Chapter 970: Battle for the High Tower (Part 4)_1

Images flashed before Batman, scenes of many deaths overlapped, leaving him feeling somewhat disoriented.

Batman was not one to calmly accept death, especially of others. The sight of his own loved ones' deaths had deeply scarred him mentally.

Such wounds would gradually heal over time, but they would never fully disappear. Hence, when he saw Shiller's death, his mind scarcely had the ability to think about anything else. The symptoms of his post-traumatic stress disorder were constantly urging his mind, replaying those horrific images.

Luckily, Zatanna had proposed another possibility at the time: they could go to Hell to find Shiller's soul. This diverted Batman's attention, preventing his symptoms from erupting instantly.

Later, when they entered the Edge of Hell and saw Shiller's soul, Batman thought that everything had turned for the better. However, Shiller then threw himself off the edge.

Batman did not know what compelled him to follow suit; perhaps it was those terrifying images lingering in his mind that made him feel he had to do something.

Because if he calmed down, ceased to have anything to do, he would, just like when his parents died, find himself engulfed by loneliness and fear, continually corroding his heart.

After actually arriving in Hell, Batman saw the tower crumble onto the ground. Seeing countless souls of Shiller's charging out of the tower, his first reaction was that there was still a chance to avert this tragedy and he must try to do so.

During his parent's catastrophe, the thing he detested most was his own helplessness. But this time, his professor and mentor were dead, then plunged into Hell. He had witnessed all of this and was no longer helpless as he was as a child.

So he was eager to do something about it, which had him feeling intensely distracted. It was, in fact, a manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder, but he didn't realize it.

Just as he looked at Shiller, Shiller got up from the ground, shook his head vigorously, and then muttered:

"Damn it. It's so high. I miscalculated..."

Then he drew several deep breaths, reached out his right hand to feel his back, furrowing his brow deeply.

After straightening out his slightly wrinkled suit, and retying his tie, Shiller finally noticed Batman standing in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Batman asked.

"Me? I'm just fantastic." said Shiller, straightened his tie, coughed twice, and said, "I've successfully taken my revenge on Constantine, depriving him of his magic ability, and dumping those narrow-minded souls off the tower into Hell. Who asked them not to let me board the ship, not to bring me to battle?"

Shiller seemed to find standing a bit exhausting, so he went to sit on a large rock on the edge of the slope, then chattered away about his complete plan.

Shiller had many people he wanted revenge on, the prime culprit being Constantine, who created a citywide chaos. As Shiller said before, he had a weapon against the good guys — guilt.

Undoubtedly, Constantine was an awful person, but he was also a good man. Despite his frequent betrayals of friends and comrades, most of what he did was to save the world and he bore the debts of his actions alone.

His friends paid a hefty price for him, but he paid even more. In their daily interaction, Shiller realized that it was this aspect that allowed Constantine to avoid his conscience's reproach.

His friends lost their lives, but he also suffered huge physical pain due to the costs he had to bear. This pain helped alleviate his inner guilt, so Shiller simply decided to help him eradicate this pain.

Originally, Constantine could use physical pain to distract himself, but once all his debts were cleared and all his wounds healed, he had no means of escaping reality and had to confront his internal guilt directly.

Of course, besides these old debts, Shiller added two more to his tally.

He deliberately let a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent stab him in front of Batman and let Batman witness his corpse, aiming to make Batman feel guilty.

Once Batman felt guilty, when Shiller cast himself into Hell in front of Batman, he would jump, and Batman would surely follow.

Falling into Hell with Batman would be a double blow to Constantine, like a stab in the artery. Shiller thought Constantine must be going mad in reality now.

Meanwhile, dragging his souls into Hell allowed him to take revenge on his Superego, who didn't let him board the ship, and on Marvel Schiller, who had found joy in his misfortune. If he couldn't take a break, no one else would be able to.

Thinking of this, Schiller felt much better, and his adverse reaction began to ease. Just as he was surveying his surroundings, Batman spoke, "Now that you're okay, let's go."

Schiller was confused and asked, "Go? Where are you planning to go?"

"To save you." Batman turned and walked ahead. Schiller, still baffled, said, "Save me? I'm right here, aren't I? I said I was fine. There's no broccoli in Hell, so maybe my allergies will get better soon..."

"I'm talking about the other you, and the tower," Batman responded, continuing to move forward without looking back. Schiller could only follow him, furrowing his brows in disbelief. "You mean you want to save my other persona and the tower?"

"Batman, have you ever thought about this? I'm in Hell. I can't be the only one suffering, right?"

"Isn't it possible that those personas and the tower don't need saving? They seem eager to get out. Do they look like they need help?"

"Also, this is Hell, it's full of powerful demons. Your martial arts won't be effective here."

While Batman carried on walking, Schiller quickened his pace to catch up, turning to observe his expression. He noticed that under his mask, Batman's face seemed rigid and his fingertips trembled slightly.

Schiller raised his eyebrows. He suspected that Batman was being triggered by trauma. After all, reason could tell him that Schiller wouldn't die so easily, but witnessing death firsthand can be a strong shock. His illness wasn't fully cured, so he could be triggered again.

Getting in Batman's way, Schiller advised, "Calm down, Batman. I think you already know your mental state isn't great now. You need some therapeutic work. I suggest we find a safe place first..."

Before Schiller could finish his sentence, Batman sidestepped him and walked away. Schiller frowned deeply with slight annoyance at his disrespect but kept his cool, whispering, "Well then, seeing as you jumped for my sake…"

"Listen, Batman, this is merely a plan. PLAN, got it? Whether I was taken away by federal agents, stabbed, died in a phone booth, or had my soul sent to Hell, it's all part of my plan to payback those who overstep and narrow-minded bastards..."

Batman stopped and turned to Schiller, "You planned this way because you think I can do nothing, right? That's how all sinners who dare to harm others think..."

Schiller shook his head, "No, it's just that when I seek revenge on someone, everyone can be used, including myself, and you."

"Actually, you found out then, didn't you? You had a hunch I might be up to something. Your reason would have told you this was all my plan. That I plunged into Hell, and the one in danger is likely Hell."

"Just like now, your mind judges that the high tower and my other personas won't be in danger. My personalities charging towards the demon - the one who suffers will likely be the demon."

"Yet, a voice in your heart urges you to save me, even if I don't need it... Batman, haven't you figured it out? You've never actually left that alley."

Schiller slowly moved in front of Batman, looking into his eyes and saying, "You're ill, but you refuse treatment, just like many other people who remain ignorant, viewing psychological trauma as indescribable, unmentionable scars. Unwilling to face them and accept scientific treatment..."

"If it continues, someday, the wound will reopen in an even more bloody manner. By then, unless you never show your weakness, when everyone knows it's your weakness, you could pay tenfold or even a hundredfold the price..."

"It's you who needs treatment." Batman gazed at Schiller. "You'd rather harm yourself than manipulate people, amuse yourself by making others dance to your tune…"

"Indeed, but if you know I'm a maniac, then why did you jump?"

Batman turned back, continued his course. Schiller, standing behind, simply shook his head, whispering, "The road to recovery is long indeed…"

Just then, the ground started shaking, causing Schiller to lose balance. He quickly turned around, only to find himself staring into a gaping mouth.

A gigantic demon sandworm burst out from the ground. Batman turned around, bending his knees to stabilize himself. As the swirling dust started to settle, he saw the round, spirally-toothed mouth of the sandworm. The creature then swallowed Schiller whole.

Shocked, Batman sprinted towards the sandworm with tremendous speed. He jumped onto the monster's back by taking advantage of a nearby slope, and grabbed onto its horn. He then punched its eye.

The sandworm writhed in pain. But instead of opening its mouth, it dove into the sand.

With traces appearing on the sand, the colossal sandworm disappeared into the sandscape, scurrying towards the unknown.