Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 370: Ch.369 Doctor Fate

Chapter 370: Ch.369 Doctor Fate

"Wait, which Doctor Fate are you talking about?" Diana felt a bit uneasy. She had good relationships with several previous Doctors Fate, but the will of Nabu, which possessed the Helmet of Fate, was a different story.

Nabu's behavior had become increasingly strange over the years, and his criteria for choosing Doctor Fate kept changing.

Last time, he chose the ninth Doctor Fate, and the deciding factor was physical fitness and... the size of a certain body part?

Diana still remembered Harley telling her about how the Suicide Squad went looking for that Doctor Fate for some valuable item.

That Doctor Fate was working at a male strip club somewhere in Mississippi, where he loved showing off his "assets" to lonely women on stage.

It wasn't that Diana looked down on men who sold their bodies or their looks. According to Harley, he danced well—stripping quickly without needing the audience to pay.

If one day Harley saw Constantine dancing at a strip club for a living, Diana wouldn't be surprised.

However, Doctor Fate, as the overseer of magical order, shouldn't be in a place filled with chaos and desire.

"I'm not sure, but Doctor Fate's tower is currently in Salem, Massachusetts, right?" Albera asked Bobo tentatively. As someone with demonic powers, she wasn't exactly well-acquainted with the representative of order.

"The seventh Doctor Fate, Kent V. Nelson."

Bobo answered the question. The story of the ninth Doctor Fate had become a joke in the magical community, often brought up at the Oblivion Bar.

That stripper had been Doctor Fate for only about a week before losing Nabu's powerful artifact, the Amulet of Anubis, and being fired. The seventh Fate had to come back to take over.

Now, the stripper's whereabouts were unknown—rumor had it he was kidnapped by Reverse-Flash, though what Reverse-Flash wanted with a stripper was anyone's guess.

"Phew, then let's move out." Diana sighed in relief. It was good news that Kent had returned as Doctor Fate.

During Barbatos' invasion, he had helped—at least until Deathstroke arrived. Kent's assistance had been valuable.

Su Ming never had much regard for mages who considered themselves champions of order. To be safe, he needed to make some preparations—if talks fell apart, he might need to use force.

Despite Doctor Fate's seemingly powerful title, passed down through generations, it was just a mortal possessed by Nabu, a local deity.

His weakness was obvious.

That golden helmet of Nabu gave him divine power, but it was also his vulnerability. Without the helmet, his combat prowess was no more than that of a well-trained soldier.

Su Ming first went to the Hall of Justice to gather some items, then returned to rejoin the group amidst their curious looks, ready to set off again.

Using the Oblivion Bar as a gateway, they arrived at Salem. Diana brought Albera, and Su Ming took Bobo, flying directly to the vicinity of the magic tower.

It was a magic tower that resembled a castle, with no doors or windows, located on a mountaintop outside the town.

At this point, the town was uninhabited. During the Omega Titans incident, a massive World Tree of Miracles had grown out of nowhere in the town, killing many instantly.

Because Doctor Fate was closest to it, he had been monitoring the tree's changes ever since.

The gigantic tree stood out even at night—not just because it towered into the sky, but also because it constantly emitted an incomprehensible magical aura.

It was colorful, like a giant Christmas tree, but it resembled a twisted banyan tree.

"This is a monument of the power of order. People call it the Tower of Fate—it's a rift between our world and other dimensions, a magical beacon."

Bobo, with his broader knowledge, explained to the group, meaning the tower before them, though seemingly present, was actually an illusion.

This was the opposite of the neighboring Marvel universe's mages—there, they hid their presence, while here, they showcased what didn't exist.

No doubt many ordinary people who saw this bizarre tower must have been bewildered.

"Kent! We need to see you!"

Diana shouted up at the tower, but the tall spire remained silent.

"I thought he could afford a doorbell. Seems I overestimated him. How about I knock?"

Albera laughed, manifesting a large fireball in her hand. Judging by its size—bigger than a bowling ball—it clearly packed quite a punch.

"Few visitors do I allow inside, Albera—especially you. But I see your confusion and exhaustion."

A massive ankh symbol appeared on the tower, glowing like the sun and illuminating everything around them as if it were daylight. A unique door opened before them.

"So this time, I will let you in. I hope I can provide you with the answers you seek."

Diana walked through the door without hesitation, and the others quickly followed.

Inside the tower, everything was chaotic. Streets and landscapes hung upside-down above them. Items from different eras and spaces intersected here.

Su Ming silently conveyed a thought to Stranglehold, preparing a plan to work with his symbiote. The scene reminded him too much of the Ancient One's mirror dimension—he couldn't shake the feeling that the other side had ill intentions.

"It's good to see you again, Kent." Diana pulled down her hood, revealing her resolute face, trying to show goodwill.

"I doubt that." The eye sockets of Doctor Fate's helmet glowed brightly. He was still floating in the air. "Albera, I notice you broke the mage's agreement by bringing outsiders into our affairs."

"Heh, you start with that?" Albera made it clear she not only brought people in, but she was also ready to spit wherever she wanted. "You have no right to judge me. Or are you suggesting a mage's duel, life or death?"

Doctor Fate ignored her challenge, turning his gaze back to Diana.

"I know what you want to know. The magic in this world—we stole it. Now, the original owners are asking for it back. That's the entire truth."

"I'm only here seeking answers to protect my friends, Kent. Now, tell us—who is our enemy? What is the 'abomination'?"

Diana tapped her shield. She wasn't satisfied with Doctor Fate's answer—it sounded like an attempt to dismiss her.

Doctor Fate paused, his deep voice echoing from beneath the helmet. "It's chaos. The enemy we face is magic itself. I don't know if I can safely show you the answer."

"I request to meet Nabu and speak with the Lord of Order directly," Diana pressed.

"...Very well. But this action is extremely serious. Your friends cannot join."

Doctor Fate seemed to consider it before raising a hand. Golden light enveloped Diana, intending to take her into the complex space.

Left behind, Su Ming frowned slightly, removing his cloak and draping it over Diana's shoulders.

If anything unexpected happened, the Cloak of Levitation would immediately return, bringing Su Ming to the battlefield. Why not take Diana away from the battlefield?

Naturally, because Su Ming was confident he could handle Doctor Fate in an instant and strip him of every magical artifact he had.