Chapter 64: Deathstroke’s Fury

The atmosphere in the Queen mansion had shifted in an instant. The elegance of the foyer, the warmth of the evening, the soft clink of wine glasses—none of it mattered anymore. Everything was suddenly overshadowed by the dark presence of Slade Wilson. Henry's senses were heightened, his mind racing as Slade stepped forward, his intent unmistakable.

With every step, the years of pent-up anger and betrayal seemed to fuel Slade's presence. The man standing before Henry was not the same one who had trained them on Lian Yu. This Slade was a force of destruction, a living weapon driven by vengeance.

Henry's grip tightened, his eyes narrowing as Slade crossed the threshold into the mansion. Despite the anger and hatred in the air, Henry couldn't help but be aware of the power Slade exuded. He was the same man who had once helped shape Henry into the fighter he was today, yet now they were on opposite sides of a chasm that neither could cross.

"You've come to destroy everything, haven't you?" Henry said, his voice colder than he intended. His eyes flickered to Isabel, who stood frozen, her expression torn between confusion and fear. She had no idea who Slade Wilson was or what he represented.

"I came to settle old scores," Slade replied, his voice like gravel. "You think you've earned a happy ending, Henry? You think you can protect your little world here, surrounded by your wealth and your pretty secretary? No. This—this is all a lie. A house of cards. And I'm here to watch it fall."

Henry took a step forward, his body instinctively moving into a defensive stance. He could hear Isabel's shallow breaths beside him, but his focus remained fixed on Slade. The man had come too far, driven by a past neither of them could erase.

Slade's eyes flickered over Isabel, a slight sneer pulling at his lips. "This must be your new plaything. I see the game hasn't changed much."

Henry's jaw clenched, his patience wearing thin. The words stung more than he cared to admit, but he knew there was no time for emotional reactions now. He needed to protect everyone in this house, Isabel included, no matter what it took.

But before he could speak, Slade moved like lightning. The fight was already underway.

Flashback: Lian Yu, 6 years ago

The sun had barely risen when Slade, Oliver, and Henry had gathered by the campfire on the island. Their faces were grim, worn from the days of grueling training and survival. Shado was nearby, preparing food, her soft voice cutting through the still morning air. The tension between them all had been thick—unstated, yet ever-present.

"I told you," Slade had said to Oliver, his tone low and clipped, "If you let her go, we don't get a second chance."

Oliver's eyes flickered to Shado, standing in the distance, her face alight with the first rays of the sun. He had loved her deeply. But there was always this feeling, this constant awareness that something was wrong.

"What if she can't handle it, Slade?" Oliver had asked, his voice laced with doubt. "We don't know the island like you do. You can't expect us to just—"

Slade's voice had turned sharp. "She's one of us now. She stays, she survives. The rest of you? You have no idea what you're about to face. Trust me."

End of Flashback

Back in the present, the sound of Slade's voice shattered Henry's reverie. With a sudden movement, Slade had drawn his signature sword, the steel gleaming under the mansion lights. The sharp edge of the blade reflected the anger in his eyes.

"You don't get it, Henry. None of you ever did," Slade spat, swinging the blade through the air with precision. "You all failed me."

Henry's instincts kicked in. He dodged, barely avoiding a swift strike aimed at his chest. His body moved as if on autopilot, every training session with Slade coming back in a rush. It was as though they were back on the island, fighting for survival again.

But this time, the stakes were different. The mansion, their safe haven, felt far too vulnerable. Isabel's presence made it all the more dangerous.

"Get out of here," Henry shouted to her, his eyes briefly flicking to Isabel. She was still frozen in place, her wide eyes reflecting the danger surrounding them. "Now."

But Isabel didn't move. There was a defiance in her eyes, a spark of something stronger than fear. She wasn't going to leave him. Not now.

Slade sneered, circling around Henry with the precision of a hunter closing in on its prey. "You think you've protected her? You think you can protect anyone?"

Henry's gaze remained focused on Slade, his voice low but full of warning. "You've lost, Slade. This isn't your fight anymore. This ends now."

Slade lunged at him with lightning speed, the sword flashing in the dim light of the mansion. Henry barely managed to block the strike, the clang of steel against steel reverberating through the room. Slade's strength was formidable, but Henry was faster, his agility honed by years of combat training under the ruthless guidance of his former mentor.

But Slade wasn't done. With a snarl, he kicked Henry in the chest, sending him crashing into the grand marble staircase. Henry's breath left him in a sharp rush as he struggled to regain his footing. He could feel the pain already setting in, but his focus remained clear.

Isabel's voice, shaky but resolute, cut through the chaos. "Henry!"

Slade's eyes darted toward her, and Henry saw the dangerous glint in his gaze. The anger was there, yes, but it was something deeper now—something dark and primal. Slade wasn't just fighting to hurt Henry. He was fighting to break him. To destroy everything he held dear.

With a growl, Slade turned his attention back to Henry. "You think this is over, don't you? You think you can stop me?"

Henry's mind raced as he took another defensive stance, but this time, something had shifted. He was no longer just fighting to survive. He was fighting for Isabel. For Oliver. For his family. And for everything that had been taken from them.

As Slade lunged again, this time Henry was ready. With a swift move, he sidestepped the strike and landed a punch squarely in Slade's jaw. The force of the blow rocked the former ally, but Slade didn't falter. Instead, he came back with renewed fury, his attacks becoming more frenzied, more dangerous.

The two men were locked in a battle that could only end one way: one would fall, and the other would rise.