Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 93: Ch.92 New Divine Weapon

Clank!

The heavy door closed behind them, and Su Ming's eyes were still dazzled by the golden brightness all around. Barry was rubbing his eyes incessantly.

"So, what do you think? My craftsmanship is the best in the universe, right?" Hephaestus asked as he led them in another direction.

"Yes, absolutely, you're right," Su Ming replied immediately. He still needed Hephaestus's help, so it wouldn't hurt to flatter him a little.

"Hahaha!" Hephaestus laughed heartily, clearly pleased.

This was his passion. He loved it when people admired his creations and put them to use. He didn't care whose hands his weapons ended up in or whether the bloodshed they caused was justified. As long as the weapons performed as intended and showcased their expected power, that was enough for him.

After all, those who picked up the weapons should be prepared to be killed. On the battlefield, the brave and strong are the ones who win. That's why it was not uncommon for opposing sides to find themselves wielding Hephaestus's creations, leading to awkward situations, since both his spears and shields were equally powerful.

In a way, he promoted the development of fair competition.

Walking through the air-conditioned, metal-lined corridors, their shadows stretched and merged together under the lights, resembling a mountain peak.

After a series of twists and turns, Hephaestus led them to a small room filled with display cases containing various pieces of Wonder Woman's equipment.

The Sword of Ares, the Guardian Silver Bracelets, the Amazonian Shield, the Star Tiara, the Lasso of Truth, long boots, and the iconic chest armor and skirt—several sets were hung in this room.

All of them were genuine, forged from divine metal, with flawless craftsmanship. The designs varied slightly, like one set having a longer skirt or a larger shield.

It was also clear that Hephaestus had conducted extensive research. There was even a set of heavy female armor that resembled the Gold Cloth from Saint Seiya, glistening with a golden radiance in one of the cases.

"It seems Diana comes here often," Su Ming observed as he glanced around, wondering if he could ask for a matching sword to complete his set.

Hephaestus didn't open the display cases. Instead, he went to the side and pulled out a few boxes, placing them on the table and opening them: "She's my sister. She used to come to me whenever she faced challenges. Keeping her spare weapons and armor here is much safer than on Themyscira."

"But she hasn't come for help this time."

Su Ming was curious, staring at the box. He couldn't see what was inside, as it was obscured by divine power.

"Hehe, she's been mesmerized by that Kryptonian boy and is running around like a headless chicken with the Justice League. But we are gods, immortal. How long can humans live? We have all the time in the world. Little Diana will realize her mistake eventually."

Hephaestus lifted his head, giving the two of them a proud look, his words dripping with a meaning that was hard to articulate.

Barry scratched his head awkwardly. He felt it was best not to comment. Diana and Superman had been involved romantically about 'ten years' ago, but with the current state of the universe, who knew what was happening now?

As their teammate, The Flash often retained memories from before each world reset, which left him constantly confused.

Hephaestus didn't seem to expect an answer. He was more interested in showcasing his weapons than analyzing Diana's thoughts. "Alright, Deathstroke, this is the weapon I specially prepared for you."

From the misty box, Hephaestus pulled out a weapon that Su Ming was very familiar with. Aside from its intense golden glow, it looked exactly as he remembered.

"This is..." Su Ming took the weapon with both hands, feeling its perfect texture and the cool sensation that penetrated his palm through his gauntlets.

The pattern, the weight, the size, the stability—everything was exactly what he had been looking for.

It seemed as though it was made just for him, a blend of ferocious modern design and handcrafted classical elegance. It was a true masterpiece, not at all like a deadly weapon, but in the hands of a weapon master like Deathstroke, it was undoubtedly a divine instrument of unparalleled power.

It was as if it was eager to taste blood, yearning to cry out, desperate for the battlefield.

Su Ming could feel its will, its pulse, containing the energy of a volcano.

He then unloaded the magazine, tested the safety, and checked the sights.

"That's right. This is the custom-made AK-47 from divine metal I prepared for you. Just call it the Divine AK-47," Hephaestus nodded slightly, watching Su Ming examine the weapon with a satisfied look, like a teacher proud of his student.

Under the mask, Su Ming's mouth twitched. The weapon was good, at least as a ranged weapon. There was no need to worry about barrel wear, and maintenance would be a breeze.

But to deal with the Dark Knights, this divine metal was practically useless.

Su Ming examined the gun from every angle. He didn't want to refuse it; good stuff was hard to come by. But taking it would only be a burden for now, as divine metal was still quite heavy.

However, Hephaestus meant well, and it wasn't like he was charging for it. Su Ming would just consider it as owing him another favor.

"Thank you. I won't let this divine weapon go to waste."

Hephaestus grinned: "No problem. As long as you like it. Come back when all this is over, and we'll discuss how it performs and if there's anything to improve. Here are 500 rounds of divine metal bullets to go with it, all handmade. If you run out, just come back for more."

Su Ming took the box of bullets, weighing it carefully. It was about seventy or eighty kilograms. It seemed Hephaestus wasn't lying when he said it was custom-made for Deathstroke. No ordinary person could carry this into battle.

Satisfied, Hephaestus nodded, then looked at Barry. After sizing him up for a while, he reached into the box again and pulled out a few golden grenades.

"These are for you. You're so fast, just pull the pin and sneak them into the enemy's pants. Kill a few more people, and then come back and tell me how they work."

"Uh, I don't kill people. Do you have any non-lethal weapons?" Barry was embarrassed. His principles made him reluctant to use guns.

Hephaestus's eyes widened: "Non-lethal weapons? How can something that doesn't kill be called a weapon?"

Barry was speechless. That made a lot of sense.

"Cough, we're going to fight the Dark Knights. Can divine metal break through their dark energy?" Su Ming quickly changed the subject before Barry got thrown out.

Hephaestus's attention shifted to the question. He closed the lid of the box, looking at Su Ming: "Why do you think humans invented firearms?"

"Because the power of melee weapons was insufficient." Su Ming knew that people had always pursued greater lethality in weapons.

"Exactly. In the era of swords and spears, people also invented armor to defend against slashing attacks, leading to the rise of knights. But with the advent of firearms, knights faded from history, didn't they?" Hephaestus spread his hands, explaining the logic behind his thinking.

Su Ming slung the rifle over his shoulder, discarding his ordinary assault rifle. He seemed to understand: "So it's not that divine metal can't harm the Dark Knights, but that in their melee form, the penetration and kinetic energy aren't sufficient."

"Right, that's why I gave you a firearm." Hephaestus smiled proudly, patting his chest.

"Will this really work?" Su Ming was thrilled. Using a gun was great; long-range attacks were much safer than close combat.

Hephaestus nodded, his booming laughter suddenly turning serious: "Hahaha, well, maybe not. If it doesn't work, come back and I'll give you a divine metal Gauss rifle to try. Anyway, you've got a speedster with you, so escaping won't be a problem."

Su Ming's face stiffened under his mask. Are you kidding me!?