The Chesters were an ancient family of daemon hunters.
Starting from an unknown generation, they embarked on a path of combating daemons in the name of God. They resided in a desolate manor on the outskirts of Gotham City. The manor was exceedingly gloomy, perpetually shrouded in a pall of shadows.
Overly solitary, the air pulsed with an unsettling aura.
People disliked interacting with them.
Fearing that this ancient and peculiar family might bring them a curse.
Nor did the Chesters like to waste time in the mundane world. They had more important matters to attend to.
Namely, to fulfill their generational mission, to hunt down the devils and evil spirits who dared to enter the human world, and to complete the tasks God had entrusted to them.
At the same time, they also had to guard the seal according to their ancestors' last wishes. Their ancestors had not explicitly stated what was sealed.
Only that a terrifying devil was sealed beneath the Chester family's mansion. This peaceful life continued for several generations.
Until it was utterly shattered tonight.
Bruce Wayne attacked the manor, using their blood to activate that seal.
As the last vestige of twilight vanished from the sky,
A darkness that even light could not penetrate enveloped the ancient mansion. The Chester family members felt an unparalleled evil assaulting them. They had faced many terrifying monsters, yet they had never experienced such evil.
One Chester family member cried out the name of God, attempting an exorcism, but Bruce Wayne severed his limbs.
He was like a monster from the shadows, a cursed specter.
Cruel, bloodthirsty.
Like the terrifying nightmare embodiment of a deranged madman, who had come into this world through the body of Bruce Wayne.
Desperate screams echoed through every ancient room of the old mansion.
Wailing cries drifted through the gloomy manor.
Yet no outsider could hear the Chester family's pleas for help. The former Dark Knight had twisted into a terrifying entity. Transforming the manor into his personal slaughterhouse.
Some equally dark and evil companions referred to him as the Batman Who Laughs.
Because he possessed Batman's cunning and the Joker's madness and terror.
Devoid of any moral bottom line, his wickedness far surpassed the Joker's, even devils would be frightened by his evil.
After Bruce Wayne learned the truth of this universe from the interrogating Watcher, he abandoned his last vestiges of conscience. The horrifying truth stripped everything of its original colors.
He was merely one of the pathetic livestock, and morality was meaningless to livestock.
Everything in the world was manipulated.
Fate and truth were merely tools in the hands of the shepherd.
In this evil and insane world, all morality, all good qualities, were deceptions. The truth was more terrifying than the laughing gas created by the Joker.
Bruce Wayne allowed his mind to be warped by the truth, letting himself fall into the endless abyss.
He roamed through the ancient mansion of the Chester family.
Listening to the screams of this daemon-hunting family.
And revealed a smile even more insane than the Joker's.
Slaughter made him feel excited and joyful.
After his Catwoman and Robin died, this was the only way he could feel alive.
Crimson blood flowed across the ancient flagstones, and a sweet, metallic scent filled the entire mansion. The last Chester, under the gaze of numerous ancestral portraits, had his throat slowly slit by Bruce Wayne, dying in despair.
Before this, he had killed the man's children and wife in front of the poor father.
Making the man watch his wife and children have their throats cut like chickens and ducks, twitching on the ground.
Making the husband watch his wife's helpless eyes slowly lose their light.
Making the father watch his children cry out for him while clutching their gushing throats.
What a beautiful death that was. The stronger the bond between them, the more terrifying the pain death brought them.
And the more intense the excitement it brought to Bruce Wayne.
Bruce Wayne savored the despair of the last Chester, extracted from his impotent rage.
Sweet, unforgettable.
It made him want to resurrect these people, just to experience such a bloody massacre again.
Having dealt with the Chester family who guarded the seal, Bruce Wayne followed the never-before-opened secret passage into the underground.
Footsteps echoed in the dark, silent corridor. The underground shrine, where fragments of Barbatos were sealed, was dark and damp, the air heavy.
Every step taken produced a clear echo.
His enhanced vision could discern green, slimy moss covering the corridor walls, exuding a faint dampness.
Ancient statues stood at the corners of the corridor or were placed in carved niches. They resembled monsters from the abyss, standing with hands at their sides or holding weapons. The presence of these sculptures added a touch of eeriness and solitude to this gloomy underground shrine. They had been untouched for hundreds of years. There was no light source in the underground passage; darkness swallowed everything.
No sound whatsoever.
Not even the whispers of ghosts existed.
Bruce Wayne greatly enjoyed such an environment; the more intimately he bonded with Barbatos, the more he relished the darkness.
Following the guidance in his heart, he delved deeper, easily bypassing the effects of the runic symbols set by the mages to mislead intruders, and stood before a massive iron gate. The iron gate stood in the darkness, its immense rivets conveying its profound weight.
Runes imbued with magic were etched onto the gate's surface. These runes were arranged in a special pattern, formed by meticulous mages using symbolic lines and shapes. They glowed faintly as Bruce Wayne approached, pulsing with a mysterious power and exuding a heart-stopping aura.
It sensed Bruce Wayne's evil and resisted his approach.
However, it was ultimately just a seal, not some powerful treasure.
Bruce, having gained Barbatos' power and possessing numerous powerful artifacts, easily destroyed the ancient runes. The iron gate opened, and Bruce Wayne felt his power instantly amplify.
He was one step closer to his ultimate goal.
One day, he would possess the power to crush empires.
Bruce Wayne turned and left. The matter in this parallel universe was concluded.
It was that easy and simple. The remaining work was to see if there were suitable people, and then find some fun; then the journey in parallel universe 03512 would end. There was no point in staying here any longer. The Imperium would soon arrive here. They wouldn't have any new tricks.
Kill those who dared to resist, promise a future to the docile ones, and then reform them, making the remaining people accept the dictator's rule.
Completely unoriginal.
Bruce Wayne had to leave before they arrived.
Otherwise, the Constantine Squad would stick to him like a stubborn plaster, impossible to shake off.
Just as he emerged from underground, Bruce Wayne encountered an interesting person.
It was Bruce Wayne from parallel universe 03512.
A hollow-bodied bat-shaped aircraft, resembling a ribcage and equipped with massive winged tailfins, was soaring through the clouds.
Batman of Universe 03512 sat steadily in the cockpit as if on a throne.
A black cape enveloped his tall frame, and beneath the bat mask on his head, his exposed mouth revealed a serious and stern expression.
As he flew over the Chester family mansion, Batman of Universe 03512 leaped from the sky, landing on the battlefield strewn with severed limbs.
"Was it you who committed such a shocking dismemberment?"
Bruce Wayne stared at the other, the familiar attire causing him to pause for a moment, then a surge of disgust for his past self arose.
How foolish.
Wearing a half-mask and high-tech gear, he thought he could become an emissary of justice. This whole damn world is trash.
Justice is the trash of trash. The justice of a bunch of livestock.
Hahaha, the justice of livestock.
Bruce Wayne burst into laughter.
His strange laughter sounded like a deranged madman.
Batman of parallel universe 03512 looked at this strange enemy, and his heart couldn't help but grow wary. The opponent's appearance reminded him of that mad Joker.
"Put down your weapon, you will face the judgment and punishment of the law." Batman of 03512 said.
"All nonsense." Bruce Wayne said coldly, then fell into a state of both crying and laughing again.
He lunged at this parallel universe's Bruce like a madman.
He was filled with madness and malice. The other's existence was an insult and mockery to him.
He could not accept how ignorant and foolish his past self had been.
In the detector of Batman of 03512's helmet, the speed of that strange enemy was incredibly fast.
He had just raised his fist when the other was already in front of him. That pale face was like a skull, horrifying and deeply unsettling. The other grabbed his fist with one hand.
Even with his specially trained strong body and the enhancements of the Bat-suit, he couldn't break free from the other's grip.
"You are truly laughable, Bruce Wayne."
The deranged voice was filled with self-mockery and resentment.
Carrying hatred and unease.
Everyone should die. This pathetic world.
"How did you know my identity?"
Batman of 03512's voice carried a hint of fear; he had always hidden himself well, and he didn't know how the other knew his identity.
"Do you think I'm just talking about you? Idiot." Bruce Wayne laughed maniacally: "Meaningless, you pathetic King of Gotham, an ant, a piece of trash being fooled. You're a real fucking idiot, Batman, Bruce Wayne."
He yelled, crying and laughing like a madman, while twisting Batman of 03512's arm, the crisp sound of bones breaking emanating from the other's body.
Batman of 03512 swung his other hand, but it was also firmly blocked by the opponent. The opponent's arm was as if cast from molten iron, completely unmoving no matter how hard he tried. The smile on Bruce Wayne's face grew increasingly sinister.
He literally twisted off Batman of 03512's hands, twisting the other's suit into a pretzel along with them.
Armor fragments pierced into the other's flesh.
Crimson blood gushed out.
Batman of 03512 let out a painful scream.
He was utterly helpless in the other's hands.
In a daze, he saw an exceptionally familiar face. The other's bizarre attire bore his own shadow, as if he had been perfectly replicated by a strange mirror.
"Remember, you are just a pathetic piece of livestock."
Bruce Wayne lifted him up, as if lifting his own past, and then slammed him down fiercely. The sound of Batman of 03512's spine and suit cracking was like shattered memories of the past.
Bruce Wayne's face showed pain and despair, along with a twisted, joyful smile.
What a wonderful feeling it was to shatter one's past. To fully embrace that abyss of darkness, depravity, and evil.
Bruce Wayne lifted Batman of parallel universe 03512 again, and then slammed him down, repeating until the other lay on the ground like a dead dog, waiting to die, only then did he finally stop.
He did not kill the other, but let him linger, to recall his pathetic life.
"Who exactly are you?" Batman of 03512 asked with his last ounce of strength.
Bruce Wayne revealed a cruel smile.
He turned and walked away, leaving only one sentence in the other's gradually fading gaze.
"I am also Bruce Wayne, a pathetic piece of livestock."
Batman of 03512 was left on the spot to die.
As soon as he had fallen into a disadvantage, his butler had called the Justice League of parallel universe 03512, hoping they could rush to his rescue.
Superman, clad in red armor, arrived the fastest.
In this parallel universe, he was known as the Son of the People.
As long as people had a need, he would appear, working tirelessly and without complaint.
When he landed, he witnessed a heartbreaking scene.
His dear friend lay on the ground, his suit shattered, his eyes glazed over, already in his final moments.
"No!" Superman rushed over, pulling his friend into his arms, "Bruce Wayne, who hurt you like this?"
Batman of 03512 coughed, blood clogging his windpipe.
"Bruce. Wayne."
He spoke each word distinctly.
"Who hurt you like this??" Superman asked again, "Pull yourself together, I'll take you back to headquarters for treatment immediately."
"Bruce Way..." Before Batman of 03512 could finish speaking, he stopped breathing.
"No!!" Superman cried out in anguish, trying to save his friend's life.
Just a few hours ago, they had exchanged communications, asking about each other's recent situations.
Now Bruce Wayne had died in his arms.
Such a sudden event, he could not accept, nor was he willing to accept.
Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and others from parallel universe 03512 also arrived one by one. They were different from other parallel universes.
In this parallel universe, they all wore red armor.
"Immediately pull up all surveillance cameras, and find the culprit as quickly as possible, we must avenge Batman." Aquaman said to Cyborg.
Cyborg nodded, using his special ability to connect to the network and retrieve nearby camera footage. The perpetrator had no intention of hiding at all.
He was exposed directly to the cameras. The members of the Justice League watched the video captured by the surveillance cameras, witnessing firsthand how the perpetrator broke Batman's hands and how he repeatedly slammed Batman to the ground until Batman could no longer get up.
"Such cruel methods, we cannot let him go." Wonder Woman stepped forward and said, "For the people, for Bruce, we must eliminate him."
"Where is he?" Superman said, suppressing his rage.
"Still in Gotham, heading towards Arkham Asylum." Cyborg said.
Superman took a deep breath, suppressing his terrible anger.
He flew high into the sky, heading towards downtown Gotham City, preparing to personally capture the damn murderer.
Accompanied by the appearance of a spherical orb, five meters in diameter, mixed with blue light and electrical arcs.
A group of individuals, a mixture of men, women, and children, appeared in Gotham City of parallel universe 03512.
If Bruce Wayne were here, he would surely gnash his teeth.
Because, it was precisely the Constantine Squad who had arrived. They were carrying out a special mission, in accordance with the Imperium's parallel universe traversal plan.
"I reiterate, we are a legitimate organization, adhering to the laws and regulations of the Imperium. Remember, no bullying men or women, no taking even a needle or thread from others, and absolutely no extortion or blackmail of ancient gods or super-powered individuals. Tell me, what is our slogan?"
Constantine stood on high, shouting.
"To serve the Imperium with duty and responsibility."
Many Constantines shouted sporadically, with Loli Constantine being the most enthusiastic.
Constantine nodded in satisfaction.
"Then let's begin the operation."
******
The Penguin, leaning on his cane, sat in a secluded booth at the Iceberg Lounge, a restaurant beloved by the people of Gotham City.
His real name was Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot.
He was a descendant of the Cobblepot family, one of Gotham City's four prominent families.
He was known for using birds and umbrellas as symbols for his underworld dealings.
Despite his short stature, the Penguin was cunning and highly skilled at training birds.
Any bird could be easily tamed by him. These birds were distributed throughout Gotham City and even worldwide, serving as his eyes and ears for relaying messages and gathering intelligence.
Due to his father's death from pneumonia after being caught in the rain during his childhood, the Penguin always carried an umbrella.
His umbrellas concealed various deadly weapons and equipment.
Making it impossible for opponents to defend against him.
He had also received martial arts training and was proficient in judo techniques.
Any newcomer to the Gotham City underworld would quickly learn that the Penguin was one of the most ruthless gang leaders in the city.
Yet, in his daily life, the Penguin presented himself as a high-society gentleman.
He always wore a tuxedo, a top hat, and an eighties-style monocle.
He invariably carried an umbrella. The umbrella concealed various terrifying and lethal weapons and equipment.
Many enemies were defeated because they didn't fully understand his umbrella's capabilities. There weren't many customers at the Iceberg Lounge.
It was a high-end restaurant, so naturally, fewer people dined there.
Moreover, it was currently the afternoon.
So, even fewer people were around. The Penguin didn't care about the restaurant's foot traffic, as he didn't rely on it for income; instead, he used it as a cover to help launder money for the underworld.
A cute loli in a cape and a muscular giant walked in from outside. There was a strange, shared aura between them.
As if the same soul had been placed into different bodies. This contrasting duo caused many people to whisper among themselves.
Some gangsters looked at the adorable loli, calculating how much twisted magnates or powerful figures would bid for her. The loli looked around, hands on her hips, exuding an arrogant and wild demeanor.
"Get your manager out here."
The loli's voice was not quiet.
It was loud enough for everyone in the Iceberg Lounge to hear clearly.
What an arrogant display.
Some guests with underworld connections began to whisper.
Daring to cause trouble on the Penguin's turf, was this loli out of her mind?!
Was she not afraid of becoming the protagonist of a story where she's dragged into a dark room for three days and two nights by burly men?
The Penguin's expression subtly darkened.
It seemed some people had poor upbringing. They needed the Penguin to teach them how to make their children well-behaved and obedient.
A waiter approached with a smile.
"May I help you, esteemed guests?"
The loli watched the waiter approach, reached out, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it sharply, causing him to scream in pain.
"I said, get your manager over here. Are you deaf?"
This action made many guests' eyelids twitch. Their hearts skipped a beat. Too brazen.
Directly assaulting someone in the Penguin's restaurant.
It had been a long time since they'd seen someone so reckless.
Although she was a cute, pretty loli in a fluffy princess dress, the guests didn't think she would end up well!
It seemed those powerful figures or magnates would soon have a new adorable toy.
A man in a manager's uniform quickly walked over, shouting sternly.
"Please stop immediately. Do you know whose establishment this is? Who sent you?"
"Damn it! Are you all deaf?" The loli suddenly lifted her foot.
Her slender foot, clad in white stockings and flat shoes, kicked out. The small foot seemed delicate and boneless, without any force. The manager, who was kicked, turned a liver-colored shade, then flew backward, overturning several chairs. The crisp sound of bones cracking was clearly audible, ringing in every guest's ears. The robust manager lay there, unable to stand up. This action completely stunned all the guests who had been eager to watch the show, leaving them dumbfounded. This loli is so violent!
She kicked an eighteen-meter giant flying with one blow.
"Do you, do, do you know whose restaurant this is?" A waiter's voice trembled. The loli stepped on the back of the first waiter she had assaulted, and in an old-fashioned manner, said, "I don't care who he is; he's not as awesome as my boss. See this?"
The loli revealed a golden double-headed eagle emblem.
"If you're smart, tell your boss to get out here. If he has a good attitude, we won't touch a single thing of his."
"Two friends." The Penguin's subordinates cleared a path for their boss through the crowd. The Penguin walked over step by step, suppressing his anger, ready to find out who these two were.
He had never seen that golden double-headed eagle emblem before. Was some other faction trying to invade Gotham City?
The loli scrutinized the Penguin from head to toe.
"This appearance, even in a parallel universe, is so familiar."
After saying such an inexplicable remark, the loli jumped up, thrust her knee forward, executing a standard head-clasping knee strike. Then, with an over-the-shoulder throw, she slammed the opponent to the ground. The entire process was fluid and seamless.
As if it had been rehearsed many times.
Before the Penguin could even react, he was directly subdued by the loli, pinned to the ground in broad daylight.
His subordinates, seeing this, rushed forward. The giant, who had been silent until now, swung a whip made of light in the air, sending all those guys flying back, returning even faster than they had charged, crashing into tables and chairs.
"Who exactly are you people?" Cold sweat streamed down the Penguin's forehead; those few blows had broken at least seven or eight of his ribs.
Now, even breathing was excruciatingly painful.
"Don't worry about it. My boss wants you to do something now." The loli said, "My name is Constantine. Now, you listen to me, any problem?"
"The rules of the street aren't like that—."
Ah!!!
Before the Penguin could finish his sentence, he let out a painful scream. The loli, Constantine, exerted more force, nearly breaking his bones.
"I'll listen, I'll listen."
The Penguin was in too much pain to even get angry. The loli, Constantine, released the Penguin's hand.
"Then the rest will be easy."
Unexpectedly, the Penguin stood up, opened his umbrella, and cursed viciously.
"Die, you bastards."
A gunshot rang out, followed by a painful scream. The Penguin knelt on the ground in agony.
He had been shot in the shoulder, but the other two were unharmed. The bullet, fired from a gun barrel built into the umbrella's frame, flew in a circle and hit his own shoulder.
"Truly courting death." The loli, Constantine, walked up to the Penguin, and her fair, slender hand slapped him across the face. The Penguin's head snapped to the side from the slap, and a few teeth, mixed with blood, flew out.
"Next time, I'll twist your head off."
The Penguin didn't know the background of this giant and loli.
But after what just happened, he knew they were not people he could afford to offend.
"Isn't this a bit much for us?" The giant, Constantine, watched the loli, Constantine, sitting on the Penguin's large, soft, luxurious sofa.
Her small body was completely engulfed by the sofa.
She was almost entirely enveloped.
In front of her were the Penguin's accumulated wealth over the years: large sums of US dollars and gold, as well as various jewelry and treasures, clearly a substantial fortune.
"What's wrong with it?" The loli, Constantine, looked at the giant, Constantine, in confusion. "They only said not to take a single thread or needle from anyone, not that we couldn't take their gold and silver treasures."
After speaking to the giant, Constantine, the loli, Constantine, turned to look at the Penguin, who stood by, his heart bleeding with distress.
"Did I take a single thread or needle from you?"
The Penguin: ???
Is that how that phrase is interpreted??
Even if I'm a gangster, you can't trick me like this!
Looking at her gaze, the Penguin's eyes welled up with tears, and he shook his head, "You didn't take a single thread or needle from me."
"See? Exactly!" The loli, Constantine, showed an excited smile, placing her small feet on the table, displaying an overbearing and old-fashioned demeanor. "That's right, we are law-abiding imperial envoys, beloved by the people."
The Penguin muttered to himself. The giant, Constantine, slapped his forehead, showing a helpless expression.
"Let's get to the main business first."
"Oh, right, we still have work to do. Otherwise, we'll be punished when we go back." The loli, Constantine, sat up straight. "Let's follow the old method: divide the Justice League, capture those gods, and then promote the cult of Truth."
The giant, Constantine, nodded, "Let's do that, follow our familiar process. Others have gone to other cities. In Gotham City of Parallel Universe 03512, the most important things are just Batman and those gangsters, as well as the fragments of Barbatos sealed beneath Gotham City."
The loli, Constantine, turned to the Penguin, "Little Penguin, your job is here. Now, find a way to spread the news that Batman is Bruce Wayne, and say that Bruce Wayne deliberately created suffering and then secretly became a superhero."
The Penguin was stunned.
How did they know Batman's true identity?
And these two guys are very suspicious!
What parallel universe, what process!
It felt like this wasn't the first time they had done something like this?
"What are you standing around for? Get to work." The loli, Constantine's tone turned cold. The Penguin dared not waste any more time thinking, repeatedly affirmed, and then turned and walked out. The power of these two is too terrifying and bizarre. They can't be defeated in close combat, and if one uses a gun, these two have strange abilities.
Firing a gun would only harm oneself.
I'll endure for now, wait for an opportunity, then rise up and reclaim my power and wealth, trampling these two idiots underfoot. The Penguin swallowed the humiliation, letting it fuel his desire for revenge.
He planned to follow their instructions to deal with Batman first, then secretly leak clues to Batman to handle these two guys.
"Cobblepot, you're a true genius!" The Penguin thought, a cruel smile appearing on his face.
In this dark city, the Penguin had defeated countless powerful enemies to reach his current position.
He was no good-for-nothing.
He lacked nothing in terms of cunning, ruthlessness, and baseness.
Just as he reached the door, a subordinate ran over in a panic.
He was shouting as he ran.
"Something big has happened!"
The Penguin showed a hint of displeasure. He couldn't even control his emotions; what a waste. Unlike himself, who had experienced so many storms.
He had reached a state where he could have a gun to his head without batting an eye.
"What's all the fuss about?" The Penguin looked at his subordinate.
"Dead, they're dead!" the subordinate shouted.
"Who's dead?" The Penguin looked at the subordinate.
"Batman is dead!" the subordinate shouted. "He's dead! A monster entered Gotham and killed Batman, and also killed Wonder Woman and Cyborg. Aquaman was impaled on Wayne Tower with his own trident. Everyone in the Justice League is dead, except for Superman!"
These words caused the Penguin's expression to change drastically. The power of the Justice League was terrifyingly immense.
How could they be killed by a monster?!
How strong must that monster be!
"Is this true?" The Penguin looked at the subordinate, a sinister glint in his eyes. If the subordinate dared to fool him, he would throw the idiot into the sea to feed the fish.
"It's true. News will be out soon. These are first-hand photos." The subordinate pulled out a few photos. The Penguin snatched them immediately.
Batman's head hung limply, his entire head and armor shattered beyond recognition. The bones of his spinal column were dislocated, protruding and piercing into his flesh.
Wonder Woman had her divine sword plunged into her chest, half her body cleaved open, a horrifying sight. Those who loved Wonder Woman were even more heartbroken.
Wonder Woman's beauty was widely admired, and now she was dismembered.
It was like a precious work of art smashed to pieces.
Cyborg's cables were all ripped out, wrapped around his neck, his entire body torn to shreds, oil and blood mixing as they flowed out.
He lay there on the ground, a lingering despair in his vacant eyes. The last photo showed Aquaman impaled on Wayne Tower with his own trident. These events were so shocking that news media dared not report them casually. The Justice League was an organization recognized by official institutions. Those who could join were superheroes with abilities and powerful backgrounds.
Now, with four Justice League giants dead, Gotham City—no, the entire world—was about to face a tsunami. The monster capable of killing four giants must also be an unbelievably terrifying entity.
It was possible that no one in Gotham would escape.
"This is bad, something big has happened!" The Penguin stumbled back, running. That loli seemed quite formidable; such matters should be left to her.
She had a boss behind her; now was the time to test her boss' mettle. The Penguin thought that if her boss was capable, he might consider being a subordinate again.
A sinister and terrifying laugh echoed in the air.
"No!!" The Dark Knight of Gotham, the Joker, let out a desperate cry, "Please, don't do that."
His pleas received no mercy from the other party. This was because the person standing before him was a monster whose heart was completely dark, beyond any redemption, a thousand, ten thousand times more terrifying than a daemon.
Harley, the Joker's most loyal fan, was nailed to the wall.
Her figure was excellent, curvaceous with ample breasts and a round bottom, once making countless gangsters drool.
Now, she was bound, and half the skin of her beautiful face, with delicate features and skin as white as snow and smooth as jade, was peeled off, dangling from her face.
A large gash was opened in her chest, where her proud bosom once was, revealing her beating heart.
Her entire skull was surgically cut open with precise movements and lifted up.
She was barely alive, but not completely dead. The torturer had no intention of letting her die, but rather letting her suffer while alive.
Harley was not the only one.
On the wall, there were many more people. They were all tortured beyond recognition; the tormentor used every means to make them suffer between life and death.
Superman, weakened by Kryptonite and devoid of any power, despite his past aversion to their evil deeds, couldn't help but feel pain for their tragic plight.
His eyes, as he looked at the torturer, were filled with hatred. The torturer had killed his companions and was now tormenting these poor people in front of him. The once deranged Joker was now crying like a child.
All he wanted to challenge was the darkness of human nature, to expose the hypocrisy of those so-called heroes.
He wanted to tell the world that everyone was equally bad, and with just the right opportunity, people would reveal their true nature.
Even in his evil, he still remained within the human realm.
But the other party's evil was completely inhuman.
Such a twisted and terrifying existence could not be found even in hell.
It existed only to create pain, despair, and tears.
"Why cry?? Isn't this exactly what you wanted to become?" Bruce Wayne's voice was filled with madness and laughter, his twisted, pale face simultaneously showing both tears and a bizarre smile.
"Everything in this world is meaningless. I've realized this, and I've realized it more deeply than you. Your emotions and persistence are meaningless, do you understand?! This is truth, this is eternal truth."
After shouting hysterically, Bruce Wayne looked at Superman, who was glaring at him with hatred.
Even dressed in a red suit with that unspeakable symbol on his chest, Superman was as kind as ever. This parallel universe's Superman was no longer a reporter.
Instead, he was the guardian of a great nation, a son of the people.
He had helped humanity achieve breakthroughs in aerospace technology, biology, and many other fields. The pace of human development in this parallel universe was much faster than in Bruce Wayne's world.
After the arrival of the Son of the People—Superman—humanity began to stride confidently towards the cosmos.
Bruce Wayne revealed a cruel smile.
If people saw Superman kill, what kind of devastation would that inflict upon their faith?
"Kill the Joker, and I'll release those guys."
As Bruce Wayne spoke, he used his sharp, black fingernails to peel off a piece of Harley's skin. This action caused Harley immense pain, making her convulse and scream.
His fingernails were imbued with Barbatos' evil power, which amplified the suffering of the tormented.
"Kill me." The Joker's psychological defenses also collapsed. The horrific deaths of his subordinates, Harley's screams, and the madness of this freak in front of him completely shattered his mind. The Joker cried out in desperate anguish. The pain made him convulse uncontrollably, triggering his uncontrollable laughter.
But the tears streaming from his eyes conveyed his despair and agony.
"Yes, just like that," Bruce Wayne said, seeing the Joker crying and laughing at the same time.
"You lunatic!" Superman shouted with all his might. If Kryptonite hadn't suppressed his powers, he would have fiercely beaten the other party. Even if he had to kill, the one he would kill was this madman in front of him. This absolute madman.
Bruce Wayne paid no attention to Superman's scream. He placed a Batarang in Superman's hand. "Cut the Joker's throat, and you can save these poor, tormented people."
"Kill me." The Joker lunged at Superman, grabbing his hand, urging him to cut his throat.
"No." Superman struggled with all his might to free himself from the Joker's grip. "I will not kill you. You will face the judgment of the people, not my punishment."
Bruce Wayne watched Superman's persistence, and a surge of anger rose within him.
In this dark, cruel universe, how dare you remain kind?
You should be a freak like me.
We are all just livestock, how dare you remain kind?!
Bruce Wayne clapped his hands, and soon five or six trembling gang members approached. They were controlling a young couple and a seemingly terrified little girl. They brought this unfortunate family before Bruce Wayne.
"It would certainly be pleasing to peel off her skin, wouldn't it? You want to hear her scream, my beloved Superman."
Bruce Wayne walked over to the little girl and, with his sharp fingertips, left a faint trail of blood on her delicate face.