After Arthur and Victor briefed the League on their Atlantic findings, an uneasy feeling settled over the team. Something dangerous was stirring beneath the oceans, and they all knew it.
Batman wasted no time. He brought Lucius Fox into the Batcave, and together they worked around the clock to modify the Atlantean vessel. The fabrication of pressure-resistant compounds became their singular focus—they needed a craft that could survive the crushing depths of the Unspoken Waters and bring its crew home safely.
The rest of the League stayed busy. While Bruce and Lucius worked on the vessel, the others divided their time between patrolling their cities and coordinating with the magical division led by John Constantine and Zatanna. After weighing their priorities, they agreed: Orm was the immediate threat. Trigon could wait. Their research efforts turned toward finding a way to reach the Unspoken Waters and reinforcing the vessel for the journey ahead.
Meanwhile, Atlantis found itself under scrutiny. The disturbances in the Atlantic raised uncomfortable questions at the UN. Mera, serving as Atlantis's representative, navigated the political waters skillfully, reassuring most member nations. Still, a few remained unconvinced, skeptical of Atlantis's recent integration. With endorsements from powerful allies and the Justice League, however, the dissenting voices eventually quieted.
A week passed. Then LexCorp's early warning satellite—its first prototype—went live. Almost immediately, it detected two new events. One in the Indian Ocean, another in the Pacific. Both were larger than the previous disturbances.
The League mobilized. The Lanterns had already been taking shifts investigating the Atlantic depths, following John's hunch about the strange energy signatures. Now, with fresh incidents to examine, they split into two teams. Arthur requested fast-deployment ships from Atlantis, and the teams divided their targets.
Team Pacific, Arthur, John Stewart, and Cyborg headed west.
Team Indian Ocean, Barry, Hal, and Laira headed east.
The Lanterns and Arthur dove deep to investigate firsthand, while Barry and Cyborg remained aboard their respective vessels, monitoring feeds and analyzing data as it came in.
Indian Ocean
Laira was the first to find something. Her yellow ring cut through the sediment, detecting faint residual energy—and something darker. The ring reacted to lingering traces of fear, the psychic echo of marine life that had died here in terror.
"I've got something," she said over the comm.
She descended deeper, using a construct to carefully excavate the seabed. Beneath layers of silt and rock, she uncovered a structure: obsidian pillars, ancient and deliberate, covered in strange carvings. They were arranged in a star pattern, though several had shifted out of alignment.
"Switching on the live feed," Laira said. "Are you seeing this?"
"Yeah, I see it," Barry replied from the ship, his voice tight with curiosity. "What is that?"
"On my way," Hal added. "My site was a bust."
Laira drifted closer, her yellow aura illuminating the nearest pillar. "Definitely man-made. Look at these carvings."
She touched one of the etchings. The surface was smooth, weathered by time but still legible.
"There's writing on it," she said.
"What language?" Barry asked.
Laira studied the characters. After months on Earth with Hal, she'd picked up several languages during their travels. This script was familiar.
"Japanese," she said slowly. "Ancient Japanese. Archaic."
"Hold on." Barry's fingers flew across his console. "Running it through translation now."
Laira activated her ring's frequency analysis, scanning the inscriptions for residual energy traces while the data streamed back to the ship.
"Got it," Barry said after a moment. His brow furrowed. "It's ritual language. Here's what it says: 'Droplets once severed… in the great vessel shall… return as One.'"
Silence hung over the comm.
"Droplets severed… return as one," Barry murmured. "What does that mean?"
"Sounds like a prophecy," Hal said, drifting down beside Laira.
Laira stayed quiet, her gaze fixed on the carved monolith. "Maybe it's more literal," she said slowly. "Arthur and Cyborg said the marine life had their souls extracted, right? What if 'droplets' means souls?"
Barry leaned forward. "Go on."
"In some cultures, there's a belief that all souls come from the same source—that each individual soul is just a fragment separated from a greater whole. Like droplets from an ocean. If that's true, then this makes sense. 'Droplets once severed… return as one.' It's describing reunification."
There was a beat of silence. Then Barry and Hal spoke at once.
"That's it."
Hal grinned. "You're brilliant, Laira."
Barry's voice came through urgent now. "So if droplets are souls, then 'in the great vessel shall return as one' means the extracted souls are being collected somewhere. Gathered into something."
"Exactly," Laira said. "This isn't just a marker. It's an instruction."
She tilted her head, studying the arrangement again. Then her eyes widened. "Wait. Hal—can you realign the pillars that are off? Move them back into the star pattern."
"Why?" Hal asked, but he was already moving, using a construct to carefully shift the displaced monoliths back into position.
Laira shot upward until she had a full top-down view. Once Hal finished, she raised her hand and released a controlled pulse of yellow energy—a soft, harmonic wave that rippled outward across the formation.
"Laira, what are you testing for?" Hal asked, rising to join her.
"Just humor me," she said. "Use your ring. Scan for any resonant frequency."
Hal raised an eyebrow but complied. His ring flared yellow, sending out a sweeping scan. The moment his beam intersected with Laira's pulse, something happened.
The pillars began to hum.
A faint, rhythmic vibration rippled through the water. The carvings on each monolith glowed softly—first one, then another, then all of them in sequence, lighting up in the pattern of the star.
"What the—" Hal breathed.
Barry's voice came through sharp. "I'm seeing it on the feed. The structure's active. It's resonating."
Laira's expression hardened. "It's not just a ritual marker. It's a node. The formation amplifies the resonance."
The glow faded after a few seconds, but the implication hung heavy in the water.
"If this is one node," Hal said slowly, "and there's another site in the Pacific… and potentially more…"
"Then we're looking at a global network," Barry finished. "Something designed to channel souls—store them, transport them, maybe both. This is the first real clue we've got to Orm's endgame. Great work, Laira."
Laira looked down at the monoliths, her jaw set. "Thanks. But messing with souls… it's wrong."
"Agreed," Hal said. "But it also raises another question—why Japanese? Where did Orm get these inscriptions?"
"Good question," Barry said. "But for now, we need to document everything. Every carving, every frequency signature. And we need to figure out what happens when all the nodes activate at once."
Hal's ring flared as he began a full structural scan. "I'll get every angle. Barry, relay this to the Hall of Justice."
"Already on it," Barry said.
Laira was quiet for a moment, then spoke. "We should take one of the pillars with us. Something tells me we shouldn't leave this network intact."
"Agreed," both Hal and Barry said in unison.
"John and Zatanna can study it," Barry added. "Go ahead."
Hal and Laira exchanged a glance and a nod. Both rings flared as yellow constructs manifested—chains that wrapped around the base of one pillar.
"On my mark," Hal said. "Three… two… one—pull!"
They pulled together, straining against the pillar's weight.
Suddenly, a soft pulse—silent, imperceptible—shot out from the pillar. The constructs began to decay instantly.
"What—" Laira gasped.
Starting from the point of contact, the yellow light of their constructs dulled, turned matte, then finally crumbled into heavy slate-gray silt. The energy was being reverted—unmade.
Hal reacted first, severing the constructs before the decay could reach their rings. The backlash sent them both tumbling backward through the water.
"Hal! Laira! Talk to me!" Barry shouted, alarmed.
Hal recovered first and shot over to help Laira stabilize. She shook her head, disoriented, as he steadied her.
"We're fine, Flash," Hal said into the comm. "But that thing just rewrote our ring energy. Turned it into inert matter. We cut the constructs before it could reach us, but we're not getting that pillar out like this."
Barry exhaled in relief. "Okay. It looks like it still has some residual energy from when it was last activated. New plan. It was inert when you found it, right? Before you realigned the pillars?"
"Yeah," Laira said, separating from Hal and floating upright. "The formation wasn't complete."
"Then break the formation again," Barry said. "Misalign one of the pillars. If the resonance drops, the defense mechanism might deactivate too."
Hal and Laira exchanged a look.
"Worth a shot," Hal said.
Laira nodded. "Let's do it. But this time, we should try something different."
Using her ring, Laira broke a nearby rock with an energy construct, then carefully pushed it against one of the pillars—nudging it just enough to break the star pattern. The faint hum that had persisted since activation faded. The water grew still again.
"It's inert," Laira confirmed, scanning it with her ring. "I don't detect any energy signature."
"Good," Barry said. "Now try again. Slowly."
Hal and Laira approached the same pillar cautiously this time. Their constructs reformed—thinner, more controlled. They wrapped around the stone and began to lift.
Nothing happened.
The pillar came free from the seabed without resistance.
"We've got it," Hal said, relief in his voice.
Laira exhaled. "Let's get this thing topside before it decides to wake up again."
Together, they began the ascent, the monolith suspended between them in a cradle of yellow light.
Hall of Justice
A few hours later, the League assembled at the Hall of Justice. Constantine and Zatanna arrived in person, while Batman and Cheetah joined via secure link from the Batcave. Hal, Laira, and Barry had brought the monolith from the Indian Ocean, and it now sat in the center of the main chamber, wrapped in containment fields.
During transport, they'd briefed most of the League members on their findings. Cyborg's Pacific reconnaissance had yielded similar results. His team had also detected underwater structures arranged in a star pattern at their assigned site. Hazardous conditions forced them to retreat after only shallow scans, but the readings told them enough. Whatever Orm was planning, these structures were part of it—and they appeared at every site where the strange phenomenon had occurred lately.
Once Constantine and Zatanna arrived, Hal, Laira, and Barry walked them through their observations once more.
Zatanna knelt beside the monolith and whispered an incantation, her hands glowing violet. The script pulsed faintly in response. After a long moment, she stood and exchanged a knowing look with Constantine.
"You lot were lucky," Constantine said, turning to face the three heroes. "If that energy had touched you directly, you wouldn't be standing here right now. You'd be part of Orm's soul collection." He stepped closer to the monolith, keeping his fingers hovering just above its surface. "Smart thinking, using that rock slab to knock it loose."
His expression grew serious as he examined the artifact. "This is Orichalcum—purest grade I've seen in years. It's a magical superconductor. Absorbs mystical energy like a sponge and channels it directly into whatever enchantment is carved into it." He paused. "In this case, soul absorption."
Constantine's eyes traced the ancient script, his face darkening. "Droplets once severed… in the great vessel shall… return as One." He looked up at the team. "It's exactly what you thought. This pillar absorbs magical energy, then uses it to generate a resonance frequency that literally severs the soul from the body." He let out a low breath. "Nasty piece of work."
Oliver raised a hand. "Something's been bugging me. Why is there ancient Japanese script on this thing? Last I checked, Atlantis worshiped the Greek Pantheon."
"I was thinking the same thing," Dinah said. "Shouldn't Orm be using Greek magic?"
A few team members glanced at her with raised eyebrows.
"What?" Dinah crossed her arms. "I read outside my field. Hard not to when you're on a team with literal demigoddesses."
Barbara gave an approving nod. "Girl, you and I need to talk more." She turned back, expression thoughtful. "But you're both right. Something's off. The Greek and Japanese Pantheons have bad blood—thanks to Zeus and his… history. If Orm needed divine help for magic this powerful, he should've gone to Poseidon or another Greek god, not the Japanese."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.
"Maybe that's exactly why he didn't," Bruce said quietly.
Barbara turned to him. "What do you mean?"
"I can think of two reasons why he'd turn to the Japanese Pantheon instead of his own." Bruce paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. "First, the Greek Pantheon has direct ties to the surface world through Wonder Woman—and through her, to us. That includes Aquaman. Going to them would've risked exposure before Orm was ready."
"Second, Poseidon went missing after the Themyscira incident. If I needed divine power and my patron god vanished, I wouldn't waste time hoping he'd return. I'd find another god willing to help—old grudges be damned."
Bruce's gaze swept the room. "It could be one reason. It could be both. Either way, it's a calculated move."
Barbara's eyes narrowed. "You're right. Everything we've seen suggests Orm isn't the impulsive hothead his reputation made him out to be. He's patient—dangerously so. Every move has been calculated, leaving no trace until now." She paused. "If he's working with power on this scale, our theory about a partner isn't speculation anymore—it's fact. Divine backing would explain a lot—starting with his ability to pull off everything he's done. And if Poseidon is gone…"
She met Bruce's gaze. "A man like Orm wouldn't wait around hoping his god returns. His pride wouldn't allow it. He'd find another god willing to help—even if it meant making a deal with an enemy pantheon."
"Cheetah, can you reach out to Themyscira and look into the Japanese Pantheon?" Clark asked. "If we can confirm their involvement and contact the Greeks through your connections, maybe we can understand why they'd help Orm—and possibly get them to intervene while we handle him."
Barbara hesitated. "I can look into it, but don't hold your breath on divine intervention. There's an agreement among Earth's pantheons—no direct interference in the mortal realm. When Diana summoned the Greeks during the Thanagarian invasion, it was an exception—one the other pantheons couldn't object to because of the forces involved. This time, we don't have Diana to make that call, and we don't have those same threats on the board. The pantheons won't take kindly to gods descending again."
"But if the Japanese Pantheon is interfering, aren't they violating that agreement?" Victor asked. "Wouldn't this monolith be proof?"
Barbara shook her head. "Even with Japanese script, what's to say Orm didn't just dig up an ancient relic and repurpose it? We need concrete proof of active interference. Otherwise, it's circumstantial."
Silence settled over the room.
Bruce leaned forward and changed the subject. "Constantine. Could you tell me more about this… Orichalcum? I've never encountered it."
"That's because it's nearly impossible to find, Batsy—and even harder to make," Constantine said. "A single fragment would have every sorcerer on the planet at your doorstep. It's the foundation for high-grade artifacts, enchanted weapons, ritual anchors—the works." He gestured toward the monolith. "But I've never seen this much in one place. Ever."
He turned to face the others. "And from what you've described, there were more of these at the other sites." His voice lowered. "Yeah. We've got a serious problem. If Orm's sitting on a stockpile of this material, and knows how to forge something like this, you can bet he's already weaponized it."
Bruce fell silent, his expression thoughtful as he drummed his fingers on the armrest. After a moment, he looked up and met Constantine's gaze. "Could an Orichalcum-coated vessel survive passage into the Unspoken Waters?"
Constantine raised an eyebrow. "In theory, yes. Our division could enchant it to reinforce such a vessel—make it strong enough to handle both the physical and metaphysical strain of the Unspoken Waters." He paused, frowning. "But that would take a lot of Orichalcum. Where do you plan to get that much—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His gaze snapped back to the monolith. His eyes widened as the realization hit him.
A slow grin spread across his face as he turned back to Bruce. "Oh, you clever bastard."
Around the room, realization dawned. Some grinned. Laira's eyes widened at the ingenuity. Oliver let out a low whistle.
Bruce's expression remained calm. "I'm sending transport to pick you up—you, Zatanna, and the monolith. We're breaking it down tonight. I'll send you the coordinates."
"Hold up, Batsy." Constantine raised a hand. "You might not want to do this in your backyard, so to speak."
Bruce's gaze locked on him.
Constantine cleared his throat. "Breaking this thing down requires magic—a lot of it. We're talking searing heat, like channeling raw lightning. Do this wrong, or in the wrong place, and we'll cause serious damage and draw unwanted attention. We need somewhere remote. Somewhere we can control."
Bruce's eyes narrowed. He'd initially planned to use a secured Wayne Tech facility, but Constantine's warning gave him pause. After a moment's consideration, his fingers moved across the keyboard. On their screen, the League members watched him work. A few seconds later, he looked back up.
"Fine. We have a facility that can handle it." Bruce paused, then added, "I'll send you the coordinates."
Clark leaned in and spoke up. "Batman, I can help with—"
"No." Bruce's tone was flat. "Your fight with Black Adam proved magic makes you vulnerable—even if it doesn't weaken you like kryptonite. You'll continue monitoring your assigned locations with the others. If Orm strikes again, you can do far more good on the surface than on this mission."
Clark opened his mouth, then stopped under Bruce's stare. He exhaled. "Fine."
Bruce's gaze swept across the room. "I don't need to tell you that what we've uncovered stays between us for now. Releasing this information prematurely will only create panic without giving people solutions." He paused, letting his words sink in. "We investigate first. We find answers. Then we act. When we go public, it'll be with a plan—not speculation."
A few team members shifted uncomfortably. Some frowned, clearly wrestling with the decision to keep this from the public. But one by one, they nodded. They trusted Bruce's judgment, even when it was difficult.
Bruce's attention shifted to Constantine and Zatanna. "You two have two hours. Gather whatever you need and meet me in Gotham at the coordinates I'm sending. We'll transport to the facility from there."
The screen went dark.
"Ever the ray of sunshine, that one," Constantine sighed. "I thought after getting a partner he'd mellow out. But no—still the same."
Zatanna crossed her arms, her tone serious. "John, don't let him or Cheetah hear you say that. I won't be able to save you."
"Don't worry, love. I'm not a masochist. I don't need Cheetah coming after me. Last time, just feeling her killing intent was enough." He grimaced. "I need a smoke."
Victor stood. "Regardless of how we got here, we now have both the plan and the resources to modify the ship. I'm calling today a win."
"Victor's right," Clark said, nodding. "Today we uncovered critical information about Orm's plan. We still don't know his endgame, but we're one step closer to stopping him." He paused. "More importantly, we finally have the missing piece."
"Since Atlantis gave us that ship, our best minds have been trying to modify it so we can travel to the Unspoken Waters. They haven't been able to come up with a design that would work—turns out we were missing a key component, and now we have it." His expression grew determined. "Now we can build a vessel capable of reaching Orm and stopping him before it's too late."
He turned to Barry, Hal, and Laira. "Good work, you three. This wouldn't have been possible without you."
His gaze swept across the team. "Now let's get to work."
Week 3 | Day 16
Minutes Before the Two-Hour Mark — Evening — Gotham Outskirts
"This was… humiliating," John muttered as his feet touched the ground.
Shortly after the meeting ended, Batman had sent word to Billy Batson. The message was simple: transform into Shazam and head to the Hall of Justice to assist with transporting the monolith.
Billy had been eager—maybe too eager. He idolized Superman, and being called in by the Justice League, even indirectly, felt like a dream. When he arrived at the Hall wreathed in faint lightning, he couldn't help but geek out for a few moments, eyes wide as he took in the gathered champions of Earth.
But the mission was clear. Shazam, John Constantine, and the massive Orichalcum monolith took to the skies together.
Normally, Zatanna could have conjured a portal to transport them instantly. But with a monolith made primarily of Orichalcum—a magical superconductor—and unknown enchantments still woven into its structure, no one wanted to risk it. A disrupted portal could scatter them across dimensions, lose the monolith entirely, or worse—trigger an explosion.
So the plan was simple: Shazam would carry the monolith, protected by the divine magic flowing through him. And John? John would be carried in Shazam's other arm while he cast illusion magic to keep them hidden from prying eyes.
The sight of John Constantine being cradled like a damsel in distress was too good for Zatanna to pass up. She'd snapped a dozen photos before disappearing into her own portal, giggling the entire way.
Now, as they touched down at the coordinates Batman had provided—an isolated clearing near a concealed Wayne Tech access point—Shazam gently set John down beside the monolith.
"Stop complaining, John," came Zatanna's voice the moment his boots hit the ground. She stood a few feet away, arms crossed, barely suppressing a smile. "You asked for this."
John pulled out a cigarette and lit it with a flick of his fingers, taking a long drag. "Z, you know the saying, right? Payback's a bitch, and she bites." He exhaled smoke and glanced around. "Now where's Batsy? If this is the meeting point, where's the transport? How's he planning to get us and this bloody rock to wherever we're actually going?"
"Don't worry, John. When has Batman ever failed us? He—"
"Um… Mr. Constantine?" Shazam interrupted attracting their attention, his expression earnest. "Those things will kill you, you know."
A beat of silence followed.
Then Zatanna burst out laughing.
John slowly turned his head to meet Shazam's concerned gaze. His face was blank. Utterly blank. The silence stretched just long enough to make Billy shift uncomfortably.
Finally, John spoke, his tone flat. "Kid. You don't mess with a man's cigarette. Especially not mine. You hear?"
Billy blinked, then nodded quickly. "Uh… yes, sir."
Zatanna was still grinning. "He's right though, John."
"Yeah, so what? I've got a whole list of things trying to kill me. One more won't make a difference." John took another drag, then glanced back toward the treeline. "Now where the hell is Batman?"
As if on cue, the low rumble of an engine echoed through the clearing. Moments later, the Batmobile emerged from a concealed road and came to a smooth stop near the monolith.
Batman stepped out first, his cape sweeping behind him. Cheetah emerged from the passenger side, her amber eyes scanning the group with casual interest.
"Bring the monolith inside," Batman said, pointing at the warehouse ahead. "We're moving to a secure facility."
John flicked his cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his boot. "Finally. Let's get this show on the road."
"Uh, Batman… isn't that just a building?" Shazam asked, confused, even as he lifted the monolith once more.
"Come on, kid. Keep up," John said, patting Shazam's back. "You know better than most—things aren't always what they seem."
Shazam though confused, followed along. Once they all entered the warehouse, the lights flickered on. The building itself was nothing special—just another Wayne Tech storage facility. But the moment they were all inside, the doors shut and locked themselves with a heavy clunk.
After a minute, Shazam couldn't help himself. "Um, Batman… aren't we supposed to be going somewhere? We appear to be locked in."
"Patience, kid," John said. "Relax. And whatever happens next, just promise me you won't scream, yeah?" John had suspected since the meeting where Batman would choose to work on the monolith. Entering this building with nowhere else to go only confirmed it.
Just then, space rippled in front of Batman and Cheetah.
"Whoa! What the—what's happening?" Shazam asked, eyes wide. "Is that a magic portal?"
"Guess I was right," John mumbled with a sigh. 'Bloody bastard really did get that monster involved.'
Batman's voice cut through the tension. "Stay calm. Just walk through."
One by one, the group exchanged glances. Seeing Batman and Cheetah walk through without hesitation, they followed.
"Um, Mr. Constantine," Shazam said, hesitating. "Weren't we worried about the monolith disrupting magical portals before? So… is this safe? Bringing it through that?"
"Kid, that ain't magic," John said wryly, shaking his head. "Just relax and walk through." Without another word, John stepped into the ripple and disappeared.
Shazam took a deep breath, adjusted his grip on the monolith, and walked through.
Space returned to normal within the building as the lights dimmed and turned off. Outside, the Batmobile's stealth protocols activated, and it went into hiding—waiting for Batman's return.
Antarctica — Undisclosed Wayne Tech Research Facility — Orach's Lab-2
The moment Shazam stepped through the spatial ripple, his boots touched solid ground. His eyes widened as he took in his surroundings.
The facility was massive. Reinforced alloy plating lined the walls, and the ceiling stretched impossibly high, dotted with rows of industrial lighting. Equipment hummed softly in the background. This wasn't a warehouse—this was a laboratorybuilt for world-shaking experiments.
"Holy moley," Shazam breathed, gently setting the monolith down. "Where are we?"
"Antarctica," Batman said, walking toward a control panel embedded in the wall. It scanned his biometrics with a soft blue glow before the inner doors slid open with a hydraulic hiss. "Orach's secondary lab. Built to handle extreme experiments. We'll use it to break down the Orichalcum monolith."
He stepped through. The others followed.
John looked around and exhaled slowly. "So you did get him involved. Figures."
"Only to the extent of using this facility," Batman said. "He doesn't interfere unless absolutely necessary."
Zatanna glanced around, taking in the facility with quiet interest. "I have to admit, this place is impressive. Completely off the grid. It even has its own climate system."
"It does," Cheetah confirmed. "You'd never know we're in Antarctica. Orach designed it to be completely independent—isolated from the world. No disruptions, no distractions, no prying eyes." She gestured at the reinforced walls. "And if something goes wrong, it's fully contained."
Shazam's eyes widened. "Wait—Antarctica? Seriously? We're at the South Pole?" He looked between them, processing. "And this facility belongs to that Higher Realm being?" His voice rose slightly. "Also, what do you mean if something goes wrong? What could go wrong?"
"Kid," John muttered, already pulling out another cigarette, "let's not tempt fate, yeah?"
As they ventured deeper into the facility, a familiar voice echoed through the corridor. "Ah, welcome, everyone."
Their heads turned. Lucius Fox stood near a workbench, wearing a crisp lab coat with safety goggles perched on his forehead. His eyes lit up when he saw them. "Is that the monolith I've been hearing about?"
Shazam nodded, still holding it carefully. "Uh, yes, sir."
"Good," Lucius said, his gaze shifting to Batman. "You want to break it down and study its properties—run metallurgical analysis to determine the best way to use it for the vessel, correct?"
"Correct," Batman confirmed.
Lucius nodded slowly, then folded his arms. "Batman, that's fine. But I need to bring something to your attention. If what you've told me about this metal holds true after our tests, we should reconsider our entire approach. Instead of modifying a borrowed Atlantean ship, we should build our own vessel from scratch."
Batman's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are the Atlanteans giving you trouble?"
Lucius's expression remained perfectly neutral, but his tone said everything. "Yes. I don't appreciate their attitudes. You have no idea what restraint it took not to drag their pompous behinds down to Mr. Orach's lab at HQ for a proper introduction. Listening to them criticize our technology while offering nothing constructive…" He paused. "I genuinely felt that a meeting with Mr. Orach would solve many of our problems."
Pfft.
Cheetah chuckled. "And knowing Orach, that solution would be permanent."
Lucius nodded. "Precisely."
Cheetah smirked. "To have a patient man like you at your wit's end—I can only imagine how rude those scientists were during their visit to Gotham."
Lucius sighed. "You have no idea, Miss Cheetah. But it was a good decision to relocate the work here instead of staying in Gotham's lab. Now, without their interference, and with just our top-tier team and the League's magic division, we can work in peace." He gestured down the corridor. "Please, follow me. I've prepared the space. Mr. Orach has given us full access to his team."
"Good," Batman said, falling into step beside him. "With Victor and his team here, we'll have everything we need."
As they walked deeper into the facility, Batman's gaze swept over the group. "Constantine. Zatanna. You have everything you need here. Begin preparations. We're breaking down the monolith."
John took a final long drag from his cigarette, then flicked it into a nearby disposal unit. "Right then. Let's get to work."
The monolith was placed at the center of a massive containment chamber. Scanners hummed to life around it, analyzing the frequencies it emitted and mapping its internal structure. Batman, Lucius, and Cheetah observed from the observation deck above, monitoring the team's progress.
Below, Constantine and Zatanna began inscribing protective sigils around the chamber floor. John muttered incantations in Latin, each word causing faint golden light to trace across the ground.
While Zatanna laid down a magical stasis field, John—despite the facility's isolation by Orach's power—added additional wards to prevent anyone from scrying on their work, especially whoever they suspected was helping Orm.
Shazam stood near the monolith, looking around nervously. "So, uh… when you guys say I need to 'channel divine lightning into the core,' you mean like… all of it?"
Lucius glanced up from his tablet. "Not quite, son. Just enough to reach the melting point. Based on our initial readings, that's approximately 15,400 Kelvin."
Shazam blinked. "That's… really hot, right?"
"Hotter than the surface of most stars," Victor confirmed from his station.
"Cool. Cool cool cool." Shazam nodded rapidly, then paused. "Wait—not cool. Definitely not cool."
John smirked. "Try not to vaporize yourself, kid."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Shazam muttered.
Batman's voice cut through the tension. "Lucius. Begin Phase One."
Lucius stepped up to the control console and activated the Phase-Inverter Array. A series of emitters surrounding the monolith hummed to life, projecting counter-frequency waves directly at the outer shell.
"Initiating harmonic disruption," Lucius announced. "Counter-vibration set to 12,000 Hz, inverse phase."
The air around the monolith shimmered as the vibrations collided. The obsidian surface began to ripple—just slightly—as the molecular lattice of the outer shell destabilized.
Victor monitored the sensors. "It's working. Shell integrity dropping to 72%… 65%… 58%…"
"Good," Batman said. "Constantine, Zatanna—cast the your spell."
Zatanna raised her arms and spoke clearly. "Noisnemidd htfif ni ygrene parT!"
The air around the monolith warped, folding inward as a translucent barrier materialized—a pocket of fifth-dimensional space designed to contain any catastrophic energy release.
Batman's eyes narrowed as he turned toward Shazam below. "Shazam. You're up."
Shazam swallowed hard and stepped forward. "Here goes nothing."
He placed both hands on the monolith and closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself to call upon the Power of Zeus. Though the God had perished, his lightning authority still lingered—preserved in the Divine Bolt weapon that resided in Olympus, and channeled through the Wizard who had transferred all his powers to Shazam. Lightning crackled along his arms, spreading across his chest and down into his hands.
The moment his lightning made contact, he felt it—a pulse from the monolith. Ancient. Hungry. Alive.
"Holy moley," he whispered, his eyes snapping open. "This thing… it's aware."
"Don't let it distract you," Batman commanded. "Focus on the task."
Shazam nodded, closed his eyes once more, and channeled his power. He roared.
"MAGIC LIGHTNING!"
A thunderous crack split the air as raw divine lightning erupted from Shazam's hands and poured into the monolith. The Orichalcum veins glowed white-hot, the energy spreading through them like molten fire racing through circuitry.
The temperature sensors spiked instantly. Victor's calm voice rang out. "10,000 Kelvin… 12,000… 14,500…"
The obsidian outer shell began to crack, glowing green from within. Lucius watched the readouts intently. "Almost there. Hold it steady, Shazam!"
Shazam gritted his teeth and poured more power into the monolith. His muscles strained. His vision blurred. But he didn't stop.
"15,400 Kelvin!" Victor shouted. "Melting point achieved!"
The shell shattered like glass. The core liquefied in an instant, collapsing into a pool of shimmering, oily dark green liquid that flowed through the chamber's floor channels like magma, streaming into a secondary containment unit.
Shazam stumbled back, gasping for breath. His hands were still smoking.
"Did… did it work?"
Lucius stared at the molten metal in awe. "Yes, son. It worked perfectly. You did great. With this, we finally have what we need."
Shazam smiled, relief washing over him.
John stepped forward and let out a low whistle. "So what do you plan on calling this stuff?"
Lucius turned to him with a subtle smile. "I'm not the expert on magical metals. What would you suggest, since you live in that world?"
John's face twitched. He briefly glanced up at Batman, then back at Lucius. "Sure. It's not entirely pure Orichalcum anymore, so… let's call it Liquid Abyssal Orichalcum."
"Hmm… I suppose that will suffice… for now," Lucius said before turning to his team.
Zatanna placed a hand on John's shoulder and shook her head with a smile tinged with pity. John simply sighed. 'Why do I have to deal with more people like Batsy? I really need another ciggy.'
Batman's voice cut through the moment. "Prepare for Phase Two."
Lucius's fingers danced across the main control interface. "Victor, bring the magnetic casting mold online. We need to maintain the metal's temperature at exactly 15,400 Kelvin during the transfer."
"Already on it," Victor replied as he worked at his station. "Magnetic field generators are calibrated. Temperature regulators are holding steady." He turned toward Lucius. "Ready when you are."
Lucius nodded and pressed the activation sequence. "Engaging Phase Two."
Batman and Cheetah watched from above as the Abyssal Orichalcum traveled through guided channels toward a test platform. A sheet of metal—identical in composition to the hull plating of the Atlantean ship—lay suspended in the air by electromagnetic fields.
Precision nozzles aligned themselves above the sheet. A moment later, they began spraying the liquefied Orichalcum in a programmed pattern. Batman, Lucius, and Victor monitored the bonding process from their respective consoles as the metal fused at a molecular level, forming a seamless coat.
After several minutes, the coating process completed. The nozzles retracted, and the sheet was transferred to an environmental simulation chamber for testing.
The chamber sealed shut. Inside, it was programmed to replicate the crushing pressures and extreme conditions of the deep ocean—far beyond what any normal vessel could withstand.
The scientists and engineers gathered around the observation screens, watching the data stream in real-time.
When the test concluded, the room fell silent.
The results were staggering. The Abyssal Orichalcum coating had not only survived the simulation—it had exceededevery projected threshold. Structural integrity remained above 95% under the most extreme pressure they could generate.
Victor let out a breath. "This… this is incredible."
Lucius stared at the data, then tapped his communicator connecting to Batman. "Batman, we need to reconsider. With results like this, we shouldn't waste this material on modifying the Atlantean ship. We should keep the liquefied Orichalcum and design our own vessel from the ground up. Something built specifically for our needs."
Victor standing nearby nodded in agreement. "He's right. If we use this on their ship, we're essentially upgrading Atlantean technology. What happens when they ask for it back? We'll have given them a strategic advantage—and lost access to a priceless resource."
Batman was silent for a moment, considering their words. Then he shook his head. "No. We don't have time."
Lucius frowned. "Batman—"
"There's a threat out there right now," Batman said firmly. "One that's growing stronger every day we delay. Building a ship from scratch will take weeks, maybe months. We need something operational now. The Atlantean vessel is already functional—we just need to reinforce it."
Lucius sighed, frustration evident in his expression. "I understand the urgency, but—"
"We're not using all of it," Batman interrupted. "We'll coat the Atlantean ship with what we need, but we'll reserve a portion of the Orichalcum for future projects. We've already studied its properties completely. If necessary, we can research ways to synthesize a near alternative, if we can't find more. You'll get your chance to build our own vessel, Lucius—I promise. But stopping this threat comes first."
Lucius and Victor exchanged glances, clearly disappointed. But they nodded.
"Understood," Lucius said quietly. "Stopping the threat is more important."
Batman gave a short nod. "Bring in the Atlantean ship."
Within the hour, the Atlantean vessel was transported from the hangar and stationed in the facility's main bay. It hovered above the coating platform, held in place by magnetic stabilizers.
Batman stood beside Lucius at the control console. "How long will the process take?"
Lucius tapped a few commands into the interface, running calculations. He sighed. "Approximately 12 hours."
He took a deep breath, then pressed the activation command.
"Engaging coating sequence."
The precision nozzles realigned themselves around the Atlantean ship. A moment later, streams of liquid Abyssal Orichalcum began flowing across the hull, coating every surface in a seamless, molecular-level bond.
Batman, Lucius, Victor, and the rest of the team watched in silence as the transformation began.
The vessel that would carry them into the Unspoken Waters was being born.
Week 3 | Days 16–17 — Takama-ga-hara — Floating Divine Kingdom of the Shinto Pantheon
In the heart of a realm where cherry blossoms never fell and golden pagodas floated amid shifting spiritual currents, there stood a divine pavilion bathed in eternal sunlight. The platform of white jade and polished cedar glowed from within, bordered by towering pillars of red lacquer that stretched endlessly into a sky of permanent golden twilight. Overhead, a swirling nebula of solar fire served as both ceiling and conduit for the sun's power. The floor was covered in celestial tatami mats—cool to the touch, yet humming with the pulse of the universe. The air carried the perpetual scent of cherry blossoms.
This was the throne of Amaterasu, sovereign of the divine realm.
She sat at the center of the pavilion on a three-tiered dais, legs folded in seiza upon a violet silk cushion embroidered with a three-legged crow. Behind her floated the Yata no Kagami—the sacred mirror—spinning slowly in the air. It did not merely reflect light. It was a window into the souls of every living being in Japan, and beyond, if the wielder's power was great enough.
As she absorbed the soul energy flowing into her, her eyes suddenly opened. She sensed him before he arrived.
Susanoo approached with caution, suppressing his divine aura. At the edge of the pavilion's radiance, he gave two sharp claps—the proper etiquette for seeking an audience with the godking.
"Great sister," he called out respectfully. "I wish to speak with you."
"What is it, brother?" Her voice was soft, melodious, and eerily calm.
"Have you tasted the recent offerings from the Atlantean mortal?"
"I have. Why do you ask?"
Susanoo's tone grew quieter, more deliberate. "So far, it's only been marine life. We both know he's keeping a portion of the soul energy for himself. But now that his contraption has proven effective, perhaps it's time we ask him to expand his reach—to the surface."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Amaterasu asked, "Is this suggestion coming from you, brother… or from him?"
Susanoo raised his hands defensively. "From him. I made contact recently. He's ready to begin his plan in earnest." He lowered his hands. "But I agree with him, sister. The Higher Realm being still walks among mortals, yes—but he only acts when his loved ones are threatened. Right now, they're off-world. This is our window. We need more soul energy than we're currently receiving. Isn't that why you gave him the Magatama?"
Another long pause.
When Amaterasu spoke again, her voice was edged with frost. "You're right. The mortal returned the missing shard of my mirror and used that meeting to strike a bargain with us. The wheels are already in motion—there's no stopping them now. The other mortals have begun to suspect Orm's involvement, and ours. They cannot prove it yet, but their suspicions alone will eventually reach the Greek Pantheon."
The temperature around the pavilion dropped. Susanoo's breath misted faintly in the air.
"Proceed as planned," Amaterasu continued coldly. "But tell the mortal to exercise greater caution. We do not fear conflict—but we would prefer not to descend into the mortal realm until we have all reached a higher level of power."
"Understood, great sister."
Just as Susanoo turned to leave, her voice stopped him.
"One more thing, brother. Be prepared for his betrayal. That mortal cannot be trusted. My mirror cannot pierce the Unspoken Waters, and I suspect he is using us just as we are using him."
A cold smile spread across Susanoo's face. "Rest assured, sister. If he crosses us, I will be the first to strike. My blade will end him before he even realizes his mistake."
With that, his divine aura flared, and he vanished—returning to his own territory within the realm.
Inside the pavilion, Amaterasu remained motionless. Alone now, she allowed her thoughts to surface.
"You speak boldly, brother. But your eagerness for battle blinds you to the deeper currents at play."
She weighed each variable methodically, examining them from every angle.
The Higher Realm being's lover—the half-mortal daughter of the late, despicable Zeus—now commanded the Greek Pantheon. During the Thanagarian invasion, the Greeks had disregarded sacred agreement between pantheons for her sake alone. The message that sent was unmistakable. They valued her. Very likely because she bound them to him. But that connection was tenuous at best.
Her eyes narrowed.
"His presence doesn't merely enrich the mortal realm—it enhances the essence of souls themselves. That enrichment flows everywhere, even into the underworld. The entire balance of power is shifting."
Her aura flared around her.
"If Emma-O hadn't revealed this, I would be as blind as the rest. The underworld gods of other pantheons are growing stronger from these enriched souls, yet they conceal this knowledge from their own divine courts. They hoard power while the rest of us starve."
Her expression grew solemn.
"Our plan is already in motion. What we're doing carries a terrible price—one I will answer for when the time comes. But if we don't act now, if we don't seize this power, we won't survive what's stirring in the depths. We won't have the strength to stop her when she finally breaks free."
She closed her eyes, as cold resolve settled over her.
"And this plan will also fulfill one of my oldest ambitions, the destruction of the Greek Pantheon. When Zeus's daughter returns and discovers what we've done, she may object—but he is unlikely to intervene."
She leaned back, as she played out the scenario in her mind.
"This will be a conflict between native powers. Everything he's done reveals his philosophy—he values natural order and intervenes only when his loved ones face immediate, existential danger. With them off-world, the risk of interference is minimal. This is indeed our window."
She pushed deeper into her calculations.
"Even if she convinces him to act, I'll have accumulated enough power by then to sever our divine realm from this universe entirely. I can relocate it to one of the myriad parallel dimensions and continue my ascension there—rising through hierarchies until I reach realms even he cannot touch."
Her expression darkened the next moment, as another concern surfaced.
"Success means unimaginable power. Exposure before we're ready means annihilation. One misstep could trigger a pantheon war before we've gathered sufficient strength—and we'd be crushed. But he and the other pantheons aren't my only threats. The real danger is her. If she breaks free before we ascend, everything I've built will collapse in an instant."
She opened her eyes, her gaze drifting to the Yata no Kagami. Its surface rippled with reflected starlight.
"Then there's the mortal—Orm."
She studied the sacred mirror, retracing the thread of events that had led them here.
"He approached us claiming to have found my mirror's lost fragment in the Dragon's Triangle. But to even survive those cursed waters, let alone locate a divine artifact within them, would require some level of authority over the ocean itself—authority only a sea god could grant."
Her eyes narrowed to slits.
"I couldn't determine how he obtained such authority—not until today. The power I've gained through his offerings finally allowed me to pierce the protections around Poseidon's palace and discover the truth. Amphitrite… that lovesick fool granted him passage through the Triangle after he 'conveniently discovered' her sealed husband."
The pieces aligned with disturbing clarity.
"But… what if it wasn't coincidence at all? What if he knew exactly where both artifacts were from the very start?
A flicker of killing intent crossed her features.
"Every move he makes is calculated. Every word measured. If I'm correct, this mortal hasn't merely attempted to manipulate gods—he's succeeded. Multiple times. That makes him far more dangerous than Susanoo realizes."
She closed her eyes once more, feeling the steady pulse of stolen soul energy flowing into her divine core.
"He thinks he's playing us. But in the end, he's just a piece on my board—useful, certainly, but still just a piece. And pieces can always be sacrificed when they've served their purpose."
Her eyes opened, glowing faintly with divine light.
"Still, a mortal clever enough to manipulate gods isn't one to underestimate. I'll continue using him, extracting every advantage his schemes provide. But the moment his usefulness ends—or the instant he overreaches—I'll erase him myself."
A cold smile touched her lips.
"Everything is proceeding as planned. The battle of the gods will begin anew—on my terms, in my time. When the dust settles, the Greek pantheon will be nothing but ash and memory."
Her expression shifted, becoming more distant as she calculated the endgame.
"By then, I will have transcended this realm entirely. I'll rise beyond god king, beyond Ascendant, beyond even the fundamental concepts themselves. I'll exist in hierarchies that she cannot perceive, let alone reach."
Behind her, the sacred mirror continued its slow rotation. Soul energy from Orm's latest offering flowed steadily into her divine core—each stolen soul another step toward the transcendence she craved.