American comic book: My Father is Superman, am I just an NPC?

Chapter 246 As expected, the big crisis still requires that man.

The cold rain mixed with mud smeared half of Damian Wayne's face.

Batman's heavy, battle-worn boot pressed down on his cheek like a rock, the immense pressure causing his cheekbone to groan in unbearable agony.

His facial muscles were contorted and deformed, making breathing extremely difficult.

Humiliation, anger, and an uncontrollable, instinctive fear of facing a completely unfamiliar father intertwined, ultimately driving him to utter the words he least wanted to say.

His father is Bruce Wayne.

Damian, who has always scoffed at the idea of ​​relying on one's father's connections, is filled with disapproval of Batman as his father. After all, he is still a child, even if he is one of the most unruly children in the DC universe. He still cannot escape the instinctive desire to survive and does not want his life to just disappear into the past.

"My...my dad is Bruce Wayne!!"

This statement was like a thunderclap in a storm.

After Damian roared, the foot that was pressing on Damian's face suddenly stopped exerting force, followed by a silence that seemed to freeze the air.

Ultimately, Batman stopped pressuring Damian. Regardless of his inner thoughts, he clearly showed some strong interest in Damian's outburst.

"Huhuhu~"

As the pressure suddenly decreased, Damian gasped for breath. The cold air mixed with the smell of blood rushed into his lungs, bringing a stinging sensation. He could still feel the oppressive feeling of Batman's gaze upon him.

"Really, everything I said is true."

Damian struggled, trying to strike while the iron was hot and prove his "worth".

“If you don’t believe me, you can ask me! I know where the Batcave is! I know Alfred! I know you’ll have nightmares about that alley, about the pearl…” Damian demonstrated with his actions who he got his brain from, showing what it means to dance wildly on the edge of danger.

A son grows up to resemble his mother.

"Shut up!"

Damian's response was not the safety of father and son recognizing each other, but an iron fist that was completely devoid of any fancy moves, paternal love, and pure power!
"Bang~"

The punch landed precisely on Damian's side of the head, the force perfectly controlled—enough to instantly strip him of consciousness without causing permanent brain damage.

Batman is always a professional when it comes to controlling the force.

"Ugh!" Damian didn't even have time to finish speaking before everything went black. All sound and light vanished instantly, a large bump bulged on his head at a visible speed, and he collapsed completely into the mud, unconscious. Poor Wayne's young master, all he encountered was Batman's absolute calm and efficient handling of potential threats.

Seeing this, Jonathan, suspended in the air by the drone, was filled with rage and struggled frantically: "Let him go! You have no idea what you've done!"

"Oh, Damian is dead?" Jordan, kneeling on the ground, was also tormented by the weakness caused by Kryptonite and could not speak a complete sentence. He could only stare at Batman with a horrified look in his eyes.

"You guys..."

Batman straightened up, not even glancing at the unconscious Damian again, as calmly as if the other's earth-shattering announcement had never happened.

of course.

His brows must have been furrowed beneath the mask.

My brain is working at lightning speed.

Regardless of the reason why the other party called out Bruce Wayne's name in front of him, Batman realized that the situation and origin of the three kids who suddenly appeared were probably far more complicated than he had imagined.

"That's really...surprising."

He quickly operated the controller on his wrist a few times.

In the distance, the roar of engines grew louder as they approached.

The sharply styled, powerful black Batmobile, like a phantom of the night, pierced the rain and came to a precise stop at the edge of the battlefield. It might be considered an antique in the Batcave in the future, but in this era, it's a symbol of cutting-edge technology, a fusion of various technologies.

Batman deftly placed the unconscious Damian inside.

Jordan, still weak and kneeling due to the effects of Kryptonite, and Jonathan, who was temporarily restrained by the drone, were both subjected to the "stranger's iron fist" from Uncle Bat.

Batman then crammed the unconscious children one by one into the narrow but sturdy rear restraint compartment of the Batmobile. He himself then nimbly climbed onto the vehicle and grabbed the specially designed handles.

"Buzz~"

Blue plasma streams spewed from the bottom of the Batmobile.

The heavy vehicle slowly lifted off the ground and began to climb.

at this time.

Below, in the mud.

The young Superman, who had been briefly unconscious due to the effects of Kryptonite, slowly awoke. The green curse still lingered within him, bringing waves of weakness and nausea.

"I'm not dead?"

He struggled to his feet, clutching his still aching chest, and just then he saw a black figure hanging on the Batmobile, rising into the air with the vehicle.

Their eyes met again in mid-air, but the hostility did not dissipate due to the unexpected incident.

"You're not dead yet, but it's not over between us." Batman's deep voice came through the rain, sounding less like a threat and more like a cold statement.

The Batmobile carried him to Gotham.

Superman stood there, looking in the direction where Batman's Batmobile had disappeared, his eyes filled with complex emotions, but he still responded firmly in a low voice, his words carrying an absolute chill.

"I think so."

It was as if Superman was displaying a coldness reminiscent of his ancestors.

"Clark! Clark!"

Redemption always appears at just the right time for Clark.

As if everything was preordained, Louise Lane's anxious calls came from afar, and she ran over, trudging through the rain.

"Louise!"

The ruthlessness in Superman's eyes vanished instantly as his attention was drawn to Lois, who was running excitedly toward him through the downpour.

"I am fine."

Clark gently comforted the worried reporter and pulled him into his arms.

"That guy...why did he suddenly leave?"

Lois watched the Batmobile disappear into the horizon, a mix of lingering fear and deep confusion in her heart. She had a premonition that Batman was plotting against Superman.

As it turned out, her anxiety was not unfounded.

Batman just now was acting like he was ready to fight to the death.

She could see it clearly from afar.

“It’s only temporary.” Superman’s gaze returned to Gotham’s gloomy silhouette, and he shook his head. “He seems to have encountered something more troublesome than dealing with me.”

Superman responded at the same time.

Gotham City underground.

Meanwhile, the young Batman had returned to the Batcave, where he had the most equipment, and the damp air was filled with the smells of engine oil, electronic devices, and rocks.

Many devices that will be considered antiques in the future are still in operation.

Lacking advanced chips, the computers here were not as small as those of later generations; the massive computer clusters emitted a deep hum, and the data streams on the screens refreshed like waterfalls.

"Huhuhu~"

This was the panting sound Ian knew best.

Compared to Europe and America, the panting sounds from Japan and South Korea are probably more familiar to Ian.

Fortunately, Ian isn't here.

Batman wouldn't break through the defenses.

He's just a little uneasy right now.

Bruce Wayne, wearing the Bat Armor, stood in front of the control panel. The man had removed his helmet, but his face was still covered with the solemnity and fatigue of the battle.

And a hint of... indescribable irritation.

What could be the situation?

He stared intently at the huge screen in front of him, which was divided into three images, clearly showing Jonathan, Jordan, and Damian locked in specially reinforced glass hibernation pods.

All three teenagers were placed in forced hibernation to ensure safety and for analysis.

"Master."

Alfred appeared. Although he was old, he stood up straight and was in good spirits, a far cry from the man he would later be when he needed to worry more about Bruce's personal life.

The impeccably gentleman was carrying a silver tray with water and a towel, but his expression was far more interesting than the ripples in the water.

Shock, confusion, and a barely perceptible hint... perhaps surprise?

A variety of emotions flashed across the old man's face.

"The results are in, sir." Alfred's voice maintained the butler's composure, but a slight tremor betrayed his unease.

"Based on the final confirmation of the DNA test results... Boy A, the one you've been staring at, the one who seems to have a bad temper..."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, before saying in an extremely certain tone, "There must be a very close and direct blood relationship between you and me."

"The probability that he is your biological offspring is... 99.98 percent." This number struck like a hammer blow in the silent bat cave.

"..."

Bruce's jawline tightened instantly. He remained silent for a few seconds, his gaze fixed on Damian's face on the screen, a face that still held an air of defiance even in his unconscious state.

“So,” Bruce’s voice was dry.

"There's still a 0.02 percent probability, isn't there?" He was practically making a last-ditch effort to cling to that negligible statistical possibility.

Alfred's expression was slightly helpless. He gently put down the tray and asked in an extremely tactful, even tentative, tone.

“Young Master, please forgive my intrusion. But in your… well, when you were younger, like in your teens or early twenties, is it possible… in certain… uh, 'impulsive' moments, you left behind some… possibilities that you yourself were unaware of?”

The old gentleman had tried his best to make his words sound less impolite.

Upon hearing this, Bruce's mind involuntarily flashed with some blurry fragments of his unruly "Gotham Prince" era—those parties, those models, those... But he quickly suppressed these images, his brows furrowing even deeper: "I'm absolutely certain I have no chance of having a child." His tone carried an almost obsessive certainty.

"Oh? My dear young master, how can you be so sure?"

Alfred raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone calm but his words getting straight to the point, "As far as I know, you are not... infertile, are you?"

These words struck Bruce like an invisible blow, hitting him squarely where it hurt. His face instantly turned pale, and he even subconsciously felt a dull ache in a spot that had just been the focus of attention.

"..."

Only Batman knows how speechless he is right now.

Are you fertile?
He was certain that he "used to" be able to do it.

But after that precise and ruthless "crotch head" strike, he really can't be 100% sure about this without doing a full test himself!

"This kid..."

Bruce stared at Damian on the screen, almost gritting his teeth as he squeezed out those words. The complex emotions in his eyes could easily be used as the final reading comprehension question in an actor's graduation exam.

Alfred's expression, however, was the complete opposite of Bruce's.

His gaze toward Damian began to soften with a kind of affection that extended to Damian's family.

“I must say, young master.” Alfred even leaned down slightly, carefully examining Damian’s facial features on the screen, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible nostalgia.

"Look, putting everything else aside, this child... his eyebrows, his expression, especially that arrogance that can't be hidden even when he's unconscious... he's just like you when you were a child. I bet his personality is just as... impressive as yours when you were young."

This is perhaps what is meant by the bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

Alfred is essentially Bruce Wayne's half-father.

He spent more time with Bruce Wayne than his own father did.

He was deeply moved.

However, these words only deepened the black lines on Bruce's face.

He turned away in silence.

He stopped watching the boy on the screen, the one he wished he could lock up in Arkham, and instead headed deeper into the Batcave to a more secluded warehouse with better security.

The warehouse contained many unsorted or extremely dangerous items.

As Bruce walked, he spoke in a low voice, as if explaining to Alfred, or perhaps trying to convince himself.

“The enemy may have used my hair, blood, or other biological samples. It could be a Joker plot, you know, he can do it if he wants to.”

"Of course, it could also be a trick by the Assassin's Guild, or even an enemy from the future, trying to disrupt my judgment and plant a pawn next to me. Genetic technology, cloning technology, time manipulation... there are too many possibilities to explain the appearance of this 'son'."

Batman, played by Bruce Wayne, lists various conspiracy theories that fit his suspicious nature, each one sounding logically consistent and full of Batman's vigilance.

In this regard.

Alfred did not respond.

She just gave a motherly smile.

Bruce Wayne didn't dare look at his butler at all. Finally, he stopped in front of a metal safe that required multiple biometric verifications and a dynamic password to unlock.

He made additions while performing the complex operation.

“Of course… I’m not afraid that I might have a child…” Batman didn’t finish his sentence. He had actually considered the possibility that Damian and the other two children had accidentally traveled from the future. In fact, there were many clues about the three children that pointed to this possibility.

however.

So what? Batman simply doesn't want to admit, or rather, doesn't want to believe, the fact that his future son is a demon boy.

“I need to verify his and the other two brats’ origins in a more accurate way.” As the voice fell, the safe made a soft “hiss” sound, and the heavy door slowly opened.

There were no superhuman drugs or nuclear codes inside, only a few items, each radiating unusual energy fluctuations.

"A more scientific approach."

Bruce's gaze fell on one of the sealed test tubes.

"How do you plan to verify this further, young master?"

Alfred's voice came from behind.

Batman didn't turn around; he simply took out the test tube with care. The golden electric light reflected in his deep blue eyes, making them look mysterious and profound.

"Time will tell." He held up the tightly sealed sample of the Speed ​​Force, his voice regaining its usual calm and certainty. Inside the test tube, instead of liquid, was a mass of energy that seemed to possess life, constantly flowing and bursting with tiny golden lightning.

Almost at the same moment Bruce Wayne lifted the Speed ​​Force test tube in the past.

In the future, amidst a chaotic timeline, on the streets outside Star Labs, the outlines of the surrounding buildings resemble a poorly received television image, constantly distorting and flickering, attempting to stabilize into some form, but the rate of change seems slightly slower than in Metropolis and Gotham.

Zila——!
A streak of crimson lightning tore through the air—Reverse Lightning, Elberd Swann—staggered into the middle of the street, clearly unsteady from the effects of the altered time.

"Damn it!" Reverse Flash knew he didn't have much time left, and his expression was very worried. As soon as he appeared, he felt that gaze as scorching as the sun.

At this time, in this place.

Superman was already hovering in mid-air, waiting for his arrival.

He was still carrying Ian Kent, who looked like a little chick, in his hand. Ian was holding a box of boneless chicken feet, munching on them with relish and looking on with anticipation.

"As expected, you are abnormally powerful." Reverse-Flash glanced at Superman with extreme apprehension, for Superman's speed was beyond his comprehension and the limits of his history textbooks.

This instilled in him a sense of instinctive fear.

Just now.

As figures streaked past, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Cyborg arrived one after another, all subtly surrounding Reverse-Flash.

How do you plan to make me a speedster?

Ian swallowed the chicken in his mouth, his voice muffled yet full of anticipation, his eyes sparkling. This wasn't just his curiosity; it was a question on the minds of all the heroes present.

“There are only a few ways to become a speedster.” Barry stared intently at Reverse-Flash and offered his guess: “It seems you’re planning to use the particle accelerator at Star Labs to recreate that accident, to repeat what happened to you and me on Ian?”

The Star Labs was a place that made The Flash think twice. His tone was full of disapproval and vigilance, after all, he knew all too well how unstable and dangerous such accidents were.

"hehe."

Reverse Lightning let out a contemptuous laugh.

Only when he looked at the Flash, Barry, did the Reverse-Flash's aura, which had been suppressed by Superman, show signs of reviving, and his tone carried an almost morbid arrogance.

“Barry Allen… I’ve said it before, you are an unrepeatable miracle. Your birth is a collection of countless coincidences and cosmic gifts. And it is in order to understand you, to study your unique ‘miracle,’ that I have gained some insight into… the truth about time, about the nature of the universe.”

His tone was rambling and philosophical, like a philosopher engrossed in his own theories.

"Don't play the riddle-maker here." Superman couldn't stand this kind of pretense. He frowned, and a powerful sense of oppression enveloped Reverse-Flash.

"Swan! What exactly are you going to do? Tell us now, right now!"

Under Superman's gaze, which seemed capable of melting steel, Reverse-Flash felt immense pressure. He swallowed hard and finally abandoned his philosopher-like demeanor.

Honestly, he pointed to a key figure.

“We need to get in touch with some…people of sufficient stature. Like Batman.”

He spoke his mind.

"Batman?"

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Wonder Woman stepped forward, her brow furrowed, her tone revealing a hint of hostility: "Bruce has disappeared due to the timeline shift!"

She felt as if Reverse Lightning was playing tricks on them.

“We can’t get someone who’s gone and can’t come back to help us… Ian just said that Batman’s soul isn’t in Hell or Heaven.”

Aquaman Arthur echoed in a deep voice.

Superman remained silent, but his expression betrayed his displeasure. Reverse-Flash, in response, merely raised his chin slightly, a smug smile befitting a speedster.

"Disappeared? No, no, no... that's not how speedsters perceive the world." Reverse-Flash looked at The Flash, and Barry Allen was also slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

"You mean, we can find the Batman of the past to help us?" The Flash has the thinking style of a speedster, but his brain, nurtured by the people at Star Labs, isn't very good at thinking.

"But neither you nor Reverse-Flash can travel through time anymore, so how can we ask the Batman of the past for help?" Superman, who has lost Batman, still knows how to use his brain.

He immediately recognized the intractable contradictions in the Flash's plan.

"Maybe we can... burn this Reverse Lightning with a cigarette butt and make him invent a time-space communication phone! Trust me! Burn him a little, and his brain will definitely work again!"

"He's from the future! He knows more than aliens!"

Ian then raised his hand to make the suggestion.

The innocent, no, seemingly inherently wicked suggestion sent chills down Reverse-Flash's spine. He saw Superman deep in thought and was genuinely afraid that Superman would take Ian's advice.

"No! We don't need time travel! Nor do we need any communication devices!"

"You should trust Bruce Wayne!"

"He will help us create a new speedster. In fact, you may not realize that he had already made plans for you before he 'disappeared'."

It's hard to say whether Reverse-Flash trusted Batman's intellect so much because he didn't want to get burned by a cigarette butt. His tone became unusually certain, with a calmness that seemed to understand destiny.

"Yes, Bruce Wayne knows his own character very well, so he knows you will have an opportunity, an opportunity for Ian Kent to become the Speedster and reach that wrong point in time."

Reverse Lightning opened its mouth.

In his eyes.

The crimson light of the Reverse Speed ​​Force flickered violently.

This power.

It was as if his gaze pierced through layers of time's mist, revealing Batman at that point in the past, just as he raised the Speed ​​Force vial, preparing to observe the future.

(End of this chapter)