Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 109: Ch.108 Batman’s Dreamscape (Part I)

Chapter 109: Ch.108 Batman's Dreamscape (Part I)

"Grandpa?"

"Huh?"

Bruce sat up from the sofa. He wasn't sure when he had fallen asleep. As people get older, they tend to get drowsy easily.

This was the study room in Wayne Manor. The elegant fireplace was roaring with flames, and despite the thunderstorm raging outside with lightning flashing and rain pouring down, the room remained warm and cozy.

He was seated on the sofa not far from the fireplace, a blanket covering his legs. On the small round table beside him, there was a half-finished glass of whiskey, shimmering under the flickering firelight.

The one who had called out to him earlier was his little granddaughter, Damian's daughter, who was four years old this year.

At this moment, the little girl was standing at the doorway to the study, wearing a white puffy dress, her hands behind her back, her large eyes staring at him.

"What's the matter, my little princess? Why aren't you playing with them?"

Outside the door, there were many children playing, laughing joyfully, engaged in some strange game. Bruce felt that he was really old now; he could no longer understand what was fun about those games.

"Grandpa, I want you to tell me a story."

"Alright, how about I tell you the story of Zorro defeating the Governor and winning the heart of the Governor's niece?"

"No, that's all made-up. I want to hear a real story." The little girl shook her head, her braids swinging in the air, a displeased expression on her face that seemed to say, "Do you still think I'm a little kid?"

"Alright, then go to the bookshelf and pick out a Batman story. I'll read it to you."

Against the wall in the study, there were dozens of tall bookshelves, all filled with records of his earlier experiences. A decade ago, he had finally locked up all the villains in the safest prison, and he was able to retire.

On the shelves were not only memoirs recording these events but also various memorabilia given to him by Gotham's government and photos with some old friends.

The little girl approached the bookshelf, her hands still behind her back, walking back and forth as she looked at the titles on the spines, as if carefully selecting something.

"But there are so many."

Bruce pinched his temples, feeling his vision blur a bit. "That's why I needed to write them all down. But even so, half of them contradict each other and don't connect. But I promise you, they're all true."

He lifted the blanket off his legs, spreading his arms with a smile, his expression full of kindness.

He was old now, just a retired old man.

The little girl swiftly ran to his side, climbing onto his lap with practiced ease, using her tiny pink hands to pull the blanket up to cover her own little belly as well.

"These bloodstains... they're unusual."

"These bloodstains... are wrong." Bruce, sitting on the sofa, rubbed his temples. He stopped flipping through the book, and the scene paused at the window.

"There's nothing wrong with them, Grandpa. Keep reading. There's always blood there."

His little granddaughter, Janet, shook herself, acting cute to get him to continue.

He looked at her kindly, smiled, and continued turning the pages of the book.

But the story changed. He saw the ruined Earth, himself wearing a fur apron, standing on a hillside.

Below the hill, a group of people wearing bat masks were fighting against another group dressed like birds. It was a war.

A strange white-haired woman appeared behind him, explaining that this was his origin.

This was the war between bats and birds, a conflict spanning human history. The bats wielded strange metals to defeat the birds.

The birds symbolized reincarnation, and the bats would put an end to it.

"This is all fake."

The animal skin on Bruce's body suddenly turned into his bat suit. He watched the people from the bat tribe bowing to him. It was all clear, but his rational mind knew it was fake.

He seemed to remember that he was trapped somewhere and needed to find a way out.

The book in his hand turned another page, and the story returned to Gotham.

Yes, it was still the same case. The murderer was the dead man's partner. After killing him, he framed the son so he could monopolize the chemical company.

In the picture, Batman and Gordon were trapped under a massive glass dome that had descended from above. The murderer planned to suck out the air to kill them.

Batman took out his Bat-Diamond Glass Cutter and cut through the dome. The fat criminal climbed a ladder, trying to escape.

Bruce gave chase, but beside the ladder going up, another ladder appeared, leading underground.

"I don't want to tell this story anymore, Janet."

"Why, Grandpa?"

"I need to find a way up, or a window..."

"No, Grandpa, you need to climb down that ladder, now!"