Chapter 4 begin

Bruce came back to reality and found himself in a sea of pain, he tried to speak, but blood came out.

- Bruce, are you with me? - Asked Superman.

- I saw such a beautiful light. - Bruce said.

- I trust you will do the right thing.

- Bruce, stay with me. - Said.

- You are good. - Bruce said

- She's calling me. - Bruce said.

- Bruce. - Said Superman, he was attached to Bruce, would not have strength.

- Do not go. - Said Superman, he heard a gurgle of blood, and the heart gave a thump, he raised his hand that was not pierced and moved, he saw a person pulling him, by the hand.

- Come with me ... - It was everything Bruce heard before his heart stopped.

- I love you. - Said Superman, but it was too late, his heart was no longer beating.

It was late, but the rescue came, Wonder Woman arrived, helped by other paramedics and heroes, who had to use a chainsaw to pull the man off the other.

Then start it without needing another job to disconnect the man from Superman.

Conventional technology could not save the man already dead, both heroes did not give up.

The heart had been stopped just over twenty minutes after the end of the rescue process.

They revived him in the direction of the defibrillator.

- I do not know what to do. - Said a paramedic. - They looked towards the dead man.

- Diana. - Said Superman. - You help me? - Asked the man of steel.

- Anything. - Diana said.

- A copy of the purple ray. - Said Superman.

- We can bring him back. - Said Superman.

Technology, and traditional science, couldn't do it, nothing was beyond salvation, it needed to be sewn, but if he came back, he would be a vegetable.

They flew towards the Fortress of Solitude, and placed it in a suspended resuscitation tank.

The computer and the robots have done their job.

- He might not wake up. – Your computer said.

- No. - Superman said, they took him to a Kryptonian resuscitation tank.

- He'll wake up. - Said Superman.

They took the man in a Krypton cryogenic tank, in the fortress of solitude, there would be no salvation, but Diana took that inert body towards the purple rays, after reconnecting all the wires and rebuilding the damaged tissues, and connected the machines of the fortress. of loneliness.

There was an emergency message an alien attack, just at that time, forcing them to go out into the fight.

Exactly a week passed, until the end of the two-week cycle, Superman volunteered to be with Diana in the fortress of solitude, they were monitoring Bruce.

The man who was in a Kryptonian tank, with an oxygen hose, with a life support, with much of his body still being rebuilt and reconnected.

Bruce actually died, several times, which made him have an encounter with each of them, in another place outside the realms of death and life.

He found himself at a round table, sitting around them.

- I died? Bruce asked.

- Yes, - said Trigon. - But you did well. - Said Trigon.

- The serum you used helps to prolong life. - Said Trigon. - You just spent a life. - Said Trigon.

- It went up in my concept. - Said Trigon.

- Cool, but what's the use ? - questioned Bruce.

- You won. - Said Miguel.

- I didn't kill anyone. - Bruce said.

- Yes, you prevented them from killing and their souls were not condemned to the abyss. - Said Neron.

- That made him a champion, someone who without any other way, did it because he believed that nothing good would come out of there. – Neron said.

- He won. - Said Trigon.

- Do we agree? Asked Lucifer.

- We are. - They all said.

- So he managed to keep them from killing. - Said Azazel.

- I would say that he is the great warrior who prevented them from killing. - Said Mamon.

- Congratulations. - Said Lucifer.

- You will now have a new chance. - Said Azazel.

In the fortress of solitude exactly twenty minutes after Superman and Wonder Woman left.

Unbeknownst to him, he would be in a mystical meeting.

They left and it was exactly twenty minutes later and all the demons of the bet appeared in front of him, with the unconscious man, inside the tank.

Trigon appeared in front of the tank and with the touch of his demonic power he opened the tank's hatch and placed it on that bed, each of them touched his body.

Bruce gasped and screamed, waking up then, fully recovering, jumping to his feet in a defensive position, but looking toward each of them.

- So ... - Bruce said.

- And now ? - Bruce asked.

- You know. - Trigon said there is more to the bet than we actually said. - Said Trigon.

- Come with us. - Said Trigon.

- Why...? - He questioned.

- Come on, come with us, we have a surprise. - Said Nekron.

Bruce accompanied them, he didn't seem to be there to argue.

Before the bets.

A few days ago in a bar ...

He spent that night at the bar, he simply wanted to forget, in a hidden corner of the night bar, with a huge cover, and hiding from view, he thought that a cover would cover who he was, foolishly, in the middle of his fourth bottle, someone sat down your front.

When at last, touching the table, he raised his face from the bottle, and it was ...

- Trigon ...?

- How?

- Well... well... - Said the devil...

- What you want? - He asked.

In the end, the bar darkened, and people did not go out, they observed, but not before he was oppressed by the presence of the demon.

- I want to bet with you. - He said.

- Why...? - He thought of escape routes, but there were more around him, they were Trigon, Lucifer, Mamon, Michael, Rafael, Azazel, Neron, Spectro , Nekron and Phantom Stranger, all sat around the table.

- What do you all do here ...?

- We came to bet. - Said Trigon as his spokesman.

- Bet what? Bruce asked.

- Wouldn't you be interested? - Questioned Spectro.

- So what are you going to bet? Bruce asked, apparently without a way out.

- The bet is as follows. - Said Lucifer.

- At least 2 heroes from each city in America will kill. - Said. – An innocent. - Said Lucifer.

- And who said that a hero will kill for each one of you? Bruce asked.

- Let's just stick to the question. – Neron said.

- For money. - Said Lucifer.

- What? Bruce asked.

- And what do you want with that? - Bruce asked, he felt a headache, anger and resentment, besides that he knew it was not a hangover.

- For money. - Said Azazel.

- A lot of money. - Said Neron.

- Apparently I would be rich only in killing. - Bruce said.

- That, in addition to greed. - Said Azazel.

- Prove that even the most brave of heroes succumb to the sins of gluttony and ambition. - Said Neron.

- They won't. - Bruce said.

- So if you believe that so much, Bruce, bet with us. - Said Azazel.

- And what would I take with that? Bruce asked.

- The fact that you saved innocents and that you prevented people from dying. - Said Spectro.

- You are perfect for us. - Said Spectro.

- You will be the judge and the mediator of the bets. - Said Trigon. – What are we doing? - Said Trigon.

- And why do you think I would help you in anything, or just participate in your schemes? - Bruce disputed.

- Because if you don't accept. - Said Azazel.

- We will go after another after another until we succeed, and he or she will be part of our bet. - Said Trigon .

– And they won't have a choice in the end. – Said the fallen angel Michael.

- Do you think it will be easy, like this? Bruce asked.

- In the absence of your opinion, others will emerge. - Said Nekron.

- It will happen whether you want to or not. - Said Trigon.

- You are just one of the chosen ones. - Said Neron.

- So, what are the bets? Bruce asked.

- You will bet, or you can prevent. – Neron said.

- What's the bet on you? Bruce asked.

- The bet is as follows. - Said Rafael.

- The rules of the bet. - Said Trigon.

- Two heroes from each city after two weeks. - Said Trigon.

- Two sinless heroes from each city, he being pure and innocent, if he kills a person of his own free will he should kill an innocent person without sin, after two weeks if they kill, they will receive 700 billion dollars. - Said Azazel.

- They may or may not kill. - Said Trigon. - They are free to do it or not. - Said Trigon.

- They will each receive 700 billion dollars and 30 gold bars, for the first hero, if they kill seven innocents after three days. - Said Trigon.

- What if they don't kill? Bruce asked.

- They won't get anything. - Said Azazel.

- That simple? Bruce asked.

- That simple. - Said Azazel.

- What if I prevent it? Bruce asked. - What do I get out of it? Bruce asked.

- Besides the fact that you prevented someone from being killed? Asked Trigon.

- Will you save souls that may or may not go to my realms? Asked Trigon. - The glory of saving innocents.

- Three days? Bruce asked.

- Yes, that's enough to bring it to the fore.

- All right. - Bruce said. - Anything else I need to do? Bruce asked.

- Observe each of the heroes who may come to kill. - Said Trigon. - You will be the judge. - Said Trigon.

- When are you going to do that? Bruce asked.

- Now. - They said.

- What...? - But there was a smoke and everyone disappeared.

In the next second, he heard a crash, and all the televisions began to drizzle, the ground shook, the weather was overtaken by a red haze, all around him, voices were heard.

Bruce left everything there, and when accompanied by all the people who left and heard and saw Nekron himself and other heroes and across all heroic cities, above the city skies.

In those two weeks later, he was taken towards his mansion, he was there in that cave.

They sat down, Bruce realized he was naked, but it didn't matter.

- I was included in this bet. - Bruce said. - And now? - He questioned.

- You know we have a story to tell. - Said Mamon.

We've been betting for ages. - Said. - And we will tell you what it is. - Said Mamon.

There were ancient stories among the oldest, the demons and the gods, ancient entities.

To what they knew about a deity who was a great gambler.

They knew he was a mediator and witness to big bets, and it was about a long-forgotten deity.

This divinity that self-exiled from these worlds to other unknown worlds, and the old stories told that she was the biggest gambler, but that her betting wheel, were made in an old castle on the waters and the mirrors of the dimensions.

From time to time, during major upheavals and events that she sent invitations between each of the kingdoms of each demon that, when accepting the invitations, they should go to the place of the mythical waters that was between the borders, the rules should be adhered to...

Yes, there were rules, but it was established by the mirrors that sent for a long time, an acceptance among the red mists and the mirror, there was the rule that could not be broken.

Ages who did not see their hostess, who gave bets from time to time.

She was famous for showing each of the mirrors that showed possible futures and worlds for each solution, among these worlds, they chose an avatar or mediator, would be their judge or judge.

The exact reasons for her self-exile was to be the guardian of the spiritual world at the back door, so to speak, but even that did not prevent betting among the oldest, demons were her greatest betting colleagues.

There were the biggest bet since ancient times.

Obviously Gotham City and Metropolis was the devil's gambling den, they had fun at the expense of other humans.

There when he saw Trigon, Lucifer, Mamon, Miguel, Rafael, Azazel, Neron, Spectro Nekron and Phantom Stranger who were seated in what would be a room circulating between fog, white marble, pillars and white wells, that in the center of that table there was a white puddle with a reflection of a person, between several mirrors.

They are gathered here because they accepted my invitation. - Said the crystalline voice in the middle of a river of several streams and waterfalls around what would be a foggy world.

- So, what's the bet? - He asked.

- First, let's stick to the rules ...

I will choose a mediator, who will be my representative, you will oblige him to follow the established rules.

He will be a mortal man who lost everything, and was only a few months or years from his death, he must be a warrior the strongest among mortals and he cannot have powers.

We will choose two or more cities, we will send our avatars, and we will choose a representative, who will act on behalf of each one of us. - Said the voice.

- In my case I choose the human, who lost everything, and with that, lost the faith in humanity, the one who fought for it a long time ago, and will have his life lost for her.

- I will use it and you will use it. - Said.

The rule is to induce betting. - Said. - Summon him to a place that is neutral and stick to the rules.

- And if he wins to prevent what we did, the souls of all of them, will be mine, and I will choose him as mine.

- You will be able to choose whoever you want and influence everyone there, you will be able to use her tricks, but she will not be able to use mine, only her own resources without powers.

You will bet with me the following, under the rules ...

One or more blessed souls, being pure and without sin, in a final period of seven calendar days, without rest, they will be able to kill one or more blessed souls.

Being them, they will be free from any fear and sin, and being pure, without being induced to practice, being of spontaneous free initiative. - Said. - Only by your own will and initiative.

- The man in question must not know the exact question of his winnings from the bet.

- If sinners kill innocent people it won't be worth it. - Said. - Because sinners will always kill, since they sin.

A sinner can influence an innocent person to kill. - Said. - And he will win part of that innocent person's wishes.

- Both will be taken to their kingdoms, both the person who was sacrificed and those who sacrificed them. - Said.

- Why would a blessed soul practice sin? Asked Lucifer.

- For the greatest and oldest of sins. - Said the voice.

- Greed, pride, greed, greed and pride, as well as lies. - Said the voice.

Greed will be used. - We will give a wealth equivalent to the greed of the world. - Said. - If you win.

- And what would that be? Asked Mammon.

The fairest of men would do anything for money. - Said Trigon.

- The riches. - Said the voice. - I will give a value equivalent to the greed of four European countries the richest together.

- A value that would make you a multimillionaire and not get poorer.

- Give a value... - Said his hostess.

Everyone there thought and started calling until ...

- How about ... - Trigon said ... - That would be my contribution. - Said the red demon. – 550 billion dollars in solid gold. - Said Trigon.

- 330 billion euros. - Said a Lucifer.

- 700 billion dollars. - Said Azazel.

- The gift of abundance and prosperity. - Said Mamon.

– Forever a millionaire. - Said Neron.

- Luck. - Said Gabriel.

- A vacation package to travel to any part of the multiverse for one year round trip. - Said the Presence. – Without anyone or danger finding it.

- Eternal youth. - Said Phantom Stranger. - For as long as you need.

- Lest he miss anything. - Said. Rafael. - Do not miss drink or food. - Said.

- So, in case he loses, there will be no version of the multiverse in his life, he will be taken to me, and he will cease to exist completely. - Said the entity.

If he fails to prevent death from arising by these means , he will be taken away and will no longer be able to reincarnate or return to any reality, any reality in which he lives, his every soul.

If, within seven days, the chosen cities, give in to the most intimate sins and kill, during that time, all the inhabitants of those cities, they will be condemned to the hell of each one of you.

Then they will be taken to hell and divided equally. – Said the entity.

- Which cities will be chosen? - They questioned.

- Gotham, Metropolis, Central, Keystone, Gateway City, Coast City, Keystone City, Star City and lastly Fawcett City.

Current time, after two weeks.

- Then. - Bruce said. - Besides that, I won a bet. - Bruce said.

- A trip. - Bruce said.

- Do you want the money? Asked Phantom Stranger.

Bruce looked enraged.

- Of course, I do. - Said.

- I'm going to take my gap year. - Bruce said.

The mountain of gold and money and many other things appeared in front of him in the cave ...