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✦✧ Augusta, Andromeda Galaxy ✧✦
In the uppermost chamber of his cosmic fortress, the Prince of Power stood with both arms folded behind his back, his starlit eyes strolling into the extradimensional depths of the Hypercube. The folds of dimensions mysterious and higher wrapped around his mind, dragging it to a labyrinth where distance is immaterial - and spacetime is malleable. Authority flashed in his gaze and the Hypercube obeyed its master's command, guiding his eyes through tunnels in spacetime until his sight swept over Earth, the cosmos and the realities beyond it.
A war had broken out, swarming across the multiverse and blackening realities in the shadows of cosmic imperialism.
This was a threat beyond even his reach. For now, at least.
"I've seen enough", Leonel scowled, turning at the heel as the Hypercube receded from sight, "I'm not losing another reality to war".
||-So then, what will you do, sir?-||, a voice echoed, its cold timbre riding the lonely air as Leonel spotted Hex, Augusta's resident A.I.
"Win", the Prince of Power answered, his cape billowing in the air as Hex glided past him, changing its shape after each ticking second.
||-Ah... and you think you can? Of course, I mean no disrespect, sir-||, Hex continued.
"Well, I'm in a unique position compared to most people. I have experience fighting universal wars. I'm also one of the few beings with no universal counterpart. And I have Trinity", he smiled, his spirit as strong as steel, "There's no greater pair than she and I. So get a hold of her, if you can", Leonel commanded, "Because without her I'm strong, but with her I'm unstoppable".
Drifting through the seams of reality, the Prince of Power abandoned the ivory halls of Augusta for the cosmic spectacle of Minerva.
@superion_prime: @mister_surreal: @john_taylors: @blubber: @ozzy_manueldiaz: @drusus_: @shield-maiden:
Nay a second following his descent from the heavens, the Prince of Power felt reality crash into him like a rising tide, and wash his greatest powers away just as it had his allies'. Staring at his open palms, Leonel felt his cells surrendering much of his energy to the unseen forces of this land. No longer was the sky his to conquer, planets his to shatter, and seconds his to outrace. "Fck", he growled, cursing the barrier that hung above them. Lifting his gaze to the Sun, he felt his frustration bubble as he lifted an arm to shield his eyes from the rays. He could absorb radiation no longer. Sweeping his eyes through the island, Leonel answered the sluggish frames of a slower world with gritted teeth.
This is how mortals see the world!?
The thought hung heavy in his mind, but soon, his composure returned with a breath - and left the moment his lungs clung to the air around him. Breathing... he was breathing.
What. The. Fck. Has. This. Island. Done. To. Me!?!
Suddenly, all things struck him like a bolt from Zeus himself. He felt his skin tighten from the Sun's heat and gravity's subtle tug on his joints. Part of his strength yet remained, enough for him to topple towers, walk through flames, outrace cars and emit light. A light the Prince of Power darkened with a scowl. So, as he turned his gaze back to his allies and glimpsed at the vices of man taking form in Grant's eyes, he narrowed his gaze, lifted his chin, but said nothing.
For now.
Instead, his attention turned to a threat that'd caught his ears.
"By my black steel, I will bloody these sands with your entrails."
Turning to catch sight of an armed barbarian that seemed more bronze statue than man, Leonel was in no mood. Storming towards him, the Prince of Power sneered, "I'd suggest keeping that pathetic little butter knife in it's sheathe, because even the gods of this land will weep after what I do to you". Though as Leonel's anger simmered, Helena's calmer mind prevailed, and after a bout of doubt and disbelief, revealed the barbarian as Drusus, a mentor of hers from a time more ancient than this. Turning away with a scoff, Leonel withdrew into himself, and paid little mind to mind to the reunion between student and mentor, and even his own allies.
For even in anger, he understood that if he was to be of any use, he need reclaim his focus. So, he breathed in, then out, and fought to recenter himself as he and his allies marched through a nearby forest.
Your father would be ashamed of you, Leo. You're a king. A god. So calm the fck down, you fool!
His mind parroted the words, again and again, stabbing it into his senses as he and his allies trekked past trees and rock till finally, they stopped at the sun-baked head of a cliff overlooking the sea. Crossing his arms over his chest and glancing at an elderly man tending to a bucket, the Prince of Power stood in silence as a favor was asked of Grant and Jocasta.
Whatever awaited them, Leonel could only imagine, would be madness.
@flashlightning: @mister_surreal: @knighthunter: @john_taylors: @blubber: @lady_power: @shield-maiden:
As the tale of Helena Troy neared, the Prince of Power hovered above ground, his mind racing through an endless sea of probabilities, and his thoughts ticking between seconds. Yet even in the folds of deep thought, Leonel caught the smile of the man at the helm of the Justice League; Superion. One a god with the heart of men, and the other a man with the power of gods. Both hailed from worlds a cosmos apart, yet here they were, rallied under the same banner. No words flowed between them, only a smile that the Prince of Power answered with a nod and glimmer of respect.
Soon however, it was the Sorcerer Supreme that'd drawn Leonel's attention. Glimpsing at the solar glow of Matthew's orbs, the Prince of Power smiled. The gesture - of protection and concern - while kind, was, for Leonel himself, unnecessary. He needn't a shield against the heat of any star.
"I won't be needing one", Leonel dismissed, "I'd rather my orb go to someone who'll need it. Maybe someone here'll even need two".
Conversation came to fade, and reality wavered. Heroes, old and new, left the isolation of the JLA's lunar base for an island on the Mediterranean Sea. Gliding through the air, the white of his cape catching the glow of the afternoon Sun, Leonel met eyes with the heaving sea. The smell of sea salt hung thick in the air, and the waves crashed against the shoreline. But as his senses swept the land like a magnet calling iron, the Prince of Power surrendered to the throes of suspicion - for there was silence. Crete was the most populous of Greek islands, yet no town for miles to come held even a single soul.
And the Sun above had drawn closer, as if intent on torturing Earth herself with the march of it's savage heat.
"We need to move now..."
Helena thundered through the sky, and the Prince of Power followed closely. Soaring past the clouds, Leonel's gaze zoomed across the sea, catching Delphi in the distance - and a crackle. Of what? He didn't know. But in the space between heartbeats, Helena soon did, crashing into a wall that sent an electrical storm surging through her very bones. She fell from the heavens like a cursed star, and the Prince of Power could hardly help his brief flare of scientific curiosity. Eyes narrowed and his mind racing, Leonel could draw but a simple conclusion.
Sorcery.
"Go help Helena", he insisted, glancing at her teammates before returning his attention to the mysterious force that'd grounded her. His eyes cycled through every inch of the electromagnetic spectrum, but try as he might, Leonel saw nothing but a low surge of electrical energy. Not enough to wrestle Helena for dominion of the sky, yet... it did. It's limits then, were hidden. "This is a trap", he said aloud, his voice thundering for all to hear, "This... invisible wall of energy.. I can barely make out it's electrical charge".
"It looks faint but it's clearly massive, enough to shock Helena out of the damn sky. Between this and that town in Crete being completely empty, something's clearly being done to unsettle us".
"And considering we're in the realm of Greek myth", Leonel paused, making his descent next to all those gathered, "This is sorcery at play. But more than that, it seems we've been prepared for. Or at least, Helena's been prepared for. Whatever the case, I'd advise a more cautious approach with Matthew taking the lead. He's best equipped to detect any magic that might harm us".
@sarah_and_lara: @knighthunter: @mister_surreal: @john_taylors: @blubber: @queenmaker: @shield-maiden:
The Fates moaned, their fingers wading through the waters of Helena's future, touching whatever they please, and making a mockery of free will. And yet, defiance was upon them, thundered into a march by the Prince of Power and the Shield-Maiden. Meeting Helena's gaze, Leonel saw strength. The strength of a fine warrior. And the strength of her belief in a man-child who many - even Leonel himself - would dismiss from battle. Arms crossed over his chest, and light dancing on his armor, the Prince of Power caught the glint of honesty in her eye.
"You're risking a lot by bringing him with us", Leonel paused, "But thus far, he's exceeded all your expectations. Could all those successes have - by sheer coincidence - been dumb luck? It's possible", he shrugged, uncrossing his arms. "But also unlikely. You're not stupid, Helena. And as Athena's daughter, it'd be awkward if you were", he joked, a smile softening his face, his eyes gazing into hers more intently, "You're intelligent. I don't think you would - in good conscience - allow him to be a part of this if he really was a risk. As I said, you're very smart. But that aside, I know you're someone who worries a lot about hurting others through your own mistakes. And for that reason alone, I don't think you'd allow Grant to be here if he was a liability".
"I trust you. So trust in the team you've assembled", he nodded, gliding as Helena marched, as ready as the hurricanes that so boldly challenge Poseidon for dominion of the sea. Though as the Shield Maiden stopped an inch from the sliding doors that kept the corridor and teleportation room separate, the Prince of Power glimpsed at the tightness in her posture. She was uneasy. A weight sat heavy on her shoulders and she could bear it no longer. She spoke, and Leonel listened, surrendering - with each second - to the bond, fondness and love they once thought tamable.
His mouth pulled back into a smile, and he cupped her face with a gloved touch. His feet touched the ground as he drew closer, and something crackled between them. His lips were a breath away from hers. He kissed her. His fingers were splayed on either side of her face, and he grazed her lips with a reassuring passion. Slowly pulling away, his smile held, "Maybe that'll calm you down. But maybe you need another", he teased. "I'm with you, Helena. And I understand. There's no need to explain yourself. I admire you too". Though as Helena made mention of Hekate, Greek goddess of witchcraft and necromancy, his brow furrowed.
It seemed Olympus has taken an interest in mortal affairs once again. "Now that's curious. If Olympus is interested in human affairs, there's more shit to unpack than what I may have initially thought. Whatever's taking place", he paused, withdrawing his previous defiance, "We'll do it your way, by getting insight from Apollo and the Oracle. You're more of an expert on these matters than I am, so it's only right that you dictate our course of action. It leaves less things up to chance". Feeling the soft stroke of her hand, the Prince of Power glided into the teleportation room, his fingers interlocked with Helena's as she held his hand.
Catching the tail-end of Prince John's speech, Leonel passed his steely gaze over all those present as Helena made clear the gravity of the looming dangers. The Prince of Power stood strong and possessed by Roman reserve. And as Helena's shield belted out warnings of the Sun and it's scorching glare, Leonel's thoughts pulled back to the many stars whose hearts he'd barreled through across the cosmos. He gave no speech and made no comment. Instead, he met all those present with a nod, and stepped into the portal Superion'd conjure - with Helena by his right, and determination by his left.
It was their first journey into the unknown, but surely not last.
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