[Integrated/Crossover DC/Marvel] Why Did the World End Again? - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Last Hero

Alice looked at the contents of the screen with morbid curiosity. From beginning to end, Annabelle had offered no struggle. Even as her neck was being squeezed, her face remained frozen in numbness.

“She’s given up…”

Clark’s brow was furrowed tightly as he watched the scene. This was, in every cruel sense of the word, an execution.

Batman watched the screen, observing the expressions of both individuals. From their body language, it was clear their relationship was good or at least that they had been close for a long time. When a normal person is attacked, their first instinct is to struggle or strike back. The fact that Annabelle’s body showed no will to resist proved the depth of their intimacy. So, what exactly happened to make two close friends turn to cold blades?

“Anna, give me a smile. Consider it a full stop on our friendship.”

“Why…”

Annabelle looked directly into Aurora’s eyes. Tears slowly leaked from the corners of her eyes, but her gaze held neither hatred nor fear. It was a boundless, bottomless pain.

“Why does everyone have to go mad… even you’ve become like this.”

As she spoke, Aurora’s movements paused for a split second. It was strange like a clockwork toy suddenly jamming for no reason.

“It’s alright. We will have a new home. Everyone living together. It’s paradise…”

“You killed Thea and Superman.”

Aurora tilted his head. Perhaps he regretted it, or perhaps he had other plans and wanted to play a game of cat and mouse. He dropped Annabelle onto the ground and stood there, watching her quietly.

Annabelle pursed her lips and stared straight back at him.

“You know, he was my best friend. I’ve already lost so much. I didn’t want to lose my best friend. But he insisted on stopping me, so what could I do? If I didn’t kill him, I would surely feel heartache and regret. So, it was better to kill him early. Letting him die before you all was my mercy to him.”

Outside the screen, Superman and Alice gasped. Who taught you that? Treating a best friend like that you’re truly the type to stab a brother twice for your own sake!

Annabelle’s hand gradually reached toward her ear. She stared at him, seemingly looking for a chance to do something, but before her plan could succeed, he grabbed her.

Aurora seized Annabelle’s wrist. She was so frail that under the grip of a hand with masculine strength, it felt as though she might be crushed. Aurora reached out his slender fingers and gently removed an invisible communication earpiece from Annabelle’s ear.

He skillfully entered a password to unlock it and put it on. With a face of calm, he spoke false information. When he opened his mouth, the voice that came out was unmistakably Annabelle’s.

“This is Technician Annabelle. Code Red. Calling an emergency meeting. All members, proceed to the Ark immediately. All members, proceed to the Ark immediately.”

After saying this, he broke into a brilliant smile and even playfully patted Anna on the head.

“Little Anna, they’re coming to join you.”

Annabelle lowered her head. The lightbulbs of the Ark flickered on and off…

Then, the computer screen went pitch black, reflecting the faces of the three people.

Clark wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

“How did this pass censorship…”

Alice gave a polite smile, choosing to say nothing. If she had to pick one from the upcoming plots, would it be challenging a mad Superman, or challenging someone who looked even crazier?

Alice wanted to choose a beautiful death…

Batman stared at the dark screen, lost in thought. Each unlocked plot was worse than the last. Currently, Lisol Wayne was locked did this mean the game was over, or was it time for the next character?

Just as Alice looked up to ask Batman for his opinion, the black screen suddenly flickered to life with a burst of static, followed by a final few lines of text:

“It doesn’t matter. We will embrace new hope. Heads fall upon high cliffs, blood splashes the River of Forgetfulness. We shall embrace within eternity, and so will you. Eventually, everyone can live happily in a new home. Never fear death; death brings the turning point for everything.

When all beings are equal, the world moves toward decay. When all beings suffer, the world moves toward light. We shall meet in the future.”

Then the screen brightened completely. Aurora appeared first, making a gesture as if knocking on the screen.

“Look around more. Next time, try not to blow up Gotham…”

With that, he pulled Thea Weeks along and sauntered away. Alice fell into silence, then looked up at Batman.

“How is he so arrogant?”

“Because he is strong… Get ready for a meeting.”

Justice League Hall.

Hal Jordan was controlling his Green Lantern ring to create glowing little green spheres in the air, juggling them to amuse the Flash as a way to make up for his mistakes. But Barry Allen’s eyes didn’t see the green; he was still immersed in the fact that, due to Hal’s blunder last night, his date had fallen through again…

“Bear, give us a smile, eh?”

“Shut up.”

Cyborg was spacing out, his mind searching for vital information in the world of the internet. Aquaman looked around impatiently. J’onn J’onzz sat there as calm as ever, and Wonder Woman smiled, watching the younger members.

The slightly harmonious atmosphere grew heavy as the three entered. Batman was a very reliable person; if it wasn’t something serious, he wouldn’t call an emergency meeting or summon everyone.

“Alice, report on the recent plots and events.”

Hearing Batman, Alice was stunned. Is he calling me? She had always considered herself a heartless tool, but looking at the pitch-black, aura-heavy Batman, Alice decided to cave immediately. Socially anxious girls never surrender!

Clark stifled a laugh. Everyone who reports to Batman ends up looking like this.

Alice stood up, surveyed the assembled superheroes, straightened a non-existent tie, and began to recount the recent progress.

“Yesterday, Superman and I entered the instance belonging to Lisol Wayne. It involved the Court of Owls, the Joker, and things regarding the Justice League. Specifically, it involved the death of everyone present and how each of you died…”

Alice was still nervous, but she noticed the superheroes’ expressions remained normal. The rest of the Justice League didn’t have much of a reaction; after all, when you’re a superhero, dying is pretty standard business.

Batman sent the compiled “100 Ways the Justice League Dies” to Cyborg, who simplified it and sent it to everyone’s devices.

Between Alice’s narration and the files in their hands, everyone grasped the gist of what had happened, though everyone’s focus was clearly on one specific detail.

“So, Superman blew up Gotham?”

The brave and fearless Green Lantern went straight for the thing Superman was trying to gloss over. At this, Superman lowered his head. Dammit, if you hadn’t said it, maybe Bruce would have forgotten! Cursed Hal Jordan, why must you bring it up again!

Hal Jordan had no sense of “things you shouldn’t say.” He was simply shocked. Setting aside why the Big Blue Boy Scout was so gullible in the dream world, the fact that he followed orders and blew up Gotham was wild. Even if it wasn’t entirely Superman’s fault, the words “Superman,” “Blew up,” and “Gotham” simply shouldn’t be in the same sentence, no matter how you look at it.

Wonder Woman, however, cared about deeper issues. Did Lisol Wayne know the safe under the Daily Planet was a bomb? Was she misled, or was it her intent to destroy Gotham? And if she wanted to destroy it, why didn’t she do it herself? Why make Superman do it?

Hearing Wonder Woman’s questions, Batman nodded. Truly, in this large organization, only the two of them were reliable. As for Superman sorry, he was temporarily moved out of the “reliable” category.

“I observed closely and performed a psychological analysis of Lisol Wayne’s data,” Batman said. “Her mind was in high disorder. After being tainted by the Joker Virus, most of her actions lacked logic. She likely intended to perish with everything, yet she stayed to guard it because she might have forgotten that Batman was already dead. As for why she blew up Gotham…”

Batman paused, unsure if he was right, or perhaps finding the thought too embarrassing or arrogant to voice.

“Perhaps she believed Gotham could only belong to Batman. So, if Batman is gone…”

“The city has no reason to exist. B, she really loved you.”

Wonder Woman finished the sentence Batman left hanging. How shocking, how strange, how mad a love. But considering she was infected with the Joker Virus, it was quite logical perfectly in line with the Joker’s brand of madness.

After the briefing, Batman issued a reminder. He wasn’t sure who would follow Alice into the next world, but whatever happened, they had to collect data and avoid “Bad Endings.” He used Superman as a negative example: no more “locking” characters.

Late Night.

Batman stared at the Batcomputer, performing detailed calculations. This game definitely had an ulterior motive. As he calculated, for some reason, Bruce felt his vision grow blurry. In his final moments of lucidity, he thought: Is it my turn this time? Before closing his eyes, Batman shut down the computer and pressed the emergency distress transmitter on his belt, finally collapsing in the Batcave.

Night. Alice entered the world of dreams. When she opened her eyes again, a massive building stood before her with a sign that read:

“Metropolis Asylum”

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