Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 428: A Hunter Path

GOTHAM – ARTHUR'S UNDERGROUND BASE

Arthur stood there with both hands resting on a reinforced table, weapons were laid out across it, each one carefully chosen, not for display, but for a potential war. Around him, his shadows moved, preparing, organizing, obeying without a word.

George stood just behind his right shoulder, posture straight as ever, though there was something restrained in his expression, concern.

"…You're certain you need to leave, Master Arthur?"

Arthur didn't look at him immediately. His gaze lingered on the weapons for a moment longer before he finally turned slightly.

"Yes."

Simple.

"I need to go there myself."

His tone left no room for doubt.

George inclined his head, but his brow tightened just enough to betray his thoughts. "And this… place. You believe they're there?"

Arthur's eyes darkened faintly.

"I know they could be, some of them at least."

That was enough.

Across the room, Raven leaned against one of the cold steel pillars, arms loosely crossed, her cloak draped around her. Kara stood a few steps away from her, pacing, restless energy barely contained.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Raven asked.

Arthur finally turned fully toward them.

For a brief second, something softer flickered in his expression, but it faded just as quickly.

"It's not that I don't want your company," he said calmly.

Kara stopped pacing, eyes locking onto him.

"But the Chaos World…" Arthur continued, "isn't something you prepare for. It's unpredictable. Hostile in ways that don't follow logic."

He stepped forward slightly. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"And there's something else."

That caught their attention.

"I'll be checking a dimensional fracture as well. A crack between dimensions."

Raven's eyes narrowed slightly. "A pocket dimension?"

Arthur nodded once.

"Something like that, and time flows differently there, a year inside… is roughly a month here."

Kara stared at him.

"…A year?!" she repeated, disbelief creeping into her voice. "You're saying you're going to spend years in there?!"

Arthur didn't answer and that was answer enough.

Kara ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "That's not 'a short trip,' Arthur. I don't care how it works out here, that's still years for you!"

Her voice rose slightly, emotion slipping through.

"You really want to go through that alone?"

Arthur exhaled quietly.

"I have to."

His tone wasn't harsh, but it was immovable.

"I'm the only one who can take this fight to them."

His gaze sharpened.

"They're not like anything we've dealt with before. The Monarchs… they're disasters given form."

Something colder passed through his eyes.

"Especially the dragon…"

His jaw tightened just slightly. "…that bastard could wipe this planet clean with just a few of his lieutenant dragons."

They got silent after that.

"I won't wait for them to come here," Arthur said.

"I'll go to them."

Raven had gone quiet, her gaze lowered slightly, thinking and understanding.

When she finally spoke, her voice was softer.

"…If you're wary of them that much…"

She looked up at him.

"…then I don't get to stand in your way."

Kara snapped her head toward her.

"Raven! I thought you were on my side!"

Raven didn't even look at her.

"He'll be fine."

She said simple and certain.

Kara blinked, frustration bubbling over. "That's not what I.."

She stopped herself, exhaling sharply before crossing her arms.

"…Ugh. Fine. Whatever."

But the way she looked at Arthur betrayed her.

She wasn't okay with it. Not even close.

Arthur walked over to her, a faint smile on his face. Without warning, he placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair.

Kara froze.

"…Hey!"

"Don't be like that," he said lightly.

"I'll be back."

She swatted his hand away, though not with any real force. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she finally muttered, "…Just… be careful."

Arthur nodded once.

"I will."

George stepped forward slightly, placing a hand over his chest in a respectful gesture.

"Safe travels, Master Arthur …Take care of yourself in there."

Arthur gave him a small nod.

Then he turned to Raven.

"About the awakened situation, I've already made preparations with Bruce."

Her eyes met his immediately.

"I left Hephaestus with the Justice League."

That caught her off guard, just slightly.

"The smith god," she said. "The one you extracted from that facility we breached."

Arthur nodded.

"He's with Lex and Owl at the Watchtower. Following my orders."

Raven's brow furrowed faintly. "You're trusting them with that kind of skill?"

Arthur's expression didn't change.

"I'm trusting the system I've put in place."

"Hephaestus knows what I know just like all of my shadows, the difference is that he is a shadow of a smith God so he is quite skillful, he will teach them how to use materials from the gates. And how to make Weapons. Armor. Artifacts."

His voice lowered slightly.

"Things powerful enough to shift the balance in case something out of the ordinary appears while I'm gone. "

Raven studied him for a moment longer.

"…And you're leaving him behind."

It wasn't a question.

"You might need him more where you're going."

Arthur shook his head.

"I'm already equipped."

There was confidence in that.

"I have everything I need."

Raven held his gaze for a second longer,

Then nodded.

"…If you say so."

For a moment, no one moved and no one spoke.

Then Arthur turned away.

"Alright then, try not to burn the place down while I'm gone."

Kara scoffed quietly.

"No promises."

A dark ripple spread behind Arthur, as a portal began to form, swallowing the light around it.

He stepped toward it, at the threshold, he paused just briefly, not turning back.

"…I'll be back before you know it."

Then he walked in.

The portal collapsed behind him.

And the base, felt just a little emptier.

And for a long moment, everyone was starting to feel his absence after mere seconds.

Raven stood where she had been, her arms loosely folded, violet eyes fixed on the spot where Arthur had disappeared. Her expression was calm as ever.

But then her gaze shifted towards Kara who hadn't moved.

She stood a few steps away, her back partially turned, shoulders just a little too tense to be casual. Her hands were clenched at her sides, fingers curling and uncurling like she didn't know what to do with them.

She was looking away.

Raven watched her for a second.

Then, slowly, a faint smirk tugged at her lips.

"…Is that tears I'm seeing?"

Kara stiffened instantly.

Her hand came up so fast it was almost a blur, brushing under her eye as she turned her head sharply.

"What are you talking about?"

She said. Too quick and too defensive.

Raven's brow arched slightly, amusement flickering in her gaze as she took a few slow steps closer.

"Hm. I could've sworn I saw something there."

Her tone was light. Teasing.

Kara scoffed, turning more fully away now, crossing her arms tightly as if that alone could hold everything in place.

"You're imagining things."

Her voice came out steadier this time.

Raven hummed softly, circling just enough to try and catch her face again.

"Am I?"

Kara shot her a sharp look.

"Yeah. You are… Must be one of your creepy empath things glitching or something."

Raven almost laughed at that.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly, studying Kara in silence for a moment longer. The tension, the way her jaw tightened, the way her eyes refused to settle,

She saw enough.

But she didn't push it.

"…Right," Raven murmured, with a smile on her face.

Kara didn't respond.

Instead, she turned on her heel and started walking fast.

Raven watched her go, one eyebrow lifting slightly.

"And where are you heading to?" she called after her.

Kara didn't slow down. "Somewhere where I can punch something."

There it was.

Raven blinked once.

"…Oh."

"Fair enough."

Kara didn't turn back, lifting a hand in a vague, dismissive gesture as she continued toward the exit.

The doors slid open with a sharp hiss as she approached, and just like that,

She was gone.

Raven simply stood there, staring at the empty doorway.

"…She'll be fine," she muttered to herself.

Though whether she meant Kara or Arthur, was unclear.

A soft, polite cough broke the awkward situation.

Raven glanced over her shoulder.

George stood a short distance away, hands neatly folded behind his back, a smile resting on his face. There was a certain amusement in his eyes.

"Well," he said calmly, "that went about as expected."

Raven exhaled lightly, shaking her head just a little.

"You seem entertained."

"Observant," George corrected smoothly.

His gaze flicked briefly toward the exit Kara had taken.

"…Young Miss Kara handles her emotions in a rather… kinetic manner."

Raven snorted faintly at that.

"That's one way to put it."

George allowed himself a small chuckle before turning toward the lift that would take him back up to the estate.

"I believe I'll take my leave as well."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

George paused just long enough to glance back.

"I should check on Dexter."

A very brief pause.

"…That little demon has become significantly more troublesome since Master Arthur gave him that ring."

Raven's eyes narrowed slightly with curiosity.

"…Troublesome how?"

George smiled.

Too politely.

"Let's just say," he said as he stepped into the lift, "I would prefer to intervene before the estate loses another wall."

The doors slid shut before Raven could respond.

And just like that, she was alone.

Raven stood there for a moment longer, her gaze drifting back to where the portal had once been.

Her expression softened.

Just slightly.

"…You better come back in one piece," she murmured under her breath.

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