The air in the secluded wing of Mount Justice felt thick with magic. You know the kind of magic that has that crackling hum in the air, like static electricity before a thunderstorm? Yeah, that kind of magic. The kind that makes you feel like your hair's about to stand on end. Well, that was the atmosphere in the room as Hermione Granger stood at the center, her eyes glued to the space they were transforming. The walls—smooth, unassuming concrete a few moments ago—were now humming with the beginnings of something far more interesting.
Susan Bones was busy fiddling with a glowing crystal, brow furrowed in concentration. She looked like she was ready to conduct a symphony, only the orchestra was a bunch of enchanted rocks. Her expression was a mix of determination and mild panic. "Hermione," she said, not looking up, "are we sure this is going to work? I'm starting to think we might have just built the magical equivalent of a trapdoor to nowhere."
Hermione barely glanced at her. "It'll work, Susan," she replied with the kind of confidence that only Hermione Granger could muster when faced with something as ridiculous as reverse-engineering one of Hogwarts' greatest mysteries in an alternate universe. "We've tested it a thousand times. Just make sure the frequencies match—this needs to be perfect."
Susan sighed, adjusting the crystal with a muttered "You say that now..." but she fell into rhythm with the others.
Daphne Greengrass was over by the runes, her fingers tracing the glowing symbols as if they were ancient hieroglyphs that might at any moment reveal the secrets of the universe. "I still can't believe you pulled this off, Hermione. I mean, I thought the Room of Requirements was a total one-off. Like, magic that's so ridiculously convenient, it practically mocks us."
"Don't you get it?" Tracey Davis added from the corner, where she was scribbling notes with the intensity of someone who'd been given a ridiculously complicated crossword puzzle to solve. "It's like building a dream, only... you know, with a bunch of runes and magic, instead of glitter and wishful thinking."
"Exactly," Hermione said, offering a small smile as she finally looked up. "The Room of Requirements is just... well, it's not a place—it's an idea. A manifestation of what you need when you need it most. If we reverse-engineer it, we can make it our own. Make it fit here. Make it fit us."
It was in that moment that Hannah Abbott, usually the quiet one of the group, placed a few enchanted mirrors in the corners of the room. "You mean, like... this will be our space?" she said in a soft voice that held a note of awe. "Like, all of us? In here?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, walking over to the growing Rune Schema that they'd spent months perfecting. "A space that adapts to us. The magic's already there, it's just a matter of coaxing it into shape."
Professor Bathsheda Babbling, who'd been standing by with an expression that could only be described as skeptical admiration (the kind you reserve for someone who's about to do something incredibly reckless), raised an eyebrow. "I have to admit, Miss Granger, I'm more than a little stunned." She stepped closer to one of the glowing runes. "You're telling me that you've managed to decipher and reverse-engineer a system of magic so ancient and complex that no one has even dared to try it for centuries?"
Hermione nodded with the casual grace of someone who hadn't just revolutionized magical theory. "Yep. We reverse-engineered the Rune Schema. It's a bit like using a map of a building to build the building itself."
"I still don't fully understand it," Babbling muttered, "but the magic feels alive in here. Like it's... well, breathing." She looked at Hermione, the corners of her lips twitching upward in something that could almost be described as admiration. "This is impossible."
Hermione allowed herself a moment of quiet pride. Then, of course, it was back to work. "We need to focus," she said, her voice taking on that all-business tone that made everyone snap to attention. "We need the room to stabilize. The magic is here, it's just a matter of making it stick."
Daphne, her arms crossed, gave a dramatic sigh. "You are sure this isn't some grand cosmic joke, right? Like, the universe isn't going to decide to collapse in on itself once we finish this, right?"
"Is it?" Tracey piped up, her eyes wide, as if expecting the walls to implode at any given moment. "This is like playing a game of 'Will it blend?' only with magic. I mean, Hermione's already kind of a genius, but this might be next-level terrifying."
"Calm down, Tracey," Hannah said, with a dry smile. "If this goes wrong, at least we'll have a really dramatic way to go out."
"Nothing's going wrong," Hermione said firmly. "Now concentrate. Everyone, focus on the room you want—think of what it needs to be. We need it to be solid. We need it to work."
And then, just as if the universe itself had decided to stop testing their patience, it happened. The walls—previously just boring old concrete—began to pulse with magic, twisting and shifting as the room came alive. Shelves, books, and even enchanted objects began to appear, materializing with precision that was almost too perfect. A desk here. A chair there. Even a cozy little reading nook tucked into the corner.
"It's... it's working," Susan whispered, awe evident in her voice as she took in the scene. "This is... insane."
Tracey grinned, unable to hide her excitement. "It's like Hogwarts in here, only better. A Room of Requirements, but... you know, for us."
Professor Babbling couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head. "Well, I'll be damned. You've done it, Miss Granger. This is actually happening."
"Well, if it doesn't work out, we can always blame it on magic," Hermione said with a wry grin.
"Right, because that always works," Daphne quipped, though she was clearly impressed. "But, honestly, it's kind of beautiful."
The room was stabilizing, the magic settling into place. The space felt safe, warm, and—oddly enough—personal. Like it was made just for them. Hermione let out a slow, satisfied breath.
"We've done it," she said softly, her eyes scanning the space, which now hummed with energy and life.
Professor Babbling took a step back, her hands clasped behind her back as she surveyed the newly-formed room. "I thought this was impossible," she said again, but this time with a note of pride. "But you've done it, Miss Granger. I should have known."
"Nothing is impossible," Hermione said, her voice steady and confident, "when you've got the right people by your side."
And, with that, the Room of Requirements was reborn—tailored to their every need, and ready for whatever the universe threw their way.
—
Alright, there I was, lying on the couch in Mount Justice, trying to soak in the rarest of rare moments: peace. Of course, peace in this place was like trying to find a needle in a haystack made of dynamite. In this base, "peace" usually meant I had about five seconds before a superhero team called me to help stop some interdimensional disaster or—let's be real—try to calm down the Batfamily when they've decided to go rogue again. But today? Today was the golden unicorn of days: quiet. Well, as quiet as it gets when you're a super-powered Wizard with a ridiculous squad of superheroes as your girlfriends, and magic, tech, and alternate dimensions are just a regular Tuesday.
I was trying to read the latest Justice League comic—one where a rogue Kryptonian was causing all kinds of trouble for Superman. Spoiler alert: it's always the Kryptonian. Anyway, I was halfway through when my phone buzzed.
"Harry, get over here! It's time!"
Of course, it was Hermione's voice on the comm. She didn't need to say more, because she knew I'd already figured out what she meant.
"Time for what?" I asked, already knowing I was about to get dragged into something.
"The Room of Requirements 2.0! The whole team needs to see it. You and all your girlfriends. Now."
Okay. "All my girlfriends." Yeah, it was a bit of a situation, but honestly, what did anyone expect? I mean, you can't just be a half-Amazonian, part-wizard, part-pain-in-the-butt and not end up with a wild group of talented, powerful women. There's Kara, my not-so-ordinary Kryptonian girlfriend with that lethal smile. Kori, the fire-breathing, glowing star princess. Deedee, who was literally the embodiment of Death and, if she was being honest, was probably having more fun with her goth aesthetic than the rest of us combined. Tia, who was Supergirl's curvy, super-powered clone and, let's be real, might have a better "I'm-better-than-you" look than any of us. Zatanna, the only person who could make you feel like a rabbit being pulled out of a hat and then set on fire. Mareena, daughter of Aquaman and Mera, who could talk to water and made the ocean look like a kiddie pool. And Megan—Miss Martian, who could shapeshift, read minds, and was so excited she could explode.
Yeah, my squad was next-level, no big deal.
"Fine," I sighed. "I'll round up the crew."
Flicking on the communicator, I sent a message to everyone. I'm not saying I'm a tech genius, but tracking them down wasn't that hard. Mount Justice wasn't that big… right?
"Alright, ladies, get ready to be amazed!" I said, grinning. "It's time to see what Hermione has been cooking up. Meet me at the Room of Requirements 2.0. No excuses. It's a game-changer."
First up, Kara, my Kryptonian powerhouse.
"On my way, Harry!" Kara's voice crackled through, a bit of a breeze in the background. Yeah, that's the sound of her zooming past at super speed. Show-off.
Then, Kori. No surprise there—she was always off doing something cosmic, probably saving the galaxy or, you know, looking like a goddess while doing it.
"I shall arrive soon, beloved," Kori's voice came through, her tone as warm and sparkly as ever. "I will not let you see this room without me."
I couldn't resist. "Is that a promise?"
"A promise and a pact," she replied, a little laugh in her voice.
Deedee's response was a bit… more intense.
"Oh, Harry! I can't wait to see the room! You better believe I'm already bringing my best goth vibes!"
Honestly, I didn't know if "goth vibes" made the room look cooler or just more likely to get haunted.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure the room will really need those vibes," I replied dryly.
"It's called atmosphere, Harry. Get it right," she snapped back, which made me snort.
Then Tia—Galatea, clone of Supergirl, definitely someone you don't mess with.
"I'm already there, Harry," she said coolly, like she was sipping iced tea or something. "Magic people are always the last to know about these things, huh?"
"We like to keep it mysterious," I said with a smirk.
Zatanna was in the middle of a trick when I messaged her.
"If it isn't Harry Potter, always interrupting my performance!" she said, clearly teasing me, even though I could hear the magic sparkles crackling in the background. "Alright, alright, I'll be there in a second. You better have something impressive to show me."
"Wouldn't dream of anything less," I replied, winking as if she could see it.
Mareena, the calmest of them all, sounded like the ocean was somehow following her wherever she went.
"I'm on my way," she said softly. "I've got a feeling this room is going to be… interesting."
And then, of course, Megan—Miss Martian, the energetic shapeshifter who could shift faster than I could finish a sentence.
"A ROOM?! Is it a shape-shifting room?!" she screamed into the comm, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. "I'm coming, I'm coming! I'm already halfway there! Maybe I can change into something else on the way!"
I facepalmed. "You do know it's not going to be that kind of room, right?"
"How do you know?" she asked innocently. "You haven't seen it yet!"
Once everyone was on the way, I headed to the secret location where Hermione and the rest of the girls had been tinkering away.
The Room of Requirements 2.0 was something else. Imagine a room that was half-futuristic tech, half-magic—total chaos in the best way possible. I mean, holographic screens flickered alongside floating books, enchanted runes spiraled across the walls, and in the middle? A giant, massive training area with everything. It looked like the set of a sci-fi movie crossed with Hogwarts, and I was 100% here for it.
When the girls arrived, they were a mix of awe, skepticism, and pure, unadulterated excitement. Kori practically glowed in the warm golden light of the room, and Kara folded her arms, giving the whole thing a skeptical once-over.
"Looks impressive, Harry," Kara said, eyeing the place, "but is it safe?"
"Safe?" I repeated with a grin. "What could possibly go wrong?"
Deedee, of course, was ready for the chaos.
"Everything, Harry. Everything goes wrong. It's how we live," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm and some very bad vibes that were probably going to haunt the room for centuries.
Tia gave the room a critical look. "I don't know… it looks a bit too perfect, don't you think?"
I shrugged. "Hey, what can I say? Perfect is overrated. Let's see what happens next."
With a dramatic flourish, I stepped aside, giving them all a good look at Hermione's handiwork. The room wasn't just a place; it was a whole freaking universe of possibilities. It was magic, tech, and adventure all rolled into one. The fun? Yeah, that was just getting started.
—
"Alright, ladies," I said, grinning like a kid in a candy store... if the candy store was a weaponized deathtrap. "You all know the drill. Let's test out the new Room of Requirements 2.0. But today, we're doing it team-style." I turned to Deedee, giving her a playful wink. "Except you, Dee. You'd break the room before we even finish our warm-up. Let's save your world-ending abilities for another time, yeah?"
Deedee, casually spinning an imaginary globe of doom between her fingers, gave me that wicked smile of hers. "Oh, you know me too well, Harry," she purred, voice dripping with mock sweetness. "I'll just sit this one out... and provide moral support from a safe distance." She winked like a cosmic entity who could level cities on a whim.
I gave her a thumbs-up. "Perfect. You stay right there while we try not to die."
Kara—aka Supergirl, looking like she'd just walked out of a CW audition for 'Cool Superhero 101'—raised an eyebrow. "Team battle, huh? What exactly are we facing off against? Some rogue magic? Brainiac's backup band? A horde of angry vending machines?"
I shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance, shooting her a wink. "I was thinking more along the lines of a battle simulation. You know, just a casual 'let's see if we can survive while fighting whatever the Room throws at us' type of thing. Plus, it's fun watching you all kick butt."
Zatanna, standing to the side with her arms crossed like she was waiting for a late-night talk show guest appearance, raised an eyebrow. "'Fun' is a very optimistic word, Harry. You've assembled a team of super-powered beings, and you want me to go easy mode?"
"Fun is my middle name," I shot back, completely deadpan. "Though, it's not really. But that's beside the point."
Tia, who was already getting a good stretch in like an Olympian preparing for a sprint, cracked her knuckles. "I'm intrigued. Can't wait to see what kind of chaos you've cooked up, Harry."
"Chaos? Pfft, that's just Tuesday for us," I replied, knowing full well I was way too excited for this. "You'll be impressed, trust me."
Mareena, our resident water elemental with the serene composure of a monk, gave a subtle nod. Her ocean-blue eyes were sharp and focused, like she was about to dive headfirst into the deep end of an epic battle. "I'm game. This could be interesting."
"Hold on!" Megan shouted from the corner, already zipping up to my side faster than I could blink. She was practically vibrating with excitement. "Do I get to turn into something cool? Like... a giant octopus? Or a cheetah? Or maybe... a lion?!"
I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "Well, Megan, the simulation's about testing our teamwork, but yeah, you can totally turn into whatever makes you feel more badass—but no turning into a giant octopus and trying to strangle the rest of us, alright?"
Megan's eyes sparkled as she practically pounced on me, giving me a bear hug. "YES! You're the best, Harry!" Then, as quickly as she appeared, she bounced off to join the others, already shifting into a small, adorable green creature that looked like it could probably eat the city's skyline and still ask for more. Classic Megan.
"Alright, everyone!" I clapped my hands, trying to wrangle everyone's attention like I was a teacher on the first day of school. "We're going to work together on this. Test the room, see what it can throw at us, and figure out how well we mesh as a team. No one goes rogue, and no one gets too competitive. It's about teamwork, not egos. Got it?"
Kori, glowing with the warmth of a thousand suns (I'm not exaggerating, she's literally glowing), flashed me a bright smile. "That sounds like fun, beloved," she purred. "But I will admit, I do enjoy a bit of friendly competition."
"Just no blowing up the walls, okay?" I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender, eyes wide with mock horror. "Trust me, the last time I asked that, we ended up rebuilding half the place."
Kori laughed, and I swear the room dimmed a little from her sheer radiance. "I promise, no exploding walls. This time, I'll be careful."
"Alright," I said, glancing around, feeling the familiar surge of adrenaline I only get when I'm about to kick some butt (even if I'm not the one fighting). "The simulation will begin in... three... two... one!"
The room responded like it had a mind of its own—walls shifting, lights flickering, the whole place transforming into a mock-up of a futuristic city. Buildings shot up from the ground, their sleek, shiny surfaces reflecting a neon glow that could've come straight out of Blade Runner.
"Welcome to the simulation," I said, the buzz of magic and tech humming beneath my skin. "Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is simple. Take down a rogue faction of alien invaders who've decided to make this city their home. And—plot twist—we'll be using a mix of hand-to-hand combat, magic, and whatever else you're packing. So don't hold back, alright?"
Megan, already having a field day with her shape-shifting, gave me a grin that could've rivaled any cartoon villain. "I'm ready!" She practically pounced into the fray as a small creature, her eyes sparkling with excitement like she was about to win the lottery.
Kara cracked her knuckles, popping a few joints like a trained pro. "Alright, Harry. You've got me intrigued. Let's do this." Her voice had that trademark Kara confidence—half-fun, half-'I'm gonna own you.'
Zatanna, wearing a smirk that screamed 'I'm so much cooler than you,' stood tall with her hands on her hips. "This should be fun, though I'll warn you now—don't expect me to go easy on you just because it's a simulation. No promises."
"Don't worry," I said with a grin that could've powered a small city. "I'm counting on it."
Tia, with a playful smile and that vibe that said she could probably break every bone in your body while giving a TED Talk, clapped her hands together. "Let's do this."
Mareena, still looking like she could've been walking out of a peaceful meditation session, nodded with a determined glint in her eye. "Ready when you are."
I glanced over at Kori, who was practically glowing with excitement. "Alright," I said, stepping back. "I'll watch the action from the sidelines, taking notes. Once you're all done here, I'll take the simulation solo. But for now... let's see what you've got."
And just like that, the countdown began.
There was no turning back.
This was it: a battle that would test everything we had.
And honestly? I had a feeling this team was going to rock this place. Hard.
And I'd be right—because when these women teamed up, the universe better buckle up.
—
"Okay, Harry," Deedee said, practically bouncing in her seat as she leaned over the railing of our little cozy gallery, watching the chaos unfold below. She pulled a bag of popcorn out of nowhere and took a dramatic handful. "This is going to be epic. I can feel the destruction coming. It's like waiting for a really good fireworks show, except it's all aliens getting wrecked."
I snorted, reaching for a soda from the mini-fridge the Room of Requirement had thoughtfully provided. Seriously, where would we be without this place? I cracked open the can, taking a sip. "You sure it's destruction, or is it just a bunch of super-powered women kicking ass in ridiculously cool ways?"
Deedee gave me a look that could curdle milk. "You say that like it's a bad thing. I'm just here for the chaos, man. I can practically smell the drama. If these girls can't handle this simulation, well, then you might need a new team leader."
I leaned back, knowing she was just trying to get under my skin. But honestly? I had zero doubt. "Oh, they've got this. It's like watching a highlight reel of superhero moves. Especially Kara—if she doesn't break the sound barrier with a punch, I'll be disappointed. I want to see some serious impact!"
Deedee made a noise somewhere between laughter and an eye roll. "Don't jinx it. You know the universe has a way of making you regret that."
Of course, the second she said that, Kara zoomed into action like she was shot out of a cannon. I almost lost my soda when she took off, but I managed to stay cool. No one else was going to spill anything on my watch. Mostly.
"Alright, ladies, let's wrap this up quick," Kara shouted, hovering above the battlefield like she was born for this. She cracked her knuckles with a casual swagger that made me wish I had half her confidence. "These aliens are going down faster than the plot of a bad sci-fi movie."
Zatanna, looking like she was ready to turn a curse into a full-on Broadway performance, shot her a glance. "You better be right, because I'm about to let off some serious steam."
Before I could even comment, Zatanna flung a series of cards into the air. In a blink, a massive wave of magical energy flooded the battlefield, knocking aliens off their feet like they were bowling pins. I could feel the force of it from here. She was working that magic like she was channeling the world's most badass DJ.
And then—oh boy—Megan. Our favorite shape-shifter. I could tell she was in one of her moods. The next thing I knew, she'd sprouted wings, glowing green like a neon sign. With a grin that screamed I'm about to make poor life choices, she zipped around the battlefield, roaring like a dragon. "I'm a dragon, bitches!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the walls. "A dragon with the emotional maturity of a toddler!"
Deedee cackled from beside me, practically spitting popcorn. "I love her. Megan is a national treasure. Honestly, I could watch her do that all day."
I didn't even disagree. Megan was chaos, personified. And it was glorious.
While Megan was busy creating a reign of green terror, Kara and Tia were doing their thing. Kara landed next to Tia with a grin that practically shouted unstoppable force meets immovable object.
"Need some backup?" Tia asked, cracking her knuckles like she was about to start the world's most destructive game of patty-cake.
"Do you even have to ask?" Kara shot back with a grin that could make the sun jealous. "Watch this!" And with that, she punched the ground so hard I swear the entire simulation might've actually been in danger of collapsing. The shockwave sent a whole squad of invaders flying.
Tia smirked. "Guess it's my turn then." And with that, she was off like a blur of muscle and rage. Every punch was a perfect strike, sending enemies flying left and right. If you've ever seen a freight train at full speed, it looked like that—except with more punching and less tracks.
Meanwhile, Kori was having too much fun with her solar-powered punches. Her whole aura glowed with fiery energy. One alien got too close, and—poof—instant charred remains. I mean, it's impressive, but also a little terrifying. At this point, I'm just waiting for her to get a sunburn from all the sunlight she was generating.
"You might want to start taking notes, Harry," Deedee teased, sipping a slushie from some mystery cup that appeared beside her. "I mean, it's not every day you get to watch this level of destruction. It's like they're the Avengers, but... cooler."
I sighed, watching the team absolutely decimate everything in sight. "Who needs notes? I'm living this. I'm basking in the glory of it."
As I said that, Mareena slipped past an entire squad of invaders without even being noticed. It was like watching a ghost who could punch through solid steel. She took them down one by one with fluid, precise moves. Each strike was almost surgical—like she was performing an alien removal operation, and it was flawless.
Deedee raised her eyebrows. "Okay, okay, maybe I underestimated the power of your team. I thought it was all talk, but these girls are seriously overpowered."
"Overpowered?" I laughed. "This is just Tuesday for them. Wait until we crank the difficulty up next time."
Deedee snorted. "Oh, I dare you. They might just blow up the room."
Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, the girls were wiping the floor with the last of the alien invaders. The simulation, which had been so tense just moments ago, was now littered with the remains of the enemy. And let me tell you, it was a mess—but in the best way possible.
Kara and Tia were high-fiving each other like they'd just won a championship, Zatanna was still tossing around magic with a smirk, and Megan... well, she was still roaring and being a general menace in her dragon form.
As they all regrouped, laughing and panting from the adrenaline, I leaned over to Deedee. "So... what do you think? Was that good enough for you?"
Deedee grinned. "Good enough? Are you kidding me? That was great. But next time? You should probably prepare for the simulation to be a bit more... challenging. I mean, come on, what's the point of having a team of superwomen if you're not going to give them something really to fight for?"
I grinned, already planning on upping the stakes. "Next time, I'm making it harder. I'm not going to let them get bored."
Megan, who had shifted back into her human form, grinned mischievously. "You will regret that, Harry. Just wait."
And you know what? She was probably right. But that was a future me problem. Right now, I had the best team in the multiverse—and I was definitely going to enjoy watching them kick more ass. But first, maybe grab another drink. Because even heroes need hydration.
—
The girls were still catching their breath after the last simulation, exchanging fist bumps and good-natured jabs like they were part of some secret superhero club that was way too cool for me. Megan, looking all mischievous with her green eyes and that playful grin she must've stolen from a comic book villain, waved at me.
"Alright, Harry," she said, voice filled with that mix of sass and encouragement that only she could pull off. "Time to show us what you've got. This isn't gonna be as easy as what we just did."
Kara, her hair still crackling with that electric buzz she always had when she was too confident, threw me a wink. Her smile was as bright as a supernova, like she was already imagining how much fun she'd have watching me struggle. "Yeah, yeah, Harry. We're all rooting for you," she said, cracking her knuckles like they were made of dynamite. "But remember, no pressure or anything."
"No pressure at all, right?" Kori chimed in from the back, tossing her hair over her shoulder with that regal, completely unbothered grace she always had. Her amber eyes gleamed with that twinkle she got whenever she was this close to starting a new chaos project. "We're just watching from here. You know, in case you need to be rescued."
I rolled my eyes, but it didn't stop me from chuckling. "You guys are so helpful. I feel so encouraged right now."
Deedee, still munching on popcorn like she was watching a Netflix marathon, raised a finger. "Oh, don't worry, Harry," she said, chewing with casual indifference. "You've got this. You're the leader. The pro. The—what's the word? The... epic guy." She paused, looked at me like she was waiting for a standing ovation. "You know, the one who doesn't screw up."
I let out a dramatic sigh, grinning behind my mask. "No pressure, huh? Yeah, definitely not feeling the pressure. Not at all."
That's when I felt it. A little tug at the back of my neck, right where my crimson amulet rested. It wasn't like an itch—more like a calling.
A grin spread across my face. The room seemed to quiet for a second, everyone sensing that something was about to happen. And I wasn't about to let them down. Not this time.
Without even saying a word, I tapped the crimson gem at the center of my amulet. It was like flicking a switch.
A hum vibrated through the room as the celestial nanotech woven into the fabric of the amulet roared to life, sending ripples through the air. The fabric of my clothes vanished, not in some dramatic ripping way but more like smoke fading into the wind.
And bam. I was in my Shadowflame gear.
My black and gold armor practically sang with energy. The crimson veins pulsed, glowing like lava. It was sleek, but with enough deadly sharpness to make even the gods think twice. I mean, you don't not feel like a badass in this getup.
Then came the wings.
I'm not talking about little flappy things, like those wimpy birds that only exist to annoy me when I'm flying through the skies. No, these were wings of pure fire—crimson and gold, as big as a barn and just as beautiful. The feathers shimmered with destructive power but still looked elegant, like some kind of mythical phoenix had been reincarnated into a guy.
And then there was the mask—golden, cool, and just enough to make me feel like I could rule over the universe with my voice alone. Which, let's be real, I totally could.
I gave the girls one last glance, smirking under my mask. "So, what's the challenge this time?"
Deedee, ever the instigator, was the first to speak, her voice oozing mischief. "Alright, big shot," she said, popping a kernel in her mouth like this was some kind of sport. "The rules are simple. You have one hour to take down every single holographic invader we throw at you. And we're not talking about your usual run-of-the-mill bad guys, okay? These are advanced opponents. Are you ready to break a sweat?"
"Just don't cry when I make it look too easy," I shot back, winking behind my golden mask.
Tia, leaning on the railing in the back, raised an eyebrow. Her arms were crossed, and I swear, she was actively judging me. "You mean, when you inevitably make this harder than it needs to be?" she drawled, her voice sweet as honey but full of the kind of sarcasm that made you wonder if she was actually trying to burn you alive with her eyes.
"Are you still on that?" I called back, shaking my head dramatically. I threw my hand into the air for added effect. "I'm just gonna—"
Before I could finish my line, I shot into the air with a flare of fiery wings, sending a gust of wind so strong it probably knocked Deedee's popcorn everywhere.
I heard her laugh from below, her voice like a distant echo of absolute joy. "That's right, Harry. Go get 'em, big guy!"
The sky shimmered in front of me as massive alien creatures began to materialize, towering over the simulated city like a nightmare come to life. Some were as tall as skyscrapers, with spiky armor and glowing eyes that screamed destroy. It was like a video game, but the stakes were higher—way higher.
Zatanna's voice crackled over the comms. "Well, well, well," she teased, her voice smooth and dripping with that brand of mischievous magic I was learning to recognize. "Let's see if you can actually handle this, Mr. Shadowflame. We've got some surprises in store for you. Consider yourself warned."
Kara chimed in next, her voice louder, even more competitive. "Bet you can't take down all of them before the timer runs out, Harry. Come on, make this interesting. We want to see some fire!"
I grinned, the adrenaline already coursing through me. This was going to be fun.
Deedee's voice rang through again, mocking but with a hint of excitement. "You've got one hour. Good luck, Harry. No one's gonna save you this time."
As I soared higher into the air, wings blazing with fiery power, I could almost hear the girls cheering from below. They were counting on me. Or maybe they just wanted to watch the explosions. Who knew?
All I knew was, this was going to be epic.
And I didn't need to show off. But I really, really enjoyed it when I did.
"Let's do this," I muttered to myself, diving toward the first giant alien. It was gonna be a very good hour.
---
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