Sorcerer in DC

Fop attacked before my body came to a hard stop.

Twisting on the ground, I raised my knees just in time to block a double hammer fist meant to drive me deeper into the wooden floor. I opened myself up for the follow-up, counting on my absurd technique to absorb most of the force. And sure enough, it did. Wrapping myself around one of the attacking arms, I twisted hard.

A crack split the air, followed by a surprised scream. I didn't wait for him to recover; summoning a revolver, I fired point-blank into his throat. Blood spurted, but the bullet only dug skin-deep. Another blow came, rocking my jaw. I fired again. A third strike followed, and he seemed to realize he couldn't break me, so he tried lifting me and slamming me into the ground instead.

I let go before the first heave, my mind flicking to the internal clock on my technique. Ten seconds left.

He lunged to grab me, but I dodged, spinning around and calling forth Curse Piercer. It bit halfway through his ankles, forcing him to one knee and leaving the back of his head exposed. I took a reinforced sledgehammer to it. His body went slack, and he dropped like a tree.

The hammer came down three more times, metal humming with Cursed Energy, before his transformation began to reverse.

The fourth swing crushed his skull like an overripe fruit, shattering the weapon. My breath came hard, and I tossed the weapon aside.

The venom was gone, as was my technique, leaving me exposed but not weakened.

You have reached Lv. 20

Class: Sorcerer – Level 20 (2nd Grade)

Titles: Touched by the Sparks of Black, Julius the Immortal

Techniques: Inverse Lv. 6

Health: 1620/1700

Cursed Energy: 1100/2400

Stamina: 1500/1700

Stats:

STR: 136+5 AGI: 175+10 PER: 145+5 VIT: 179+5

END: 177+5 CP: 240+30

Skills:

Cursed Inventory Lv. 8

Hand-to-Hand Combat Lv. 7

Cursed Energy Manipulation Lv. 7

Cursed Energy Reinforcement Lv. 6

Stealth Lv. 6

Curtain Lv. 7

Gun Mastery Lv. 6

Acrobatics Lv. 6

Swordsmanship Lv. 7

Binding Vow Lv. 4

Reverse Cursed Technique Lv. 7

Mace Mastery Lv. 4

Hammer Mastery Lv. 4

Staff Mastery Lv. 4

Free Points: 60 → 0

I dumped half into Cursed Energy and spread the rest among my other stats.

Cracking my neck, I summoned Curse Piercer and scanned the room. The guards had inched closer. I stopped when I locked eyes with Barbara, who'd appeared as if from nowhere.

"So—do we keep going, or are you ready to renegotiate?"

"The Queen has conditions. The first five jobs will be at no cost. You'll be publicly blamed for the deaths of the Joker, the sorcerer, Two-Face, and the Russian."

My eyes widened.

"You merked the Joker?"

"He was a particularly difficult thorn in the Queen's side. She decided it was time."

My eyes narrowed. "I'm fine to keep fighting, you know. I've got new weapons, stamina to spare, and a growing distaste for your boss. I came in good faith."

She chuckled. "Your pass at Hugo Strange didn't go unnoticed. Ballsy—using yourself as bait like that."

"Yeah, well… slow and careful isn't my style."

"Then it's only natural you take the fall for tonight," she said. "After all, you started it."

"But your boss gains more than anyone else," I countered. "Ivy doesn't want to share. She might act like she's above it all, but she's just like every two-bit warlord—double-crossing and status climbing is in her blood. She wants all the territories for herself, and she'll get them by uniting everyone against me. I'm sure she's relieved not to be tied to the Sorcerers anymore."

Her lips tilted slightly—she'd caught my meaning.

"Your life, the contracted services of Ivo, and a business relationship are payment enough," she said.

"Not quite," I replied. "I don't work for free, not for anyone. And I reserve the right to tell the story as it happened—so I don't burn my Justice League connection."

"You think they'll buy the self-defense argument again?"

"Let me worry about them. They might be pissed, but they'll reconsider as long as I bring results." I placed a hand on Ernest's corpse and vanished it along with his whip. The whip was arguably stronger than the sword, but I had to protect my League ties.

"One job," Barbara said at last. "You keep your pocket change as payment, but you and your people are banned from Ivy's territory. Final offer."

I shrugged. "I can live with that."

The walk out was quiet, the guards parting to let me through. A shame I didn't get to fight more—but the jump to the edge of Grade 2 was a nice consolation.

Back at the safehouse, Selene and the team were mid-argument when I walked in.

"Hands off, Selene—I'm fine!" Will growled.

"You're bleeding out your side," she insisted.

"Only because that quack used a stapler instead of stitches," Will snapped. "Can you believe that?"

"You didn't have to take that knife. Meeting Strange was my job."

"Well, I told you how I felt about him putting you in danger," Will shot back.

Tyler, who'd been silent, finally spoke. "The boss won't like this."

"I got the mission done, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but any idiot can see it was a test," Tyler said. "We went to bat for you. Your crap is going to get us killed."

"Not tonight, it's not," I said, stepping from the shadows.

Tyler and Selene moved back. Will glared.

"Saves me the trouble of asking," I said. "Anything else you want to tell me, or should we test the magical contract you all signed?"

The three exchanged glances before Will answered.

"He wants to meet face-to-face—park by the river, noon, two weeks from now."

"And you gave nothing away?"

"Only what you said—that you've got what he needs to finish what he started with Blockbuster."

I nodded. "How was he?"

"Deranged. Got that crazy look… like those old Joker photos."

A small smile touched my lips.

"Kind of like the one you've got right now," Will added. "Something wrong, boss?"

"Just thought of something funny. You'll find out soon enough." I leaned against the doorframe.

"I would say congrats on a job well done, but it wasn't your job, was it, Will? You're here to work for me, not play bodyguard to your very capable girlfriend. You weren't supposed to make contact with Strange unless under special circumstances, and chivalry doesn't count. Next time you disobey, you'll be lucky to walk away with just a cut."

I pressed my hand to his side. He grunted as I channeled Reverse Cursed Technique, healing most of the wound but leaving the surface raw.

Turning to Tyler, I gestured for him to follow.

"Your next mission is simple—find a good gym, a nutritionist, and somebody to teach you how to fight."

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