Chapter 18 (edited)

No wonder Kara felt this place was no longer Earth. In fact, it wasn't Earth at all.

Strictly speaking, this was a realm known as the Rock of Eternity, a space that transcends the concepts of time and space. It was mysterious and unpredictable, with gateways connecting it to various magical worlds. It also served as a prison for some dangerous entities, such as the telepathic alien known as Mister Mind.

This creature, resembling a caterpillar, originated from Venus. It possessed superhuman intelligence and the ability to control others' minds. Mister Mind was one of Shazam's most infamous adversaries.

Speaking of Shazam—formerly known as Captain Marvel—there's a bit of history to unpack. The original Shazam character was created by Fawcett Comics, a small publishing house, long before DC acquired the character. His abilities and costume bore a striking resemblance to Superman's, leading to a lawsuit from DC Comics.

Meanwhile, Marvel Comics—previously known as Timely Publications—had secured the title "Captain Marvel" for their own superhero. Over time, DC rebranded the character to "Shazam" to avoid further confusion with Marvel's hero of the same name.

Interestingly, Shazam also holds the distinction of being the first superhero to appear in a live-action movie, predating Superman in this medium.

And now, Kara inexplicably found herself in the Rock of Eternity. Standing before her was the ancient wizard Shazam, the source of the powers wielded by both Billy Batson (the current Shazam) and Black Adam.

The wizard regarded her solemnly and declared, "My champion, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Kara blinked and immediately raised her hand to interrupt, "Hold on a second—what's going on?"

She was utterly confused by the situation. Why had she been transported here? And why did the wizard think she was his successor? Surely, she wasn't about to become the next Shazam?

Absolutely not.

Kara was already Supergirl, a Kryptonian with powers far exceeding those of most beings. While she respected the power of Shazam, she found it unnecessary. Furthermore, Shazam's powers were borrowed from divine beings—what if those beings decided to revoke them one day?

It wasn't long ago that the New Gods, such as Yuga Khan, had rendered Shazam's power ineffective. Darkseid and Superman, both of Kryptonian lineage, had faced off against these gods with more reliable results.

Kara had no interest in taking on borrowed power, especially not when her own Kryptonian abilities were more than sufficient.

Before the wizard could elaborate, Kara cut him off again, pointing toward the monstrous statues lining the walls. Now that she had pieced things together, she recognized them as the Seven Deadly Sins—manifestations of the worst aspects of humanity, temporarily sealed by the wizard.

"These guys," she said with a smirk, "are talking trash about you. Want me to take care of them for you? I don't even need your Shazam powers to help."

As she floated upward, her red cape billowing dramatically, she surveyed the sins. They were no longer mere concepts but had taken on physical forms. That made them vulnerable, and Kara knew she could handle them.

The wizard stared at her in surprise.

Kara crossed her arms, a confident smile on her face. "Don't you know who I am? My name is Kara Zor-El, the last daughter of Krypton. You can call me Supergirl, or just Kara."

She wasn't surprised by the wizard's awe. The Rock of Eternity might be mysterious to most, but she herself was a being worthy of amazement.

The wizard finally spoke. "I used a summoning spell to find those worthy of inheriting my power. That's why you're here."

"I see," Kara said. She offered him a playful shrug. "But you should be more careful with that spell. Picking the wrong person could lead to disaster."

The wizard nodded solemnly. "That's why I only choose individuals with pure hearts. I will not repeat past mistakes."

Kara caught on to his reference—Black Adam, Shazam's first champion, had been a tragic failure over 5,000 years ago.

"Well, I'm definitely not your girl," Kara said, laughing softly. "Pure heart? Sorry, wrong number."

She gestured toward herself. "I'm not going to lie. I'm a little selfish and definitely not perfect. Send me back, will you? Oh, but if you've got any books on magic, I wouldn't mind brushing up."

Kara was acutely aware that Kryptonians, despite their immense physical strength, had limited resistance to magic. Learning more about it could only help her in the future.

To her surprise, the wizard handed her a book. Kara looked at him skeptically.

"Don't underestimate yourself," the wizard said. "A person brave enough to confront their own flaws is not a villain, wouldn't you agree?"

Kara rolled her eyes but accepted the book. She wasn't a villain, but she wasn't a saint either.

The wizard continued, "This book will grant you insight, strengthen your willpower, and provide some resistance to magic. One day, I hope you will aid me in dealing with the Seven Deadly Sins."

"Deal," Kara replied with a grin.