WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for "Justice League Dark: Visions of Fate" in Justice League #63 by Ram V., Xermanico, Romulo Fajardo Jr. Rob Leigh, on sale now.
As Merlin continues to cause trouble for the DC Universe, Doctor Fate and Man-Bat attempted to fix the Helmet of Fate, only to give Khalid Nassour a series of visions. One of these visions showed Khalid the destruction of the Tower of Fate while two unknown figures watched its downfall. It may seem like a random events from the future, but the potential destruction of the Tower of Fate is significant for the DCU going forward. The Tower has been used as a sanctuary, not just in the future, but also in other universes. Losing it could deprive the universe of a safe haven in the event of another crisis.
Khalid and Man-Bat were attempting to jumpstart the Helmet of Fate using various simulated energy signatures of artifacts that were linked to Nabu. The hope was that by flooding the helmet with so much magical energy, it would clear away whatever damage that the Upside-Down Man did to it. Even the Tower of Fate itself was a part of the experiment, being likened by Kirk Langstrom to a giant tuning fork for the energies they were about to unleash.
Khalid stepped forward anyway, knowing that the world needed Doctor Fate back. Placing the helmet upon his head he was bombarded with mystical energy, triggering an unexpected reaction. The magical pathways did open, but Khalid was not granted the same powers he had before. Instead, he saw three visions of what he could only assume was the future. He saw himself standing before a ziggurat in Ur, two unknown sorcerers watching as the Tower of Fate exploded, and a mysterious woman standing before an abandoned cathedral. One of those visions has already come to pass. But the tower's destruction, who caused it, and who watched as it happened are all still unknown.
The Tower of Fate first debuted in More Fun Comics #58 by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman. The Tower serves as the sanctuary of Doctor Fate, but it is much more than just a place for him to rest. It is where he stores the various magical artifacts that either help him or were too dangerous to be left anywhere else.
In times of crisis, the Tower has functioned as a safe harbor. The Tower's magical defenses make it all but impenetrable. This feature has come in handy many times, not just in the past or present, but in the future and other universes. For example, in the universe of DCeased, the Tower of Fate became one of the last true safe places on Earth following the Anti-Life Equation turning most of the population into ravenous zombies.
In "Future State," the Tower once again served as a sanctuary against a cosmic force, this time becoming the last bastion of magic to protect the universe's remaining magicians from the Unkindness. In both scenarios, the Tower withstood the test of time against a force that was capable of felling gods. So for it to be destroyed in what appears to be the near future is deeply concerning.
Aside from the fact that the Tower stores an unknown amount of magical artifacts capable of great destruction, the building's loss would deprive the heroes of Earth with a place to turn to in the event of another crisis. Considering how "Infinite Frontier" is shaping up, with Darkseid lurking in the background and Merlin on the rise, the world is getting more and more dangerous. And now one of the most secure locations in existence is under threat.