Shadow Monarch in DC

Rakan’s claws tore through the space where Quick had stood,

and met nothing.

There was no resistance or impact, just empty air.

The force of the strike carried through regardless, raking across the fractured ground and splitting it open in a violent arc, stone and earth erupting outward as the shockwave rolled across. The sound lingered for a moment too long, echoing into the vast emptiness of the Dimensional Crack.

Rakan froze at the end of his attack, his massive frame still hunched forward, claws embedded deep into the ruined terrain.

Then his eyes widened slightly.

"...Son of a.."

He snapped his head back, scanning the space where Quick had been, his senses flaring outward in search of the shadow’s presence, but there was nothing left to find.

Not even a trace.

Yogumunt’s form shifted beside him, his distorted silhouette rippling faintly as his voice emerged, "The Shadow Monarch has withdrawn his soldier."

There was no surprise in his tone.

Sillad said nothing at first.

He stood exactly where he had been, unmoving, the frost that had spread across the ground now thickening further, creeping outward in jagged, crystalline patterns.

When he finally spoke, his voice was a bit too quiet.

"So," he said, his gaze fixed on the empty space before them, "that is his answer."

"He never intended to listen... he doesn’t wish to ally himself with us or aid us in our cause.."

The frost beneath his feet cracked audibly.

"Arrogant bastard!"

Rakan ripped his claws free from the ground with a violent motion, straightening as a low growl rolled from his chest, his irritation far less contained.

"I said it before!" he snapped, turning toward the others, his golden eyes burning with aggression. "We should have hunted him down together and ended this before it reached this point!"

His claws flexed again, as if itching for a fight that had just been denied to him.

"We can still do it now."

Querehsha let out a soft, amused laugh, as she folded her arms loosely.

"Oh, listen to him," she said, her voice filled with mockery. "Straight to tearing things apart, as always."

Her gaze drifted toward where Quick had stood, her smile thinning slightly.

"And yet... the shadow thinks we should kneel." She tilted her head, eyes narrowing just a fraction. "He is strong, yes, but does he truly believe he can face all of us at once?"

Yogumunt answered before anyone else could.

"He can."

All eyes shifted toward him.

His form twisted faintly as he continued, his voice steady,

"I don’t know if you are all blinded by pride but his power rivals that of the Dragon Monarch, if he chooses the battlefield carefully, If he avoids direct confrontation and If he isolates us... one by one, our death is certain, and this one doesn’t seem to be stupid."

"His army is not merely an advantage," Yogumunt added. "It is a compounding force. Every loss we suffer becomes his gain and the longer a direct conflict drags on," he finished, "the stronger he becomes... and the weaker we grow."

Rakan’s expression darkened further at that, though he did not interrupt.

Yogumunt’s gaze shifted slightly, as though looking beyond the physical.

"For that reason... I advise against engaging him openly even in this Dimension."

Sillad exhaled slowly.

The frost around him stopped spreading.

Not because the anger had faded, but because it had been contained.

He turned his head slightly toward Yogumunt,

"...Then we do not fight him on his terms."

Yogumunt inclined his head slightly.

Sillad’s eyes sharpened.

"I have an idea."

That alone drew the others’ attention.

"He has changed," Sillad said. "That much is clear."

His gaze drifted upward slightly, thoughtful.

"He refrains from harvesting the humans of his world... despite their abundance."

Querehsha’s lips curled faintly at that.

"Which means," Sillad continued, "they are not merely resources to him."

"They matter to him, and that," he said quietly, "is a weakness."

Rakan’s grin returned, slow and sharp.

"...Now you’re speaking my language."

Sillad ignored the comment, continuing without pause.

"His Earth is within our reach. It is unstable, unprepared, and weak." His eyes flickered briefly toward the others. "If we strike it, he will respond. Not strategically... but personally."

Querehsha’s smile widened, something eager flickering behind her eyes.

"He will be angry."

"And distracted," Sillad added.

He turned slightly, his gaze moving between them.

"We do not all need to act. One of us, with their army, will be sufficient to devastate that world and draw his full attention."

Rakan stepped forward slightly, his presence flaring with anticipation.

"I’ll do it."

There was no hesitation.

"My beasts will tear that world apart. We’ll reduce it to ash before he can even think."

He paused, then glanced at Sillad.

"But why not lure him here instead with a different plan? Why go through the trouble? I’m sure there are plenty of other weaknesses we can exploit."

Yogumunt answered again, "Because here... he is prepared."

His form shifted subtly.

"There, he is not."

A brief silence followed.

"We do not have the luxury of a prolonged war," Yogumunt continued. "Nor can we rely on the Dragon Monarch’s return to resolve this for us."

His voice dipped slightly.

"Unless," he added, almost idly, "you would prefer to wait under his shadow rather than act on your own pride."

Rakan’s expression snapped toward him instantly, a low snarl escaping his throat.

"You.."

Querehsha laughed, the sound light and cutting as she stepped forward between them just enough to break the tension.

"Oh, don’t start now," she said, her tone playful despite the sharpness in her eyes. "We’re all on the same side... for now."

Her gaze shifted toward Rakan, her smile turning more conspiratorial.

"I’ll join you."

Rakan glanced at her, one brow lowering slightly.

"My poison spreads faster than fire," she continued, "And far more effectively."

For a brief moment, something darker flickered in her expression.

"My world fell quickly," she added. "I learned... what works thanks to a certain she human who loved poison as much as I do."

Her smile returned.

"The defenders of his Earth won’t last long."

Rakan grunted in approval, rolling his shoulders slightly.

"...Fine. We’ll do it together."

Sillad watched the exchange in silence before speaking again, his tone thoughtful.

"My only concern... is the Rulers."

That drew a brief pause.

Yogumunt’s answer came without hesitation.

"They will not intervene."

Sillad’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"With both our presence... and his," Yogumunt continued, "they will hesitate. That world has not yet stabilized to mana. They will not risk triggering a premature war with us."

A slight distortion passed through his form.

"They will rely on him to act."

The implication was clear.

He would stand alone.

Sillad considered that for a moment longer... then gave a slow nod.

"...Then it is decided, we will proceed with this plan."

****

A tear of shadow opened without warning.

It simply appeared,

Quick stumbled out of it.

One moment, he had been standing before four Monarchs, claws descending toward him with the promise of annihilation, and the next, he was here.

Alive and well.

He landed in a low crouch out of instinct, red lightning flaring wildly around him as his senses snapped outward, searching for the attack that should have followed.

It never came.

The lightning flickered... then stilled.

Slowly, he looked up.

Arthur stood a few steps ahead of him.

Floating just slightly above the ground, his long ashen-white hair shifted with the faint, unnatural wind of the dimension, and those glowing violet eyes, were already looking out across the vast expanse. As if nothing had happened.

As if everything had gone exactly as he intended.

For a moment, Quick said nothing.

Then the realization settled.

He lowered his head immediately, dropping to one knee, one hand braced against the fractured ground beneath him.

"...My king," he said, his voice tight, "You... pulled me back."

"I was prepared to die for you."

Arthur didn’t turn immediately.

For a moment, he simply stood there, gaze fixed on the horizon, then, faintly

He smiled. "You really thought," he said, "that I would let those bastards kill one of my soldiers?"

He turned his head slightly, just enough for his gaze to fall on Quick.

"Not today," he continued, "and not ever."

Quick didn’t move or lift his head after hearing those words.

Arthur stepped forward.

As he passed, his hand came down briefly on Quick’s shoulder,

A king acknowledging his soldier.

Then he moved past him, gaze lifting once more to the endless expanse of the Dimensional Crack.

"At least now," Arthur said, his tone returning to that calm, calculated cadence, "they understand."

He exhaled faintly.

"What I want from them.. They’ll move," he continued. "But not recklessly"

A faint scoff followed,

"They’re too prideful for submission... and too cautious for open war."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"And even with the Dragon Monarch absence..."

The sentence didn’t need to be finished.

Quick rose slowly to his feet behind him, the last traces of red lightning fading as his posture straightened.

"They will strike my king," he said,

Arthur gave a small nod.

"That’s just how they are."

The air shifted, just enough to signal another presence entering the space.

Bellion emerged from the shadows behind Arthur, his form materializing authority, armor gleaming faintly beneath the violet light. He lowered his head the moment he appeared.

"My liege."

Arthur didn’t turn.

"Bellion."

"Take a squad of the heavenly soldiers," Arthur said, his tone precise, already moving beyond the Monarchs, beyond their schemes. "And move on the demonic specters we located earlier."

Bellion’s head lifted slightly.

Arthur’s gaze remained forward.

"We need that kind of force within our ranks," he added. "Their nature, their adaptability... they’ll serve well once they part of our army."

Bellion bowed deeper.

"It shall be done, my liege."

/-\

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