DC: My Name Is Not Billy Batson

It didn't take long for the "man," known as the Queen of the Angels, to enter Dane's office.

Dane stared at the figure before him, his gaze far from gentlemanly.

The "person" smirked. "You into this kind of thing?"

Just like in the movie, the spirit had taken the form of a strikingly beautiful woman. Her brown skin glowed under the room's lighting, her thick, dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her crimson lips curved into a teasing smile. She wore a tight, hip-hugging skirt that emphasized her flawless figure.

Dane could fully understand Constantine's bewildered feelings at the moment.

To question her, mock her, understand her… and, maybe for a fleeting moment, to imagine being her equal. Of course, the last part wasn't on the table.

Not with her.

Not if she decided to "get playful" and suddenly shift into the form of a bloated, middle-aged man.

That would be a nightmare.

Dane smirked and gestured toward a chair. "Please, take a seat."

The spirit complied with a graceful movement, her every action mesmerizing.

"Sorry," Dane said, leaning back in his chair. "It's just the first time I've ever met a city spirit face-to-face. Forgive me if I seem… intrigued."

The Queen of the Angels – or Angelis, as she liked to call herself – tilted her head, her lips curling into a coy smile.

"Intrigued, huh?" she said, her voice smooth.

Los Angeles was often called the City of Angels, and its spirit had absorbed that identity, shaped by the collective beliefs of its inhabitants. Over time, the subconscious of millions had formed her abilities, persona, and even her priorities.

But Angelis wasn't like the heroes or warriors who fought demons head-on. Her power came from compromise, subtlety, and leverage. That's why she had previously sought Constantine—seducing him, manipulating him, and playing to his weaknesses.

Now that Dane had appeared, stronger and more capable, Angelis had wasted no time switching allegiances.

Her star-like eyes narrowed. "You know a lot more than I expected."

Dane shrugged, offering a faint grin. "Not a lot. Just… enough."

Angelis felt a flicker of doubt. Dane wasn't going to be as easy to manipulate as Constantine.

Her initial plan of seduction suddenly felt risky. She'd seen Diana wielding the Vulcan Sword, a weapon capable of decapitating gods. Angelis had no desire to push this man too far, not with a god ally like that in his corner.

"I see you're not one to beat around the bush," Angelis said carefully, studying him. "Since you seem to know everything already… what's the price I need to pay for your help?"

Dane answering Angelis's question.

"I have my eye on a city, but I don't know how to meet Him… or how to claim Him."

The words didn't need further explanation. Angelis understood. He hesitated, knowing that Dane was referring to a secret common to all beings who embodied the spirit of a city. Yet, as he thought of Los Angeles succumbing to demonic corruption, becoming a purgatory for its people, Angelis decided he couldn't hold back.

"Does this city have a unique culture or a long history?"

Dane nodded.

"Do His people love Him as much as they love His Mother?"

Dane thought back to the devotion of the Kandak people in the original narrative he knew. He nodded again.

Angelis sighed. This confirmed that there might indeed be a city spirit in the place Dane sought. What Dane planned to do with it was of no concern to Angelis.

"Beings like us are everywhere," Angelis began. "I just prefer to see things from a human perspective."

He continued, explaining that city spirits didn't manifest in ways humans could always perceive. Instead, they existed in an overlapping extra-dimensional space, one that intersected with reality but wasn't part of it.

As Angelis spoke, Dane learned more about city spirits. They weren't merely the collective consciousness of their inhabitants. They were akin to Gaia systems—complex, living ecosystems where every creature contributed to a larger, unified existence. The city, as a body, embodied these interactions.

In this world, where magic existed, these abstract "living characteristics" became real and birthed sentient beings like Angelis. However, city spirits weren't organic. While they had a physical "body"—the city itself—their true essence was immaterial. They couldn't exist stably in the physical realm and instead "survived" in a void-like dimension beyond time and space.

Dane's expression turned curious. A dimension beyond time and space… The description felt eerily familiar.

Isn't the Rock of Eternity located in such a dimension?

"Can you take me into that dimension?" Dane asked, his tone firm. He needed to confirm his suspicion.

Angelis hesitated. "I can… but your physical body can't enter such a place."

Dane smiled and raised the Wizard's Scepter, the crystal atop it glinting faintly.

"Not necessarily."

Angelis glanced at the scepter and, realizing his intention, relented. "Very well. Take my hand."

Dane followed the instruction, gripping Angelis's hand. It felt solid—warm, like a human's touch.

"It's about to begin," Angelis said, their voice calm.

Dane nodded, signaling his readiness. A moment later, he felt an intense pull on his body. He didn't resist, allowing himself to be drawn into the unknown force. When he opened his eyes again, the world around him had transformed.

A vast, unrecognizable starry sky stretched endlessly in every direction. The stars shimmered like jewels, but unlike the static heavens of the physical universe, these stars moved. They drifted gracefully, their speed faster than any galaxy Dane had seen in reality.

He sensed no magic here, only an overwhelming stillness.

"How can your physical body exist here?" Angelis's voice echoed around him.

Dane turned to see a glowing, white mass coalescing into a humanoid shape. The form sprouted massive wings, exuding an ethereal presence.

"The Queen of the Angels?" Dane asked.

"Yes, it's me," Angelis replied.

Dane tightened his grip on the scepter. Divine power coursed through him, and the crystal atop the staff lit up, its glow pointing faintly in one direction.

His suspicions were confirmed. This place—this "Void World"—was indeed the realm where the Rock of Eternity resided.

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"Hey, what are you doing?" Angelis asked, peering over Dane's shoulder.

"Me? Just feel how read ahead 20 chapters plus our or five chapters a day for early access members on Patreon," Dane said, his fingers scrolling across the screen.

"It's all about keep reader engaged, right?" Angelis asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly," Dane replied, nodding. "The more we can give them, the more they'll stick around."

Angelis smiled. "Well, I guess you've got your work cut out for you. But hey, if it works, it works."

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