Chapter 124: Influence

"You'll have bad times, but it'll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to."

- Sean Maguire (Good Will Hunting)

...

"Relax, Kirk. We don't mean you any harm; we just want to talk to you."

Batman immediately tried to reassure Kirk.

"Talk? There's nothing for me to talk about with you, Batman!"

Kirk responded coldly.

"Now get out of my home!"

"No, Kirk, you can't continue like this any longer. Maybe they can help you..."

At this moment, Francine stepped forward and tried to persuade Kirk.

"Francine? How did you get out of the cage? Go back in! It's dangerous! I don't know when I won't be able to control myself again."

Seeing Francine, Kirk became anxious immediately.

"No! I can hide in the cage to avoid hurting myself, but what about others?"

Francine firmly shook her head.

"What are you saying?"

Kirk's expression changed.

"You killed someone! Even if it wasn't your true intention, you can't stay away from all of this, Kirk!"

Francine covered her face and sobbed, choked up.

"You used to be a good person, Kirk. But now, how many people have been hurt because of you? How many people are trapped in endless fear because of you?"

"This is a mistake, things shouldn't be like this! Kirk, you have to face your mistakes."

"So you already know, Batman told you,"

Kirk's expression became complicated.

"Kirk, I can help you develop the serum that turns you into the Man-Bat and help you regain your normal self. You shouldn't give up yourhumanity.""

Batman extended his hand to Francine, displaying goodwill.

"I need a sample of the serum and as much detailed research data as possible. We can go to your lab now..."

Before Batman could finish his sentence, Kirk forcefully interrupted him.

"You want my research? Is that your real purpose?"

Kirk's face suddenly changed expression, and a strong sense of ruthlessness and violence forcefully arose inside him.

It seems like there's a voice constantly ringing in his ears.

'You killed someone, there's no turning back now. You'll spend the rest of your life in prison. Is that what you want? Your talent shouldn't be wasted in a dark and hopeless jail cell..."

'Batman deceived Francine. Why would he help you? He's clearly jealous of the power you have now, and remember the feeling of freedom...'

'You've transcended humanity. You're different from them. They fear you, they're scared of you, they envy you, they want to kill you...'

'Kill them, kill them, kill them...'

"Robin, be careful! Kirk's not acting right."

Seeing Kirk suddenly become lost in muttered words after he asks a question, Batman immediately becomes wary and warns Robin.

"Yes, I've noticed too."

Robin's expression turned serious.

"It's starting again. Before he enters a frenzied state, he always mutters like this, as if he's talking to someone."

Francine looked scared.

"Mrs. Langstrom, it's safer for you to go back to your cage for now."

Robin advised Francine.

"There might be some fight between us and your husband."

Francine opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn't speak. She quietly followed Robin's advice and returned to her cage.

She knew she couldn't help, whether it was for Batman and Robin or for Kirk.

"...You don't understand at all. I never needed any help."

Out of nowhere, Kirk spoke slowly.

"The serum has fixed my flaws and granted me power. My physical abilities now surpass those of all humans. I can freely fly in the sky, unlike you, Batman, who can't even fly."

"I've lived for decades and never felt the joy of the body and mind I have right now. The serum has made me see through everything in this world. I have evolved into a species above humans."

"I will never hand over the serum to anyone!"

Robin had a feeling that Kirk's fur seemed to have become thicker, resembling the bodies of bats.

"Control yourself, Kirk! These thoughts aren't your thoughts. It's the serum that's causing you to think like this!"

Batman faced Kirk sternly, at the same time raising his hands and inching closer to him.

Robin noticed Batman's actions and instantly understood. He approached Kirk from the other side.

"Think about Francine, think about yourself! What is it that you truly want deep down?"

Upon hearing these words, Kirk paused for a moment.

At that moment, Batman and Robin suddenly attacked Kirk, throwing several batarangs and birdarangs at him.

Kirk quickly regained his senses and used his wings to block the Batarangs.

However, the sharp batarangs left several wounds on Kirk's wings.

"Ah!"

In pain, Kirk couldn't help but cry out.

After throwing the batarangs, Batman swiftly approached Kirk with a syringe-like object in his hand filled with some kind of liquid and injected the liquid into Kirk's body.

In an instant, the liquid from the syringe entered Kirk's body.

"What is that? What have you done to me?"

Injected with an unknown substance, Kirk suddenly felt dizziness in his brain, completely consumed in rage.

With red eyes, he spread his wings wide, using a powerful force to push Batman away.

Kirk wasn't bragging before.

After transforming into a human bat, his strength far exceeded the limits of a human.

This force was so strong that even Batman could only push back.

Flap, flap!

Kirk, or rather, the Man-Bat, started flapping its wings behind it, making it float in the air and sway as it flew outside.

"Batman!"

Seeing Batman being pushed back, Robin shouted worriedly.

He saw Batman's face fill with anger as he took out a Grapple Gun from his waist and chased after the Man-Bat outside.

Watching the Man-Bat fly up and down in the sky, Robin didn't waste any time before firing his Grappling Gun at nearby buildings and chasing the Man-Bat fiercely.

Meanwhile, Batman had regained his balance and caught up to Robin in no time.

"I just injected him with a sedative, using a normal dosage similar to Killer Croc."

Batman said it in a deep voice.

"The dosage for Killer Croc? That's enough to immediately knock out even four elephants, and he can still fly?"

Hearing Batman's words, Robin was astonished.

"Look at the direction he's flying. He's probably heading back to the lab."

Batman said as he looked up ahead.

Meanwhile, inside Kirk Langstrom's lab...

A shadowy figure sneaked in sneakily...

...

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