After Bruce and others completed the perfect crime and dealt with the stolen goods, they arrived at the crime scene. When they got there, all they saw was Batman lying in a pool of blood, and Superman standing there motionless like a statue.
Oliver looked at Batman's body on the ground and sighed. Diana sheathed her longsword. Clark stepped forward to examine his counterpart, and then said, "It seems like he received too much stimulus, causing a mental reboot. Let's take them back first."
"Batman is your responsibility," Oliver said to Bruce, "Let's bring Superman back to the base. Hopefully, he won't do anything foolish when he wakes up."
Bruce nodded, picked up Batman from the ground, and didn't follow Oliver and the others. Instead, he directly summoned a bright light beam and took Batman to Heaven—not to be mistaken that Batman could ascend to Heaven, but Bruce physically brought him there.
Upon reaching Heaven, Bruce threw Batman into the pool of the Holy Spring and said to the angel nearby, "Don't touch him, let him soak for a while. If Uriel or Michael come, just say I've gone to Lake Eden."
The angel nearby could only nod. They didn't dare touch Batman. As universe administrators, they knew how powerful Batman, this protagonist, was. Everything related to Batman was a foundational setting of the cosmos. What if they accidentally messed up the code? Worse, what if Batman glanced at them, and they turned into Joker?
Batman lay in the pool for a few minutes, and his wounds soon healed. Before long, he woke up. When he found himself seemingly lying in water, he said somewhat perplexed, "Lazarus Pool?"
Then, he froze upon seeing the angels with wings behind him.
Clearly, Batman didn't believe he could ascend to Heaven.
Moreover, if he could ascend to Heaven, why should Bruce be able to do so?!
Bruce walked to the edge of the Holy Spring and said, "You're awake. Let's go. Superman is still waiting for you."
"Don't you think you need to explain?"
"What's there to explain?" Bruce lifted Batman out of the pool and then said, "If you really want to know, it'll have to wait. Because if we don't leave now, we won't be able to."
Bruce pulled Batman into the teleportation portal beside them. Just before stepping into the portal, Batman seemed to vaguely hear a roar.
"I think we can talk." Upon landing, Batman said, "You guys should know what Superman wants to do. But I oppose time reversal. Yet, if you could cross time and bring Lois..."
"I thought you had many questions."
"It's precisely because there are too many that I'm not hasty to ask," Batman said, "I just want to solve the problem now. It's been delayed long enough."
"Of course. We can help you. That's why we're here. But our prices aren't cheap, are you sure you can afford it?"
"What do you want? Control Earth?"
"You should know, controlling this chaotic Earth isn't exactly a good thing. But if you sincerely invite us, we can reluctantly agree..."
"Don't beat around the bush; I still need to check on Superman later."
"We want Brainiac."
Batman narrowed his eyes.
"You should know, the Brainiac in our universe is about to solve the problem. At that time, we'll have to talk to him. Not much can move a super artificial intelligence, except another version of himself."
"What use is that to him? Does it enhance his computing speed?"
"No, but it can become him. I mean, how about the slogan 'the multiverse can only have one Brainiac'?"
Batman turned to look at Bruce, but those blue eyes were never serious, so it sounded like a joke. But Batman knew he wasn't joking. This made him feel a chill down his back.
"You guys are eyeing the multiverse... You want to use Brainiac to invade the multiverse?"
"I don't really like the word 'invade.' You think every universe in the multiverse should independently develop, just because you don't know what crisis lurks behind the multiverse. We're not the real invaders; we're just getting ready ahead."
Batman was slightly silent, but with his wisdom, he could infer a lot about the current situation of the multiverse. Not all the Batmans in Battleworld are champions of justice. Some existences come from darker places, where there are deeper secrets and more terrifying enemies.
Before the enemies arrive, persuading so many Batmans to unite is almost impossible. Just like when he found out about Bruce's plan, he only thought he wanted to invade his universe. Every Batman would think so.
So there's only one way left—make Batman have no choice.
"Even if we turn this universe's Brainiac into yours, how will the main and subsidiary servers communicate? Have you developed cross-universe network technology?"
"That's a problem for Brainiac to solve," Bruce said, "We can provide a little technical support, but how to do it depends on how much he wants multiverse convergence."
"It's no accident that you've targeted us." Batman turned and walked out of the room, saying, "But I don't think your plan will succeed. Our universe is uniquely situated, which allowed you to take advantage of the situation. If it were a normal universe's Batman, you wouldn't have this opportunity."
"Perhaps," Bruce didn't refute, he said, "but that's for us to worry about. You only need to consider whether or not you accept our terms."
"Do you want your Brainiac to rule our Earth? Do you think he can rule the human race?"
"In countless time loops, his experience has become extensive, and he must do well. Exploring the Multiverse isn't that easy; the enemies he faces are far more terrifying than those in the time loops. He needs to be more cautious and strategic with every step."
Batman took a deep breath and said, "It can't get any worse anyway. Deal."
Batman went to Superman's room. The moment Superman saw him, he sat up. Those pale blue eyes stared straight at him, filled with resentment.
"Are you still planning to forget everything?" Batman asked, looking at him, "Although I absolutely disagree with reverting time, if you really want to pretend that you know nothing, maybe you can have them modify your memory..."
"Is this all you're going to say?!" Superman stood up, looking into his eyes, asking, "You died once!"
"Yes, and I went to Heaven. It's not an experience just anyone can have."
"Why do you talk about everything so lightly? Is death so worthless to you?"
"Death has always been heavier for the living. For the dead, dead is dead, nothing particularly meaningful about it. I have no special opinion to share."
Superman lowered his head in a bit of despair, saying, "Does Lois think the same? That death means nothing to her?"
"That's a little different," Batman said, "For someone who always holds hope for the future, death is more painful. Fortunately, I'm not one of those people, so we're different."
Superman looked at him again, his eyes filled with emotions that could no longer be described as complex. He was both angry, resentful, filled with lingering fear, and at a loss.
"My death and Lois's death are two completely different things. Wonder Woman and Joker are two completely different things too. If you want to blame me, go ahead. Honestly, I don't care at all."
"What's the difference?" Superman turned away, saying, "If Lois were revived too, then there would be no difference... none..."
"I'm not here to force you to admit your mistakes," Batman shook his head, saying, "I never intended to do that; it's you who feel I would. Never mind, have it your way."
Batman turned around to leave, but he was quickly stopped by Superman. Superman said, "No, you can't leave."
Then he looked at the others nearby, saying, "You need to explain what this is all about. What's happened to Wonder Woman?"
"I heard someone calling me." Diana walked in from outside the door and said. Superman suspiciously stared at her, but even after looking for a long time, he couldn't see anything different.
"A simple little trick," Bruce said, "In fact, there is more than one of our Dianas that came to your universe."
"The Flash mentioned seeing another figure next to your universe's Barry," Batman finally remembered he was a detective, he said, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be another Diana."
Superman's super brain still wasn't working. He looked at Batman blankly and said, "Why is that? Why does their universe have two Dianas?"
"Because we have The Flash," Bruce shrugged, saying, "He traveled to the past and brought back a past Diana. Setting off before us, she naturally arrived in your universe earlier. We set off together with the current Diana, so naturally, there are two of them."
It was only then that Superman came to a realization, he said, "So those two Wonder Women in the surveillance video of Wonder Woman's murder were both your people. The past Diana killed the present Diana, then the past Diana disguised herself as our Diana. So where is our Diana?"
"Here." A golden light flashed, and Barry appeared with Wonder Woman tied up in dark energy. Then he traced a cross on his chest, saying, "Even I'm realizing for the first time how different counterparts from different universes can be. Your lady here really surprised me. If I had realized earlier, I'd have had my parents file a lawsuit at the local court, accusing her of inciting a minor to curse."
Superman pursed his lips. Thinking Wonder Woman was crazy was one of the few things he and Batman previously agreed upon.
The answer was so obvious that Superman couldn't ask any more questions. Simply put, the other side orchestrated a Wonder Woman murder case to mix their Wonder Woman here and give Batman a sword at a critical moment.
As for why the other side would give Batman a sword, Superman could figure it out. The key to their universe's situation lies in his conflict with Batman. The conflict was due to Joker killing Lois, Superman killing Joker, and Batman believing he was wrong.
Such a tragedy, even if repeated countless times on others besides the two of them, would never teach them any lesson and would only drive them further apart.
But if a tragedy like this happened to Batman himself, and he still stuck to his views, firmly refusing to allow Superman to kill the murderer, then perhaps Superman wouldn't have anything to say.
People don't hate saints; they hate those with double standards. Some people frequently point fingers at others, but when misfortune befalls them, they are more desperate and without principles than anyone else. That is what is truly disgusting.
But if someone, from birth to death, adheres to a certain principle, unyielding even when the same tragedy befalls them, unwavering in their conviction, then the worldly correctness or incorrectness of their belief no longer matters.
If one, like a saint or Jesus, practices their own principles with their life, it proves they're not targeting anyone. Eventually, people refrain from doing something not because they understand them, but because they have no choice. In other words, not underestimating a madman.