| Chaos Nth Band Realm - October 3
Encouraged, Klarion continued rapidly. "She's an emotionless, demented archfiend who commits atrocities for fun—and that's saying something coming from me! Killing or capturing a Lord of Chaos is impossible. It only worked on me because the others kicked me out, cut me off from the Chaos plane, and then I got myself sealed in this nineth metal band." He was still bitter about that. "The Lords of Order have tried for billions of years and failed. You won't stop her either—especially since Kent retired as Doctor Fate.
"Worse, she'll carry the essence of all the Lords of Chaos to reignite the cause. They think I haven't caused enough chaos working with the Light."
Through Nova's helmet, Klarion saw an eyebrow rise. That tiny gesture filled him with satisfaction. Even Nova recognized all the Chaos he'd unleashed on Earth.
"If she comes," Klarion said, "it'll be Arm-a-geddin! She might kill every living thing on Earth just because she can!"
"You mean… Armageddon?" Nova asked dryly.
"You know what I mean," Klarion muttered.
"I see. Get off me," Nova said.
"Oh. Yeah, okay." Klarion awkwardly released him.
"When is she coming?" Nova asked.
"I don't know," Klarion admitted. "But soon. Maybe within the year—maybe within the week. I'll sense her arrival… if you don't lock me in here."
"Alright. And what can you do to help me stop her?"
Klarion froze. He hadn't thought that far. "Uhh…" He wracked his brain for anything convincing.
Nova folded his arms. "Seriously? You're not doing a great job of convincing me not to just seal you and bury you under a mountain. I could just go to Kent and figure it out with him."
Klarion gritted his teeth. So this was what mortals felt like begging him for mercy. Was this how Savage had felt when Klarion tortured him in unique ways for 300 days straight, fascinated by his ability to revive each time? What a horrible feeling.
"Wait! If she knows I'm here, she'll come after me no matter what!" Klarion blurted. "She hates me. And even though I barely have any magic left—and you don't have any magic at all—I can help with that!"
Nova's tone sharpened. "How?"
"I told you—I have vast arcane knowledge! I'll only tell you the details if you cooperate with me."
Nova considered that. "Hmm. Your proposal is decent. I won't lock you away… as long as you're useful to me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to kill someone."
Klarion blinked. "Wait—can you spare Savage petty please?"
Nova's eyes glowed. "Don't push your luck. I know what kind of sadistic creature you are from the Brain's memories. Your appearance doesn't fool me. Savage took a life away from me, so I'll be taking his life—permanently."
With that, Nova vanished from the dark realm.
Klarion sighed and shrugged. At least he was still alive—for now. It was a shame about Savage, but oh well.
"I tried to help," he said to no one, his voice echoing in the empty void.
**
| Metropolis - October 3
Joseph left Klarion behind and slipped the Chaos Nth Band onto his wrist. It shimmered, morphing into a sleek gold fitness tracker that wrapped around his left arm.
He needed Klarion to remain aware of the outside world—to warn him when Child arrived—and that meant keeping him tethered. Joseph would serve as the host for Klarion's new anchor, though the witch boy couldn't possess him without explicit permission.
While he was at it, Joseph decided to complete the set. He took the Order Nth Band and fastened it around his right wrist, transforming it into an elegant gold watch that gleamed under the light. It fit perfectly with the sharp suit he was wearing.
Klarion had transformed his outfit and even styled his hair to match his, complete with ridiculous devil-horn tufts. At first, Joseph considered changing his own appearance, but then he realized it could be useful. If anyone ever caught him doing something questionable, he could simply blame it on Klarion "possessing" him.
So he leaned into the deception—shapeshifting to look exactly like Klarion, only he didn't change his height of 6'4".
He planned to visit the Tower of Fate later to speak with Kent Nelson anyway, which would help corroborate the story. He wasn't about to rely solely on the word of a decrepit chaos gremlin like Klarion.
When Klarion opened a portal to Vandal Savage's location and dipped a foot inside, Nova immediately triangulated the coordinates using satellite networks it had long since infiltrated. Within seconds, Joseph knew exactly where Savage was.
He willed a boom tube into existence and stepped through.
**
| Vlatava - October 3
Joseph emerged into an opulent dining room. Vandal Savage sat at the head of the table, calmly eating with Count Vertigo. On Savage's side were Lady Shiva and Deathstroke, their instincts sharpening at the sudden boom tube appearance. Across from them, Vertigo's goons were startled at his sudden appearance.
He immediately ordered Nova to disable every piece of technology in the room except the lights. Then, he generated a sound-dampening field with his anti-gravity powers.
"Ah, Klarion," Savage said smoothly, setting down his glass. "I knew you'd reappear. I've kept your position in the Light vacant in anticipation of your return."
He didn't flinch at the taller stature, missing familiar cat, or differences in demeanor. Perhaps arrogance made him blind—or maybe Klarion's unpredictability had conditioned him to overlook absurdities. Either way, it was his funeral.
Savage gestured. "I should introduce you to our newest ally. If we succeed in helping him depose the royal family of Vlatava this time, he will—"
"I know who he is," Joseph interrupted, mimicking Klarion's voice, though lacking the mischievous tone.
Without warning, he sent a powerful psychic pulse rippling through the space.
Everyone except Savage collapsed instantly, bodies thudding to the floor.
Savage's eyes widened. He tried to rise, reaching for his Fatherbox—but the device was ripped from his grasp with telekinesis.
Joseph lifted Savage telekinetically, spreading his limbs like Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, his expression unreadable as he slowly circled the floating immortal.
"Who are you?" Savage demanded, voice calm even in defeat. Immortality had long since taught him to sneer at death.
Joseph ignored him.
He turned toward the two assassins—Lady Shiva and Deathstroke—and lifted them into the air. He sent their consciousnesses into the Dream State, where Nova extracted any important memories and psychic energy in an instant aided by the Speed Force.
Then, their necks were twisted. He had to exert more effort than usual because both were enhanced with Silver Swan's nanites. Too bad they had no telepathic defenses capable of stopping him.
He crossed to Count Vertigo next. Another lift, another instant extraction—and another lifeless body hit the floor.
Two merciless assassins and a man willing to kill his own family for a throne. Not much of importance was lost.
Finally, Joseph faced Savage.
The ancient man remained composed, even as the bodies of his allies littered the floor. That calm expression—superiority masquerading as serenity—infuriated Joseph.
"That won't do," he said quietly. "The only one who can look down on me… is me. And that's from above."
He released the telekinetic hold, letting Savage crash to the floor. Then, with a thought, he intensified the gravity. Savage fell to his knees, crushed by invisible weight, while Joseph floated above him, hands in his pockets.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
This man was the root of so many evils—the architect behind wars, tragedies, even the death of Joseph's mother. Everything that shaped him—his powers, his pain—traced back to Savage.
Killing him wouldn't bring his mother back. But it was in a sense justice. The law of equivalent exchange. A life for a life.
Joseph wasn't fully sold on the compassion Wonder Woman preached. He was a Gothamite so the best he could do was the Golden Rule.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Savage had likely never thought twice about ordering Mary Bell's death. She'd been a loose end. Joseph was just collateral.
Well, now the liability had come to collect.
His features shifted back to his true face, dissolving Klarion's likeness. The silly devil horns vanished. He wanted Savage to see exactly who had come for him.
He saw a brief glint of recognition as Savage looked up. Good.
"You can't be stupid enough to think you can kill me or that my death will change anything. What do you truly want?" Savage asked, straining against the crushing weight.
Joseph's expression hardened. "Apologize to me," he said coldly. "Apologize for being born into my world."