Chapter 102: Batman vs Zod

Superman and General Zod were engaged in a fierce battle in the sky, their fight destroying everything nearby. Heat vision seared through skyscrapers, slicing buildings apart.

Mortals looked up at the gods' battle like ants, desperately dodging the falling debris, fighting to survive. Amid the sonic booms and explosions, the city was quickly decimated, with countless lives lost in the aftermath. Even the towering Wayne Tower collapsed in the chaos.

Batman, driving the Batmobile, was focused on saving as many people as possible.

After hearing reports of an imposter Batman, he had come to Metropolis to track down this pretender. However, upon arrival, he was thrust into the middle of a war between gods.

As a mere mortal, Batman was powerless against the Kryptonians. He couldn't even save the employees trapped in Wayne Tower.

Perhaps it was fate, as Gotham's Dark Knight now found himself holding a young girl who had just lost her parents, quietly watching the sky.

At that moment, he noticed someone standing before him. It was someone dressed in a black suit he knew all too well—someone with an almost identical chin.

It felt like looking in a mirror. Batman immediately realized that this person was the imposter.

Without hesitation, he confronted the fake Batman, demanding:

"Who are you? Why are you impersonating me?"

Alex repeated the same explanation he had given to Clark and the others, his gaze complex as he looked at Batman.

"As I said, I am you. You are me. I come from a parallel universe."

Batman, ever suspicious, didn't believe him. But Alex didn't expect him to. He was just here for fun.

Alex extended his hand toward Batman and, in a voice filled with temptation, said:

"My counterpart, I've gone through what you're experiencing right now. Look at those two aliens. They're fighting on Earth, killing countless innocent people. Don't you feel angry?

I know you do. I know the fury burning inside you. But you can't stop them, can you? The Kryptonians are too strong, and even with all your combat skills, you're just a human.

So, Batman… do you desire power?"

Batman stared at the man in front of him. He looked exactly like him, down to the stubble on his chin, like a perfect copy.

In their earlier conversation, Alex had shown a deep understanding of his past, which made Batman start to believe his story. This man could really be his counterpart.

Under normal circumstances, Batman wouldn't accept unknown power, even if it came from a version of himself from another universe. But now, after seeing Wayne Tower destroyed and all of its employees killed, the overwhelming feeling of helplessness and anger pushed him to make a decision.

He reached out and shook Alex's hand.

Seeing Batman take his hand, Alex grinned as multiple skills activated simultaneously.

The black symbiote quickly slithered over Batman, replacing his armor and enveloping him, providing him with an endless supply of power!

Red blood flowed from Alex's hand into Batman's body, with a reversal technique continuously destroying and healing his cells, engraving Alex's curse techniques into Batman's soul!

A massive amount of energy surged into Batman, reshaping his cells, making him stronger!

Minutes later, Batman stood up, incredulous at the changes in his body. The immense power coursing through him was unbelievable.

Alex's voice echoed in his ears:

"Go. Stop them. Make the Kryptonians understand that Earth is superior!"

As Batman drove the Batmobile toward the battle between Superman and General Zod, Alex couldn't help but look forward to what would happen next.

What kind of clash would occur now that Batman had this new power?

Alex had given Batman the symbiote that had lived with the Kryptonians for several hours, and had transformed his body to match the cursed energy system of Jujutsu Kaisen. Batman could now use level 3 power of "Blue" and Cursed Technique Reversal "Red."

With Alex's temporary power boost, Batman should be able to give Superman a serious beating.

...

Facing the combat-hardened General Zod, Superman, despite using his super-brain to keep up, was still no match for him.

Boom!

With a sonic blast, General Zod punched Superman in the face, distorting his nearly flawless features. If Superman hadn't clenched his teeth, he might've lost them.

As Clark struggled to stand, he heard the roaring engine of a motorcycle nearby.

A sleek bike rushed toward him and stopped in front of him. A man in a close-fitting suit dismounted, locking his gaze on Superman and General Zod.

"Batman?

No, another Batman!"

Though the two looked almost identical, Superman instantly recognized the difference.

The Batman he knew carried an air of indifference, the result of having seen too much and caring about too little. But the Batman before him now was like a shadow in the darkness, a respected protector even when shrouded in gloom.

Despite his respect for Batman, this was not a battlefield he could join. After all, he was just a human.

Clark warned Batman:

"Batman, leave. This is not a fight you can be part of!"

Batman glanced at him, understanding Superman's concern, but he was still filled with rage.

It was the rage of losing hundreds of Wayne Enterprises employees. The fury of Metropolis being destroyed. The anger at the thousands of innocent lives lost because of the Kryptonians' battle.

That fire had reached its breaking point.

"You think you can take lives so easily, that you're above the law and can do whatever you want? You think only another Kryptonian can stand as your equal?

No. I'm telling you, you're wrong!

You've slaughtered thousands of innocents, and now it's time for you to pay the price!"

Sensing something off with Batman, Clark tried to respond, but General Zod interrupted:

"Pathetic Earthling, I'll kill all of you in front of Kal-El. Earth will die alongside Krypton!"

Provoked by Zod's taunts, Batman couldn't hold back any longer. In an instant, he appeared before Zod, and, under Superman's shocked gaze, he delivered a punch surrounded by black and red lightning!

Thunder boomed, obliterating everything in the vicinity. General Zod was sent flying, crashing through building after building, heading out of Metropolis!

Seizing the moment, Batman appeared in front of Zod again, unleashing blow after blow, channeling all of his former helplessness and anger into his fists.

Thunder roared as Batman's relentless assault continued, driving Zod out of Metropolis and into the barren wastelands beyond.

Superman stood frozen, unsure of what had just happened.

He was certain that this Batman was not some multiverse wanderer but the Batman of this universe. So how was he this strong?

Clark rushed forward, hoping to help, but a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free from the grip.

Alex, sounding lazy, said to Superman:

"This is Batman's fight. You stay here."

Clark looked back, and his eyes widened in fear. Dozens of Kryptonians were floating in midair, their bodies restrained, absorbing sunlight and generating immense energy, only for Alex to siphon it away.

Just as he said, the Kryptonians were nothing more than batteries to him.

Superman dared not move again, fearing he might become one of those batteries himself.

Suddenly, Clark noticed the surroundings change. Without moving, they had somehow been transported to the outskirts of Metropolis. The inexplicable shift left him uneasy.

Alex's lazy voice rang out again:

"Just a little spatial manipulation. No big deal."

Clark: "..."

Simple spatial manipulation?

Then why can't I do it?

Feeling smug after showing off, Alex pulled a soda from his pocket dimension, took a sip, and watched the fight unfold.

After being hit repeatedly, General Zod finally reacted, holding his injured...self with a pained expression.

This Earthling wasn't fighting honorably, always targeting his weak spots. After taking several hits, Zod could swear he heard something crack.

Despite the temporary disadvantage, General Zod remained confident. He was, after all, a warrior of Krypton, literally bred for battle. There was no way a mere Earthling could defeat him.

Looking down at Batman, Zod said:

"I admit, you're strong—stronger than I expected. But I'm a conqueror of the universe, born to fight as a Kryptonian warrior. You can't possibly beat me."

He tried to intimidate Batman, using his superior strength to exert pressure. But before he could finish speaking, a black and red blur struck his face, drawing blood from his nose.

Batman had just mastered Alex's essence, landing a brutal, satisfying punch to Zod's face, and then sneered at him:

"So, you bleed too?"

°°°

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