"Shazam!!"
Boom!
Malrick's shout and the thunder's roar erupted almost at once.
A bolt of lightning burst out of thin air, tearing the very air before striking him directly.
The Old Wizard, Shazam, stood motionless, eyes solemn. He had made his choice—the man before him would be his successor.
In that instant, the divine power of six ancient gods surged into Malrick's body.
When the storm of light faded, the young man's black tactical suit transformed into a vibrant red, a white hooded cape flowing from his shoulders.
Malrick looked down at himself and groaned.
"Isn't this color a little much? Even Tony wouldn't paint his armor this red."
He raised an arm, studying the new suit with a scowl.
"I look like one of those color-coded heroes who shout about love and justice on TV."
As his words echoed in the chamber, he paused—his train of thought oddly sharp.
Wait… had his ability to complain suddenly improved?
Could this be Solomon's Wisdom?
Shazam ignored his muttering and continued his ritual.
The Old Wizard raised the Staff of the Gods, his voice booming through the hall.
"From this moment forth, you shall inherit my name and my power. You are… Shazam!"
He lifted his staff high, lightning crackling along its length.
"Receive the power of Zeus!
The wisdom of Solomon!
The strength of Hercules!
The stamina of Atlas!
The courage of Achilles!
The speed of Mercury!
All these divine powers—now yours!"
After the words faded, Shazam slowly lowered his arms and handed Malrick the staff.
"From this moment, you are Shazam. Remember—your heart must guide your power."
Malrick nodded as he accepted it, though his thoughts wandered.
Infinite power, huh?
In the comics, maybe.
But in the movie universe? Not so much.
The DCEU's Shazam, Black Adam, and even Martian Manhunter were strong—close to Superman's level, maybe—but nowhere near the infinite gods of the comics.
Comic Superman could shatter dimensions with a thought; movie Superman just stopped an earthquake by pushing continental plates—and even that was only mentioned in a newspaper.
After his resurrection in Justice League, Superman grew stronger, maybe even planetary level, but still limited.
That meant this universe's Shazam—the one he had just become—was likely around the same tier.
He could feel it now.
If his will and mind were strong enough, he could unleash enough energy to destroy a planet.
Impressive… but not infinite.
Still, Shazam's divine power had another benefit—it could be shared.
Malrick glanced around. Seven stone thrones stood upon the steps, ancient and imposing.
Once, seven wizards had sat upon them—Shazam and his six siblings.
Their power, like their thrones, could be divided and passed on.
One share had already gone to Black Adam, blessed with Egyptian divine power millennia ago.
After unleashing the Seven Deadly Sins and massacring thousands, Black Adam had been sealed away by Shazam himself.
Perhaps that was why the Old Wizard now chose his successors so carefully—seeking purity of heart above all.
Malrick's thoughts were interrupted by the Wizard's gruff voice.
"What are you spacing out for, kid?" Shazam barked, gesturing toward the thrones behind him.
"Those chairs belonged to me and my brothers and sisters. My power must be passed on—and theirs too! What are you waiting for? Start the inheritance!"
Malrick raised an eyebrow.
A second ago, this old man didn't want to give divine power to non-humans. Now he was demanding it?
So much for principles.
"Well, if you insist," Malrick said with a shrug. He planted the divine staff into the ground and turned toward Diana and Kara.
"Come on. Place your hands on the staff and say the name. You know the one."
The name Shazam was both a title and a trigger.
Say it once—you transform. Say it again—you revert.
A clever opponent could use that against you. Batman certainly had, more than once.
Diana and Kara exchanged a glance, then stepped forward, placing their hands on the staff.
"Wait!" Shazam suddenly shouted, turning away.
"I see nothing! I hear nothing!" he declared, eyes squeezed shut.
It was such a blatant attempt to hide his embarrassment that Malrick nearly laughed.
For a man who'd lived thousands of years, the Wizard had remarkably thin dignity—and remarkably thick skin.
"Don't mind him," Malrick sighed. "Go ahead."
The two women nodded, their voices echoing in unison:
"Shazam!"
Twin bolts of lightning exploded from the heavens, blindingly bright.
Electric energy surged through the hall as both women absorbed their share of divine power.
Kara's Kryptonian suit shifted to a deep sapphire blue, a glowing lightning bolt shining across her chest.
She flexed her fingers, surprised. "I… don't feel much different."
Her Kryptonian physiology resisted magic, so the divine energy merely fused into her without much outward effect.
Diana, however, changed dramatically.
Lightning arced across her skin as her body lifted gently from the ground.
Her eyes closed, glowing faintly as divine energy surged through her veins.
The air around her crackled with electricity and light.
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