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(Davian's P.O.V)

A few hours passed as I interacted with my friends.

Was it weird to think of them as such? Definitely. But...I trusted them enough that I could call them that.

The lounge inside the Tower was cozy, with the heat from the fireplace filling the room with a certain warmth, that was right at home in the calm atmosphere.

An empty tray with crumps of the softest cookies I had ever tasted, lay on the table before us.

And everyone was leaned back in their seats, discussing this or the other.

Cheshire and Deadman were arguing about something, Raven watching with the occasional laugh at their expense. I couldn't help but notice how close these two had gotten.

It made sense, force people to stay together for a long period of time and they would naturally form a bond.

I was happy for them. And me.

One person that was missing however, was Shiva.

I looked around, finally spotting her retreating out of the room.

******

Excusing myself, I found her at one of the Tower's numerous windows.

She was staring through it with her shoulders set in a relaxed state, taking in a deep breath, before letting it out in a soft exhale.

"This place is beautiful."

She said, discovering my presence.

Okay, I'll admit. That wasn't the first thing I thought she would say.

"Davian, there's no need to maintain a distance."

A gentle smile played on her lips as she glanced back at me.

"I wouldn't want people to think I'm dangerous."

But you are. You so are.

I moved closer, halting beside her, my gaze fixed through the window. The sun still commanded the sky, albeit from a greater distance than earlier.

The Tower of Fate traced an elliptical path around the sun. In specific points along its orbit, the distance between the tower and the sun increased significantly, creating the illusion of a more distant sun.

That didn't diminish its beauty or it's larger than life scope.

"Thank you."

I told her, sincerity pouring out of me.

"I owe you more than I can ever repay."

This woman trained me, help me live up to my potential, all without asking for anything in return. She accepted Cheshire and Deadman wholeheartedly, and the three of them had formed an unlikely bond. One where I was the linchpin.

It made me question if I was deserving of such loyalty.

"Why?"

I couldn't help but ask, staring at her face to gauge her reaction.

"Why do you three trust in me so much? What have I done to earn your confidence?"

"You will change the world someday Davian."

Shiva said after a while, her tone full of surety.

Then we fell into a comfortable silence watching the stars twinkling in the sky.

"And such an undertaking...is not easy."

She continued, face as cool as always.

"It makes sense you might need my help, so I'll offer it gladly. The other two feel the same."

Wow.

Ain't that something. I guess the answer was really that simple. Just a teacher looking out for a student.

"But we want a baby."

She added, completely derailing the conversation and causing me to stare at her with a dumbfounded expression.

"You what a baby?!"

I asked, scandalized.

"And who's we?"

Shiva turned to face me with a gentle look, rubbing her belly.

"Rama and I discussed it. A child between the Reaper and The goddess of Karma and Balance would be powerful. Enough to be a torchbearer of the world you create."

"Still..."

I ran a hand through my hair, a little in frustration. It wasn't that I was opposed to the idea but...

"That's...not something that can just happen Shiva."

"Why not?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"We're not asking for commitment if that's what you're thinking. I can feel the unbreakable connection you have with Raven. Our arrangement would not put that in jeopardy."

Raven was the biggest part of it, I'll admit. I had no idea how she was going to react once I told her.

"Do it."

Unexpectedly, her voice came from our backs.

"Raven."

I turned around, spotting her leaning on the side of the entrance to the hallway.

"What are you saying? Would you really be alright with something like that?"

I asked gently, trying to understand her motives.

"It's destiny Davi."

She explained, walking towards The two of us.

"The goddess of Karma and Balance can see the strings of fate, woven in the tarpestry of existence. That child would be important as well as cherished. You should do it."

She concluded, placing her head on my chest.

Hesitantly, then more sure of myself, I wrapped my hands around her body, holding her close.

"But if you're giving her a child, then I want one as well."

She made her desire known, staring at Shiva with challenge.

What was my life turning to?

I found myself wisely tightening the hold I had on her. This girl is too precious to lose.

"Of course, anything for you."

As long as she was happy, I was happy as well.

*****

Next on the agenda was organizing accommodations for our guests. Raven guided the trio to their designated rooms.

Within the Tower's residential wing on the third floor, chambers lined the hallway. Each room featured a sizable bed at its center and an adjoining personal bathroom.

Golden lamps hang from the ceiling, casting warm light down into the room.

Raven selected the grandest chamber for us – the master bedroom.

It was evident she anticipated us sharing the space. I had no objections; the idea of spending the night cuddled up with her was more than welcome.

*****

Placing Chesha Neko's scabbard on the drawer next to the bed, I shed my amber coat, unraveling it into strings that rejoined Chesha Neko.

Soon I was shirtless, seated on top of the bed.

Raven had excused herself for the bathroom, and I patiently waited for her to finish before I could take a much-needed shower.

"Hey."

Speaking of her, she appeared at the entrance to the bathroom, one hand coyly clutching the towel around her body.

"Hi."

I gulped, trying my best to keep my attention away from her exposed thighs...or cleavage.

Something that was difficult due to the Towel's short size.

"I was hoping you would join me. The shower is really something..."

She offered, shyly twirling her hair with her finger.

I gulped once more.

She was inviting me to take a shower together.

"I'd be delighted."

I eagerly rose from the bed, striding toward her and lifting her into my arms.

She yelped in surprise, securing her hands around my neck.

"Someone's eager..."

"Are you kidding me?"

I asked with a smirk, closing the door with my foot.

"I wouldn't miss this for anything."

*****

The next day found me up early.

There was no concept of day or night on the rock outcrop housing the Tower of Fate.

And the only way of telling time was throug the huge Grandfather clock in the lounge area of the tower.

It was 3 in the morning when I found myself walking down a hallway, headed to the center of the tower where I could feel something calling me.

I was shirtless and my Zanpakuto was left in our room, along with Raven who was asleep after our shower escapades.

The stroll served to both clear my mind and provide a moment for strategizing my next move.

My adversaries wielded formidable power, enough to cast a shadow of hopelessness over my current state.

I had an authority, a very powerful one at that.

But as we had seen from Nekron, someone with a more powerful Authority could negate yours. Which is exactly what I had done to him.

Then the Great Darkness did the same to me. Total suppression to the point I couldn't move when he had me in his grasp. Such weakness sickened me.

I needed more authorities, at least no less than the number he had.

More authorities meant more power and more power was never unwelcome.

It was too soon for another chat with the Quintessence who were locked in the deepest layer of the Tower, the dungeons.

But I was able to confirm what they said from Shiva and the others. Rama Kushna had been captured for trying to defend me.

There had been a vote from the Quintessence and a few members affiliated with them. The Lords of Order who stood on the side of Order and the Lords of chaos who stood on the side of Chaos.

The latter had advocated for my existence, the former sought my death.

The side of order won. The side of God. Of stagnation.

But...they fucked up. They made the whole thing personal. It was clear I had enemies.

And while the two groups mentioned couldn't have been more polar opposites in their decision, it was a decision made from the viewpoint of the eternal struggle between Good and Bad.

The others not so much. The angels wanted me gone because I threatened God's existence and the Fifth dimensional Imps simply hated me.

Then there was Ganthet, who I had no grudge with. I suspected he joined the proceedings mostly to safeguard the Guardian's authority in the grand scheme of things.

It was a situation of either join the majority, or refuse and complicate their standing on the Cosmic stage.

Universal politics. Ugh.

The Olympians was mostly on the same deal. Though their participation in my prosecution stemmed from the fact Earth was under their jurisdiction.

Specifically, the West where most of this shit seemed to happen often.

The Phantom Stranger and The Wizard Shazam were the only two whose underlying motives remained elusive to me.

I couldn't fathom why they hadn't chosen to ally with me. Had I not instilled enough confidence in Mamaragan to make him realize that being my adversary was unwise?

I guess not.

Too bad for them then. They must have thought I was done for.

But even if I had to fight the forces of Good and the forces of Evil at the same goddamn time, I wasn't going to back down.

I say bring it on.

Which is where we circle back to- more strength.

Power was needed if I were to save Rama.

Power was needed if I were to defeat my enemies and make them regret ever defying me.

My thoughts were interrupted as I finally arrived before two massive double doors.

A huge golden Ankh was imprinted on the face of the door.

The call intensified, and I found myself placing a palm on the surface, right over the Ankh. Then I pushed them in.

The entrance swung open noiselessly, allowing a stream of bright golden light to cascade onto my face.

Stepping inside, I found myself in a spacious, mostly empty chamber adorned with murals along the walls.

Murals that depicted me and all the battles I had been in. From fighting Killer Croc, The Flash Jay Garrick, Superman, Trigon...

To off world battles with the fusion of Oceanus and Barragan, Darkseid, Obsidian, Aethyr and even the Ultimator.

The scenes of my triumph occupied the entire chamber in a grand display of pure dominance over my foes.

Who could be the artist responsible for this amazing chronicle of my life?

The answer was the Tower itself.

Right before my eyes, new scenes begun sprouting, painted by invisible hands.

These new scenes showed the Flash and I racing across multiple worlds. Everything that had happened since the U.N incident.

The tower was recording my life.

"Amazing."

I muttered, running a hand across Chase's ferocious form in a scene where we fought the Kryptonians.

That wasn't all to the chamber as well. As stated before, something had been incessantly calling to me from within this room.

In addition to the murals, the sole occupant of the chamber was a sizable golden sphere.

Enveloped by a column of purple light extending from floor to ceiling, the sphere stood prominently in the center of the chamber.

The source of the call.

Light from the sphere highlighted the scenes on the walls, giving them an otherworldly sense of realism.

I approached the sphere, appraising it with Reikaku. Only to remember that Reikaku was ineffective within the Tower.

Instead, I curiously reached out and touched it.

Immediately, I was aware of the entire Tower.

[Heavenly Treasure Awakened]

A purple text box manifested before me.

I withdrew my hand, a little surprised.

Heavenly Treasure? Could it be talking about the Tower?

[Affirmative]

[Please Identify Yourself as the Tower's Master to Unlock basic control]

Two text boxes took center stage in my vision. I blinked, willing them away.

They were relegated to the back of my mind, a sort of sensation that upon prodding would maximize the text boxes and display information.

Apparently, whatever this was could read my mind.

"You're the tower itself. Aren't you?"

I questioned, voicing my suspicions.

[Correct]

[Please Identify Yourself as the Tower's Master to Unlock Basic Controls.]

Must be a formality.

Following instinct more than anything, I placed my hand on the sphere and injected my energy into it.

There was a sort of click. Then a row of text boxes appeared.

******

[Basic Control Unlocked]

[Identified... Davian Mabuz, The Reaper]

[Authority: Ultimate]

[Welcome, Master. I am a basic Interactive Interface, with no will of its own]

[Basic Control of the Tower involves:]

[-Multivariate Dimensional Analysis for Trasdimensional Traversal(Dimension Hopping)]

[-Adaptive Battle Training Simulation Deck]

[-Infinite Barracks]

[-Crafting Emporium]

[-Mystical Library]

[-Relic and Treasure Vault]

[-Universal Core Intergration]

Evolving the Tower will unlock Intermediate Control []

******

Whoa.

Talk about an early Christmas present.

I knew the Tower of Fate was something that defied all odds. It had been the home of the Supreme Sorcerer Doctor Fate after all.

To have it passed down to me...

What great fortune.

Raven would be excited to learn there was a mystical library.

I on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to check out the Adaptive Battle Training Simulation Deck. I'll just call it ABTS-Deck.

If it could help me come up with more authorities then I was game.

Even just a simulation where I fought multiple copies of myself was welcome. It was a means to power.

Right from the start, I could tell the ABTS-Deck was going to be my favorite room.

That said, something more immediate took precedence. I had to name the Universe.

Fortunately, with the Tower's basic controls available to me, I had a way.

I closed my eyes, my palm still pressed onto the warm golden sphere.

I dove into the connection between us, perusing the options that appeared in the form of text boxes, finally landing on the one I wanted.

[-Universal Core Intergration]

I tapped on that option and the entire Tower vibrated. Then a deeper connection was established and I found myself inextricably linked to the Universe through the Tower.

All trillions of light years across, and the cosmic bodies within it.

This is it.

Time to give you a name.

I felt the Universe's base consciousness pulse in a rudimentary form of elation.

"Ultima."

I declared.

"The fifth World."

The ultimate realm.

The Universe above universes.

Created on the foundation of an entity from beyond the 10th dimension.

It was a fitting name. And she seemed to like it.