Chapter 32: shazam vs witch

Dane leaned back comfortably on his throne, his demeanor casual yet commanding. "Sit casually," he said, gesturing to the other thrones.

Zatanna hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by his nonchalance. Doesn't he treat this place with more reverence? she thought. But curiosity and intrigue outweighed her reservations, and she took a seat on one of the thrones.

The moment she did, a strange sensation coursed through her body. Her magical energy stirred, growing stronger as though the throne itself was a conduit of power.

"What is this?" she murmured, looking at Dane with wide eyes.

He gave a knowing smile. "The thrones are connected to the magic of the Rock of Eternity. Think of it as a little boost—one of the perks of being here." He leaned forward slightly. "Now, back to the conversation. I want you to join the Justice League."

Zatanna raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean by the Justice League?"

Dane changed his explanation. This time, he claimed he was born with the ability to predict the future.

There was no other choice—Zatanna was knowledgeable, so he had to be persuasive.

He briefly explained the potential future disasters that might arise, concluding that the Justice League needed someone with her unique magical talents.

"I'd love to help the world," Zatanna said, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "but I'm not sure I'm capable enough..."

She hesitated. While she often engaged in acts of chivalry and righteousness, she had never seen it as her main calling.

In reality, she had been traveling the world for a reason, but Dane already knew her secret.

"Zatanna, if you're willing to join the Justice League, I, as the master of the Eternal Rock, can promise you access to the knowledge here.

Except for forbidden evil magic, you'll be able to read anything you wish. I remember that you've been searching for your father, right?"

Zatanna looked at him, amazed. "You could predict that?"

Dane smiled but didn't respond.

"Is there a clue here to help me find my father?"

"I can't guarantee you'll find him, but the Rock of Eternity holds many ancient texts that record magic for locating people. It's likely to be more efficient than searching aimlessly."

Zatanna hesitated, feeling a bit embarrassed. "So, if I choose not to join, I won't be able to freely access the magic here?"

"That's true," Dane acknowledged, "but I would still suggest you consider the Justice League. If your father's disappearance is tied to magic, it's within my jurisdiction."

Zatanna's eyes widened in surprise. She smiled and said, "Wouldn't you be losing a lot in doing this?"

"If you remember this favor, how could it be considered a loss?" Dane replied.

He wasn't afraid of others learning from the Rock of Eternity, but he did fear people abusing its powers and causing trouble. He wouldn't let someone like Constantine in, but he trusted Zatanna.

Yet, Zatanna seemed to interpret his words differently, and her face flushed slightly.

"Well, then I owe you a favor," she said. "But if I join the Justice League, is there anything I need to do?"

"I won't be fighting monsters right away, will I?" Zatanna asked, concerned. "You know I don't have that kind of power."

"Zatanna, you're being modest. If you unleash your true potential, you're already strong enough."

Dane smiled, knowing Zatanna wasn't the mature magician of the comics just yet. It was understandable that she had some reservations.

Suddenly, the Rock of Eternity emitted a magical warning. With a wave of Dane's hand, a magic crystal ball flew into his palm. He studied it for a moment, his expression growing more serious.

He then looked at Zatanna, who appeared curious. He rolled his eyes.

"Maybe this is fate, Zatanna. Would you like to come with me to solve this situation?"

Zatanna was taken aback, pointing at herself.

Dane nodded.

"I just agreed to join, and now we're working right away?" she asked, a surprised. "Boss, what about the salary?"

"I've already advanced your salary," Dane replied with a grin.

Before Zatanna could respond, she realises looked at him in surprise.

"I have access to this place?" she asked. "How did you do that?"

"It's partial," Dane explained. "There are still some areas that are dangerous, and you shouldn't go in, or go alone," he stressed.

"As for how I did it—well, it happened the moment you sat down."

Zatanna glanced at the throne beneath her and finally realized there was a special magic attached to it.

It was clear that Dane was sincere, and he seemed confident that Zatanna would agree.

"Your ability to foresee is truly powerful."

"No," Dane corrected with a smile. "That's the power of trust, Zatanna."

"Shall we go?" he asked, extending his hand with a welcoming gesture.

Zatanna blinked, then stood up, placing her hand in his. The magic activated, and the place around them changed with a primeval forest.

They floated in the air, and Zatanna instinctively gripped Dane's arm. Though her actions were purely reflexive.

"What is this place?"

"A primeval jungle in South America."

"What are we doing here?"

Dane took Zatanna's hand, his fingers gently tapping against her palm. The power of magic connected them, a surge of magic. It was an incredible sensation, unlike anything she had felt before.

"Clear your mind and absorb the magical atmosphere here."

Dane's voice pulled her focus back, and though shy, Zatanna complied.

Soon, she sensed something – an underground ruin not far away, radiating an ominous magical energy.

"That's... What powerful witchcraft magic!"

Zatanna's brow furrowed. With her background, she recognized the signs of local sacrificial spells in South America, a form of primitive witchcraft.

Cruel, violent, and even dark by modern magical standards, these rituals had once been an integral part of the ancient gods' culture.

There was something oddly sacred about it, though—a twisted mixture of reverence and blasphemy, like the power of an evil god.

"That's the Enchantress, also known as June Moore, a god born from another dimension thousands of years ago. She was supposed to remain sealed. But now… it seems she's escaped."

Zatanna's eyes narrowed as she processed the information. "She's a god too? How does she compare to you?"

Dane glanced at her, sensing where her thoughts were going. "You'll understand that there's a difference between gods."

They flew toward the pit, descending until they reached the scene below. There, a female archaeologist was clearly possessed by the witch.

"Help, save me…"

A black mist swirled into her body, and when she opened her eyes again, they glowed a haunting orange-yellow.

Zatanna wasted no time. She raised her cane, chanting a word backward, the tip glowing with brilliant white light.

It was an evil banishment spell! But the witch just laughed, her form dissipating into black mist. The mist rose, swiftly fleeing from the pit.

Dane sighed, speaking up. "As I said, she's barely a god, not exactly an evil force. This spell doesn't have much effect on her."

"She got away!" Zatanna exclaimed, frustrated. What was the first thing a witchcraft god, long sealed away, would do upon being freed? Of course—feast on humans! She should have been their first target!

"Don't worry," Dane reassured her. "She won't get far."

Dane scanned the area, confirming there was nothing but human bones left in the pit. This wasn't like in the movies—this witch was clever.

She hadn't just dug out her own heart; she had taken her younger brother too.

However, she was still weak. Despite draining the life force of several people, it wasn't enough for her to be truly powerful yet.

With a wave of his hand, a crystal ball appeared in his palm. Inside it, a green point of light changed, moving steadily.

"Let's go." Dane held out his hand.

Zatanna took it without hesitation, and the two took off, chasing the green point of light indicated by the crystal ball.

At the edge of the jungle, the witch appeared, her gaze fixed on her target: a small tribal settlement.

From the intensity in her eyes, it was clear that this tribe was the descendant of those who had sealed her away all those years ago. They were also the perfect sacrifice now that she had regained her freedom.

With a flick, her form became pitch black, a swirling mass of darkness.

As soon as her true form materialized. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the sun disappeared entirely, casting everything into an eerie twilight.

The atmosphere turned suffocating, charged with the presence of something ancient and malevolent.

She had once been a local god, and even during her long imprisonment, some of her followers had remained, offering sporadic worship. That small, lingering devotion was enough to keep a sliver of her divine authority intact.

The high priest of the tribe walked out, and when he saw the witch in her full power, he was struck with terror. He nearly collapsed to his knees.

"God…" he whispered, but before he could finish, the witch's voice boomed, cold and merciless.

A flick of her hand, and the high priest's life was snuffed out instantly. In less than a moment, all that remained of him was a pile of slimy bones.

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