The stunned robber rushed toward Martha Wayne while yelling and brandishing a pistol.
At this moment, the flow of time became extremely slow.
Martha Wayne, who was retreating while protecting the necklace around her neck, Thomas Wayne, who was rushing towards the gangster, and the shadow cast by the bat illuminated by the dim street light, all moved at an almost stationary speed.
The only one who is not affected by this "deceleration" is Bruce Wayne, who was just eight years old and was left behind by his father.
When an ordinary eight-year-old child suddenly encounters such a change, apart from crying loudly, all he can do is——
Transform.
The little boy gritted his teeth to prevent himself from screaming. Instead, he raised his arms and shouted the only word that could help him at this moment:
"[SHAZAM!]"
The moment he shouted this word, the little boy suddenly disappeared from the spot, and the three people who were still moving slowly stopped completely.
Boom boom boom——
The next moment, the ordinary buildings around the alley that were no more than three stories high began to rise rapidly in an unreasonable manner, eventually turning the alley into a small square between several skyscrapers with dozens of floors.
Snap, snap.
Several huge beams of light were projected from the ground to the sky, casting giant light spots with bat patterns on the thick clouds.
These giant light spots moved slowly, and finally focused on the top of a spire clock tower that was much higher than the surrounding buildings. At that position, a man wearing gray armor, a dark cloak, and a pair of pointed ears
The tall figure in the mask was standing there with his arms folded.
The next moment, the man in a black cloak jumped from the roof of the building. The dark cloak spread out behind him like the wings of a big bird, making him look like a night owl and a bat.
boom!
Two seconds before he landed, the robber and the victim resumed their actions. When the robber failed to snatch the pearl necklace, he became angry and pointed his gun at the approaching Thomas. He was punched away by the cloaked man who fell from the sky and was directly embedded in the body.
The walls of the alley were completely motionless.
"You...are you?" Thomas hugged his wife tightly and looked at this uninvited guest with gratitude and vigilance.
"[I...]" The cloaked man adjusted his mask: "[I'm Batman.]"
——
"Oh! My God! Bruce, where have you gone? Mom is worried."
"It was very dangerous just now. He knew how to find a place to hide, which is enough for a child."
"I think you are worse than a child! Why do you want to anger the robbers?"
"But, but you did that too?"
"I thought you had a plan so you cooperated! But you ended up just running around without any plan, and you were almost shot! If, if -"
"Don't be afraid, mom, I will protect mom, and dad."
"Oh~my Brucie baby~"
Batman stood on the top of the skyscraper, looking at the family of three who left noisily, his brows frowning under the mask.
Strange, this should be a mental illusion created by Hugo Strange by modifying the fear gas. He should wake up immediately after the incident is resolved.
In addition, Hugo and Scarecrow would not have arranged for the young self to turn into an adult self by shouting "Shazam". It is impossible for them to know that this kind of thing only exists in their dreams... Well,
"magic".
"[Of course that's because you are no longer in the illusion created by those little characters.]"
A very familiar voice from Batman sounded.
No, it's not familiar, because he has only heard it in "dreams", and this is the first time he heard it in reality - but can it be called reality here?
"[It's hard to explain, this place should be more realistic than dreams, but more illusory than reality,]" the voice continued: "[But you don't have to worry about staying here for too long and it will affect reality. No matter how long it takes, you can return to it."
Reality only lasts for a moment. The Scarecrow, the Riddler and the Mad Hatter are all waiting for your beating. If you want, you can beat Hugo and the Penguin.】"
What's going on with the Penguin here?
"[Huh? Isn't it Batman's daily routine to eat, sleep and fight penguins?]"
Phew—buzz.
As these words were spoken, a transparent door made of crystal appeared in front of Batman, and then, a woman wearing a women's white suit, a top hat, and a white cloak stepped out.
Each step she took was on the crystal steps that appeared just right at her feet, and she finally reached a position level with Batman.
She... can read minds?
"[Can't read.]" the woman responded.
You know who I am, but I don't know you. This is not in line with social etiquette.
{I know you, Ms. Bai Jingjing.}
{{I also know that you just went to the mountains to pick mushrooms}}
Batman instantly put three layers of shell on his mind.
"[Social etiquette? Indeed,]" Bai Jingjing nodded: "[Then, I will only respond to what you say in the future, how about it?]"
{{It seems that she can only read shallow consciousness, but she will continue to test.}}
{You are obviously the person in my dream, why do you appear here?}
I am Batman, I am Batman, I am Batman, I am Batman.XN
"So, who are you? Why are you here?" Batman asked.
"[...]" Bai Jingjing's expression twisted, and she tilted her head: "[Well, I'd better turn off this function.]"
{Very good, it is confirmed that she can only read shallow consciousness, and this ability seems to be given by others.}
I am Batman, I am Batman.XN
"Turn it off?" Batman asked knowingly.
"[To show my sincerity, I can tell you that it is not mind reading, it is just a 'function' that collects your overflowing thoughts. If you modify the helmet to isolate brain waves, you can avoid the impact of this kind of thing. After all, This is just a simple application of psychic abilities,]" Bai Jingjing's expression became much more natural, and then continued: "[As for me, I am a native of Gotham from the 'light universe' opposite to the 'dark universe' you are in. You You can call me 'Jin Jing'.]"
{Okay, Miss Bai Jingjing.}
I am Batman.XN
"Dark? Light?" Batman asked.
"[Perhaps you have heard of the 'parallel universe' theory, a simple explanation...]" Bai Jingjing paused after finishing speaking, as if thinking.
But Batman keenly noticed that the focus of her hole had a clear jump, as if she was reading something in the void.
{It seems that the ‘Power of Shazam’ is not simply about improving strength, and it would be a waste to give it to Billy.}
I am Batman.XN
"[When a piece of bread with jam falls from the table, the jam upward is the light universe, and the jam downward is the dark universe,]" Bai Jingjing continued: "[In view of the fact that you just saved Thomas and Martha, I Let’s put it bluntly, in my universe, they were saved by me, but the time flow rate on both sides seems to be inconsistent, and you are less than ten years old over there.]”
{I had this conjecture before, but now it is confirmed.}
I am Batman.XN
"You haven't said why you're here yet, Ms. Jin Jing." Batman replied.
"[Simply put, I'm here to help you improve your strength, Batman,]" Bai Jingjing said: "[There is a 'multiverse' super villain who is preparing to destroy all universes where 'Batman' exists. We Although it is difficult for the two universes to communicate with each other, they are two sides of the same coin. If your universe is destroyed by it and its minions, I will not be able to survive alone.】"
{It’s just that light cannot easily contact darkness. Darkness can see the situation on the other side of the light by just dreaming.}
I am XN
"What are you going to do?" Batman asked.
"[Well... I met some of the villain's minions, and after killing them, I collected some things, which seemed to come from other defeated Batmans,]" Bai Jingjing said: "[I think they should be able to help you.] "
{So, the villain is not "preparing", but "already" starting.}
XN
"You can give them to me, but it's up to me to decide whether to use them or not." Batman replied.
"[Oh, of course.]" Bai Jingjing raised her hand.
A crystal door very similar to the one she appeared in appeared again, but this time it was horizontal. As it opened outward, a lot of things that looked very familiar to Batman fell down.
Fragments of the Batsuit that almost make up a set but obviously come from different owners, Batmobile wheels, Bathelicopter vertical wings, Batsubmarine turbine, Batcave armor frame, Bat mainframe motherboard, Batlight remains, Gotham Police Department sign, Wei
{What are the things at the back? What does it have to do with Batman? It looks like a hungry person who starts licking the plate and drinking the water from the pot after eating all the food.}
XN
"I think this should be the space of consciousness. I can't bring these things back." Batman looked at the "garbage dump".
"[Actually, you don't have to worry about this,]" Bai Jingjing's eyes wandered again: "[Because they originally belong to 'Batman', you just need to find a way to deal with the 'resentment' on them.]"
{...Although I have seen how unreliable this lady is in my dreams, she can always set a new limit every time.}
N
"I'll find a way to use them," Batman finally said, "if they can really help me protect Gotham."
"[Oh, yes, of course, the time has come, I have to leave.]" Bai Jingjing seemed to have been relieved of some burden, speaking quickly, then jumped back and jumped into the crystal door that was exactly the same as when she first appeared.
, and just disappeared.
{Anyway, thank you for saving my parents, even if it was just a dream for me.}
The next moment, the illusion of Crime Alley began to shatter and collapse.
——
???
Batman was originally ready to return to Arkham Asylum to clean up the mess, but found himself back in the Batcave beneath Wayne Manor.
However, just looking at this high-tech environment, you know that this is definitely not his own Batcave.
Not to mention those "Batmen" who are busy with who knows what.
As expected, this should be...a palace of thinking?
"Hi! Bruce!" The first person to notice Batman's appearance was a big man wearing a blue tights and a red cape, with a bat helmet on his head, floating in the air. He flew to the ground with a shout.
Go to Batman: "I am Super Batman. Because I accidentally killed you when I was controlled by the Doomsday virus, I decided to put on the Bat suit and inherit your legacy. My alignment is 'Lawful Good'."
"...Do you want me to say it doesn't matter? Well, it doesn't matter, don't care." Batman replied.
"I am Two Fa." A Batman with his bat suit divided into black and white and flipping a coin in his hand came over: "In my world, you were caught and sentenced for negligence.
More than six hundred years of imprisonment can only hand me the identity of Batman, and my alignment is 'Lawful Neutral'."
"...Then he is really stupid."
"Hello, Bruce," a normal-looking Batman came over: "I'm Thomas Wayne, BatFather."
"...I was the one who was beaten to death in Crime Alley?" Batman twitched his lips.
"You and your mother," Bat Dad took out a bat-shaped rifle from the bat armor: "To be honest, criminals should be shot. Who knows why they assigned me to the 'lawful evil' camp
.”
“Very correct classification.”
"Hello~ little boy~" A female Batman came to Bruce: "My name is Bruce Wayne, 'Batwomen' (Batwomen)' 'Neutral Good' camp, I should be the least different from you.
.”
"It's the biggest!" Before Batman could respond, Batwoman was pushed aside by another female Batman with many cat features on her armor: "Other Batmans with different personalities, at least Bruce himself exists.
You are the only guy who has directly changed his gender, which is too much! By the way, my name is BatCat, I am your legacy, I don’t know who classified it as ‘neutral evil’, what’s wrong with stealing some gems?”
...Anyway, he died again.
"Bruce~" Batman was cursing, but was hugged by a lady from behind: "They don't know how to take care of people at all. Only in my world, baby Bruce is not dead."
"Hey! Martha! Stay away from him!" Bat Daddy shouted towards this side: "Be careful, Bruce. Although she is called 'Bat Mother', her situation is completely different from mine. When Thomas was killed in her
After he was beaten to death, she kept his blues in captivity for more than thirty years, and God knows who gave her the concept of 'chaotic goodness'."
"What did you say? You loser! How can you be a father if you can't even protect your son!" Bat's mother suddenly changed her face, abandoned Batman and went to beat Bat's father.
"Oh! Hi! Uncle, aunt, please calm down." Super Batman was flying around, busy trying to start a fight.
"Shut up! You murderer!" X2
"..."
"Master Bruce, do you want some cookies?"
Batman was speechless when an unusually familiar voice sounded beside him.
"Thank you, Ah Fu," he took a biscuit very freely, and then looked at the old man in a bat costume next to him with a little surprise: "You...could it be?"
"Dead, all dead," Alfred sighed slightly, "I should have gone to the cinema with the master and his wife, and I could prepare for the dinner at home."
"No, that's not your fault," Batman shook his head: "I have already seen it. It seems that there is always a crime alley in every world, and every crime alley always gives birth to a Batman."
"No, you don't understand. My world is the only one where there are no survivors. This is too heavy for an old man," Alfred said: "'Old of Batman', 'Chaos'
Neutral', I will take care of you as I did before I was alive, Master."
"I know, Alfred." Batman nodded, looking for the last Batman in the Batcave.
According to the camp classification, he should be a "chaotic evil", but it was difficult for him to imagine himself as a lunatic.
"Are you looking for me, Bat?"
After Batman looked around, a clown wearing a long purple suit, a clown face, and no bat characteristics appeared in front of him.
Because the appearance was so similar, Batman even suspected that it was the "realistic" clown who had gotten in, but if he looked carefully, he saw that the corners of this clown's mouth were drooped, and there was no smile at all on his face.
"What's the matter with you?" Batman asked.
"Because I messed up the show," the clown stared at Batman sadly: "The bats in my world were obviously very tired, but they still came to my show, and they lost their lives."
Well, another murderer of his own.
"I am 'The Jhs', and I will kill anyone who dares to laugh in front of me. Of course, there is no doubt that they are 'Chaotic Evil'."
The only Batman not named after Batman?
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
These bats are all made up. If there are any similarities, consider me awesome.
