Parallel Universe 165210.
Perhaps it should be called the Laughing Parallel Universe. The Monitors guarding this parallel universe had all been killed by the Barbatos and his minions.
Under Barbatos' guidance, the Barbatos used the corrupted Emotional Spectrum to poison the entire parallel universe.
Injecting the extracted Barbatos Virus into the Anti-Matter Universe. Thereby destroying the minds of all living beings in the entire parallel universe. Turning them into hosts for the Barbatos Virus. This would be the first base for Bruce Wayne's dark empire.
With this base, his forces would continuously grow and expand, eventually becoming a force capable of confronting the evil empire.
Eliminating the Monitors of Parallel Universe 165210 did not mean there were no resistance forces left in this parallel universe. Those blue-skinned, white-eyed Guardians of the Universe were also a minor obstacle. The Barbatos decisively dispatched members of the Dark Knights, such as Superman-Prime and the Grim Knight, to the Guardians of the Universe's headquarters for a massacre. The Guardians of the Universe attempted to recall the Green Lantern Corps to fight these evil invaders.
However, they found that, without exception, all members of the Green Lantern Corps had been infected by the Barbatos Virus.
Becoming their pawns.
When the Barbatos first encountered the Imperium, upon fleeing his own parallel universe,
he had, along with Superman-Prime, seized the Emotional Spectrum of that universe. Under Barbatos' guidance, he comprehended the operating mechanism of the Emotional Spectrum and corrupted it, turning it into an evil Emotional Spectrum that collected negative emotions. The Green Lantern Corps of this parallel universe was not much different from the Green Lantern Corps of other parallel universes. They also relied on power rings and lanterns.
With just a small trick, they could use the corrupted Emotional Spectrum to poison the entire Green Lantern Corps, turning them into puppets of the Barbatos Virus.
Having lost their greatest reliance, the Guardians of the Universe retreated steadily. They were either corrupted by the Barbatos Virus, becoming slaves of the Dark Knights, or killed by those insane individuals.
In the temple where the First Lantern was imprisoned, the last Guardians of the Universe made their final stand, relying on the special power of the place.
But the power of the Dark Knights far surpassed theirs.
Superman-Prime alone was a huge threat. The Guardians of the Universe fell one after another.
Pushing the surviving Guardians of the Universe to the brink of despair.
Watching Superman-Prime, with a brutal and cruel expression, twist off the head of his comrade. The leader of the Guardians of the Universe, Ganthet, showed a look of despair.
"Will chaos rise again? Is the age of darkness about to descend?"
Superman-Prime killed him before he could utter more nonsense.
Smashing his head into a bloody pulp.
Afterward, they proceeded to take away the Emotional Spectrum of this parallel universe.
In every parallel universe they visited, if conditions allowed, they would take away crucial items that could influence the fate of the parallel universe, corrupting them to enhance themselves. They even collected many fragments of the Source Wall. The sword with which the Barbatos killed the high-ranking Monitors was forged from those fragments.
After so many experiments, they were certain that the fragments of the Source Wall possessed a mysterious power capable of slaying gods.
While Superman-Prime and other Dark Batmen massacred the Guardians of the Universe,
the Barbatos was heading to several important planets.
Apokolips, New Genesis, Earth, and so on.
By conquering these planets, they could quickly dominate the entire parallel universe.
Other planets were insignificant. They couldn't cause any trouble. The Barbatos, having contacted Barbatos and been ordered to traverse multiple parallel universes, had already comprehended many secrets about this universe. The fate of the parallel universes was controlled by the pawns of the High God.
All living beings were merely livestock.
After death, they would become nourishment for the High God. The so-called pain and tempering were merely to make these livestock taste better. The Barbatos also knew of the existence of the Warp. The Anti-Matter Universe was only a part of the Warp, not the whole.
Barbatos also recommended some ancient wills to him, entities on par with the High God. These ancient wills were all contenders in the Great Game, each attempting to eliminate the others to gain true supreme authority and thus rule the entire multiverse.
Mortal wars and suffering were merely sustenance and bargaining chips in this Great Game. The Barbatos knew very well that he had become a chess piece in their game.
But he did not consider himself their slave, but an ally.
An equal ally.
No one could deceive Bruce Wayne, not even a god. This was beyond doubt.
One day, Bruce Wayne would become one of the contenders in the Great Game, or even the victor. The most core part of Barbatos' fragments had already assembled. The remaining parts would automatically break free from their seals and fly from all over the universe to merge with him.
Barbatos had already taken on a preliminary form and recovered a good deal of his power.
He parasitized in the Barbatos' shadow, guiding this madman to create an even more insane and debauched universe.
Having destroyed the Monitors and Guardians of the Universe of Parallel Universe 165210,
it meant that the entire parallel universe had become a plaything in the hands of the Barbatos. The power source of the Emotional Spectrum comes from living beings themselves.
It draws power from the dreams and emotions of all beings, having an invisible, profound connection.
Using this connection, it can corrupt those living beings.
When the Barbatos arrived on Earth in Parallel Universe 165210, the Barbatos Virus had already spread. The infected were like madmen, chasing after those who had not been infected.
Howling like zombies, completely insane. The entire world had descended into chaos. The Justice League was gone.
Superman was impaled by a Kryptonite spear and hung on the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
He tried to stop the infected Batman but was instead ambushed and killed by Batman, directly hung on the Statue of Liberty. The Barbatos Virus is incredibly powerful, capable of stimulating a creature's greatest desires and evil.
It is a virus that acts upon the soul.
As long as there is desire, a dark side, and a projection in the Warp, one will fall and become infected. The stronger one is, the faster the infection spreads.
Of course, some beings with a stronger light side than dark side can resist this virus.
For example, Superman, or some heroes who do not seek fame. The ultimate fate of these individuals is either to be hung on the Statue of Liberty or to be torn to shreds by the infected. The superheroes, Lantern Corps, the Endless, and even the Pantheon living in Parallel Universe 165210 all became possessions of the Barbatos.
For the former Bruce Wayne, this power was unimaginably strong.
But to contend with the Imperium and the High God, such power was still too weak. The Imperium only needed one regular army to easily crush everything in this parallel universe. The Barbatos needed more soldiers, more pawns, to win this victory. Taking the infected superheroes of Earth with him, the Barbatos once again embarked on his journey. Taking all the infected beings like Darkseid and Steppenwolf with him.
A mighty force, heading straight for New Genesis.
At this time, New Genesis was also in chaos. The once glorious palace was now shrouded in black energy. The New Gods were fighting among themselves.
Highfather and several powerful gods were trying to suppress the infected gods. The battle between the two sides destroyed swaths of palaces.
Powerful divine energy fluctuations emanated from New Genesis, detectable even at a great distance. The Barbatos, who had arrived on New Genesis, and numerous infected superheroes attacked together.
Highfather and the few remaining gods were defeated and quickly imprisoned.
At Barbatos' suggestion, the Barbatos offered Highfather as a sacrifice to discuss with his allies how to obtain even greater power.
Wherever the Barbatos went now, shadows and whispers followed him.
After this parallel universe fell into his hands, corruption and various disgusting mutations appeared.
Planets grew tumors, and the void was enveloped in strange light.
Everything changed with the arrival of the Barbatos.
Barbatos hid in his shadow, occasionally letting out sinister laughs. The Barbatos' appearance had also become increasingly terrifying.
With his sharp teeth and long tongue, it was hard to associate him with a human any longer. The Barbatos did not care about this transformation.
With the help of some dark mages, an altar was quickly erected.
Green flames burned in the altar, and the eerie green light made the whole scene look incredibly sinister. The flickering flames reflected on everyone's faces.
Several sacrifices were nailed to inverted crosses. They let out painful moans.
Crimson blood dripped from their bodies onto the ground.
"We are ready," said Dr. Fate, infected with the Joker toxin. "My Lord."
"Excellent," the Batman Who Laughs said, a cruel curve forming on his lips. "We've paid a huge price to get to this point, Barbatos. I hope it's worth it."
"Rest assured, Bruce Wayne, it's all worth it," a hoarse, ethereal voice emerged from his shadow. The Highfather was brought forward by his brother, Darkseid.
Both were descendants of Yuga Khan's bloodline, yet they chose different paths.
One became the most wicked tyrant, always seeking to dominate the entire universe. The other became the most benevolent New God, and New Genesis became the most beautiful and ideal world in the entire universe.
"This is the perfect sacrifice," Barbatos' voice came from the shadows, revealing a hunger for souls and flesh.
"I think so too," the Batman Who Laughs said. The Highfather was terrified by the evil aura emanating from the Batman Who Laughs.
He had never seen such a terrifying being.
It was as if he was a life form composed of pure malice. There was no mercy in his heart, not a single glimmer of light.
Only endless evil and darkness, as if the entire hell had been condensed.
Every cell let out a silent roar, proclaiming his identity as a being of evil.
He walked towards the Highfather, his eyes peering through the spiked goggles covering his face.
"Offer your life."
As he said this, he reached out and pierced the Highfather's chest. The strong, armored arm burst through the Highfather's back, accompanied by splashing, glistening divine blood. The corpse was lifted by the Batman Who Laughs and thrown into the altar's flames.
Sacrifice is the most primitive method, and also the most effective. The Highfather's blood sizzled in the flames.
His despair and pain in his dying moments were so hot and vivid, like a delicious feast.
A strange wind began to blow, its origin unknown, as if it had existed since time immemorial.
It carried endless destruction.
From the wind, one could hear the whispers of lost eras and ruined civilizations.
It sounded as if it came from the distant past.
Stirring the green flames. The temperature in the air dropped.
A terrifying will descended.
Shadows that obscured the light spread through the air, like a drop of ink falling into water, creating ripples that rapidly expanded.
"How interesting. Are you the sacrificer? Are you the trader of this universe?"
A strange, unidentifiable tone came from the shadows. The Batman Who Laughs scanned his surroundings and said in a deep voice, "Yes, I am the one who summoned you. But I want to know, who am I speaking with?"
"I am the Crawling Chaos, the messenger and representative of the Great One who cannot be looked upon, the Faceless God - Arnt," the voice said in an ever-shifting tone. "It is said that you are the one who can allow us to obtain this universe. Is that truly so?"
"Yes, I can let you obtain what you desire, provided you can give me something in return?" the Batman Who Laughs said in a low voice. "Cooperation is a matter of mutual benefit. You must offer a sufficient price."
"The Path to Eternity. We will set you on the Path to Eternity, freeing you from all cosmic shackles, granting you absolute free will," Arnt hissed. "If you wish, you can even gain the qualification to dance eternally by Azathoth's side, until the end of time, with no power or will able to fool you again."
"I also need a promise," the Batman Who Laughs said. "After this matter is resolved, you must help me defeat the Imperium with the double-headed eagle as its emblem. I want their emperor's life and head."
Unconcealed cackles echoed in the air. This made the Batman Who Laughs somewhat annoyed.
He felt they were mocking him.
"Can't you do it?"
"No!! There's nothing that can't be done, this is simple. The Three Pillar Gods are the masters of primal power, omniscient and omnipotent. They know and understand everything in any real universe, they can create and destroy. That empire is not easy to deal with, they are on the rise. That emperor will become another omniscient and omnipotent being. He indulges his minions in plundering everywhere, trying to break the rules of the great game."
"He is too foolish, thinking he can contend with many ancient existences by himself. You will receive our assistance, and you will trample on the homes of those ignorant fools with a powerful legion, personally beheading that emperor. But you will have to wait for a while, those ancient existences hope that emperor can repair the paths connecting various universes, so that the great game can proceed more smoothly."
Arnt said with a smiling tone, "Let's resolve the matters of this universe first. The Supreme God has shown a weak side, and wolves are circling, all eager to tear off their piece of flesh from him. More and more beings have set their sights on this universe, and they are already impatient for a grand feast. We must be quick to gain enough benefits."
"Then let's establish a cooperative relationship," the Batman Who Laughs said in a low voice. "Don't try to deceive me, otherwise, no matter how heavy the price, I will make you understand the consequences of provoking Bruce Wayne."
"We never violate agreements and rules," Arnt said. "You make the right choice, and in the eternal Pantheon, there will be a place for you."
Arnt's words stirred up a biting cold wind. The terrifying malice contained within it was like the complete demise of all beauty in the world. The supernatural shadows vanished. The Batman Who Laughs looked at the pyre that had burned the Highfather to ashes, then turned his gaze to his writhing shadow.
"Are the so-called Three Pillar Gods trustworthy?"
"No, they are not," Barbatos said flatly.
"Then why did you recommend them?" the Batman Who Laughs asked, puzzled.
"Because they are the best choice. The All-in-One, who always seeks revenge, suffered greatly at the hands of the Imperium, and a feud has been established between them. The Three Pillar Gods will never cooperate with the Imperium; if they were to cooperate, their conflict would escalate, even to mutual slaughter. In this way, we can confidently borrow their power, without worrying about them backstabbing us, or even uniting with the Imperium against us."
"The Three Pillar Gods are arrogant, but they are powerful. We will use their power to survive, stir up turmoil in this universe, attract more ancient beings, and turn this universe into an even more brutal battlefield. Then your bargaining chips will fetch a better price. To become a player in the great game, you must be shameless and cunning enough. Cooperation and betrayal will be your first lesson, Bruce Wayne."
"How interesting," the Batman Who Laughs grinned, revealing fangs stained with blood and bits of flesh.
Just thinking about this game was enough to excite and anticipate.
On the Emperor's Supremacy.
Guilliman stood on a vast platform, with the Void Dragon perched on his shoulder.
Leman Russ, the Space Wolves Primarch, who had been silent and inactive, now stood behind him.
He was clad in power armor specially crafted for a Primarch-sized body.
He looked incredibly massive, like a walking Titan.
"The Great Wolf of Fenris, in mythology, means god-slayer. There's a reason you grew up on Fenris, Russ. You symbolize the god-slaying essence of us brothers," Guilliman said in a calm tone. "I've always believed you would be a sharp sword for humanity to cut through the age of gods."
"I think so too," Russ said, fiddling with his fingers and revealing a smile. "I'm ready, brother. Now you just need to tell me who to kill."