-Breakfast next Morning-
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"Max, what was that yesterday?" Bruce asked while they were on the deck. Everything was going on well enough for the others. The cook-off last night was labeled a tie. Right now, the others were on the beach having fun. "The fighting was intense, more than what you could normally see."
"I will not repeat myself anymore on the subject." Max continued doing "Poses" sending the energy throughout his body. Claire's flames were getting put to work inside him. A decent purification of his bones but could use more heat to them. That and she need a higher cultivation herself for it to benefit Max. 'She has suprised me with the healing abilities she discovered in the Manual I gave her. If she continues on this route, Volcana may just become a decent heroine in the future. Better than a psycho killer thief.'
"Haaa, Bruce sighed annoyed. "My parents, did you know they would die?"
"Yes and no. Max said as his pose changed. He was standing on his left toe hands extended to the sky to absorb sunline spiritual energy. "You're parents were suppose to die a few years ago. I changed that. For you and for my own purposes. Martha's charities help a good of people. As for Thomas, he was an excellent doctor that tried to the best thing possible. A good man. A good uncle."
"Why not saved them from that mugger!" Bruce said angrily. "If you had the ability to do so, why not keep protecting them? You are strong, if your abilities can do something why not do so all the time?"
"I am not their babysitter. Saving them for these extended years took a lot out of me. I could save other people with that time and effort. Apparently my mistake." Max's fingers balled into fists as the spiritual energy builds to a peak. 'Calculations are off. This body needs a little more for a good breakthrough. I rather not take an elixer to supplement this. Not to bad anyway. It will be a flawless one after tonight."
*Flicker!* Strands of spiritual energy washed over from Max onto Bruce.
"Remember the training I taught you when we were younger. It is for a better body and mind. Both things you will need Bruce. School is important, you will need good grades to take over the Wayne legacy. Or do you plan on people responsible for Martha & Thomas's death to get away with ruining it to?"
Bruce shook the spirtual energy off. It was a refusal of the occult. As well as a little refusal of Max.
"I will do school for my parent's sake. But this is not over Max. If you have information on who killed my parents, you should tell the police." Bruce said sternly.
"Already did. Guess what, it is just circumstantial and the "mugger" fled the city. You check your dad's study if you wish to be any help. Do not get angry with me Bruce." Max said tersley. "My mistake was trying to help you. I will not do so again. Since that is what you want. I am sure the other Wayne survivors will come help you well enough."
Bruce balled his fist and left. He ran down the side and walked off on his own. Upset and confused.
'I did not want things to go like this. I ust wanted to ask about last night. Not talk about my parents.' Bruce turned to see Max up top still doing his poses. He turned angrier not seeing him come after him to apologize or talk things through. "Ugh! I am acting like a crybaby!"
*Thunk!* Bruce kicked a stone in the sand.
"It didn't even hurt." He looked down at the old pottery piece and started walking with it. 'If I continued that Cultivation he taught me, will I become strong like him? Or will I become cold like him instead?'
As Bruce walked on the beach, Selina and Harleen spotted him. The two ran over to see what he was up to. Harleen's bubbly personality already making him forget his troubles.
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-Max and Jonah-
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*Tink!* Jonah set two glasses on the table. A bottle of bourbon as well.
"Yah know, this cultivation thing is bad for the soul." Max almost lost his posture from that. Jonah just smirked at him. "I understand it helps improve the soul, but it makes it hard to feel the effects of alcohol. How is a man suppose to forget his troubles?"
"By meeting them head on. Or let them stew to create inner monsters. Your preference really." Max walked over and sat down opposite of him. "How are you doing Jonah?"
"Good. Really good. Getting about 6 hours asleep or so. Better than what I use to get. Might get more done if I stop looking in the mirror so damn much." Jonah rubbed his restored face as he looked at the reflection in the glass table. "Some days, I can scarcely believe it. But I am here and fully human."
"Jonah, I am countless millennia old. Not much different than most people really." Max clarified after seeing his perplexed face. "You have noticed it to. People are generally the same despite the difference in ages. I have died come back in the same world before. I have died and ended up in completely strange places. Starting over is usually the hard part. But that makes it even more worthwhile later on."
"How do you figure?" Jonah asked after downing a drink. Pouring another he paused.
"I remember them for a time and think of how much they would like to be here. Or just imagine them here with me. It fades away, but still.." Max looked at the drink but didnt take any. "it does hurt. But we own it to them to still move on and find our way back to what we love. Whether we have acted as if they never existed or .."
"I can never forget them. I know you can not of your own accord. But it is time to move on. I can tell you have just a little." Jonah was referring to the few times he saw Max and Circe talking late at night. "She is a dangerous one. But you already know that." Max gave a nod. "Tell me if you can, Ms.Nashton, Maria, and Shiruta all mothers that die I take it?"
He already the details about what happens with Slade's wife and family. The first that he found out from talking with max. Which made him ask about the other women.
"Yes. Ms.Nashton was forced to flee to protect her family. However it leaves Edward with a very bad home. Not so nice father plus the influence of school for a nerdy teen does not make a good adult sometimes. She would die not to long after, Edward never finding out. Maria would be killed in a very unsavory way, her daughter Selina possibly following along in her footsteps. But still finding her way to do some good." Max looked at the bright sun in the sky and enjoyed it for a bit more. "As for Shiruta, her spirit would be used for terrible things. Torturing her people and her husband into a bout of madness."
"That is awful. The backlash, you have to face it for Ms.Nashton in the future yes?"
"Yes. But that is fine. I made sure to allow her to mitigate a lot of it. SHe will be a good change for Gotham. That will help a lot. The next big ones I have to worry about is for you, and a few new contracts I have taken on." Max gave a wry smile at Jonah who only chuckled. "But you are people who are worth it. I have not regretted it really yet. Upset most defintely."
"Bruce is the biggest problem I take it? I mean the way you talked to him a few minutes ago, I can not tell if you are trying to push him away or push towards something in particular."
"Something in particular. By keeping his parents alive, I change his future a good bit for a more healthy one. However, it may have cost Earth one of its future Hero's. Only time will tell if the gamble paid off." Max got up and saw the others coming back. "Days like this are needed as much as possible."
"The future that bad?" Jonah ask walking over to him. Max gave a slight nod. "Well then I right where I need to be. Always in the thick of it. But you as a teenager is troubling. Hurry up and grow up already."
"Pft, yeah yeha. I know." Max snorted slightly upset. "It has its advantages. I have influenced future Hero's and Villian's all across the globe. a lot of people do not pay attention to kids or teens." His eyes rested on Mercy and Pamela walking togethor.
"The girl Mercy, why did you change her future?" Jonah was found of the little sharpshooter. She picked up his basic moves easy enough. But her height made it difficult for the few trick shots. "You fancy her or something?"
"Eww no. She is just someone I refuse to let fall in the cracks. Older she has a better future. But even then, it is for all selfish reasons. I rather guide her to better options." Max said softly. "I rather not see her modified into a cyborg (Young Justice) or see her turn into a flunky scapegoat (Superman Animated series.) She is smart and has a head for Business. Already saw that already from the test she took. If she wants to stop training, I have a company I would like her to run."
"Which one?" Jonah asked as they started walking down the side stairs. "You have to many small companies."
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-Hours Later, Midnight at the Beach-
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"Well, time to swim." Max dived into the water and swam as deep as he needed. Once he did this for 30 minutes, he released his cultivation. "Much better." The pressure eased off as he dived deeper down till light was no longer visible.
Channeling his Spiritual energy into his eyes, he was able to see clearer. The goggles did pretty well, but the actual vision was still better. The wetsuit he wore, was actually Spiritual armor.
Swimming down for the next six hours did wonders. He traveled deep enough that his body was refined under the pressure constantly. Floating in the water, Max started to refine under the path of key areas of his cultivation Manual.
As he did so, a Formation was built in the water currents. He could only use it once but that was all he needed. The Noth point of the Formation was that of a Lion & Lioness. The South point was a Naga & Mermaid. To the East, the image of a Swan & Falcon. The West had Demons.
In the center was Max. He represented the Human Male. A Human female was supposed to be present but he did not have anyone strong enough to bear the burden. Or anyone strong enough in Dual Cultivation that he could trust to participate.
Endurance and Greed were channeled specifically. The sea contained high-level of spirit energies. It took only a little to turn it to what he needed for Greed. It was fine for Endurance as is. Pushing what he had stored before, he broke through with ease.
*Thuum!* The Tribulation would not be denied. Large lighting bolts travel from the heavens all the way to his location in the water. Max used the natural spirit energies to strangle spiritual lighting. Slowly the formation moved.
The demons danced without a care absorbing it. The Lion & Lioness let out inaudible roars. The lighting scattered quickly under them. The Swan & Falcon Flew up high as they grew in size. In seconds they broke the water surface becoming real creatures. The clouds were absorbed into them. One last bolt of lightning shot down.
*Bakuuum!* The noise echoing for miles. Max allowed it to hit him directly. He pores opening to absorb it all. he was doing a baptism to see if what he has done was right. Affirmation to see if Earth would be saved.
'Come on!' The visions that assailed Max was worth it. Everything was on course for what he wanted. Even a few troublesome things failed to work out. Compliments of Ms.Nashton getting signed. But one hiccup showed up. Two heroes were going to die. 'Well, they should have taken my advice.'
The heroes that died were Nighthawk & Cinnamon. Egyptian reincarnations that refused to stand down. it cost them their lives. And sent them on the path to reincarnation again. Max made a note to let Teth-Adam know about it. It was up to him to deal with the rebirth of the two.
'They are already in new babies. How annoyingly fast.' Max rembered what he could from the visions that could be fixed. As the energies dissipated, his body restored back to normal and his cultivation pristine and stronger. 'Haa, my Sin & Virtue are balanced again. Still need to go and kill those few monsters though.'
(The information you read up on earlier is bearing fruit. I have located a sunken ship.) The A.I. intoned as Max channeled the formation. The Naga and mermaid were given life with the energies and turned into real people. Sea green eyes and long flowing blonde green hair. (Placing the souls inside now.)
'Incribe!' Max finished a Soul Insertion technique. 'All done. Guard the waters well and grow strong.' The two nodded and shot off togethor.
(Atlantis Scenario conditions have improved. 15 years before conflict.)
'Good enough.' The two birds dissipated into the sky. They would guard up above. Especially since the area was near a spot the Amazons entered from. Just in case they turn violent. 'Anything else we forgot?'
(No. Everything looks fine. Working hours are done.) The A.I. said a little happily. it was starting to turn more human. Which Max was enjoying. (The money from the possible ship should help with things.)
'Time to snatch it up!' Feeling Greed act up, the water started to swirl from the increased Spiritual Energy. Side effect of the Tribulation happening. 'Time to earn some more money!'
*Boom!* With a kick of his feet, Max shot off like a torpedo. Speed increasing as he moved. Money was involved so time to act.
In front of Max was a Spaniard Ship. Abandoned from ship fire maybe. On the brow, large holes could be seen. The mast was about 80 feet back or so. Buried in rocks. Scanning everything over, Max layed out the interior of the ship mentally. Then headed inside.
'Oh, man some sweet jewels inside.' Thinking this was the best option, he couldnt wait to get ahold of them. As soon as he made it to the chest he broke it open. 'Pay dirt!'
The jewels were wrapped inside his Spiritual energy and compressed. With this amount, Max would go up at least three ranks in Greed. The purity level was extremely high since it was old and obtain through ill gotten gains.
'Alright, jewels for cultivation. Gold for money.' With a swipe of his hand, everything was swept away. 'A few pictures for the appropriate buyers, then I will place the ship in inventory.' Max took pictures for discovery purposes after the water settled. Completely missing the chest of course.
(Max a few ghost are behind you.) The A.i. was keeping updates of everything.
"That is fine. They can live as long as they do not bother me.' Max took a few more pictures and swam about. The longer he did so, the more ghost came near him. 'Good enough.' Max turned and looked at the Mass of ghosts. 'What do you want?'
*Woom!* A spiritual wave went out hitting them each. A small sphere formed. Then Max pushed the water outward. Waving his hand to invite a ghost in, he waited for them to speak.
"I am captain Jerado. The treasure must be returned back to the Queen of Spain. It will allow us to rest."
"Yeah no. But if you are looking to rest, I can send you each on your way. Consider it payment for the ship."
"But we made an oath." Captain Jerado said. A few behind him nodding. Seeing the few civilians as well, Max gave a slight frown.
"They.." he pointed to the people. ".. are not part of your crew. Why are they here?" Captain Jerrod flinched. The others looked pensive. Max pulled the civilians forward and poked the oldest one. Spiritual energy bringing the man's mind to focus. "I see. Such terrible crimes."
"Tell me, what would you like done?" Max asked.
"I am Claude. Just a simple Frenchmen. We were captured. My entire family sir. To be ransomed." The old man spoke. From what Max read, the man was a simple Frenchman like he was told. A Baker on a small island. His family tended to herds of sheep and cow. The bread they made were spread to the surrounding islands to help. "I just want justice for my family."
"Very well." Max said coldly. Placing his hands in a pyramid formation, he sucked all those who helped in kidnapping the family. Pulled in like a swirl. They were refined. Not to use as weapons but as resources. "Yum." Gluttony circled from his technique as he devoured them. "They will no suffering like no other I assure you."
Small traces left his pores to spread out to each of the demons under his command. A small bit of memories to look out for things like this. Education really for the demons. The man Claude and the others looked grateful.
"I will search for any possible descendants you have and tell your tale. Whether they are happy or upset does not matter. Your story will become known." Max washed energies over them to help them move on. Charity slowly going up from actions. "Find peace in the afterlife."
"Thank you.." Claude said before dissipating. The presences in the ship vanished.
'Now the other part.' Max said thought to himself.