CHAPTER 120
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[David Lance POV]
"Witch Boy! You have failed! You sought the power of the helmet, and it now has a new host, ready to deliver order!" The voice of Kaldur and Nabu echoed as the battle between order and chaos broke out in a clash of magic that shook the tower itself.
"Fail?! Don't think so! you old fart!" Klarion shouted back as he teleported around the area, evading attacks and striking back with his own.
"Electrifying!" Abracadabra shouted, aiming his wand at Dr. Fate, only for the lord of order to ignore him, opening a portal under him as he continued fighting Klarion.
As for the rest of us, we stood there feeling powerless as we watched the two most powerful magic users in the world fight. It was like watching a tornado and an earthquake clash, two forces of nature beyond our current reach to stop.
I had faith that Dr. Fate would win; what now troubled me was whether he would let Kaldur go or not. After all, Kaldur was a perfect host, Kent had said so himself, so the possibility of losing Kaldur to Nabu was terrifying, which is why I had tried to put the helmet myself, to avoid forcing anyone else to make that sacrifice.
Yet, the helmet had rejected me violently, might I add.
-Is there anything we can do to aid Dr. Fate?- I asked, looking to Kent for some kind of answer.
-Nabu prefers to work alone,- Kent said with a solemn expression,-We can only hope that he prevails.-
I frowned, balling my hands into fists. I hated this feeling; I hated feeling helpless, especially when people's lives were on the line when my friends were in danger.
-Why did Nabu reject me?- I asked, giving Kent a look. -I tried to touch the helmet, and it threw me across the room. You said anyone could put it on, yet, he rejected me like the plague.-
Kent sighed, his hold on his cane tightening so much that his knuckles turned white as he looked at Dr. Fate and Klarion fight in front of him. -I do not know, kid. Perhaps it has something to do with the magical aura I felt around you, but unless Nabu himself answers, I don't know.-
"Party pooper!" Klarion cried out as he was blasted backwards by a powerful bolt of magic, "This isn't fun anymore!"
"Your entertainment is not my concern. Destroying you is," Dr. Fate retorted as he prepared another attack, his voice echoing through the area.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to the team before directing my attention to Kent. -Any idea where is Abracadabra?-
Klarion had summoned him, but as soon as he had, Dr. Fate had sent him somewhere.
Kent shook his head. -I can check to see if he's still in the tower, but other than that, I'm afraid I can't help.-
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. -It's worth a shot. Look for him and let me know.-
Kent nodded, tapping his cane against the ground before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"He's still here," Raven said calmly, her eyes closed as she concentrated. "But I can't tell where. The magic of the tower and the fight in front of us is blinding my senses."
Before I could reply to that, the echo of a cane tapping into the ground was heard as Kent appeared in front of us once again with a puff of smoke. "I found him."
-Can you take us to him?- I asked. If Abracadabra was the only one we could deal with, with him, we would deal then.
"I can," Kent said with a nod, tapping his cane on the ground as a portal opened up. "I will keep the portal open for convenience's sake. Just step back through it when you're ready dealing with that clown."
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I turned to the team. -Let's go. Raven, you stay here and provide Mr. Nelson with protection should he need it-
-Understood,- Raven nodded.
And with that, we stepped through the portal and back into the tower, finding the future stage magician at the other end of the room Kent had opened a portal to.
"Well, well, well," Abracadabra said with a smirk as he saw us, "If it isn't the Justice League's B-Team. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
Ignoring him, I turned to the team. -M'gann, immobilize him with your telekinesis; Robin, Artemis provide long-range support, Wally, Superboy, distract him as much as possible, be as loud and flashy as possible, and I will deal the decisive blow.-
The team nodded, getting into position as I darted forward, Superboy and Wally running past me to complete their part of the plan.
"You lot won't be enough to defeat me," Abracadabra said with a chuckle, aiming his wand at us before a lightning bolt shot towards Wally.
Thankfully, Abracadabra was apparently very stupid because he had aimed a fast-moving attack at the fastest member of our formation, and therefore, Wally had managed to get out of the way without problems, the bolt hitting one of the walls behind him instead and causing it to explode.
Continuing with our strategy, I pushed hard as Artemis and Robin showered Abracadabra with arrows and batarangs, keeping him on the move.
"Hey! phony!" Wally cried out as he dashed in circles around Abracadabra. "Use your magic to stop me!"
"Distracting me won't save you, boy," Abracadabra said with a scoff, aiming his wand at Wally again.
"And who will save you!?" Superboy growled as he leaped towards Abracadabra, slamming his fists on the ground as the magician jumped back to avoid what would've been certain death if he hadn't moved.
"Electrify!" Abracadabra exclaimed as he pointed his wand at Superboy.
I smiled, grabbing him by the back of the neck before slamming him to the ground, where I tased him, making sure he was unconscious before I stood up and dusted myself off. It always works with villains that have an ego. Make them talk, make them focus on a few, and they forget about one or two people.
-Tied him up,- I said, giving Wally a look. -But first, be sure to check him for gadgets thoroughly. In fact, help him with that, M'gann. Futuristic technology can be tricky.-
"Ok," Wally said with a nod as he zipped over to Abracadabra, M'gann flying to his side to aid him. Within a few moments of thorough searching, they had found and confiscated a few gadgets, including what appeared to be a teleportation device.
-Let's go then,- I nodded, Superboy carrying Abracadabra as we stepped back through the portal and into the fight between Dr. Fate and Klarion.
"This battle is pointless, you cannot persevere!" Dr. Fate proclaimed as he blasted Klarion into the ground with his magic.
"No, YOU cannot persevere!" Klarion hissed as he blasted Dr. Fate with a beam of magic, causing the Lord of Order to stumble back. "You've grown weak, old man! You're not the hero you used to be!"
"I will not prolong this any longer," Dr. Fate said as he gathered his magic, "You better than anyone should know that it is difficult for a Lord of Order or Chaos to maintain a presence on the physical plane without an anchor. I am bound to the helmet, and you are bound to that beast you call a cat. One is easier to break than the other."
Klarion took a step back, his face morphing into one of horror and rage. "NO! You cannot! You would dare to attack a defenseless kitty!?"
"I can, and I will," Dr. Fate said as he unleashed his magic. "After all, we both know that thing is anything but defenseless!"
Klarion growled, meeting Dr. Fate's attack with one of his own. "I won't let you spoil my fun! Not again!"
"You've caused more than enough destruction and chaos, and it ends here!" Dr. Fate exclaimed as he pushed Klarion back, the spell slowly reaching Klarion's familiar, who was now meowing in concern.
"I know! I know! I'm trying!" Klarion said with a low growl before blasting Dr. Fate's attack into the side with a burst of magic. "This won't be the last time you hear of me! You... you... YOU! BULLY! KILLJOY! GEEZER!"
"Begone!" Dr. Fate exclaimed as he blasted at Klarion with a beam of magic that the Lord of Chaos dodged by portaling out of the way to his familiar's side.
"Oh well, I had my fun," Klarion said with a nonchalant shrug as he petted his familiar. "Until later, Bolty..." And with that said, he teleported away, his eyes never leaving me as he disappeared out of sight.
I sighed, turning to Dr. Fate as he floated towards us.
"Nabu, old friend, don't you think it is time to release the boy?" Kent said, looking at Fate with a raised eyebrow.
"He is a perfect candidate to wear the helmet," Dr. Fate said, his voice once again calm and collected. "However, he's untrained to his fullest potential in the mystic arts and unwilling to stay as Dr. Fate."
"Well, can you blame him?" Kent chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean, the last thing anyone wants is to be stuck in one's head, unable to do anything."
"Be that as it may, today is proof Chaos is stronger than ever and that this world needs Dr. Fate. So, I have tasked this boy to find me a host, as you have proved to be inadequate doing so, Kent Nelson," Dr. Fate said as he removed the helmet.
"Harsh as always," Kent chuckled.
I smiled, pulling Kaldur into a hug. For a moment there, I thought Dr. Fate would keep him forever.
"Welcome back," Superboy said, giving Kaldur a smile.
"You had us scared for a moment there," Artemis grinned, putting a hand on Kaldur's shoulder.
"I'm just glad you're okay," M'gann said, hugging Kaldur from the other side.
"I'm fine; I promise," Kaldur chuckled, ruffling M'gann's hair playfully. "Though I must say, that was quite an experience."
Breaking the hug, I turned to Raven before turning back to Kaldur, asking him. ~Any idea why I was rejected?~
Kaldur paused for a moment before replying. "He didn't specify, but he mentioned something about the mark of destiny or something along those lines. He didn't say anything more on the subject after that."
The mark of destiny, well, that answers nothing.