By the time Amanda Waller arrived in Chinatown, the reinforced soldiers had already sealed off the entire food processing plant.
Standing beneath the dim industrial lights, Amanda slowly surveyed the surroundings.
The factory looked grim beneath the night sky, its walls stained with a murky black-brown haze. Blood flowed across the concrete floor, mixing with the foul stench of decay lingering throughout the building. The air itself felt oppressive.
Amanda frowned slightly before turning toward one of her subordinates.
"You thoroughly investigated these people, correct?"
"Yes, ma'am," the subordinate answered immediately. "We confirmed their identities. They all belong to one of Gotham's major Chinatown factions. Ever since the President tightened control over Gotham, Chinatown's operations have largely gone underground."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"We've also noticed increased activity in the black market recently. Several informants reported these people conducting secret trades with dangerous individuals already on federal watchlists."
Amanda narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
"So Batman likely came here because of whatever they were transporting."
Her instincts immediately warned her that something larger was unfolding behind the scenes.
A dangerous feeling settled in her chest.
Batman was planning something.
Something serious.
"Do we know what they were trading?" Amanda asked.
The subordinate nodded carefully.
"Possibly magical artifacts or related materials. The transactions are extremely secretive, so we haven't identified the exact items yet. However, several of our informants familiar with occult activity detected strong magical fluctuations around the deals."
"Magic..." Amanda muttered.
She already hated how often the supernatural had begun infiltrating national security matters.
"In any case, this needs to be reported immediately."
As she spoke, Amanda stepped deeper into the factory.
At the same time, she ordered nearby agents to notify higher command.
Despite the gruesome environment, Amanda remained composed. Compared to the shadow operations she had survived over the years, this factory was hardly enough to unsettle her.
Still, her hatred for uncontrolled superhumans only deepened.
In her eyes, heroes and monsters were often separated by nothing more than circumstance.
And eventually, every one of them became a threat.
One day, she intended to eliminate them permanently.
Meanwhile, in Metropolis.
Adrian had just finished receiving a call from Hanna.
She briefly reported everything that had occurred at the Gotham food processing plant.
"I understand," Adrian replied after listening quietly. "You handled it well."
After ending the call, he slipped the phone back into his pocket.
"Something else demanding your attention?"
Mera glanced at him curiously as they walked side by side down a cold Metropolis street.
They had only recently left the superhuman prison.
Winter winds swept through the city, carrying a sharp chill that caused pedestrians to hurry along the sidewalks with lowered heads and tightened coats.
"Not really," Adrian answered casually. "You make it sound like I spend every second buried in work."
A faint smirk crossed his face.
"I have no interest in becoming that kind of person."
"That's reassuring," Mera said with a smile. "If you were constantly serious and obsessed with work, I probably wouldn't find you interesting."
"Should I take that as praise?" Adrian asked dryly.
"You can if you want."
Mera shrugged lightly.
"Though I'm not the type who needs gratitude to feel accomplished."
Her gaze shifted toward the winter streets around them.
"If you really want to thank me, then keep walking with me a little longer."
Adrian glanced at her but said nothing.
Mera observed the surrounding storefronts quietly.
Undersea kingdoms possessed magnificent palaces and ancient beauty, but the surface world carried a completely different atmosphere.
Flower shops displayed vibrant blooms despite the cold season. Small stores sold Halloween decorations and knitted scarves. Warm lights spilled from café windows onto snow-dusted sidewalks.
Simple things.
Ordinary things.
Yet strangely alive.
"None of this exists where I come from," Mera admitted softly. "The surface world feels chaotic sometimes, but it also feels... vibrant."
"So you like it?" Adrian asked.
"Enough that I don't dislike being here."
Her tone remained casual, though there was genuine interest beneath it.
Then she suddenly changed subjects.
"Back in the prison, were you serious?"
Adrian glanced sideways at her.
"About what?"
"Hal Jordan."
Mera folded her arms.
"You told him you'd release him eventually."
"Because I will," Adrian replied calmly. "Just not yet."
Mera frowned slightly.
"You're actually listening to Carol's requests?"
"Sometimes."
Adrian's expression remained relaxed.
"It depends on who's asking."
"That surprises me," Mera admitted. "You don't seem like someone easily influenced by others."
"I'm not."
Adrian's answer came immediately.
"But Hal still has value, assuming he learns to control Parallax instead of surrendering to it completely."
Mera studied him carefully.
"I still think you're planning something."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"I'm always planning something."
At the same time, inside a mansion hidden within Gotham.
Rachel stood trapped inside a glowing magical circle etched into the floor.
Her eyes burned with anger as she glared at the man standing nearby.
"You always have ulterior motives."
Constantine leaned against a nearby table while smoking lazily.
"Sometimes strategy is necessary," he replied casually. "This world is dangerous, Little Raven. Trusting people too easily gets you killed."
"You're not my friend," Rachel shot back instantly.
That actually made Constantine look mildly surprised.
He ran a hand through his messy hair.
"That's harsh. I held you when you were a baby at Baron Winters' place. I thought we had history."
Despite his words, his face showed no actual sadness.
Rachel only looked more furious.
"So this is how you treat people?"
Earlier that evening, she had encountered Constantine waiting for her after school.
He claimed he wanted to show her something important.
Rachel had known of Constantine before, but Adrian had never properly warned her just how unreliable and manipulative the man truly was.
By the time she stepped through Constantine's portal, it was already too late.
The moment she emerged from the dimensional passage, the binding circle activated beneath her feet.
Now she could barely move.
Even worse, her magic felt completely sealed.
"If my brother finds out about this, he'll never let you go," Rachel threatened angrily.
"Assuming he finds this place," Constantine answered smoothly.
He crushed his cigarette beneath his shoe before drawing another glowing sigil near the doorway.
"Though honestly, even if Adrian comes, that may simply be part of the plan."
Rachel's expression tightened immediately.
"You're setting a trap."
Constantine only gave a small smile.
"You'll be safe here. Nobody intends to hurt you."
As he prepared to leave, Rachel suddenly felt genuine anxiety rise in her chest.
Her mother and Adrian would notice she had not returned home by now.
She knew Adrian well enough to understand exactly what would happen next.
If he realized she was missing, he would come personally.
And that was exactly what worried her most.
After leaving the room, Constantine teleported directly to Jason Blood's residence.
Jason Blood, the immortal host of the demon Etrigan, possessed one of the strangest histories in the magical world.
Centuries ago, during the era of Camelot, Merlin bound the demon Etrigan to Jason Blood, one of King Arthur's knights. Since then, the two had shared one body.
Over the centuries, Jason had wandered the world alongside figures such as Madame Xanadu, battling supernatural threats while carrying the burden of Etrigan's existence.
Etrigan himself was no ordinary demon.
He was the son of Belial and held deep ties to Hell itself, including direct dealings with Lucifer. Throughout history, Etrigan had manipulated wars, betrayals, and supernatural conflicts for his own gain.
Despite occasionally fighting alongside heroes, his hands were stained with countless atrocities.
Now, with Etrigan's power restrained inside Jason Blood, the immortal sorcerer lived as a highly skilled occult expert capable of magic, swordsmanship, telepathy, and prophetic visions.
One by one, additional magic users arrived at the mansion.
"Raeppe!"
With a reversed spell, Zatanna and Harley Quinn appeared from thin air.
Harley looked around excitedly.
"Wow! Teleportation magic is incredible!"
She immediately grabbed Zatanna's arm.
"You have to teach me that someday, Little Z!"
"If you talked less, the spellcasting would go faster," Zatanna replied flatly.
Harley ignored the criticism completely.
Instead, her attention shifted toward Constantine almost instantly.
The exhausted mage stood nearby smoking yet another cigarette, looking as disheveled as ever.
Harley's eyes lit up.
"Who's that?"
"John Constantine," Zatanna answered.
Harley blinked twice before grinning.
"He's handsome."
Zatanna stared at her.
"He's dangerous."
"That makes him even more attractive."
Nearby, Alfred approached carrying a silver tray lined with steaming cups of coffee.
"Miss Zatanna," Alfred said politely, "your usual Pret latte."
"Thank you, Alfred. You always remember."
Harley immediately leaned forward.
"I want coffee too!"
Once nearly everyone had gathered, Constantine stepped forward and tossed his cigarette into a nearby trash bin.
"Thank you all for coming."
His voice finally grew serious.
"And special thanks to Jason Blood for allowing us to use his home."
Jason stood nearby wearing an elegant green suit, looking refined and composed.
Beside him, Batman appeared far more intimidating in full costume, his expression colder than usual.
"We're here for one reason," Constantine continued.
Another cigarette somehow appeared between his fingers.
"Homelander."
His tone sharpened.
"That lunatic needs to be stopped."
Constantine slowly paced the room while speaking.
"We already hit him hard once. We captured Wonder Woman and Flash. We proved his people aren't untouchable."
Batman finally spoke.
"And we paid heavily for it."
The room fell quieter.
"People we trusted sacrificed themselves so we could finally see the truth," Batman said grimly. "Homelander isn't humanity's savior."
Constantine nodded.
"Exactly. Behind the fake smile, the heroic image, and that ridiculous costume is a tyrant who wants absolute control."
His voice became more animated.
"We already wounded him once. Now we finish the job."
He raised his cigarette slightly.
"If kryptonite isn't enough, then we use magic."
Suddenly, a loud meow interrupted him.
Everyone turned.
A plump orange cat sat comfortably in the arms of a black-haired boy dressed entirely in black.
The boy's hair curled slightly upward near the sides, giving him a rebellious appearance.
This was Klarion, often called the Witch Boy.
A prodigy from Limbo Town, a hidden underground settlement founded by descendants of Puritan sorcerers beneath New York's rail system.
Klarion had rebelled against the strict religious rule governing the hidden city and escaped to the surface world after surviving pursuit from the monstrous Coharie entity.
Despite his youth, his magical talent was extraordinary.
The magical artifact Batman had retrieved from Chinatown earlier had only one purpose.
To contact Klarion and bring him here.
===
If you want to read more, check out my patreon.
Patreon.com/ _Zeph