Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 386: Ch.385 Spirit of Dawn

At this moment, Shangri-La was filled with fire and destruction.

The most noticeable sights were those mountain-style castles, somewhat reminiscent of the Potala Palace, but now they burned like giant torches in the city, blazing intensely.

The dense cluster of palaces probably hadn't accounted for what would happen if attacked and set on fire during construction. Now, it was a scene of one fire spreading to another, flames lighting up half the sky.

Surrounding the snow-capped mountains, monks had built these grand castles along the mountainside. Afterward, more and more spellcasters came to this place.

In this place where time stood still, they built markets and houses. Maybe they didn't believe in any goddesses, but the place still welcomed fellow sorcerers.

However, now they were all desperately trying to flee.

Su Ming and his group appeared in a corner of the plaza, the cold wind from the high snowy mountains immediately making everyone tense.

Behind them was the city wall, while in front was a cluster of buildings, now in ruins.

A mage came running toward them in a panic. His teleportation magic wasn't working, and with the high plateau, there was no way he could leave on foot alone.

"Where does your portal lead to?" He immediately recognized Arabella as the one in charge and asked her urgently.

The female sorcerer looked at Su Ming and lit a cigarette. "Hell's Main Street."

"Hell... that works. Let me use it."

The mage hesitated for only a moment before trying to dive into the portal.

"Hey, pay first, then use." Arabella grabbed his robe, not letting go and even appearing ready to cancel the portal.

"Fine, here, take this. Let me go! This place is going to be destroyed."

The mage barely glanced as he pulled a large gemstone from his robe and handed it to Arabella, then dove head-first into the portal.

Arabella happily took the gem and held it up to the distant firelight to check its quality. When she saw the mage on the other side collide with a tall demon, she immediately shut the portal.

"Not bad. If I'd known, I'd have gone into the transportation business."

She pocketed the gemstone and looked up at the sky, because the other two plus the chimpanzee were doing the same.

In the sky was a purple figure, flying at high speed while fighting a group of blue and white ghostly spirits.

On the plaza's ground lay many monks in orange robes.

Those were the monks serving Kushi, and in times of danger, they could have their souls leave their bodies like "The Deadman" Brand and fight as spirits.

This was a bit of a cheat tactic since they could possess any normal person and attack from the inside, just like something out of The Ring.

Without special preparation, enemies wouldn't be able to hit them.

They were like phantoms and smoke—tangible, but untouchable.

However, now in the sky, each one burst like a balloon, vanishing into ash.

The figure glowing with purple light was wielding beams of light like two giant lightsabers, and a simple swipe was enough to make these spirits disappear forever.

"Tsk, judging by that figure's attire, it seems like Native American style," Su Ming said to Bobo beside him.

"You're right. It's Manitou Dawn, the Atlantean of the land, codename 'Spirit of Dawn'."

Bobo's knowledge was quite sharp. Despite the intense light and the speed at which the figure was flying, he picked up on some details and quickly recognized the controlled individual.

Hearing the name, Su Ming quickly matched it in his memory.

This woman was an Atlantean, but from the land-based branch. Long ago, Atlantis had split a few times—some didn't like living underwater and went to live on land.

After that, the branch that went on land gradually evolved into the Apache people.

She was a witch, but due to the physiology of Atlanteans, her close-combat skills were also good. She had been a superhero for a while, only to retire later.

Spirit of Dawn had once been a member of the Justice League and had a good relationship with Batman and Green Arrow.

After the New 52 Rebirth, her story changed a bit. Now her cover was working as an orderly at a community center in a small town in New Mexico.

Thinking of this, Su Ming glanced at Donna beside him, as she was the woman with the most origin stories in the DC universe.

Every time DC rebooted or editorial mandates got in the way, Donna's origin story would change.

By the time Su Ming had traveled through dimensions, she had 12 different backstories.

"So that's the power of the Witchmark..." Arabella said, cigarette in her mouth and hands in her pockets, watching the figure fly around. "Looks kind of flashy."

"Can you handle her?" Su Ming asked her.

"Taking her out, I can manage." The sorceress pulled out a bottle of whiskey, took a swig, and wiped her mouth with her white hand. "But if you want her captured alive, I can't do it."

Donna looked around, seeing everything destroyed beyond recognition.

"She's being controlled. This isn't her intention. We can't kill her, right?" she said while giving Su Ming a questioning look, but the tone was more like a statement.

Batman had probably instructed her before sending her here—not to let Su Ming kill anyone, especially people familiar with the Justice League.

Su Ming had no reason to kill her. Spirit of Dawn was yesterday's news—she hardly used her extraordinary powers anymore.

She spent her days caring for the elderly and children at the community center, and she was a good person, plus she wasn't in Su Ming's way.

"Don't worry, Donna. She'll stay alive." Su Ming watched as the woman in the sky shredded the spirits into pieces, silently waiting for the right moment.

"Um... fully intact, right?" Donna's big eyes turned, revealing an innocent expression like a small animal.

This was what set her apart from Diana. She interacted more with ordinary people, and she understood that the outside world didn't really go for Amazonian customs.

A man like Su Ming, who knocked out her beautiful sister without hesitation, would likely respond better to softness than firmness.

She decided to use her cuteness to influence him, to gently urge him toward kindness.

Su Ming touched his weapon, finally transforming the Godkiller into a long rope, skillfully weaving it into a lasso. "No need to sever her limbs. Bring out your lasso—when I bind her, you make your move."

Donna also had a lasso, but whereas Diana's was called the Lasso of Truth, hers was called the Lasso of Persuasion.

The effects were slightly different. The Lasso of Truth made the ensnared tell the truth, while the Lasso of Persuasion allowed Donna to control those with weaker willpower than hers, like puppets on strings.

As for Donna's willpower, an Amazon warrior's willpower was never to be doubted—absolutely ironclad, at least stronger than Dawn's, who was now retired.

Superheroes generally didn't retire, unless their bodies completely failed them or they had some kind of psychological trauma.

Dawn was the latter. She'd witnessed too much collateral damage to ordinary people during superhero and villain battles and retired due to guilt.

Now, her willpower had become her weakness. Su Ming would first gauge her strength, with Donna's lasso as the safety measure.