Shazam hung helplessly in the Spectre's grasp, utterly bewildered.
He had only come here to help, so how had he suddenly become the one being restrained?
Weren't they supposed to be on Adrian's side?
Even though he had countless complaints about the Spectre's behavior, Shazam could not deny that the entity's words carried some truth.
He was filled with doubt.
Not only doubt in himself, but doubt toward Adrian as well.
Recently, Adrian's actions had left him increasingly conflicted. He could no longer determine whether they were still walking the path of justice or drifting toward something far darker.
What unsettled him even more was the fact that the Spectre clearly supported Adrian.
And somehow, the being had looked directly into his heart.
The instant Wonder Woman saw Shazam being seized, she drew the Vulcan Sword and raised it defensively.
Sinestro lifted his hand as well, the Yellow Lantern Ring glowing ominously as destructive energy gathered at his fingertip.
"He is my ally and my friend," Adrian said coldly. "If he has doubts, we'll resolve them ourselves. Release him."
Adrian naturally understood that people like Shazam and Jenna could betray him someday.
But he would never condemn someone for thoughts alone.
The Spectre stared at Adrian briefly before releasing Shazam without another word.
Freed from the crushing grip, Shazam staggered backward and inhaled deeply.
The pain had not merely been physical.
When the Spectre looked at him, it felt as though his soul had been stripped bare and examined completely.
After steadying himself, Shazam looked toward Adrian with gratitude.
"Very well," the Spectre said.
Adrian folded his arms.
"Then tell me what you know. I need to find my sister."
"Sister?"
Clark immediately flew toward Adrian despite the pain coursing through his body.
"What happened to Rachel?"
Adrian glanced sideways at him.
"You still remember Rachel? I assumed you were too busy spending time with your Robin girl."
Clark's face reddened slightly, but he answered seriously.
"Rachel is my sister. That has never changed. I care about her no less than you do."
Adrian let out a cold laugh.
"I've never noticed. Your concern always seems divided among the entire world."
Clark ignored the jab completely.
Right now, Rachel's safety was the only thing on his mind.
Meanwhile, inside the Tower of Fate, Constantine stood alone in the bathroom staring into the mirror.
The dim yellow lighting revealed countless magical symbols, ritual markings, and infernal contracts carved across his upper body.
The sight was disturbing even to him.
Constantine sighed heavily.
After splashing water onto his face, he cleaned the blood from his nose.
"Constantine."
A familiar voice sounded behind him.
Without turning around, Constantine already knew it was Batman.
"What now?" Constantine replied casually. "Planning to hit me again? At least aim for the body this time. My face still has professional value."
Even with the world collapsing around them, he still found the energy for sarcasm.
He tossed the towel onto the rack and pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
Batman ignored the joke.
"Did you provoke me on purpose earlier?"
Constantine feigned ignorance immediately.
"No idea what you mean."
"You know exactly what I mean."
Batman stepped closer, his voice low and sharp.
"Don't lie to me."
Constantine slowly lowered the cigarette.
The humor faded from his expression.
Leaning against a wicker chair, he sat down and pressed a hand against his temple.
"You disappeared for almost a year," he muttered.
Batman understood the accusation immediately.
Constantine blamed him for vanishing while Adrian reshaped the world unchecked.
"I nearly died," Batman replied heavily.
"I tried to stop him. Adrian almost killed me during that fight. Cyborg barely managed to save my life."
His expression darkened beneath the cowl.
"I spent months unconscious. After Joker revived me with the Lazarus Pit, my back was ruined. I could barely move. Nightwing and Black Canary had to take over while I recovered."
Batman's voice lowered further.
"And I lost one of the people I respected most."
Constantine remained unmoved.
"No," he said quietly. "He broke your back. That's not what concerns me."
He lowered his hand from his temple and stared directly at Batman.
"You abandoned the fight."
The disappointment in his tone was unmistakable.
"You had the chance to stop Adrian, and you failed. Because of that, countless people suffered."
Constantine stood up slowly.
"Sometimes ugly things need to be done. I needed you angry. I needed the Batman I saw earlier, the one capable of making even the Spectre hesitate."
His eyes sharpened.
"I need Batman."
For the first time in a long while, Batman found himself shaken by Constantine's conviction.
Before either could continue, Harley Quinn's voice suddenly rang out from the living room.
"We're losing him!"
The two immediately rushed out.
Inside the living room, Harley Quinn and Black Canary crouched beside the sofa while Alfred hurriedly opened a medical kit.
Detective Chimp, Beppo, lay unconscious across the cushions, blood soaking deep into the fabric.
"Hey, little guy, don't die on me," Harley muttered anxiously while patting Beppo's cheek.
Black Canary worked quickly to treat the wounds.
"Alfred, help me stop the bleeding."
Batman looked toward Zatanna hopefully.
She shook her head with exhaustion visible in her eyes.
"I'm already doing everything I can. Right now, I'm barely maintaining his heartbeat."
Harley grabbed Beppo's furry hand.
"Come on, monkey boy, hold my hand."
To everyone's surprise, Beppo's unconscious hand weakly squeezed hers back.
Harley's eyes widened.
"Okay, that's definitely a good sign."
She grinned.
"I fully expect a magical monkey paw after this."
"Um..."
A timid voice came from the doorway.
Everyone turned to see Rose standing there nervously.
Her hands were clasped tightly together as she stared at the badly injured Beppo with frightened eyes.
"Will the monkey be okay?" she asked quietly.
Before anyone answered, the air shimmered.
Doctor Fate appeared behind Rose and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Rose Constantine, you should not be here. This section of the Tower of Fate is dangerous."
He took her hand gently.
"Come with me."
Rose nodded obediently.
"Wait!"
Harley suddenly stopped him.
"Doctor Fate, we need help here."
Doctor Fate coughed awkwardly.
"I'm not that kind of doctor."
Harley blinked.
"Then what kind are you?"
She leaned close to his golden helmet, clearly trying to peek inside.
"It's... complicated."
"Then simplify it," Harley shot back. "A talking chimp is dying. Can you help or not?"
Doctor Fate looked toward Beppo solemnly.
"I'm sorry. Even my abilities cannot save him. He has lost too much vitality."
Harley folded her arms immediately.
"Well, that's a wonderfully depressing thing to say in front of a patient."
She crouched beside Rose and smiled warmly.
"Don't worry, mystery girl. I've never lost a monkey patient before, and today isn't the day I start."
Then she stood and pointed toward the hallway.
"And you, helmet guy, stop pretending to be a doctor just because you wear a cape. Some of us actually earned the title."
She waved dismissively.
"Now take the kid out of my operating room, Mister Fate."
As Doctor Fate led Rose away, Constantine followed behind them uneasily.
"Rose."
He quickly caught up and knelt in front of her.
"You shouldn't be down here."
Rose looked upset.
"I heard the monkey got hurt. The doctor lady said he'll be okay, right?"
Doctor Fate answered honestly.
"He won't. He's very close to death."
Before he could continue, Constantine cut him off sharply.
"He'll be fine."
Doctor Fate, however, seemed incapable of softening the truth.
"He's practically dead," he said quietly. "I can feel it."
Constantine shot him an irritated glare.
"Then do something useful."
"Are you asking me?"
A smug voice echoed down the corridor.
Klarion walked toward them with Teekl perched comfortably on his shoulder.
The orange cat stared curiously at the group.
"Yes," Constantine said dryly. "Do you see any other death magic experts nearby?"
He had little confidence in Klarion, but at this point, they had no better options.
Klarion smirked proudly.
"So you want me and my cat to help a magician, a butler, a canary, and a psychotic clown save a talking monkey?"
"Yes," Constantine replied impatiently. "Problem?"
"No. I just wanted to say that sentence out loud."
Klarion dramatically lifted Teekl.
"Let's go, Teekl!"
Constantine stared silently for several seconds.
Was this lunatic really their best option?
Still, he ignored the thought and turned back toward Rose.
"See? Everything's fine now."
Rose smiled brightly.
"That's great, John."
Then she gently reached behind Constantine's ear.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Look."
Rose opened her hand.
A coin rested in her palm.
Earlier, when Constantine comforted her in the ruins, he had distracted her sadness with the exact same magic trick.
Now she was repeating it for him.
Constantine stared at the coin in surprise.
"Wow," he said softly. "That's impressive."
"It's magic," Rose said proudly while mimicking his earlier tone.
Constantine smiled faintly and stroked her hair.
"I know."
He looked at her warmly.
"Now head upstairs, alright? I'll be there soon."
Rose nodded happily and ran off down the corridor.
Doctor Fate watched her leave silently before speaking.
"She pulled that coin from behind your ear."
"I noticed."
"No," Doctor Fate said darkly. "You don't understand. Before she touched you, that coin did not exist anywhere in this tower."
Constantine's expression changed instantly.
Doctor Fate continued.
"I don't know whether she created it from nothing or pulled it through space itself, but she..."
Before he could finish, Constantine grabbed him violently by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
Dust shook loose from the impact.
"She's nothing," Constantine growled furiously.
"She's just a little girl. Do you understand me?"
Constantine hated magic more than anyone.
Magic had destroyed his life.
It took his mother, caused his father's death, ruined his friends, and dragged countless innocent people into suffering.
Every spell he ever used seemed to demand a price.
He had endured curses, demons, death, and endless torment because of it.
And because of that, he would never allow Rose to follow the same path.
"Problem here?"
Batman stepped out into the corridor and saw Constantine pinning Doctor Fate against the wall.
Constantine immediately released him.
"No problem."
He bent down, picked up his dropped cigarette, and lit it again before walking away.
Batman followed him.
"You're not going to explain?"
Constantine exhaled smoke lazily.
"Amazing detective work."
Then his tone shifted.
"Back to business. Since the Spectre supports Homelander, our best strategy might be hiding in here with enough takeout food to survive the apocalypse."
Batman ignored the sarcasm.
"How are you certain the Spectre is on Adrian's side?"
Constantine scratched his messy hair.
"He sees all of us as criminals. Adrian sees us the same way. The Spectre was ready to erase us without hearing a word. That tells you everything."
Batman remained silent briefly.
"We're not giving up. There has to be another option."
"There is," Constantine admitted reluctantly. "Scrying."
Batman frowned slightly.
"Scrying?"
Constantine clearly had no interest in explaining magical terminology.
"I know three people who can help. They all come with baggage, but one of them has a reason to cooperate."
He started walking down the corridor.
"You'd better come with me."
Batman followed immediately.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
===
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