Chapter 2391: Battle of the Bats (Part 10)

After Batman and Batwoman left, Clark and Hal stayed in the universe where Batwoman was to do cleanup work. The so-called cleanup was actually just watching Atlantis, letting them not fight too fiercely and affect the land.

Atlantis only had hatred for the current Atlantis, and obviously, the Atlanteans didn't recognize this new king at all. The conflict between them broke out far more violently than imagined. Finally, Clark and Hal had no choice but to transfer the Sea Queen to the land.

They found the note Batman left for them in Batwoman's Batcave, which explained in detail the things Batwoman encountered, as well as the taint that the mysterious meteorite metal might bring.

Discovering that something was wrong, the Sea Queen couldn't care about the old grudges of the past. With the help of Clark and Hal, they resealed Atlantis back into the sea and began to check the energy system of Atlantis. Sure enough, they found problems at the filter at the exit.

There is sufficient evidence to prove that the taint actually did not come from the mainland, but from Atlantis itself, and the taint in Atlantis is likely to come from a mysterious metal.

After a comprehensive investigation, the Sea Queen finally found the culprit. It looked like a filter core hub. Hal wrapped this thing with Green Lantern energy and tested it, and the taint reading dropped immediately.

Finally, the Sea Queen chose to hand this thing to Clark and Hal and returned to Atlantis to reorganize the order of Atlantis.

Clark and Hal held this hot potato and didn't know where to go. It happened that Bruce called Clark and asked him to go on a long trip together, so Hal decided to take this thing to find the little blue people of this universe.

Regardless of whether the little blue people know what this is, anyway, if there is any disaster, send it to them. Whether it can be studied or not is not important. Even if some disaster breaks out and harms all the little blue people, the universe will not have any loss.

After Clark returned to his universe, he asked Bruce why he took such a big detour to send them to that universe, and Bruce answered like this.

"Our universe is a double-sided plate. The bright universe is on the plate, the dark universe is under the plate. The two worlds are completely opposite, and the most concentrated energy is gathered at the bottom of their own direction."

"That is to say, the source of light and the source of darkness are actually close together. To enter the bright universe, one must first pass through the source of light, and to enter the dark universe, one must first pass through the source of darkness."

"This is also the reason why Barbatos has never been able to attack the bright universe on a large scale. Even if it is only a short distance away, as the master of the dark universe, he cannot break through the restrictions of the source of light."

"And by the same token, people in the bright universe who want to go to the dark universe must also pass through Barbatos's territory first. Obviously, Batman is a key target, and I and that Batman are the top priorities. It is difficult to go to the dark universe without being discovered by Barbatos."

"So I could only create an accident, let Barbatos feel that a mass of energy must be transferred, and then hide you in that mass of energy, which is equivalent to hiding you in the depths of a cargo truck, so that you can be transported over without being discovered by Barbatos."

Clark suddenly realized.

"But are you also going to the dark universe on this long trip? Then how do you plan to go?"

"No need to be sneaky this time, you can go on a business trip at public expense." Bruce snapped his fingers and said, "So I called you and Diana to go, free travel, don't come for nothing."

"Did you get the budget?" Clark walked over and put his arm around Bruce's shoulder and said, "It looks like the reimbursement limit is very high."

"I said I was just an ordinary human, really too weak, and it's dangerous to go to the dark universe. At least I have to bring two bodyguards, so the stingy boss only gave two bodyguard quotas, so I can only bring you and Diana over."

"Wait, are you going to the dark universe? Is it a place similar to the universe we went to this time?" Clark showed a hesitant expression and said, "I'm not unwilling to protect you, but if you don't actually need it, then I can also not go."

Bruce heard Clark's resistance. He looked at Clark with some curiosity. Clark sighed and said, "Those universes make me feel very uncomfortable. My power is weakened there, and the sun cannot restore my energy well."

"That's because the universes you went to are a bit special. They have been tainted, and although the universe we are going to this time is located in the dark universe, it is actually not dangerous, or it cannot be dangerous."

Clark heard that he seemed to have something to say, so he asked, "What do you mean?"

Bruce smiled and said, "Do you know what I am doing on this business trip?"

"What?" Clark blinked. He didn't know why Bruce was so happy.

"The great Barbatos finally intends to take the step of invading the bright universe, but he is now alone and weak, and he is restricted everywhere. So for the great cause of His Majesty, I must go deep into the dark universe, find some helpers who can be useful, and form an elite team. I am ready to name it—Dark Knights!"

"You almost wrote your belly full of bad water on your face." Clark still couldn't help but complain.

"Don't talk nonsense, I am loyal." Bruce leaned on Clark and said, "I haven't called Diana yet, let's go."

After picking up Diana who was working at the Metropolis Library, Diana looked at Bruce and said with some surprise, "Are you really taking this as a serious job? You wouldn't want to really form a Batman army, would you?"

"Of course." Bruce nodded and said

"I always feel like something is strange," Clark said. Although Bruce's expression could not have been more serious, everyone who had spent a long time with him understood that the more serious he looked, the more it meant he was planning something big.

Diana stretched and sighed, saying, "It just so happens I haven't taken my annual leave this year yet..."

"Wait," Clark said. "You took such a long break for the music festival; your annual leave isn't used up yet?"

"That was an official inspection," Diana said. "The great Mayor of Metropolis also wanted to know where Gotham's massive popularity came from, so the vast majority of cultural and arts departments sent employees to inspect it, and I was one of them."

"I really envy you people who travel on public funds," Clark shook his head and said. "Ever since I became a freelance reporter, I've been thinking about my next pitch even in my dreams."

The three of them chatted all the way to the basement of Wayne Manor, where Bruce had set up a portal leading directly to the Dark Universe.

"Is this also on public funds?" Clark asked, looking at the massive portal.

"Of course. How could I possibly spend my own money to build a subway for work?" Bruce rolled his eyes slightly and said, "I'm an employee, not a believer; I wouldn't pay for my own commute."

"I feel like you're just finding yourself a job so you won't get scolded by Thomas," Diana pointed out sharply. "To get him to unfreeze your cards, and to dispel the idea the two of them have about having a second child."

"Please, do you know how many Batmen there are in the entire universe?" Bruce complained. "If they think one son isn't enough, they should go grab one from another universe; why do they have to give birth to one themselves? And in the end, I'm the one who has to raise him! I finally finished raising Aisha; I don't want to raise any more kids!"

Diana snorted twice, shrugged, and said, "You won't succeed. Your parents are still young; you'll have a younger brother or sister sooner or later."

After they passed through the portal, they did not arrive in any particular universe, but rather a circular office floating in the dark void, with a massive table in the center, upon which floated a holographic projection of the cosmic structure.

Bruce walked over and pressed a button, and several points on the holographic projection lit up. He was just one of those points. Bruce said, "Let's go here first. I've checked; this Batman is quite good and possesses great strength."

Diana and Clark squinted their eyes together.

Passing through the portal formed by the light points, Clark and Diana found themselves in Arkham Asylum. Of course, this wasn't because they were familiar with the environment here, but because fragments of the fallen sign were lying right at their feet.

Bruce walked along unhurriedly. Clark sniffed and said, "It seems it really isn't that uncomfortable. Is this truly the Dark Multiverse? Aside from the air being a bit damp, it feels no different from where we are."

"The magical elements are clearly more concentrated as well," Diana snapped her fingers, creating a ball of flame for illumination in her hand, and said, "I suspect many less-than-powerful spells should perform better here, but the upper limit remains unknown."

"Where is the Batman we're looking for?" Clark asked.

"I suspect he should be right here in the asylum, but we'd better be careful—this is a big guy."

"A big guy?" Diana raised an eyebrow and said, "I never thought you would use that word to describe any Batman. I feel like you don't have much affection for them."

"That is a fact, but this one really is exceptionally big."

Walking around the corner, as Bruce's words trailed off, the three of them focused their gazes on the massive footprints in the corridor ahead.

"ROAR——！！！！!!"

Crack! Boom!

Accompanied by a deafening roar, a massive head smashed through the wall nearby and extended out from the stairwell; the sharp teeth flashing with cold light and the eyes boiling with killing intent were exceptionally bright in the dim space.

Diana and Clark were stunned.

What had crawled out from the stairwell was none other than a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex, with the upper half black and the lower half gray.

The three already very strong humans appeared tiny against the backdrop of its massive figure, and they all looked up at this behemoth in unison.

"Don't tell me this is Batman."

"He is. Look at his color scheme."

"No, don't you try to make me..."

"Look at the scales on his neck," Diana said. "Don't you think that looks a bit familiar?"

Clark took a closer look, and then discovered that the scales which appeared to be pressed against the skin were not scales at all, but layers upon layers of cold, gleaming Batarangs.

BOOM!!!!

"... RUN!!!"