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SM/DC Chapter 123 : Contingency File 'Shadow'
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 21:38:39 +0000 UTCThe glowing screen of the Batcomputer reflected off both Robin and Arthur’s faces as the file opened line after line, detail after detail cascading down in stark black and white.
[BATCOMPUTER ARCHIVE LOG — FILE #7422-SHADOW]
Subject Alias: Arthur Blackwynd
Classification: Metahuman / Potential Extra-Dimensional Entity
Threat Level: Alpha+ (Estimation)
Arthur’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he scanned the contents. Robin leaned closer, reading in focused silence, his brow furrowing deeper with every new line.
[Summary]
The subject exhibits abilities that defy conventional understanding of metahuman physiology and magic. Capable of manifesting and commanding an army of humanoid constructs referred to in field reports as “shadows.” Constructs appear sentient, impervious to pain, immune to fatigue, and maintain full combat efficacy regardless of damage sustained.
[Observed Abilities]
[Necrokinetic Manifestation:] Reanimation or recreation of fallen beings into loyal entities. Not standard necromancy. These entities retain combat techniques and tactical awareness of their former selves.
[Shadow Stealth:] Subject can disappear and reappear using shadows as transit points. Potential teleportation or dimensional phasing.
[Superhuman Strength / Durability:] During conflict with enhanced combatants (see attached footage: Green Lantern, Galatea, Kara Zor-El, Doomsday), subject exhibited physicality on par with Kryptonian-class beings.
[Psionic Dominion ‘Not Confirmed’:]Entities under subject’s control respond without verbal command. Possible hive-mind.
[Temporal Persistence:] Shadows do not degrade with time. Observation during certain conflicts indicates fallen constructs regenerate after destruction.
[Unknown Source of Power:] The nature is magical, yet there is no confirmed link to magic or divine relics, technology, or cosmic forces...yet it possesses traits aligned with all four.
Robin let out a low whistle.
“That’s uhh... I don’t know anymore..” he muttered.
Arthur didn’t reply. His eyes had sharpened, scanning the next section.
[Hypotheses]
[Apostate Angelic Entity:] The aura and discipline of the summoned entities resemble religious hierarchies, ranks, formations, martial precision. Could be a fallen or rogue celestial being enforcing divine justice… or vengeance. Subject already demonstrated extreme judgment-based morality.
[High-Level Demon Lord / Outer Dimensional Being:] Alternative theory proposes subject is a some sort of a sovereign from a plane adjacent to our own. Motivations unknown. Possibly building an army in secret.
[Resurrected Sorcerer-King:] A stretch, but ancient records from Atlantis and Themysciran scrolls speak of individuals who achieved semi-immortality by binding souls of the dead. Subject fits some descriptors.
[Cosmic Balance Mechanism:] There is a 3% chance the subject is not a who, but a what a self-regulating force of nature, triggered to counterbalance anomalies in the universal scale of death and resurrection.
Arthur muttered under his breath.
“…What the hell have I become…”
Robin remained quiet, reading on.
[Known Weaknesses]
[None confirmed. Subject has shown resistance to different form of weapons, high-tier magic, and psionic attacks. A more powerful opponent is currently the best chance at defeat.
Shadows might show temporary disruption under high ultraviolet or solar-enhanced exposure (Yet to be confirmed).
Emotional triggers noted, particularly involving familial bonds or betrayal. Emotional compromise is a possible weakness.]
[Recommended Protocol]
Avoid direct confrontation.
Observe. Track. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary.
If unavoidable, deploy high-tier contingency squad (Superman, Flash, Martian Manhunter).
Consider containment using dimensional locking spells or Phantom Zone displacement.
Codename Assignment (Temporary): [Erebus Protocol]
[Personal Note]
["This being doesn’t kill for sport. It kills with purpose. And every action so far is driven by an unwavering sense of justice.”
“I’ve seen gods. I’ve seen devils. This... might be both.”
—Will update after further observation.]
Arthur leaned back slightly, rubbing the bridge of his nose, eyes scanning the contents again.
In his mind, a quiet thought surfaced sharp and begrudgingly impressed.
'Batman… The fact most of these are closer to the truth…'
His gaze shifted to Alfred, still standing tall and composed behind them.
Arthur turned toward him and asked, voice measured,
“Are you really fine with showing me all this?”
Alfred met his eyes without hesitation.
“Master Bruce did mention something about you,” he said calmly. “After the Joker incident. Or rather… after the Joker ended his own life and saw you save that child.”
Arthur’s interest visibly sharpened.
“He said you reminded him of Master Jason. Someone he could no longer control… but someone who still carries good inside.”
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Arthur’s expression. He looked away, lips twitching into something between a smirk and a sigh.
Alfred added matter-of-factly,
“And as for showing you that file, it won’t matter. Master Bruce will rewrite it after your next move. He always does.”
Arthur chuckled under his breath and shook his head slightly.
“A bit too much paranoia for one man.”
From the Batcomputer, Robin glanced back, his voice edged with curiosity.
“So… how much of this is true?”
Arthur raised an eyebrow, giving him a side-glance.
“I’m not answering that.”
Robin didn’t answer immediately, still scanning the file.
Then, without looking up, he said flatly, “He gave you a whole contingency plan...”
Arthur crossed his arms and stared at the screen. Something in his expression flickered part amusement.
“I don’t know whether to be flattered or feel something else.”
“But enough about me,” he said, turning away from the screen. “Let’s focus on why we’re here.”
He stepped toward Alfred, who stood like a sentinel near the console.
“Since you already know so much, you should know what Bruce used to render himself... useless. We need that. If we’re going to avoid killing anyone by accident, I’d rather put them down safely. If not…” Arthur’s eyes narrowed. “Then I’ll do it my way.”
Alfred gave a quiet nod, hands folded behind his back.
“Ah. That,” he said mildly. “Naturally.”
To Robin’s surprise, Alfred moved past him with the poise of a man who'd been running this cave long before any of them were born. He sat at the Batcomputer like he owned it because, in many ways, he kind of did.
Robin raised an eyebrow, half-smirking as Alfred’s fingers danced across the keyboard.
“Okay… I didn’t expect that.”
Suddenly, a section of the floor near them slid open with a mechanical hiss. A rising platform revealed several injection guns sleek, reinforced with carbon alloy casings each fitted with glowing vials of dull blue serum.
“That’s the one,” Alfred said calmly. “But be careful. The compound works differently depending on who it’s used on. Master Bruce might stay unconscious for a month. And that’s with me tending to him daily.”
Arthur approached the platform, eyes examining the equipment with an approving nod.
“Good. Now we can move and Fast before that Demon shows up.”
Robin, however, stayed rooted, his expression clouded with something between annoyance and disbelief. He looked at the vials, then back at Alfred.
“Did he even tell you to send these to us or atleast mentioned it?” he asked.
Alfred didn’t hesitate.
“No,” he replied evenly. “He didn’t have time to explain anything.”
Robin clenched his jaw, frustration flickering in his eyes. Arthur spoke without turning back.
“He’s that afraid of being possessed… afraid he might hurt the League. Or worse have his plans fall into the wrong hands.”
Alfred said nothing this time. Just a slow, solemn nod.
Arthur paused, then muttered,
“The blame’s still on him in the end. But it matters not.”
He turned fully to Robin, eyes sharp.
“Let’s move.”
“One of my shadows already located a League member.”
Robin grabbed the equipment, checking the weight and muttering under his breath,
“Who?”
Arthur cracked his neck, his tone dark with anticipation.
“The Flash.”
Robin blinked.
“…Damn.”
Without missing a beat, Arthur extended a hand toward the injection gear.
“Give me one of those.”
“I’ll take care of him myself. You take the Batwing or whatever scan for demonic anomalies other than the Justice League members. If you find anything… it’ll likely be Raven or if it’s too late...Trigon himself.”
His voice dropped a note.
“Contact me. I’ll be there before she does anything stupid.”
Robin handed him the injection gun but didn’t hide the skepticism in his tone.
“You’re really that confident?”
“Confronting a possessed Flash… and stopping him without actually hurting him?”
Arthur checked the vial’s integrity with a flick of his thumb, then slid the injector into his system inventory.
He met Robin’s stare, unwavering.
“Yes.” No arrogance.
Just cold certainty.
Arthur turned on his heel, adjusting the injection gun inside his coat.
“Alright. I’m going now.”
He glanced over his shoulder with a faint smirk.
“Be seeing ya.”
Then, with a low voice of command:
“Exchange.”
The shadows around his feet pulsed then exploded upward like liquid ink. In an instant, Arthur was consumed by the black mist. It twisted into a vortex, collapsed inward
and he was gone.
The room fell quiet… almost.
Robin looked down.
A dark, shapeless figure clung to his shadow like a second skin its form slinking unnaturally behind his own. For a second, he could’ve sworn it looked at him. No movement. No words.
Just there. Watching.
Robin arched a brow and muttered under his breath,
“Creepy.”
Behind him, Alfred observed with mild curiosity and no trace of alarm.
“Interesting ability,” the butler said with a hint of dry amusement.
“Very much so.”
