After handing Constantine over to Shazam, Adrian prepared to return to Justice Society Headquarters.
Clark, Wonder Woman, the Spectre, and Sinestro followed Adrian as they ascended into the sky, flying in formation toward their destination.
The air cracked with repeated sonic booms as they accelerated, the force of their movement carving a visible pressure wave through the atmosphere. A cone of compressed air formed ahead of them as they cut through the skies at extreme speed.
Without warning, the Spectre surged forward, overtaking Adrian.
His expression was tense, almost disturbed.
"There is something following us," he said.
Adrian activated his enhanced vision and scanned the surrounding skies. Nothing appeared out of place.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I do not know," the Spectre admitted. His voice carried unease. "I cannot see it, but I can feel it approaching. That sensation is… unsettling."
A sharp edge of killing intent flashed in Adrian's eyes.
"The Dark Justice League again?"
His gaze briefly shifted toward Wonder Woman flying ahead. The thought that their enemies would continue to interfere, even after prior losses, only reinforced his suspicion.
"Clark."
At the call of his name, Clark turned slightly, his focus breaking.
His mind had been elsewhere, weighed down by concern for his sister and frustration over his inability to fully protect her.
"If a fight breaks out," Adrian said, "you will protect Diana. She has magical potential, but she is not experienced in mage-level conflict. If they target her, she will be at a disadvantage."
Clark hesitated for a moment, instinctively wanting to dismiss the concern. Wonder Woman was far from fragile.
Still, Adrian's tone left no room for debate.
"I will," Clark replied.
"We cannot remain in open air," Adrian continued. "We move faster and more carefully. We have already exposed our position."
He turned toward the Spectre.
"Maintain formation and speed. We do not know their location, so we proceed with caution."
Without delay, he signaled acceleration.
At the rear, Shazam gripped Constantine by the collar, carrying him through the sky at high speed.
Constantine hung limply, battered and exhausted, while wind tore past them.
Shazam glanced at him.
"Do you have any accomplices?" he asked.
Constantine gave a bitter laugh.
"What do you think?"
Before he could continue, the wind surged into his mouth, forcing him to choke and cough mid-sentence. After recovering, he forced out his reply.
"Don't overestimate me. Most people in the magical world avoid me on purpose. I do not have anyone foolish enough to come rescue me."
Shazam nodded.
Then, abruptly, a strange sensation swept through him.
His consciousness flickered.
Darkness swallowed his perception as something forcefully displaced him from within.
His control over his body slipped away.
"Hello, John."
Shazam's head lowered, but his voice had changed completely.
It was deeper now, distorted, as if forced through something hollow.
Constantine frowned immediately.
"That is not Shazam."
The figure holding him tilted its head slightly.
"No. It is Boston Brand."
"Deadman?" Constantine's expression shifted sharply. "You can possess bodies, but Shazam's body?"
Deadman's voice carried a faint edge of irritation.
"Clarion suspected you would end up in trouble. Batman assigned me to monitor you for a week. Even if I had not been informed, I would have found you eventually."
Constantine exhaled sharply.
"Of course it is Batman. Bloody obsessive control freak."
"This is a rescue operation," Deadman said. "And an intervention."
"Right," Constantine muttered. "So what now?"
"I will speak to an old friend," Deadman replied. "Jim Corrigan. The Spectre may still be reachable through reason."
Constantine let out a dry, humorless laugh.
"You are wasting your time. There is nothing left of him to reason with."
"Perhaps," Deadman said. "But you will not be the one to see it."
Then, without warning, he released his grip.
Constantine dropped.
Wind roared past him as he plummeted through the sky.
His scream was immediate, raw, and unrestrained.
The ground rushed upward with terrifying speed.
At the final moment, a massive magical top hat appeared beneath him, expanding in size in an instant.
Constantine fell straight into it.
Inside, Zatanna caught him effortlessly.
"Right on time," she said, glancing at him. "Or maybe I am just lucky. I will go with lucky."
She adjusted her stance and prepared a spell.
"Ereh evaL."
The magic inverted space, pulling her and Constantine away.
Moments later, Adrian arrived at the drop point.
Constantine was gone.
Adrian's expression darkened instantly.
He turned toward Shazam.
"Billy. Explain what happened."
Deadman, still disguised within Shazam's body, forced himself to remain steady.
"I… I do not know," he said. "He suddenly slipped free. Then he fell. And then he was gone."
His imitation of Shazam's tone was careful, controlled.
But something within him began to destabilize.
A sudden pressure gripped his mind.
He clenched his head.
"No…"
A force inside Shazam's consciousness pushed back against him, attempting to reclaim control.
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
Clark shifted slightly beside him.
"Billy? Are you alright?"
Deadman did not respond.
Inside Shazam's mind, everything was collapsing into darkness.
He stood in an endless void, silent and empty, as if reality itself had been stripped away.
Then a voice emerged.
A young boy stepped forward.
Billy Batson.
"Hey," Billy said, glaring at him. "What are you doing inside my head?"
Deadman exhaled slowly.
"So this is what it feels like to share a mind."
Billy crossed his arms.
"Get out of my body."
"I intend to," Deadman replied. "I am only here to speak. Once that is done, I will leave."
"I do not want you touching Adrian," Billy said firmly.
Deadman tilted his head.
"You are protecting Homelander?" he asked.
"He is not what you think," Billy replied. "He has protected this world. He stopped the Green Lantern Corps from causing mass destruction. He protects people his own way."
Deadman's tone sharpened.
"And Coast City?"
Billy's jaw tightened.
The surrounding void trembled slightly.
"I am not here to argue," Deadman said. "He is dangerous. Someone must stop him."
"No," Billy said firmly. "You are wrong."
The void shook harder.
Deadman felt his consciousness being forced outward.
"You are expelling me," he said.
"Yes," Billy replied. "I am taking back control."
"You cannot just shut me out like this," Deadman said.
"I am not just taking control," Billy replied.
His voice hardened.
"I am becoming Shazam."
The transformation spell echoed through the collapsing mindscape.
"Shazam!"
Lightning surged outward, tearing through the darkness as Billy reclaimed full control of his body.
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