Bab 21: Chatting with the Death of the Endless
We had 4 free days to do what we wanted. I was at the top of the Mount with a lot of acrylic paints, brushes, and a canvas. I was painting the sea of Puerto Feliz. It was something I had learned over 5 years – painting and sculpting. I also had a talent for music.
Apparently, according to my aunt Azrael, I had inherited my father's talent for playing the piano and singing. But for obvious reasons, I never used it and instead learned other talents. The worst thing is that I seemed too much like him according to my grandfather. When my mother died, he changed his hair, presumably because she had told him that he looked better with brown hair than blonde.
She was the first woman to tell him that she didn't like something about him, and that's why he became so interested in her.
"Nice painting, have you ever thought about being an artist?" said Black Canary , who had come up to where I was.
"A little, according to my teachers, it would be a good path. There is a mission," I replied, looking at Canario.
"No, it's your turn to talk about your problems," Canario said, causing me to stop painting.
"Ethan noticed it, you're afraid of yourself. It was a coincidence that Megan and Conner found out who your father is, but I know you'll never tell anyone. I even know you refuse to talk about your past," she said.
I put the brush in a glass of water. "Honestly, I'm terrified. I'm the Son of Lucifer himself, the King of Hell, the first fallen, and a thousand titles, each worse than the next. And here I am on a team of heroes," I said, gazing at the sea.
"The worst thing is that he and I are alike in everything – the same talents, strength, appearance. Only my eyes are different, as mine were gouged out years ago. Some of my uncles constantly reminded me of it for 5 years," I said, clenching my fists.
Canario looked at me. "But you're not him. You've chosen to be something better. However, it's not always good to have secrets with your friends," Canario said.
Ethan saw her and spoke up, "It's not that I hid them on purpose. These are things that no one should know, and my grandfather told me for some reason," I said, cleaning the brush.
"Divine matters. When you're ready, Ethan, try to open up to the others. By the way, are you planning to enroll somewhere for study?" Black Canary said, understanding the reason.
"Perhaps, at an art conservatory in New York. I enjoy this, although I can't exactly refer to Mr. Da Vinci, Mr. Goya, and Miguel Ángel," I said, knowing that I couldn't reveal that they were my teachers.
"Those are great men you've learned from," Canario said, surprised.
"Privileges of being his grandson. Sometimes he cares too much for me," I said, returning to the painting while Black Canary left. Behind me, I felt a powerful presence.
"Death of the Endless," I said without looking back.
"Ethan Demiurgos, you've grown well," the woman said. I moved my hand and created a sofa for her to sit on.
"It's beautiful," she said.
"Just like 5 years ago, I still find the sea extremely beautiful. It's my time to die, or someone's," I said softly.
"No, I can't claim your soul now. And I don't think you're ready. I hope you don't do something reckless like your father did in universe 39877. I wanted to talk to you; it's about my brother Dream," she said, taking food from my cooler.
"He's been missing for a century. What's going on with him?" I asked, looking at the woman.
"Destiny said he'll be back soon and he'll need help. I hope you can assist him in recovering some things he's lost," she said.
"The sand, the case, and the ruby. I never understood why he split its power into 3 objects. Just the sand should have been enough. I scattered its power into 3 objects," I said, looking at her as she took a bite of my sandwich.
"Yeah, well, he's my weirdest little brother – too quiet and lonely," Death said, taking one of my sodas and drinking it.
"I know his helmet is in hell, in the hands of Choronzon. You know what it signifies – death. My father will intervene. He always had a fascination with Dreaming," I said, finishing my painting.
"A beautiful painting. But if I know you, that's why I asked you to come. You're the only existence in the entire Omniverse who can stop it, and even defeat it," Death said.
"Only if my grandfather releases my limits. But he'll never allow me to confront him until the end," I said, cleaning the brushes.
"Not everything has to culminate in a confrontation between father and son," Death said, leaving with my food and drinks.
"I think she came more for my food than to talk," I said, sighing.
Later, at the Watchtower, the league was gathered, discussing the profiles of the team.
"The boys are progressing well. They make a good team. They have their problems and secrets, but that's expected," Black Canary said.
"Something noteworthy," Superman commented.
"Each of them has their qualities and flaws," Canario said and displayed Ethan's photo.
"Ethan, he's a good boy. He spends his days off at orphanages or hospitals, doing social work like serving in soup kitchens for the homeless. There have been reports that many patients, especially children with terminal diagnoses, miraculously improved after his visits," Canario said.
"An angel, through and through," Wally joked, referring to the reports.
"Fortunately, Barry watches over us. Since Christ, there hasn't been a single miracle on Earth," Zatara added.
"What about my issues?" Batman inquired.
"He's afraid – terrified of his father, afraid of being who he is. He worries that if they find out he's his son, the team will judge him. The stigma of being the Devil's son is quite burdensome," Canario said, and many in the league nodded in agreement.
"It's something you'll have to confront sooner or later. Green Arrow, what's the update on the mysterious archer?" Batman asked.
Green Arrow displayed Artemis Crock on the screen. "I found her – Artemis Crock, daughter of Lawrence Crock and Paula Nguyen Crock. Known as Sportmaster and the retired Huntress. She's been fighting crime in Gotham since July. It seems she wants to take a different path. Paula changed while in prison and after her accident," Green Arrow said, showing various reports.
"We might consider adding her to the team. According to records, she's skilled and has the right mentality," Batman suggested.
On August 7, on Infinite Island, Roy Harper or Speedy infiltrated a castle to rescue Dr. Serling Roquette, who had been kidnapped by the League. As Roy advanced through the Caribbean island, he set explosives and incapacitated the assassins with electric arrows. He finally reached the room where the doctor was held, quickly disabling the guards.
"Dr. Roquette," Roy said.
"Yes, tell me you're the guy from the outpost," she said.
"The one and only," Roy confirmed. He had the doctor watch as he walked to the wall, triggering the alarm.
"It's budget cuts, I suppose," she quipped as Roy blew up the wall. The doctor coughed from the dust.
"Now or never, Doc," Roy said, looking at her.
"We can't leave this behind," she said, showing a circular device.
"That, or you can't take both," Roy suggested, the doctor considering his words.
"Fine, take me," she agreed, grabbing onto Roy. He had shot a rope to create a zip line, and they descended while being fired upon. They quickly made it onto a boat.
"So, what do you call this – the longboat arrow?" she asked.
"I call it a hire-boat. Now, get down," he instructed as he started the boat and evaded gunfire. He triggered the planted explosives to create a diversion.
"I think we're in the clear," he said, looking back.
"Good, but it presents a problem. What they forced me to make is finished. I need a computer to create a program to stop them," she said seriously.
After their conversation, they set course for Puerto Feliz.
Morning came on August 8, and my routine started early as always – at 5 in the morning. I got up and had breakfast. Then I went out to the garden, watering and tending to it. Most of the fruits and vegetables were used in soup kitchens for the homeless in New York. At 7, I received a message from the team that they were going to the beach for a barbecue, with the exception of Wally who was studying.
"Well, I'll bring the food and the grill. I also have some interesting games," I replied to the message. In the end, I prepared ribs, heavenly venison loin, and sausages with ground meat. After getting everything ready, I gathered some games that Grandpa had retrieved from Universe 666 – particularly Uno and Monopoly, although the latter was forbidden in Heaven due to the near-rebellion it had caused.
After changing into a white swimsuit with a Hawaiian motif and a black T-shirt, I emerged holding the grill and other items. When the team arrived at the cave, everyone was ready.
"You're late," Robin said.
"If you were carrying all this, you'd understand," I said, laughing. We all walked to the exit that led to the private beach. Megan was excited and ran across the sand.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone