THE DEAL OF SHADOWS AND FUTURE WORLDS
Ra's al Ghul waited, silent and regal, as Damian stood before him—calm, confident, and carrying the weight of two worlds in his voice.
Damian:
"Grandfather…
Here is my deal."
A subtle shift in the air.
Shadows leaned in.
Assassins held their breath.
1. THE FIRST TERM — FREEDOM FOR SURVIVAL
Damian:
"In exchange for my freedom to roam the world, gather strength, train, and grow…
I will ensure the League of Assassins survives what is coming."
Ra's narrowed his eyes.
Ra's al Ghul:
"And how, my boy, do you propose to safeguard an empire?"
Damian raised his hand.
A hologram projector unfolded from a compact device on his wrist—technology no one in this room had ever seen.
What appeared above them made even Ra's al Ghul's ancient heart falter.
**Cyberpunk-grade technology.
Improved.
Perfected.
Weaponized for the League.**
Projected in shimmering blue light:
Bio-engineered prosthetic limbs stronger than steel but lighter than bone.
Neural interfaces capable of linking mind and machine seamlessly.
AR/VR battlefield overlays.
Self-aware tactical AIs optimized for stealth, war, and global intelligence.
Advanced robotics—scout drones, stealth androids, surgical machines.
Genetic engineering tools that could enhance strength, speed, even recovery.
A psychic shield module—a device to defend the mind from telepaths and magic.
Every master in the room leaned forward unconsciously.
Talia whispered:
Talia:
"…Damian… you built all this?"
Damian:
"And more."
Then he flipped the projection.
Sandevistan schematics appeared—
but only for a second.
Then he shut that window.
Ra's al Ghul:
"What is that device you concealed?"
Damian:
"A weapon too dangerous for the League.
I will not give you the Sandevistan.
Not now.
Not ever."
A murmur rippled through the shadows.
Ra's didn't question it further.
That alone told Damian everything—
Ra's respected the wisdom behind the refusal.
2. THE SECOND TERM — EXCLUSIVITY
Damian:
"The next rule of the deal is absolute."
His tone sharpened.
Damian:
"No one except the League of Assassins gains access to this technology."
Ra's slowly nodded.
Damian:
"No Light.
No Lex Luthor.
No governments.
No heroes.
No villains."
Ra's chuckled softly.
Ra's al Ghul:
"For once, we agree entirely."
Everyone understood why.
This level of power—if given to Lex, or the Light, or even a hero like Batman—
could tilt the balance of the entire world.
3. THE THIRD TERM — FUTURE SURVIVAL
Damian changed the projection again.
This time it wasn't weapons.
It was stars.
A rotating hologram of planets, solar systems, habitable zones.
Damian:
"If an alien race attacks this planet…
If a god decides to wipe out humanity…
If a metahuman ignites a war…
If the Earth becomes uninhabitable…"
He looked Ra's dead in the eyes.
Damian:
"We must have a way to escape."
Shock cracked through the room like lightning.
Assassins whispered.
Shiva:
"A… ship?
A vessel for the League to leave Earth?"
Damian:
"A starship.
A generational ark.
Fast enough to leave the solar system.
Equipped to search for habitable worlds."
Even Ra's al Ghul blinked—stunned.
Damian:
"This planet attracts beings who can turn continents into ash.
So we prepare a contingency.
A future."
Silence fell.
The kind that only comes when destiny changes direction.
At last, Ra's spoke.
Ra's al Ghul:
"You bring me the future, my boy…
and you ask only for your freedom."
Damian:
"My freedom—and one more thing."
THE REQUEST OF THE DEMON'S HEAD
Ra's leaned forward.
Ra's al Ghul:
"Name it."
Damian didn't hesitate.
Damian:
"The League needs at least two Devil Fruit users."
The reaction was immediate:
Talia stiffened.
Shiva's eyes snapped wide.
Cheshire inhaled sharply.
Assassins muttered.
Even Ra's froze.
Ra's al Ghul:
"So you know…"
Damian:
"That Lex Luthor hacked the Watchtower feeds.
That the Light learned about the second fruit.
That the world is beginning to notice."
Ra's smiled thinly.
The boy was far too perceptive.
Damian continued calmly.
Damian:
"If I find Devil Fruits in the world…
I will bring two for the League of Assassins."
Damian:
"But I cannot choose what type they will be.
Paramecia.
Zoan.
Logia.
Mythical.
Ancient.
I have no control."
Ra's nodded slowly.
Ra's al Ghul:
"It is acceptable.
Two fruits for the League…
and we will be prepared for anything."
Damian extended his hand.
Damian:
"Then we have a deal."
Ra's rose from his throne—something he did for no one.
He clasped Damian's hand with both of his.
Ra's al Ghul:
"From this day forward…
the fate of the League changes."
Their shadows merged on the stone floor.
**Grandfather and grandson.
Demon and heir.
Legacy and future.**
The League of Assassins
would never
be the same again.