291. The Rock of Eternity.
Alex and Constantine's departure didn't attract anyone's attention.
With their advanced teleportation magic, the two of them had the ability to infiltrate anywhere in the world without being noticed. Meanwhile, after being led into the fortress by Lady Shiva, the others began to rest. This was the first time both groups had gathered together, and there was much to discuss, especially for the four people outside.
As expected, Damian and Jason were planning to settle things with their fists. Both of them were harboring pent-up anger, wanting either to beat each other up or to get beaten up as a way to vent. However, since Jason had the Super Soldier Serum injected into him, the battle became one-sided as soon as he went all out. Although Damian had trained with the same teachers as Jason, the sheer difference in strength left him lying on the ground, crying out in pain.
On the other side, Alex followed Constantine to the Rock of Eternity. It was Alex's first time truly visiting this place, considered the source of magic on Earth in the DC Universe.
"Centuries ago, everyone could witness and approach the 'Rock of Eternity' with their own eyes. The gates were open to anyone in need, and its hall was overseen by the Council of Eternity," Constantine said, cigarette dangling from his lips as he pointed to a distant ruined platform. You could still vaguely make out the shapes of seven stone chairs, though now it was all in ruins.
"That was a group composed of seven wizards, the most exceptional figures in the magical realm on Earth and the closest beings to the Old Gods. They swore to protect all magic."
Listening quietly to Constantine's recounting of history, Alex had to admit that hearing about Shazam's past from Constantine gave it a unique flavor.
"Later, a man who fell into darkness released the Seven Deadly Sins. Those cunning primordial demons reappeared in the world, leading to the deaths of all the members of the Council of Eternity. In the end, only the wizard Shazam remained. He chose to seal the Rock of Eternity and hide all magic from mortal eyes…"
"Until a successor could regain control of this place, that being the kid you brought along—Billy."
At this point, Constantine grinned and looked at Alex.
"However, the wizard clearly didn't know that his sealing of magic led to the rise of other mystical practices on Earth—such as occultism, necromancy, and druidism—which in turn gave the demons of hell the opportunity to meddle in the mortal world."
Alex could see that Constantine's smile was filled with sarcasm. For someone like him, who appeared carefree on the surface, this was the best form of self-protection. After all, in a world like this, everyone had unresolved emotional burdens. And Constantine likely understood the implications of his words more deeply than most.
"It's a shame… such a great place," Constantine said, casually flipping over a piece of stone to reveal a broken magical artifact underneath. "If it weren't for all this, there'd be so many valuable treasures here that could be sold for a fortune. Shazam should've protected this place better."
"They—or rather, he—did their best to protect it," Alex said, his gaze shifting to the distance, where the entrance to the Rock of Eternity lay. But now, it had become a mass grave, with countless demonic corpses piled up there, along with a few human skeletons.
Although Constantine didn't possess the same magical vision as Alex, he could perform a similar kind of spell.
Looking at the ruins, Constantine understood Alex's meaning. When Billy went with the Justice League to attack Apokolips, the only ones left to defend this place were his other 'brothers and sisters.'
Just like Billy, they were all adopted children. Although they had no blood relation, their bond had become just as strong as that of real family members. This was why Billy had chosen to share the power of Shazam with them.
These children, who all wielded the power of Shazam, formed the current "Council of Eternity." At the same time, they were also the renowned superhero group from Philadelphia. However, despite their considerable strength, it was still difficult for them to resist the seemingly endless army of parademons.
"So, you still haven't told me—where are the Seven Deadly Sins?" Alex asked, turning his attention back to Constantine, not wanting to dwell on the unpleasant past.
"You really are impatient," Constantine shrugged. "Alright, my locator magic doesn't make mistakes. I'm certain those beings are somewhere here."
"The Seven Deadly Sins were indeed sealed here, but weren't they already released? Why would they come back here?" Alex asked, curious.
In response, Constantine pointed at the ruined ancient platform and explained, "Look over there. That's where the Rock of Eternity connects to the seven magical lands. Around this area, there are also hidden passages to other dimensions. Most of them are destroyed now, but with the combined power of the Seven Deadly Sins, breaking open a door wouldn't be too difficult."
"I get it. They want to escape this world through those portals," Alex nodded thoughtfully.
It made sense. After all, Earth was about to be destroyed, and beings born from the sins of life would have no reason to stay. For them, the universe was vast, and there were plenty of other planets and dimensions they could corrupt.
"Exactly… Aha!" Constantine suddenly exclaimed in excitement. "Here! I found traces of them."
Hearing that, Alex immediately refocused his attention and walked over to where Constantine was standing.
Beneath the Rock of Eternity, Constantine had extracted a magical residue hidden behind the fabric of reality. It was a barely discernible trace of magical energy, almost impossible to detect. Even though it was just a trace, Constantine struggled to identify its origin.
"What is this?" Alex leaned in closer.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I'm confident the Seven Deadly Sins are here. It looks like they really did open a tunnel to another dimension from this spot. But something terrifying ripped open the rift and forcibly dragged them back."
Constantine studied the faint magical energy, his brows furrowed tightly. "This is summoning magic—a frightening kind of power that can forcibly pull the true forms of demons across dimensions, especially ones as powerful as the Seven Deadly Sins."
"Could it be that someone else is also after the Seven Deadly Sins?" Alex wondered aloud, frowning. He couldn't figure out who else in this world would have the ability to act at such a high level. "Don't tell me someone's already taken care of them."
"That won't be the case. Like I said, my locator magic doesn't lie," Constantine shook his head and then diverted his attention from the magical residue, scanning the nearby environment.
"I can confirm that those seven beings are still here, hiding somewhere in this place."
.....
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292. "Accept Our Power"
293. Becoming a Demon!
294. The Fading Star.
295. Soul Corruption.
296. A Gesture of Respect.