MTLNOVEL Chapter 8: Chapter Fourteen and Fifteen
Chapter 14: The Ultimate Deception – Final Round
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Shavalyoth's voice echoed through the spaceship, filled with amusement as the final round began.
"Well, well! The last game was truly something. But now, let's see if you all have learned from your mistakes."
This time, the mix-up was different.
Two heroes. Two villains. Four impostors once again.
The roster shuffled, and everyone was teleported to new locations.
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New Impostors: The Ultimate Mix-up
Unlike before, the impostors were:
1. Batman – The world's greatest detective… could he turn that into deception?
2. Green Lantern – Would he use his wit and willpower to mislead the others?
3. Lex Luthor – A master strategist, ready to manipulate the game.
4. Cheetah – Her speed and cunning made her a perfect impostor.
The rest were workers.
The game began.
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First Deception – The Perfect Distraction
Wonder Woman and Flash worked together in electrical, talking quietly.
Superman monitored everyone, already suspicious.
Lex Luthor walked over to Green Lantern. "You know, if we play this right, we won't even need to lie much."
Green Lantern smirked. "Exactly. Let them accuse each other."
Then—the first strike.
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First Meeting – Tensions Rise
The alarm blared, and everyone was called to the cafeteria.
Reverse-Flash was missing.
Superman's eyes narrowed. "Who saw him last?"
Wonder Woman frowned. "He was with Batman earlier."
Batman kept his expression unreadable. "Yes, and then I left him alive."
Lex smirked. "Convenient."
The debate was fierce, but ultimately—
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[No One Voted Out]
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A Deadly Game of Shadows
The players returned to their tasks.
Batman moved quietly through the halls, setting up his next deception.
Cheetah struck quickly, removing another worker from the game.
Lex Luthor and Green Lantern planted doubts in conversations.
Then—the second alarm.
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Second Meeting – The Vote That Changed Everything
The room was silent.
Superman clenched his jaw. "We lost another. That's two down."
Flash crossed his arms. "Someone saw something."
Wonder Woman glanced between Batman and Green Lantern.
Finally, she spoke. "I think it's Batman."
Votes came in.
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[Batman Voted Out]
[IMPOSTOR.]
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Superman smirked. "Got one."
But the game was far from over.
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The Final Showdown
With Batman gone, Lex Luthor and Cheetah acted fast.
Lex Luthor used his manipulation skills, turning suspicions onto Superman.
Green Lantern remained quiet, playing the long game.
Then—the final strike.
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Final Meeting – The Last Betrayal
The room was silent.
Only four remained.
Superman.
Flash.
Lex Luthor.
Green Lantern.
Superman's eyes narrowed.
"Wait—where's Wonder Woman?"
Silence.
Then, a slow clap.
Lex Luthor smirked. "Oh dear, looks like you figured it out too late."
"GAME OVER."
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[IMPOSTORS WIN.]
Shavalyoth's laughter filled the air.
"What a spectacular round! I must say, this was one of the best games yet."
Superman sighed. "I swear, next time, I'll win this."
Batman smirked. "We'll see."
Then, Shavalyoth raised a hand, his voice booming.
"This marks the end of the game. But don't worry—next month, we'll have a brand-new match. Until then, enjoy your time… because next time, I'm raising the stakes."
A wave of energy surrounded the heroes and villains, teleporting them back home.
But in their minds, one thing was clear—this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter
Chapter 15: The Calm Before the Storm—Hide and Seek in the Mansion of Shadows
A month had passed since the last game. The world had settled into its normal chaos—heroes saving the day, villains plotting, and tensions rising once more.
During this time, many of the past contestants had resumed their daily struggles. Batman patrolled Gotham, Superman watched over Metropolis, Lex Luthor continued his research, and the Joker returned to his twisted games.
The missions assigned by Shavalyoth had been simple but rewarding. They varied from stopping criminal syndicates, protecting hidden relics, solving ancient puzzles, and even retrieving lost artifacts across dimensions.
But then, just when they thought things had returned to normal, it happened again.
A dark pulse of energy washed over them, and in an instant, they were teleported once more.
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Arrival at the Mansion of Shadows
This time, they appeared inside a massive, gothic-style mansion, unlike anything they had seen before.
Candlelit corridors stretched endlessly, statues lined the halls, and eerie paintings seemed to shift when not directly observed. Chandeliers swayed despite the still air, and distant whispers echoed through the stone walls.
Suddenly, the flames from the torches and chandeliers surged, illuminating the vast entrance hall. A deep, familiar voice spoke from above them.
"Welcome back. I thought you all could use some fun before things get… complicated."
Shavalyoth's form materialized on a balcony above them, his glowing eyes filled with mischief.
"Today's game is simple: Hide and Seek."
A massive inscription burned into the ceiling, revealing the rules.
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Shavalyoth's Game: Hide and Seek
One Seeker. Everyone else hides.
No powers. Only wit, skill, and luck will determine survival.
The mansion is massive, containing hidden rooms, secret basements, and shifting walls.
If caught, Hiders are teleported to "Shadow Chambers" and removed from play.
The last Hider standing wins.
Shavalyoth's grin widened.
"The mansion has many secrets… some you may not wish to uncover."
A dark mist swirled in the air, signaling the start of the game.
The Seeker was chosen.
A shadowy mark appeared on Batman's hand.
"You're it."
The game began.
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The Hunt Begins
The Hiders Scatter
The moment the countdown began, the hiders rushed into the darkness.
Lex Luthor's Strategy
Luthor, always the strategist, quickly assessed the architecture of the mansion. Instead of hiding randomly, he searched for structural weaknesses or hidden pathways.
Within minutes, he found a hidden door behind an old bookshelf and disappeared into the mansion's lower levels.
Joker's Approach
Unlike the others, Joker didn't take the game seriously. He left false trails—open doors, spilled ink, and eerie messages written in chalk on the walls.
Then, with a wide grin, he climbed into a grandfather clock and waited.
Superman's Dilemma
Without his powers, Superman relied on his agility and quick thinking. He spotted a ceiling vent, climbed onto a bookshelf, and squeezed inside just before Batman entered the room.
Zatanna's Disguise
Zatanna used her illusionist skills, despite lacking magic. She quickly changed into a tattered dress she found in an old wardrobe, blending in with the mansion's eerie atmosphere. Then, she positioned herself behind a cracked mirror, using the shadows to her advantage.
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The First Capture
Batman was fast.
Analyzing footprints, subtle disturbances, and even the faintest traces of warmth left behind, he worked methodically.
His first target? Joker.
The clown had been too careless with his false trails.
Batman followed the chaos to the grandfather clock. He paused for a moment, then swiftly kicked it open.
"Boo!" Joker cackled. "Took you long enough!"
In an instant, shadowy chains wrapped around Joker, teleporting him to the Shadow Chamber.
First Capture: Joker.
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The Hidden Basement
Lex Luthor, still hidden beneath the mansion, made a shocking discovery.
This wasn't just a hiding place.
The basement contained ancient machinery, glowing symbols, and a massive sealed door covered in alien script.
Luthor touched the door. A low hum echoed.
He froze.
This… wasn't part of the game.
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Final Pursuit & The Winner
As Batman worked through the mansion, he found more players:
Superman was discovered when the vent he was hiding in creaked too loudly.
Zatanna's reflection shifted slightly in the cracked mirror, giving her away.
One by one, they were captured…
Until only Lex Luthor remained.
Batman finally uncovered the basement entrance—but when he descended, Luthor was nowhere to be found.
A second hidden exit.
Then, a door behind Batman creaked open.
Luthor stepped out, smirking.
"Checkmate."
The game ended.
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After the Game—A Dark Warning
Everyone reappeared in the main hall, their shadows fading.
Shavalyoth's laughter echoed through the room.
"Luthor wins this round. Enjoy your prize."
A golden key materialized in Luthor's hand.
Each participant received a minor reward:
Superman: A fragment of an ancient map.
Zatanna: A piece of parchment with forgotten incantations.
Batman: A black stone tablet with an inscription.
Then, suddenly, Shavalyoth's tone changed.
The flames dimmed.
His eyes burned brighter.
"Now… listen closely. The next game won't be for fun."
The air grew heavy.
"Darkseid is coming."
A holographic projection appeared, showing Earth from space. A massive, looming shadow approached—Darkseid's invasion force.
"The war begins soon. You have a choice—fight together, or fall separately."
The heroes and villains exchanged uneasy glances.
Even the Joker, usually amused by chaos, was silent.
Darkseid wasn't a game.
He was death.
Shavalyoth folded his arms.
"Enjoy the peace while you can. The real battle is coming."
The room shook.
The game was over.
The war was about to begin.
To be continued…
End of Chapter