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Through the blizzard, two lights raged above one violet, one crimson colliding again and again in midair, tearing the sky apart with every impact. The echoes of Arthur and H'El's battle thundered across the sky like the roar of gods.
From a distant ridge of shattered ice, the Batwing crouched in stealth mode, its engines silent, cloaked against detection. On the ground, Batman cape whipping in the cold wind, eyes locked on the chaos above.
Arthur's violet aura flared once more, slamming H'El through a glacier, the shockwave flattening a field of icebergs in its wake.
Batman watched, silent, analytical but even his precision-trained mind struggled to process what he was seeing.
He finally muttered under his breath.
"Arthur's stronger than the last time I saw him fight…"
Another explosion cracked the sky, the kind that would have vaporized a city block and yet Arthur was still standing, his strikes getting sharper, faster. Batman's jaw tightened.
"At this rate," he said quietly, almost to himself, "Arthur might actually be able to kill him… and claim H'El as one of his shadow soldiers."
His gloved hand went to his utility belt, fingers brushing against a small, heavy compartment the one glowing faintly gold beneath the reinforced lead plating. He stared at it, the light reflecting in his lenses.
"I can't let that happen," he murmured, eyes narrowing. "Not this time, no one should have that much power."
He took a step forward, the wind howling against his armor as he reached for his compartment.
And then.
A sound.
Like wings cutting the air.
A black shape blurred past him, too fast to track. The snow exploded around him, sensors flaring red for a split second before his instincts kicked in. Batman spun to the side, reaching for his grapnel.
But something grabbed his arm mid-motion.
An iron grip, cold and unyielding.
Batman's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. A massive, chitinous claw clamped around his wrist, crushing the metal plating like tin.
Then a voice.
Smooth. Deep. And not human.
"I'll be taking this."
Batman's gaze shot up. The shadow towered over him grotesque and monstrous. The black carapace shimmered faintly with violet energy, and two enormous, glowing eyes stared down at him without emotion.
Beru.
The ant shadow marshal.
With his free hand, Beru snapped the utility belt free a clean motion and held it up between two claws. The golden light flickered faintly in his grasp.
Batman yanked his arm back, stumbled a step across the snow, and glared up at the towering creature. "The ant again…" he muttered, teeth clenched. "What are you doing here?"
Beru stood perfectly still, and when he spoke, his voice carried an echo layered and cold.
"I'm not obliged to tell you anything, human" Beru said simply. His mandibles shifted, his tone lowering with menace. "You are not to use this… or meddle in my liege's affairs."
He raised the belt slightly, the golden compartment gleaming faintly in his clawed hand.
Batman's eyes flicked between his belt and the ant's chest searching for weak points, exit routes, distractions. He knew he couldn't overpower this thing. But he could still outthink it.
In one swift motion, he pulled a batarang from his gauntlet and flicked it fast, precise, spinning through the snowstorm toward Beru's hand.
The metal shuriken struck dead center.
CLANG.
It pierced through the ant's hand, and did absolutely nothing.
Beru didn't even flinch. He merely tilted his head, insectoid violet eyes narrowing in faint amusement, like a teacher watching a child try something clever. For a moment, Batman almost thought he saw the faintest trace of a smirk.
Then Beru's wings unfurled.
The air screamed.
A concussive blast of wind and snow exploded outward as he launched skyward, the ground cracking beneath him. The wings shimmered with violet trails, and within seconds, the ant was gone vanishing into the storm, the belt in his grasp.
Batman stood there, cape whipping violently, the snowstorm swallowing his silhouette. His lenses tracked the faint energy trail for as long as he could… then nothing. Gone.
"I underestimated Arthur," he hissed.
He turned his gaze back toward the sky where Arthur and H'El still tore at each other like celestial beasts, every blow lighting up the sky.
His jaw tightened beneath the cowl.
He hated being powerless.
He hated being outmaneuvered.
And most of all he hated that Arthur had anticipated him.
****
Arthur smashed into H'El with a thunderous shockwave, the impact splitting the glacier beneath them. H'El hit the ground hard, skidding across the fractured ice, leaving a molten trail where his body tore through the frost.
Arthur landed a moment later boots grinding against the ground, steam rising from his hands from the force of the blows. His brow was split, blood tracing a crimson path down his cheek. Yet, there was a grin on his face feral, exhilarated.
He wiped the blood away with the back of his hand, eyes glowing like burning amethysts.
"I enjoy fighting someone that can actually take the full force of my attacks."
H'El groaned, pushing himself up on one knee. His lips twitched into a smile, as he spat blood onto the ice. "Arrogant… earthling…"
Arthur tilted his head slightly, amused.
"But," H'El continued, his voice darkening, heat vision flaring to life behind his eyes, "I feel the same."
Twin beams of molten red seared through the air, Arthur tilted his head, narrowly avoiding them, the beams cutting through the glacier and detonating in the distance. The heat washed over him, rippling his cloak and turning the snow beneath his boots into steam.
Before either could make another move, a shadow eclipsed the light above them. A high-pitched, insectoid screech tore through the air. Both Arthur and H'El turned as Beru, the towering Ant Shadow Marshal descended from the sky like a dark comet.
He landed beside Arthur, the ground trembling from his weight. The creature knelt, mandibles clicking reverently as he held something out to his liege a small, glowing item sealed in his clawed hands.
Arthur took it without a word.
Beru rose to his full height, his faceted eyes locking onto H'El. He let out another screech one filled with primal defiance and killing intent, before taking flight again, his wings shredding the air.
H'El's brow furrowed, still recovering. "What… was that thing?" His tone was sharp, disgusted. "And what are you?"
Arthur's hand clenched around the object before slipping it into his System inventory, the faint shimmer vanishing from sight. Then he looked back at H'El, expression unreadable, ring hand raised and glowing.
"I'm something you shouldn't concern yourself with," Arthur said quietly. "You made your choice already…" He stepped closer, shadows warping around his feet. "And I've made mine.. Now, you'll serve me, for eternity."
H'El's face twisted in fury. "Serve you?!" He vanished in a blur of red energy, reappearing high in the air, searching for Beru.
The Ant Marshal was already waiting, wings slicing through the wind as he dodged a flurry of energy bolts. "I am merely following my liege's command," Beru's voice echoed telepathically, venomous and proud. "I'm not running away from you, filthy clone."
That word clone hit H'El like a detonator.
He roared, launching himself forward only for a violet blur to intercept him mid-air.
Arthur's hand clamped around H'El's throat. The force of his grip shattered the sound barrier, rippling the clouds around them.
"Enough," Arthur said, voice low and calm despite the violence radiating off him. "I'd rather not end you here in front of Clark." His eyes narrowed, violet light pulsing. "So let's take a little trip somewhere more… private."
In his other hand, he summoned something from his inventory a small device, metallic and ancient-looking. The Phantom Zone Projector.
H'El froze, eyes widening in disbelief. "Is that…?"
Arthur smiled faintly. "You should know what this is, Kryptonian."
He pressed the black button.
The device hummed, and the world around them began to fracture, reality bending, the air tearing open into a spiraling vortex of white and black. The sound was like thunder reversed, an implosion of everything.
The suction force ripped chunks of ice and debris into the air as the portal widened, devouring light itself.
Arthur didn't let go.
"Let's finish this," he said, locking eyes with H'El. "Where no one else can interrupt."
H'El's eyes burned red as he struggled, but it was too late. The void swallowed them both two titans dragged into the nothingness of the Phantom Zone.
And then… silence.
The portal collapsed. The sky returned to its cold, gray stillness.
Kara and Clark hovered, staring at the place where they'd vanished.
Clark clenched his fists. "That's my father's device... Bruce..."
Kara hovered in the air beside Clark, her hair whipping across her face, eyes fixed on the last flicker of violet light before it vanished completely.
Then Kara exhaled softly, "Well, it's time to go."
Clark turned to her, surprised. "Where to?"
She shrugged lightly, exhaustion settling into her tone. "I don't know. Home?" A faint smile tugged at her lips, though her eyes still searched the empty horizon. "Arthur will be back shortly."
Clark blinked, disbelief flickering across his face. "You have that much faith in him?"
Kara glanced at him then really looked at him and for a moment her expression softened in a way Clark hadn't seen in her "It's not faith, Kal," she said quietly. "I'm just used to it."
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want