, but you don't need to by privy to that. Only a small number of people know about him, and The Presence has forbade the reveal of that to anyone else. Honestly, the boy is able to harmonize simply because he has been in contact with The Presence before or rather the main portion of The Presence.'

Reaching out for the pulse again I didn't withdrawal my mind, but walked into it. Relaxing as the energy came over me, I opened my eyes to see the universe in a completely different light. Standing in the energy I could trillions of veins flowing through out the area. Sticking my hand I simply thought what I wanted, a bolt of lightning, and it manifested without any delay.

"What!? He didn't say any spell or invoke a magic circle!!", Raven (Injustice) gasped.

"Haha, he is more intune with-"

Stopping his sentence he robbed the two women of their consciousness, and stood up. Glancing to my right a familiar face came forward from the veins where a soft smile on his face. Before I could say a word the Spectre dropped to one knee and bowed his head. Tipping his hat to the old man I saw the Phantom Stranger chuckled at me.

"Recognize him do you?", he asked.

"Wait...do you three know each other?", I questioned.

"Of course, he is the physical manifestation of The Presence.", he replied, "Also known as-"

"One Above All, God, Yahweh...I have gone through many names in many worlds.", the old man chuckled, "You seem to be doing well for yourself, Henry."

"It's been a long time since I have been called by that name.", I retorted with a smirk.

"Indeed it has.", the old man laughed, "I see you are beginning to grasp how to use magic."

"Yes sir, I can see all the veins and where they go.", I replied looking into the sky.

"That is good to hear, I came to make sure my subordinate was up to the task. He isn't the best teacher, but time is of the essence.", he stated.

"You mean with Prime and Injustice Superman?", I questioned.

"Young Henry...rather Clark, it is far more than that. Your interactions with the multiverse were something I didn't intend to happen, they just happened. You have a very promising future ahead of you with potential that you can only dream of.", the old man said with a smile, "Among your fellow Supermen you have the potential to surpass them all by leaps and bounds. Already you are among the top Supermen through your dedication to training and nonstop improvement of yourself. I will admit I was concerned about giving you such power as you could have easily become swayed to a darker side, and destroyed your world. It was a relief that you stuck to your morals which proves you were the right person to give such a wish too."

"Thank you, I am happy you feel I was worthy enough.", I replied with a smile.

"You have certainly been using your abilities for more than just Hero work though.", he stated with a smirk, "That was quite a display the-"

"You weren't watching were you!?", I gasped.

"No, but you were making enough noise to pique my interest.", he laughed with a smile, "On to a more serious note, my reason for coming here is simple...you are the one who is the deciding factor in the survival of how the Multiverse will be shaped moving forward. With your knowledge you have unprecedented access to shape the Multiverse through your guidance."

"I don't understand what you mean...I am here to stop Prime and Injustice Supermen from coming to my world.", I stated, "Once they were taken care of I was going to find a way to seal the barrier on our universe, and live my life with my loved ones on my Earth."

"Unfortunately that is no longer an option.", he said, "The moment you set foot into the Multiverse your presence was detected by those both good and bad. Both sides will want to enlist you into their ranks, and depending on how you handle it determines your future."

"That is a lot of responsibility...why are you putting it all on me?", I asked.

"Because I feel like you are the right person to solve the problems.", he replied, "The best ending has you starting your own dynasty that will maintain balance in the multiverse, and the worst has you becoming a tyrant with near unlimited power. It is your decision on how your story ends, that is the beauty of Free Will."

"You would let that happen?", I questioned.

"I stick to a limited interference policy, in your case I am interfering because you have already started to accelerate your growth by honing the Speed and Negative Speed Forces. There is much more for you to gain both here and in the other universes.", he chuckled, "Now then, continue your training with The Spectre and soak up all the knowledge you can now."

"Thank you for allowing me to have such an amazing family, and giving me the opportunity to meet those amazing women I call my girlfriends.", I said bowing my head.

"Haha you are most welcome, and be grateful I made sure you couldn't pass on your powers.", he laughed, "I know you'd like too, but it's far to dangerous."

"Believe me...Mina's children would be a walking natural disaster with my powers.", I replied.

---U.A High School---

"*Achoo*...is someone talking about me?", Mina thought rubbing her nose.

---Mongolia, New Earth---

"That is very true, and Young Mirko would also have some very dangerous children...not to mention she will be an aggressive mother.", he chuckled.

"Oh boy...", I sighed shaking my head.

Leaving after that, the two girls woke back up asking what had happened. Telling them that I had lost control of a spell, they warned me to be more careful with my magic. Continuing to tag team the explanations, the two explained that since I could use magic by calling an image to mind I needed to be extremely careful with it. The more precisely I could visualize what I wanted the more powerful the spell would become. The flipside was a half assed image of what I wanted could lead to a misfire, or cause the spell to destabilize and explode. Depending on the size of what I was imaging the explosion would be proportionate to that.

"So if I am precise down to the atomic level...", I suggested.

"You could drop one hell of a spell.", Raven (Injustice) said with a smirk.

"It basically sounds like using a Lantern Ring.", I stated.

"It is very much like that.", the Phantom Stranger (New Earth) said, "It isn't that easy for all Magi you, three others, and I are the only ones capable of it. Now then...I should put some cautions forward about-"

"I don't intend on being a fortune teller, raise the dead, or summon demons.", I chuckled.

"Nevermind then, you get the idea.", he laughed.

Since this was just the beginning they wanted to teach physical augmentations, runic languages, and other forms of magic that weren't as simple to use. These forms of magics were invaluable as with even a quick mind like mine I would constantly have to keep barriers up in a magic fight. If I used other forms of magic arts I would be able to focus better on attacking. As we were about to start the lesson, I heard a Boom Tube open up.

"We have company in Metropolis.", I said.

---Metropolis, New Earth---

Having detected the Boom Tube opening the JLA mobilized their forces to be ready for anything. We arrived on top of the Daily Planet just in time to see Darkseid walk out of the tube with several of his men. Among them were the Furies, a few of his lieutenants, and a few of his children.

"What are you doing here?", Orion (New Earth) demanded, "You know that this world and New Genesis have an alliance. Are you wanting to start another war already?"

"I came to ask for aide, the Kryptonian is well aware of the invader on my world.", Darkseid (New Earth) said, "You're the last of your kind because of him."

"Brainiac.", Superman (New Earth) retorted, "Still...you aren't the most trustworthy person, and are a tyrant. I say you get your just desserts, and handle him yourself."

"I know how this plays out...", I said looking down on them, "We can't let the JLA go over there."

"You want to interfere?", Raven (Injustice) asked.

"Not interfere, but save them a lot of pain and suffering.", I retorted flying down to them.

Trying to remind Superman that if Brainiac was there they needed to go stop him, Batman was still just as wary of Darkseid as normal even though he wanted to help. He still wanted to take Brainiac out as he knew Earth would eventually come under his gaze. If they worked with Darkseid to eliminate Brainiac, it would be better for them in the long run.

"Don't listen to him.", I said touching down between them, "He will turn you into Brainiac in exchange for sparing his world. Once he has you for experimentation, Darkseid will also double cross Brainiac as well by infecting him with a computer virus."

"And who might you be?", Darkseid (New Earth) asked.

"Someone who knows better than to ever trust you.", I retorted, "You haven't once honored a promise you made for longer than a century. Swapping sons was supposed to end the war with New Genesis, but you still fight with them anyways."

"You are from another reality, aren't you?", he stated.

"I am, and I know a lie when I see one.", I said, "A New God with your power, and all the forces you control have waged war countless times with New Genesis. You expect me to believe for a second you couldn't fight an AI? No, you see this as a means to rid yourself of Superman and gain all the knowledge Brainiac has."

"I am impressed a worm like you saw through me.", Darkseid (New Earth) said with a smirk, "You aren't as gullible as your counterpart here."

"Leave now, or I will make you leave.", I said.

"You dare threaten me?", he mocked.

"That was a promise not a threat.", I retorted with a smirk, "I wouldn't make the assumption I am on his power level...it may put you in an early grave."

Staring at each other for a few moments, a smile came across his face.

"You are cut from a different cloth than him. I can see it in your eyes, you aren't afraid to cross the line he won't.", Darkseid (New Earth) said, "Interesting you are far more skilled than him too. Since you seem so interested in a fight, I will give you one."

"Trust me...this won't be a fight.", I said as he slammed his fist into my chest and nothing happened, "This will be a one sided slaughterfest."

Slamming my fist into his jaw, he shot out of the city at supersonic speeds as I flew after him. Everyone there took a few seconds to process what just happened. All of them knew how hard he could hit, and they watched me tank it without so much as flinching.

"Dude has some big balls for tanking that hit!!", Shazam (New Earth) laughed, "You see the look on Darkseid's face when he didn't move an inch?"

---Sahara Desert, New Earth---

Slamming into sand dunes as he skipped across the sand, Darkseid righted himself in time for me appear behind him with an unimpressed look. Swinging his arm around to hit me, he watched it faze right through my body. Looking at me in disbelief I punched him into the sand blowing dunes away in the process. Increasing my mass, I slammed into his stomach with the weight of a small city.

Grunting he hit me again, but this time the force came back at him. Shooting him off like a rocket he stopped himself several hundred feet from me.

"I told you I am not the same as your Superman.", I said changing the armor back to the Unchained look, "You picked the wrong day to show up here Darkseid, I will send you down to hell myself since he won't do it!"

Flying at each other we collided midair, but I overwhelmed him immediately and started pushing him back by bombarding him with powerful blows that shook the surrounding area to pieces. Grabbing my fists he slammed his head into mind and almost flew off with the returned impact. Seizing him by the ankles I started smacking him around like a child's toy before slamming my fist into his stomach.

---Venus, New Earth---

Blasting him through the Moon, Darkseid slammed into Venus leaving a ten mile wide crater on the surface. Picking himself back up he dodged my next punch, but took my knee to the throat. Grunting again as he flew into a mountain, he fired his Omega Beams at me which I countered with my heat vision. Running at each other the two of us slammed our fists into the other's face causing the entire planet to buckle.

Rushing through a Boom Tube to see what was happening, the JLA, my companions, and Darkseid's followers were hit by the pressure wave that resulted from our blows. Watching me throw him around, and him have trouble trying to grab me they all had some conflicts with this scene.

"Yo Supes...you always holding back this much?", Flash (New Earth) asked.

"Yeah...we usually get our butts handed to us, and he is beating the crap out of him.", Shazam (New Earth) laughed.

Leaping in to help their ruler, the Furies rushed towards us. Turning around to look at them I sent them flying with a mental blast that also disorientated them. Crashing into Granny Goodness the women struggled to right themselves as I had scrambled their equilibrium. Walking around like they were drunk they knew they weren't going to be of help to anyone.

"If want something done right, you do it yourself!", Kalibak (New Earth) shouted leaping into the fray.

"I swear he doesn't think before he acts.", Steppenwolf (New Earth) said jumping in after him.

Sensing their approach I grabbed Darkseid by the throat and used him to beat the hell out of both of them. Using him like a baseball bat, the two men took the strikes head on unable to attack their lord. Letting him go after several swings, I threw the three of them at the feet of the Justice League.

"Stay down, or I will make it you permanent resting place.", I growled.

As I walked towards him, his daughter got between us in full Amazonian garb. Cracking my neck I told her to take her father and leave which she promptly told me no. She wasn't the type to take orders from anyone so I was going to have beat it into her.

"Wow hold on here, your going to hit a girl?", Shazam (New Earth) asked.

"Stay out of this boy.", Grail (New Earth) said.

"Jeez...", he retorted.

"If you aren't able to fight her I-", Wonder Woman (New Earth) started to say before Grail and I clashed.

Her spear skid across my armor, and harmlessly hit the ground as my fist slammed into her ribs. Feeling them crack under the blow she smiled with delight, which reminded me of Rumi's battle lust smile. Remembering she was Darkseid's daughter she probably had a thirst for combat, and would likely keep going even if I broke her arms and legs. Leaping at me she let loose a barge of kicks before thrusting her spear towards my throat.

Letting it faze through me, I sucker punched her in the face making her entire world start to spin. Unlike the Furies she quickly regained her composure, and grabbed her Scythe. Leaping at me while giving me her war cry, I grinned under my helmet. Shifting my armor to my normal suit, I froze her scythe and shattered it with a flick of my finger.

"I don't have the patience to deal with you.", I said grabbing her by the face.

Using Super Flare at point blank range, the entire area was destroyed as the blast melted everything around us. Shielding his team members with a barrier, Green Lantern asked Superman what the hell that was. Saying he didn't know, the light died down revealing a severely burned Grail still glaring at me but weakly.

"Your call Darkseid, walk away or your whole group dies here.", I stated.

"We are leaving.", Darkseid (New Earth) said knowing he wasn't prepared for a fight with me.

Opening a Boom Tube back to his world, he took his daughter and returned home. Honestly I wanted to kill him given his history and future, but I could see that the JLA wasn't the happiest with me. Looking at them I gave them a shrug and an uncaring look.

"You would have gone to his world, helped him, and watched him stab you in the back.", I stated, "Superman would have been captured by Brainiac, and tortured a bit before Darkseid double crossed him next."

"That...", Martian Manhunter (New Earth) said unable to counter that.

"No innocent people were harmed, there is no damage to public facilities, and I got them to leave without endangering anyone's life.", I said, "If you had fought him, part of Metropolis would have been destroyed and countless lives lost. Let me be clear, I don't think you should all go all out for every villain. Darkseid has destroyed thousands of worlds, and would do the same to yours if given the chance. Everything you love and care about is on that planet, Clark. You can't hold back against him, he knows where your weak points are and will use them against you. I don't want you to suffer having to come home to your parents or Lois dead in the ruins of your home. Darkseid is the type of man that would do that just to make you suffer."

"I...I understand what you mean.", he conceded, "I don't want to be a murderer though."

"Clark, you won't be a murderer for killing him. He isn't like a bank robber or a car thief, he has killed trillions of people without batting an eye. What is it going to take for you to understand that he isn't a normal villain? Do you need to watch him crush your loved ones in his hands?", I asked, "You and I both know you don't want it to come to that, but it will if you don't regard him as an actual threat."

"He's right Clark.", Batman (New Earth) said, "Darkseid isn't an ordinary villain, no matter how many times we beat him he always comes back more deadly than before. He has sent many of our members into the recovery ward for months, and he isn't even using a fraction of the power he used in that fight just now."

"Agreed, under normal circumstances I would say lock him up or send him to the Phantom Zone.", the Flash (New Earth) said, "Neither of those will hold him."

"Clark if you aren't able to do it, I will.", I told him with a serious look, "You and I have different morals and that is fine. I don't like killing either, but I won't let a threat like him walkaway. I killed the Reverse Flash from the Injustice Universe because he tried to kill one of my girlfriends, and I stand by that decision."

"How many girlfriends do you have?", Green Arrow (New Earth) asked.

"Fourteen...", I replied.

"Jeez...", the men sighed.

"Hey I take very good care of my girlfriends.", I retorted, "For the most part they get along, and...don't try to kill each other too often."

"Haha, if you need any tips for the ladies let me know. I am kind of a ladies man after all.", the Flash (New Earth) said, "Probably teach you a thing or two."

"I will be single, and forever alone if I follow your tips.", I stated.

"Haha!!", Shazam (New Earth) laughed falling on his butt.

"I am working on a relationship right now, these things take some time.", Flash (New Earth) shouted.

"With Iris West?", I snickered.

"...I don't want to know how you know that.", Flash (New Earth) said crossing his arms.

"I am honestly surprised you aren't dating her already.", I said.

"It's complicated...", he admitted.

"If you say so.", I replied, "The only one here with a complicated relationship should be Batman."

"And why is that?", Superman (New Earth) asked.

"You can say his taste in women is almost purfect.", I jabbed.

Staring at me with a straight face he didn't say a word. When they didn't hear a reaction from him they looked back in disbelief.

"Bruce...", Superman (New Earth) said with a smirk.

"I don't have time for childish games.", Batman (New Earth) said.

"Come on Bruce, you never talk about your love life.", Wonder Woman (New Earth) stated.

"That's because I don't talk about my personal life.", Batman (New Earth) replied, "Now let's get back to the Watchtower."

---JLA Watchtower, New Earth---

Sitting down to discuss a few things I explained to them about Darkseid's military structure, and how best to strike him if he came back. After a brief meeting I decided it was probably best to return home for the day. Walking towards a section of the base I could use to get us home, I ended up running into this universes Supergirl. Unlike the mature Supergirl I was dating this Supergirl was much more teenager like personality wise. My Kara was much more laid back while this one was much more...cheerleader like with how she dressed and acted.

"Oh, you must be the other Superman my cousin was telling me about.", she said, "Names-"

"Kara, I am well aware of your name.", I replied cutting her off.

"...he also mentioned you are dating a version of me from a different universe.", she stated seemingly waiting for me to stare at her or something.

"I am, it has nothing to do with you.", I said calmly, "If you don't have anything more to say, I have to return to my world."

"Actually, I wanted to know if I could meet her.", she said.

"The next time I will bring her, but she will likely have her comrade from Earth 2 with her.", I replied.

"Comrade?", Supergirl asked.

"A Heroine named Fury, she is...", I said looking around, "Wonder Woman's daughter from Earth 2."

"You mean that old woman had a child!?", she gasped.

"Old woman?", Wonder Woman (New Earth) said with a tense look.

"Uh...thanks and talk to you soon!", Supergirl (New Earth) said zooming away.

'Don't leave me here after you said that!', I thought.

"So, this Fury is my daughter from another world?", she asked, "Whose her father?"

"I don't think you want to know that...", I said politely, "He...he isn't the best father in the world...or any world really."

"You can tell me.", she insisted.

"Well...the father is Steppenwolf.", I stated.

Staring at me to see if I was serious, she quickly realized I wasn't joking.

"You are saying that I-"

"I am not saying anything, I only know her heritage.", I said.

"Hera give me strength...", she sighed.

"So was there something you needed from us?", Wonder Girl (Injustice) asked.

"I wanted to speak with Clark about something.", she replied.

Giving us some space Wonder Woman explained she wanted to know if I would be interested in having my girlfriends trained in Amazon combat techniques. Admittedly them getting that level of training would be beneficial for all of us. If they trained with them there would be very few people that could match them on our world. Saying that I would consult with them as they each had their own schedule she gave me a smile. Nodding her head she said she would look forward to hearing their answer. Coming back over after she left, we returned to our world for the day.

---Apokolips, New Earth--

Taking a seat on his throne Darkseid stared at his subordinates. Their loss today was something he hadn't expected, and it only made the situation worse. Without a bargaining chip Brainiac was moving forward with his download of Apokolips, and his forces weren't able to break the barriers that were protecting his ship.

"Father, the other Superman isn't going to be there forever. We should strike when he-", Kalibak (New Earth) started to say.

"In this situation force won't help us.", Darkseid (New Earth) said, "He was holding back against me to preserve the planet. If we provoke him he will take the fight here, and won't hold back."

"You think he is that powerful?", Granny Goodness (New Earth) asked.

"I do, unlike the other Kryptonians I have encountered he is more than willing to kill. At this stage we are under equipped to take him on and Brainiac together.", Darkseid (New Earth) said, "I think it would be wiser to talk on more neutral territory. Grail, I want you to see if you can setup a meeting with him through the Amazons."

"Lord Darkseid...the Amazons will surely attack her the moment she arrives. Allow us too-", the Furies (New Earth) tried to say.

"Do you question my plan?", he said as his eyes glowed red.

"No Lord Darkseid!", they said pressing their heads to the floor.

"I will do as you command father.", Grail (New Earth) said bowing her head.

"See about getting on his good side by any means you see fit. I am curious how he knew my plan with absolute certainty the moment we arrived.", he said, "Someone like that would make an excellent general."

"For Darkseid.", she said before walking away.

Going to have her remaining wounds healed Grail had other plans in mind. The encounter we had today stayed fresh in her mind as it was the first time someone a man had thoroughly crushed her in combat. Previous encounters with the League bored her as nothing serious really happened. Fighting me made her blood rush as for once someone treated her as an equal on the battlefield, and showed her no mercy. Being shown mercy was an insult to her so when I almost incinerated her she felt satisfaction from it.

'My father won't sit on that throne for long.', she thought, 'I can have that man help me usurp his throne, and I shall claim if for myself. Under my leadership our army will grow even stronger. The man will be my husband, and with our combined powers we will crush all resistance under foot.'