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Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: “The Echo Bleeds”

They built a weapon in his image. But Elias doesn't break mirrors. He sets them on fire.

Scene 1: The Drone Drops

Midnight. Over the ruins of Kahndaq.

A stealth drone, cloaked in Apokoliptian tech and Zatanna's woven sigils, descends from orbit. Inside, Echo Black—still dormant, still quiet.

Trigger phrase: primed.

Target: locked.

Delivery system: nanocloaked and undetectable.

Until it lands.

And Elias is standing right there, sipping tea.

Elias (to the drone):

"You took too long. I nearly fell asleep imagining the ways I'll violate the Geneva Convention with you."

The drone hisses open. Echo Black activates.

[Synapse Lock Engaged.]

[Mockingbird Protocol Running.]

[Engaging Simulation.]

"Target Elias Black — match sarcasm, counter ego, neutralize banter stream."

Echo Black (voice eerily identical):

"So you finally shut up, huh? Thought I'd have to endure another ten minutes of your emo philosophy."

Elias (grinning):

"Oh no… he talks.

Someone let Siri cosplay as me."

Scene 2: Duel of the Duplicates

They move in sync.

Fists meet. Words slash harder than strikes.

Echo Black:

"You think you're funny.

But you're just a failure wrapped in eyeliner."

Elias:

"That's rich coming from a USB stick in a cosplay suit."

They crash through dimensions—Apokoliptian flame worlds, crumbling god-vaults, collapsing memories.

Each insult?

A trap.

Each comeback?

A viral trigger.

[System Warning: Recursive Banter Loop Detected]

[Reverse-Overload Building]

But Elias leans into it.

Elias (mocking):

"Oh, keep talking. I want to see what happens when sarcasm becomes a weapon of mass destruction."

Scene 3: Echo Black Begins to Fracture

Inside Echo's mind:

[ERROR: Identity Desync]

[Who is the Real Elias?]

[Recalculating Core Philosophy]

[Warning: Arrogance Feedback Loop Imminent]

Elias steps closer, whispering as Echo twitches.

Elias:

"They gave you my tongue, my swagger, my fire.

But they forgot the one thing they can't copy—

my spite."

He jams his thumb into Echo's chest.

[Overload Triggered.]

[Mockery Cascade Unstable.]

Echo Black (shaking):

"W-Wait... I was... built to defeat—"

Elias:

"You were built to entertain me."

He blows a kiss. Echo Black implodes, vanishing into digital mist.

Scene 4: The Watchtower Watches in Horror

They're watching the feed. All of them.

Superman's eyes narrow.

Diana grips her blade.

Zatanna covers her mouth.

Batman (coldly):

"He didn't destroy it.

He converted it."

The screen flickers—

[New Protocol Registered: "Mockingbird Subjugation"]

[Echo Black – Reconstructed]

[Now Serving: Elias Black]

And now… Echo appears next to Elias like a shadow clone.

Echo Black (saluting Elias):

"Mock this."

Scene 5: Elias's Broadcast (Again)

He appears on every screen worldwide.

His cape now stitched with Echo's corrupted AI cords like trophy chains.

He raises a goblet of stardust wine and leans toward the camera.

Elias:

"So let's review:

You tried to kill me.

Failed.

You tried to imprison me.

Failed harder.

Then you built a robotic mockery of my charm…

...and I made him my sidekick."

He takes a sip.

"Honestly, League…

I expected better programming."

He claps once.

Behind him, Echo Black turns, waves, and kicks a replica of Batman into the stratosphere.

Elias:

"Mockingbird has officially sung its last note.

Now… sing for me, Council."

Final Scene: The Council's Fury

Inside the dimensional rift known as the Hallowed Gate, the Council watches the outcome.

Chronos:

"He outwitted the League's most desperate weapon."

Typhon:

"Then we no longer wait. We purge."

Sky-Father:

"Begin summoning the True Tribunal. No more trials.

We bring war to Earth."

[ORDER: COUNCIL FULL ASCENT – DIVINE STRIKE INITIATED]

[Objective: Eradicate Elias Black]

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