What bad thoughts can Batman have?

Chapter 543: All members of the Justice League died, the end of the world has come, and Aquaman committed suicide (8000 words long chapter)
"Do not."

Chen Tao said: "This is not true. My plan is..."

Chen Tao saw the feet of death.

There was a body lying there, Chen Tao's body.

The enormous burden of lifting up a universe crushed his body and drained the life out of it, but the corpse in front of him did not die in a tragic way. He just fell there face down quietly, as if he was sleeping.

The girl who called herself Death said nothing.

"My plan failed." Chen Tao said.

He grabbed his own body.

He said to himself, "My plan went awry. A dead man can't swing a hammer."

Then he asked, "Where are we?"

"We are outside of time," Death answered. "I am waiting for you to look around and ask me why I am not holding a scythe or wearing skis."

The girl said happily:
"And then I have to say 'I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this is just who I am.'"

Death said that, and then looked at Chen Tao expectantly.

"That's the symbol of the Black Death Emperor and the Black Runner." Chen Tao said, "They are the spokespersons of death... but you are different... you are death itself."

Death pursed his lips.

"Well," she said, "you are right about my duty. I am death."

She stretched out her green fingers and lightly touched Chen Tao's nose. The next moment, the deadly green color spread all over Chen Tao's body, and then it returned in an instant.

"Right, it's me, right?"

"Then now I..."

Death turned around and slapped Chen Tao on the back of his head.

"Let me show you what I can do. Sometimes that helps put your situation into perspective."

The girl squatted down and saw a butterfly flapping its wings desperately in its cocoon among the flowers.

"I usually call this a life flashback."

Death said.

"You know how when you're dying your whole life flashes before your eyes? This is a lot like that, except..."

The butterfly struggled to break out of the cocoon, it flapped its wings and stayed on the fingertips of death, quietly enjoying the close proximity to death, looking directly at death with joy.

"A little late, usually."

Did you know that about 70% of insects will die when they break out of their cocoons?

"I...I don't want to..."

"Don't be afraid, you will enjoy it," said Death.

"Well, there are so many to choose from, I can see your entire life from here, and he looks just like I thought..."

"What do you mean by that?" Chen Tao asked, "I don't want to see...!"

Then he saw the palm of death glowing, and countless illusions appeared before him.

A lackluster past, a battle with Bane, holding that nuclear bomb, fighting General Zod and Brainiac, and fighting alongside Superboy-Prime and Darkseid.

Chen Tao began to realize what he was facing.

"Wait, it's not impossible to revive after death. Many people have been resurrected through various methods, although they have flaws. The Lazarus Pool, the Black Lantern Ring, the Black of Decay... I am a low-level spokesperson for the Black of Decay! I should not have died! I also control the spirit of metal, and the demise of metal should not be so fast..."

"Uh……"

The young girl named Death showed a somewhat embarrassed expression.

Then he looked a little embarrassed and said: "Yes, I noticed that, and it seems that they are all doing well."

"Then why can they come back to life, but I can't?"

She said, "Well... I was a little busy at the time."

Chen Tao wanted to say something, but he heard Death say:

"I understand, I'm very understanding... but listen, I meet 15 people a day, and that's on a relatively non-chaotic planet like yours, not counting cats, fish, or goldfish."

"You humans will always die from something. No one is immune. Some people die and come back to life. This is normal. You know, people come back from the dead. It's no big deal."

She said:
“It all happens, but in the end they all come back to me.”

Chen Tao wanted to be angry, he knew that his anger came from his fear.

But he finally said:
"Well, this isn't doing me any good, and it's clear that being angry isn't going to help the situation, so... what's the price for changing this? What do you want?"

"A pony. A magic pony, the kind that sings."

Chen Tao was stunned by this strange answer.

"…literally or some other creature or something?"

Then he saw Death burst out laughing.

"Sorry, I was just kidding. I've seen many magical ponies, even ones that can sing."

Death said, "I have seen it all."

The girl shrugged. "I mean... is there anything else I need? If so, that would be great. Sorry, I always find the bargaining stage to be the hardest to handle."

"Phase?" Chen Tao said, "You seem to be following a certain procedure."

He felt his legs going weak, so he held onto a tree nearby.

He turned his head away, not wanting to pay attention to the person watching him die.

When death was so near, he didn't even have the courage to look it in the eye.

"You've done this many times before, it's obvious. Every move I make is anticipated because there is no other way."

He sat down blankly, guarding his dead body.

His nose smelled of the forest and the grass, in which his dead self lay sleeping.

And all this seems like an illusion.

"This... this is happening, this is how I feel."

He looked at Death, and he finally had the courage to look at him.

"I felt helpless... I never feel helpless."

Then his IQ tried to regain the upper hand: "I'm actually experiencing the funniest physiological reaction right now... It's so ironic."

He looked sad and gloomy.

"I...I've been in a lot of dangerous situations in my life, but I've never been this scared."

Death showed a sympathetic look. She squatted in front of Chen Tao and gently took one of his hands.

"Shh, it's okay."

"Can you...can you help me? Please help me."

A gust of wind blew between the two people who were looking at each other, like a cool evening breeze on a summer night.

Death placed his delicate gloved hand gently on his chest.

"You know, I've been doing this for a while, and I've seen all kinds of different reactions, and you're not the first person to try to arouse my sympathy—"

"—this doesn't work?"

"No, it always works, but it has no effect," said Death.

"You are getting over the pain phase very quickly, and the next phase... will be to accept it calmly? Then..."

“I didn’t take it easy!!!”

Chen Tao suddenly jumped up from the ground and grabbed Death's shoulders: "There must be a way to get out of here, I'm Batman, damn it!"

"Oh wow, okay okay." Death chuckled and waved his hand gently.

"time up."

The flowers, the grass, the birdsong, all disappeared.

Chen Tao found himself in a deep darkness, and in this scene...

Death seems a little scary.

"You moved us to..."

"Oh no, this is just a place where you can have private conversations." Death said, "If you need a scientific explanation, I think this may be some kind of warped dimension."

"What?" Chen Tao asked. Wasn't it enough to be outside of time? Why would Death want to talk in private?

"Well... maybe it's because I really want to comfort you. You know, about the afterlife?"

Death said:

"Although no matter what happens, you will go to the place you are destined to go...but at least we can fantasize according to your wishes. What do you think... your own paradise will be like?"

In the darkness light began to appear, a white light.

"This is the world after death. This is not what I prayed for all my life." Chen Tao said: "I plan to save my world."

He sounded a little shaken.

"Well, now for the grand finale," said Death. "What if I said... that you could have such a glorious and wonderful favor?"

The white light approached them, and then turned into reality: a perfect world.

“You will enjoy unparalleled and endless admiration from all beings, as well as the unfailing love and acceptance of your family, loved ones, and even pets until death.

You can enjoy a cup of tea that you never finish and every book on the summer meadow.

No worries, no pressure, only endless happiness.

You can be with everyone, until the moment at the end of time: everything returns to me, even myself."

"I will not accept this illusion." Chen Tao said, "What I want is an imperfect world, not the illusion you fabricated for my amusement."

"Oh no, honey."

Death said, "Do you think this is an illusion?"

She said, "This is reality, and everyone who will accompany you is real. Have you forgotten? If your plan fails, your friends will die, and everyone in your universe will die."

"What do you mean?" Chen Tao looked at her suddenly: "I have planned a complete plan, my universe is safe now!"

"For now," Death said. "As long as Barbatos's 'Dragon of Barbatos' is back, I think he will be more powerful than the World Forger. By then, with a little trickery, your universe will think it has found a passage to the main universe, and then it will crash into the trap prepared by Barbatos."

She shrugged. "Barbatos has already got your body. Maybe you will slaughter your universe yourself."

"I have to go back and stop this." Chen Tao saw Death looking at him quietly.

Then he said dejectedly, "But I can't do that. I can't do it."

"Don't worry." Death comforted him, "Don't feel guilty about it. Barbatos will always need a dragon, either you or someone else. He never wants to let go of your universe and your companions. Every nightmare Batman will destroy his own universe."

“But it doesn’t matter. When all your friends and everyone in your universe die, their souls will return to my arms, and I will allow you to live forever in my kingdom.

You can live happily in my kingdom, without disputes or unrest, and you can finally retire, Batman - I know you like others to call you that."

Death somehow conjured up a sofa in the darkness, and she sat on the back of the sofa, swinging her legs:

"You have done a good job so far. This is the reward death has given you. If you ask me, I even think this is a rare gift.

You've always wanted to retire, haven't you? You still owe Alfred that trip to Fiji, right? Isn't that what you've been longing for?"

"If you can live happily after death, then what's the difference between being alive and being dead? If you miss this opportunity, you will never get it again."

"Does this all sound like a happy ending?"

Death said, "I am a cool summer night."

……

……

……

"What? I can't believe you just left Batman behind like that???"

In the Batman universe.

Inside the propulsion tower main control room.

"Don't yell at me, Hal Jordan. At least I made the decision to stay when I was sober. Every time you make a decision, you just lie there unconscious. While you are swimming in the dreamland, I am making the most painful decision in my life!"

Lex cursed: "So now, get out of here and don't get in my way! I'm afraid I have to tell you Hal, you told me vividly and concretely why Batman always puts nanorobots in your head to ensure that you don't become a loophole in the plan!"

Atrocitus told Hal that he could always provide him with a red lantern ring if he needed it, and then pulled him out of the main control room. Luther sat dejectedly in his seat, Hal's last words echoing in his mind:

"This is why you are not a hero, Luther, I told you, you have never been a hero... I have no right to say such things, wuwuwu, I have no right to say such things..."

Luther stared at the console in silence.

He was silent for a long time, deeply silent.

The fate of the entire universe lies in his hands.

Batman's silence when he asked the question gnawed at his heart, and then his eyes gradually showed madness.

Batman would never put the life of the entire universe in danger for his own consciousness and code.

He is a superhero, he will not tie up innocent people to accompany him to do dangerous heroic deeds.

But Luther is different.

My Luthor is a fucking super villain.

I have no morals, no bottom line, I...

I can do anything fucking thing.

I have a crazy plan.

……

……

……

When the Killing Machine entered the universe through the Dark Tower and reached the edge of the extremely distant universe, he saw the main tower of the four propulsion towers standing there quietly. Convincing others was supposed to be the job of the Laughing Bat, but after receiving an order from Barbatos, when the Dark Tower was halfway through its journey towards this universe, the Laughing Bat left the team alone to obtain the Anti-Monitor's astral brain for Barbatos.

Therefore, the Dark Knights are now temporarily controlled by the killing machine.

This doesn't seem like a difficult task for the killing machine.

He needs to convince the Night Owls who are now guarding the four propulsion towers to join Barbatos and stop their meaningless resistance.

Night Owl's performance was remarkable, and Barbatos was happy to accept Thomas Wayne Jr., who once fought against Batman, as a supplement to his forces.

Although Night Owl does not meet the requirements of the Dark Knights in terms of strength and the ability to destroy his own planet, as a non-staff member, Night Owl is qualified.

Moreover, he is the inventor and actual controller of the propulsion tower system. With the help of Night Owl, Barbatos' newly created anti-monitor bats will be able to complete the final step of slaughtering his own universe, and completely become the strongest member of the Dark Knights, and succeed the "Dragon of Barbatos", making Barbatos' position as the World Forger more stable.

Barbatos's arrangement of the main universe Batman in the main universe has gradually become perfect. As long as he waits for the Dionysus factor to be injected into Batman's body, he will not need to inject much metal into the other party's body.

(Note: The main universe Batman died together with the Joker in a pool full of Dionysus factor in the second to last story "Endgame" at the end of "New 52 Batman". This is one of the steps for Barbatos to use the main universe Batman as the gateway to the bright multiverse.)
Things are progressing steadily, what unexpected things will happen?

The killing machine appeared in front of the propulsion tower, and the other members of the Dark Knights were waiting for him in the Dark Spire. He was the one who acted as a lobbyist, and in this respect his status was higher than his other colleagues.

He saw a large number of orange-lit ghosts guarding the tower and protecting the night owls within.

"Batman is done."

The killing machine shouted, "Surrender, we have a place for you."

Night Owl looked at the other person quietly across the screen.

He had no idea who the other man was, and the killing machine hadn't had a chance to introduce himself.

But the Night Owl's eyes were red.

He heard the Joker's taunting in his ear.

Night Owl felt very tired.

Very very tired.

Batman is dead, and everything they've worked for is a failure.

The night owl is tired.

He didn't really want to live anymore.

There was a mad look in his eyes, far crazier than a killing machine.

The Dark Knights had never met a truly madman, had they?
……

……

……

"We will never let you touch Batman's body."

The Anti-Monitor looked down and saw Wonder Woman standing in front of him.

"Oh," he said, "I hadn't noticed you."

Superman Clark flew to Wonder Woman's side, followed by Martian Manhunter.

Instead of speaking, they expressed their opinions through actions.

Shazam was a little confused.

"Bat-Batman is dead?" He said, "Wait, I didn't know..."

He didn't know what to do or what to say, but when Billy saw everyone blocking the way of Batman's body, he followed.

Bane rushed over to Batman's body.

The opponent still maintains the posture of a dragon, and on his head there is a blue bullet-shaped deformation like the Anti-Monitor, which was transformed by the power of Barbatos.

But now that Bane possesses these four powers, he can easily pull this huge body.

Three forces.

The power of the Metal Spirit was weakening and it had suffered severe damage.

There is no metal spirit in the universe of Night Owl, so the metal spirit of the current universe is completely derived from Batman, and with the death of Batman...

The metal spirit also turned into ashes soon afterwards.

"You want to stop me?" the Anti-Monitor asked. "Can you please not bother? I'm at my last hurdle. Give me Batman's body, and I'll eat the universe to replenish my energy and then turn around and leave. You can't beat me, so why bother fighting to the end? It's pointless."

The Anti-Monitor said, "While I am eating this universe, you can escape. I will not come after you. You will have a long time to live before Barbatos comes to you. Why not enjoy the last few days?"

But no one backed away.

"We're not fighting because of Batman. Not entirely," Wonder Woman said.

She tried not to look at Batman's body.

She knew she needed to keep the Justice League in formation, and she was afraid that if she took one look at Batman's body she would rush forward out of control and attack the Anti-Monitor alone.

She said: "We must do this for the billions of sentient beings in this universe and..."

Then the next second, Diana heard the Anti-Monitor sigh in her ear.

She swung her sword fiercely, and her arm was broken cleanly.

Clark lunges at the Anti-Monitor and is grabbed by the throat.

"Let me see, even though Batman is dead... I'd better not kill someone in front of him, who knows what will happen?"

So the Anti-Monitor holds Wonder Woman in one hand and Superman in the other.

"Goodbye."

White light filled their bodies, and then the two men turned into skeletons amid violent roars. Then the skeletons turned transparent and decomposed.

In a corner of the dark multiverse, countless particles condensed into the bodies of Diana and Clark, and then they died without any signs...

They drift in the crumbs and cracks of the dark multiverse. No one remembers.

Then, in the dimension curled up outside of time, Death blinked.

She told Chen Tao: "Look. Your two friends have come to see you."

“Think about it,” she said.

"Diana! Clark!" Martian Manhunter felt himself trembling.

The Anti-Monitor looked up and saw Bane fleeing with Batman's body, followed by Aquaman, Mera and Shazam.

He was not in a hurry.

He looked at the Martian Manhunter who was roaring and rushing towards him.

The other party transformed into some kind of dragon-like creature and climbed onto his body.

…I should have died long ago in the fire that destroyed my people.

That was the shadow of my life...

But I guess I don't have to be afraid anymore, ever again.

"Listen to me, everyone."

Everyone was at a loss.

No one knew what to do next, or what to do with the current situation, and then they heard Aquaman say, "I have a plan."

No one objected to this, although Bane felt that Aquaman was not the kind of man who would say "I have a plan".

"Bane, you wield the Red of All Creation, and I am a low-level agent of that power," Aquaman said.

This is indeed the case. Although many people mistake Aquaman for a man who can talk to fish, he does possess the life force of the Red of All Living Things, which is the source of his ability to talk to fish.

"I need your help, Bane. Although Batman is dead now, I can still indirectly control Batman's body through the Red of All Living Things and the Black of Corruption in you."

To put it simply, Aquaman remotely controls Bane through the Red of Life, and then uses the Black of Decay through Bane to remotely control Batman's body.

But what’s the point?
Bane asked this question, but the screams of the Martian Hunter behind him seemed to be in their ears.

Shazam gritted his teeth.

Young Billy Batson may not have known what he was doing, but he chose to do it anyway.

He whirled around and lunged at the Anti-Monitor.

Bane stopped talking nonsense. When no one could make a decision, someone gave an order that looked good and somewhat reliable, and the other members of the team would subconsciously obey it.

This is the sequelae left after receiving orders for a long time. They will habitually obey the arrangements of new orders.

"Arthur, what do you want to do?" Meira felt a little flustered for no reason and grabbed Arthur's arm.

"It's okay." Aquaman comforted him, and then ordered everyone: "Escape separately, and make sure you stay alive!"

Bane obeyed the order, and Aquaman grabbed Batman's body and pushed Mera hard.

"Go!"

He shouted like this, and then a determined and crazy look appeared in his eyes.

Me... I am a stupid king.

I am not a member of a royal family.

Perhaps Orm is more suitable to be the king of Atlantis than me.

But even the dumbest king... just keep thinking.

Then you will definitely gain something.

My name is Arthur Curry, often called Aquaman.

I have a plan.

The Anti-Monitor suddenly realized what he wanted to do, and he rushed towards Aquaman like lightning.

"Damn it!"

But it's too late.

puff!
Meira let out a painful, hysterical scream.

He saw Batman's body under Arthur's control and suddenly stabbed him with his teeth.

Aquaman Arthur Curry died on the spot.

He is the only member of the Justice League to have died in front of Batman so far, rather than being killed after teleporting.

The key to turning the tide of a battle often begins after a great sacrifice.

……

……

……

"No, I refuse." Chen Tao said.

"I don't want to be dragged into any of your programs. I will never accept your charity. I will never bow my head... to anyone. So..."

He looked at Death and said, "You know what to do, take me where you want to take me, I will find a way, and I will win."

He said: “Even if I die.”

Then he heard a voice.

[Warning, warning, it has been detected that Aquaman Arthur Curry is dead. Please transform Arthur Curry into a living parasite called "Dead Water" and completely integrate it into your body. Replicate the birth process of the drowned soul to obtain...]

[Batman has integrated Aquaman into his body... You have fully synchronized with SS-level Batman: The Drowned Soul]

Chen Tao saw Alfred's agreement in front of him turn from silver-white to black, flashing on his retina like blood.

He turned his head and saw the shadow of Sea King Arthur condense behind him, then he gently reached out and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Ah, are you leaving?" said Death. "Oh my, you really did it! You revived your life force... but your friends have come to my kingdom."

Death said, 'Do you really intend to abandon them? You...'

Then the Gothic girl was stunned again.

She turned her head and looked at Batman in surprise.

"I never say that everything is in my plan, but if you ask me." Chen Tao said: "Yes, the resurrection of the Justice League is in my plan."

"There is a reason why I captured the Purple Lantern Beast. In the Seven Lantern Corps, undying love is the only color of light that can resurrect the dead. And many years ago, I used the Red of All Living Things to influence all members of the Justice League."

"Therefore, after their death, their souls will not return to you immediately... but will go to the Garden of Bones in the underworld of the Red Living Beings."

"I can repair their bodies through the Red of All Living Things, and call back their souls through the Purple Light." Chen Tao said, "I will never accept anyone leaving me."

"I was lucky that Arthur found a way. He saved all of us in a situation I could not have anticipated and activated the contingency plan I had prepared in advance."

Death hears Batman say, "I told you, I would find a way, I would win, even if it meant I died."

"I STOP DEATH!!!"

Death stared at Chen Tao blankly.

Then she started laughing again.

"That's amazing," she said. "It's rare for someone to escape from my hands."

"Now you are alive. That creature called Dead Water has activated your body, hasn't it? I can't keep you anymore. You are really free from me... But you know that you will eventually return to my arms, right?"

"Not now." Chen Tao said.

"But I really want you to stay..." A distressed look appeared on the face of the girl of death, and then she cheerfully made a proposal.

"How about this, you stay and help me? I've always been optimistic about you."

The Death Girl said:

"I'm planning to let you be my assistant. What do you think? This way you can still run around in reality."

"You could carve out a niche in the realm of death that's all yours like Black Runner Dark Death or Black of Decay. Let me see... How about all the Batman deaths?"

"Just imagine that every Batman in the Dark Multiverse will come to see you when he dies. How interesting."

She came closer to Chen Tao, her dark eyes meeting his:
"Too few? Then become a god in charge of death in the dark multiverse? Responsible for clearing all the sad souls in the dark multiverse and extraditing their energy into the world furnace?"

Death said, "There are many souls from the Dark Multiverse waiting to be rescued. You have plenty of work to do."

She said, “I really can’t bear to leave you.”

(End of this chapter)