Chapter 165: Fallen Realm
After witnessing Orin Vale's strength, speed, and powerful energy projection, Diana had thought she already had a rough grasp of his capabilities.
But now, she realized that was just the tip of the iceberg.
He could actually lift the curse of Medusa, the snake-haired Gorgon who was infamous among the Gods?
Staring at Orin Vale for a moment with shock and uncertainty, she asked quizzically, "You know magic, too?"
"I only understand a bit of the principles, but I can't use magic," Orin Vale said matter-of-factly. "This is science."
Diana raised an eyebrow.
*For real? You call this science?*
At that moment, Superman broke free from the stone and came to his senses, spotting Diana at a glance.
"You're... Wonder Woman?" Superman's face showed his surprise.
"You know me?"
Diana was a little surprised. Although she had been in the human world for some time now, she generally kept a low profile and had always intentionally avoided being photographed by the media. Therefore, most stories about her were legends passed around by word of mouth and not widely circulated.
"I once traveled the world, investigating all sorts of strange tales and supernatural rumors, hoping to find a clue to my own origin. I heard about you somewhere; the locals said you stopped an evil cult's activities and rescued many children... They called you Wonder Woman."
Superman smiled.
"I've always wanted to meet you."
"I've heard a lot about you, too. The Son of Tomorrow, the Man of Steel." Diana also smiled. "The Gods represent the past, a long-faded era. But in you, one can see the future."
"I consider myself just an ordinary person. I'm only doing my best not to waste my gifts."
As Superman spoke, he changed the subject.
"So, what's the situation this time? Luthor came to rob the Metropolis Museum, and he brought some accomplices I've never seen before. They seemed to be looking for something..."
"The key to enter the Fallen Realm," said Diana. "It contains a relic of Zeus..."
She paused, then added, "My father's relic."
"Huh?" Superman showed a look of surprise. "Your father is..."
"Yes. Unfortunately, we're too late." Diana frowned. "They've already taken the key. They've gone in, and we're blocked outside the Fallen Realm."
"Not necessarily," Orin Vale suddenly interjected.
From the moment they arrived, he had been holding his left hand level, aiming at an empty space in the hall as if he were calculating something.
Diana said, "It's no use. The Fallen Realm can only be opened with the key, and now the key has been taken. If anyone else knew a way in, it would only be the Queen of Heaven, Hera."
"But Hera obviously wouldn't help us..."
"Hm!??"
Before she could even finish speaking, Wonder Woman watched with stunned disbelief as strands of golden electric light sputtered into existence in the air. A soft halo of light surrounded the spot, and a rift was slowly pried open.
He opened the Fallen Realm?
How?
Luthor and Circe had just entered the Fallen Realm, with Orin Vale and Diana arriving at the museum right on their heels. Since the entrance had only just closed, the Hyperspace Bracelet could still capture the residual spatial anomaly and detect the weak point on the space barrier that had yet to recover.
Having researched the Speed Force up to this point, Orin Vale's understanding of the DC Universe's unique laws of time and space had deepened considerably, and his ability to apply the bracelet's functions had naturally improved along with it.
Therefore, he simply activated the bracelet's function, released some light energy at that weak point, and gave it a little nudge.
And then it nudged open.
Effortlessly.
Watching the rift expand before their very eyes, the expression on Diana's face as she looked at Orin Vale became increasingly strange.
Her eyes were clearly saying, *And you still say you don't know magic?*
In response, Orin Vale stated innocently, "I really don't know magic. This is science."
Although, in the eyes of an ordinary person, the science of their Land of Light was practically the same as magic anyway...
Diana: "..."
*Fine, whatever you say it is.*
Soon, the rift was propped open to roughly the right size, large enough for a person to pass through.
"I'll go with you," Superman said.
"That's very dangerous," Diana said, looking at him. "I know you're very strong; I've seen you in action on the news. But you're clearly not adept at handling magic. This isn't your kind of fight..."
"It became my fight the moment they invaded the Metropolis Museum," Superman said. "Besides, do you know what this S on my chest means?"
"Hmm... Super?"
"Not exactly."
"Spectacular?"
"Not that either," Superman explained. "It represents hope. It means that wherever I am needed, Superman will be there."
Wonder Woman pondered for a moment.
"...But 'hope' doesn't start with an 'S'?"
"Uh... that's not important," Superman said. "Don't worry. That was a sneak attack, and I was careless. It won't be so easy for them this time."
"Alright."
Diana nodded.
"It's an honor to fight alongside you. Now... into the Fallen Realm!"
The three of them entered in sequence.
The rift fluctuated violently, expanded for an instant, and then immediately contracted, spiraled shut, and vanished.
Upon entering, they were met with a deep violet tunnel. It was like spatiotemporal turbulence; a sense of weightlessness swept over them, and an unknown energy blasted them head-on like a gale, making it nearly impossible to maintain their balance.
After a journey of unknown duration through a dazzling, shifting display of light, they reached the end. Orin Vale felt his body suddenly recaptured by gravity. He performed a nimble somersault, landing on solid ground in a half-crouch.
Orin Vale looked up, and his eyes were met with a scene of utter chaos.
A deep violet void, in which countless islands seemed to float. There was no concept of up or down; some were right-side up, others upside-down, in complete disarray.
On the island where he stood, the mountain peak was sharp and sheer, and its boulders were riddled with cracks chiseled by time. Plants grew in chaotic disarray, some crawling over the surfaces of the boulders like blood vessels. On the mountaintop, one could see the ruins of ancient structures in a distinctively Greek style, but they were mostly broken walls and rubble, seemingly struggling on the verge of collapse.
Looking around, he saw that Diana and Superman were gone. It was possible that the frenzied turbulence upon entry had scattered their landing points within this domain, or perhaps the drop points were simply random to begin with. This domain reminded him somewhat of the Speed Force he had entered before; the laws governing this entire space were far more chaotic than those of the outside world.
However, it wasn't a major problem.
"Pal, scan for energy fluctuations with magical characteristics similar to the Olympian Gods. Mark and track that direction for me."
"No problem, sir. Scanning now..."
...
*Dong~ Dong~*
A melodious bell chimed, spreading out from Hera's palace like a demonic tune piercing the ears.
Hera held a mallet, striking a large golden bell repeatedly. Guided by the Queen of Heaven's magic, the transparent sound waves transformed into a vortex that swirled open on the empty ground, revealing an entrance.
"The Fallen Realm..." Apollo watched from the side, his eyes shining. A flame, like his irrepressible ambition, nearly spilled from his mouth and nose.
"This is as far as I can help you," Hera said, her face devoid of expression. "This is the entrance to the Fallen Realm. Once inside, you are on your own."
"I understand."
Apollo chuckled lightly and stepped forward.
"Also, do not forget our agreement," Hera said coldly. "I will help you obtain Zeus's divine power, and as for that Amazon..."
"I know, I know."
Apollo rubbed his hands in excitement.
"Trust me, esteemed Queen of Heaven. That Amazon... is already a dead woman."
(end of chapter)