Chapter 5: The Bat's Summons
Sarive's encounter with his own power left him shaken. He spent the next few days in a state of quiet contemplation, trying to reconcile the ordinary life he had once led with the extraordinary reality he now faced. The training continued, but Diana shifted the focus, emphasizing control and discipline over raw power. She taught him breathing exercises, meditation techniques, and methods for channeling his energy into focused bursts rather than letting it explode outward.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Diana approached Sarive with a serious expression.
"We have received a message," she said, her voice low. "From Batman."
Sarive's ears perked up. "Batman? What does he want?"
"He requests our presence in Gotham," Diana explained. "He believes that the situation there is… escalating. And he has expressed a particular interest in meeting you."
A mixture of excitement and apprehension washed over Sarive. He was eager to meet the legendary Dark Knight, but he also knew that Gotham was a dangerous place, a city shrouded in darkness and teeming with villains.
"Escalating?" Sarive asked. "What's happening in Gotham?"
Diana hesitated for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully. "There have been… disturbances. Unrest. A sense of unease that permeates the city. Batman believes it is connected to the Pantheon War, though the connection is still unclear."
She paused, her gaze intense. "He also senses your power, Sarive. He believes that you may be… a factor in what is to come. He wishes to assess you himself, to understand the nature of your abilities."
Sarive swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "So, we're going to Gotham?"
Diana nodded. "We will leave at dawn. Prepare yourself, Sarive. Gotham is unlike any place you have ever seen."
The journey to Gotham was… surreal. Diana had access to advanced Amazonian technology, a sleek, silent aircraft that sliced through the sky with incredible speed. Sarive stared out the window, watching the landscape blur beneath them, his mind racing with a mix of anticipation and trepidation.
As they approached Gotham, the sky darkened, the vibrant colors of Themyscira giving way to a perpetual twilight. The city loomed before them, a sprawling metropolis of towering skyscrapers and shadowy alleyways. It was a city of contrasts, of stark beauty and gritty decay, a place where light and darkness seemed to be in a constant struggle.
The aircraft landed on a rooftop overlooking the city, and Sarive stepped out, his senses overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and smells of Gotham. The air was thick with the scent of exhaust fumes, mingled with the damp, metallic tang of rain. The sounds of sirens wailed in the distance, a constant reminder of the city's underbelly.
"Welcome to Gotham," Diana said, her voice devoid of warmth.
Sarive shivered, despite the relative warmth of the night. There was a palpable sense of unease in the air, a feeling that something was not right. He could feel it in the shadows, in the silence between the sounds, in the way the city seemed to hold its breath.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, a figure that sent a jolt of recognition through Sarive's heart. He was tall, imposing, clad in a dark, armored suit that seemed to blend seamlessly with the shadows. His face was hidden behind a cowl, but his eyes, visible in the darkness, burned with an intense, unwavering focus.
Batman.
Sarive stared at him, speechless. He was even more imposing in person than he had imagined. He radiated an aura of power, of control, of barely contained fury.
"Wonder Woman," Batman said, his voice a low growl. "You have brought the… guest."
Diana nodded. "This is Sarive. He is the one I told you about. The god, Theonix, brought him here."
Batman turned his gaze to Sarive, his eyes piercing. Sarive felt a shiver run down his spine under the intensity of that stare. It was like being scanned, analyzed, dissected in a single glance.
"Sarive," Batman said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I have heard… interesting things about you. About your… abilities."
Sarive swallowed, trying to find his voice. "I… I don't know what you've heard. I'm still trying to figure things out myself."
Batman stepped closer, his presence filling the space. "Show me," he said, his voice a command. "Show me what you can do."