The first tremor rolled through Gotham beneath the streets. At first, most people didn't even notice it.
A faint vibration, a low rumble that could easily be mistaken for a subway train passing beneath the pavement.
But then it happened again.
Stronger.
In a dimly lit apartment in the Narrows, a man paused mid-sip of his coffee as the glass in his hand rattled against the table.
"…You feel that?"
Across the room, his roommate glanced up from the television.
"Feel what."
The building shuddered suddenly.
The hanging lamp above them swung violently.
"Okay.. that."
Elsewhere in the city, the tremor rippled through the streets like a silent wave.
In a late-night diner downtown, plates rattled against the countertop as the floor vibrated beneath the customers' feet.
A waitress froze mid-step.
"Was that an earthquake?"
One of the customers laughed nervously.
"In Gotham?"
The entire diner shook again, harder this time.
A few cups slid across the counter and shattered against the floor.
The laughter stopped immediately.
Outside, car alarms began to sound as the pavement trembled beneath parked vehicles.
Across the city, the same confusion spread.
In an apartment complex, a mother grabbed the arm of her teenage son as the walls creaked around them.
"Okay that's not normal.."
The boy glanced toward the window nervously.
"Did something explode?"
Another tremor rolled through the building.
Harder.
The lights flickered.
Somewhere in the distance, sirens began to wail.
In a crowded bar on the east side of Gotham, several patrons stumbled as the floor shifted beneath them.
One man grabbed the counter.
"What the hell was that?!"
Another pointed toward the window.
"Dude…"
Outside, people had begun spilling onto the sidewalks.
Phones were out.
Voices raised.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Is this an earthquake?!"
"No way Gotham gets earthquakes!"
The tremor hit again.
Stronger than before.
This time the vibration lasted several seconds.
Windows rattled violently.
Streetlights swayed.
Across the skyline, the buildings of Gotham shook faintly as their steel frameworks absorbed the shifting ground beneath them.
People were starting to panic.
Far above the city, the Batwing cut through the clouds.
Inside the cockpit, Batman watched the city lights below as the aircraft's sensors tracked the spreading tremors.
The readings were getting worse.
Each shockwave from the battle in the forest was rippling through the ground like the aftershocks of an earthquake.
Batman reached for the communications panel.
A moment later, the line connected.
On the other end, the gruff voice of Gordon answered.
"Gordon."
"Commissioner."
There was a brief pause.
"Batman."
Gordon sounded slightly breathless, like he'd been moving quickly.
"I was just about to call you."
Another tremor rolled through the city.
Batman watched several clusters of car alarms erupt across the streets below.
"I'm guessing these tremors are the reason you are calling me?" Gordon asked.
Batman didn't waste time.
"Yes."
Gordon exhaled slowly on the other end.
"…Of course, what is it this time, some expirement by some maniac?"
In the background, Batman could hear the noise of a busy police station,voices shouting, phones ringing, officers moving around rapidly.
"What's really happening?" Gordon asked.
Batman looked toward the outskirts of the city.
Even from this distance, faint pulses of energy still flashed from the forest.
"There's a dimensional tear outside the city limits," Batman said.
Gordon was silent for a moment.
"…A what?"
"A tear between worlds."
Another tremor rippled through Gotham.
Hard enough that several cars below swerved slightly on the streets.
Batman continued calmly.
"Currently it's been dealt by... The shadow."
Gordon didn't need clarification.
He'd heard enough about him by now.
The things he'd seen alongside Batman in recent months had permanently expanded his definition of "bad night."
"So the shaking…" Gordon said slowly.
"…that's coming from whatever's happening out there, that man is dealing with it?"
"Yes."
Gordon sighed.
"Fair enough."
Batman raised an eyebrow slightly.
"That's it?"
Gordon chuckled dryly.
"Batman, at this point if you told me the devil himself crawled out of the ground outside Gotham…"
He paused.
"…I'd just ask how many officers you need, or how much time we have so I can get the people away from there."
Batman didn't argue with that.
"What do you need me to do?" Gordon asked.
"Evacuate the districts closest to the northern forest."
Batman's voice remained calm.
"Immediately."
Gordon didn't hesitate.
"Understood."
In the background, Batman heard Gordon already turning to shout orders across the room.
"Montoya! Get emergency broadcast ready!"
Another tremor rolled through the city.
Sirens began echoing across multiple districts now.
Batman spoke again before the line closed.
"Commissioner."
Gordon paused.
"…Yeah?"
Batman's voice dropped slightly.
"This situation may escalate."
There was a brief silence.
Then Gordon answered in his usual steady tone.
"Then we'll act faster."
****
HELL -
High above the shattered ruins of the palace of dis, the gateway to earth that revealed flashes of another world beyond, dark forests, distant lightning, and shockwaves that rippled through the fabric of reality.
And it was being fiercely contested.
Demons swarmed upward in waves, screeching and clawing toward the opening like starving beasts.
They never made it far. Arthur's marshals did not allow it.
Violet silhouettes streaked through the sky like predatory comets. Claws, fists and blades of shadow carved through wings and limbs, while bursts of dark power shattered entire clusters of demons mid-flight.
Bellion gutted a horned monstrosity through the chest before hurling the corpse into another swarm. Galatea tore through three demons in a single pass, leaving their bodies dissolving into black ash.
The slaughter was swift and efficient.
Standing atop a broken tower overlooking the battlefield, John Constantine took a slow drag from his cigarette and watched the massacre unfold.
Another demon tried to break through the defensive line.
Ultra caught it instantly, ripping its head off before it could even scream.
Constantine let out a low whistle.
"Well… look at that."
He blew a thin stream of smoke into the hot infernal wind.
"They've got it handled, I don't think a single demon is making it to earth at this point even if we leave this thing open, but of course we can't leave it like this."
Beside him, Raven stood quietly, her violet eyes reflecting the chaos above. Her cloak fluttered slightly in the heated currents rising from the burning wasteland below.
She watched the marshals cut down another wave of demons.
Constantine gestured lazily toward the sky.
"Doesn't look like they need us playing hero with them."
He flicked ash from his cigarette and pointed toward the massive rift.
"So that means we can focus on that giant hole up there."
"You think we can close it?" Constantine asked.
Raven's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the rift.
"…Possibly."
Constantine glanced sideways at her.
"That confident, are we?"
She shook her head faintly.
"I understand the mechanism holding it open, it must have required a great deal of power and energy to open."
Her gaze remained fixed on the glowing tear.
"But closing it requires more power than I currently possess."
Constantine scratched the side of his head.
"Well that's funny."
He nudged something on the stone floor with his boot.
"Because I was thinking the exact same thing."
"Luckily…" Constantine added.
He turned the crown slowly in his hands.
"…we might have a workaround."
Raven glanced toward the third figure standing nearby.
Etrigan stood like a statue watching the aerial battle with burning eyes.
Raven gestured toward the crown.
"Nephew."
Etrigan turned.
His glowing gaze fell upon the artifact in Constantine's hands.
"You are already powerful," Raven said calmly.
"But the crown would amplify that strength significantly."
Constantine raised a finger.
"Small disclaimer though."
He smirked faintly.
"Stories say it tends to drive demons completely mad."
Etrigan stared at the crown for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"Madness?"
Flames curled from his mouth as he spoke.
"Madness is but a whisper weak!"
He stepped forward, claws flexing eagerly.
"Bring forth the crown that every demon seek!"
Constantine tossed it toward him.
Etrigan caught it easily.
The demon examined the crown closely.
"I sought a throne since days of old!"
His grin widened.
"The ruler's crown within my hold!"
Before he could place it on his head, Constantine raised his hand.
"Hold on a second, mate."
Etrigan looked down at him with clear irritation.
Constantine smiled thinly.
"Don't forget your deal with Arthur."
The demon's eyes flared.
Constantine leaned casually against a crumbling pillar.
"You wouldn't want him sealing you, would you?"
Etrigan's flames burned hotter.
"Insolent magician, hold thy tongue!"
"I know the chain to which I'm strung!"
His claws tightened around the crown.
"But mark me well, this insult dire.."
"One day I'll drown thee both in fire!"
Constantine waved dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah."
He lit another cigarette.
"Put it on the schedule."
Raven stepped forward calmly.
"We will assist you."
Etrigan turned toward her.
"With your strength and the power of the crown, we can seal the rift together."
She gestured toward the sky.
"And once the tear is closed…"
Her eyes softened slightly.
"The crown remains yours."
Etrigan studied her.
The flames around him flickered thoughtfully.
Then he nodded once.
"A pact is struck, the terms are clear!"
"The crown is mine when done with here!"
Without hesitation
He lifted the crown and placed it upon his head.
The moment it touched him
A violent eruption of infernal energy burst outward like a volcanic detonation.
Constantine stumbled backward, a dark shield forming around him.
"Bloody hell!"
A pillar of fire erupted around Etrigan, spiraling upward like a raging inferno.
The ground beneath him cracked open.
Etrigan threw his head back and roared.
The sound shook Hell.
Flames surged higher as ancient magic flooded into his body. His already powerful frame swelled with energy, veins of glowing fire running beneath his skin.
Constantine shielded his eyes against the heat.
"…Right."
He stared upward.
"That's a bit more than I expected."
Beside him, Raven stood motionless.
But even she looked astonished.
The power radiating from Etrigan now was immense.
When the flames finally settled slightly, the demon lowered his head again.
His eyes burned brighter than ever.
His voice rumbled like thunder.
"Now witness power fierce and dire!"
"With crown and flame and hellborn fire!"
He pointed a blazing claw toward the massive rift in the sky.
"Together now we seal the scar!"
"And end this breach of worlds afar!"
Constantine exhaled slowly.
"…Right then."
He glanced at Raven.
"Let's close that bloody thing."
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Shadow Monarch: In One Piece / The Witcher: Heir of Fire!
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my p@t-reon / FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 7 More Chapters on all of my stories!