"Your name?"

The Wizard nodded. "Indeed."

"Why is it secret?" Billy asked.

"Names have power, Billy," the Wizard said sagely, a mischievous gleam in his eye.

"But I thought your name was the Wizard?"

"Just because that's what people call me doesn't mean it's my name."

Billy just shook his head, "I'm confused."

The Wizard laughed, and guided Billy away from the mesmerizing crystal cliff. "It will all make sense to you soon, Billy. You will be blessed by six gods of old. You will be presented before them to receive their gifts, and the experience may not be… pleasant. But if you choose to accept this, you must endure. You will use these six gifts to subdue the Hebdomad Discordia for the rest of time, or until you are no longer fit to carry the burden."

"Woah," Billy gasped, eyes widening with the realization of just how big, how important this was. "That's a long time."

"Indeed," the Wizard smiled encouragingly.

"Wait a minute," Billy said. "If I'm supposed to be fighting the Seven Deadly Sins, why do I only get six powers? Doesn't that seem… I dunno, unfair?

The Wizard clapped Billy on the back in delight. "Very observant, Billy! You will make a fine champion, indeed!" He trailed off in a fit of mumbling and excited giggles. "Ah yes! Back to my point. I have gathered for you quite the pantheon to grace you with their virtues. In fact, I think it's one of the best ever to agree to bond together. Yes, indeed, since the First Age of Gods, but everyone was practically a god then, which is why this feat is so impressive, if I do say so myself. Gods are terribly flighty, very hard to round up. Which is why it's a miracle that Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury agreed at all. It's quite a formidable line up!"

Billy gazed at the Wizard, wide-eyed. The ancient man's gaze met his own, and he had a sense that the Wizard was endlessly powerful, despite his stooped appearance and cheerful mood.

"Are you ready, Billy?"

Billy gulped, nervous, but the Wizard's smile gave him courage. "I think so."

"Okay, Billy. I will tell you my true name. When I do, it will ignite the contract between you and the pantheon. You will receive your six blessings. And yes, only six. Because the seventh is a gift you already have, Billy. The Compassion of the Champion. Are you ready?"

Billy, set his jaw, determined. "I am."

The Wizard smiled, and took a step back. "Well, then Billy. It's a great pleasure to meet you. My name is SHAZAM."

Billy heard the Wizard speak, heard the name that echoed with the power of the gods. But he did not have time to marvel at the way the Wizard's voice radiated throughout this world, piercing his soul. He didn't even have time to gape as the biggest, grandest bolt of lightning he had ever witnessed darted toward him from the sky.

He didn't have time to notice, because as soon as the bolt hit him, he was in the greatest pain he had ever been in his life. The electricity raced through his veins like fire. He couldn't tell if he was screaming, because his ears were filled with a painful buzzing but his throat was shredded and raw.

Billy didn't know how long it lasted, but a figure approached him through the blinding light. Marred by his blurry tears, Billy saw a tall figure approach him, walking slowly, with his head held high. Billy couldn't make out any of his features because of his tears, but he saw light red hair and beard, and warm brown eyes. The most majestic golden eagle he had ever seen was perched on the man's shoulder. Billy could only stare as he seized in pain.

"Hello, William," the voice was deep and resonated with Billy's soul. "I am Solomon, Third King of Israel, descendant of the House of David." He approached Billy, and gently grasped his face in both hands. "Blessed is the man who finds Wisdom, and he who gains understanding. I grant you the Wisdom of Solomon." Billy couldn't help the tears that leaked from his eyes as the man's gentle touch was marred by the roaring burning pain of endless electricity. Solomon kissed Billy on the forehead, and he closed his eyes as the shock of a rapidly increasing mind gripped his head.

Then, he was struck again.

Another massive bolt of lightening was thrown from the sky and entered him from his marked forehead. Suddenly there was a great strain on his arms. Through the pain, Billy knew he had to pull. He closed his eyes knew that everything he loved, all his hopes and dreams hung in the balance. So he pulled, he pulled with all his might and pulled some more. Gritting his teeth, Billy gave it his all. As sudden as it arrived, the strain was gone, and Billy opened his eyes to see his hands grasped in the rough hands of the biggest man he'd ever seen. This man had the presence of Superman, but was much grittier, dirtier, more wild. He grinned and his hazel eyes glinted from within his ragged face.

"I grant you with the Strength of Hercules. May it serve you well in battle, Warrior." He squeezed Billy's hands, and before he even had time to brace himself he was struck a third time, the painful current flowing into his body through their connected palms.

Billy was tired. His knees trembled with his burden, but he knew he could not release it. The whole world depended on it, on him. But the weight, it was unbearable. The electric fire that raced through his veins combined with the colossal burden on his shoulders made him want to give up, to put down the weight that crushed him. But he didn't. He knew that it was his burden to bear. And so he endured. Billy struggled for an eternity under the weight of the world. He was so tired. He bowed his head.

"The axis of spiritual becoming lies in the instant where the cycle ends and begins. It is eternal." Billy looked up, straining to see where the unearthly voice came from. A giant stood before him, as big as the galaxy itself. On his shoulders sat the whole universe. It was at that instance that Billy realized he only shared a miniscule fraction of this god's burden, and was awed by his strength.

"It is not the power of my limbs that is crucial to my eternal fate, mortal. It is my willpower, my burning desire to carry on that is the greatest of all strengths. And so, I gift to you the Endurance of Atlas."

It was with an excruciating release that Billy was struck on his spine, right between his shoulder blades and the giant god before him disappeared in an agonizing flash.

This pain was new, it was different. Where before the lightening had burned its way through his skin and bones, now it ripped through his soul. Billy wasn't solid anymore, he was the lightening. His soul felt like it was being ripped apart, the bolts trying desperately to scatter him in a thousand directions. He consciously held his core together, as the storm tore at his being. Billy could feel himself slipping, his control wavering, when the pulling stopped. He was no longer being shredded by bolts, but instead caressed by them, cocooned in their sharp embrace. A presence touched his soul, and he could sense a powerful presence.

"From the East I call upon the power of the winds. By my will and your blessings, the magic shall be instilled within. From the South I call upon the mighty master bolt, energize the magic with your strength of the volt. From the West I call upon the power of the sky. Shine with courage, light the night, and my blessings multiply. From the North I call upon the power of the earth, to ground him with your rooted strength to let him prove his worth! With these four blessings I bestow upon the mortal, I grant him access to the godly portal. With this power that I give I freely take, for this is a burden only the worthy can partake. Should this mortal try to use his powers for abuse, I shall withdraw my godly blessing of the Power of Zeus."

Each word was like a spark to the fabric of Billy's being. This time, it didn't feel like he was being struck by lightening. No, this time he became the lightening.

When he could focus his eyes it was a relief to have eyes again, but the pain of the divine bolt was no less intense. Billy had little time to appreciate being solid again, because a faceless warrior was charging him. Billy tried to move his feet, but they wouldn't budge. He panicked, tugging and pulling uselessly at his legs, but there was no time. The warrior was close now, and he unsheathed a sword.

It was too late. Billy closed his eyes. But they shot open when he was stabbed through the heart with a blade of lightening. He stared into the face of the warrior, but instead of finding malice, only a calm, accepting, soothing aura greeted him.

"I bestow upon you, the Courage of Achilles. You have experienced liberation from the fear of death and of fear itself. Be brave, Billy Batson, and you will never fail."

Billy stared down at his chest, at the sword lodged in his heart. It hurt, but it was nothing compared to the continuous wrath of the lightening. The next bolt struck the sword, which acted as a conduit for the electricity and send the shockwave deep into his chest. Billy cried out in pain.

Enough. No more. Billy couldn't bear it any longer. Tears flowed freely from his eyes as he tried to escape the bolt that trapped him. At least the sword was gone, but that was little comfort. He needed it to stop. He just couldn't take it. No more.

His eyes peeled open and he saw a figure approach, dressed in a gloriously white short toga. He moved with a speed and grace which Billy found mesmerizing, even through the pain.

The figure approached in a flash, far too quickly for Billy's taste, and gently clapped him on the shoulder. "Good job, kid. It's almost over." Billy would swear he heard the godlike voice offer him comfort, but he could never quite recall the memory in any form of clarity. Instead, he remembered a mischievous smile and a golden laurel wreath.

"As your final gift, I bestow upon you the legacy of agility and flight. They will serve you well and make you a god amongst the mortals. Go now, with the Speed of Mercury to guide you."

Billy tried to smile at the god before him, but a final monumental blast of lightening struck his feet and the current made its way through his calves and to his spine. All seven bolts were there burning him away, stripping away everything he was.

"SHAZAM!"

The Wizard's voice was still echoing from the cliffs, and Billy realized that everything he had experienced, even the eternity with Atlas, had only lasted an instant. He also realized he was flying.

The Wizard was smiling up at him, eyes shining with pride while a sad smile curved his mouth. Billy knew that he felt guilty for putting him through this, but he also knew that there was no other choice.

The air sparked around him, as he descended. As he touched the ground, it became suddenly and shockingly apparent that he was significantly taller than before. In hindsight, Billy supposed that it would be ludicrous to impart so much power into the body of a child.

"So, I'm big-holey moley! My voice!" He should have assumed that along with an aged body came an aged voice, but it was still startling to hear it come from his own mouth.

"Yes, Billy," the Wizard laughed. "While you are using your gifts, you will also use a heightened body. No mortal body could handle the immense pressure of godly power."

Billy looked down. He was wearing a red body suit that was made out of some form of armor. A lightening bolt insignia glowed on his chest and sparked with power. A white cape was fastened around his neck by two medallions with symbols etched into them, and somehow he could read them and knew they were spells of protection. The cape included a hood that fluttered off his head as the wind from the descent caught in it. He stared at his hands, opening and closing them. This was real! These hands belonged to him. Excitedly, he touched his face, but sadly it was still smooth.

The Wizard laughed, and winked at him. "Sorry, Billy. No facial hair until your mortal form reaches puberty. I don't know why that's a rule, it's a shame really because if you started now, you could have a pretty luscious one by the time you hit my age."

Billy quirked an eyebrow at the Wizard, who now seemed impossibly small and frail with his new eyes. "So," he said, clearing his throat. Wow, it was gonna take him a while to get used to that voice. "Are you gonna show me how to use these… these powers?"

The Wizard's smile changed into something mischievous, borderline sinister. "I normally would Billy. But you've been away from Fawcett City for quite some time. Black Adam has done considerable damage. The longer you stay here, the worse it will get."

"How will I defeat him?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll figure something out."

"But-" Before Billy could even protest the Wizard flicked his hands, and Billy was engulfed by white.