Chapter 222: Bat’s Demise! Ian Caught Plagiarizing!
Those present.
Without exception, all had Super Brains.
But even so, it was still hard for them to think about a catastrophe they had feared for years, a doomsday disaster for Earth, and why it had developed into this state.
That was Darkseid’s official invasion!
Heaven knows how many years of nightmares a group of superheroes had after witnessing that figure because of Steppenwolf.
Now.
The nightmare had arrived.
Not only did the horrific scene they imagined not appear, they weren’t even beaten miserably, and the entire situation had completely lost any sense of seriousness.
“This works too?”
The Justice League members looked at each other, their expressions out of control.
The entire Earth, billions of people, as long as they were still using electronic devices that hadn’t completely failed, were all forced at this moment to watch this “big movie” starring the “former” superhero Ian Kent, with opponents Darkseid and Sangong Mo… in an abstract heroic speech live stream?
To be fair, thinking of the current situation, all Justice League members including Superman had the illusion that they might be in Arkham receiving electrotherapy and hallucinating.
They didn’t dare think too much!
Even after eating mushrooms, they couldn’t come up with this plot! The only thing Superman was glad about was that Ian didn’t use his real surname, otherwise the Kent Family’s reputation might never need to worry about being slandered again.
“…”
Hearing Batman’s confirmation of “global live stream” with a stifled bubbly tone, Superman Clark Kent looked at the “God of Light Ian Teken” still passionately speaking on the shattered screen, falling into a long silence. That silence was mixed with worry, embarrassment, and a deep sense of helplessness about “who this child takes after.”
After a long time, he slowly turned his head, looking at Batman whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot beside him, his tone carrying a hint of barely noticeable luck and expectation laced with a plea.
“Bruce… you… didn’t think to stop him?” Superman asked softly, also hinting for Batman to act quickly. In his view, with Batman’s control freak nature and mastery of various technologies, he should at least try to interfere with this forced live stream, right? This was the external brain he always believed was omnipotent!
Superman trusted Batman’s brain even more than his own Super Brain, but no sooner had he said it than it was like lighting a fuse to a long-suppressed powder keg.
“Stop? How to stop?! Tell me how to stop?! Clark!” Batman whipped his head around, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s even under the armor helmet staring dead at Superman, his usually low calm voice now carrying a rare, almost “bristled” tone.
He even took a step forward, questioning agitatedly.
As if to vent all the pent-up frustration from this time: “Who do you think I am?! Rub my hands and produce any black tech I want?!”
“He has alien technology! Alien technology that can’t be analyzed at all!” Bruce’s voice carried a near-breakdown accusation, as if triggered by some unbearable memory, his tone becoming even more pained; “You think I didn’t try?! I tried to crack his damned network protocol and signal coverage tech! And then… and then…”
He paused, as if the result was hard to speak of, finally gritting his teeth to say it.
“Then my Batcave directly crashed! Until today! Until now! My Batcave has been looping that… 【I want fruit milk, I want fruit milk, Ian Fruit Milk, bubble~bubble~bubble】 ghost animal ad 24/7!! Can’t turn it off! Can’t cut it!”
One could imagine, in the dark, solemn Batcave, the huge main control computer screen forever flashing a colorful, earworm fruit milk ad—what cruel torment that was for Batman’s spirit.
Superman was startled by Bruce’s sudden outburst.
He instinctively shrank his neck.
“Uh, didn’t you try reinstalling the system?”
What an invincible Superman, hitting with the ultimate computer repair wisdom, making Batman’s originally ashen face trend toward pig liver color.
Seeing this.
Superman was extremely embarrassed and quickly waved his hands to clear things up: “Uh… Bruce, I swear, I never gave Ian any Krypton-side tech.”
He didn’t want to take the blame.
Of course, this defense was clearly unnecessary.
Batman directly scoffed, the laugh full of disdain.
“Of course I know that! If Krypton had that tech, it couldn’t have ended in explosive destruction.” He still spoke without any politeness.
Probably also due to his current speechless mood. He took a deep breath, seeming to calm his emotions, then said in an even more grave tone.
“I’m still saying the same thing, Clark. I’m not some existence that can rub out whatever it wants with its hands.” He pointed at the huge figure still being besieged by Darkseid and Sangong Mo on the screen, tone complex: “And your little son… he really knows God.”
Obviously, in Batman’s view, this completely incomprehensible, unanalyzable tech with such outrageous effects—attributing its source to the omniscient “God” was the most “reasonable” speculation. It was the most “logical” misunderstanding within the current cognitive framework.
Superman: “…”
Clark fell into an autistic-like silence upon hearing this.
This silence wasn’t entirely because of Ian, but Batman’s “knows God” made him involuntarily think of his other big son Jonathan, whose situation was even more complex, sharing a skin with God… He was even a bit confused now about when to call Jonathan son.
Afraid of accidentally violating some sacred taboo by addressing the wrong one. Honestly, Clark felt his fatherhood was filled with unspeakable dangers.
Far more dangerous than being a superhero.
As Superman fell silent, the atmosphere became dead silent and awkward again. The heroes stood amid the ruins of Metropolis, with the eerie Dark Dimension live stream overhead and post-disaster rubble underfoot; this core force meant to save the world now seemed… idle.
Finally, Aquaman Arthur Curry, with relatively thick nerves, couldn’t hold back. He hefted his signature trident, coughed roughly twice, breaking the suffocating quiet: “So… is anyone gonna step up and say we’re just gonna stand here as cheerleaders?”
He looked up, scanning around, tone a bit depressed. Darkseid hadn’t brought any Parademon army this time, nor any powerful followers like Steppenwolf.
Actually, even without Ian, Aquaman knew he probably wouldn’t have much role—in universe-level crises, he was always clear on his positioning: Parademon terminator. His AOE clearing was very effective against endless minions.
Of course, that was it.
“Don’t be so down, at least this time it’s not thrilling, right?” Cyborg Victor Stone nearby seemed to be easing the mood, unsure if serious or self-mocking. His half-mechanized face showed no expression, but his electronic eye flickered before he spoke.
“Maybe… we can order some pizza?”
As he said it, a takeout app floating window really popped up on his visual interface, scrolling with various pizza shop deals.
“Outrageous, the Pentagon seems to have ordered a lot of pizza.” Cyborg marveled slightly, then, seeing no response, actively livened the mood.
“Oh, right, Bruce, you know that 【Heaven Takeout】 app Ian has that supposedly earns Heaven points stole a lot of market share from the takeout app you invested in and control?”
He seemed to be browsing app info, “To be fair, I don’t know if Heaven points can really redeem a shot at Heaven, but his assembled rice business is pretty good.”
“Let me see, tonight, just now, they even launched a 【self-operated】 Soviet-style assembled rice meal? So much meat and canned vegetables for just 3.99 US Dollars!”
“This price is really conscientious!”
Cyborg couldn’t help sighing.
Even he, half-machine, felt it was so cheap it was like charity.
“Heh, go ahead and eat, eat more.”
Batman Bruce had zero reaction to this chit-chat about takeout app business competition, not even lifting an eyelid. Just a takeout app.
He didn’t care at all.
At this moment, Alfred was fully focused, pulling out a portable energy detector, scanning and analyzing the direction from which the Dark Dimension had first projected.
Trying to find a way to enter or intervene.
Aquaman, seeing no one responding to his cheerleader and Parademon complaints, turned his attention to a nearby stinking ditch polluted by demon battle aftermath, emitting a weird smell.
His eyes lit up, proposing an even more “down-to-earth” idea: “Anyone wanna compete in fishing? I bet there are mutated species in there!”
Cyborg turned his electronic eye to the suspiciously colored ditch, using his flat electronic voice to “seriously” joke.
“You gonna dive in and fish for us?” Playing on Aquaman being a fish—since Ian started this gag in the Justice League, many loved it.
“Not impossible?”
Arthur was good at taking jokes.
He was a bit eager to try.
“A book I read recently said sewers are the easiest place to trigger mutation and gain strength.” Just the opener, and Superman already knew whose book Aquaman was reading.
“Smack~” Superman Clark couldn’t blend into this increasingly off-track atmosphere, clutching his forehead hard, temples throbbing.
Earth’s most powerful heroes, on the front lines of saving the world, yet sidelined and discussing assembled rice and sewer fishing?
This scene was too beautiful for him to adapt to.
“Hahaha~”
At that moment, a heroic figure descended from the sky.
Wonder Woman Diana Prince held an unconscious young girl in strange purple clothing, landing steadily before the group.
That was Raven, who had fainted from exhaustion after failing to stop Sangong Mo earlier, but none of the Justice League knew her, as big shots rarely noticed minor roles.
This wasn’t arrogance.
Just no chance to interact.
“You guys… idle to this extent?!” Wonder Woman looked at these “teammates”—silent, checking instruments, discussing takeout and fishing—especially the big men pointing at a stinking ditch, her beautiful resolute face showing a nearly breaking speechless expression.
What else? Diana, we can’t even find where the battlefield went! Look—” Aquaman Arthur helplessly spread his hands.
Then pointed at a nearby screen still sparking stubbornly but playing the “live battle,” where in the Dark Dimension, Darkseid and Sangong Mo seemed to have found a rhythm, their attacks more fierce and coordinated.
Various Dark New God powers and Chaos Magic poured down like a storm on the “Star Eater” body of Ian’s transformation. And Ian’s massive body was indeed rocked left and right.
Even emitting… screams?
“Ah—!”
“Urgh—!”
“It hurts! You guys have no martial virtue!”
But those screams sounded… full of vigor, full of dramatic inflection, just like a third-rate actor fresh from a roadside acting class.
Overdoing it hard.
Like those poorly acting scream performers on late-night movie channels that fitness buffs choose to lower cortisol.
The Justice League all found it hard to comment.
“…”
Wonder Woman watched the exaggerated “taking hits” performance on the screen.
Looked at her teammates with this bizarre vibe, she could only take a deep breath, feeling the Amazon princess’s poise tested like never before.
“Guys, honestly…”
As Wonder Woman Diana watched Ian’s exaggerated “screams” on the screen and her unreliable teammates, preparing to vent about this weird world-saving style.
Batman, who had been buried in the portable instrument operating quickly, seemingly out of place with surroundings, suddenly without lifting his head, said coldly to Aquaman enjoying the live stream before the big screen hanging on the ruined high-rise facade: “Arthur, step back.”
Aquaman Arthur was stunned by the out-of-nowhere order, but long-term trust in Batman’s tactical judgment made him comply instinctively.
Almost the instant his heel landed—
“Boom!!!”
The already sparking screen internally erupted in a blaze of intense firelight, with a not-too-loud but clear explosion, the whole screen going black instantly, fragments and charred parts raining down, completely scrapped, the blast power not small.
Half the building was gone.
“What happened!”
Aquaman was startled by the sudden explosion, whipping his head to the still-tinkering Batman, face full of surprise and confusion.
“What’s going on?! Bruce? How did that thing explode itself?!” He wasn’t afraid of blasts, but didn’t want to be covered in dust.
“Nothing.” Batman didn’t even lift an eyelid, as if flipping an insignificant switch, no intention to explain.
It was Superman Clark beside him, with a helpless look, explaining for his silent partner: “That’s… a display module produced by Wayne Enterprises.”
“Bruce learned a trick from the US Military’s some ‘special procurement’ projects… Besides built-in HD cameras, he installed trace amounts of high explosive in parts he deemed ‘key.'” Superman had been closely watching many of Batman’s operations.
“In his words, it’s… for just in case.” Superman didn’t really approve of this behavior, but who made Batman ignore his advice.
“No way?!” Aquaman Arthur’s voice rose an octave, pointing at the still-smoking ruins of what was clearly an ordinary commercial building—residual sign showing a garbage recycling company—”That’s just a garbage recycling company building, right?! Who are you guarding against?!”
Very obviously.
Including Cyborg, it was their first time hearing of rigging civilian tech like this; even Cyborg’s scan system had never detected it before.
“Guarding against who?”
Batman finally stopped operating, slowly lifting his head, gaze under the armor calmly sweeping over Aquaman, then every hero present, finally giving a succinct answer in his signature flat low voice that surprised no one.
“Of course against everyone. We never know where another mutated villain might pop up, right.” Batman’s response was matter-of-fact.
The answer was so classic even Aquaman was choked, opening his mouth but saying nothing—yep, very Batman.
The most severe persecution delusion patient on Earth was like this.
Far ahead.
Leading other patients by miles.
At this time, Wonder Woman Diana seemed triggered by “camera,” recalling a long-ago incident.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, with a mix of teasing and “settling scores” look, deliberately looking at Batman in a casual chat tone.
“Speaking of cameras… Bruce, I have to admit, in that 《Batman’s Tragic Love Story》 Ian wrote, some parts, though the plot is outrageous, analyze your certain behaviors… quite thoroughly.” As they say, women’s grudges last to who knows when.
Her notebook had indeed been treated that way by Bruce.
Hard to forget.
Hearing Wonder Woman’s words clearly prepping revenge, Batman’s fingers operating the instrument froze mid-air.
He seemed to sense something extremely bad, wanting to stop it, but too late, with Aquaman’s assist-like question why.
Wonder Woman directly gave the answer.
“In that novel, it says… our great Dark Knight, to monitor his ‘love-hate’ ‘lover’ Joker at all times, even installed micro cameras and trackers in Joker’s butt. The reason— so he stays forever in my sight, never separated.”
At these words, the air froze.
“Hahaha~”
Batman Bruce Wayne turned into a volcano about to erupt! Even through the armor, everyone seemed to hear his suddenly heavy, bellows-like panting! No black lines on his face, just bulging veins and a soy sauce hue worse than pig liver.
“Pfft—cough cough!” Aquaman Arthur and Cyborg Victor directly floored by this bombshell! Aquaman nearly threw his trident, Cyborg’s mechanical joints creaking under strain. Both desperately held back laughter, faces red, shoulders shaking violently.
Superman Clark very tactfully looked up immediately, pretending to focus on the distant sky, as if his Super Hearing caught nothing just now.
“I think while the content is absurd, the info it conveys is really realistic.” Wonder Woman continued her serious reading analysis. Just as the awkward fury and stifled laughter peaked, Superman pretending to observe afar suddenly frowned.
His Super Vision pierced the distance, seeing the scene on ordinary citizens’ home televisions.
“Ian’s situation… seems a bit off.” Not entirely changing the subject, Clark’s tone carried worry, successfully pulling attention back.
“He can’t fight back? Gonna lose?” Wonder Woman Diana instantly dropped the teasing, gripping her Sword of Vulcan and battered Lasso of Truth tightly. The heroine’s expression turned solemn, ready for enemies possibly routed or breaking out from the Dark Dimension.
On this, before Superman could analyze, Batman, just barely calming his breathing from the “butt camera” incident, directly explained.
“He’s beaten badly, flesh and blood blurred, looking precarious.” Batman stated the observed facts, but immediately pivoted, tone certain.
“But I’m sure he’s faking it.”
Saying so, he raised his tablet computer, turning the screen to the group. It showed info flow he had just intercepted somehow.
“Three minutes ago,” Batman pointed to an encrypted message, “he texted his secretary, his deskmate Madison.”
“Now, all his platforms and related streamers are frantically promoting this betting pool. Obviously, he not only wants to harvest public gratitude, but also make a fortune.” Batman couldn’t peek Ian’s phone, but could intercept Madison’s.
“This… is indeed Ian’s style.” Superman Clark was stunned at first, then sighed in relief, showing a “as expected” helpless expression.
“He’s obsessed with… win-win.”
Clark hesitated, speaking like constipated.
Aquaman curiously: “Win-win?”
Clark sighed, couldn’t avoid explaining: “Yeah, him winning twice.”
Everyone: “…”
Aquaman Arthur stroked his chin beard, glanced at his phone screen bank card balance, hesitating on a small casual bet.
Supporting a teammate’s child.
How could that be profiting off it.
Though king of the sea, son’s milk powder was still really expensive. Saying so, he pulled out his phone, ready to lower his superhero morality a bit.
However, Batman let out an unceremonious scoff.
“Wanna flush money down the drain?”
Batman had a see-through-everything gaze.
“Why? Ian wouldn’t lose on purpose for money, right? I don’t think he’s that type!” Aquaman said, brain not turning fast enough.
After all, that was once his savior.
He still held naive trust in Ian’s character.
This trust made even Superman sweat, but he couldn’t show lack of confidence, just maintaining his upright pose.
Hands on hips, gazing afar.
Classic.
Batman glanced at Superman’s forced pose, turned to Aquaman, using his insight into capitalist darkness tone, ruthlessly exposing the truth.
“Bet on anyone, you lose. The board has three options: Ian wins, Darkseid wins, Sangong Mo wins. But in the end, Ian definitely won’t let anyone win.”
Batman’s voice was resolute:
“House takes all, banker wins everything! That’s his ‘Ying Xue’!” Not waiting for Aquaman and others to ponder the implication.
Batman muttered to himself: “Ian… is indeed a qualified capitalist, knows how to maximize profit. This… is completely different from me…”
As he spoke, he naturally pulled out his custom ultra-secure satellite telephone, dialing a number skillfully.
“Alfred.”
Batman said to the other end calmly, like ordering dinner menu, “Use my accounts in Switzerland and the Caymans, book the three most luxurious casinos in Las Vegas, I want to be the banker in all ‘special betting rooms’ tonight, tell those tycoons Bruce Wayne wants to gamble with them.”
“I want to play properly with those… sharp-nosed tycoons and speculators.” Hanging up, Batman looked up to find everyone staring with extremely weird gazes, like looking at a schizophrenia patient.
Wonder Woman Diana arms crossed, eyebrow raised at him, tone playful: “Bruce… didn’t you just say you’re not that type?”
Batman faced the questioning gazes calmly.
“I’m indeed not.” He explained calmly, paused, gaze sweeping afar as if seeing financial titans waving checks in VIP rooms.
“I don’t care about the pocket change from netizens, I prefer eyeing money in other capitalists’ pockets.” Logical consistency, clear goal.
Too reasonable.
Everyone speechless.
Only Superman silently turned his head away, unwilling to admit knowing two capitalists—one scamming in a dimension, one harvesting tycoons in reality.
When did Earth become like this.
Was he out of touch?
Clark sighed wistfully, his gaze turning to another city, an ordinary family home, their television he didn’t need to pay to watch.
On the screen.
Of course only Ian’s live stream.
And like him watching this live stream, not just one superhuman, even mysterious figures in outer space, probably at the solar system’s edge, near the Kuiper Belt.
In endless void, a dark stream of light sped at speed beyond normal physics. The light converged, revealing a giant’s outline—black, silver, dark red tones, unique energy core on chest, body covered in mysterious dark patterns.
It was Golden Superman, after getting help from The Batman Who Laughs of the Supreme Alliance, using an outer universe item to transform into Ultraman Tiga, Dark Tiga Ultraman.
He crossed vast interstellar distances, finally re-entering this universe’s Solar System, but Golden Superman had just entered the Sun’s gravitational range.
He hadn’t even sensed the blue planet’s specifics.
The whole person was dumbfounded.
He heard, saw, Earth’s countless devices echoing the same voice.
“Family! The enemy is too strong, I’m done for! Look! I’m starting to turn black! I’m about to die! Become an eternal statue!”
“Quick! Pray to me! Bless me! Lend me your light!”
That was Ian’s hoarse scream.
Just an exaggerated shout, roar, but Golden Superman, immersed in darkness, driving dark power with justice heart in new form, for some reason.
Felt his current body’s DNA twitch a bit.
