With the demon spirits exterminated, the vast sanctuary fell silent once more. The old wizard sat back on his throne, closed his eyes to gather his strength, and soon his aged face regained a bit of color and vitality.
At this moment, Shen You had returned to his human form and approached the old wizard.
"Thank you for your help, outsider," Wizard Shazam opened his eyes and solemnly addressed Shen You. "Though it's hard to admit, I must concede that without your assistance, the consequences could have been dire."
"You don't seem surprised by me," Shen You remarked.
The wizard smiled slightly.
"I have lived for nine thousand years. In these nine thousand years, I have witnessed the fall of old gods, the rise of new ones, the end of worlds, and the wrath of the vengeful spirits of the gods. Believe me, after living so long, nothing is too strange. You are indeed a being I have never encountered before, but nothing can overly astonish a wise wizard."
Shen You thought about it and agreed. Wizard Shazam had lived not only a long life but had undoubtedly interacted with beings of multiversal significance. Though he was no longer at his peak, he wouldn't be overly surprised by encountering new extraterrestrial races.
The wizard sighed, "But I am indeed getting old and increasingly powerless. I must find a new successor quickly, or soon there will be no one to guard the sanctuary."
After a pause, he looked at Shen You and sighed again.
"In fact, I think you would make a good candidate. Your willpower needs honing, but you have a good heart, and your soul is pure. It's a pity..."
He shook his head and didn't continue, but Shen You somewhat understood the meaning behind the wizard's words.
The wizard, being human himself, would naturally choose his successor from among humans. Strictly speaking, after his first rebirth, Shen You had transformed into an Ultraman and was no longer human, thus not within the wizard's pool of candidates.
Though he said this, it was also a matter of fate. There were others in the Justice League who might meet the criteria of pure heart and strong will, but across countless parallel worlds, the wizard always chose Billy Batson. There seemed to be a guiding force of destiny.
"I cannot give you the power of Shazam, but a wizard cannot let you go unrewarded for your help... Hmm..." The old wizard pondered for a moment before asking, "Although I have never seen a being like you, by my estimation, you should be a lifeform of light magic?"
Shen You was somewhat surprised. The term "light magic" seemed to be the wizard's way of describing it from a magical perspective. Though the wizard's power had waned, his sharp insight remained. With just a glance, he could see the essence of Shen You's Ultraman nature.
"In that case, this might be of help to you."
Wizard Shazam extended his hand, and with a pinch of his fingers, a ray of sunlight appeared, materializing into a ruby.
Shen You initially thought to say he knew nothing of magic, but as he took the ruby and sensed it, he was astonished to feel a potent and intense energy within. With just a thought, that energy began to flow into him, making him feel energized and refreshed within moments.
It felt similar to absorbing stellar energy through sunlight.
An Ultraman's essence is light, not just metaphorically but also physically. There were many instances in the series where Ultraman would recharge quickly by basking near a star, being the most effective way to recharge.
And this little ruby gave Shen You a similar sensation to sunlight.
"This is a gift from the sun god Apollo after an ancient battle," Wizard Shazam said, stroking his beard with a smile. "For me, it has been merely a collectible all these years, but it might be beneficial to you."
Shen You suddenly understood. Apollo, in DC lore, was the sun god, and his power was undeniably solar radiation—personally endorsed by Superman.
In the comics, Wonder Woman took Superman to the realm of the Greek gods. When Apollo, who disliked Superman, attacked him with solar radiation, Superman's energy levels instantly soared to 400%, and he was amazed, saying, "You used solar radiation to hit me?" before punching Apollo several miles away.
This small ruby seemed to be a similar magical artifact. It could absorb and store a significant amount of solar radiation. Though Shen You didn't know its original purpose, for him, it was definitely a plug-and-play power bank.
Like Superman, Ultramen could also power up through solar radiation. For example, in Max's finale, after a solar recharge, he used a light sword to pierce through the atmosphere in one strike, which was incredibly impressive. Shen You estimated that while this power bank might not have the same effect as Max's overpowered state, it could serve as a similar auxiliary tool. Normally, it could be charged, and in critical moments, it could be a backup for an explosive boost.
This made Shen You think again. Wizards like Shazam were comparable to the Sorcerer Supreme from Marvel. Just as the Sorcerer Supreme's sanctum had rooms full of artifacts, Wizard Shazam likely had a plethora of similar good stuff.
Shen You accepted the ruby, thanked the wizard, and after some thought, asked.
"So, are you going to stay here to guard this sanctuary and continue looking for a successor?"
The old wizard shook his head.
"I do need to find a successor," he said, "but perhaps not here. I have been detached from reality for too long and am somewhat out of touch with the modern world. Without integrating into it, understanding today's people, it will be hard to find the one in a million successor."
He said this with a serene smile.
"It's been nine thousand years, such a long time. After repeatedly protecting the world from demonic hands, it is time for me to step down. My days are numbered, and all I ask is to find someone worthy of this responsibility before I pass. Then I can rest in peace.
A chaotic era is coming again, but the world will have its new guardians. Who knows? Maybe they will do better than we did, perhaps not only protecting but also guiding humanity towards the light."
As the old man spoke, he seemed to pat Shen You's shoulder meaningfully.
Then he got up, left the stone throne, and walked calmly towards the exit of the sanctuary.
Shen You watched the old man's weathered back, feeling a moment of melancholy. Wizard Shazam might not have been the main character in the stories and was often just the mentor figure in a hero's origin story. But undeniably, he had been a great guardian, protecting countless lives in the shadows for thousands of years, often unknown and unacknowledged.
Even in his twilight years, his concern remained to pass the torch and continue safeguarding humanity's safety.
Hmm, wait a moment.
Shen You suddenly thought of a point.
"Wizard... Senior?" He followed the wizard towards the sanctuary exit and asked, "You said your days are numbered?"
"Yes." The old wizard accepted this calmly, like a wise man who had seen through the world's illusions.
"Then, can I ask how long you have left, approximately?"
"Who knows? Lifespan is an uncertain thing. It could be two or three decades, maybe four or five," the old wizard said.
Shen You: "..."
As he suspected, when a nine-thousand-year-old man said he was at death's door, his standard was certainly different from that of normal humans.
"Um, so, in the next few decades, do you have any plans?" Shen You interrupted, "Because the selection process might take ten, twenty years? Where do you plan to live during this time? What will you eat?"
Given the actual combat situation, the wizard's old limbs were still somewhat nimble, but his magic seemed to be less effective. Before finding a successor, the immediate issue would be basic living necessities.
At this moment, they had just passed through the magic door back to the alleyway where they entered. The old wizard was stunned, evidently not having seriously considered this problem.
So Shen You took the opportunity to say, "To be honest, I recently opened a café not far from here. Business is decent, and I am considering offering some baked goods or light meals besides coffee. It just so happens that I'm short of a cook."
The old wizard's eyes widened, and he blew his beard in anger.
"You want me, the guardian of the Rock of Eternity, founder of the Council of Eternity, the greatest wizard... to be your cook!?"
Shen You remained silent, merely giving a look that implied, "Consider it."
"No, absolutely not, impossible, no way!"
The old wizard crossed his arms, lifted his head proudly, and resolutely refused.
But the rebellious aging body gave him away as his stomach emitted a series of rumbling growls.
The old wizard: "..."
Thus, one day later.
The HISHE Café at the corner had a new addition: an old cook wearing an apron and a chef's hat, blowing his beard and glaring at everyone.
"I tell you, Gotham is a place full of talent. What you see and experience in our shop in a day is more than you would in a month elsewhere. This is the perfect place to integrate into modern times."
Shen You cheerfully said to the new employee he had recruited with no pay but full board.
"By the way, the kitchen equipment might be unfamiliar, but they are all very user-friendly. Let me show you..."
"No need."
The old man proudly raised his head.
"Merely mortal creations, mastering them is a breeze for a wise wizard. By nightfall, they will all obey my command!"
"Um, alright then, good luck."
However, barely
two minutes after Shen You left the kitchen, there was a loud "bang."
Followed by the smell of burning and smoke.
Shen You: "..."