Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 413: Dream, Devil & Death.

Far below the mortal world, in the burning wastelands of Hell, silence had finally returned.

The sky that had once been torn open now looked whole again. The massive infernal rift that had split the sky was gone, leaving only scorched clouds and lingering embers of magic drifting through the dark crimson air.

On the cracked ground beneath that sky, three exhausted figures remained.

John Constantine lay flat on his back on the hot stone, one arm stretched over his eyes as if trying to block out the dim red glow of Hell’s sky. His coat was scorched in several places, his tie hung loosely around his neck, and the cigarette between his fingers had long since burned out.

Next to him, sprawled in a much less dignified position, was Etrigan.

The demon looked like a mountain that had simply collapsed onto the ground. Flames still flickered weakly around his shoulders, but the blazing inferno he had carried moments earlier had dwindled to embers.

Hovering above them both was Raven.

Her cloak floated weakly around her, and although she remained in the air, it was clear it took effort to stay there. Her breathing was slow and heavy, her magic nearly drained.

For a long moment, none of them spoke.

Then Constantine groaned.

"Well..."

He shifted slightly on the ground.

"That was unpleasant."

Etrigan suddenly sat up halfway, glaring at him with burning eyes.

"The victory was forged by my flame!

The rift was sealed through Etrigan’s name!"

He thumped a clawed hand against his chest proudly.

"My power crushed the tearing sky!

Without my might you’d surely die!"

Constantine turned his head slightly and looked at him with a tired smirk.

"Clearly."

The sarcasm dripped from the single word.

Etrigan narrowed his eyes.

But before he could retort, Raven let out a quiet, tired laugh.

"You two..."

She rubbed her forehead slightly.

"We all closed it."

Constantine exhaled slowly.

"Yeah, yeah."

He finally sat up, stretching his back with a pained groan.

"Still..."

He looked up at the now healed sky of Hell.

"...I’d rather not do that again anytime soon."

Raven sighed softly.

"Same."

Her eyelids felt heavy.

At that moment

A familiar voice touched her mind, gentle and warm.

"How are you doing?"

Arthur’s voice was clearly concerned.

"You’re not exhausted or anything?"

Despite her fatigue, Raven smiled.

She responded through the telepathic link, her voice softer now.

"I am spent..."

Her head tilted slightly as she floated there.

"But at least we managed to close that rift."

A small laugh escaped her lips.

"You were very reckless, babe."

Arthur’s mental presence chuckled faintly.

"Sometimes reckless is the fastest solution."

Only then another familiar voice spoke, smooth and amused.

"Oh indeed."

Arthur turned.

A tall figure now stood a few steps away as if he had simply stepped out of thin air.

"Well... reckless sometimes is a solution."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly.

For a brief second he wondered how someone had intercepted a telepathic conversation meant only for Raven.

Then he recognized the man.

Arthur sighed quietly.

"I just cleaned up your mess."

The man smiled.

The unmistakable presence of Lucifer Morningstar stood before them.

Kara’s eyes widened immediately.

"Lucifer?!"

Lucifer glanced at her politely.

"Yes, hello."

Then his attention returned to Arthur.

"I must admit..."

He clasped his hands behind his back casually.

"I did not expect you to do all that in Hell."

Arthur crossed his arms slightly.

Lucifer began pacing slowly as he spoke.

"Oh my..."

"You truly caused quite the disturbance down there."

He counted on his fingers casually.

"You destroyed the triumvirate."

"Killed Neron, Beelzebub, and Abaddon."

He glanced sideways.

"You sealed Azazel and Belial..."

Lucifer paused.

"Well... technically Belial was sealed by your girlfriend, but details."

Arthur remained silent.

Lucifer continued, almost entertained.

"Oh yes, and then there was Blaze and Satanus."

He waved a hand dismissively.

"Though honestly those two were insufferable."

"No one will miss them."

His smile widened slightly.

"Oh, and of course..."

He gestured toward Arthur.

"You killed Lilith."

"And slaughtered several thousand demons along the way."

His eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Most of whom now serve in your little army of shadows."

Arthur looked at him calmly.

"I did what was necessary."

His voice remained steady.

"I’m sure you were aware of Lilith’s plans." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Lucifer nodded casually.

"I was."

He tilted his head slightly.

"I was also aware of John Constantine and his rather desperate attempt to trick Neron."

Lucifer chuckled softly.

"Brilliant idiot."

"But he certainly needed your help to pull it off."

Arthur remained silent.

Lucifer waved his hand dismissively.

"And do not mistake me for being upset about any of this."

He shrugged.

"I wouldn’t have done it the way you did."

His eyes glowed faintly red for a moment.

"In truth... they would never have dared challenge me."

He laughed quietly.

Then his gaze sharpened.

"But they did dare challenge you."

His smile turned colder.

"How foolish of them."

Arthur stared at him.

"What are you really doing here, Lucifer?"

"Why show up now?"

Lucifer stopped walking.

He reached into his coat pocket slowly.

"I came with a proposition."

His voice grew more serious now.

"For you, Monarch of Shadows."

He pulled something out.

A small golden key rested in his palm.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"The Key to Hell."

He looked at Lucifer again.

"I thought you gave that to Dream."

"And Dream returned it to the angels."

Lucifer smiled.

"Correct."

He held the key up.

"And now it has returned to me.. A cursed little thing.."

Then he extended his hand toward Arthur.

"And now..."

"I’m giving it to you."

Kara blinked.

Lucifer continued calmly.

"This key opens or seals the gates of Hell."

"Whoever possesses it holds dominion over the underworld."

He tilted his head slightly.

"And currently..."

"Hells lacks a true ruler."

He chuckled lightly.

"And before you ask, it certainly won’t be the one wearing that ridiculous crown, I never wore that stupid thing, I don’t understand why the demons down there are so obsessed with it really.."

His eyes gleamed knowingly.

"We both know you have Etrigan quite firmly on a leash."

Kara crossed her arms thoughtfully.

"That sounds like... a lot of responsibility."

Arthur stared at the key for a long moment.

Then he turned away.

"And that’s exactly why I can’t take it."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

Arthur looked back at him calmly.

"I already have too many responsibilities."

The wind swept across the ruined shore.

And the key to Hell remained suspended in Lucifer’s hand.

Then

Arthur’s violet eyes suddenly flared.

The glow returned instantly, brighter than before.

He had sensed something.

Another presence.

Kara noticed the change immediately.

She looked around instinctively.

"Arthur?"

A new voice spoke calmly behind them.

"I told you, Samael."

Arthur turned.

The voice continued.

"He would not take it."

Lucifer’s eyes shifted slightly as he slowly closed his hand around the key.

"Yes..."

His voice carried a faint note of irritation.

"Yes, you did."

Standing several paces away now was another man.

Tall and pale.

Dressed entirely in dark robes that seemed almost woven from shadow itself.

His black hair framed a face that looked ancient and distant at the same time.

Dream, also known as Morpheus.

Arthur exhaled slowly saying to himself.

’Morpheus.’

Kara blinked.

She looked from Arthur to the new figure, then back again.

"Okay..."

She pointed slightly.

"Who is this guy now?"

Dream’s dark eyes shifted toward her.

When he spoke, his voice was soft.

"I am Dream of the Endless."

He inclined his head slightly in greeting.

"The lord of the dreaming where all beings wander."

Kara stared at him.

"...Right."

Dream studied her quietly for a moment.

Then he said calmly,

"You must be..."

She hesitated a second.

"Kara Zor.."

Dream interrupted gently.

"I know who you are, child of Krypton."

Kara opened her mouth.

Then closed it again.

"...Okay, that’s officially creepy."

Lucifer chuckled quietly at that. "Oh don’t mind him.. He is terrible when it comes to conversations."

Arthur folded his arms, watching both of them.

"Was I the topic of some sort of bet between the two of you?"

Lucifer sighed lightly, rolling the golden key between his fingers.

"No... not really."

Dream remained silent beside him.

Lucifer glanced sideways.

"Though Dream did help you back in Hell."

Arthur said nothing.

Lucifer continued with a faint smirk.

"Well damn it... yes, fine."

"I did wager that you would take the key."

He lifted the small golden object again.

"It is, after all, both a tremendous source of power and an equally tremendous source of responsibility."

He studied Arthur thoughtfully.

"But it seems the only power you seek..."

Lucifer’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...is your own."

Arthur shrugged faintly.

"I already have more than enough."

His tone remained calm.

"I don’t need additional authority."

Lucifer watched him for a moment.

Then something like amusement flickered across his face.

"That’s interesting."

He tapped the key lightly against his palm.

"I suppose I forget something from time to time."

Arthur turned slightly as if preparing to leave.

But Lucifer continued speaking.

"You see..."

His voice grew more thoughtful now.

"I deal with mortals every day."

Arthur stopped walking.

Lucifer tilted his head slightly.

"So it becomes easy to forget something when standing face to face with someone fundamentally... different."

Arthur’s violet eyes slowly narrowed.

Lucifer looked at Dream then back at Arthur and smiled faintly.

"Tell me something, Shadow Monarch."

His red eyes gleamed faintly.

"Are you going to challenge her for that concept?"

Arthur did not answer.

The wind moved softly across the beach.

Beside him, Kara looked completely lost.

Her gaze shifted between the two ancient beings.

"...Okay."

She pointed between them again.

"I feel like I just missed five Chapters of something."

Then she looked at Arthur.

"Challenge who?"

Arthur remained silent.

His glowing violet eyes were fixed on Lucifer now.

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