Chapter 2456: The Bat Swarm Conflict (29)

David fell silent for a long while before he said, "So was all this just a ruse?"

"Of course not. Do you remember how we became best friends after that? Initially, I just wanted to meet you, but inadvertently, we ended up sharing a secret, and I had to continue living there for a while. However, some events in my own time required my return, and for that, I apologize to you once again."

All the onlookers were astonished.

"Hold on, I'm a bit confused," Strange said, extending a hand. "Franklin Richards is Reed Richards' son, but Reed hasn't even gotten married and had children yet, while David is already an adult. And then Franklin says they are friends?"

"Franklin can travel through time," Stark, who had already figured out the sequence of events, said. "It must be that Franklin from a future timeline wanted to meet David for some reason, so he traveled back in time and found the younger David."

"To meet David, he disguised himself as a camper at a summer camp. Then something happened at the camp which accidentally blew Franklin's cover, but that actually led them to form a deep friendship. They spent a happy time together, but later on, Franklin needed to return to his own time, so he left."

"Of course," Doctor Schiller, watching everything through Ultron's transmission from in front of his desk, said. "David's transformation didn't start with the terror attack; it likely began with Franklin's departure. But why did Franklin want to meet David?"

Charles, who had already withdrawn from the psychic battlefield, was also watching the scene, his brows deeply furrowed in thought.

After landing again, Franklin, David fell silent for a while before he too transformed from an energy being into a physical one, but it wasn't the young man everyone saw in reality; it was a boy roughly Franklin's age.

"At first, I was just a bit curious," Franklin said. "It all starts with my mutant ability. Revealing to you the future is not wise, but I still need to say, my birth indeed faced some rough patches."

"My energy was too strong, which caused some issues. I couldn't control it well, leading me into a vicious cycle of social maladjustment, so my parents took me to see a psychologist."

"That doctor was very kind and professional. He helped me solve my problems, and we became really good friends. My parents were busy with work, traveling between different star systems from time to time, and when they couldn't be with me, I would often go play with that doctor...uh, I digress."

"I talked with him about many things, from grade school curriculum to interstellar relations. I was very interested in some stories he told, including one about a patient who could divide himself into many parts, with a bustling psychic battlefield."

"Isn't that fascinating? I really wanted to know what such a psychic battlefield would be like, so I found you."

"Unfortunately, after I found you, it seemed like you didn't really want to play with me, and I couldn't just barge into your psychic world; that would be very impolite."

"So, I had to choose to travel back in time to find the younger you. I thought by doing that, we could play together, and I was right—we became the best of friends."

"Hold on," Stark interjected. "If they became best friends in the past, then why wouldn't David acknowledge Franklin in the future? In David's memory, they should be best friends."

"Perhaps this is precisely because of the current situation," Loki analyzed. "Even though Franklin says he wanted to be best friends with David, in the end, he still left, didn't he? This could have destabilized David even further, so it's normal for David not to want anything to do with him, right?"

Indeed, everyone heard Franklin say, "I thought when we reunited in the future, you would remember our previous friendship, but you still ignored me. I felt somewhat sad, so I went back to see that doctor, and he suggested that I should apologize to you."

"I truly am sorry," Franklin said, clasping his hands together and closing his eyes. "There really was an urgent matter at the time, and it wasn't my intention to leave without saying goodbye. My parents... well, let's not talk about them, it just gives me a headache."

"Although I was initially driven by curiosity, I still remember the happy times we spent together, which were definitely real. I absolutely didn't deceive you in that regard, so can you forgive me?"

"You said you were entrusted by someone?" David asked.

"Oh, that's another matter," Franklin said. "It's a long story to tell you what that's about. Anyway, just a small suggestion: those personalities in your psychic world who can manipulate time can altogether capture the Godspeed Reaper, and then the problem will be solved."

"Wait a minute," the members of the Luminous Alliance finally caught on, and Stark, folding his arms in wonder, said, "Franklin mentioned that he saw a psychologist in the future, and it was the stories of the doctor's patient that led him to David. So, the question is, who is this doctor?"

"Don't ask questions to which you already know the answer," Loki sighed. "A psychologist who is incredibly kind to children, highly professional, who can also discuss relations between interstellar civilizations, and who happens to have had a patient who split himself into many parts—who else could it be?"

Everyone heaved a collective sigh.

And at this moment, Stark had already started roaring into the communicator, "Shiller! I knew it was you again!!!"

At the same time, Shiller was also yelling into the air: "Anatoli! Anatoli! Come out! How many more times do you plan to boast about curing me?!!!"

Of course, the air couldn't respond, and Shiller could only heave a heavy sigh and mumble, "Arrogance really is the hallmark of your Direct Disciples!"

For Shiller, this was a good question—an exceedingly gentle and professional psychologist who could talk about relationships between interstellar civilizations, who just happened to have a patient who had split himself into many parts; who else could it be?

"Listen, Tony, it wasn't me," Shiller said, one hand on his hip, the other propping against the wall as he explained to the person on the other end: "I told you before that I had a primary physician, right? That was in a past life, actually he..."

With a snap, the communication was cut off, and Stark let out a cold snort, "Let him make up his own stories."

"Should we trust this Franklin?" Strange pondered aloud: "I took a close look just now, he does look a bit like Reed, but I suggest we don't tell Reed about this message, considering you haven't completely settled things with Pepper."

"I've already... well, things have been a bit stiff between us lately, but my affection for her isn't really... off topic, let's stick to the point. I think Franklin's proposal makes sense, and more importantly, if this turns out to be Shiller's mess again, we'd end up following his plan anyway, so to save trouble, let's just head straight for the end goal."

No one objected; they had all become completely used to it. You don't bother with past Shiller, present Shiller, future Shiller. Whenever Shiller wanted to do something, the best others could do was not listen, not look, not feel, and just carry on with their own tasks.

"Actually, Shiller once proposed a plan to me," Nick said as he walked in through the door: "Through clones, or rather highly realistic semi-mechanical bodies—you know, Dr. Warren's research results—to create clone bodies that match the personal traits of various personalities, and then using brainwave extraction and transfer technology, to separate the personalities and place them into the clones, granting them freedom."

"It's like when we recruit those dangerous criminals; there's a shortage of personnel everywhere. We could definitely provide suitable positions for these powerful Mutants, even if they are hot-tempered and uncontrollable; at least they could go pioneer in the Andromeda Galaxy."

"I knew it." Strange was speechless as he said, "It's clearly Shiller's style. You all had already planned all this, hadn't you?"

"Uh, as for future matters, I'm not so sure," Nick said, rubbing his hands with a hint of surprise: "But the shortage of personnel, that's true."

"It doesn't address the root issue," Magneto remarked.

"Erik, this child has over 200 Omega Level personalities in his mind," Professor X emphasized the crux of the matter.

Magneto's eyes lit up instantly.

"I believe this is quite in line with Doctor Shiller's professional judgment," he said, brushing lightly over the back of his hand: "When are we starting? The spaceship heading towards the Andromeda Galaxy is on standby, right?"

The transfer work still began, because it was clearly a satisfactory resolution for all parties. David no longer had to bear the psychological toll, and he could meet his friends in real life, enjoy their company, and even become their true leader.

Nick addressed the personnel shortage issue; he didn't really need that many powerful Omega personalities. His aim was the multitude of ordinary personalities, which were the pillar of the Solar System's construction.

Magneto addressed the issue of insufficient forces in the Andromeda Galaxy. He actually needed high-end combat power because he did not really intend to start a war but to employ a form of nuclear deterrent, simply put, letting others know the kind of capabilities they had, threatening that in minutes they could obliterate one's homeland. Not taking action was their mercy, and others had better take note not to harass further.

Even Asgard could hardly roll out 200 warriors of such caliber, let alone in the cosmos where they formed a terrifying force that could strike fear with their diverse and comprehensive abilities, embodying a spearhead of human martial deterrence.

Of course, there was also Batman, who in order to deal with the multitude of personalities, had Shiller practically round up all the Batmen that the Dark Knights could muster, preventing their future tragic fates and simultaneously refining their newly acquired superpowers in battles with David's extremely powerful personalities, transforming them quickly from novice superpower users to formidable warriors.

And most importantly, and with far-reaching impact, was that the Batmen for the first time united with other versions of themselves, albeit out of compulsion. At least it was a good start. They also suddenly realized how powerful a united Batman Team could be, even capable of challenging personalities with godlike reality-manipulation abilities.

This was extremely important for Batman; always having the option in mind that when faced with an invincible enemy, when completely cornered, they had one last resort: to seek out another self in this world, the most reliable alternative self.

Unity, a word shining with radiance since its inception which had been an abstract concept for Batman.

But now, for the first time, they were enveloped in that glow. Although merely a spark among the vast darkness, that tiny flame would eventually burn fiercely.