-A few hours later-
It was not difficult at all to get the family members out. Snatching young Bane out of prison was easy as well. Especially if you grab during a riot already taking place.
'Hmm, young Bane. To be precise, young Antonio. Such coldness in his eyes already. But a gentle look upon seeing his mother.' Max watched the people go on with their family members. 'Has killed already to survive. As well as started his own training it seems. If the boy's mother would have died... would have been possible to save him I wonder?'
The conversation was more crying than anything. Slade had informed him of everything he knew in more detail after getting in contact with a few old sources.
"Basically needs an entire reform. Uplifting of medical and basic care. Well, your standards anyway." Slade said. "These people are tough, but need a lot to become useful on their own."
"Hmm, the population is low and very easy to influence. The government, we will take over and eliminate ourselves with the rebels. Establishing order is easy with what we can do. I was not supposed to start the "Uplifting" project for a few more years."
"Where was this going to start?" Slade was curious even more so now.
"Another 6 years. Just spent money and moving people for the last 4 years." Max really didn't want to make any moves with those people. "Humanitarians are difficult.. to deal with in my current state. I am not kind unless I am safe. Or in a position really to help. Any other way feels half-assed."
"You need faith." Slade smiled under his hat. "Trust in humanity more. We can do great things given the chance."
"My lords.." Jorge called after holding back his curiosity.
"Hahah we are men. No matter what you see us do. We are still men. You can do what he does in time. And what I can do after a few millennia." Max pointed to Slade then himself. "I never achieved Godhood. Which I am still thankful for." The people looked at them both in suprise. Max clarified. "Some things will be lost on obtaining that Realm. A sense of self will be pulled away. Mostly the aspects of humanity. It is... sickening if you are not strong enough."
"Devil's are born from mistakes or choosing to step into the wrong path." Slade quoted. He recited a passage from the Manual Max had given him. "That is what your companion Valiant King told you as well. He left a few strange notes in the Manual about you."
"Meh, I do not mind. I will not transfer an edited manual of a friend. Now of ones I obtain all day every day." Max shrugged looking back at the people. "We are here now and I refuse to turn away. Need this as well. Enough time has passed for everyone to decide anyway. What will you all do?"
"We will do whatever you say." A large man said. He was an escaped convict that lead a good bit of the prisoners out. All the ones serving sentences for their parents. Name Hector Ortiz. "Those with me have agreed to sign the contracts."
"Yout turn this time my friend." Max tapped Slade on the shoulder. "The few "sins" they have committed I will bare. But the Sloth & Diligence will be yours. It is time you have a breakthrough."
Circling his power through Slade, Max helped him form spirit contracts. Slowly 30 contracts floated out. The men and women prisoners signed. A small amount of spirit energy entered their bodies. Each of them burned with pain as impurities were forced out of their bodies.
When it finished, the people were healthy and looked to be devoid of fatigue.
"Haaa, we should have agreed." Another man said. His name was Conner. One of the Americans that actually deserved to be in prison. He declined the offer of help. Not wanting to follow someone else rules on how to live. "Time to leave." He and a 70 other people left as fast as possible. as soon as they were 30 feet away from the area, Max's spell went off.
*Woom!* The black magic stripped them of the memories of the encounter. Last thing they rembered was leaving the prison. False memories implanted to make it more difficult than what was to make up for the time loss.
"Ugh, this is something else." Slade groaned. The influx of energies along with the hopes and desires left him a light-headed. He sat down to center himself. "I will be out for a bit." Slowly Gold and black spiritual energy wrapped around his body.
"As for the rest of you." Max out stretched his right hand then his left. "See you in a few minutes."
*Shine!* Blinding light wrapped up the remaining 204 people.
Each of the bodies floated and writhe uncontrollably for a few minutes. Dropping to the ground as the light faded away afterward. Slowly white clothing formed around them. Pants, shirts, and shoes. Each a bright white.
"Hmm, easier than last time I did something like this." Max mumbled. Each of them received a basic cultivation manual. Nothing to special or with weird conditions. As long as they worked hard and did right, they would remain healthy. If they started breaking laws and committing vile acts, they would start to get sick and revert to normal. "Baptisms are usually fun."
"Ugh that hurt." Jorge said getting up first. He looked to wife and son, watching their rhythmic breathing intently. "Do we move in now on the prison?"
"Yes. A few will do that, while the others will make sure the others get settled into their homes." Max eyes lit up as he used his spiritual sense. He tapped into the minds of the police that were looking for the escapees and suggest them to search towards the outer area. 'There we go. Can not have a bunch of rapists and killers running around. That would just be stupid.'
"I wish to help over through the government. I want to be a part of that team!" Jorge said. "New identity for my wife and son is more than I can ask for as everything goes on. Where are you setting everyone up at again?" Rubbing Anonio on the top of the head, he stared at Carla and though how he almost lost them both.
"National City. It is not that bad. They will go there and learn while Santa Prisca goes through a reform. But do not worry, you will all be able to see them a lot. I have seen to that." Max stepped forward away from a mirror he created. "These will help. Escort the non-fighters through. Say your goodbyes for now."
"I.. would rather you come with. But I understand what you have to do." Carla said sadly. "But.. Antonio, I will not allow him to take part in this. So much anger and hate. I want something more for our son." Jorge nodded understanding.
"You will be ok, right papa?" Antonio asked. Jorge gave a strong nod agreeing. The smiled and walked with his mother to the mirror. He stopped and looked at Max. "Why can I not see your face? It is really weird."
"Only my friends can see my face. Those I trust." Max smiled under his hat. "A parting gift young Antonio, remember that the nickname Bane you received does not have to only be a memory of what happened in the prison. You can turn it to something good as well."
*Pop!* A teddy appeared.
"Osito!" Antonio cheered. Grabbing the bear, he hugged it tightly.
"Thank you, Mr.Watcher." Carla said as she bowed her head. Stepping inside the mirror disappeared instantly.
"Ahhh!" Slade yelled getting up. Breaking through he felt fantastic. "This is nothing like before."
Slade had made it to the Practiociner Realm Tier I. He could now start to use magic and spirit energy outside his body with greater ease. Slowly two sheaths formed on his hip. Comprised completed from his cultivation base.
"Soon I will have forged my "Soul" weapons." Slade stared at Max. "Why did you not say it would be this hard?"
"Umm, you can handle it thats why. It took me 300 years to make the sheaths for my Soul weapon. You did it in less than a year. Do not gripe." Max shrugged at him. Come on, let us go liberate a country."
Slowly white scarfs and hoodies appeared over the people. Effectively hiding there faces from sight. Enchanted with protection, the only way they would be figured out, is if they removed the clothing themselves.
-Capital of Santa Prisca-
Inside the central office, the president of the country was in a meeting with a few other crime lords from across the world. On the line where Carmine Falcone of Gotham, Bruno Manheim of Metropolis, Mayor of Coast City, and The syndicate of Bludhaven.
Inside the office was the Warden and a few guards. They had reported the capture of a few of the inmates. For some reason mentioning that the boy they referred to as Bane not being among them.
"Heard you had a prison break again." Manheim said slightly angry. "If you can't keep a lid on your people, let me come and pay a visit."
"I do not need your influence freak!" The president yelled. He stood up agitated at the involvement of the others. If he didn't need there held for food it would be a different story all togethor. But they need the drugs and weapons manufactured from his country as well. So he had a little pull. "We take care of.."
*Kabooom!* A massive explosion shook the entire building.
"What the hell was that?!" Falcone asked over the others. He received no response as those in the room were knocked around. "Answer you idiot!"
"Aye such troublesome people." Max answered stepping into the room. He walked through the entire building with ease. The others taking out all the guards while dealt with the difficult ones. Max picked up the phone and spoke into it slightly angry. "Hi, you people have created so many problems of late. Why couldn't you just behave yourselves?"
"Who the hell are you?!" Members of the Syndicate of Bludhaven asked. The odd distortion of their voice made Max's teeth itch. "You know who you are messing with you.."
"I am messing with some fools hiding out in the city of Bludhaven," Max said cutting them off. The line immediately went dead as they all hung up. "Oh, not so dumb after all."
(Anomaly detected Max. I can not pinpoint it just yet however.) The A.I. said.
"I can see where it is coming from." Max stared as the Warden who got up with glowing green eyes. Next to his feet where green pills. His clothing ripped as his body enlarged a little. Nothing to massive but on his fat body, it was enough to tear the clothes. 'Well, at least we know that this is happening.'
The pills were that of Miraclo. The precursor to Venom and Mirakuru. Not in that order. The Warden had a stash of the pills to help deal with the rising threat of the inmates and from the pressure of the other Crime Lords. He spent a fortune getting his hands on the research.
"You ruined my plans!" The Warden yelled charging at Max. A brutal swing was dodged with ease. "First the inmates, now you!"
Max had dodged towards the out cold body of the President. The influx of Sin energy was complteely pushed away. The man was so corrupt it actually made Max a little sick.
'I know the perfect way to get rid of you.' Smiling to himself, Max used the energy to power a spell. Instantly the cameras he disabled before coming in were turned back on. The spell disguised him as a normal resident of the island. 'Best way to influence the public.'
*Wham!* The desk was completely smashed into pieces.
Max delivered a quick kick to the man's thigh. Then another kick to the kidney. The Warden barely budged from the attack. But his body showed massive bruising all over. The drug was not agreeing with him.
"Is that the best you can do insect?" The Warden sneered turning around to face Max. Reaching back, he grabbed the bookshelf in the corner. "Are you afraid little rabbit?!"
*Woosh!* The force at which he threw it caused a gust of air to go out. The papers flew around the room.
Max stepped out the way and allowed the bookshelf to hit the President. He died instantly from the impact. The Warden froze seeing what he had done. His meal ticket was now dead. Max ran up and did a high jump kick.
"Lights out!" Hitting the drug up Warden revealed a lot. One, the drug was way worse than Venom. Two, Max needed to end things quickly. He could feel the pull of his actual body calling him back. 'Shit! I have been in this Spiritual Clone to long! Last Spell!'
*Shine!* A light shine as Max returned to his body. He would not risk himself inside the clone.
"Got you!" The Warden grabbed Max by the leg. With a turn he threw him out the window. Behind the Warden, the door opened. "Huh!?"
"Kill the monster and gain our freedom!" Jorge yelled to the others. They came in guns unloading. "For a free Santa Prisca!"
The bullets did nothing at first. But a second later, Max spell kicked in. He cast Endurance Down. The Black spell would weaken any target. As the bullets pierced the Warden, Vega pulled himself back inside from the ledge.
"That was cutting it to close." Looking at the fresh dead body of the Warden, he sent the information back to Max. 'It worked well enough. I will take care of the rest. Try to hurry with the recovery.'
-Max's Room-
"Ughh that was smart." Max grumbled sitting up in his body. He felt a few warm bodies and couldnt;s help but look around. Selina, Claire, and John were on his bed. From the looks of the discarded junk food, they had been there awhile. 'Well good to know they care.'
"Mmm you are awake." Selina woke up first. She spoke quietly and looked to have been crying. "Max.. the Wayne's... they."
"I know already Selina. I could not extend their lives any longer than I already had." Max said patting her hand. "How is Bruce doing?"
"He is in shock still. Alfred said he is doing better though. Hearing you are awake should help cheer him up." Selina, realized what Max said had to ask. "You have been keeping them alive?"
"Aye, they were suppose to die when Bruce was 8 or so. Doing so increased my Tribulation a great deal. Price of my Cultivation and what I am."
"Wait.. did your Tribulation change because of me and my mom as well?"
"Yes. But do not worry. I knew that going in. Just not how devasting it would be. A lot of things changed because of it." Max said with a smile. "I would do it again to. Well, just a little different maybe. I took on way to much to soon. But you all are worth it."
"Good to know." Claire said sitting up. John remained quiet in deep thought. "Spill it!"
"My mother Max.. will she cause problems for you?" John asked. He really hope not.
"Huh, no. Your mother's situation will not mess with my cultivation in anyway. I paid for messing with your life already during my Tribulation." Max decided it was time to clarify a few things with them. "Selina's life can no longer affect my Tribulations. Claire and a few others as well. You John, still have some things to do. Your mother has been found by the way. Well, I found her while I was out cold. Saving her will require some more strength. But she is safe. Relatively speaking."
"Where is she Max?" John asked with tears in his eyes. All other thoughts had gone out the window. "i will not run off to go and confront them. I just need to know."
"Just look and see." Max opened a mirror for John to see. John's mother was with a bunch of other women. The surroundings were plain and basic. The women wore robes and walked barefooted. "They are in a Hell of sorts. Tartarus to be specific. Ruled by Evillo."
"Can we go and save her.." John started to ask.
"No. If you go, it is without my help. I can not go to those types of Planes any time soon. I have way to many Sins cultivated and stored. I have to work on my Virtue to balance myself out." Max shook his head. He raised his hand stopping any protests they may have had. "If any of you go, do not bother coming back. I will kill you."
"What the hell max!" Selina yelled.
"Not for nothing, but you would not be you anymore. You would be hellspawns or slaves of his. He is a master of Hypnosis. I have no idea the time dilation that place has right now. A minute here could be seral years there. He would have more than enough time to break you to his will." Max was trying to get the point across how powerful Evillo was. "I suggest you train and talk to Zatarra about it. He should know more than I about this."
"Thanks." John got up and took off.
"Max, how long would it take for you to be ready?" Claire asked interested.
"About a year if I rush. Which I will not do. From what I can tell, he does not plan on killing them. They will will just have to bare with the torture."
"Why would it take so long?" Selina asked still angry.
"Because of planning and how long it would take to get there. My Mirrors are a power of Earth itself. Something I have intuned with it. Tartarus is both a different plane of existence and a different planet." Seeing the weird looks on there faces, Max sent them a piece of paper with places written down. "It is a prison in Greek mythology. The name has a lot of power. It links them when it shouldn't. I need to talk with Hades about this."
"Hades... the greek God Hades is real?" Claire asked. Max gave her a nod. "Are the others as well?" He nodded again. Claire took off in a rush.
"Max, I am glad you are awake again. But, do you think it was right to talk to John that way?" Selina just felt off-put by Max's tone. 'I can feel the Sin energy on him. He has it locked away but it is bursting to force him to advance. I need to help him attain some more Virtue. But I do not know how.'
"Maybe. He is reckless. I understand it is his mother. But I can not risk everything to help him. He hads to learn not everyone can be saved. Even those we care about the most." Max said sadly.
"But we will try thought right?"
"Always." Max reached into his inventory and pulled out an Elixer. He drank 3/4 and gave the last bit to Selina. "Drink this now and cultivate. You are close to figure something out. I rather you not miss the chance."
"What is it?" Selina held the green liquid up to the light. Inside swirling, crystals could be seen. "So pretty."
"It is Broken Stardust. Made from the tears of a star."
"What?"
"The star turned human after several million years. She was a great friend. But reckless. The same as John. She got herself killed despite all the power she possessed." Max said as a memory started to appear. With a wave of his hand, he cut it off. "this Elixr will show you her final moments of life. Be careful. If you want to help Claire understand herself more, I suggest you Dual cultivate with her."
"Right." Selina hugged the vial. She was tempted to not drink it. 'This seems to precious. He looked sad when drinking it just then. So many secrets.'