Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 429: A Favor for Death

Arthur hovered in Earth’s orbit, suspended above the curve of the planet like a solitary sentinel. Below him, the world stretched vast and alive, oceans shifting in deep blues, continents veiled in drifting clouds, cities glowing faintly where night had already claimed them.

From up here...

Everything looked peaceful, too peaceful.

Arthur’s gaze lingered on it, eyes steady, for a long time, he just watched in silence.

"...You have no idea what’s coming," he murmured.

His voice didn’t carry in the vacuum.

The faint glow of his eyes dimmed slightly.

Then he looked away.

Past Earth, past the moon.

Into the deep black beyond.

Space stretched endlessly before him, but Arthur wasn’t looking at emptiness.

He was looking at presence. At distant movements. Flickers of his own power. Forces that most would never even perceive, let alone understand.

His hand rose slowly, fingers brushing against the shadow ring resting on his finger. The metal pulsed faintly in response, alive and listening.

Arthur brought it closer to his mouth.

"To all Shadow Lanterns..."

His voice carried.

Across worlds and systems. Across the vast, unseen web of darkness that stretched between stars.

They heard him.

Arthur’s gaze hardened slightly.

"Maintain order."

His tone sharpened,

"And keep the balance where it still exists. Watch the edges, watch the vile cracks of this universe."

He made a pause and his eyes flickered faintly.

"But do not engage threats beyond your level."

The words came slower now.

"Some forces... are not meant to be challenged, yet."

For a brief moment, something colder slipped into his voice.

"Especially the likes of Darkseid... and the forces of Apokolips."

The names alone was a warning.

"Our war against what lurks in the dark won’t end anytime soon," Arthur continued, his tone quieter but no less commanding.

"So we shall take our time."

A faint narrowing of his eyes.

"We learn and we prepare."

His gaze drifted briefly back toward Earth.

"And keep your attention on this planet."

A subtle shift in his voice.

"It draws trouble like a flame draws moths."

"And sooner or later... something bigger will come for it."

The ring pulsed once more.

Arthur lowered his hand slightly.

"That is all."

For a moment,

Nothing, then,

From the far reaches of space... from hidden corners of galaxies... from shadows cast by dying stars and forgotten worlds.

Voices answered.

Unified and loyal.

"As you command... Supreme Commander."

The connection faded.

And Arthur stood there for a moment longer, eyes lingering on the distant stars.

Then,

He turned back toward Earth.

A dark ripple tore through space beside him, a portal forming. Arthur stepped toward it.

"Time to go."

He was about to move,

When

A presence appeared beside him.

And it was so sudden, 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Arthur stopped instantly.

His head turned, his eyes flared.

"...Didi."

There was no surprise in his voice.

"...What are you doing here?"

She stood there as if space itself welcomed her, completely unaffected by the void, by the cold.

A soft smile curved her lips.

"Hello, Arthur."

Her voice was light. Almost playful.

"I was hoping I’d catch you before you left."

Arthur studied her for a moment, his glowing eyes narrowing slightly.

"...’Catch me,’ huh." he added. "You make it sound like coincidence."

Her smile didn’t fade.

"If it makes you feel better, we can call it luck."

Arthur simply watched her for a moment.

Then

"You didn’t come all this way just to see me off."

It wasn’t a question.

Didi clasped her hands lightly behind her back, tilting her head just a little.

"Of course not."

A brief glance around them, at the endless expanse, the distant stars, the quiet curve of Earth below.

"Though I have to admit..."

Her smile softened.

"...this is a rather charming meeting spot."

Arthur said nothing.

Didi looked back at him.

"But..."

She made a small, dismissive gesture.

"I prefer solid ground."

Her eyes met his.

"Let’s find somewhere a bit more... comfortable to talk."

Arthur crossed his arms, the portal behind him flickered slightly, unstable in its patience.

His gaze remained locked on her.

"...You always show up at the most inconvenient times."

Didi’s smile widened just a fraction.

"And you always make time for me anyway."

Then

Arthur exhaled quietly.

The glow in his eyes dimmed just slightly.

"...Fine."

The portal shifted and then disappeared.

"Alright, let’s change location." Arthur said.

Didi chuckled softly.

"I Know a spot."

****

The world they stepped into had already died.

Almost completely.

The sky above was a dull, colorless gray, as if even light had grown tired of touching this place. The ground stretched endlessly in fractured plains of ash and stone, broken by the skeletal remains of what might have once been cities... or forests... or something in between.

Nothing moved.

Nothing breathed.

Even the wind seemed absent,

Arthur stood still for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the horizon. His senses reached out instinctively, searching for life, energy, anything.

There was nothing.

Not even decay.

Just... death.

Didi, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease.

She walked ahead of him with a lightness as if she belonged here, her steps soundless against the dead ground as she made her way toward the rise of a jagged mountain nearby.

Arthur followed without a word.

They reached the top quickly.

From there, the view stretched even further, valleys carved into the earth, vast empty basins where something immense might have once existed. In the distance, a massive structure lay half-collapsed, its shape too eroded to identify.

Arthur looked at it all.

Then, flatly said.

"...Charming place."

Didi smiled as she settled down on the edge of the rocky slope, resting her hands behind her as she leaned back slightly, entirely unbothered by the ruin around them.

"I’m glad you like it," she said lightly. "One of my favorites."

Arthur remained standing for a moment longer before finally lowering himself onto a nearby rock, his eyes still scanning everything around him.

"I can see why," he replied dryly.

Silence stretched between them.

Then Didi spoke again, her tone shifting just slightly.

"I heard you ran into my brother... and Samael."

Arthur didn’t look at her.

"I figured you would."

"But yes. I did."

His gaze drifted toward the distant ruins.

"Morpheus helped me with something."

Didi hummed softly, as if confirming something she already knew.

"Oh, I’m aware about that mess."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed just a fraction.

"...Of course you are."

He turned his head slightly, finally looking at her.

"So I’m assuming this isn’t a casual check-in about family reunions."

Didi’s smile didn’t change.

"No," she said simply.

"It’s about my request that I told you about some time ago."

Arthur leaned back slightly, one arm resting on his knee.

"...Right."

Didi nodded, her expression brightening just a little.

"Think of it as a favor... if you want."

She tilted her head, watching him carefully.

"Though I’d say it’s more of a test."

Arthur’s brow lifted faintly.

"A test."

Her smile widened.

"I think you’ll enjoy it."

That alone made him suspicious.

"You’ll get to see just how much control and understanding you really have," she continued, her voice almost playful now.

"Over my concept."

Arthur’s gaze sharpened slightly at that.

"...You seem to know a lot more than you’re letting on. You know about my meeting with them."

Then he made a small pause.

"And what was said."

Didi didn’t deny it.

"I do."

She looked out over the dead world, her expression softening,

"I know what Samael told you."

A faint pause.

"And I know what you told him."

Arthur exhaled quietly, his gaze drifting away again.

"Then you also know what I think of him..."

Didi’s lips curved just slightly.

"Yes."

Arthur’s voice was calm.

"A deceiving demon."

Didi let out a small, amused breath at that.

"Well... he is himself."

"But that doesn’t mean he’s wrong."

Didi continued, her tone quieter now, and more thoughtful.

"Most beings in this universe who carry death within them..."

She gestured lightly around them, at the world, at the silence.

"...are fragments. Reflections. Lesser avatars tied to me in one way or another."

Her eyes shifted back to him.

"Except for you."

Arthur’s expression didn’t change.

"Good."

His voice was firm.

"Because I don’t need your responsibilities."

There was no hesitation in it.

Didi looked at him,

And smiled.

Not offended or surprised.

"I know you don’t."

Her voice softened slightly.

"That’s exactly why I like you."

Arthur glanced at her briefly.

"...That doesn’t sound reassuring."

Didi laughed quietly, the sound completely out of place in a world like this.

"Oh, it’s not meant to be."

She leaned forward slightly now, resting her arms on her knees as she looked at him more directly.

"Because I’m still going to burden you with it... my responsibilities that is."

The way she said it,

Light. Almost cheerful, somehow made it worse.

Arthur stared at her for a second then looked away.

"I know you were on your way somewhere," Didi continued.

Her voice was calmer again now, more grounded.

"To do something important."

Arthur didn’t deny it.

"So I’ll ask properly."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Are you willing to hear me out?"

Arthur exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting back to the horizon, the dead valleys.

His portal. his mission, the Monarchs.

All of it waiting.

He clicked his tongue quietly.

"...Tch."

Then he shifted slightly, settling more comfortably where he sat.

"I’m here anyways..."

His voice was reluctant,

"I guess my trip can wait for a bit."

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"For now."

Didi’s smile returned. Bright and satisfied.

"Thank you."

/-\

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