All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.- Sun Tzu.

Chapter 2

Pain…

….Blood….

Pain and the feeling and taste of blood were all Black Adam knew at the moment. His body….or what was left of it was covered in his own blood while his enemy stood but a few feet away with his fingers smoking slightly from shooting arrows at him. Not even a crease in his suit or coat. His eyes covered by black shades that hid them from view.

How had it come to this…..?

Adam had lived for centuries and had only been defeated by Superman or Captain Marvel. He had strength, wisdom and powers beyond human comprehension and yet this worm had DEFEATED in no less than 30 MINUTES!!! Who was he?

########### FLASHBACK ############

With a roar Adam charged at Enzo, ready to take his head off with one punch. As soon as he swung his fist at him, Enzo ducked with just a few seconds to spare and fired 3 charged arrows into Adam’s chest, sending him flying back into a crushed building and landing into a pile of debris. Enzo seemed dissatisfied with this.

“I must really be getting old.Those shots should split him in half as the passed through….i just hate old age.”

Adam burst from the debris with a roar. One hand clutches at his bleeding chest as copious amounts of blood flowed from the wound. Though he tried not to show it, he was in pain. The previous archer’s arrows had been like stings while these seemed ready to make fist sized holes in his chest. Enzo simply looked at him with disappointment.

“I told you to stretch your awareness to its limits. Forget not killing me. At your current rate you won’t even be able to touch me….”

Like an enraged dragon Adam flew out of the debris straight at Enzo at supersonic speed. As he was once more about to hit him and likely tear off his torso from his body, Enzo seemed to dissappear in a blur…..only to reappear in the air with two energy arrows ready RIGHT BEHIND HIM!!!

“Looking for me?” He asked, as he let the arrows fly true and hit Adam in the back and send him into a partially destroyed building, sending it collapsing on top of him as Enzo landed softly on the ground. He charged ten arrows and sent them into the building before they exploded on impact.

#########################

The justice league and young justice members stared in shock at the newcomer who clearly outclassed Adam.

“Who is that man? He seems quite skilled and powerful to be able to run circles around Adam so easily.” Said wonder woman. He seemed to be on par with some of the Amazon archers on Themyscira.

“I don’t know who he is but I hope he kick Adam’s ass. Whoever he is, I’m rooting for him.” Said captain marvel as he slowly got to his feet. Murmurs of approval came from a tired flash dragging green lantern onto his tired feet.

As for Aden, watching his brother’s back as he waited his bow, he swore he could see him for a moment the way he was on lunaria. The strong and proud warrior of days gone by.

“That’s my brother.” He told the heroes as they reacted at the news.

“Brother or not, something bothers me.” Said Batman as the heroes turned their attention to the injured dark knight as he was helped up by Superman.

“Does your brother plan on beating Adam…..or killing him?”

All eyes turned to Aden as he also slowly looked back at his brother’s form in the distance.

“I really don’t know. I once asked my brother when the war on lunaria was on if a battle ended if your opponent couldn’t fight back any longer. He told me…..”

########### Mini-Flashback ##################

“Finished? It’ll never be finished. A battle isn’t like some stupid argument. As long as someone’s still breathing, the fight isn’t over. Remember that Aden.”

#########################################

He turned to them.

“On second thought, I think Adam is going to die today.”

Enzo had his eyes closed as he waited patiently. Adam wasn’t dead. Not yet. He sensed him still. But he was desperate now. He could feel it.

Adam shot out of the burning debris that the last exploding arrows had ignited and went straight at Enzo throwing super punches left right and centre. His clothes were charred and torn and his back and chest were bleeding openly. He was in a rage. Yet a fear driven and desperate rage. Something that signified battles end.

With a sigh of pity for Adam as he sidestepped his lethal punches, Enzo readied his spell and spoke the incantation as he dodged next to Adam’s back with two fingers pointed out at him.

“Disintegrate, you black dog of Hell!! Look upon yourself with horror and claw out your own throat!”

Adam’s whole body became paralysed at once and he stood straight at attention unable to move even a muscle. Enzo vanished his bow, claire’s legacy, and looked at him with pity.

“There is nothing but fear reflected in your attacks. When you try to dodge my arrows, you’re afraid of getting killed. When you attack me with your godlike strength and speed, you’re afraid of missing and me taking advantage. Even when you try to protect yourself, you’re afraid of dying in the end. Yes, your actions and attacks since we began to fight and you began to lose speaks to me only of absurd fear. What’s necessary in a fight isn’t fear. Nothing
can be born of that. When you dodge, “I won’t let them hit me.” When you protect yourself, “I will not die.” When you attack, “I will kill him.” Well….can’t you see the resolve to kill you….. reflected in my eyes and words?”

Adam was using all his will to move his lips against the spell.

“Please…..ha..ve….mercy…end…me…qu..ic.kly.”

Enzo’s face seemed to take on even more pity. This was the man who had laid waste to the justice league? Where had all that strength gone? And in so short a time.

“Never admit defeat and ask for a quick death! Die first, then admit defeat! If you are defeated but didn’t die, it just means you were lucky! At those times, think only about survival! Survive and think only about killing the one who failed to kill you!”

Survival!….yes. Fight another day.

With a great shout and effort, Adam broke the spells restraints and grabbed a slightly startled Enzo straight into the sky upward, then using all his magical power he shouted.

“SHAZAMM”

He flew up after Enzo. The lighting from the incantation would fry Enzo with all the magical energy he had pumped into the words. Adam would send him to the ground soon after and make his escape…..or so he thought.

Enzo on his part saw the giant explosive bolt of lighting of the shazam spell coming at him as he was thrown straight at it. He began to chant a spell.

“Thunder god. Ancient provider of the force of lightning. Stretch out thine hand to mine. Let the mortal hands feel thy power. Separate. Come together. Come crashing down from the last Kingdom to defend the white dove of peace……”

The yellow lighting bolt slammed into his hand and turned blue, forming a ball of blue energy that lit up the dark clouds, filled with nigh infinite electric energy. Enzo turned in the air and began decending toward the incoming black Adam, who could not turn quick enough as Enzo slammed into him while completing the incantation.

“Spell of chaos number 60: Galvano blast.”

As the met the ground, a huge electric blast exploded and turned the world white lightning blue for a few moments, sending debris and empty building crashing away.

Death had come calling on old Adam.

To be continued……….

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