Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 372: Ch.371 Puppet

"An evil creation, in the hall of order. Interesting."

Albera stroked her chin, squatted down, and placed the vase between herself and Bobo on the ground for a closer examination.

Su Ming also moved closer, but this wasn't his area of expertise. To him, it was like watching shadow puppets on a vase.

"I always thought it was just a legend—the legend of trapping a soul inside an object." Bobo frowned, and seeing such an expression on a chimpanzee's face was a strange sight.

Albera exhaled a smoke ring calmly. Although she had been surprised just moments ago, she quickly composed herself, carefully observing the figure on the vase.

"It's not a legend; it's an obliterated piece of history. Long ago, sorcerers liked to solidify the souls of beasts into weapons or the souls of servants into magical puppets."

Bobo adjusted his detective hat. "If it's obliterated history, how do you know about it?"

Albera let out a laugh, almost self-mocking. "I do read books, you know. Many demonic texts happen to include similar magic for toying with souls."

"The gods also seem to use similar divine arts," Su Ming added, drawing his Godslayer sword. "This weapon of mine carries a bloodthirsty soul. In the hands of someone without strong willpower, the weapon could even take control of its wielder."

The sorceress glanced at the shining weapon and quickly looked away, speaking:

"At the beginning of the world, there wasn't much distinction between divine arts and magic. It was only a matter of power. But now, as the world faces destruction, the lines between them will grow increasingly blurred."

"But this thing shouldn't be here with Doctor Fate. His position doesn't align with using such magic," Bobo noticed, his eyes sharp with suspicion.

Albera nodded, extinguishing her cigarette. "Kent wouldn't, but the soul in that helmet—an ancient sorcerer called a god—is very adept at doing such things."

The figure on the vase seemed to despair—weren't they planning to let him out?

The small black shadow sat down and stopped struggling; its posture radiated hopelessness.

It was Su Ming, who had been staring at the vase, who first noticed this. They began discussing how to save the person.

However, this kind of soul-binding magic was highly esoteric. Among the people Bobo knew, aside from a few angels and demons, only the Grand Sorceress Morgan could possess such spells.

Albera openly admitted that she could do nothing. Recognizing the spell was one thing, but being able to lift it was quite another.

She was more adept at destructive power—using magic to blast enemies into ashes.

As for fusing people with objects, such magic existed only in theory. As she said, she'd merely read about it in books.

"If we look at it from another perspective, isn't the vase essentially a kind of cage? If we break the cage, can we release the person inside?"

Su Ming put away his sword and picked up the vase.

Bobo stroked his furry chin, pondering for a while, then shook his head. "I can't be sure. The story of Aladdin and the genie doesn't have an ending. Your question now is how to free the spirit from the lamp."

"Why not give it a try? Even if we fail, it will be a learning experience." Albera agreed with Su Ming's idea. After all, the person inside seemed eager to be freed, so why not grant his wish? As for whether they were about to release some kind of monster, she wasn't worried at all. Both she and Su Ming were strong enough—they could do whatever they wanted.

Su Ming looked up, surveying the strange surroundings. Everything here defied normal understanding, so the only solution was to make a bold hypothesis.

He let go, allowing the vase to fall from his hand and shatter on the ground.

With a crisp sound, a man of apparent Arab descent tumbled out, rolling and crawling quite a distance on the ground.

"Alright, looks like the genie locked Aladdin in the lamp," Albera seized the opportunity to tell a cold joke, winking at Bobo. "Here's the ending you wanted—the genie locked Aladdin in the vase and lived happily ever after with the princess, ha."

The man who had emerged from the vase didn't seem to find anything funny. His face remained filled with terror and shock.

"My name is Khalid Nassour. I was the eighth Doctor Fate. Kent couldn't control the helmet weeks ago! It was Nabu who trapped me in that vase! He's the one who brought the abomination—!"

The man's words were cut short. His mouth closed up like clay molded together, and then his light brown skin began to change color, like a fired piece of pottery.

In front of the three of them, he turned into a pile of shattered ceramic pieces, like a historical artifact, which gradually reassembled into the vase.

But the figure on the vase seemed to have died, now lying down motionless.

"Well, congratulations, Su Ming—you just killed a Doctor Fate," Albera immediately teased, pulling out her bottle of alcohol as if celebrating with Su Ming, then taking a big gulp.

Su Ming smiled and shook his head, drawing out his large sword and looking up at the place where Diana had left. "You forgot one thing—you were my accomplice."

"Hmm, maybe I could add that to my advertisements. Whatever, cheers!" Albera laughed, still indifferent, as she continued drinking.

"It is time to rid the world of magic, so I opened the door to welcome it back from beyond the Source."

In the plaza before the temple gates, Kent, floating in mid-air, said to Diana in a lofty tone.

Diana had already sensed that something was wrong. The reflection of the city above had vanished, replaced by thick clouds and golden lightning filling the sky.

She felt as if she were staring into an endless abyss, and something was emerging from it.

"Damn it—you're not Kent, you're Nabu!"

The man wearing the golden helmet neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply continued speaking in his usual tone: "You should not meddle in our world. However, I have respect for you and the League behind you. When all this ends, you will see that my approach was correct, and you will witness the order of all things."

Wonder Woman could no longer stand to listen. This monster in the helmet had replaced her friend and was now controlling his body to commit atrocities.

She pulled out her Lasso of Truth, ready to pull Nabu down from the sky. This guy needed to answer every question and return her friend!