Chapter 616: The Devil’s Brother

The pavilion Arthur had made with his shadow ring had been raised on the plateau overlooking the battlefield, its walls woven from shadow, its roof open to the sky. Inside, a long table had been carved from the black stone, made by none other than Beru, its surface smooth and cold, its edges marked with the sigils of every Monarch who now sat around it.

Arthur sat at the head, his cosmic shadow armor receded, his ashen hair tied back. To his right, Kara sat with her hands folded and to his left, Raven leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, her eyes flicking between the gathered Monarchs.

Superman sat near the center, his cape draped over the back of his chair, Beast Boy sat beside him, still visibly buzzing from the battle, his leg bouncing under the table. Zatanna sat with her fingers laced together, her golden eyes calm. Frost sat at the far end, arms crossed, her pale blue eyes fixed on Arthur with a mixture of respect and wariness.

Around them, the Marshals stood in the shadows, and the rest, silent sentinels who had earned their place in this war a hundred times over.

Arthur spoke first.

"The first battle is won, the Ruler’s first batch of soldiers are serving us now." He paused, his eyes sweeping the table. "But this is not the end. It is only the beginning."

Beast Boy leaned forward. "Beginning? Arthur, we just wiped out an entire army of heavenly soldiers. We barely lost anyone. You didn’t lose anyone. That’s not a beginning, that’s a massacre, how are we going to do your plan if every battle is won like that, they will never see moment of weakness in you to come personally."

"It was a victory," Arthur agreed. "A necessary one. But the Rulers will not accept defeat. They will retaliate, and they will find a different way to strike at us, one we won’t see coming."

Raven nodded slowly. "The demon clans still have warriors I didn’t bring. Entire legions, waiting in the demon realm. And there are the mindless demons, the ones without lords or masters. They could serve as soldiers. Fodder, if nothing else."

Arthur shook his head. "It won’t be necessary."

Frost raised an eyebrow. "We just won a battle against an endless army like you said, and you’re telling us we don’t need reinforcements?"

"I have four million soldiers," Arthur said calmly. "Enough to deploy across this entire world and still have reserves. But I won’t use them all. Not yet." He paused. "The plan depends on the Rulers believing they can win. If I bring everything I have, they’ll know they’ve already lost. They’ll retreat. They’ll hide. And we’ll spend the next thousand years hunting them across the multiverse."

Superman leaned forward. "Let’s say this takes years and we remain here. What if Earth is left vulnerable?"

Arthur met his eyes. "Earth is not vulnerable. The Shadow Lantern Corps remains in Nyx, watching the sectors, including Earth’s. The Justice League is still active. I spoke with Hal and Stewart before we left, they’ve agreed to remain vigilant, and they can call upon Oa if needed." He paused. "I haven’t forgotten about True Darkseid or the Dragon Monarch. I haven’t forgotten about anyone. You simply have to trust me on this."

Kara’s voice was quiet. "What if the Rulers never attack us? What if they just... wait?"

Arthur’s smile was thin. "They will attack. They have to. Unless they surrender to me and that isn’t happening, my dear."

Zatanna spoke next, her voice calm. "In terms of magic, how strong are they really? I’ve felt their presence, but I can’t get a clear read on them."

Arthur was silent for a moment, considering his words carefully. "They are very strong. As strong as Monarchs. In a way, they are your reflection each of you holds a fragment of primordial darkness, and they hold a fragment of primordial light. But they have weapons. Artifacts. Godly-tier tools that they’ve accumulated over eons."

He paused.

"They even have a certain Cup. The Cup of Reincarnation. An artifact that can rewind time ten years, though they understand the cost and the consequences of using it."

Raven’s eyes narrowed. "That seems like a very dangerous thing to have. Why haven’t they used it? Wait.." She paused, her memory stirring. "Have they used it in the past? Against the other Monarchs?"

Arthur’s smile widened. "Yes. They did. But all higher lifeforms, Monarchs, Rulers, beings like us..we retain our memories. It simply rewinds time for everything around us, but not for us. We still remember everything."

Kara’s voice was sharp. "Wait. If they use it now, our daughter..."

Arthur reached over and placed a hand on hers. "Will not cease to exist. Because I’m here. And also, they probably can’t use it anymore. Even if they do, we’ll still have our powers. We’ll still be as strong as we are right now. It’s something they can’t do because there’s no actual gain."

Beast Boy let out a long breath. "That’s a relief.."

Arthur’s expression didn’t change. "They have other things in their arsenal, though. Beings, as well as artifacts. The Rulers are as ancient as the Monarchs, and they didn’t spend eons sleeping. I think they will unleash something on us. Something they’ve kept hidden."

Raven’s voice was quiet. "Are you saying they might unleash something like the Gentry? Like Empty Hand did?"

Beast Boy’s head snapped toward her. "The what now?"

Frost went pale.

Arthur nodded slowly. "Perhaps. Though if it is on the level of the Gentry, it won’t be a problem for me anymore. My Abyss will consume beings like that."

Beast Boy laughed nervously, high-pitched. "Of course. With you on our side, there’s nothing to worry about.. Right?"

Arthur’s voice was patient. "Patience is all I ask. There is still Ivy, she’s still in their hands. I dragged her into this. I owe her that much."

Superman nodded. "Of course. I haven’t forgotten what she did for us that time in Gotham, clearing that poison plant, saving countless lives. We owe her that much."

Arthur turned, his voice carrying across the pavilion. "Galatea. Ultra."

The two Marshals appeared behind him, their forms coalescing from the shadows, their eyes burning violet.

"My Monarch."

"Take to the sky. Monitor this world. I expect the Rulers to use their next attack as a surprise, they won’t go for a direct confrontation unless they can guarantee a win. Cover the entire world. Take five thousand heavenly soldiers with you. It should be enough to do it in secret. Zatanna will use a spell to conceal you completely from their eyes."

Zatanna nodded. "That should be enough."

Galatea and Ultra bowed their heads.

"At once, my Monarch."

They flew off into the sky, their forms disappearing into the chaos.

Arthur turned back to the table.

"Now we wait."

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Los Angeles - Lux - Night

The bar was alive with sound and color, a symphony of laughter and clinking glass and the low, throbbing pulse of music that seemed to vibrate through the very bones of the building.

At the center of it all, behind the bar, stood Mazikeen.

Her dark hair falling across her face, her eyes scanning the room. She was pouring a drink for a customer when the door opened, and the temperature of the room seemed to drop by several degrees.

She looked up.

And her eyes widened.

The man who walked through the door was tall and elegant, his features almost identical to Lucifer’s, the same chiseled jaw, the same impossibly handsome face. But where Lucifer carried himself with the lazy confidence of a being who had long since made peace with his own damnation, this man moved with the grace of someone who believed he was above it all.

He wore a simple black suit, perfectly tailored, and his eyes swept across the bar with an expression of mild amusement.

Maze set down the drink she had been pouring.

Her voice was flat, cold.

"Michael.."

The man, the angel, looked at her and smiled. It was not a warm smile.

"Hello, Mazikeen." He tilted his head slightly. "It’s been a while. You look... well. For a demon."

Maze’s hand drifted toward the blade at her hip. "What are you doing here?"

Michael didn’t answer. His gaze had already moved past her, toward the far end of the bar, where a familiar figure sat in a private booth, a glass of whiskey in one hand and a look of profound boredom on his face.

Lucifer Morningstar looked up as his brother approached.

His expression flickered, surprise, then irritation, then he set down his glass and smiled.

"Well, well." Michael stopped at the edge of the booth, his own smile thin and knowing. "Of course you’re here." He glanced around the bar, at the mortals and their desperate, beautiful little lives.

"Of course I’m here? The strange thing is you being here." Lucifer leaned back in his booth, spreading his arms in a gesture of theatrical welcome. "What are you doing, Michael? It’s been... I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen you. Last time you visited, I was still ruling down there." He paused, his eyes gleaming. "Isn’t that right, Maze?"

Maze said nothing. She had followed him to the booth, her blade still in its sheath, her eyes fixed on the back of Michael’s head with the kind of focused hatred that only a demon could manage.

Lucifer’s smile didn’t waver.

"Why are you here?"

Michael slid into the booth across from his brother, uninvited. He folded his hands on the table and met Lucifer’s eyes with a look of quiet, infuriating patience.

"I’m but a messenger, as you know. I came for a chat." He paused. "About a certain being. One who has now taken the concept of Death of the Endless. I’m sure you’re familiar with him."

Lucifer’s expression shifted, just slightly, just for a moment. The lazy amusement faded.

Then he smiled again. Wider this time.

"Oh." He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with genuine interest. "Then this will be a very interesting chat. I thought it would be some boring order from above. A reprimand. A demand. The usual."

Michael’s smile was thin. "Not this time."

Lucifer gestured to Maze, who was still standing at the edge of the booth, her arms crossed, her expression was murderous.

"Maze, darling, be a dear and bring us something drinkable. And perhaps a blade for my brother, in case he decides to stab me in the back like old times."

Maze didn’t move. "I’d rather stab him myself."

"Later, perhaps." Lucifer’s eyes never left Michael’s. "For now, we have a conversation to have."

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