I, the Younger Brother of Superman, Obtained the Thanos Template

The wizard had lived for thousands of years, his decaying body no longer able to bear the power of Shazam. He had to find a successor before his life's end to inherit his power and continue protecting humanity.

"I initially sought someone with a pure heart."

He used his staff to support himself as he struggled to stand.

"But I have never found one.

I thought I had more time, until someone broke into the Rock of Eternity."

"Perhaps the idea of a completely pure heart is an unrealistic fantasy.

Even children have moments when their hearts are wholly consumed by jealousy or rage."

The wizard looked forlorn and somewhat lost.

"A completely pure heart?

Such saints are rarer than a bird with three wings in this era."

David felt the wizard was being overly harsh and extreme due to his past experience with Black Adam, fearing to bestow his power on another Black Adam, insisting on finding a saint, and yet after thousands of years, he found no one.

Once, the wizard's Council of Eternity chose someone to inherit the power of Shazam, and that was Black Adam. He was granted the abilities of six Egyptian gods, but he used that power not to protect humanity but to first avenge the death of his wife and children at the hands of a tyrant in Kahndaq.

His intense emotions led to a loss of control, leveling the capital of Kahndaq and killing millions. The Council of Eternity regretted entrusting the power to the wrong person and sealed him away.

"Some time ago, I saw on the news that Black Adam has broken free and now rules Kahndaq."

"Perhaps."

Approaching David, the wizard shook his head with a wry smile.

Could someone who has protected humanity for thousands of years claim to have a pure heart?

He wouldn't dare claim so himself.

"I once considered bestowing my power upon you, Exceeder."

A serious expression crossed his aged face.

"I sought someone with a pure heart to bear the responsibility of protecting humanity, someone who wouldn't be lost to the godlike power that suddenly befalls them.

But the one to protect humanity is already here, possessing great strength and having proven it by averting crises that threatened the world."

So there seemed no need to be fixated on the precondition.

"From your tone, it seems you've abandoned the idea of giving me the power."