Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman [4]
He had already wanted to travel and see the world.
Kathoom had simply… expanded the scale.
But could he truly trust the advice of a demon?
Deciding to take a leap of faith, Bruce pushed his doubts aside.
Part of him was still shaken by the visions Kathoom had shown him.
The other part agreed with the owl—if he really was the "King of Demons," he could kill Bruce without a second thought, no need for games.
Kathoom seemed genuine in upholding their pact.
In fact, this was the benefit of Kathoom's early theatrics; they'd given Bruce the impression that a demon king wouldn't bother playing around with a child.
Only one problem remained—
"Alfred will never agree."
Bruce thought of his steadfast butler, who was now his guardian in every sense.
"If that's what worries you, we don't have to go anywhere."
Kathoom shrugged. "I have unlimited time; a few decades with you won't make a dent in my lifespan."
"No way!"
Bruce immediately weighed the pros and cons. If he hesitated, it would only hurt him in the end.
After a moment's consideration, he made his decision.
"I'll leave secretly, without telling Alfred!" Young Bruce clenched his fists. "But I'll leave him a letter so he won't worry!"
A bit naive, honestly.
A letter would do nothing to ease Alfred's concern. He would tear the world apart looking for Bruce.
"Speaking of letters, that just reminded me."
Kathoom finally spoke up, "I can set an anchor here so you can send letters home every day."
"Really?" Bruce's face lit up. "I can tell Alfred everything that's happening?"
Kathoom shrugged. "Whatever you want, makes no difference to me."
With that obstacle solved, Bruce immediately slid off his bed, put on his slippers, and hurried to his desk.
He tore a page from his notebook and, with careful pen strokes, began writing his farewell.
Kathoom settled above him.
Ten-year-old Bruce didn't have much eloquence, but he conveyed his thoughts clearly enough.
The letter read: "Goodbye, Alfred. I'm setting out tonight. Don't worry about me; I have courage and wisdom as my oars."
Kathoom suggested from above, "Add a line about your owl godfather."
Bruce rolled his eyes, starting a new line to mention Kathoom.
He only described him as a "mysterious owl," leaving out any mention of a godfather.
Kathoom let it slide.
When the letter was finished, Kathoom shook himself, a single feather drifting down.
"Drop a bit of blood on it, just like when you awakened me."
Bruce peeled back the scab on his palm, letting a drop of blood fall on the feather.
The blood quickly absorbed, merging with the feather until it disappeared.
"Perfect. The anchor is set. Tell your butler this is how you'll communicate from now on."
Bruce followed his instructions.
Signing the letter marked the start of his journey.
Bruce donned his favorite outfit and was about to pack some essentials when Kathoom stopped him.
"No need. You'll have everything you need when you need it."
Kathoom perched on Bruce's shoulder.
"Ready? Let's go!"
Suddenly, Bruce remembered he hadn't arranged what to do with Wayne Enterprises. "Wait…"
"Too late—"
A shimmering portal opened beneath Bruce's feet, and he plunged through, feeling weightless.
"Whatever's left, trust your butler with it—"
With those words, Kathoom dove into the portal after him.
As the portal sealed, both boy and bird vanished from this world.
Their return would not come for a very long time.
---
Within the Interdimensional Time-Space Corridor, light and shadows interwove, shifting like an abstract painting in motion.
Bruce floated weightlessly, as if held by an invisible force.
Above him, Kathoom spread his wings wide.
Suddenly, an eerie sound echoed from behind them, growing louder like a haunting call across an empty wilderness.
Bruce started to look back, but Kathoom quickly warned him, "I wouldn't do that."
"What… what's that sound?"
Bruce held back, but curiosity gnawed at him.
"The one you were planning to kill—the Lord of the Dark Multiverse, Barbatos."
Kathoom replied flatly. "You're an essential piece of his plan. Now that I've taken you, he's understandably anxious to catch up."
"What do you mean!?"
Kathoom's words contained so much information, Bruce's young mind couldn't even begin to process it.
"Nothing you need to worry about. This corridor is my territory; he can't reach us. Hold on tight!"
Suddenly, Kathoom's talons gripped Bruce's shoulder, yanking him sharply as they veered into another world.
Behind them, a deafening roar of rage echoed.
Just as they passed into a new world, Bruce caught a fleeting glimpse of the being in pursuit.
For a moment, it felt like his heart had stopped.
Barbatos, the ruler of the Dark Multiverse, appeared before him in a form that defied reality.
He was shrouded in a vast, shadowy cloak, concealing a twisted and terrifying figure beneath.
From the edges of the cloak stretched massive wings, unfurling into the void, blotting out all light, as if to engulf the entire universe in shadow.
Beneath the cloak, Barbatos' eyes blazed with wrath and malevolence. His bony, clawed hand reached out, desperate to pull Bruce back into his realm.
But it was in vain.
Within the corridors of the multiverse, Kathoom was invincible, his journey undeterred by any outside force.
Barbatos could only watch helplessly as Bruce slipped away, vanishing into a universe beyond the DC realm.
"Raaaaagh!"
Barbatos howled in fury, and as Bruce's vision blurred, he caught a glimpse of a city's silhouette within the folds of Barbatos' cloak.
It was Gotham.
Darkness gathered around it, and only then did Bruce fully understand Kathoom's words—Gotham was truly a convergence of all evil.
A strange thought struck him.
Maybe his parents' death hadn't been a simple accident after all.
But there was no time to ponder further; the sensation of weightlessness and disorientation overwhelmed him.
Bruce's mind and body were swept up in a whirlwind of transformation, as though he were spiraling through a storm.
He tumbled downward, finally plunging headfirst into a new world.
---
1991, London, England.