CW Flash: I Copy Attributes

"I can tell you things. I have knowledge that you'd find handy. Trust me, I'm more useful to you alive rather than dead."

Derek didn't say anything as he simply stared into the dungeon.

Malcolm rose to his knees, moving as close to Derek as possible before the chains pulled him back.

"I can tell you who previously brought the league to its knees. The greatest threat to the Demon Head, past and present. The same man who killed Ra's Al Ghul…"

"Oliver Queen."

Malcolm froze, staring at the figure with a dumbfounded expression. For once, he didn't have anything to say as he stammered.

"I already know a lot more than you think."

"Who are you?" Malcolm finally asked but was ignored.

"It's funny. Not too long ago you were so certain of your victory. But despite your arrogance, you beg in a sorry state." 

"It's because I know what I'm worth. You say you know everything yet you're oblivious to the service I can provide."

"No, Malcolm…"

Derek took a seat, folding his legs before the cell.

"That's just the thing. I know what you're capable of. You're like a cockroach that always finds a way out of a problem."

"I have no doubt you could help me. But your greed makes it so that you will inevitably stab me in the back when it matters most. As you did with Ra's, your daughter Thea and your son, Tommy."

Silence prevailed as the aura in the dungeon abruptly shifted. Malcolm's face slowly changed to a blank one, his eyes never leaving Derek.

"What did you say…" He asked in a flat tone

"I wonder. Despite you being her father, will Thea come for you? After all, you used her to kill Sara Lance, didn't you? Oh my, what a dead wife can do to a man…"

"You bastard!"

[Malcolm is angered by a difficult reality]

Malcolm snapped, his face contorted with anger as he hissed through his teeth.

He didn't care how Derek knew so much, his mind and logic were overcome with emotions.

"You think I wasn't prepared for a confrontation against Oliver Queen as the Demon's Head? It's inevitable."

Derek rose to his feet.

"You're right, they do hate me. But that's the thing about cockroaches. They can be slippery."

Derek turned, quiet.

"Mark my words, I will have the throne."

'That's all he cares about…'

Malcolm Merlyn.

A regular businessman before his wife died to a common street thug.

This led him down a void of bettering himself. He was able to realise his weakness and set off to Nanda Parbat to be trained under Ra's.

However, he was never able to satisfy his hunger for power. No matter how strong he became or what feats he achieved, he wanted more.

This would ultimately lead him to his demise later in the Arrow show.

'Exactly like Thawne said.'

This thought flashed through Derek's mind.

Someone who has never tasted power will be overwhelmed by it once they gain a significant amount.

Derek wasn't bothered that Thawne was correct in his theory. What bugged him was what he said next.

'He also claimed that's what would happen to me…'

"They will come. Prepare yourself…" Malcolm interrupted Derek's thoughts, bringing him back to the matter at hand.

'Ah, I think I'm understanding what kind of plot I've created.'

"Because there will be a war. And soon, I will kill you."

[You have made an enemy of Malcolm Merlyn]

'Interesting. I doubt they'll engage in a war for this scumbag. But I believe he will be the catalyst.'

To this, Derek simply grinned.

[Your understanding of Malcolm Merlin has increased drastically]

"Then so be it. Let there be war."

'Draw!'

***

'My understanding probably increased a lot because Malcolm was more relatable to me.'

Derek, soaring through the sky as he sat on the flat Eclipse, his legs dangling off the side, thought as he stared at a screen before him. 

Despite being this high up, over the clouds and under the moon, he wasn't cold like he'd usually be.

He wore a simple black shirt and he hadn't even noticed the drop in temperature.

Additionally, there was something different about him.

His face.

His features were more defined, his sharp jawline and hawk-like eyes being the most notable. 

With satisfyingly smooth skin and the green in his pupils seeming brighter than usual, Derek was sure to surprise even himself.

That was if he could see himself. 

He still hadn't looked in the mirror since bathing in the pit.

[You have copied the Attribute "Prestidigitation"]

[Prestidigitation: Highly trained in the art of stage magic, including sleight-of-hand, escape artistry, and hypnotism, Malcolm's skills in these areas were one of the reasons he was called "The Magician" by the League of Assassins]

'It's definitely a fun skill to have. Who wouldn't want to be a deadly magic assassin.'

He thought, amused. He knew he'd have to test out the skill, but for now, a thought troubled him.

'Am I really that similar to Malcolm?'

Though he didn't want to admit it, all the evidence would suggest so. 

The only difference was that Derek had the power to satiate his hunger for power.

'Then there's what happened in the pit.'

The emotions he felt were still lingering similar to the horrid aftertaste straight vinegar would leave on your tongue.

'Why did I feel that way? What or who made me feel that way?'

The weakness. The emptiness.

A part of him wondered if this was the reason being strong felt so…good. Why he would get a rush whenever he bested another.

He was fine with keeping his lost memories a mystery, but his past kept pricking him in the back every once in a while.

If this was the case…

'Will I destroy myself with my greed? It happened with Malcolm…and with what Thawne said…'

Derek clicked his teeth as he sighed, scratching his head in discomfort.

'The whole point of being in this world is that I'm the one who's supposed to know everything, yet I don't know anything about myself!'

Derek yelled inwardly in frustration, throwing himself back as he lay on his Eclipse.

"How ironic." He chuckled bitterly.

"You idiot. You meddled with the Lazarus pit and screwed up the stone."

Behind Derek stood a figure, towering over the laying youth. 

His familiar face with the unfriendly scar and black leather coat, hell his voice made it so there was no confusion as to who he was.

"Are you asleep or has your anxiety and fear driven you insane…"

"That's funny…"

Savitar, cut off, turned and paused as he watched Derek sit upward, facing away.

No words were spoken as Derek rose to his feet, stepping toward Savitar and coming face to face.

'What the hell…what happened to him?'

Gone was Savitar's mocking smirk, replaced with narrowed eyes as he glared at Derek, his eyebrows furrowed.

Derek's eyes were completely still, widened a little as he stared straight into Savitar's eyes. His cold snake-like green pupils glowed, his sharp gaze almost piercing the speedster.

"I'm not scared anymore," Derek muttered.

His previous racing heart and shaking hands that were common when he would stand before Savitar was gone. 

He was completely calm as if he'd mastered fear itself.

And one could see in Savitar's eyes that this displeased him.

"Prove it. Summon me. We'll see who's really got guts." Savitar, his tone laced with annoyance, replied.

"Hmph, I said I was brave, not stupid. Maybe one day, buddy." Derek scoffed, walking back to where he once sat.

After a slight pause, Savitar continued.

"I just came because of what you've done to my stone."

"You mean my stone?"

"Whatever. Either way, you somehow managed to break it. What do you think happens when all the Speedforce energy leaks from the stone?"

Derek shrugged amusingly.

"You'll lose your only way out of the speedforce?" 

"You'll die."

Derek's smirk faded as he heard this. 

Not because he was surprised at this revelation, but because the thought crossed his mind and Savitar only confirmed it further.

"The Philosopher's Stone dies without the immense energy of the Speedforce that powers it. You are the Philosopher's Stone. If it dies, you die."

Though Derek knew there was no definitive way of knowing what the consequences of this would be, this seemed like the most plausible conclusion.

'Best case scenario, even if I survive, the Philosopher's Stone in me dies and I lose all its power. Just as bad. Neither one can happen.'

"Are you listening to me?" Savitar, finally snapped, raised his voice.

"Is that all you came here to say?" He asked, the city lights of Central City peeking from the distance.

Savitar paused for a second, soon smirking as he turned.

"No. One more thing…You better return home quickly."

Derek snapped his head back, only to find Savitar was already gone.

'Wait…what?'

He shot to his feet, focusing his eyes to get a better view of the city.

'What…the hell?'

In a large area of the city, complete chaos ensued. 

Buildings were on fire, some even collapsed and the streets were completely empty, a few dead bodies littered here and there, all while it was shrouded in complete darkness.

Helicopters scoured the sky, shining their lights on the streets, blaring sirens echoing through the night.

Although this was the first thing Derek noticed, he was quick to shift his eyes elsewhere.

Off to the side of the city, away from civilization was where the heart of the chaos was.

It wasn't hard to notice after seeing the countless figures in orange jumpsuits, the helicopters focused around there.

Derek was instantly able to notice what the fortress-like stronghold was.

'Iron Heights…Thawne…SHIT!'

~Current time: 10:54PM~

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What happened while Derek was gone?

Is all of Team Flash safe?

Will Derek make it in time?

Find out on the next episode of Drag...I mean, CW Flash: I Copy Attributes!

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But either way, I'm going to need those Powerstones