199 Realization #199

"From Batman..." Selina replied, to which I raised an eyebrow in confusion at her words. "He gave it to Nightwing, incentive in case you didn't want to help Barbara..." she added with a shrug.

"Nightwing wanted you to have it as thanks, regardless..." She concluded as she gestured to the card, earning a nod as I carelessly stored it in my inventory.

"Where was Batman anyway...?" I asked as I turned to Selina after putting away the card. "Why didn't he go after The Joker?" I asked, scrunching my eyebrows.

"Batman was... preocupied..." Selina blankly replied, drawing a tired sigh as she put on a troubled expression, and something told me there was more to it than the caped crusader simply being busy.

"Busy with what...? Two of his sidekicks almost died, and The Joker was on a killing spree...?" I asked, my frown deepening as I gave Selina an unconvinced look, to which her expression grew more troubled.

I sighed as I waited several seconds for a reply and received none from the brunette. "You know what? Never mind..." I went on, shaking my head as I shrugged.

I felt tempted to use my new-gained telepathy to read Selina's mind, but I quickly dismissed the idea. I might be a hypocrite, but I had lines I would prefer not to cross.

"As long he's not breathing down my neck, then I don't really care what Gotham's broody protector is up to..." I continued with a chuckle, waving my hand to the side, which got a smile, albeit a bitter one, from Selina.

"Now, if you'll excuse me... I still have a new toy to try out..." I said as I turned away from Selina and retrieved my axe. "You're welcome to stay, but it'll only get chillier, and I'll ignore you..." I concluded as I raised the weapon above my head, summoning a gust of freezing wind.

"Well, you know what they say about cats and curiosity..." Selina said, chuckling as she stepped back, climbing into an empty container and sitting down.

"The cat puns are getting older than Batman's disappearing act..." I said, rolling my eyes as I continued experimenting with the Leviathan's axe without bothering to look at Selina.

"You should quit while you're ahead..."

...

"It's incredible how simply going over 250 seems to change so much..." I muttered to myself as I looked down at the small mound of dust, which used to be a small pebble in my hand.

It was a qualitative leap that improved my physique to an incredible degree.

Whereas I was slightly slower than a speeding bullet, I was now at least 1.5 times faster, not to mention the massive boost in physical strength, which enabled me to grind a small pebble into dust.

I could already break pricks and pend steel before the physique upgrade, but crushing an actual rock to dust was way beyond the limits of my capabilities.

Even my healing factor had doubled in strength. I subconsciously knew that I could regrow my finger and heal the scar on my chest should I wish to, which, again, wasn't possible before the upgrades.

I had no intention of doing either. Not before fixing Richard's arm anyway, but you get the idea.

My durability was the only aspect of my physique that didn't evolve or grow more powerful, but it was already impressive to begin with, which made sense.

I continued experimenting with my new abilities, even with Selina hanging around. Still, The cold seemed to affect her and watching me throw and call back my axe to get a feel for the weapon couldn't have been fun.

She eventually left after getting a phone call. I didn't care either way and proceeded to experiment with my new perks and powers after I became more familiar with my new weapon.

I'd still need some more time to get used to the sudden spike in strength, but my brain got a massive boost, so it won't be long until I get a grip on my new power.

Speaking of which, the boost to my mind also made it easier to control my energy, and I could now channel energy, manifest, and concentrate energy much more effectively.

It was even possible for me to form more sophisticated energy constructs like guns with some difficulty and crude ones like knives and simple tools effortlessly.

"Hmm..." I grunted as I checked the time. I originally wanted to look for Enchantress after briefly trying out my new powers, but I might as well familiarize myself with them before going.

"There's always tomorrow, I suppose..."

...

Gotham

The Batcave

"You should be happy to hear that The Joker is under police custody, master Bruce..." Alfred said as he slowly approached the bat computer, holding a tray full of food and refreshments.

"I know..." Bruce replied without bothering to turn around and face the butler as the latter stopped behind him and got a full view of the super-computer's monitor.

"That should be the work of the new vigilante everyone is talking about..." Alfred said, raising an eyebrow as he noticed the footage of The Joker's hand exploding playing on the monitor.

"The people of Gotham, more so the police force, have decided to call them Guardian Angel..." The butler continued, gleefully smiling as he watched Joker's pathetic figure before he lost consciousness.

"I find the name Wraith more fitting..." Bruce said, letting out a knowing smile before he shook his head and dismissed the footage to resume working on his project.

"I see..." Alfred remarked, pausing to think for a second. "I suppose it makes sense that the young man would not wish to involve himself with that grinning lunatic publicly..." he went, nodding his head in approval as he sent Bruce a blank look.

"Sound judgment, don't you think, Master Bruce...?" The butler said, his blank expression cracking and leaking bemusement as he stared daggers into his master's back.

To no one's surprise, he received no reply.

"Still, I find it rather satisfying how he dealt with that mirthful waste of air..." Alfred said as he began setting the plates and glasses on the table next to the computer.

"And the surprising competency of the police force as they handled the situation even more so..." The Butler went on as he finished setting the meal before moving behind the computer.

"Breakfast is served..." Alfred said, his expression blank as he emerged from behind the computer carrying the power plug, which he'd removed to stop Bruce from working.

Bruce grunted in annoyance at the butler's actions but didn't bother arguing as he turned away from the computer and into the table full of food next to him.

"That young woman, Captain Tiegel, if I recall correctly..." Alfred said, trailing at the end of his sentence, to which Bruce nodded at him in response.

"I must say... she is doing an excellent job fixing the hot mess our city's police department is..." The butler added as he poured a steaming cup of coffee for his master.

"Indeed... Deborah Tiegel has undoubtedly changed Gotham's police department for the better..." Bruce replied, nodding his head as he took a bite of his scrambled egg sandwich.

"That's not all... the entire city is changing, mostly for the better..." Bruce said, sighing as he put on a complicated expression split by a bittersweet smile that seemed to confuse his butler.

"And is that really so bad, master Bruce...?" Alfred said as he offered the coffee to his master, regarding him with a befuddled expression that conveyed his confusion.

"No... it's just..." Bruce said, heaving a sigh as he trailed off at the end of his sentence, seemingly at a loss for words. "Odd..." The caped crusader said, having found the appropriate word.

Alfred's expression remained confused as he handed Bruce the Coffee, to which the latter got the hint and elaborated without delay.

"Ever since Wraith revealed his identity..." he explained, his expression thoughtful. "Especially after his speech... the city began to change like never before..." Bruce went on, sighing as he shook his head and took a sip from the coffee.

"Crimes suddenly lessened. People were smiling in the streets, Alfred..." The caped crusader said in a strange tone as he smiled. "How long has it been since you've seen someone smiling in Gotham's streets...?" He asked with a chuckle as the butler merely shrugged.

"When Brimstone happened... I expected Gotham to devolve into utter chaos..." Bruce said, shaking his head as he recalled the chaotic storm of looters and gangsters roaming the streets in the flaming giant's wake.

"It almost happened, but many people stepped up to help each other, and the police force..." The caped crusader explained as the butler silently listened, standing beside him.

"And after the incident... the people were still smiling..." Bruce said as he looked his butler in the eye. "We couldn't achieve a fraction of that even after a decade of work, Alfred..." He concluded, his expression and tone hard to read.

"And you find that discouraging, master Bruce...?" Alfred asked, keeping a neutral expression as he maintained eye contact without looking away from his master's face.

"No. I can't explain, but something feels off, and not necessarily with Wraith..."

...

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