(Ra's Al Ghul) (Infinity Island - July 11th, 2010)
"Father… I have arrived."
"I know, daughter. I could hear you coming, but it is nice to know that one of my progeny has managed to retain their manners."
As I sit on a chair next to the fire, I bid that my daughter sit on the chair to my right… I find myself feeling proud of the fact that I could barely hear her movements until she sits down right next to me.
"Daughter… how goes your operations against the Detective?" For a split second I see a slight furrowing of her brow, which is honestly all I need to see, but I want to hear her say it.
"Currently, I have been unable to locate the necessary material for our plan, Father… however, once we are able to triangulate his base of operations, I will have something to use against him." Honestly, you think a man that goes out almost every night fighting crime would leave enough genetic material to use, but so far the Detective has managed to elude us.
However, I cannot let her failures go unpunished… Yes, I have an idea. Looking towards my daughter, she slightly bows her head in shame, as she should. She's lucky she can keep her head. Even with the blessing of my genetics, she still hasn't managed to seduce the Detective to our side.
"Never mind your ceaseless hunt for the Detective, daughter. I have a new mission for you. One that is much simpler than what we are currently trying to do." I see her head rise as she stares at me with a slight bit of confusion.
Picking up the fire poker, I slowly but surely raise it towards the fire's edge. "There is a new player amongst the board. His exploits have already managed to garner my attention. His name is Solomon, the so-called student of the wizard Zatara. I believe differently. I simply think that it is a family matter. I want you to see if my hunch is correct."
I then slide a file across the coffee table next to me towards her, and as she picks it up, I see her eyes begin to scan its contents before she closes it.
"If you wish for me to test the boy, it shall be done. What should I do if he is secretly Solomon?"
"If he is Solomon, I imagine you shall suffer immense pain, but from what I've seen, this Solomon seems to hold that same weakness that the Detective has. He hasn't killed anyone yet. At worst, you shall be shipped off to Arkham or Blackgate, where I shall retrieve you. Here, take this." I then hand her a small medallion meant to glow and vibrate should the presence of magic exist. However, she will have to get close to the target.
As my daughter takes the medallion and places it around her neck, she takes the file into her hands. "And what if your insights are incorrect?"
It barely takes a second for me to wrap my hands around her neck, and as she chokes, I simply look my daughter in her eyes.
"I do not make mistakes, daughter, and do not pretend to think otherwise. If the son of Zatara is not Solomon, then leave him alive. I do not want that sorcerer hunting me down. Do not fail me again… now go." As I let her go, she coughs as she struggles to her feet before bowing and leaving my presence.
Picking up the phone from my pocket, it begins to display a recording feed from a drone I'm going to have following her. If she is not able to see it, then maybe I shall. But as I try to activate the drone, my fingers begin to shake, and my arm begins to feel like it's on fire.
I grit my teeth as my lips begin to bleed… it's been too long since I've been into the pit. I will need to rejuvenate myself within the next few weeks. But for now, I shall entertain myself with how my daughter fares against the son of a sorcerer.
(Gale POV)
It's a strange thing not having to sleep. It's like my body is so full of energy yet feels comfortable at the same time… With my magic fueling my stamina and mental reserves, I could go on for weeks without rest. Not to mention my various perks enhancing my body to beyond even the peak human conditioning of someone like Batman.
But given the fact that this Batman hasn't managed to fall from Earth's orbit without dying, I'm going to assume that this is a much more realistic world. Currently, I am trying to re-create the homunculus from Fate, and given the fact that there are multiple guidebooks created by Merlin, I do believe I'm making good headway.
I'm trying to create an exact copy of myself—one that shall act in a basic capacity in order to keep my identity safe. For now, I don't even need to worry about resources as they constantly restock based on their rarity. Even the creation of a homunculus is pretty simple. It's mostly basic alchemy and transmutation followed by granting the body life through various small rituals and such.
The final step is engraving the look you want upon the homunculus. That requires a drop of blood… and while it is strange to see that my blood has turned golden in its natural color (which I can change), I do find it to be striking in its appearance.
As the mannequin-looking body lies upon the table, I take a small knife, and after disabling the constant reinforcement I'm using on my skin for a moment, I make a small cut, and as the blood drops onto the body, I see the skin beginning to ripple and take shape… and as it begins to take form, my finger heals thanks to being within Avalon.
I do hope one day I'm able to gain a biological healing factor, as while I can knit my flesh back together, the process is rather painful and drains my reserves. And while it is like taking a drop from a lake, it may eventually add up.
As I wait for the body to finish taking shape, I check on Roy Harper and the Superman clone. I've been doing regular mental healing sessions with the Superman clone while also making sure to keep Roy Harper's body alive… The Superman clone is thankfully beginning to develop quite nicely in terms of its mental capacity.
Using basic hypnosis techniques as well as some various mental healing arts from the wizarding world, I'm beginning to see the beginning of memories… The Superman clone is beginning to dream like a real boy.
It almost makes me feel like the doll maker from Pinocchio, although I myself am confused on what I should do with this clone once it wakes up. I'm not entirely sure what I should do. The more scientifically minded part of me wants to use him as research material, but the empathetic part of me wants to help him live his own life. Given the fact that he's now a full Kryptonian with healed DNA, he's going to be able to live as long as the average Kryptonian under a yellow sun.
Thankfully, the Elixir has also managed to make sure that the clone ages both externally and internally at its normal rate, and even then, given the nature of a Kryptonian under a yellow sun, they may be similarly immortal or at least long-lived.
But seeing the smile on the clone's face is enough for me to choose the latter. If I want to eventually study a Kryptonian, there are enough evil Supermen in the Multiverse to study.
[+200 CP Milestone Reached]
[200 CP Banked]
Well, good to see you too, Grimoire. You've been silent for the past day now… However, that comment—the Grimoire floats over towards me and slightly taps me on the head as if annoyed—but I could sense no heat behind it.
"Yes yes, I know you can't be active all the time, but it's nice to know that you're listening… Yes, don't worry, I'll clean you later." I've come to realize that my Grimoire has begun to develop its own ego and it's like having an affectionate cat in a way. It likes to be held and cleaned at regular intervals, and to be honest, I don't actually mind.
For now, however, I return to check on my homunculus, and as I see a perfect replication of myself on the table, I create a mental connection and, using mental partitioning, I begin to control the homunculus…
The sensation is strange. The body is definitely much weaker than my own, and its senses are not as finely tuned. But it's not meant for combat anyways; it's mostly just meant for appearances. I can still use basic magecraft within the homunculus body, but this will do for now.
I then disconnect from it, and as it lays back down onto the table, I cloak it within my normal Solomon garb. Checking my watch, I see that it's almost time for me to "wake up" and feed Zatanna… the girl is basically ravenous for my food.
With a slight smile and chuckle, I exit Avalon and return to my room, and as I take a quick shower and prepare myself in some basic relaxing clothes, I enter the kitchen and begin to cook.
Mostly going simple for today, as sadly, my sister has decided to take me shopping with her. I could almost feel the dread fill my being… I shall never despise spending time with her, but shopping is never a fun endeavor.
To bring my spirits up, I decide to roll on the Grimoire, and as it opens up and begins to glow with its golden light, I wait…
[Rolling]
As the glow brightens, it then sputters as if running out of fuel…
[Roll Failed: 600 CP - Living Disaster / Jujutsu Kaisen]
Well, that's not a great start to the day, and as the Grimoire closes, it floats downward as if it's pouting, and while I mentally begin to hold the book, I get a slightly giddy feeling in return… something to investigate for later.
For now, I finish making the French toast and sausage, and like an old cartoon, I see the smoke beginning to entice my sister from her cavern…
"Morning Z… you look ready to go." My sister just sits down at the table and lays her head on it.
"No talking, G… it's way too early for social interaction…"
"Z, it's 8 o'clock in the morning… any later, I think I'd have a vampire for a sister." I can feel her groan at the bad joke, and one of the eggs I have in my hand then breaks as it spills onto my face.
Thankfully, I just disintegrate it using my lightning magic, and as I look back at her with a slight glare, I can feel her smirking.
"Well, it seems you don't want to enjoy my food. Your loss…" Immediately I feel a presence behind me as my sister puts her hands on my shoulders and turns me around. The look in her eyes is almost terrifying.
"What are you talking about, G? It's just a bit of tomfoolery…" Zatanna, your version of tomfoolery is cursing someone with constantly making sure they keep hitting their toes on chairs and desks every five minutes… I'm just lucky she hasn't learned the forbidden testicular torsion spell.
The very thought sends shivers down my spine…
As she sits back down, I place the plate in front of her, and like a wild animal, she begins to devour it… I simply give her a deadpan stare as I could almost hear my mother berating my sister for how she eats… but thankfully for my sister, both our parents are out for the day, enjoying a couples' outing.
After she finishes within a few minutes, she then devours her seconds, and I almost feel bad for whoever is going to be her significant other in the future, as I believe I've ruined her taste palette.
As she stands up, she mutters a spell, "gnihtolc lamron etaerc." (Create Normal Clothing) As she does so, the pajamas she was wearing turn into a normal pair of jeans and a sleeveless purple T-shirt.
As she gives me the classic look of superiority and then proceeds to send some static electricity across the table, and as she places her hand on it, she gets shocked.
"Ahh! Gale! Not funny…" However, I can barely keep myself from laughing, to which she then begins to pop off various spells while I bat them away, using my Mana Zone to keep the spells from actually hitting anything.
"Father may have taught you much, sister, but he hasn't taught you everything…" My sister halts for a moment before she begins to laugh, and while that sends me into a bit of a chuckle, I begin to clean up the table.
After placing the dishes into the dishwasher, I grab the keys for the apartment… and as I slowly make my way out the door, my sister then grabs my hand and teleports us to the nearby mall.
As we are teleported into an abandoned shop, we exit the abandoned shop and enter the mall, and it's here that hope goes to die…
"Don't look so gloomy, G. We're gonna have so much fun…" Sister, that smile is not reaching your eyes… I see through your lies…
I can even feel my Grimoire looking at me as if it's about to read my obituary… truly I have the most supportive family.
(Five Hours Later)
[+100 CP Milestone Reached]
[300 CP Banked]
… I hear a ringing in my ears as the voices begin to melt together. It feels as if I'm shellshocked, but that truly doesn't describe the experience…
"What do you think looks better on me—this one or this one?" Sister, for the love of the Source, you have asked me that question for the past four hours!
But as I point towards the black blouse, she smiles and tries it on. I look towards some of the other guys that are inside the clothing store we are currently in, and we put our hands over our hearts in solidarity.
However, even after this torture, I am genuinely enjoying the time together. It's nice having someone that shares your interests. In fact, nearly my entire family shares my interests. It's such a 180 from what I had before…
It makes me wonder how they're doing… but that life is far behind me now, entire Multiverses away in fact.
I'm taken from my musings as I feel a tapping on my shoulder. "You alright? You've been staring at the wall for the past couple minutes now." I smile and shake my head.
"I'm all right, sis. I've just got a lot on my mind… I'm also mentally preparing myself to carry all of the things you've bought today." Again, my sister smiles, and I can feel the danger from that smile.
Grimoire! Roll something to distract me, please!
[Rolling…]
Final Fantasy XII / Sight Unseeing (-100 CP): Long practice with fighting beasts and men alike has given you an insight into their movements. You can detect the movement of invisible enemies and parry incoming physical blows, as long as you have enough hands for it.
[200 CP Banked]
Truly, you are the most beautiful thing in my life, Grimoire… For some reason the book then flies away from my touch as I think that, but never mind. I can feel a change in my senses… like I'm a lot more in tune, physically as well as instinctually.
As my sister goes to pay for her stuff, I grab all the bags, and while I am tempted to use my magic to help, I don't want to alarm any of the people inside.
My sister usually gets a couple of looks from people that have seen my father's shows, as she is usually his assistant, but people don't usually look at me, given the fact that I mostly spend my time taking care of Mom.
"So sis, how much did this take back your allowance?"
"Bro, you and I know that if Father wanted to, he could create an infinite amount of gold. The only reason we keep this illusion of middle class going is because he wants to… but… yeah, this has sent me back a couple of months…" I amusingly shook my head while my sister tries to take a swipe at me, but I am not a protagonist that will take any tsundere shenanigans… It also helps that I can basically tell when she's going to hit me or where.
As we exit the mall, I feel a ping begin to go off in my senses, both magical and my new instinctual one… I stop, and as my sister looks backward, I motion with my eyes that there's someone above us, and as she nods, she sends the bags to our home and teleports both of us onto the roof of the mall.
In the next second, we both look around and try to find whoever's stalking us, and as I close my eyes, I don't focus on the sounds or the smells. I focus on my surroundings.
Swipe A sword swinging vertically down towards my neck. I immediately roll out of the way and trip whoever is trying to do so. I hear a grunt as a man falls to the ground and his cloaking tech disables.
In the next moment, my sister has already transformed his katana into ropes that begin to wrap around him.
"I imagine this is everyone, so come out…!" As I say this, a group of at least 40 men appears in front of both of us. I could already sense them, but this seems a bit too random.
But as soon as I see who's leading them, I almost laugh as I immediately smile and use my 500 IQ to come up with the perfect insult.
"Well well well, if it isn't Batman's sloppy seconds…"
Her eyes light up with so much rage that I almost begin to laugh, and as I grab the man wrapped up in ropes, I look towards my sister who nods her head and teleports away…
"It seems that your sister has abandoned you here. Welp…"
"Oh no, you are mistaken. She didn't abandon me here. She's just really not interested in dealing with you ninja rejects… To be honest, she could snap her fingers and end the fight in seconds. No, you guys are so far below the skill level that only I'm needed to deal with you." I could physically hear her beginning to clench her sword.
"You're a cocky little brat, aren't you? Now I'm going to ask you one question: where is Solomon?"
"Oh yes, Solomon, my father's student. He's off dealing with any other threat other than you…" But then the woman in front begins to smile.
"Enough of the games, you fool. I know who you are…" As I open a portal behind them, I mentally connect with my homunculus…
"Really? I'm Solomon? That's hilarious, and to be honest, it's the closest thing you've done to damage me so far… Besides, how can I be Solomon when he's right there?" As the woman turns around, her eyes widen for a moment as she sees Solomon glaring down at all of them.
As I pick up the spare sword the man wrapped in ropes had, I pick it up and begin to twirl it in my hands.
"But to be honest, I've been stuck shopping with my sister for the past six hours, so to be honest, I have to thank you for bringing me something entertaining."
"Even if he's here, he can't keep us from killing you…" But as I begin to walk towards them, all of them spread out and encircle me… However, I just sit down in the middle of all of them.
"Well… I'm waiting…" And in that moment, they all re-cloak themselves.