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Arius' Adventures in DC
Chapter 15: Meeting with Death.
-Bruce Wayne (Batman)-
Batman's sharp eyes narrowed as the vibrations beneath his feet ceased. He turned to Superman, who was looking down with a furrowed brow.
"What's Arius' status? Has he reached Diana?" Batman asked, his tone clipped as the tension in his jaw showed his concern.
Superman's gaze flicked to Batman as he shook his head, "He was moving straight for her, but then… he disapp-" Before Superman could finish, a deafening boom reverberated through the chamber and right after a loud voice filled the air.
"Why do you, mere mortals, dare ignore the us gods? And why do you invade our realm?" It said and the members of the rescue team instinctively tensed, their eyes drawn to the massive figure of Zeus sitting on his throne.
Batman's mind immediately registered a discrepancy: one of the twelve gods seated moments earlier was no longer present. His instincts screamed that this was no coincidence and that it was related to Arius' sudden disappearance. Most likely Zeus was putting on a performance, because they were teleported right into what looked like the temple of Zeus and he doubted that the portal on Themyscira would ever lead here, it would be a nightmare waiting to happen.
But he played along as he stepped forward, his voice steady, "We're here to rescue Diana. She's one of our own, and we're not leaving without her." He said with the others nodding and tensing for the retaliation.
Zeus' piercing gaze locked onto Batman, and a faint smirk crossed the god's face, "Rescue her? Diana is a creation of Olympus, mortal. She belongs to me and what I do with her is none of your concern." Zeus said and Batman really wanted to kick his teeth in.
The other Justice League members stiffened at his words, but it was Shazam who stepped forward, his voice ringing with defiance. "We're not leaving without Wonder Woman!"
Zeus' smirk vanished, replaced with a scowl, "You dare to defy the gods? Do you forget that five of the six beings from whom you draw your power are tied to Olympus? Disrespect me again, and I will revoke what is mine."
It was new to Batman that Shazam had six powers, let alone that five of them were tied to Olympus, but he could think of that later, but Shazam faltered, his mouth opening, but no words came. The other members of the League glanced at him waiting for his cue.
Batman's expression remained unreadable, but his mind worked furiously. Zeus was testing them, but it was clear that outright confrontation would be suicidal. Still, retreat wasn't an option. Batman glanced at the hole Arius had made, his mind calculating the chances of making it through and getting Diana free to gain another member, so they could fight their way out, but he dismissed it because he knew that Arius would return, he was certain of it because the gods who stood before him were the same ones who cowered when Darkseid was invading.
Turning his gaze back to Zeus, Batman met the god's challenge head-on. "If that's the case then we'll take her back by force." He said, his voice sharp. They had Superman, Flash and Aquaman three of the heaviest hitters in the League and as long as they could stall out the gods they would win.
The chamber went deathly silent for a split second before Zeus' laugh boomed like rolling thunder. "BWAHAHAHAHA! Foolish mortal," he mocked, "Then let the consequences be on your heads."
A bolt of lightning struck Shazam before anyone could react and in an instant, the mighty champion was replaced by Billy Batson, the child he knew was under all that muscle, but now he was a terrified child standing in front of the gods.
"SHAZAM!" Billy shouted, but it was useless as a figure materialized beside him, moving so fast Batman didn't even see an after image, he was slim with winged sandals and a mischievous smirk. It could only be Hermes, the messenger god, who had a hand on Billy's shoulder.
"A child? Really? If you value the boy's life, you'll surrender now." he said mockingly, before addressing the rest of the League and Batman's stomach churned as he assessed the situation he got them in.
Normally he had everything under control or at least could come up with a plan to win, but he was woefully unprepared mentally. From Hermes' speed that possibly rivaled the Flash's to Zeus' display of taking Shazam's power had shifted the balance and thrown him off kilt.
Beside him, Aquaman and Mera looked ready to fight, but Superman, Flash, Black Canary and himself knew otherwise exchanged uneasy glances. They might still win or possibly escape, but at what cost.
His fists clenched under his cape and could only curse himself silently for not digging deeper into Shazam's origins. This lack of information had left them vulnerable.
"Stand down." He said keeping his voice calm and slowly they did with Mera seemingly the only one let down that they didn't fight, which he noted.
After they all gave up any resistance, chains of golden light materialized around the League members that tightened around their limbs, draining their strength. Superman visibly struggled against them, his knees buckling slightly and Batman had to grit his teeth as he fought to remain standing.
Zeus, who finally stood from his throne shrinking until he was only eight feet tall and sighed, shaking his head in mock disappointment, "Foolish mortals. Did you truly believe you could defy the gods?"
Thunder rumbled alongside his voice ominously as the gods looked down on them with disdain, the Justice League now at their mercy and it was all his fault. The only pro he could see was that they weren't instantly killed and now their only option was for him to come up with a plan on the fly or hope that Arius got to them in time from where they sent him.
He really didn't like the Saiyan.
-Arius-
Arius stood amidst the swirling shadows of the underworld, his rage burning brighter than the dim, unnatural light of the cavern. He clenched his fists, his aura flaring as he launched a Ki blast, so fast the man couldn't react and as the explosion went off Arius could sense that his attack hit and erased the god from existence.
Scoffing at the pathetic display he contemplated on how to escape from where he was, but as he did the man reappeared to his right, unscathed, despite the obliteration of the area where he had stood mere moments ago.
His voice echoed through the cavern, filled with arrogance and malice, "Foolish mortal! I am Hades, king of the underworld! Your strength is meaningless here. I am almighty in my domain, and no attack of yours can harm me." He roared and even now Arius knew he was using something to make his voice stronger because no one that looked like that much of a bitch could have such a commanding voice.
So he narrowed his eyes, as he replayed the previous attack in his mind, because he knew Hades' energy had been erased, if only for a moment, so while the god's words might have intimidated others, Arius wasn't buying it for a second. His instincts screamed that Hades wasn't as invincible as he claimed.
"Shut up," Arius growled, his voice low and dangerous, as he launched himself forward. If Ki attacks didn't work then a physical attack would. His speed was blinding as in a single fluid motion he ripped Hades' head from his shoulders and he expected a spray of blood, but instead, the god's form disintegrated into black smoke, dissolving into the darkness of the underworld.
"It is futile!" Hades' voice rang out again, his form reappearing farther away. "Do you not see? I cannot be killed and you will pay for your insolence!" He said and with a wave of his hand, Hades launched black and purple flames at Arius in an unrelenting torrent, but Arius just raised his hand and swiped away the flames, scoffing at how weak they were.
He launched another Ki blast and erased Hades once more and right when the god reformed he repeated the process, launching a barrage of blasts every time he sensed him, forcing Hades into a perpetual cycle of yelling in rage before dying as he thought of a way to put him down for good.
-Diana Prince (Wonder Woman)-
Diana sat slumped against the cold throne, bound by the enchanted chains that drained her strength. She had felt the earlier commotion that lasted only a couple seconds and doubted that a fight between Arius and her gods would be that short, but it had been nearly five minutes since and she was starting to feel worried about the Justice League members who she knew were coming alongside the Saiyan, and as the door creaked open, and her worries were proven true at the sight of familiar faces entering her cell in chains.
"Kal? Bruce?" she whispered, her voice hoarse from exhaustion and disbelief. Her eyes darted between the members of the Justice League who came to rescue her. Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Mera, Black Canary, and a boy she didn't recognize.
"How… how did you get captured? Where's Arius?" She asked though she already guessed based on their frustrated postures, defeated expressions, lack of battle marks and the energy-sapping chains that bound them, that they were set up.
The boy, whom Diana didn't recognize scowled, "The gods were too chicken to fight us fair and square! That's how!" he spat, his youthful voice filled with indignation despite his vulnerable state as he glared at the gods who led them.
Superman sighed, stepping forward, his expression apologetic but weary. "Arius disappeared. He was drilling straight down, heading for you, but then… he just vanished and right after the Gods took away Shazam's powers and held him hostage."
Diana's mind raced as she pieced together what they were saying. The fact that one of the strongest members in the Justice League was a mere child was startling, but that wasn't the main concern in her mind. She felt the vibrations getting stronger, so how close had he gotten and how could someone like Arius simply vanish?
"Vanished? That doesn't make sense," Diana murmured, more to herself than anyone else. But her thoughts were interrupted by the deep voice of Zeus, who strode into the room.
"We knew your little friends would attempt a rescue," Zeus said, his tone casual but laced with menace that she knew was a threat, "Their failure was inevitable and the only reason they still draw breath after their insolence is because I am in a generous mood today, but understand this, Diana. If you do not cooperate, that benevolence will vanish as quickly as it came."
Diana clenched her fists, her eyes burning with fury, "You call this benevolence? You chain us like animals and expect me to yield to your tyranny?" she growled knowing that sooner rather than later she would fold as the lives of her comrades and an innocent child were at risk and even though she genuinely didn't think Arius didn't have a weakness they wouldn't believe that.
But her anger shifted from at herself for getting captured to the Goddess of Wisdom. As her gaze landed on Athena, who stood silently at Zeus' side a sharp pang of betrayal shot through Diana's chest, and she glared at the goddess who had once promised her assistance.
"Athena," Diana said, her voice trembling with a mix of hurt and rage, "I trusted you! I thought you were helping me!"
Athena met her glare with a cold, detached expression. "Did you? You must have been dreaming if you thought I would go against the other gods I've ruled with for millennia just for your sake." the goddess asked, her tone almost mocking.
Diana paused at the slight emphasis Athena placed on the word "dreaming," her anger overshadowed by realization that all of this may have been a part of goddess' plan and even now Athena may be acting her part, so the other gods wouldn't get suspicious.
Athena's lips twitched in what might have been the faintest trace of a smirk before she turned away, leaving Diana with more questions than answers. She knew the Goddess could still be playing her, but for what reason? They had already been captured and they knew they had leverage with the lives of the Justice League over her head.
Before Diana could press further, Zeus's booming voice brought her back to the grim reality of the moment. "Your friends have been defeated, and your fate is sealed, Diana," he declared. "It would be wise to abandon your defiance. There is no one left to save you, so submit."
Diana's eyes narrowed. She wasn't ready to believe that. Not yet, because somewhere out there Arius was making his way back and she knew that there was a reason he wasn't chained and captured along with the rest of the league, so she laughed in the face of Zeus and the other gods.
-Athena-
Athena's mind raced as she stood in the dimly lit cell where the gods had gathered to intimidate Diana into submission, showing the full might of Olympus along with the capture of her teammates was almost a guarantee that they would get what they wanted, but if they didn't and things took an unexpected turn she was just as prepared, because it seemed Diana caught her hint that there was still a minimal chance of her being rescued by the very man they were cautious of, but it all depended on how her plan swung. The memory of that meeting they had just before the 'rescue' team arrived replayed in her mind.
(Slight Flashback)
Not even ten seconds had passed since she called an emergency meeting of the gods when Ares, ever the impatient God of War, leaned forward on his seat with a scornful expression.
"Finally, results. Or are we gathered here for another of your boring lectures, Athena?" he sneered, trying to insult her, but Athena didn't spare him a glance, her focus on the group as she addressed them with measured concern.
"Prepare yourselves. Arius is coming to Olympus, along with some members of the Justice League, the group Diana has joined in the world of man." She got straight to the point explaining why she called them so urgently.
The room stirred with murmurs. The mention of Arius was enough to silence even the boldest tongues and after a moment of silence as the gods took in the news Aphrodite, reclined lazily on her throne, tilted her head with a coy smile.
"You already have a plan, don't you?" the goddess said with certainty, "You wouldn't call us all together without one. That's just so… you." Aphrodite chimed at the end, annoyed that Athena had been ignoring her attempts to set her up with Arius.
Athena forced a tight smile, refusing to rise to the bait of the 'Whore of Olympus' because the goddess of love wasn't entirely wrong. Athena did have a plan, and every detail had been meticulously calculated.
She turned her gaze to Hera, the wife of Zeus, her expression neutral, "As the main patron god of Themyscira, I need you to redirect the portal from the island to the heart of this hall, so they'll appear directly before us." Hera's eyes narrowed, but she nodded after looking at Zeus for confirmation.
Athena looked toward Apollo and Artemis, the twin deities, "When I give word, you two will weaken the barrier around Olympus, so they can slip through."
It was then that Hestia, who was usually quiet, spoke up, "You would have Arius arrive in the very heart of Olympus? Do you have any idea what kind of disaster that would bring? This is our home, Athena. I will not have it destroyed." Her voice showed the genuine concern etched and it made sense that the Goddess of the Hearth and Home would be so scared to bring the Saiyan directly into the center of their home.
Ares grinned wickedly, "She's right. Why bring the calamity here? We should be taking the fight to them by inciting war across the mortal world and after I'll have enough power to crush this Saiyan myself." He suggested, but Athena's patience thinned.
"Have you been sharing Morpheus' bed to have such grand dreams, Ares? Your delusions are as entertaining as ever." She asked while turning to Ares with a mocking expression at the sheer stupidity of that idea, because the countless lives lost would anger nearly every divine entity residing on Earth and chaos would ensue with Nabu coming for answers.
Ares bristled, but before he could retort, Athena pressed on. "Arius is coming, one way or another. It is inevitable and if we try to intercept him elsewhere, we risk a quick death, but here, we hold the advantage. Once he arrives on Mount Olympus he'll sense Diana without the barrier of the Sun and Moon cloaking her signature and he'll come straight to her, ignoring us entirely. When he does, Hades will drag him to the Underworld." She explained her plan with certainty of it playing out exactly as she pictured.
Hades' dark eyes gleamed with suspicion, "And what, Athena, do you expect me to do with him once he's there?" He asked and Athena had already come up with an answer.
"Delay him,You are unkillable in your domain. Keep him occupied long enough for us to force Diana to give up the information we need—his weakness." Athena said simply, though she knew that the ambitious god wouldn't play by the script and would most likely get himself killed somehow.
Demeter, who had been silent until now spoke with a frown, "Diana hasn't broken in the week she's been here with the greatest mind in Olympus interrogating her, why would she break now? I see no sense in risking this plan, especially not when it involves bringing that Saiyan anywhere near my daughter because Persephone, unlike Hades, can still be slain in the Underworld."
The room fell silent at her words, and all eyes turned to Zeus, who leaned forward, his eyes piercing as he scrutinized her.
"Well, Athena?" he asked, his tone filled with curiosity and she knew he would agree regardless of the safety of Persephone, but was hoping to see what else she thought of and Athena didn't falter.
"The Justice League members without Arius are much weaker than us, so we'll capture them quickly and use their lives as leverage. Diana will fold when the lives of her comrades are put on the line." She said with conviction.
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, the room was silent. Then Zeus nodded, "We proceed with Athena's plan." He said and Athena's lips curled into a faint smile.
This was it—the culmination of her strategy. Either Arius would defeat Hades, escape the Underworld and defeat the rest with Diana vouching for her as she absorbed the divinities of the fallen gods or Diana would break, giving them the knowledge to defeat Arius. Either way, Athena would emerge victorious, though she would prefer the former.
In the present, Athena's gaze flicked back to Diana, as the amazon's expression glinted with slight understanding as the amazon inferred that all hope was not lost.
-Diana Prince (Wonder Woman)-
Her laughter echoed through the cell, cutting through the tense air like a blade. Her amusement at Zeus's demand was unrestrained and it seemed to fuel the fury radiating from the gods around her at her blatant disrespect to the very beings she used to worship. Zeus's confident smirk was replaced by annoyance.
"You dare laugh in the face of your gods?" Zeus demanded, his voice rumbling like distant thunder and Diana inclined her head, her laughter finally fading as she gave him a mocking smile.
"You speak as if you've already won, but I can see that you were too much of a coward to even face Arius, so yes I dare laugh in your face because even if he was here chained up you wouldn't be able to control him."
Her words stung their pride and Ares, the god with the shortest fuse, erupted in rage as he teleported in front of her and cocked his arm back before slapping her across the face with enough force to send out a shockwave and cause her head to snap to the side.
The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth and she could feel that a tooth was knocked loose.
"Respect your gods," Ares snarled, his face twisted in anger.
Diana slowly turned back to him, her fiery gaze locking onto his and in response spat said tooth along with some blood directly in his face. A shocked silence fell over the chamber as the crimson streak ran down Ares's face. Even the other gods stared at her in disbelief.
Hephaestus reacted first, his hand raised and with a single grasping motion the chains from the throne appeared once more around Diana and began to tighten. The metal coiled around her like living serpents, constricting her throat and torso and breathing became a struggle as Diana gasped for air but refused to back down even if it meant her death, her unwavering glare fixed on the gods and even as her vision began to blur she saw Ares raising his hand to strike her again, but before his blow could land, Athena appeared and caught his strike, her voice sharp and commanding.
"Enough!" she said, placing herself between Diana and Ares. Her demeanor was calm, but her gaze showed that there was no room for argument, "We need her alive and capable of speech if we are to get the answers we seek."
Ares glared at her, his hand trembling with the urge to strike, but Athena's presence was unyielding then she turned her head slightly toward Hephaestus, "Loosen the chains. Now."
The Deformed God hesitated, his expression conflicted as he looked at Zeus for guidance and the King of Gods gestured for his son to calm down.
"Athena is right," he said, but his face grew sadistic, "But I will ensure Diana understands the consequences of her insolence."
Raising his lightning bolt, Zeus flicked it toward Diana. The electrified weapon moved through the air, stopping just above her head. The proximity was enough for her hair to stand on end from the static as the charged energy prickled her skin.
Diana felt the chains ease slightly, enough for her to take shallow breaths, but the electrifying sensation from the hovering lightning bolt was something she knew would be worse than the choking.
Nevertheless she clenched her fists, refusing to give Zeus or any of the gods the satisfaction of seeing her fear as she glared at the man who granted her his blessing as soon as she was created.
Diana's eyes continued on looking each god in the face to show her stubbornness, but as she scanned the room, she noticed that there was only ten gods behind Zeus when there should be eleven and she realized that Hades must be the one occupying Arius, using the Underworld's itself to contain the Saiyan. It was the only explanation for how they could have kept him at bay for this long without a calamity happening.
But Diana truly believed that their gambit on Hades could only last so long because Arius was relentless and no realm would hold him indefinitely; she'd seen it when he ripped open space from Vyragos to Earth and this wasn't going to be any different.
Her gaze shifted to Zeus, whose domineering posture and crackling lightning bolt showed his growing frustration that he didn't bother to hide. He leaned closer, his glowing white eyes narrowing dangerously, "This is your last chance, Diana. Tell us what we want to know and you along with the rest of your companions will be spared and released from what comes next… Tell me the weakness of the Saiyan." He said and Diana knew that they also realized it was only a matter of time.
"Shapeshifting into all those animals when you took advantage of all those innocent women must have given you the brain of one if you think I'd betray Arius." Her lips curled into a snarl as she barked out, her voice defiant despite the chains digging into her flesh and the Divine Artifact above her head.
Zeus's face darkened, his patience shattering like glass and with a snarl of his own he clenched his fist and the lightning bolt hovering above Diana's head exploded with light launching a continuous streak of energy downward.
The electricity surged through her body, pain erupting on every level physical, mental and even spiritual. Her muscles spasmed uncontrollably as the force of the blast knocked her head back against the throne. The chains tightened in response to her involuntary movement, digging deeper into her skin. She tried to keep it in, but her voice echoed through the chamber as she screamed in pain.
It continued for minutes before it finally stopped. Diana slumped forward the chains, the only thing keeping her sitting upright, smoke rising from her skin as she took shallow, ragged breaths. Her vision swam, but she refused to let them see her broken, so slowly, painfully, she raised her head to glare at Zeus.
"That was...impressive," she said, her voice rasping but still carrying its sharp edge. "But I have an offer for you, Zeus."
The King of the Gods stared at her, his rage bare for all to see, "And what is that, Amazon?" he growled looking for another reason to continue.
Diana's lips twisted into a mocking smile, despite the pain radiating through her body, "You have one chance." She said having to take a pause as she saw Zeus's eyes flickered with confusion. She straightened as much as the chains allowed.
"I'll give you one chance," she said, her voice regaining its strength, "Free me. Free the Justice League and release Arius from the Underworld, and maybe, maybe, I can convince him to spare Olympus and you own pathetic lives."
After a moment of silence her words were met with incredulous laughter. The gods exchanged looks, their amusement growing and even Ares couldn't help but laugh instead of getting mad with Athena being the only one who remained stoic.
"You dare make demands?" Zeus thundered, his voice shaking the chamber, "You sit here in chains, powerless, and you presume to dictate terms?"
Poseidon scoffed, stepping forward and with his trident in hand similar to Aquaman's lifted her chin to look up at his towering figure, "The Saiyan won't escape the Underworld. Hades is invincible there, even I would be helpless against my brother and Arius is nothing more than a mortal who will submit or meet his end, just like you.." He finished cutting her neck slightly with the trident.
However the moment the words left Poseidon's mouth, a wave of energy rippled throughout Mount Olympus, so powerful that it shook the foundations of Mount Olympus itself. Dust and loose stones rained from the ceiling as the gods froze, their faces filled with alarm and Diana smiled.
She knew this power well. The hum in the air, the weight of the sheer presence and even the tension it incited, it could only be Arius. She didn't even need to see him to know he had transformed into his golden-haired form, which meant he was serious.
The gods exchanged nervous glances, their earlier confidence nowhere to be seen. Zeus called back his lighting bolt and even Poseidon's arrogance faltered as his knuckles whitened around his trident, backing away from Diana to regroup with the other Gods. Only Athena remained calm, her sharp eyes fixed on Diana as if waiting for her next move.
Diana's mocking smile never left her face, as she felt true disdain for the gods she once worshipped, "It looks like you're too late, but I am benevolent and if you wish to live tell Arius that you can grant him a new pet monkey named Kara. He lost his to Darkseid on Vyragos, so I'm sure he'll be ecstatic at the news." She said knowing what hell would ensue if they dared utter her words, but they were the ones who started it.
The chamber shook again harder to the point of Diana fearing that the mountain would collapse on them. She could feel the energy shifting slightly back to his normal form, but the power behind it was unlike anything she'd ever experienced.
The gods' laughter was gone now, replaced by the uneasy silence and it was in that moment that they realized, they fucked up.
-Arius-
Arius hovered amidst the ruins of the cavern that now spanned hundreds of miles wide in each direction. His body radiating power as energy surged around him. His chest heaved with anger as he surveyed the destruction. He had relentlessly blasted at every spot where Hades reformed, but no matter how many times the god was obliterated, he returned, with that smug look on his face.
Hades reappeared in front of Arius once more, his voice dripping with disdain as he continued to look smug, "You truly are mindless if you think brute force will solve everything? It will be your privilege to serve under me once you learn your place."
Arius froze mid-attack, blinking at the sheer audacity of the statement, "Are you...retarded?" he asked bluntly, "Serve you? Someone as weak and pathetic as you? I didn't know you were the god of jokes." He said knowing that he'd rather kill himself then serve under anyone let alone this pathetic excuse for a god.
The smugness evaporated from Hades' face, replaced by a snarl of anger, "Weak? I am almighty in the Underworld! You cannot comprehend the depths of my power here, mortal!"
Arius laughed, a deep, booming sound that echoed in the endless darkness. "Almighty? You've been 'almighty' at getting obliterated hundreds of times and still are still helpless to fight back."
Hades' composure cracked, and he screamed, "You fool! I am eternal here! It's called a strategy since I only need to wear you down, and when you're spent, I'll claim your soul and victory. This is my realm, death itself bows to me you mindless oaf!"
Arius's irritation at the annoying god's voice bubbled over. He hated being underestimated, but more than that, the idea of someone claiming dominion over him was mind numbing, but since Hades, himself said that he was drawing power from the Underworld, Arius' instincts led him to one simple conclusion, if the realm itself was the source of the problem, he would just destroy it.
His grin widened, becoming almost feral, as he muttered, "Guess I haven't been using enough violence."
With a roar that shook the Underworld to its foundations, Arius Ki came to life as he formed the largest attack he had ever created. Hades' smugness turned into wide-eyed panic as Arius hurled the attack straight at him, but still ever confident he tanked the blast and was erased once more, but his attack continued until it struck the ground hundreds of miles away. The entire realm trembled as the blinding green light encased his vision.
When the light of the explosion finally faded, Arius found himself floating in a featureless expanse of black, an emptiness so complete it seemed to only be filled by his aura. Stretching his Ki senses, he realized the Underworld wasn't fully destroyed. Since it was so vast even his most powerful attack hadn't been enough, but that once again proved he just wasn't using enough violence.
"AGHHHHH!" He roared in rage as he clenched his fists, his body erupting with even more power as he grew to his max height. His hair stood as his energy shot up and soon he ascended into the form of a Super Saiyan once more.
He closed his eyes and fought down the urge to go on a rampage from the power high, he lacked control in this form because he hadn't used it in months since Darksied. Taking a deep breath he opened his eyes but just as he prepared to launch another attack, a figure appeared before him, stopping him in his tracks.
It was a woman, breathtakingly beautiful, with pale white skin and hair as dark as the void around them. She was the very definition of a big titty goth girl and Arius could only stare in shock, not because of her appearance, but because like Lucifer he couldn't sense her approach or her Ki. If he hadn't been looking at her at this very moment he wouldn't know she was even there and in the split second that he hesitated, she reached out and touched him lightly on the chest, before everything went dark and he couldn't even see his own aura.
When Arius's vision cleared, he found himself in a different void, similar yet much more oppressive. He saw that she was still touching him and he instinctively lashed out, swinging a punch with enough force to shatter stars. His fist connected with the woman's form, but to his astonishment, she didn't budge.
Her calm, melodic voice cut through his shock, "We need to talk." She said looking at him with tender eyes, but Arius wasn't listening because his instincts screamed that this woman was a threat unlike Darksied, so his energy surged once more as he attacked, his blows landing with even more force, but this time, she barely moved.
He managed to push her back half an inch and her widened eyes showed a flicker of surprise. Regardless his mind blanked as his instincts took over and he attacked again. This time she dodged his strike, her movements effortless.
"I didn't want to do this." She apologized softly, not that he could even register her words and before Arius could follow up on his attack, her fist appeared right in front of him and struck him squarely in the stomach. The force of the blow sent him hurtling back at speeds he couldn't comprehend as blood spraying from his mouth and he dropped out of Super Saiyan. He'd never felt such overwhelming strength before and not even a hundred Darkseid's could come up with that amount of force.
But he was going to survive and to do that he needed anger, so his body flooded itself with rage as the all consuming emotion drowned him and with a guttural roar, he transformed back into Super Saiyan. His muscles expanded, his aura becoming a raging storm of green energy. The void around him quaked as the Legendary Super Saiyan finally came out to play.
He unleashed a monstrous ki beam from his mouth, its power eclipsing anything he had ever done before. The woman raised her hand, catching the blast with ease, her expression still calm.
"I don't wish to fight you," she said, but his only body grew larger and his power soared as his beam grew even more powerful pushing her further and further back, before she dodged out of the way.
"You're getting stronger at a freighting rate." she admitted, her tone carrying a hint of respect, but Arius didn't care. He launched himself forward hoping to get a hand on her, his attacks becoming a blur of strikes, but she expertly avoided each one.
The dodging was only angering him more as he grew faster and faster, but then, just as suddenly as she had appeared, the woman vanished and he stopped, his blank eyes scanning the darkness, his chest heaving. Despite his heightened senses, he couldn't locate her.
"Where are you?!" he roared, launching Ki blasts in every direction. It continued for nearly half an hour as he flew through the void while launching attacks hoping to hit the woman, but it was all for naught and after exhausting his rage, his mind began to clear and as he floated silently, his eyes narrowed as he contemplated on how to get back, knowing he was likely left here to die.
Then, he heard her voice again, soft and melodic.
"Are you done?" It said and he whipped around, seeing her standing behind him with a cheeky grin and his mind blanked once more as he raged once more.
-Death of the Endless-
She observed Arius with quiet amusement as he raged through the void, his power surging wildly as he attacked the empty space around him. What Arius didn't realize, and what Death found utterly hilarious, was that she had been behind him the entire time, matching his every movement. She moved in perfect synchrony with him, always remaining in his blind spot as he lashed out completely oblivious to her presence.
When his fury finally subsided and a semblance of rationality returned along with his golden eyes, she decided it was time to speak. Her voice cut through the silence like a bell. "Are you done?" she asked, her tone laced with amusement.
Arius froze, his head snapping toward the sound. But instead of responding with words he spun around to attack her again. His roar echoed in the void as his aura flared, the sheer intensity of it making the void ripple under the pressure.
"Oh, for crying out loud," she muttered, stepping aside with ease as Arius's fist tore through the air where she'd been standing. She watched him with a mix of curiosity and concern, because he was growing stronger. Fast, dangerously fast and if this continued at the same rate even her realm would face destruction.
Death didn't take threats to her realm lightly, and she certainly didn't enjoy extra work. She decided it was best to stop playing around and end this before it spiraled out of control. As Arius launched himself at her again, Death darted forward, her movement swift and precise as she struck him with just enough power to render him unconscious without causing lasting harm. Arius froze mid-attack, his golden aura flickering out as he slumped forward right into her arms, his nine foot frame shrinking.
She caught him effortlessly and cradled the unconscious Saiyan in her arms, her expression thoughtful.
"What to do with you?" she mused aloud, studying his face. His power was astonishing, his ability to grow even more so. It was a phenomenon she hadn't ever seen and it slightly unnerved her. If she hadn't acted when she did, Arius would have surpassed her within an hour at most and while she couldn't die, the thought of a being with such unchecked power running amok with her being the cause sent a shiver through her spine at the amount of work she would have to do.
Her eyes softened as she considered his resting form, because despite his wild nature, there was something endearing about him and in that moment he didn't look like a destroyer, it was keeping him this way that was the problem and she sighed pondering the problem.
Eventually she remembered a practice she'd witnessed centuries ago in feudal Japan where some women would offer their husbands lap pillows, a tender gesture meant to soothe and comfort their emotions and to wake them up in a good mood. A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Well, why not?" she said to herself. Taking a seat in the void as she shifted Arius's head onto her lap.
As he lay there, Death found herself contemplating the strange turn of events. It wasn't every day she found herself giving a lap pillow in the endless void.
"What are you?" she wondered aloud, her gaze drifting to his face. His power, this ability to grow stronger at such an alarming rate—it defied reason, even for someone like her. She could only imagine the catastrophe if that power were ever fully unleashed.
Her thoughts turned to the workload such chaos would bring. The souls alone would be a nightmare to sort through. "Not happening," she muttered firmly.
A faint stir drew her attention. Arius's eyes fluttered open, his golden gaze hazy and confused as he looked up at her. His face, usually fierce and intense, was soft and vulnerable in his dazed state. Death couldn't help but chuckle softly, finding the sight unexpectedly adorable.
"Good morning, sunshine," she said with a smile. "You gave me quite the workout."
He blinked, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief, but he wasn't raging out of control and attacking her, so it seemed that the lap pillow worked.
-Arius-
Arius's senses stirred as he woke, his eyes fluttering open. The first thing he saw was the face of an absolutely stunning woman with pale skin and dark hair, her expression calm but amused as she gave him a lap pillow.
For a moment, he blinked, processing the scene, and briefly wondered if he'd had another one-night stand, but then the few memories he had before raging came to mind and he stiffened slightly, unsure why he was still alive.
Despite not sensing her Ki, she carried the same ominous feeling of death that clung to Hades, but to the Nth power and his mind raced, because if she was related to Hades, why wasn't he already dead? Instead, he was... on her lap? Her soft smile reminded him of Diana's, that same mixture of care and mischief and said the first thing that came to mind, "Did you leave me alive because you want to fuck?"
The woman's eyes widened in shock before she threw her head back and laughed, her melodic voice filling the void. "No," she said, wiping a tear of amusement from the corner of her eye. "I didn't spare you because I want to 'procreate.'"
Arius tilted his head, still wary, "Then why am I still alive? I was going to destroy the Underworld and kill Hades."
Her expression turned amused again. "While I'm related to Hades in a way, I'm not allied with him. I took you away so we could talk and so you wouldn't destroy the entire Underworld. Destroying the entire realm would wipe out billions of souls, you know."
Arius nodded, digesting the information. "Alright, then what do you want to talk about? I'm in a rush to save Diana."
She smiled, "Don't worry time flows differently here. I sped it up, so when you return, almost no time will have passed."
Her words eased his tension slightly, though he still felt uneasy. He looked up at her again and noticed that he was still resting on her lap. He hesitated, but decided to stay put. Her lap was... comfortable. Almost supernaturally so.
"Fine," he muttered. "I'll stay here. For now."
She chuckled, running a hand through his spiky hair. "You can stay as long as you like."
As Arius relaxed against her, she looked down at him, her tone turning thoughtful, "I want to know where you really come from. I've been watching you since you were on Vyragos, and this 'Planet Vegeta' you mentioned doesn't exist in this universe—or any other I've seen. Neither does this Frieza you claim destroyed it."
Arius's jaw clenched as he tensed up because no one had ever questioned his story. Usually, the destruction of an entire race was enough to silence further questions, but he decided to play dumb, "I don't know. The Saiyans were killed by Frieza. To my knowledge, I'm the last one." he shrugged and it wasn't a lie because in the DragonBall Universe that really did happen.
She nodded slowly but didn't seem convinced. "I'm Death of the Endless," she said, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable weight, "I am the concept of death itself throughout the universe and in all the afterlives across existence, I've never encountered a single Saiyan soul."
Her revelation slightly stunned Arius, the literal concept of death giving him a lap pillow was surreal, but he had spoken to a far more powerful being before he was given Broly's body.
"Maybe you didn't look hard enough." He responded with a shrug.
Her laughter filled the void again, a genuine and delighted sound. "You're amusing, I'll give you that. Even after learning who I am, you're still unfazed." Her gaze turned curious, "I suspect that you originate from beyond the Source Wall."
Arius frowned. The term meant nothing to him, but it sounded important, "What's the Source Wall?" he asked.
"It's the barrier surrounding the multiverse," she explained, leaving it at that.
The idea intrigued Arius. Could his original universe, the Dragon Ball one, be beyond this Source Wall? He decided to press further. "What's beyond it?"
Death shrugged, her expression cryptic. "Who knows? Maybe someday you'll find out." She paused, then smiled again, "Would you like to see your adoptive mother?" She asked to change the subject, but her question made him freeze. His muscles tensed as he launched himself off her lap and his aura flared around him as he prepared to respond to the threat.
Death quickly held up her hands in a placating gesture, "Calm down. I meant it literally. I can show her to you. I am Death, after all." She explained and Arius hesitated, her words registering and slowly, his aura dimmed, though his wariness remained.
"Fine," he said, his voice clipped. "But don't try anything."
"You're no fun." She gave him a playful pout.
As Arius finally relaxed, he clenched his fist, feeling the surge of power he had gone through even in his base form unlike anything he'd experienced before. His body felt stronger. If before he could destroy solar systems, now he felt capable of wiping out entire galaxies. He would have to be careful, or he would break everything around him without meaning to.
Death noticed his reaction and smiled knowingly. "You've noticed your growth, haven't you?" She asked and he nodded realizing that he needed to fight stronger people if he wished to grow stronger because his body adapted to the situation around him and like Broly grew when fighting Goku and Vegeta, he would need to find someone similar to fight.
He gave the woman an excited look, seeing her as a free way to power up and have the fight of a lifetime, but she instantly hugged herself and gave him a frightened look, "Don't look at me like that. I'm still pure and don't want to be ravaged yet. Give me time to get to know you." She said dramatically and hearing her words he got the message, no fighting.
Arius could only give Death an incredulous look, before the air in front of him shimmered. Slowly a faint, spectral form began to materialize, solidifying before his eyes. His breath hitched as the figure took shape. They were tall, powerful, covered in thick fur with fierce eyes that would have any native on Earth trembling.
"Mom..." he whispered and the moment she was fully formed, he surged forward, closing the distance in an instant, wrapping his massive arms around her and despite standing at his max height, he was still dwarfed by his adoptive mother, who gave him a bone-breaking embrace. She gave the equivalent of a sob, the sound shaking him to his core, and he closed his eyes as he savored the warmth he thought he'd lost forever.
Minutes passed before Kara finally pulled away, her large hands gripping his shoulders as she gave him a once-over making sure he was well fed and healthy, but guilt gnawed at him.
"I'm sorry. I should've saved you." He said feeling guilt for his carelessness and Kara simply huffed, patting his head like she used to when he was a child.
"I'm just glad you're alive. Now stay healthy." she said with a smile rubbing his head as her form flickered and Arius' eyes widened in panic as her body started to fade. He reached out, grasping at her form, but his hands passed through her like mist. His heart pounded as he turned a furious glare on Death.
"Stop it! Don't take her away from me!" He demanded as his power peaked higher then even before, but Death just gave him a sympathetic look.
"I can't, Arius," she said softly, "I delayed her reincarnation as long as I could, but I can't hold her here forever. If I did, it would upset the balance, and beings just as powerful as me would take notice and interfere."
"Then I'll kill the bastards!" He roared as he turned back to his mother, desperation clawing at his chest. She looked at him with nothing but pride, nodding once before vanishing completely.
Silence stretched between him and Death as he clenched his fists, his whole body trembling. After a moment, he exhaled sharply, trying to rein in the rage within him, "…Why did she need to reincarnate?" he finally asked, his voice quiet but firm, "There are plenty of souls that stay in the afterlife."
Death placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Those who don't believe in any god come to me when they die and if their karma is above neutral, they have the choice to reincarnate and Kara wasn't inherently evil, so she was given that choice and she chose to reincarnate to see you again." She explained and just like that his anger shifted to urgency
"Where?" he asked his eyes locking onto hers, "Where was she reincarnated?"
"I don't know. There are countless universes and I deal with dead souls. Once they leave my realm I can't locate them, but I can guarantee this, she will be born on a version of Earth." Death said and Arius nodded, his determination hardening into something unshakable. He would find her. No matter what. But first, he still had to save Diana.
"What do I need to do to go back?" he asked, shaking off the emotions lingering in his chest, he could focus on them later, "Can you send me straight to Mount Olympus?"
Death smirked, shaking her head. "No can do. Same reason Nabu couldn't. Direct interference is a no-go and I've already unintentionally given you a massive power boost just by bringing you here." She said with a shrug.
Arius exhaled through his nose, barely resisting the urge to strangle her and not in the good way, "Then tell me how I can kill Hades."
Death tapped a finger against her chin, pursing her lips in thought. After a moment, her expression lit up as if she'd just had a brilliant idea.
"Come closer," she said, motioning for him to lean in and thinking she was about to whisper some ancient secret way to kill the god, Arius complied, leaning in slightly. And then, without warning, she pulled him into a kiss.
His mind blanked.
Before he could react, she pulled away, and he felt something foreign pour into him, an unfamiliar feeling that didn't increase his strength, but changed his very being settled into his core, "What the hell was—"
"I just gave you my blessing," she interrupted, smirking. "You can now kill beings related to me, but don't abuse it, or I'll have to punish you." She winked. "And trust me, I'm not afraid to give you a good spanking."
Arius just stared at her, his mind still catching up to the sudden turn of events and before he could say anything, his vision blanked once more as reality around him warped. Then, he was back in the Underworld, standing in front of Hades.
-Hades-
Hades trembled as he surveyed the devastation before him. Nearly ten percent of his entire realm, gone. Not damaged, not in ruin, but completely and utterly erased from existence, with a single attack from the Saiyan. His stomach twisted into knots as the weight of the situation settled in because if this continued, there wouldn't be an Underworld left for him to rule. No place for him to reform should he perish.
His mind raced and his divine instincts were screaming at him to flee. It didn't matter that Persephone was still here. What use was a wife if he wasn't alive to enjoy her, but then, as the suffocating tension clawed at his spine, something strange happened. Arius… vanished.
He blinked in disbelief, the sheer impossibility of it throwing him off. The only explanation that came to mind was that the fool blew himself up to cause this much damage and a laugh bubbled out of his throat, quickly growing into full-blown, manic cackling.
"He actually did it! That mindless, idiotic monkey actually self-destructed, thinking he could take me down with him!" Hades wiped a tear from his eye as his laughter echoed through what remained of his realm.
"What a joke! Even in death, you're nothing but a worthless, brainless beast!" he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance, "And Olympus feared you? Ha! You were nothing but a brute!" He said, but his celebration ended when he realized the effort it would take to restore his domain.
But then he remembered what would normally take eons to reform everything was going to be alot easier now that he had a living battery to siphon energy from and he reached out to the River Styx where Arius' soul should be, but something was wrong.
His body stiffened as a chilling realization crept into his mind. Arius' soul… wasn't here.
That wasn't possible because the Saiyan died in his realm, so he could claim his soul, but there was nothing. Not a trace. As if he had been completely erased from existence.
"Did… did he destroy his soul too?" he muttered to himself at the sheer stupidity of the mortal. Before he could think further though, Arius appeared right in front of him out of thin air.
Hades barely had time to process before two massive hands clamped down on his shoulders, locking him in place with an inescapable grip. A paralyzing terror unlike anything he had ever felt crashed over him.
This was different. This was wrong because Arius' power wasn't just vastly greater than before, Hades could feel an authority over death even stronger than his own radiating from the mortal.
'How? HOW?!' He thought in disbelief and fear as the Saiyan's eyes burned with fury, his aura crackling with a raw, overwhelming force that sent violent tremors through the Underworld and beyond.
"Open a portal to Olympus," Arius demanded, his voice a guttural growl of restrained fury, but Hades' mind was blank. He couldn't think or process the situation at hand, because for the first time in his immortal life, he truly understood what it meant to face death.
Arius could kill him.
Not wound him. Not humiliate him. Not banish him.
Kill him.
The aura around him surged, distorting the very fabric of reality. Hades could feel his realm screaming in pain as it threatened to collapse under the sheer pressure of his presence.
"I said, OPEN A PORTAL TO OLYMPUS!" Arius roared, his fury igniting the space around them and Hades tried to speak, to move, to do anything, but he couldn't. His own body betrayed him, locking up in absolute terror.
Hades was too afraid to comply.
"Tch. Then I'll find another way," Arius muttered in disgust and the last thing Hades saw was Arius' cold, merciless glare—before those massive hands tightened.
-Arius-
He disintegrated the blood and body of the god before catching the severed head of Hades. The realm trembled violently with its ruler now dead, but that wasn't his concern Arius just wanted to leave.
So he closed his eyes and searched for another presence strong enough to take him to Mount Olympus and his senses locked onto a Ki signature similar to Hades that was growing stronger and for a second he thought that Hades was reforming once more, but as he focused more he realized it was another God simply being granted the Divinity of Death.
In less than a second, he was in front of them and seeing the supernaturally beautiful lady Arius figured it was Hades' wife.
She gasped, stepping back in shock as Arius appeared before her, his towering frame radiating pure dominance. His eyes locked onto her trembling form as he spoke, "You have three seconds to open a portal to Olympus before I kill you." He said and Persephone flinched, her breath hitching.
"W-What happened to Hades?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper and Arius responded by showing her the severed head of her husband, his expression cold and unyielding.
"Do you want to be next?" He asked and she paled instantly, shaking her head frantically.
"Three." He counted and unlike Hades she instantly got to work as she desperately waved her hand, and a swirling portal to Mount Olympus formed before them.
Arius wasted no time and without another word, he stepped through, vanishing from the Underworld.
As soon as he emerged on Mount Olympus once more he locked onto Diana's Ki signature and his body moved tensed as he flew over at impossible speeds. Within less than a second, he arrived inside the cell.
Eleven gods stood in a circle, surrounding the captured members of the Justice League who were bound by chains. One with white hair and holding a lighting bolt stood at the forefront, his presence radiating authority as he gazed down at Diana, who was looking up at him with a mocking expression.
Arius landed behind the god, his presence unnoticed for only a fraction of a moment before reality caught up to him and the entire area trembled under the sheer weight of his power.
He froze at Arius' presence, before slowly turning his head and Arius saw the look of horror slowly come onto his face.
"Are you ready to atone for touching what's mine?" He asked and the gods stiffened in fear.
AN: Hello all, I saw the comments about Arius not being as strong as Broly from Dragon Ball and it was for a few reasons. One him being too OP at the very beginning of the story would've been a bit boring and cliche and the second reason was that no one could push him to become that strong because to the best of my understanding he's like Saitama while strong in his base form he grows in strength linear to his opponent and no one in the regular DC universe is even going to make him sweat… until he faces Death of the Endless who makes him grow stronger before she knocks him unconscious not wanting him to get too strong, but he still got a power boost regardless and now I'm going to finish up this arc and continue with the next. Still deciding on how to continue Diana and Arius' relationship.
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