Shadow Monarch in DC-Chapter 171: Maybe Not So Hollow

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Sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains as Arthur stirred awake on a fresh day, shirtless beneath crisp white sheets. The ceiling fan spun lazily above, and the faint crashing of waves beyond the open balcony door welcomed the new day.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Still here on Earth," he muttered, then smirked. "Surprising... I thought I’d be sucked into some other dimension or universe in my sleep.. A good change for once."

In the sleek villa kitchen, the smell of grilled bacon and eggs greeted him, courtesy of Cyborg, who was already flipping breakfast like he ran a diner. Robin stood nearby, shirt half-unbuttoned, munching toast and going over the day’s plans on his datapad.

"You’re up late," Vic said without looking. "Thought you’d be the first one to be up, didn’t think you are a heavy sleeper."

"I’m on vacation Vic," Arthur replied with mock authority. He grabbed a plate. "I’m letting my humanity breathe."

Dick looked over the screen. "Good. We’re heading to the beach wanna come with ?"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "What, now?"

Vic clapped him on the back. "What better way to burn off calories and look good doing it? We going for a swim."

Arthur glanced around the sleek villa. Something felt... quieter than usual.

"Where’s Kara and Raven?" he asked, casually, though his tone had a subtle edge.

Vic finished downing his drink before answering. "Dunno. The others are in the beach already but those two left early this morning. said something about going for a walk."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed just slightly, but his posture stayed relaxed. "Just the two of them?"

"Yeah." Vic shrugged.

Dick chimed in, adjusting his sunglasses. "They’ll join us later. Come on let’s not waste the sun."

Arthur didn’t say anything for a beat. But then he tossed his shirt over his shoulder, grabbed his own towel, and nodded. "Sure."

****

The sun bore down from the sky. The private cove, shielded by palm trees was almost unnaturally pristine. Crystal-clear waters kissed the white sand gently, reflecting a horizon so perfect it looked painted.

Arthur stood near the shoreline with Dick and Vic, ocean wind tossing his hair, beneath a blazing sun.

He was shirtless, lean but powerful. Not just trained, but forged in battle, a single scar you could only see if you looked closely...

"Feels good to actually breathe," Dick said, glancing around. "No alarms. No villains. No emergencies."

Vic chuckled. "Speak for yourself. Jaime and Gar are an emergency on their own."

Further down, Beast Boy was already halfway into the water, half dolphin, half idiot, while Blue Beetle tried and failed to keep up, laughter echoing between waves.

Arthur wasn’t listening.

Because his eyes and his entire senses were now focused on something else entirely.

Footsteps in the sand. The air shifted. And then they appeared.

First came Kara. She walked like she owned the sunlight. Her sky-blue swimsuit hugged her in all the right places, an elegant one-piece with an open back, dipping low enough to provoke second glances... and maybe a third. Her golden hair was tied back in a loose braid, windswept but perfect. Her posture casual and confident.

Then came Raven.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

A minimalist black bikini, tied high at the hips, paired with a sun hat as if it made her feel less exposed. But it didn’t help. Her pale skin contrasted so sharply against the black that she looked like midnight personified under a beach sun. Eyes shaded, head tilted low... but Arthur caught it.

Her blush.

The smallest hint of hesitation in her step.

And for the first time since arriving on this island, Arthur felt... a bit human.

His voice, low and half a whisper, slipped from his lips.

"There’s still some human in me after all."

Vic and Dick followed his gaze and both of them just froze.

Vic blinked. "Oh... damn."

Dick, ever the tactician, tried to avert his gaze like a gentleman but even he failed to hide the awe in his expression. "I thought Raven said she didn’t do swimwear."

"Apparently, someone changed her mind." Arthur said without turning, ’Has to be Kara’s idea...’ he said to himself.

Starfire, a few steps behind, immediately noticed the attention. Her eyes flared just a little with competitive pride and she whirled in the air dramatically, her own suit a glowing orange-gold ensemble as dazzling as a second sun.

Raven finally caught all the stares and stopped walking, frozen mid-step. Her hair fluttered across her cheek. "This was a mistake, Kara" she muttered.

"You picked it," Kara whispered with a smirk.

"I was hexed by you!, you said he’ll like it not all of them!" Raven hissed back.

Arthur, still staring, narrowed his eyes and turned slightly to Dick and Vic.

"...Eyes off."

The tone in his voice wasn’t a request. It was a decree. Cold. Final.

Vic immediately turned to leave after that warning. "Okay! Yep I just remembered that I had to do something.. be right back."

Dick looked away with the guilt of a man who just peeked into the abyss and was reminded why some shadows stare back.

Kara finally reached the edge of the water, tossing her towel aside and stepping into the sea like a goddess born of blue skies.

She looked over her shoulder. "I’m going for a swim so you can stop staring now."

"Hard not to," Arthur replied honestly.

Raven was still paralyzed near the chairs until Arthur walked over and handed her a cold drink, she took it with her usual measured grace, though her fingers trembled just slightly as they brushed against his. That single touch lit a spark beneath her skin, like her magic responding instinctively to his presence.

"Thanks," she mumbled, eyes cast downward.

Arthur leaned in just enough that only she could hear. His breath was warm against her ear, voice low and smooth like a whisper cutting through the noise of the waves.

"You both look amazing."

Raven blinked.

Her breath hitched.

She turned her face slightly toward him in disbelief, a rare flush creeping up her cheeks, climbing fast. "Don’t say stuff like that, while the others are around." she muttered in a sharp breath, but there was no bite in her tone.

As if trying to disappear from reality itself, Raven shoved her head into his chest. Not gently, not subtly, just smack, forehead pressing against him like hiding in plain sight might somehow help.

Arthur laughed.

His heart was calm. Slow. The kind of rhythm that made her feel safe.

She stayed like that for a few seconds, until something caught her eye a faint mark just under his ribs, peeking through his side like a pale, jagged slash. Not fresh. Old. Healed.

Her fingers moved before her thoughts did, trailing along the edge of the scar. "I haven’t noticed this before."

Arthur’s breath caught for the first time.

He looked down, and for a moment, he wasn’t smiling. just quiet.

"Oh... that," he said, brushing some hair behind her ear without thinking. "Every wound heals pretty fast for me. Shadow powers help. Every fight I’ve been in cuts, burns, broken bones they all go away."

He paused.

"Except that one."

Her hand was still there, over the scar.

He gently placed his hand over hers.

"It was from Trigon," he said.

She stiffened.

Raven lifted her eyes slowly, the breeze dying down around them.

"But it’s nothing," he added quickly, voice softer now. "just a little momento from his."

Raven didn’t speak at first.

She stayed there, his heartbeat steady beneath her. Her fingers still traced the edge of the old scar like she was trying to read it, memorize it.

Eventually, she lifted her head again.

And looked at him.

That storm always behind her eyes had calmed now replaced by something softer.

"It’s... kinda hot," she said quietly, her voice barely above the breeze. Her lips curled, just a little. Then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, she leaned in and pressed a light kiss against the spot, lips brushing skin with feather softness.

Arthur blinked.

Caught somewhere between a smirk and full-body combustion.

That’s when the silence shattered

"YO!"

Beast Boy’s voice cracked across the beach like a grenade. "LOVE BIRDS! GET IN HERE BEFORE I TRANSFORM INTO A KRAKEN!"

He was floating on an inflatable shark, arms flailing like a madman, sunburn already creeping up his neck.

Raven groaned. Visibly. The moment died.

Arthur couldn’t stop the smirk from forming. "He really doesn’t have a survival instinct."

Without a word, Raven raised her hand casually, gracefully her eyes glowing just faintly.

A swirling black-and-violet portal bloomed beside her.

At the same time, another one snapped open right next to Beast Boy’s floating perch.

"Wait, what.."

A ghostly hand emerged from the portal and smacked him clean off the inflatable with a splash, sending water flying everywhere. Seconds later, another portal opened midair above the shore and deposited him face-first into the sand with a muffled thud.

"Mmf—sorry," he coughed, spitting out sand and seaweed as the others burst into laughter nearby.

Arthur turned to Raven, raising an impressed brow.

She shrugged, sipping her drink. "He asked for it."

"Fair," Arthur said, still smiling. He stepped toward the water, running a hand through his hair, he looked back at her over his shoulder.

"I’m going for a swim. I might even catch up with Kara if she didn’t cross the ocean by now."

He took off at a light jog, kicked off his sandals, and dove into the ocean in one smooth arc, his body slicing through the crystal-clear water like it welcomed him. A faint shimmer of shadow energy followed him, dissipating as he moved through the waves.

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If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.

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If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at

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You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel