The End of Freeze, the birth of a new Treat and a warning of the Future.

Deep below Gotham

"We should be up there, boss! The city is ripe for harvesting" shouted one of the punks out of the group. Immediately there was silence. No one had challenged the boss for a long time. The group split immediately and revealed the view of the challenger. A 20-year-old punk with a green mohawk cut and a dirty leather vest.

"So do you think so?" replied a deep voice with a strong Spanish accent.

"Yes! I heard that Black Mask is death! That means another of the big ones has bitten the grass boss! With you at our side we are unstoppable! No one will stand in our way!"

"Dios Mios. What an idiot you are! The big bosses aren't important anymore! There is a new one in the city and we have to fear him. We are not enough yet!

"Boss we are over ... "

"I said we're not enough!" the leader yelled now. The voice became more and more threatening and as he rose from his chair all the others moved back in front of him. "Did I express myself clearly, little one?

"Yes.... Boss" stammered the punk intimidated and lowered his gaze.

"Then it's good, you idiot! And now send the hookers up! We need fresh meat! And let them stay away from this monster that Batman had with him! This thing can detect us!"

Everyone swarmed at his hint and ran through the sewers to fill up their rows even more. They were still clearly too little for what their boss had in mind. Everywhere in the city they would steal the scum of the underworld and turn it into an unstoppable power of the wolves. And when the time was ripe, they would rule Gotham.

Meanwhile.

"This is a really excellent place" Umbra nodded very contentedly.

The mighty body of the Wer-cat towered over his companions and looked around. The fact that he was crouching on an old fountain helped him to keep an eye on his family.

Selina had chosen her new form for this meeting and her tail was eagerly beating back and forth. A sign of how pleased she was. At her side stood the reborn ruler of the clan.

Bastet.

She was similar in shape to Selina only that her fur had a different colour. Her fur reminded more of a cheetah and her muscles were more pronounced and more visible than those of Selina. Even though she was a little bigger than Selina and made sure that everyone was fine at Umbra's side, she was always very gentle and caring to Selina.

Behind the three the seven deadly sins were already romping through the empty greenhouse to explore her new home. Of course, it was inevitable that a lot would go to pieces. The 7 Wer cats jumped wildly and adventurously around in the big hall. Here and there the 7 young Wer-cats also started to cable each other and play playfully with each other.

Here they would be able to build up their tribe well. Umbra was sure of that. And soon they would reveal themselves to the vampire and Batman and end this war. Umbra was confident of that. Soon he would reveal himself to both parties and make peace. However, his nose said Bastet was nervous. Maybe nervous was the wrong word for her condition. However, she was not completely on the case. Also Selina had noticed this because it

"Speak Bastet! What's bothering you" he finally asked when the children were all gone.

Bastet's tail swung carefully back and forth. Her whiskers twitched as she moved and were gripped by a strange tension. Of all his children, her connection with the umbra was the strongest. Even though he had been named after the Umbra, he had to admit that his own mystical connection was rather weak. He was aware that he had a role to play and the Bastet was an extremely important tool.

"The balance... it was there for a short time... and now it's gone!"

"Gone" Selina asked curiously and crossed her arms.

"On the side of the vampires, Zatanna has awakened. Her knowledge has crossed a line that will change her path forever."

"What do you see?"

"I see roses. A rose for every fallen person in this city. I see that we will face an army. And I can hear it. It hurts my ears! I fear a catastrophe will come over this city. And I see the end!

With a meaningless purr she first looked at Selina then at Umbra.

"When the light of the full moon shines on Gotham, a great power will arise. It will be a storm that returns. A child of chaos will rise to prove that no power in the world can tame him." She said cryptically and both Selina and Umbra thought about her words. But neither of them could imagine or recognize what the mystic of the pack meant.

Iceberg Lounge.

"Look at that. So you've come back," Dracula said calmly and looked quietly at his three brides to then look back at Freeze who stood without the slightest trace of fear of him.

"And what will we do now?" asked Freeze. Even though there was no fear to be seen in this man's face, Dracula could tell from his tone that he had no hope of getting out alive.

"My wife told me that you had put up an excellent fight. You were about to earn my gratitude. Does your wife's life mean so little to you?" Dracula asked and smiled ice-coldly. Above all Vicky stood mockingly grinning behind him and you could clearly see her joy.

"You were properly informed, Mr. Tepes. But you're wrong about your thoughts about my wife."

"Really? Do I?" Dracula asked curiously.

"Yes. You do. For what you have offered me is nothing more than a deception."

"HOW DARE OF YOU! LET ME HANDLE HIM! I WILL KILL HIM!" Vicky growled and wanted to jump forward when Dracula stopped her with a hand movement.

"Silence my love. This man has earned respect so far. He should be allowed to speak. And I want him to explain himself without one of my wives threatening or interrupting him."

Freeze looked at her and then back at Dracula. "Thank you. You shall get the answer you want. However, I must confess before that I have tested you. I wanted Miss Vale to accompany me because she's the only one whose character I could evaluate."

"I forgive you for this deception."

"I've come to the conclusion that you may have the power to heal my wife, but so far you've provided no evidence that you would be able to bring my wife back to me." Said Freeze unmoved.

Dracula bent forward threateningly and put his chin on his fingers. " So-so. So you doubt my power?" he asked threateningly and seriously.

Freeze could see how the three women behind Dracula also hissed aggressively. Above all Vicky.

"I do not doubt your power. You have proven that you have immense knowledge and a power beyond my scientific expertise. However, my research has shown that the character of a human being changes fundamentally when touched by your power. Miss Vale has shown all the signs of a psychopathic woman who lacks basic human traits. I suspect this is due to your particular condition. The underlying data suggests that the same change will happen to my wife. And the resulting being would by no means be my wife."

"So you fear that my power will change your wife?" Dracula asked mockingly. "Maybe you fear that she will stay with me?"

"I'm not afraid of anything. I analyze facts. And the facts tell me clearly that you cannot give me back my wife. You can only give her a new life, but it will have its price."

"A price you're not willing to pay Freeze?" Talia smiled curiously. She held herself back much more than Vicky, even though she understood her companion well. This cold, calculating kind of freeze got her upset.

"It's not about what I'm willing to pay. It's about that it's my job and my duty to preserve the memory of my wife." He said calmly. One could see Freeze's weapons charging and icy fog from the cold emitters wafting hoarfrost to the ground. Immediately his three brides jumped in front of Dracula to protect their Lord and Master but he laughed only amused as he rose.

"Go to the side, my dear ones. He won't Harm me."

"Master. You didn't see how he dealt with Batman. I have never seen anything like it! He could have killed them all! He's dangerous" Vicky hissed angrily and Dracula smiled at her calmly as he pushed her aside.

Freeze knew this fight would be his last. He felt no fear because he was no longer able to feel such emotions. However, he knew that Dracula was a different caliber than Batman. But he was also prepared for this fight.

But something confused him. Dracula stood in front of him and smiled as he slowly took off his snow-white gloves. He had noticed these gloves before. They were decorated with mystical symbols and seemed to be very important to him. But the fact that he took them off was not the reason for his confusion. It was the reaction of his wives. Zatanna withdrew almost panically and yet she had a fire in her eyes that testified to a fascination he had never seen before. It almost seemed as if she had seen the Holy Grail.

Talia's reaction, on the other hand, was terrifying. It was this arrogant grin that had formed on her face. Her arms crossed in front of her chest. The eyes radiated something like compassion.

In Vickies face, on the other hand, he saw nothing but the darkest, most murderous anticipation. Whatever Dracula had just done, Vicky couldn't wait to see it.

"Feel honored human. For you I open the seventh seal. Amazing that I will open it again so quickly." Dracula smiled and clenched both fists.

"I suppose you're telling me that you take me seriously as an opponent?"

"Opponent?" laughed Dracula in a good mood. "No. As an opponent I don't take you seriously!

"Then you make a serious mistake" Freeze shouted as he pointed both frostmites at Dracula. He would only get this one chance. It would use up the fusion cells of his suit almost completely but nothing could withstand this cold. The emitters glowed bluish when 2 rays hit Dracula's chest directly. Each of the rays was harmless in itself, but when the rays collided, a reaction occurred that caused the matter itself to freeze. The absolute zero point. At this cold even atoms could not move. No matter what forces Dracula had, against the laws of physics, he was also powerless.

But when the fog had disappeared Dracula stood unmoved in front of him and knocked some dust off his shoulder. A completely contemptuous pose.

"Ah. So that was that famous science you so firmly believe in? What's next? Do you rely on the protection of your mighty armor? The silver that is woven in it?"

As soon as the Dracula had spoken these words, he hurried ahead. Unable to follow these movements, Freeze felt his breastplate ripped open. Frightened, he looked down at himself and saw Dracula's hands tearing his breastplate like a paper box. Neither the silver nor the electronic systems had stopped him. Then he felt Dracula's hand lay around his throat and he pulled him out of the armour.

"And what now little man? What do you do now without your precious technology? Mh? he smiled contemptuously as he threw him towards the sofa with a casual gesture.

Freeze felt his body begin to react to the temperature that was lethal to him. At least it would soon be over. In a few years his wife's cooling systems would fail and she would die. That was the only thing he regretted. That he hadn't been able to save her.

"Master! Eliminate this worm at last! He didn't deserve to be alive."

"If you dare to tell me again what to do I will remind you of your position" Dracula said sternly and looked over his shoulder as he bent to Freeze and laid his hand on his forehead. "Know that Talia took your wife. Her soul has left this world. The prison that held her spirit in this world is destroyed! She is death," he said almost thoughtfully.

Anger. For the first time since his accident he felt something. Like a wild animal he cried out as he felt his heart begin to beat with hatred and anger.

"Have no fear, my friend. You have shown yourself to be a man of honour and I have always respected such things. Before I end your life you should know that I am giving you one last gift".

Then the pain was gone. Confused, Freeze looked at Dracula's right hand... a throbbing heart was in it. His whole hand was full of blood.

"Is that my heart? It shouldn't be in his hand? Why... am I feeling so warm" it went through his head when he suddenly saw something else behind Dracula. It was a gigantic, shadowy figure with the head of a jackal. A fine robe with golden ornaments that reminded him of Egypt. Then his eyes focused on the woman standing next to the gigantic jackal man. It was his wife and she smiled gently and happily at him.

"Go in peace human. Anubis has already accepted your wife's soul and yours too will prove on the golden scales that you are worth it. This is my gift to you! You are the noblest of your kind!

Talia, Vicky and Zatanna stood there and looked with mixed feelings at the spectacle in front of them. They had seen Dracula rip the heart out of his chest and then heard the words he had said to him. But they could see neither Anubis nor Freeze's wife. At least not Talia and Vicky. But Zatanna could see the outlines of the two clearly. Their teachings in the darkest of magical arts had enabled her to see beyond the veil. Full of awe she saw the outline of the only true god of death. That her master could conjure up such a power was almost unthinkable. Even with all these powers and all this knowledge, it was simply not possible. Until she realized that a being like Dracula, who had been wandering the world for thousands of years, did not need to summon gods. Dracula had probably only demanded a favor. Or paid a price. And that for this man.

"Master. Do me the honor of giving this man the last resting place he deserves." She said deeply touched. Dracula nodded to her and closed the eyes of Viktor Freeze. The happy smile that the face of the corpse showed was reward enough for him.

"So be it beloved Zatanna. Show him the respect he could not earn in life. Know my brides. Here lies a man I would have liked to call my brother."