DC X LOTM: A Beyonder in DC

The Himalayan air was thin, sharp with the bite of the cold night wind. Alex stood at the edge of the League's hidden stronghold, gazing down at the valley below. The world beneath him stretched in an endless expanse of darkness, only broken by the occasional glimmer of village lights in the far distance.

Tonight was important.

A mission. A test.

And another step toward securing his place within the League.

The Briefing

Inside the war chamber, Ra's al Ghul stood before an ancient map spread across a wooden table. The chamber was dimly lit, the flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows along the stone walls. Talia stood beside him, arms crossed, her sharp gaze sweeping across the assembled assassins.

Alex—still wearing the identity of "Kane"—stood among them, his expression calm, unreadable.

Ra's tapped a location on the map with a single gloved finger.

"A stronghold of our enemies," he began. "A fortress hidden in the mountains, manned by a faction that opposes our vision."

His emerald eyes flickered as he looked up. "It must be destroyed."

A murmur rippled through the room.

Talia stepped forward, taking over. "This faction has been disrupting our operations for months. They have spies in key cities, and their leader, Adrien Valmont, is an ex-assassin who betrayed us."

Alex memorized the name instantly.

"The mission is simple," Talia continued. "Infiltrate. Kill Valmont. Leave no survivors."

A massacre.

Alex remained still, hiding his thoughts behind a mask of discipline.

He had seen this before—the League's way of handling problems. Efficient, brutal, final.

Ra's turned to him. "Kane. You will lead this operation."

Some of the assassins tensed at this announcement. A newcomer—an outsider—being given command? That was unprecedented.

Alex, however, merely bowed his head.

"As you command, my lord."

Ra's studied him for a long moment before nodding.

"You depart at midnight."

The Journey

The team moved in silence through the rugged terrain, their black robes blending seamlessly into the night. Snow crunched softly beneath their boots, but their movements were controlled, precise.

Alex led them with steady steps, his mind calculating every possible outcome.

He had no intention of letting this mission turn into a slaughter.

The League was testing him, seeing if he would follow their doctrine without hesitation. But if he played it right—if he manipulated the situation well enough—he could accomplish the mission without unnecessary bloodshed.

A fortress, a target, a leader who needed to "die."

But death was an illusion he could control.

The Fortress

They reached the outer perimeter just before dawn.

The fortress was built into the side of the mountain, its walls reinforced with steel and stone. Guards patrolled in pairs, moving methodically along the high watchtowers.

Alex signaled for his team to halt.

He crouched behind a snow-covered boulder, eyes scanning the defenses.

"They're well-organized," one of the assassins whispered.

Alex nodded. Good. That means they expect conventional attacks.

"We'll split into two teams," Alex instructed, keeping his voice low. "One will create a distraction at the southern gate. The other will infiltrate from the eastern wall, using the storm as cover."

The assassins exchanged glances. The plan was unorthodox. The League typically preferred overwhelming force.

But Alex was not typical.

Talia had warned him that his success tonight would determine his future within the League.

He intended to succeed—on his terms.

The Infiltration

The storm picked up just as planned.

Snow and wind howled through the valley, reducing visibility. The perfect cover.

Alex's team scaled the eastern wall, moving like shadows against the stone. He reached the top first, dispatching a guard with a quick, silent strike. The body slumped without a sound.

They moved swiftly through the corridors, avoiding unnecessary engagements.

Then, they reached the inner chambers.

Adrien Valmont was waiting.

The man stood at the center of the war room, sword in hand, his expression calm. He had the aura of someone who had seen battle, who understood the weight of the moment.

"Kane," he said, eyes narrowing. "Or should I say, the League's newest pawn?"

The other assassins fanned out behind Alex, ready to strike.

Alex didn't move.

"You know why I'm here," he said evenly.

Valmont chuckled. "Of course. Ra's sent you to kill me. Just as he once sent me to kill others."

He glanced at the assassins behind Alex. "And do they know? Do they understand what they serve?"

Alex kept his expression neutral. "You betrayed the League."

"I left the League," Valmont corrected. "I saw what it was. A machine that grinds men into dust, all in the name of an ideal that serves only Ra's."

The assassins tensed, but Alex remained still.

This was his moment.

A choice.

"Say what you came to say," Alex murmured.

Valmont studied him. Then, he sighed.

"There's a way out," he said quietly. "For you. For all of us. We don't have to keep playing Ra's game."

Alex glanced at the other assassins. Their expressions were unreadable.

If he hesitated too long, they would grow suspicious.

He took a single step forward.

And then—**with impossible speed—**he struck.

The dagger plunged into Valmont's side.

A gasp. Blood.

The assassins exhaled in satisfaction.

But Alex had been precise. Non-lethal. Just enough to sell the illusion.

Valmont staggered, eyes wide in surprise.

Trust me.

That was the message in Alex's gaze.

The older man understood.

Alex twisted the blade, making it look fatal, then pulled it free as Valmont collapsed onto the floor.

For the watching assassins, it was a clean execution.

For Valmont, it was a second chance.

One that Alex would ensure did not go to waste.

Aftermath

The mission was a success.

By the time they returned to the League's stronghold, word had already spread. Kane had led the operation flawlessly. Valmont was dead. The fortress had fallen.

Alex stood before Ra's al Ghul, blood still staining his hands.

The Demon's Head studied him.

"You have done well," he said.

Alex bowed his head. "I live to serve."

Talia smirked.

But Ra's was not finished.

"There is one final test," he said.

The air in the chamber grew colder.

"You have taken life for the League," Ra's continued. "Now, you must risk your own."

Alex's pulse remained steady.

"What do you command, my lord?"

Ra's stepped forward, voice low, almost amused.

"You will fight me."

A whisper of shock spread through the gathered assassins.

Even Talia's smirk faded.

Alex remained still.

This was inevitable.

The final step toward proving himself.

A fight against Ra's al Ghul himself.

And another game Alex would have to win—without revealing what he truly was.

End of Ch 22

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