Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 122: The Batcave

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GOTHAM -

Arthur and Robin walked through the tunnel leading into the Batcave, lit only by the passing glimmer of overhead lights flickering on one by one.

Robin walked ahead, silent for a while before glancing back with a faint smirk.

"That was a neat trick you pulled earlier."

Arthur stepped into the deeper shadows behind him.

"The exchange, really?"

He shrugged lightly.

"I thought you people already had a file on everything I can do."

Robin gave a soft, dry chuckle.

"Of course, we've seen it but to experience it is different, not every little detail of your abilities is documented about you. You're full of surprises after all."

Arthur cocked an eyebrow.

"Maybe Bruce already knows. Wouldn't be shocked."

Robin suddenly stopped and turned, his tone sharpening just slightly.

"Is that why you insisted on coming here? To find out how much he knows about you?"

Arthur let out a quiet, amused breath a half-laugh more than anything.

"No, I'm still here for Raven." he said, brushing past Robin. "If it mattered that much, I would've taken care of it long ago. He can't do anything to me. I'm just... curious."

His glowing blue eyes narrowed slightly.

"I want to see what the World's Greatest Detective figured out... and what he didn't."

Robin didn't respond. Instead, he turned, pressed his hand against the biometric scanner, and unlocked the heavy reinforced blast doors. A series of mechanized clicks echoed through the chamber before the entrance yawned open.

Arthur stepped inside slowly.

And then he saw it.

The Batcave.

It stretched endlessly titanic rock walls hollowed by genius and obsession. There were sleek black platforms lined with high-tech terminals, robotic arms, and forensics stations. Dozens of display cases glinted in the dark, each spotlighted, containing gadgets, relics, or most prominently suits.

The air was cool, but carried an edge of steel and age.

Arthur paused on the threshold, eyes sweeping over the massive Batcomputer screen, the grappling gun racks, the armored vehicles in their bays, and the ledge where a colony of bats hung silently.

"Impressive," he said quietly, stepping down.

"Always wondered what it would look like, standing here in front of it like this."

Robin tilted his head as he walked over to the Batcomputer and booted it up with a few quick keystrokes.

"Oh? So you're a fan?"

Arthur's lips quirked into a faint smirk as he turned to observe a row of suits encased in armor glass each one a different iteration of the Bat's legacy.

"No." He stopped before a more battle-worn version, its armor scorched and cracked.

"I respect Clark more. I don't know if you will understand but.. it feels like he is more 'human' than Bruce and at least he lets people see his face."

Robin tapped into the system but said nothing, hiding a smirk of his own. The sound of cooling fans and terminal data humming filled the space.

Arthur's voice broke the quiet again this time more focused, a shift in tone.

"Do try to hurry. We don't know how much time we have before something worse finds us."

And then, without raising his voice, Arthur lifted his hand.

"Come forth."

From the deepest corner of Arthur's own shadow, three figures emerged from swirling shadows.

Ultra descended with a sonic boom of violet mist, cape fluttering behind him.

Empress rose in silence, her dark silhouette sleek and imposing.

Galatea, her hair glowing faintly under the Batcave's artificial lighting.

The three knelt before Arthur in one unified motion, heads bowed.

"My king," they said in unison.

Arthur stood tall, his eyes glowing faintly as he gave his orders.

"Just in case... Scout the globe. If anything strange happens, you notify me immediately. Do not engage the possessed League members. Especially Flash and Superman. Understood?"

Their heads remained bowed as their voices echoed once more sharp, loyal, and resonant.

"As you command."

With a low hum of shadow magic, the three vanished again into the gloom, leaving behind only a ripple in the stale air.

Robin, watching from the terminal, muttered without turning,

"That was.. Something."

Arthur turned his head slightly.

"I'm just making sure we still have time."

A smooth, familiar voice echoed through the chamber, measured and composed, with that unmistakable edge of British sarcasm.

"It seems we have guests in the cave today." 

Arthur and Robin turned toward the source of the voice. At the top of the platform, descending a set of steps with impeccable posture and a tray in hand because of course he had a tray stood Alfred Pennyworth.

'How the... I didn't even sense him..' Arthur thought to himself.

Robin let out a breath, somewhere between relief and exasperation.

"Alfred."

Alfred's eyes settled on the stranger in the cave, the glow of the Batcomputer reflecting faintly on his glasses.

"Arthur Blackwynd, I presume."

Arthur just smiled knowingly muttering to himself. 'Of course you know me...'

He approached slowly, hands relaxed behind his back.

"Pleasure to meet the butler himself." He added with a smirk,

"Well... Bruce's butler, that is."

Alfred stopped at the foot of the platform, looking at Arthur with a gaze sharper than most trained soldiers.

"You know a great deal, Mr. Blackwynd."

Arthur gave a slight bow of his head and walked over to the Batcomputer where Robin sat.

"That I do."

He didn't need to explain. They all understood what sort of man stood before them.

Alfred, of course, never missed a beat.

"Then you must also know the mess you're all in, Master Bruce will not appreciate this."

Robin didn't even glance up as his fingers tapped rapidly across the keyboard.

"Sorry, Alfred. It had to be done. Bruce is still out cold, and I need to act quickly."

Arthur stood beside him, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the screen. Robin brought up the Batcomputer's deep archives. A hidden folder labeled "PANTHEON PROTOCOLS" unlocked and thousands of encrypted files burst onto the monitor.

Arthur's brow twitched.

"Good lord..." 

He muttered under his breath, scanning the endless cascade.

"Does he ever sleep?"

"He does, occasionally," Alfred remarked dryly from behind.

"Usually when I drug his tea."

Robin didn't laugh his focus narrowed to one specific entry that caught Arthur's attention

[FILE #7422-SHADOW]

Arthur's voice turned low.

"There. That one. Open it."

Robin gave him a sideways look.

"I know what you're thinking... but even if we tried, we'd need a passcode. And we have more pressing mat..."

"Do it," Arthur cut in.

Robin sighed.

"Alright... But I'm telling you, it'll lock us out if we're wrong three times. Bruce doesn't play around."

He typed in: "Arthur Blackwynd."

The system gave a soft buzz.

[ACCESS DENIED.]

Arthur leaned forward.

"Try 'Lord of Shadows.'"

Robin shot him a raised eyebrow.

"Really?" 

Arthur merely raised a hand.

"Just do it."

Another buzz.

[ACCESS DENIED. ONE ATTEMPT REMAINING.]

Robin shook his head.

"You know we only get one more try, right? If we're wrong again, the whole Batcave shuts down into safe mode. We'll lose everything and trip every defense protocol in the cave. I think we should stop and focus on the bigger issue. Right, Arthur? 'Trigon and Raven' ?" 

Arthur paused, lips parting as if to agree..

But then, from behind them, Alfred stepped forward. His voice was calm, measured, yet firm.

"You know, Master Bruce isn't as needlessly cryptic as he enjoys pretending to be. He may shroud his plans in darkness, but his safeguards are often... surprisingly simple."

Arthur and Robin both turned to him. Alfred stepped beside them, eyes on the monitor.

"And, if you'll forgive my candor, I am familiar with the contents of that particular file."

Robin blinked.

"You are?"

"Of course, there are very few secrets Bruce has kept from me."

Arthur narrowed his glowing blue eyes.

"Then I assume you know the passcode?"

Alfred's lips curled ever so slightly.

"I do."

Robin leaned back, muttering

"He didn't share these with me..."

Alfred stepped forward, hands behind his back, and looked toward Arthur.

"Shall I?"

Arthur nodded once.

"Be my guest."

Alfred typed just four simple characters:

"RAZE" 

The screen paused. Then with a sharp click, the file unlocked.

[ACCESS GRANTED.]

A new interface opened revealing a high-level dossier... not on a Justice League member, but on Arthur Blackwynd himself.

"...What the fuck is a RAZE.." Arthur muttered aloud.

"What is that even supposed to mean? Is that an acronym? A title? A threat?"

Robin suppressed a smirk from behind the monitor.

"Knowing Bruce? I have no idea."

Arthur pointed at the screen, gesturing like he'd just discovered a mystery more confusing than the Multiverse.

"I mean come on RAZE? For my file?"

Alfred, hands clasped patiently behind his back, offered calmly

"It is a codename, Master Blackwynd. Short. Intimidating. Vaguely poetic. Rather like yourself, I imagine."

Arthur turned slowly.

"Mister Alfred, I command legions of immortal shadows, and even I wouldn't name myself or any of my shadows something like that."

Robin tilted his head with a smirk.

"Do you not, what about Doom?"

Arthur ignored that and He looked back at the file, muttering under his breath:

"He couldn't just write 'Arthur Blackwynd' ?" 

Alfred gave a small nod, the corners of his lips twitching upward in amusement.

"If it's any consolation, Master Bruce only gives names like these to individuals he deems... uniquely problematic."

Arthur opened his mouth to fire back some clever remark

But his eyes were fixed on the screen.

Line after line. About him.

He stared. Unblinking.

Then leaned in slowly.

"...Oh shit... the contents are.."

/-\

If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.

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If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at

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You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want