[Integrated/Crossover DC/Marvel] Why Did the World End Again? - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Who Killed Todd

After saying this, the blonde sprite slammed the door and turned to leave. Alice clicked on the character card to show the superheroes.

Name: Aurora

Age: ???

Character Traits: ???

Affection Level: 10

“Is he basically chatting with us across the screen?” Barry asked curiously. Alice gave an awkward smile, while Batman’s brow furrowed. Breaking the fourth wall was never a good sign; it only meant things were going to get more complicated.

“Perhaps it’s just a game setting,” Superman offered, as usual, to soothe everyone’s nerves.

Batman fell into deep thought. If interacting with these characters unlocked plots and traits, and actually pulled the player into the story, Alice—being an ordinary girl—had been lucky this time. But how would she cope next time?

“Continue,” Batman commanded.

Following his lead, Alice resumed control of her character. Since Lycoris Wayne was temporarily absent, Alice went to find Annabelle.

Annabelle opened the door, dressed in her usual “shut-in” style. Alice dumped everything in her inventory onto Annabelle. After receiving the items, the girl’s attitude seemed slightly improved.

However, before Alice could control her character to say anything, Annabelle slammed the door shut, leaving Alice standing there dazed.

“She just took the stuff and ran?” Alice didn’t know how to evaluate such highway robbery.

“No plot unlocked?” Hal asked from the side. The group stared at the screen until a familiar figure appeared around the corner.

“Hello there… Hmm, did you give Anna a lot of gifts? I suggest you don’t give her too much. She doesn’t like going out. Her only reason for leaving is to find materials. Now that you’ve given her everything she needs, she’s definitely not coming out anymore.”

It would have been better if the suddenly appearing Lycoris Wayne hadn’t said anything. Once she did, everyone began to notice that time in the game passed quite quickly. Perhaps it really was because Alice had provided enough materials—Annabelle didn’t step out for the rest of the day.

Annabelle was the only character who remained blurry; she wore a large hat that only revealed a tiny chin, and long sleeves and pants. She exuded a dense “shut-in” aura that made Alice marvel at how the world felt like one giant 2D trope.

Since the character didn’t appear, the character card couldn’t be viewed. Alice didn’t know how much the affection had grown or if any plots had been unlocked. She had no choice but to find Lycoris Wayne again to try and trigger a second story segment.

Alice noticed one thing: among all the characters, Lycoris Wayne’s affection was the easiest to raise, and she felt the most friendly. Even if she seemed erratic in the dream, she was very normal and easygoing in the game.

Alice was about to give her a gift when she remembered her inventory was empty.

“We might have to wait for Annabelle to come out. I have nothing left to give.”

“Can we ‘pay-to-win’?”

The wealthy Batman didn’t want to waste precious time; he just wanted to throw some USD at the problem. Clark covered his face—this was typical Batman behavior. Hearing this, Cyborg’s thumb twitched; the “internet youth” in him instinctively wanted that whale-tier VIP status.

Alice searched the entire game interface but couldn’t find any recharge events or payment channels.

“I knew it. I should have checked for this first. What normal game doesn’t want to make money? Damn it.”

Alice realized she had been dead wrong. If she had checked for this earlier, she would have known the game was suspicious. What game isn’t developed for profit?

With other games, you have the $100 gacha guarantees or the “Power-Up” modes—all sorts of ways to trap your money. This game, acting like a Bodhisattva by not taking a single cent, was definitely problematic!

Fortunately, a savior appeared. Seeing Annabelle finally step out of her room, Alice was moved to tears. She quickly clicked the character card and saw that the first plot segment had been unlocked. She clicked in immediately.

The group watched as the screen faded to black and a prologue appeared.

Prologue

“People often say that the majority surviving is what counts as justice. Then, is the act of killing the few for the sake of the justice of the many still considered justice?”

The scene shifted. In the dead of night, lightning tore through the sky. A building appeared, rising tall from the ground. A pale sign declared its purpose: The Capital Asylum.

Inside the massive asylum, patients in neat, pure white clothes stood in line for food. Everything looked harmonious until a figure appeared and broke the peace. A young girl in a white dress was being dragged along. She looked thin, her limbs frail, and her exposed arms were covered in bruises.

The doctor dragging her ignored her injuries and threw her directly into the center of the cafeteria. The girl struggled, only to be stepped on and pinned to the floor. It looked like a ritual; everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered around, forming a “harmonious” circle around this so-called feast.

“Do you know what kind of mistake she made?”

A man stood at the front, arms raised as if presiding over a trial. The others obeyed blindly; no one struggled. Every eye held only one emotion: confusion.

“She committed the most serious, most terrifying mistake of the century. That is… Kindness. What a terrifying virus it is, turning a genius scientist into an utter madman. She actually opposed human experimentation and tried to stop the progress of our great civilization. It is a truly horrible disease. But it’s alright—now that she’s here, we will help her correct this problem!”

Everyone cheered, their faces twisting into distorted smiles.

“Justice is a disease! Heroism is a cancer! Greed is eternal!!!”

The girl kept her head down throughout, only looking up when she heard those words. Her messy hair covered her face, and her lips were covered in small cuts.

“Sooner or later, greed will pay the full price. Nothing is eternal… including us.”

The plot cut off abruptly.

Alice felt a wave of horror. If Lycoris Wayne brought visual impact and frantic slaughter, then Annabelle’s segment illustrated the horror of an entire world. It seemed people no longer believed in justice or kindness. What kind of nightmare world would that turn into?

“This plot isn’t very pleasant…”

Kryptonian memory is excellent, so Clark could clearly remember the manic, struggling smiles on those faces.

“B, is the next step entering this game world?”

Alice remained silent at Superman’s question. Her role was temporarily over. Batman didn’t respond because he was thinking. This game could not be faced by Alice alone; no one knew how it would end. Moreover, the prospect of unlocking “tags” to gain powers was far too tempting.

Alice might not care now, but what if she unlocked a world-breaking superpower later? The superheroes who could influence the world discussed the final decision. Ultimately, by Batman’s decree, Alice officially became a “special operative” of the Justice League.

“From today on, you are joining the Justice League.”

When Batman said those words, Alice was stunned. She just wanted to solve the problem, but if she could land a “government job” with benefits, wasn’t that a form of “lying flat” success? But looking at the heroes of the League, Alice felt she shouldn’t be in this scene—it felt like she was lowering the “cool factor” of the superheroes instantly.

Batman gave Alice one task: explore the game daily and record the plots. If anything abnormal occurred, report it immediately. The price, of course, was her freedom. Batman would install a few “bits of modern technology” on her—something the other heroes were well-used to.

Superman reached out a friendly hand. “Welcome to the Justice League.”

Batman, standing beside him, poured a bucket of cold water on the moment. “Strictly speaking, she’s external logistics personnel.”

Under the Flash’s subsequent explanation, Alice understood her position. It just sounded nice to say she “joined the Justice League.” In reality, she wouldn’t participate in any combat, acting more like support. It was a form of compensation—giving her a job at the League to pay her a salary that would cover her lost wages.

Alice was quiet. Everyone has a bright future. This felt like being a security guard at Harvard. Even if it’s just a guard, it’s still Harvard!

I joined the Justice League. I’m not a superhero, but I’m proud!

Alice was honorably given her own room in the Watchtower.

In the conference room, Superman looked at Batman. “B, we still need to be cautious about this.”

Having been caught up on the details by the Flash, Superman knew what was happening, but he wouldn’t contradict Batman in front of others.

Batman shook his head. He didn’t just want to recruit Alice. Regarding the girl herself, he had other thoughts. There was no such thing as a coincidence this perfect—somehow involving the Waynes and the “extinct” Wix family Clark mentioned. Her identity was questionable; it was better to keep her right under his nose. Besides, he had to go to Gotham. He knew Jason knew something.

“I’m going back to Gotham. Superman, give me a lift.”

The unspoken understanding between the World’s Finest meant no words were needed. After a single look, Superman knew what was happening. As the two left the Watchtower, the Flash sighed.

“There they go again, off to share secrets behind our backs.”

Hearing Barry, Green Lantern pulled him into a side-hug. “Get used to it, kid. It’s Superman and Batman, after all.”

Cyborg sat alone in his chair, looking at the quirky group. “Heh.”

High above Gotham, Superman carried Batman. They were discussing the topic they hadn’t finished.

“Red Hood has been inside.”

Superman was shocked by Batman’s words, but then he understood. No wonder the usually cautious Batman had believed something so absurd.

“I see, B. Alice’s background is clean—no traces, she’s just an ordinary person. And we need to talk to Red Hood…”

Batman remained uncharacteristically silent.

Gotham always seemed associated with damp darkness. Today was another overcast day; even the arrival of the Son of the Sun didn’t chase away the gloom for a moment.

“So you came to find me just for this?”

Jason looked at Batman and Superman who had suddenly appeared in his room and found it farcical. He knew it would be like this. Perhaps he was never in the man’s eyes; everyone else was more important than him to this city. That was why the man couldn’t wait to appear and stab him in the heart again by asking about that sensitive topic—the death of Todd.

“It’s important. I need more clues. For the sake of this world.”

“Right. For the sake of the world. You’ve already given everything—do you have to drag us into it too?”

As those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room plummeted to zero. Superman, caught in the middle, didn’t know what to do. Batman’s silhouette seemed to stiffen.

“You know that’s not what I meant… my son.”

A nameless fire ignited in Jason’s heart. He thought he could pretend not to care, but when he saw that snowy winter in the illusion—the happy, whole Wayne family—the fire had started.

Jealousy is a cardinal sin; it makes one irrational, sharp, and unable to stop hurting others. It makes one speak cruel words. So, looking at the Dark Knight standing before him—his mentor, his father—Jason said:

“It was you who killed me, Bruce.”

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