Chapter 36

-[Dante]-

He led the team, his eyes locked on their target in the distance which held the greatest amount of energy in the forest. He could also see the connections of vines in the forest leading back to it.

He kept up the telekinetic barrier around the team as the vines and roots attempted to keep them away.

Though they were aware that the barrier was up, they couldn't help but stay tense just in case. What they weren't aware of was the telekinetic barrier he made under their foot, directly on the floor surface.

If the entire forest was a monster itself, then the floor wasn't safe either.

As they walked, Dante froze as he felt a sting of pain in his head.

[You only just woke up. Our brain is not used to handling this much information at once. Give it time.] The force within him helpfully supplied him with an answer to his unasked question.

"Dante?" His attention was drawn by Zatanna who looked at him in concern. "Are you sure you're alright?"

It was then he realized that he had stopped moving and had subconsciously raised his hand to his head.

"I'm fine. Just…not used to this." He said before focusing back on the path in front of them.

"There is no need to push yourself further. Allow us to carry some of the burden." Kaldur suggested.

Dante sighed before pointing forward. "Superboy, around 40 meters forward. Do you see that weird tree?"

"You call that a tree?" Superboy asked in slight wonder but he couldn't blame him.

It was more of a tower of roots and vines than a tree. "Same thing. That tree is the heart or brain of this forest."

Superboy nodded, activating his own enhanced vision to lock onto the said tree. "I got it."

Superboy now took the lead, walking in front of them as Dante tried to lessen the strain on himself. He could feel the strain slowly fading away as he began adapting to it.

He felt a hand sneak into his own, squeezing it lightly. He barely needed a glance to know who it belonged to. Letting out a smile that Zatanna returned, he squeezed back as they continued walking.

A large root speared out from the ground in front of them only to be stopped by the barrier. Before it could get pulled back, a cut appeared on it, cutting it in half.

"It's trying to keep us away. Be ready." Dante warned the team who tensed in preparation as they continued.

It wasn't long before multiple roots rose from the ground, smacking against the barrier in an attempt to keep them away from its core.

"I'm so done with salads." Artemis muttered, causing Robin to cackle as he took out a few discs.

"Let's not forget those guys." He said, referring to the large vultures still circling them from above. There seemed to be even more of them than before.

Dante frowned a bit. He could repeat what he did when he first arrived, blasting away everything in all directions but that wouldn't exactly suit the covert nature of the team.

More finesse and control were required.

Though his increase in power had partially ruined his control, the amount of training he put into it was such that the control he exerted over his telekinesis was still amazing.

"New plan." Dante said, turning to Superboy. "Do you know what it feels like to be a cannonball?" He asked, getting a confused look from the clone.

He laughed as he telekinetically raised Superboy into the air, a look of realization appearing on the clone's face as he figured out what Dante meant.

Dante watched Superboy tense in preparation. "And….fire!"

*Boom!*

Like a rope had been snapped, Superboy was catapulted forward in the direction of the tower of vines.

"Whoa!" Robin yelped, the other having a look of surprise.

Dante's eyes trailed Superboy as his invulnerability proved useful, the clone spearing through every vine that rose to stop him.

The momentum pushed Superboy forward, allowing him to reach the core Dante had aimed him at. Cocking his fist, he punched forward, his arm and entire body tearing through it.

The moment Dante saw that happen, the vines and roots around them let out audible shrieks and whines as they shriveled up before falling to the ground.

"Well, that's one thing taken care of." Robin said, blinking owlishly as they turned their attention to the vultures above them.

"These guys are persistent." Dante muttered as his already glowing eyes shined a bit more.

The wings of the vultures lost power, causing them to fall to the earth. The gathering of vultures fell to the same fate, falling with their brethren.

He had forced them to sleep. He avoided doing it before because he hadn't measured the control of his powers yet. Only after confirming that he still had a semblance of control did he now do it, else he would have crushed their minds in an instant.

It was also the reason he hadn't attempted to form a telepathic connection with anyone until he refined his control once again.

Just as the last vulture fell to the ground, the team turned to Dante.

"You're only doing that now?" Artemis asked the question in their minds, eyes twitching as Superboy emerged from the forest.

"What'd I miss?" He asked, seeing the pile of unconscious vultures.

Dante looked away, whistling innocently. Zatanna sighed at Dante's childish act.

Kaldur pushed the symbol on his belt, contacting the league, specifically, Batman. Though they'd defeated the vultures, they were too dangerous to just leave them to roam free after they woke up.

While Kaldur called Batman, Dante discreetly pulled Zatanna closer to him, getting a shy smile from the girl.

-[Mount Justice]-

The teens walked out of the bioship and into the cave in a better mood than when they left. When they left, Dante was still out of it and his absence could be felt but the boy had now woken up.

Obviously, the teens weren't the only ones to feel happy about the news. The moment they stepped into the mission room, Dante found himself engulfed in a hug by the woman who had taken care of him so far in this life.

"Dante…" The woman sobbed, tears of joy and relief rolling down her cheeks as she hugged him tightly.

Dante smiled, reciprocating the hug. "Hey, mom. I'm back."

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Author Rant: Like I said I'm not dropping this so I'm back.

My sleeping schedule got even worse. I'll need a break soon if I want to live to see my 19th birthday.