svetikya Chapter 543 The Justice League is dead, the end is near, Aquaman
Chapter 543 The Justice League is dead, the end is near, Aquaman
Chapter 543 The Justice League is dead, the end is near, Aquaman commits suicide (8000-word long chapter)
"No."
Chen Tao said, "This isn't true. My plan is..."
Chen Tao saw death at his feet.
There lay a corpse there, Chen Tao's corpse.
The immense burden of lifting a universe crushed his body, extinguishing any life force within it. But the corpse before him hadn't died a gruesome death; it simply lay there quietly, face down, as if in a deep sleep.
The girl who called herself Death did not speak.
"My plan has failed," Chen Tao said.
He grabbed his own corpse.
He muttered to himself, "My plan has gone wrong. A dead man can't swing a giant hammer."
Then he asked, "Where are we?"
"We are outside of time," Death replied. "I'm waiting for you to look around and then ask me why I'm not holding a scythe or on skis."
The girl said cheerfully:
"And then I'll answer you, 'Sorry to disappoint you, this is what I look like.'"
He said that about death, and then looked at Chen Tao expectantly.
"That's the symbol of the Black Death Emperor and the Black Runners," Chen Tao said. "They are the spokespeople for death... but you're different... you are death itself."
Death pursed its lips.
"Alright," she said, "you're right about my duty; I am death itself."
She extended her slender, green finger and gently touched Chen Tao's nose. The next moment, the bluish hue of death spread across Chen Tao's entire body, then returned to normal in an instant.
"Right, it's definitely me."
"Then now..."
Death turned its head and gave Chen Tao the back of its head.
"Let me show you what I can do; sometimes this can help people understand their situation."
The girl crouched down, and in the flower bushes, a butterfly fluttered its wings desperately inside its cocoon.
"I usually call this a life flashback."
Death said.
"You know that on your deathbed, your whole life will flash before your eyes, right? This is similar to that, except..."
The butterfly struggled to break free of its cocoon, fluttering its wings as it rested on the fingertip of death, quietly enjoying its proximity to it, and happily gazing directly at it.
"It's a bit late, usually speaking."
You know that about 70% of insects die when they emerge from their cocoons.
"I...I don't want to..."
"Don't be afraid, you'll enjoy it," Death said.
"Hmm, there are too many options. I have a view of your entire life here, and he seems just as I expected..."
"What did you mean by that?" Chen Tao asked. "I don't want to see it...!"
Then he saw the palm of death glow, and countless illusions appeared before him.
A lackluster past, the battle with Bane, holding up that nuclear bomb, fighting against General Zod and Brainiac, and fighting alongside Superman Supreme and Darkseid.
Chen Tao began to realize what he was facing.
"Wait, the dead are not necessarily irreversible. Many people have been resurrected through various methods, albeit with flaws. The Pool of Lhasa, the Black Lantern Ring, the Black of Decay... I am a lowly representative of the Black of Decay! I shouldn't have died! I still control the spirit of metal, the demise of metal shouldn't have been so swift..."
"Well……"
The young girl named Death wore a slightly embarrassed expression.
Then, looking somewhat embarrassed, she said, "Yes, I've noticed. They all seem to be doing well."
"Then why can they be brought back to life, but I can't?"
She said, "Uh... I was a little busy at the time."
Chen Tao wanted to say something more, but then he heard Death say:
"I understand, I'm very understanding... but listen, I see 15 people every day, and that's just on a relatively unchaotic planet like your Earth, not counting kittens, fish, or goldfish."
"You humans will all die for something; no one is exempt. Some people die and then come back to life, which is normal, you know. People dying and coming back to life is no big deal."
She said:
"It all really happened, but eventually they will all come back to me."
Chen Tao wanted to get angry, but he knew his anger stemmed from his fear.
But he ultimately said:
"Okay, this won't do me any good. Obviously, anger won't help things get better. So... what's the price to pay for changing all this? What do you want?"
"A little pony. A magical pony, the kind that can sing."
Chen Tao was stunned by this strange answer.
"...Is it according to the literal meaning, or some other creature or something?"
Then he saw death and chuckled.
"Sorry, I was just kidding. I've seen many magical ponies, some even that can sing."
Death said, "I've seen everything."
The girl shrugged. "I mean... is there anything else I need? If so, that would be great. Sorry, I've always found haggling to be the hardest part."
"Stages?" Chen Tao said, "You seem to be going through a certain procedure."
He felt his legs were a little weak, so he grabbed a tree next to him for support.
He turned his head away, unwilling to pay attention to the death unfolding before him.
When death was close at hand, he didn't even have the courage to look it in the eye.
"You've done this many times before, it's obvious. Every step I take is anticipated, because there's no other way."
He sat there blankly, guarding his own dead body.
He smelled the scent of forest and grass, and his dead self slept in it.
But all of this seems like an illusion.
"This...this is happening, and this is how I feel."
He looked at death; he finally had the courage to look at the other.
"I feel helpless... I never feel helpless."
Then his intelligence tried to regain the upper hand: "Actually, I'm experiencing the most interesting physiological reaction... How ironic."
He appeared sad and dejected.
"I...I have faced countless dangers in my life, but I have never been this afraid."
Death looked at him with pity, squatted down in front of Chen Tao, and gently took one of his hands.
"Shh, it's okay."
"Can...can you help me? Please help me."
A gust of wind blew between the two people who were gazing at each other, like a cool summer night breeze.
Death gently places its gloved, delicate hand on its chest.
"You know, I've been in this business for a while now, and I've seen all sorts of different reactions. You're not the first person to try to evoke my sympathy—"
"—Doesn't this work?"
"No, it always works, but it doesn't have any effect," Death said.
"You've moved through the painful phase very quickly, and the next phase... will it be acceptance? Well then..."
"I didn't accept it calmly!!!"
Chen Tao leaped to his feet, grabbing Death's shoulder: "There must be some way to get out of here! I'm Batman, damn it!"
"Wow, alright, alright." Death chuckled, then waved his hand lightly.
"Time's up."
Flowers, grass, birdsong and fragrance—all have vanished.
Chen Tao found himself in a deep, dark place, and in this scene...
Death seems somewhat terrifying.
"You moved us to..."
“Oh no, this is just a place for private conversations,” Death said. “If you need a scientific explanation, I think it might be some kind of curled dimension.”
"What?" Chen Tao asked. Wasn't being outside of time enough? Why would death want a private conversation?
"Hmm... I guess it's because I really wanted to offer you some comfort. You know, about the afterlife?"
Death said:
"No matter what happens, you will go to where you are destined to go... but at least we can indulge in your fantasies according to your wishes. What do you think... your own paradise would be like?"
Light began to appear in the darkness, a white light.
"This is the afterlife, not what I prayed for my whole life," Chen Tao said. "I intend to save my world."
He sounded somewhat hesitant.
"Alright, it's time for the grand finale," Death said. "What if I told you... you could possess such glorious and delightful blessings?"
The white light approached them, then transformed into reality: a perfect world.
"You will enjoy unparalleled and inexhaustible admiration from all living beings, as well as the unwavering love and acceptance from family, lovers, and even pets until death."
You can enjoy an endless cup of tea and every book on the summer grass.
No worries, no pressure, only endless joy.
You can stay with everyone until the very end of time: eventually everything returns to me, including myself.
"I will not accept this illusion," Chen Tao said. "What I demand is an imperfect world, not a phantom you've created for my amusement."
"Oh no, darling."
Death said, "You think this is an illusion?"
She said, "This is reality. Everyone who is with you is real. Have you forgotten? Your plan failed, your friends died, and everyone in your universe died."
"What do you mean?" Chen Tao suddenly looked at her. "I've devised a complete plan. My universe is safe now!"
"Temporary," Death said. "Once Barbatos's 'Dragon of Barbatos' returns, in my opinion, he'll be even more powerful than the World Builder. With a little trickery, your universe will think it's found a passage to the main universe, only to crash into Barbatos's trap with a bang."
She shrugged: "Barbatos already has your corpse, so who knows, you might end up personally slaughtering your universe."
"I have to go back and stop all of this." Chen Tao saw Death silently watching him.
Then he said dejectedly, "But I can't do that. I can't."
"Don't worry," Death comforted him. "There's no need to feel guilty. Barbatos will always need a dragon, whether it's you or someone else. He never intended to let your universe and your companions go. Every Nightmare Batman destroys his own universe, after all."
"But it doesn't matter. After all your friends and everyone in your universe die, these souls will return to my embrace, and I will allow you to live forever in my kingdom."
"You can live happily in my kingdom, without strife or turmoil. You can finally retire, Batman—I know you like being called that."
Death somehow conjured a sofa in the darkness, and she sat on the back of the sofa, swinging her legs:
"You've been doing a great job all along; this is death's reward to you. If you ask me, I'd even say it's a rare blessing."
You've always wanted to retire, haven't you? Don't you still owe Alfred that trip to Fiji? Isn't that exactly what you've been longing for?
"If you can live happily after you die, then what's the difference between living and dying? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Doesn't all of this sound like a happy ending?"
Death said, "I am the cool summer night."
……
……
……
"What?! I can't believe you just abandoned Batman like that???"
In the Batman universe.
Inside the main control room of the propulsion tower.
"Don't yell at me, Hal Jordan. At least I made the decision to stay while I was fully conscious, whereas you just lie there unconscious every time you make a decision. While you're lost in your dreams, I'm making the most painful decision of my life!"
Lex yelled, "So now, get out of here and don't get in my way! I'm afraid I have to tell you, Hal, you've vividly and concretely shown me why Batman always stuffs nanobots into your head to make sure you don't become the cause of the plan's failure!"
Atositas told Hal that he could have the Red Light Ring if he needed it, then pulled him out of the main control room. Luther slumped into his seat, Hal's last words echoing in his mind:
"That's why you're not a hero, Luther. I told you, you've never been a hero... I have no right to say that, sob sob, I have no right to say that..."
Luther stared silently at the console.
He remained silent for a long time, a deep silence.
The fate of the entire universe is in his hands.
The silence Batman uttered during his questioning gnawed at his heart, and then his eyes gradually turned mad.
Batman would never endanger the lives of the entire universe for the sake of his own conscience and code.
He's a superhero, and he won't drag innocent people into dangerous heroic acts with him.
But Luther is different.
I, Luther, am a supervillain.
I have no morals, no bottom line, I...
I'm capable of anything.
I have a crazy plan.
……
……
……
When the killing machine entered the universe through the Dark Tower, at the very edge of the distant cosmos, he saw the main tower of the four propulsion towers standing silently there.
Persuading others was originally supposed to be the Batman Who Laughs' job, but upon receiving Barbatos' orders, he left the party midway through the Dark Tower's journey into this universe to retrieve the Antimonitor's celestial brain for Barbatos.
Therefore, for the time being, the Dark Knights will be led by his killing machine, who will be in charge of the overall situation.
For a killing machine, this doesn't seem like a difficult task.
He needs to persuade the Night Owl, who is currently holding the four push towers, to join Barbatos and stop the pointless resistance.
Night Owl's performance was commendable, and Barbatos was happy to take in Thomas Wayne, who had once fought against Batman, as a supplement to his forces.
Although Night Owl doesn't meet the Dark Knights' requirements in terms of strength or the ability to destroy his own planet, he is qualified as an unofficial member.
Moreover, he was the inventor and actual controller of the Propulsion Tower system. With the help of Night Owl, Barbatos' newly created Anti-Monitor Bat was able to complete the final step of slaughtering his own universe, completely becoming one of the strongest members of the Dark Knights, and succeeding as "Barbatos the Dragon," making Barbatos' position as the World Builder even more secure.
Barbatos's arrangements for Batman in the main universe are gradually becoming perfect. Once the Dionysus factor is injected into Batman's body, he won't need to inject much more metal into him.
(Note: In the penultimate story of the New 52 Batman series, "Endgame," the main universe Batman dies alongside the Joker in a pool filled with Dionysian energy. This is one of the steps Barbatos takes to establish the main universe Batman as a gateway to the Light Multiverse.)
Things are progressing steadily, so what unexpected events could happen?
The killing machine appeared before the Advancement Tower, where the other members of the Dark Knights awaited him at the Dark Spire. He was the one acting as the persuader, a position that elevated him above his colleagues.
He saw a large number of orange-lit ghosts guarding the tower and protecting the owls inside.
"Batman is finished."
The killing machine shouted, "Surrender, we've reserved a spot for you."
Night Owl watched the other person silently through the screen.
He didn't know who the other person was; the killing machine hadn't even had a chance to introduce itself.
But the owl's eyes were bloodshot.
He heard the Joker mocking him in his ear.
The owl felt very tired.
I'm extremely tired.
Batman is dead; all their efforts have been in vain.
The owl is tired.
He didn't really want to live anymore.
His eyes gleamed with madness, far more insane than a killing machine.
The members of the Dark Knights have never seen a real madman, have they?
……
……
……
"We will never let you touch Batman's body."
The anti-monitor looked down and saw Wonder Woman standing in front of him.
"Oh dear," he said, "I hadn't even noticed you."
Superman Clark flew to Wonder Woman's side, followed by Martian Manhunter.
They didn't speak, but instead expressed their opinions through actions.
Shazam was somewhat confused.
"Batman...Batman is dead?" he said. "Wait, I didn't know..."
He didn't know what to do or say, but when Billy saw everyone standing in front of Batman's body, he followed them.
Bane rushed to Batman's body.
The opponent still maintained the form of a dragon, and its head still had the same blue bullet-shaped shape as the Anti-Monitor, which was modified by Barbatos' power.
But Bane now possesses these four powers, which allow him to easily pull this enormous body.
Three forces.
The power of the Metal Spirit is waning, and it has been severely damaged.
Metal Spirits do not exist in Night Owl's universe, therefore the current universe's Metal Spirits are entirely derived from Batman, and with Batman's death...
The spirit of metal also vanished into thin air.
"You want to stop me?" the Anti-Monitor asked. "Can you stop making things so complicated? I've reached the final step. Give me Batman's corpse, then I'll consume this universe to replenish my energy, and then I'll walk away. You can't beat me, so why fight to the end? It's pointless."
The Anti-Monitor said, "You can escape while I devour this universe; I won't deliberately pursue you. You'll have a long time to live before Barbatos comes after you. Why not enjoy your last moments?"
But no one backed down.
"We're not fighting because of Batman, at least not entirely," Wonder Woman said.
She forced herself not to look at Batman's corpse.
She knew she needed to maintain the Justice League's united formation, and she feared that if she glanced at Batman's corpse, she would lose control and rush forward to attack the Anti-Monitor alone.
She said, "We must do this for the billions of beings in this universe and..."
Then, the next second, Diana heard the Anti-Monitor sigh in her ear.
She swung her sword sharply, and her arm was cleanly and decisively severed.
Clark charged toward the anti-monitor, then was choked.
"Let me see. Even though Batman is dead... I'd better not kill anyone in front of him. Who knows what might happen?"
So the anti-monitor had Wonder Woman in one hand and Superman in the other.
"goodbye."
White light filled their bodies, and then the two of them turned into skeletons amidst a violent roar. The skeletons then turned transparent and disintegrated.
In a corner of the Dark Multiverse, countless particles coalesced to form the bodies of Diana and Clark, and then they died without warning...
They drifted in the debris and crevices of the dark multiverse. No one remembered them.
And so, in the dimension curled up outside of time, death blinked.
She told Chen Tao, "Look. Your two friends have come to see you."
She said, "I'll think about it."
"Diana! Clark!" Martian Manhunter felt himself trembling.
The Anti-Monitor looked up and saw Bane fleeing with Batman's body in his arms, followed by Aquaman, Mera, and Shazam.
He wasn't in a hurry at all.
He looked at the Martian hunter who was roaring and charging towards him.
The other party transformed into some kind of dragon-like creature and climbed onto his body.
...I should have died long ago in that fire that destroyed my people.
...That was the shadow that haunted me for the rest of my life...
But I think I don't need to be afraid anymore, never again.
"Listen to me, everyone."
Everyone was completely bewildered.
No one knew what to do next, or what to do in the current situation. Then they heard Aquaman say, "I have a plan."
No one objected, even though Bane didn't think Aquaman was the kind of man who would say "I have a plan."
"Bane, you wield the Crimson of All Beings, and I am merely a lowly representative of this power," Aquaman said.
Indeed, this is true. Although many people mistakenly believe that Aquaman is the fish-talking hero, he does possess the life force of the Crimson of All Beings, which is the source of his ability to talk to fish.
"I need your help, Bane. Even though Batman is dead now, I can still indirectly control his body through the Red of All Beings and the Corrupting Black within you."
Simply put, Aquaman remotely controls Bane through the Red of All Beings, and then Bane uses the Black of Decay to remotely control Batman's corpse.
But what's the point?
Bain asked the question, but the Martian Manhunter's screams behind them seemed to echo in their ears.
Shazam gritted his teeth.
Young Billy Batson may not have understood what he was doing, but he still made that choice.
He suddenly turned around and lunged at the anti-surveillance agent.
Bain stopped wasting words. When no one else could make a decision, if someone gave a seemingly reasonable and reliable order, the other members of the team would subconsciously follow it.
This is a consequence of long-term command-taking. They become accustomed to obeying new orders.
"Arthur, what do you want to do?" Mera felt a sudden pang of panic and grabbed Arthur's arm.
"It's alright," Aquaman reassured him, then gave the order to everyone: "Split up and escape. Make sure you all stay alive!"
Bane obeyed the order, and at that moment Aquaman grabbed Batman's corpse and shoved Mera hard.
"Let's go!"
He shouted this, then his eyes revealed a resolute and crazed look.
Me... I am a foolish king.
I am not of any noble birth.
Perhaps Orm is more suited to be the King of Atlantis than I am.
But even the most foolish king... as long as he thinks often.
Then you will surely gain something.
I am Arthur Curry, often referred to as Aquaman.
I have a plan.
The anti-monitor suddenly realized what he was about to do, and he charged toward Aquaman like lightning.
"Damn it!"
But it was too late.
puff!
Mera let out a painful, hysterical scream.
He saw Batman's corpse, under Arthur's control, suddenly pierce his body with its teeth.
Aquaman Arthur Curry died on the spot.
He is the only member of the Justice League to date to die in front of Batman, rather than being killed after being teleported.
The key to turning the tide of battle often begins after a great sacrifice.
……
……
……
"No, I refuse," Chen Tao said.
"I don't want to get involved in your procedures. I will never accept your charity, and I will never bow my head... to anyone. So..."
He looked at death: "You know what to do, right? Take me where you want to take me, and I'll find a way. I will win."
He said, "Even if I die."
Then he heard a sound.
[Warning! Warning! Aquaman Arthur Curry has been detected dead. Please transform Arthur Curry into a living parasitic organism called "Dead Water" and completely integrate him into your body to replicate the birth process of a drowned vengeful spirit in order to obtain...]
Batman has merged Aquaman into his body... You have fully synchronized with the SS-class Batman: Drowned Ghost.
Chen Tao saw Alfred's agreement in front of him turn from silver-white to black, flashing on his retina like bleeding.
He turned his head and saw the phantom of Aquaman Arthur solidify behind him, then gently reach out and place his hand on his shoulder.
"Ah, are you leaving?" Death said. "My God, you really did it! You have reactivated your life force... but your friends have already come to my kingdom."
Death said, "Are you really going to abandon them? You..."
Then the gothic-style girl paused for a moment.
She turned her head and looked at Batman with some surprise.
"I never say everything is part of my plan, but if you ask me," Chen Tao said, "yes, the resurrection of the Justice League is part of my plan."
"There's a reason I captured the Purple Lantern Beast. In the Seven Lanterns Legion, unwavering love is the only color that can bring the dead back to life. And many years ago, I cast the Red Influence on all members of the Justice League."
"Therefore, their souls will not immediately return to you after death... but will instead go to the Garden of White Bones in the underworld, the red of all living beings."
"I can heal their bodies with the Crimson of All Beings, and then recall their souls with the Purple Lamp," Chen Tao said. "I absolutely cannot accept any of them leaving me."
"I was lucky that Arthur found a way. He saved us all in ways I couldn't have foreseen and activated the contingency plan I had prepared beforehand."
Death heard Batman say, "I told you, I would find a way, I would win, even if it meant my death."
"I make death retreat!!!"
Death stared blankly at Chen Tao.
Then she laughed again.
"That's really impressive," she said. "It's rare to see someone escape from my grasp."
"Now you're alive, that creature called Dead Water has activated your body, hasn't it? I can't keep you here anymore, you've truly escaped me... but you know you'll eventually return to my embrace, right?"
"Not now," Chen Tao said.
"But I really want you to stay..." Death looked troubled, then cheerfully made a suggestion.
"How about this, you stay and help me? I've always had high hopes for you."
The girl of death said:
"I'm thinking of having you as my assistant. What do you think? That way you can still get around in the real world."
"You could carve out your own niche in the realm of death, like the Black Runner, the Black Death Emperor, or the Rotten Black. Let me think... how about all the deaths of Batmen?"
"Imagine how interesting it would be if every Batman in the Dark Multiverse came to see you when he died."
She moved closer to Chen Tao, her dark eyes meeting his.
"Too little? Then become a god who governs death in the Dark Multiverse? Responsible for cleaning up all the sorrowful souls in the Dark Multiverse and guiding their energy into the World Forge?"
Death said, "There are just enough souls piling up in the Dark Multiverse, you've got plenty of work to do."
She said, "I really hate to see you go."
(End of this chapter)