- Doomsday - Volume One: Gods and Monsters

Chapter 70: The Reckoning

(AN: Overwatch lore is weird. So before Kiriko was revealed magic was in a grey zone, because characters like Hanzo/Genji/Zenyatta (also Mercy to an extent) definitely seemed to suggest magic was canon, since they could literally summon dragons, you get the gist (and whatever the Iris is, if we ever learn, probably not). Some more popular theories suggested that it was all 'Hard-Light', what Vishkar works on and what Symmetra and Wifeleaver's powers are based off of, but I always hated that. But, since Kiriko can teleport and heal without any technology magic seems far more plausible (and I don't even know what Illari's whole deal is), magic seems to be canon (or maybe the Japanese characters just do that). Concluding thoughts, I'm not sure how far to push things like magic, it's not too far fetched because Superman exists, but that's science or whatever in this story, so I'm still mulling over how far to go in those directions. I want the story to be grounded within the Overwatch universe with DC characters, so it would feel weird to me if Zatanna or John Constantine just showed up and started summoning demons (Not that either would show up, just using them as an example), if you get what I mean. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks for sitting through my rant. Enjoy the chapter as always!)

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A deep rumbling reverberated across the entirety of the Junkertown, thousands of Junkers descending upon the city, coming from far and wide, in order to perhaps witness the crowning of a new Junkerking. The Outback, while decentralised and split between many different warring clans and factions, all held some respect for the title and the one who controlled the city held great authority and influence. What was most exciting about the event was that any Junker could take part, a truly liberating exercise of their independence from the National Australian Government. The power was held by those who took it, those with immense physical strength or prowess, perhaps precision with firearms, or maybe even the smarts to create a mech-suit, a fashionable display of a Junker's passion, only superseded by their love for vehicles. Nothing was off-the-table, it was a true free-for-all, underhanded tactics were the aim and Junkers encouraged to use any means to secure victory, the ruler of the Outback needing cunning as well as strength to administer his subjects.

From outside the city, engines raced in jubilation, drowning the area within an ear-splitting cry of metal and smoke, however the uproar within the Scrapyard was far greater, the crowds howling out their lungs in preparation for the games. Many arriving hours early in order to get a place, the stands had been packed, with no seat absent, rather it seemed some seats held two or more people. People of all sorts showed their faces, from children witnessing the Reckoning for the first time, to elders who could still remember a time before the Omnium fell. Fire erupted around the edges of the stadium, highlighting the arena below, fireworks exploding high above, sending sparks cascading everywhere, blocking out the black night. In an age where the Junkers had little to hope towards, they sure knew how to put together a festival.

In the centre of the stadium was a large propellor blade, its width stretching from wall to wall, slowly turning, as lights flashed sporadically around the arena, outlining the fighter entranceways. Suddenly, the lights turned dark, before reactivating quickly, flashing increasingly faster, the crowd's chanting growing even louder as a mechanical suit descended from the roof, landing atop the centre of the rotating blade. Screams of admiration followed, welcoming the Junker king to the Scrapyard, the man inside the suit laughing heavily, enjoying the attention. The mech was definitely rudimentary, with little care given towards design or appearance, but in terms of efficiency, it seemed to have everything, heavy armour, a multitude of weapons, and could move with great dexterity. It wasn't surprising that he had won the title months prior.

Clanking the two metal arms of his suit together, the stands grew slightly quieter, waiting for the man to speak, the King pulling out a flask, taking a large swig, roughly wiping the bottom of his mouth before speaking. Standing up from his seated position within the mech, he held a mic close to his face, a scratchy audio booming across the stadium. "JUNKERS, MY SUBJECTS." Mason began, his voice jovial but conveyed an aura of confidence and bravado, "TODAY, AS WAS DECIDED UPON ON THE EVE OF OUR INDEPENDENCE, I AM PROUD TO OPEN, THE SECOND RECKONING, FOR THE POSSESSION OF THE TITLE, KING OF THE JUNKERS!" The crowd rose as he finished his speech, the chanting continuing once again, as entrance ways across the colosseum slid open, smoke billowing out from each holding. A tense atmosphere followed as they awaited the first contestants to show their faces.