Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 137: Ch.136 Charge

Chapter 137: Ch.136 Charge

"Kakaka... happy times always fly by quickly. Have you achieved the result you wanted?"

The Batman Who Laughs crooked his finger, signaling the Robins to come closer. He patted their heads, reminiscing about what they looked like and how they dressed before they turned into their current monstrous forms.

Su Ming's single eye narrowed, his pupil contracting. So, the Batman Who Laughs has regained his clarity after all.

"You know what I'm waiting for?"

"Oh, ho ho, I saw your performance on the battlefield. You got here so quickly, didn't you rely on the Flash's speed? Do you really think I came unprepared?"

The Batman Who Laughs picked up the chains attached to the Robins, wrapping them around his arm as if he were leisurely walking a dog in the park. His tone was calm as he asked Su Ming two questions.

Su Ming retrieved his helmet and placed it back on his head.

The thing he had feared had happened—the Batman Who Laughs wasn't insane at all. Su Ming had believed him to be crazy, had danced with him pretending to be mad, while the Batman Who Laughs had played along, delaying for time just as much as Su Ming was.

But what was he waiting for?

Perhaps the previous delay was something they both wanted, but now, the unspoken understanding between them had broken down.

"What happened to Barry?"

Su Ming felt uneasy. Could the Flash have fallen at the last moment before victory again? Does he always have to be sacrificed?

The Batman Who Laughs waved his hand nonchalantly and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his brow, even making exaggerated sounds of heavy breathing.

"Whoosh, don't worry. He's not dead yet. I made a little modification under the device storing the Anti-Monitor's brain. Only an idiot would get a nasty bite from a hypnotic needle. It seems he didn't just grab the brain directly but tried to lift the entire container."

As he spoke, the Batman Who Laughs performed an exaggerated movement, mimicking someone lifting a heavy object overhead.

Su Ming frowned. This Batman Who Laughs was entirely different from what he had anticipated. Things had gone beyond the scope of his intel.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Shh, don't rush. At this point, why not wait until Batman arrives, and I'll explain everything together," the Batman Who Laughs grinned widely and spoke in a melodious tone, then lowered his head. "Go, tie up our guests over there, and don't eat them."

He ordered the Robins to move behind him. They disappeared from Su Ming's sight, circling around the stone walls and pillars. Soon, they returned, looking like a tribal hunting party, carrying the Flash and the Joker out from the back.

They had somehow found sticks to carry them on. Barry was bound hand and foot, the ropes threaded through the sticks.

He was unconscious, and judging by his expression, not very comfortable.

As for the Joker, he looked the same as always—purple suit, deathly pale skin. He was also unconscious, carried in the same manner as Barry.

Following the Batman Who Laughs' instructions, the Robins tied Barry and the Joker next to Wonder Woman.

Diana tried to kick Barry with her foot, but the distance was too close, making it impractical to slap him with her shoe.

The Robins immediately cackled, moving Barry aside and tying the Joker between the two of them.

Seeing the Joker's green head drooping, Wonder Woman felt uneasy. How did this guy end up in the Batcave, and how did he get captured by the Batman Who Laughs?

This maniac always gave people the creeps.

It was hard to describe. The Joker was physically weak compared to anyone in the Justice League, but he always managed to surprise people, giving off a chilling vibe.

Even unconscious, his face still bore that terrifying smile, as if he might burst into laughter at any moment.

The Batman Who Laughs took one look at them and doubled over with laughter, wiping away non-existent tears with his handkerchief, saying in a heartfelt tone:

"How wonderful, how wonderful. These people always bring me joy, reminding me of happier times."

But he didn't realize that in his unconscious ramblings, he had revealed too much information.

Now, Su Ming had a clearer understanding of what was going on. The brain of Deathstroke, a master strategist, was processing at full speed. When all other possibilities were eliminated, whatever remained, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

The Joker hiding in the Batcave was something Su Ming had learned from the comics. Apart from him and the Joker, theoretically, no one else in this world should know.

Yet the Batman Who Laughs knew—and he had captured the Joker with ease.

Even Batman from the Prime Earth would have to struggle to catch the Joker, at least giving him a beating in the process.

But when the Joker was carried out just now, there wasn't a scratch on him, not even a smudge on his clothes.

Doesn't this indicate that the Batman Who Laughs had prepared for this? He knew the Joker was here and had planned accordingly?

That answers the question Su Ming had earlier.

There were two reasonable possibilities: either the Batman Who Laughs was a time traveler, like Su Ming, from the real world, or he had broken the fourth wall, learning about the original storyline and knowing the Joker was hiding here.

Both possibilities were plausible, but the chance that he was both a time traveler and insane seemed too slim.

Whether in Su Ming's own experience or in all the time-travel novels he had read, the protagonist always tried to survive.

The Batman Who Laughs was different. He didn't want to live at all, which doesn't align with the traits of a time traveler. His nostalgia and affection for the Robins weren't fake.

That leaves only one answer: he had broken the fourth wall.

This was a concerning conclusion for Su Ming. If Batman had access to this much information, could Su Ming still be confident of turning the tables?

"Don't come, Bruce. Give me some time."

Su Ming silently chanted in his mind. He didn't know what the Batman Who Laughs intended to do when Bruce arrived, but the large red button in his hand didn't seem like a good thing.

But he also knew that hoping Bruce wouldn't come was unrealistic. Now that everyone was in the Batcave, with Bruce's house right above, sooner or later, he was bound to return.

Should he launch an attack? Try a long-range assault to seize the remote?

While Su Ming could fire quickly, the Batman Who Laughs was still another version of Bruce. He could dodge, and once he did, there was no telling whether he'd push the button.

The Batman Who Laughs didn't fear death, but Su Ming wasn't so reckless. He hadn't been in the DC world long enough, hadn't had any good times, just constantly on the move. He still had a hefty bill to settle with Batman, worth millions of dollars.

How could a former security guard like Su Ming want to die?

But Slade's soul was also part of him now, and Deathstroke never feared risking his life, nor did he shy away from being ruthless.

It was as if a voice shouted from within his heart:

"Deathstroke, charge!"

Yes, as a warrior, what happens next should only be considered after charging.

Strategies could fail, but the courage to charge was what mattered most.

He had learned a sense of duty to Earth from Cindy, optimism and fearlessness from Barry, and the conviction to face anything from the American Warrior.

Compared to his former self as a security guard, he had grown so much.

As a time traveler, thinking he had control over vast amounts of information, Su Ming had grown accustomed to using all kinds of strategies. But now, he had finally seen himself clearly, returning to simplicity.

Facing the unknown entity that was the Batman Who Laughs, he indeed felt a trace of fear. He didn't want to die, and things beyond his control indeed caused a momentary panic.

But Su Ming quickly understood: strategy was not his trump card—his very existence was!

Deathstroke's strength wasn't just in his brain and tactics; it was that when he charged into the front lines, he was also the best warrior on Earth!

"Heh heh..."

A broken laugh escaped from beneath Su Ming's mask. As he chuckled, he reached behind and drew his greatsword, Nightfall, twirling it in his hand.

"Oh? Why are you laughing?"

The Batman Who Laughs tilted his head curiously. Had Deathstroke gone mad before he even did anything?

"You made me feel fear once, Batman. Even if it was only a little, I must admit it because you made me realize something."

Su Ming exhaled slowly, flexing his fingers around the hilt of the greatsword. He could feel the weapon calling to him.

"Hmm, is that so? How about you kill yourself? It would be for your own good."

The Batman Who Laughs stroked his pointed chin, seemingly sincere.

Su Ming drew the Godslayer from its sheath. The blade, which could change form according to its wielder's will, instantly twisted into a massive sword identical in design to his other weapon, its sharp edge gleaming with a golden light.

"Haven't you heard the sound of the death knell in your ears? The one who will die is you."

"Oh? And what do you intend to do? I could just push this button, you know?"

The Batman Who Laughs tugged at the Robins' chains, forming a human wall in front of him. At the same time, he spread his hands, showing off the red button in his grasp.

It was exactly as Su Ming had suspected—a remote control. If he pressed it, the Anti-Monitor's brain would be released from its containment, falling onto the exposed brain of the Monitor, who was missing his skullcap.

In the distance, the sound of water dripping echoed through the Batcave, and Diana's worried gaze fell on Su Ming. He could hear it, feel it.

Even though this decision was a bit reckless, he enjoyed living on the edge like this.

"What to do...?"

Suddenly, Su Ming accelerated, leaping forward with lightning speed, his black and gold weapons gripped tightly in each hand, spreading out like the wings of a great bird.

"Of course, we charge!"