[Integrated/Crossover DC/Marvel] Why Did the World End Again? - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Traces of the Bat

Alice watched the scene before her, struggling to understand. She began to wonder what “crime” Annabelle had committed; according to the logic of this world, if doing good deeds makes you a “bastard,” then Annabelle must have saved the world.

Some people possess an innate kindness buried in their bones that cannot be corrected. Thus, they require regular brainwashing. If everyone here is subjected to strange pills, daily lectures, and bizarre verbal abuse, it truly is a terrifying existence.

Who could have imagined that this land, once crowned as the most sunlit city, has now become a total purgatory? The Son of Light once bestowed his infinite grace here, but now, years have passed, and everything has changed.

What is the purpose of establishing this asylum? Is it to gather these people for forced “remodeling,” and what happens after that? From a utilitarian perspective, having more self-sacrificing individuals in a social group is a good thing, so why are they being forcibly “corrected” here?

Annabelle stood among the crowd, looking at her surroundings with numbness. She was already very familiar with their ways. Ever since she arrived, she had become a “textbook case,” locked in the most specialized ward.

The authorities wanted to forcibly invert her into a model for their curriculum, using her to broadcast to the world and deceive the masses. They wanted everyone to believe that this world was no different from any other—that as long as one put in the effort, even people could be completely corrupted into the most perfect vessels.

It was a grand joke.

Many things raced through her mind. Back when she was a student, she had passionate dreams, which drove her to study hard and become an outstanding scientist.

She dreamed of leading civilization into new frontiers. As it turned out, she could do it she was just that brilliant. After only two years in the research lab, she produced numerous prominent results. Back then, everything was beautiful, until the arrival of that strange virus.

Following the disbandment of the Justice League, the world faced a second crisis: a majority of the population underwent an instantaneous inversion, their personalities shifting drastically.

This strange symptom alerted Annabelle to the anomaly, and she began to investigate. Just as she was about to touch the most critical secret, she was branded a fugitive and locked in this mental asylum.

Annabelle was no fool. When she arrived at this so-called asylum and saw the words on the sign, she understood the ultimate goal of the entire affair. The information provided by the authorities and what they sought were pathetically shallow.

People are always so greedy… yet it is precisely because of greed that we have reached this point. Greed is the primary driving force etched into human genes.

The term “Metropolis Asylum” was an insult in itself. Everyone knew what the city of Metropolis symbolized. Even if its protector had completely left this place for the unknown distance, that didn’t mean his past contributions and the hope he left behind could be erased.

Everyone knew this land belonged to Superman. Even if he had gone far away, he still left many beautiful things for this land and its people: brilliance, hope, and justice.

The legislation from above came down so fast that there wasn’t even time to build a new asylum; they simply forcibly repurposed the Metropolis General Hospital.

There was no time for anyone to protest. Annabelle was locked up just as she was about to file an appeal. At the same time, she began observing the people inexplicably imprisoned with her. They came from all walks of life—different genders, skin colors, and ages—but they all shared one common trait…

Annabelle knew she had completely grasped the secret. She just needed to be more careful, to find a way to survive and escape, so she could save everything.

Since that cataclysm, the world seemed to have no more heroes. A cruel choice had appeared, forcing the people of the world to choose. Perhaps their choice was rational, perhaps it was “correct,” but the ultimate result was that they lost many heroes.

No one sympathized with the weak anymore. From then on, a shadow loomed over the planet or rather, a law: Always be loyal to yourself.

She felt she had found the approximate secret. She had obtained a physical examination report, and at the time, she couldn’t understand why the report looked the way it did.

Now she understood. There is no virus that changes a person’s mood or makes a heart grow in the opposite direction; it’s just that the person has been replaced.

Once everyone had gathered, the man standing in the center began his speech. As someone who had seen the plot, Alice had already guessed what he would say next—nothing more than glorifying evil values, just like the script.

“Do you know what this land once welcomed?”

The man’s cryptic question left Alice and Bruce in silence. After all, this was completely different from the previous plot.

From Bruce’s perspective, Annabelle stood there motionless, head down, thinking.

The man adjusted his clothes.

“A long, long time ago, we were the most ordinary species on this planet. But we were given an opportunity, so we stepped into civilization and became the masters of this world. But… everything changed the moment a red cape descended from the sky.”

“That was a miracle, or perhaps an inspiration. How many civilizations have lived on this planet, only to eventually decline? And where will we humans go? So, Heaven gave us a chance a unique revelation!”

“To become Gods!”

Hearing the man’s words, Alice was greatly shocked, while Bruce’s face turned solemn. He was smart enough to guess the implication. Perhaps the man was right, but this was unchangeable. This is how it is between all species one ebbs while another flows. The cycle of matter and the decay of time were meant to be this way.

Where would the so-called “becoming Gods” lead this civilization? Who could provide a guarantee? Who could ensure that none of this would spiral out of control?

No one.

The man only said these things because he craved the abilities of Kryptonians, wanting to obtain genes from their bodies or something else. But could forcibly merging two species ever lead to a good result?

Though Bruce didn’t technically hold a formal diploma in the field, he had studied this knowledge. Forcibly gluing two completely different species together results in either genetic collapse or complete, distorted mutation.

These were two outcomes that Earthlings could not withstand. Even someone as bold and arrogant as Lex Luthor dared not forcibly alter human genes; he only dared to boldly create a new generation of hybrids combining humans and Kryptonians.

Bruce didn’t understand what this man’s madness was based on. Anyone who has seriously explored genetics knows that such a method is entirely unfeasible; all academic and new knowledge must be built upon a massive amount of experimentation…

A massive amount of experimentation…

Bruce realized: this wasn’t an asylum at all. This was a massive experimental site. Likely, the so-called “experiments” had long since begun, and the “good-and-evil inversion” was merely a cover.

“I need to get Alice out of here quickly…”

Alice fell into silence listening to the man’s frantic, nonsensical remarks. Because of Superman, the world became different? To prevent civilization’s extinction, they want to become Supermen?

If Alice remembered correctly, Superman’s home planet exploded, right? So hasn’t that already indirectly proven that even becoming Supermen won’t stop civilization from ending?

Annabelle lowered her head, listening to the man’s words, finding them laughable. Insulting life only invites karmic retribution.

Annabelle once had a grand plan: she intended to build a machine that could travel through time. She wanted to go back to the past and change the starting point of everything the day that red sun inexplicably appeared in the sky…

“What are you laughing at?”

The man looked down at Annabelle. His feelings for her were complex. On one hand, he wished she were dead; on the other, he knew the upcoming plan desperately needed her help. But she steadfastly refused to bow her head.

Annabelle was a verified genius. She entered a high-level institution at thirteen, earned three PhDs in just four years, and successfully joined a top-tier research team, producing countless results.

Her brain, her genes, and her wisdom were a fortune a very useful asset.

If anyone were to die, she wouldn’t for the time being. After all, her utility value remained, and everything required sustainable development. And he? He seemed destined to be the perpetual “number two.”

Is there ever any beautiful sentiment between number one and number two? He didn’t know. He only knew that the two of them had fought madly for that top spot or rather, he unilaterally believed Annabelle was competing with him.

Perhaps he was a genius among ordinary people, but unfortunately, he encountered a true genius. He could only be the perpetual runner-up, experiencing failure again and again. He was jealous, so he sought revenge. He wanted her to go mad, but she always seemed able to maintain her sanity.

Whenever Annabelle looked him in the eye, he always felt she could see through everything, as if she were saying:

“You will never beat me.”

Annabelle knew he hated her or rather, envied her but so what? Was she supposed to choose to bow or yield just because of someone else’s jealousy? A woman stepping into the world of scientific research seemed to be a difficult task, but knowledge is forever loyal to wisdom.

Things were no different from what she expected. The man indeed secretly increased her dosage, but it didn’t matter.

She was unwilling to take the pills; no matter what, she would find a way to vomit them up. So, they began intravenous infusions, until her veins were no longer suitable for needle insertion.

Finally, everyone began to back out; no one was willing to give Anna injections anymore. Thus came the various electroconvulsive therapies. As her cranial nerves were stimulated time and again, she knew it was painful. But as the pain extended, she became clearer and clearer. She saw through this place, and she saw through the so-called “world.”

She would not yield, nor would she bow. She was merely continuing the path walked by her predecessors. What she experienced was merely a replay of past history.

S1 was a special place. Because that was where the last hero in the world had once been imprisoned Batman.

Support [Integrated/Crossover DC/Marvel] Why Did the World End Again?