"I think this is about right." Deathstroke looked at the recently sealed window and said, "There's no need to use the window; this thing can't stop them. And those who need to use the window, I could chop them into minced meat even without sealing it."
Shiller was inspecting each gun beside him. If Red Hood brought a comprehensive array of guns, then Deathstroke was practically a mobile arsenal. He carried almost every kind of gun in the world, including rockets, grenades, and mines...
He also had several cold weapons, including a great sword that costs a fortune to maintain, with spare materials for patching. This could only mean one thing — Batman gave quite a lot.
It's clear that Deathstroke has been living rather comfortably these days. He moved to the East Coast, earning bucketloads while working for Batman. He was almost tossing around N Metal like it was worthless.
Mercenaries do their job for money, and Deathstroke happens to be very good at it. As long as you have enough money, he doesn't even need a break. And Batman is never short on money. Recently, his workload is second only to Batman. Put it this way, if this continues, even Superman can't avoid recruiting him into the Justice League.
And Deathstroke is quite generous to the agent who gave him the suggestion. Everyone makes money together, so the Justice League gained two more nuclear-powered donkeys. Although the agent doesn't demand money, he is fully equipped with all kinds of weapons, metal, and Bat Equipment, even exploring the depths of Batman's arsenal.
As luck would have it, Brainiac's game allows players to bring their own equipment, with rules similar to search-hit-retreat. Equipment can be brought at will, but if you fail to retreat, it all belongs to Brainiac.
So this is a large-scale gamble. To win the game, you have to equip yourself well, but if you lose, you'll lose all the equipment. Losing equipment is a minor issue, however, if Bat Equipment is given to this evil artificial intelligence Brainiac, who knows what he might crack from it.
Nevertheless, this wasn't something Deathstroke and the agent needed to worry about. They were fully armored, ready for a thrill. The base was chosen at the northeastern Lighthouse. Situated on a cliff, it's strategically advantageous for both offense and defense. Although its area is small, it's very suitable for lone wolf players.
Logically, to achieve mass destruction, one should choose a location closer to the center. However, the game rules state that once a base falls, all resources and equipment within it are gone. Hence, choosing a more secluded base is better, with fewer monster invasions, allowing you to venture out freely.
The Lighthouse has another benefit: it can attract mobs after activation. The sound and light will certainly draw monsters, if you don't want to go out, you can stay home and play tower defense.
On the rooftop, Deathstroke set up a machine gun. It wasn't homemade but brought along by him. If Brainiac allowed vehicles, he might have brought an armed helicopter.
"We lack some Magic Power defense." Shiller said, "But no worries, once the fight begins we'll sweep blueprints with the Bishop, defending against some basic monsters shouldn't be a problem."
"Do you know where they are?"
"Definitely at Gotham Cathedral." Shiller said, "He would choose only there. Moreover, Brainiac's hint suggests it's better to go there for some Magic Power support, to prevent being taken down by a wave of spiritual pollution after all this preparation."
At that moment, Brainiac broadcast another hint: "Game System has loaded. Map System is now online... Mission System is now online... Hostile creatures and forces have been loaded... Players, please prepare, Fog Realm is descending, your task is to protect yourselves, save Gotham."
Everyone's personal terminal emitted shrill beeps. They raised their hands as holograms began to flash red. After a ten-second countdown, the projection automatically switched to the map interface, with four red icons marked with question marks appearing in the center of each district in Gotham.
"Defeat the Four Kings or be devoured by monsters."
Then, the mission interface began to flash. Upon switching, they could see the giant Main Task. The Main Task changes based on the district where the base is located.
As Shiller and Chief Gordon arrived, the game began. Shiller picked up his terminal from the table, glanced at it, and frowned. His area had been assigned to the West District, and their team's Main Task was "Rainy Night Legend."
"Rainy Night Legend: Rumors say that in Gotham's West District, around Gotham University, a figure in a black suit and holding an umbrella roams the streets on rainy nights. Your task is to investigate and find this mysterious figure, defeat him, or turn into a skeleton in the cold rain."
Shiller paused. Just as he was about to speak, Brainiac interrupted: "All missions and character prototypes in the game are purely fictional; any resemblance, we are not responsible."
After hearing Shiller introduce the game, Gordon picked up the terminal and laughed upon seeing the task: "This task is excellent, no need for investigation, let's head straight to the Gotham University Psychology Department Professor's office..."
"Can you read the introduction carefully?" Shiller said, "The introduction clearly states a figure wandering the streets during rainy nights..."
"Then it must be the Morson district." Gordon evidently knew his stuff, "You were always hanging around there when you first came to Gotham."
"Morson district isn't in the West District." Shiller was still retorting.
"Then it's Gotham Police Department." Gordon chuckled coldly, "As soon as we enter, we'll see a humanoid Christmas tree..."
As soon as the terminal sounded, Tim picked it up to check. Their area was assigned to the South District. Tim thought carefully and then realized something was off: "Isn't this the West District?"
Harry shook his head and said, "Don't forget, in reality, the sizes of the four districts aren't even close to each other. The North District is almost four times the size of the South District. If it were divided like reality, tasks in the North District would require tiring legwork. Brainiac must have re-divided it."
Saying this, he opened the map, and sure enough, the previously smallest East District and South District had been expanded. Now the four districts, except for the North District which includes the islands and is slightly larger, are basically equal in area.
"Alright, let me see the Main Task." As soon as Tim opened the task, he almost spat out a mouthful of water.
"Shadow of the Knight: The figure that once stood atop Gotham is now missing. In this shadowy city, is the returning knight truly still a hero? What you need to do is delve into the darkness, find that long-missed figure, defeat him, or retreat into the shadows with him."
Tim held his forehead: "Brainiac, what the hell are you doing?"
"You really shouldn't say that," Pamela suggested, "What's written here is indeed Bruce. Because it only said standing atop Gotham, why wouldn't posing for a promo photo count as standing on top of Gotham? If it were any other Batman, it definitely would have mentioned something about dark intimidation..."
Tim was speechless. But he still said, "Brainiac, can't you be a little creative and independently design a BOSS?"
"It is independently designed," Brainiac said, "It's a magic-mod on the original prototype, you'll understand when you see it."
"Am I supposed to fight Batman?" Red Robin, also in the South District, said incredulously, "Don't tell me, after we find him, he'll flap his wings, summon a Barbados, and then crash all of us and the Black Death Emperor into the wall."
Unlike the people from this universe, the Robins from the Prime Universe are quite apprehensive of the Nameless Bat. To be talked about by the Primary Universe Batman for so long, and even considered a top enemy to guard against, could that be an ordinary person?
Not to mention anything else, just looking at the paper strength, it's the Archangel plus Barbatos Cultists. Without real skill, how could anyone crash into the Prayer Wall so mightily. Does Brainiac mean for them to use guns to fight such a Batman?
"There's no Batman here," Brainiac emphasized, "Any resemblance is purely coincidental. I assure you the difficulty is reasonable."
"I'm not quite believing your assurance." Nightwing remarked bluntly, "If you really dare bring the Nameless Bat here, I'll go out and give you a bad review."
"If he really were here, Primary Universe Batman wouldn't let you come." Brainiac barely persuaded them. But it wasn't entirely because of that, rather the Robins thought that Bruce had been resting for so long, it's time for him to return to work, probably causing some trouble in some unknown corner of the Multiverse, and temporarily has no time to come back.
Deathstroke and the agent were in the North District. They also received a task.
"Gunfire Echoes: Over the years, those violent and cunning mob members have ruled this city with guns. And that figure standing atop the mob may long for someone to defeat him and restore Gotham's glory. What you need to do is find the uncrowned king who once ruled this city, defeat him, or perish in the fiery blood of gunfire."
"Falcone?" Deathstroke exclaimed, "Are we really going to tackle the Godfather?"
"He's not that strong, right?" the agent said, "I mean personal combat strength."
"Personal combat strength indeed isn't strong," Deathstroke said, "But the trouble is, his mob members seem endless. I've encountered tasks related to him before, but never took them; it's too unprofitable."
"If his combat strength is that of an average person, then Brainiac will surely add some magic modifications." The agent shook his head saying, "But having mobs as small enemies is still better than some magic monsters."
"That's true." Deathstroke nodded, "But if it's divided into four districts, it can't just be mob members, there might be one or two districts related to magic and mysticism."
Deathstroke's guess was correct. Constantine also received a task on his end. Although the cathedral is in the center, it was divided into the East District.
"The Killing Joke: The madman who once cast a shadow over Gotham with his laughter is back, but his smile is no longer pure, the sea waves became the cradle of the shattered body, in the end, who can have the last laugh? What you need to do is to explore the East District, investigate and find the being with a deadly smile, defeat him, or get blasted to fragments by the ghastly joke."
"Am I supposed to fight the Joker?" Bishop said with slight surprise.
"It's probably not just the Joker." Constantine said, "If I'm not mistaken, this universe's East District is over by the docks. Docks are by the sea, speaking of the sea, what do you think of?"
Bishop looked at the introduction again. When he saw "the sea waves became the cradle of the shattered body," he had a very ominous premonition: "Don't tell me we're supposed to fight an Outer God-empowered Joker."
"I'm afraid so." Constantine said, "But since we're here, can't back out now, can we?"
"Brainiac!" Bishop looked up and shouted, "Can we abandon the mission? Or move to another place?"
"Sorry, you can't. But do you think there's something problematic about the task?"
"Did you forget?" Bishop said slightly sullenly, "There's no Batman here."