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

Chapter 271 Lucifer: Yes, I did it all.
In the ruins.

Although they are in the same space as the superheroes.

But Miss Death and Lady Paradox clearly exist on another level of dimension.

"what are you saying?"

Faced with the paradoxical lady's riddle-like behavior, the death lady frowned and pressed for answers.

To this, Ms. Paradox simply smiled without saying a word. Perhaps her silent smile was itself an answer, a response full of provocation and mystery.

Miss Death's eyes, shrouded in black veil, narrowed slightly.

The chilling annoyance vanished in an instant.

But she didn't press the matter further. She knew that with someone like the Paradoxical Lady, who was just as monstrous as Ian, verbal questioning was pointless and would only lead her into a verbal trap.

Therefore, Miss Death chose to hide her curiosity, shifting her gaze from Lady Paradox to the aura of the mortal superheroes beside her.

These insignificant beings are still arguing endlessly about that guy named Ian, completely unaware that they have just become bystanders in a battle between two higher-dimensional beings.

Diana helped the unconscious Flash to his feet and said to Superman and Batman, "I'm taking him back to Midtown Star Labs. His friends should be able to take good care of him."

Superman nodded.

His gaze remained fixed on the direction where Ian had disappeared.

“I have to keep an eye on that Ian Wayne. His power is too dangerous, and his behavior is completely unpredictable. I can’t let him out of my sight.”

He gave Batman a deep look, not believing a word of Ian's self-proclaimed "return from heaven" version; the demonic features and black and white wings were the best proof.

"Ha, can't you see that I just made up a relationship that didn't exist in an emergency?" Batman said hoarsely, clutching his still uncomfortable throat, with his usual foresight: "I need to go back... to make some preparations to prevent this guy's riot."

He was referring not only to dealing with the potential repercussions of Ian's actions, but also to dealing with the absurd thoughts that kept popping up in his mind due to the Speed ​​Force's corruption.

After a brief exchange.

Three heroes who will form the core of the alliance in the future are briefly brought together by an absurd crisis, only to part ways again due to their respective responsibilities and considerations.

Diana and Barry vanished in a swift motion; Superman soared into the sky, flying towards Los Angeles; Batman silently walked toward his Batplane, which was hidden not far away.

Miss Death watched all this silently, as if observing a drama that had nothing to do with her. Only when the last hero's figure disappeared into the night did she slowly turn around, facing once again the Paradoxical Lady who always wore a mysterious smile. Miss Death's voice was as cold as ice, carrying an undeniable majesty.

“I will find out what tricks and paradoxes you're playing. If you're trying to use me, deceive me, or use me as a tool to achieve some ulterior motive…”

“I will absolutely make you regret it. I promise.” Her threat struck the Paradoxical Lady like a tangible icicle, and it was definitely not just empty talk.

No one would doubt that she was just talking nonsense.

However, the Paradoxical Lady remained calm and composed, even slightly adjusting the angle of her umbrella as if admiring the rare display of emotion from the Death Lady.

Then she spoke softly, her voice ethereal yet resolute: "What I promised you, regarding the 'changes' of the future, will absolutely be achieved after Ian Kent's 'death.' There is no doubt about that. Whether you believe it or not, it will not affect my actions, nor will it change the final outcome."

Two beings, transcending mortal comprehension, stood silently facing each other above these ruins.
One was as cold as an iceberg, the other was confident and composed. Their powers did not collide directly, but the surrounding air seemed to freeze, and even the falling dust paused for a moment.

The stalemate lasted for a long time.

Miss Death ultimately let out a cold sneer, her figure slowly dissipating like sand art scattered by the wind, leaving only a whisper echoing deep within the consciousness of Lady Paradox.

"I...will wait and see."

Her will did not stray from Earth; rather, like an invisible ghost, it instantly traversed space and descended upon the technologically advanced and dark Batcave beneath Gotham City. Like a true phantom, she silently infiltrated Batman's secret base, a place unknown to anyone.

Miss Death can certainly do that.

because.

Death is everywhere.

She sat in Batman's imposing control chair, legs crossed, her gaze calmly fixed on the entrance from beneath the black veil. Soon, the sound of the Batplane returning rang out.

Bruce Wayne, looking exhausted and somber, strode into the Batcave.

He went straight to the workbench and, without even taking off his armor, eagerly took out the tube of Ian's blood, which was sealed very tightly and was still slightly pulsating in dark gold.

"This is the substance from which the antidote is most likely to be extracted."

Batman, holding the test tube, strode towards a more secluded and heavily guarded private laboratory inside the cave, clearly intending to immediately begin his "self-rescue" research.

Miss Death sat there quietly, as if she had existed in that chair since time immemorial.

She watched Bruce's busy and vigilant figure, watching this mortal struggle in the web of fate, trying to fight against the "pollution" from a higher level with science and willpower.

"Sigh~" In the empty and cold bat cave, no one could hear the faint sigh that echoed, as if it contained endless time and helplessness.

Miss Death was still sitting there.

She seemed to be waiting.

Waiting for the moment when I meet Batman.

……

at the same time.

Ian, with the uncanny speed granted by his black and white wings, had already traversed the American continent and arrived in Los Angeles. He concealed all his extraordinary features, including his conspicuous wings and horned tail, and transformed back into a handsome boy who looked only a teenager, with delicate and even somewhat childish features.

"The Light Bar is over there!"

Based on the coordinates in his memory, he found the neighborhood. However, the place that should have been Lucifer's "Bar of Light," filled with luxury, desire, and the supernatural, was now a place with a "Rico's" sign, a rough facade, and the sounds of fierce fighting and loud heavy metal music coming from inside.

Clearly, at this point in time, Light Bar had not yet been established. Although what was open in this location was still a bar, it was an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) themed bar.

"The chemicals in the air are really complex, and it's not just the addictive drugs; I can also smell the stench of steroids." Ian frowned, but still pushed open the door and went inside. The room was filled with smoke, and the air was thick with the smells of sweat, alcohol, and hormones.

at this time.

A bloody fighting match was playing in the center of the bar on the giant screen.

The people below the stage waved banknotes and shouted themselves hoarse for the players they had bet on—a stark contrast to the elegant yet chaotic hookup bar of later generations.

“Hiss, I can also smell the bio-mother.” Ian ignored the various gazes cast his way—curious, scrutinizing, and even malicious.

He began to weave through the crowded streets, his sharp eyes scanning every corner, trying to find the figure of the King of Hell, dressed in an expensive suit and exuding a languid yet deadly charm.

However, he gained nothing.

Lucifer of this era didn't seem to have chosen this place as his "paradise on earth." Just as Ian frowned, his actions quickly attracted the attention of some "flies." A man with shifty eyes, wearing a flashy shirt, approached and whispered, "Hey kid, want something exciting? I've got something that can send you to heaven..."

“Sorry, I’ve been in the sky the whole time. The severe air pollution in Los Angeles is definitely partly your fault.” Ian didn’t even look at the man who was trying to lead him astray.

He threw a punch directly, and the man didn't even see the movement clearly before he felt a heavy blow to his abdomen, as if he had been hit by a truck. He collapsed to the ground unconscious without even uttering a sound.

Of course, Ian held back, fearing that killing people indiscriminately in this era would cause unnecessary time fluctuations. Otherwise, he could have easily destroyed the molecular structure of an ordinary person with a single punch.

Abbreviation: reduced to ashes.

Ian casually tossed the man into a corner trash can. He knew Lucifer definitely cared about this place, and he began to wonder if he should set up a summoning circle here.

Seems a bit troublesome? There must be an easier way to find Lucifer. Ian stroked his chin and hadn't taken more than a few steps when a heavily made-up, out-of-shape old woman reeking of cheap perfume blocked his way again, a disturbing smile on her face, reaching out to pull him away.

"Hey handsome~ Are you alone? Want to come play in the back with me? I promise you'll feel good..." If she were a beautiful woman, it would be fine, but unfortunately she's an old lady.

"Damn it! So the scent of the bio-mother came from you!" Ian was equally merciless, glaring at her and instantly knocking the woman into the ranks of the unconscious.

The reason I didn't throw a punch.

The main problem is that women carry such a complete range of viruses, practically a museum of human sexual viruses, and Ian doesn't want to get even the slightest bit of them on himself.

That's what happens when your nose and eyes are so useful; they can even count the legs of mites on an ordinary person's body. After cleaning up a few of the unruly creatures, Ian lost his patience.

He stood in the center of the bar, ignoring the atmosphere that had gradually quieted down because of his disturbance, and raised his head, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly.

"Lucifer! Lucifer Morningstar! Come out here!"

His voice stood out clearly amidst the cacophony of music and fighting sounds.

It even drowned out some of the noise from the television.

"Hahaha! Where did this chuunibyou kid come from?"

"Looking for Lucifer? Does he still want to summon demons?"

"Kid, you've been watching too many movies!"

A burst of laughter and mockery erupted around him. But Ian paid no heed; he knew that time was never a linear obstacle for beings like Lucifer.

The second most powerful being in the DC universe, capable of hearing voices calling his true name from any location and in any era, and choosing whether or not to respond.

Ian chose to shout from this location, where his future ties with Lucifer were deepest, so that his voice could be more easily caught by Lucifer amidst the noise of countless times and spaces.

Seeing that his calls went unanswered, Ian's eyes hardened. He resorted to drastic measures, raising his voice again and threatening, "Lucifer! I'll count to three! If you don't come out and respond to me right now, I'll burn this godforsaken place down right now! So you'll never have a place to run your lousy bar again!"

This threat was simple, direct, and precisely targeted Lucifer's "preference" for his own bar. While the loss of the Bar of Light wouldn't affect Lucifer, it would certainly affect the policewoman, Lucifer's beloved, ensuring she wouldn't appear at the bar and encounter him.

As God's chosen daughter-in-law, Lucifer's power has no effect on the policewoman, so he cannot anchor her fate.

Ian knew exactly that.

He precisely targeted Lucifer's most vulnerable point. Of course, not going to the high school at that time to arrest Lucifer's underage lover, who wasn't yet a policewoman, was also a display of Ian's high emotional intelligence. After all, it wasn't a real fight against Lucifer; a token effort would suffice.

have to say.

Ian knows what it means to be easy to meet.

His threat had an immediate effect.

The instant he finished speaking—"

Buzz…

An invisible yet incredibly powerful aura instantly enveloped the entire bar like a tidal wave!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment!

The fighters in the center of the bar were frozen in their punching poses, the smiles of the spectators waving banknotes below were frozen on their faces, the liquor being poured by the bartender was suspended in mid-air, and the music and noise came to an abrupt halt... Everything and everyone in the bar except Ian was put on pause.

They were like lifelike wax figures.

There was not a trace of life, thought, or even the passage of time. The light was frozen, except for a few rays of light that were slightly distorted in the direction of the bar.

The next moment, a man dressed in a perfectly tailored, expensive black suit, breathtakingly handsome, with a lazy yet wicked smile on his face, appeared as if he had stepped out of the water and elegantly sat on a high stool in front of the bar—as if he had always been there.

It is the embodiment of Lucifer Morning Star's will, projected from the future into the past.

Yes.

It's not a real person.

Because his father, the only person he couldn't beat, had forbidden him from physically entering this era.

Of course, Lucifer didn't care about this at all, because he had a very filial plan in the works—he seemed oblivious to the frozen scene around him, picked up a clean crystal glass, skillfully poured himself a glass of amber whiskey, and gently swirled it for a while.

Then, he looked up at Ian, who was standing in the center of the bar with a "I knew it" expression on his face.

"I have to say,"

Lucifer took a sip of his drink, his tone appreciative but without a trace of anger, "You dare to threaten someone who wants to burn down my bar so directly, your audacity is truly unique throughout history."

Without waiting for Ian's response.

He put down his wine glass, his smile deepening.

"Of course, what you did wasn't wrong either. After all, the new master of Hell should have this kind of courage and...unreasonable style."

Lucifer's words clearly had a hidden meaning.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Ian was suddenly taken aback.

Lucifer did not answer his question directly.

He simply raised his glass again, and through the frozen crowd, towards Ian, a wicked and arrogant smile spread across his face.

"To you—"

"Homage to our new...Satan."

He said it in a tone as if announcing major news.

(End of this chapter)