Justice League of America - Batman: The Stone King by Alan Grant (best books to read for self development .TXT) 📕

The voice the Oracle spoke in was the voice of the Stone King. And the message it delivered never changed.

Your time has come. Prepare to die.

Outside the chamber, on the slopes of the pyramid, Superman struggled to hold the two duplicate Stone Kings. Their strength seemed almost as great as his, and each time he tried to use a superpower against them, they countered with powers of their own.

Inside, Batman's gaze was fixed on the real Stone King. What could be seen of his skin under the animal hides he wore was glowing with fluorescent light. Dark flashes danced from his brooding eyes. His muscles rippled continuously, as if raw physical power were coursing through his body.

Almost imperceptibly, the Stone King seemed to be growing.

These clones are merely decoys! Batman shot suddenly at the others. Their only purpose is to delay us!

The Flash was grappling with one of the creatures, trying to stun it with rapid-fire blows from his fists that landed with the power of a triphammer. When he received Batman's message, the Scarlet Speedster immediately switched tactics.

He began to run at speed in a small, tight circle around the floor, accelerating until he was little more than a red blur. Around him, a spiraling tornado of air formed, whirling at high speed in the confines of the chamber.

Suddenly, the Flash shifted his trajectory, and the roaring cyclone dipped to envelop the duplicate Stone King. The vacuum created at its center sucked the creature in, imprisoning it in the near-solid column of rotating air.

Still struggling with their own adversaries, J'onn J'onzz and Wonder Woman didn't need telepathy to tell them what the Flash was up to. Unexpectedly decreasing his molecular density, Manhunter grabbed his foe's arm and used superstrength to hurl the creature into the center of the vortex. The Amazon Princess followed suit, using a judo throw to toss her own opponent over her shoulder. It disappeared into the Flash's tornado.

Giving the Stone Kings no time to fight free, the Flash shot out of the chamber and down the side of the pyramid.

Below, Superman was engaged in a titanic struggle with the two duplicates he'd carried from the chamber. The Flash sent an urgent warning to Superman as the cyclone veered toward the battle. The Man of Steel dived aside as the supersonic whirlwind enveloped the startled Stone Kings before speeding away across the countryside.

Superman flew up to the chamber. He had barely reentered before the Flash was back.

I dumped them halfway across the Atlantic, the Scarlet Speedster informed his waiting comrades. His speed was so great, he could run on water as if it were dry land.

Only one Stone King left. Wonder Woman gestured to the pulsating figure in the center of the chamber. He seemed to have grown by a foot or more, his body expanding in proportion. Do we launch a full scale assault?

We do, Batman replied, taking a step closer to Green Lantern. The vigilante glanced over at J'onn J'onzz, who gave a slight nod.

Right after this–Batman went on.

There was a sudden, searing pain deep inside their minds as J'onn J'onzz sent out the strongest telepathic jolt he'd ever mustered. As one, Green Lantern, the Flash, Superman, and Wonder Woman clutched their heads at the bone-jarring agony. Only Batman and Manhunter himself remained unaffected.

Batman clenched his fist and swung it with the whole power of his body behind it. The punch exploded against the point of Green Lantern's chin, and the Emerald Warrior slumped to the ground, unconscious.

CHAPTER 16

Man Versus Planet

Goliath himself couldn't have withstood Batman's blow. His protective force field switched off by Manhunter's mental assault, Green Lantern fell poleaxed to the floor.

Superman and the others stared aghast at the unconscious Emerald Warrior, hardly registering Batman's urgent message in their shock. Explanations will have to wait. Trust us. It was necessary.

You can't just–Wonder Woman began, but Batman ignored her protest and plunged on.

The key to defeating the Stone King has to be earth energies, the vigilante explained. He's drawing his power from the planet itself–and that's where we can hurt him. If Superman and Wonder Woman can disrupt the flow of Earth's energy currents, we may just spoil his schemes completely.

Batman flicked on his cowl's digital display. But we need to be quick. It's thirteen minutes to midnight.

The Stone King reacted as if he'd understood every word. He whirled suddenly, emitting a roar that reverberated through the pyramid. Bolts of cobalt fire shot out from his extended fingers, aimed at the heroes. Batman ducked under a bolt and saw several others ricochet off the bodies of his two invulnerable teammates, while yet more beams were deflected by Wonder Woman's silver bracelets.

Where the bolts hit the walls and ceiling, they rebounded at a tangent, crisscrossing the chamber in a mesh of crackling energy.

Seeing the danger, Batman dived full-length, wedging himself in the cramped space between the altar stone and the wall behind it. The Flash wasn't so fortunate.

Even moving at superspeed, the Fastest Man Alive was unable to avoid all of the streaking bolts that came at him from every angle. One caught him in the small of the back, knocking him off balance. As he staggered, a tracery of other beams struck his legs and sent him tumbling to the floor. His head caught on the front of the altar, and he slumped unconscious.

Fighting his way through the network of ricocheting energy, J'onn J'onzz threw himself forward and grabbed the shaman's wrist, exerting all his Martian strength to hold it. Superman seized the Stone King's other arm, and together the duo tried to wrestle both arms behind the creature's back.

As the storm of energy faded, Batman leaped to his feet "Hold him," he urged. "I have something in my Utility Belt we can use against him."

Wonder Woman uncoiled her golden lasso and sent it looping toward the Stone King's head.

She was a