When Diana, Billy, and Barry arrived at Central City, it was a little after 10 PM. After they stepped out of the League telporter, they looked up in the sky and saw a large bright full moon.
Billy smiled as he gazed at the beautiful moon, as he always did, like the moon.
"A full moon for the Knight and his Hound seems fitting. Flash, about what time does Balerion move about?"
Barry wasn't really sure, as it was just after dark. For all he knew, Balerion could be out right now.
"I really don't know when he moves about. He can dive into the shadows and teleport through them. He also can use magic to hide himself, so by the time we find and reach the criminals he apprehends, he is long gone."
At the moment, Barry was using a spare suit as he had turned his suit to Zatana and Doctor Fate for analysis. He was sure that nothing negative was put in, but proving it would be more effective than just his word.
Diana crossed her arms as this was going to be troublesome.
"Then how are we supposed to find him? Do you have any way to get in contact with him?"
Barry shook his head.
"I have no clue how to find Balerion. He always comes to us instead of us going after him. Do you have any ideas?"
Billy began to rub his hands together as he had a good one
"We do a bit of lightning show to get his attention. That would work, right?"
Diana wasn't on board with that plan.
"It would disturb the people. Something more efficient would be a flare or signal of some kind that doesn't bother others."
Barry was fine either way.
"Alright, there is no guarantee that he will show up, though. I will start running through the city, and maybe he will talk to me."
—-
While the three League members thought of ideas on how to find Viktor, he was not far away. He was a few blocks away, currently standing on the ledge of a large building.
Next to him was Yami, fully covered in dark shadow armor that billowed around his form. It was also enchanted just like Viktor's own armor, and since Yami was in his true wolf form, he was much larger than before.
Alongside them was Lorna, who had grown used to this new life of hers. A chance meeting with Viktor and her life had fully changed. Before, she had been rather shy, reserved, and meek.
However, her entire personality had changed when she had gained her powers. She even knew a few magic spells that complemented her powers. It was all thanks to her mentor, Viktor.
She was going to keep thinking when she felt him slightly elbow her on her shoulder.
'Pay attention. You don't want to get caught off guard, do you?'
She rubbed her shoulder a bit as he was super strong, and that armor hurt.
'Sorry, master. I let my mind wander.'
Viktor turned away from her as he looked down at the current situation. This building was overlooking one of the most popular nightclubs in downtown Central City. Normally, a target that wouldn't be hit like this, but it seemed he was wrong.
Down below, he saw at least 10 vans and trucks pull up in front of the club. From them emerged several men in Riot Gear and military-type body armor. He counted at least 50 men, and he could see they were armed with not just assault rifles, but some even carried RPGs, Grenade Launchers, and anti-tank missiles.
The bodyguard at the front of the club saw the armed men. He began to run, but one man in the group raised a peculiar weapon. It looked like a handheld futuristic weapon, which he fired. From it emerged a beam of pure cold that just when it was going to hit the security guard, Viktor and Yami shadow warped in front of the beam.
He twitched his fingers, causing a shield of dark purple fire from Incinerate Anthem to block the beam in its path.
"Captain Cold."
The way his voice echoed in his helmet unnerved the men who had come along with Cold.
"There you are, Knight. You have been a pain in my ass for a while now. A lot of men want you dead, that is why I lured you out here."
As Captain Cold said this, the men that came with him began to surround Viktor. They trained their rifles, grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles right at him.
"Thanks for taking the bait."
Viktor turned around and ignored them as Lorna could handle them all. He turned to the guard whom he had saved from being frozen. He waved his hand, putting him to sleep.
While his back was turned, Captain Cold and Heatwave raised their Cold and Heat Guns, but before they could fire, every last gun and weapon flew out of their hands. Lorna was already flying above them, and she used her magnetism to rip their guns away.
"Even without me here, what can your pebbles and fire crackers do?"
She then waved her hand, causing the guns and other weapons to wrap around their necks. She closed her fingers, causing the 50 men to start getting strangled by their own guns. She motioned with her hand, lifting all 50 off the ground, causing them to be hanged by their own guns.
Viktor then seemed to turn into shadows before he reformed in front of Heatwave and Captain Cold. He grabbed them by their throats before he smashed their heads against each other, knocking them out.
After a few more seconds, Lorna dropped the men she was hanging, causing them to gasp for air. However, she then waved her hand, using the guns around their necks to tie them up to the club.
"Done."
She landed in front of Viktor and Yami, making him smile behind his helmet.
"Well done, chocking them out with their own weapons was quite smart."
"I took your advice, as long as they survive in the end, being harsh on them is fine."
Viktor was going to continue on with his patrol, but before then, he took Captain Cold's and Heatwave's weapons. They could be fascinating technology for study, which he dropped into his shadow.
As for the two criminals, he used magic to keep them asleep. He then proceeded to dislocate their shoulders before tying them up to a street lamp. This way, they would need more time before they could even think of escaping.
Once they were tied up, he clapped his hands together as he felt it was time to go.
"All in a day's work, or night's work."
Just as he was about to leave, Barry, who had begun his run around the city, had quickly passed through this exact location. When he saw Viktor, Yami, and Lorna, he stopped running before he turned to the 50 men tied up to the building.
"What the heck happened?"
"Captain Cold and Heatwave took a hit on my life. They were going to take this club hostage, but I got to them before they could even enter the club. Problem solved."
Barry turned to Captain Cold and Heatwave, who were tied up to a street light. He noticed something about the way their arms were positioned that made him turn to Viktor.
"What is wrong with their arms?"
"I dislocated them."
Barry sighed, but he didn't bring it up.
"Forget it, I will call the police, and they can deal with this. One thing I do have to say is that this is the first time I can find you."
"I didn't put up a magic barrier like I usually do. Since I was going to leave regardless, this is the only time you will find me like this."
Barry felt that explained why they could never find Balerion.
"It is a good thing you didn't put up a barrier, as we needed to talk to you. We had a meeting about you, and Wonder Woman and Shazam came to speak to you. It's about your entrance into the League."
Viktor nodded.
"In that case, seems it was a good thing I didn't put my barrier up. I really need to think about giving you a way to contact me. Regardless, let's go.'
Barry sighed as he decided to call Diana.
"I found him already. Come to my location."
Diana was still near the League telepoter tracked Barry's location before she began to fly in his direction. Billy flew next to her, and thanks to their flight, they arrived at Barry's location in record time.
Viktor, Yami, and Lorna glanced in the sky as Diana and Billy landed in front of them. When they arrived, Viktor was the first to speak.
"Welcome, Shazam and Wonder Woman. I am Balerion, this is my partner, Hound. This is my apprentice, Polaris. As Barry explained to me, you are here to talk to me about my request to enter the League?"
Diana stepped forward as she began to take in the sight of Viktor's armor. For a woman, she was quite imposing as she was 6'2, taller than Lorna, but still shorter than Viktor, who was 6'7.
She looked Viktor up and down before she extended her hand.
"Nice to meet you."
Viktor shook her hand with his clawed gauntlets, feeling the strength behind her hand shake.
"Likewise."
When she released his hand, he turned to Billy. As he was in his Shazam persona, Billy wanted to act like a proper adult, so he extended his own hand.
"I am Shazam."
"Balerion."
Viktor shook his hand as well, and with introductions out of the way, Diana decided to go ahead and state her business.
"I won't lie about why I am here, I am here to vet you. Barry has met you once, and you are a big unknown. I hope that doesn't offend you."
Viktor shook his head.
"It doesn't. I know very well that I have kept myself out of sight for the most part. People know who I am, but actually finding me is almost impossible. I could be anyone under his mask after all."
"Exactly. You have no need to answer this, but you can if you want. Why do you want to join the League? Surely, you would be fine like this?"
Viktor tilted his head.
"Two reasons. The first reason is merely wanting to complete a childhood dream of being a Leaguer. The second is because the Justice League is a gathering of the strongest heroes who fight threats from space, other dimensions, and from this world.
I felt it would be a good place to hone my skills as a magic user and warrior. Does that answer your question?"
Diana nodded.
"It does. I can understand that desire, but is there any reason you began your vigilanteism in Central City?"
"I grew up in Central City. I am a person born on this planet, in this city, and I felt why not fight crime in my own city. Simple as that."
Shazam raised his hand.
"Question, where did you get the dog? Why does he have power and stuff?"
Billy pointed at Yami, who had been sitting like a good dog the whole time. Viktor patted Yami on his helmet before he shrugged.
"I found him when I was a little boy. As he grew up, he changed, and as I learned my magics, he got his powers too."
Billy kneeled down before he began to pat Yami on the head. Since Yami was fully wearing a full metal plate, it wasn't much fun to pet him, but Billy didn't mind.
"Sweet, he is like that boss in Black Souls. The Hound Of The Abyss."
That sounded like a DC version of Dark Souls, which interested him.
"Sounds fun, but let's get back on track. I am sure you have some big questions about me, so go ahead and ask."
Diana nodded as she asked the real question here.
"The man under the helmet, who is he? You, who are you?"
Viktor crossed his arms.
"Not answering that. I just met you, and I have no guarantees I will be allowed to join after revealing that. Until such time that I feel secure, my face remains hidden."
Diana nodded.
"I understand. We have much to talk about, but this is not a good place. Barry, can we use your house?"
Barry nodded.
"I am fine with that."
Lorna turned to Viktor before she used telepathy to speak with him.
'What do you think? Think you got a chance to get in like this?'
'Not this time, but it is just a vetting. If I get rejected, I don't really care.'
'Understood.'
Shazam, Wonder Woman, Viktor, Barry, Lorna, and Yami began to make their way to Barry's house. There they would talk more at length about Viktor's entrance into the league. Before that, Barry called 911 for them to pick up the criminals, Cold and Heatwave.
He did say they would need several ambulances and cars to move them all. That would be another story in the crimes that Viktor stopped. All in a night's work after all.