Su Ming's momentum now is quite different from before, especially his aura of fear. As an enemy, Manta Ray seemed to see the Parallax Monster; the fear in his heart completely overwhelmed him.
His plans had just been proposed and already failed, all the beautiful visions in his heart instantly turning into despair.
There's nothing much about having offended the Justice League, but the key is also having offended Luthor and them, in such a vast world, there is no longer a safe place.
Seeing Manta Ray collapsed in front of him, there's nothing more to say. Su Ming prepared to immediately give Black Manta a Level 3 treatment, the kind that's 'dead as a doornail'.
The black helmet could be a souvenir for Arthur, the fish spear gun could be given to Bo Bo to hang in the bar as decoration, and the waterproof high-tech suit could be distributed to the Justice League for research.
Manta Ray also had two daggers coated with the Tear of Extinction, which Su Ming wanted. Once obtained, he'd find a way to get that liquid off, coating it on his own weapons.
For an assassin, it's not that Su Ming didn't want his weapons to be poisonous, it's just that there was no suitable venom.
Plant-based venom isn't effective in the bloodstream, and animal-based venom doesn't last long, needing to be reapplied every three or four days. Su Ming has always wanted a venom that, once applied, requires no further attention and is extremely powerful.
The concept poison like the Tear of Extinction is quite good, although it can't achieve immediate death upon contact, it can ensure the killed never come back to life.
Before stepping out, Su Ming already had Manta Ray's dissection diagram in his mind, just like a meat stall in a supermarket, what parts can be used for what, all mapped out.
The corresponding value was also calculated; now it was just waiting to wield the knife, then split the spoils.
Since they were peers, appearing on the battlefield as a mercenary, Manta Ray should have been prepared for this, right? A warrior dying on the battlefield is a decent end.
His grudges with Arthur, who's to say who's right or wrong? Manta Ray, as a mercenary, has to earn his living, but now it's Deathstroke's time to feast.
"Hmm, chop the neck, ensure the item's integrity..." Su Ming took a breath, gripping the Great Sword tightly.
As for the bone ring on the neck, it didn't matter anymore. The Sea Demon nearby was about to be dealt with.
"Don't kill him," Batman's voice came from the rear.
"Are you serious? With Manta Ray causing the Sea Demon to lose control and threatening the entire Earth, you still want him to live?" Su Ming placed the Great Sword on Manta Ray's neck and looked up at the severely injured Batman: "For the sake of your health, I think it's better if he's dead."
Batman knew this reasoning all too well; his entire body was in pain now.
But while killing Manta Ray seemed to solve one problem forever, acting now would only make Luthor's Destruction Legion hold together tightly out of fear of death.
If surrendering still meant death, then the Destruction Legion would certainly unite and fight to the bitter end.
As long as surrendering ensured survival, surrendering would become one of the choices for the enemies.
Surrender, escape, confrontation—these three options are what the defeated might choose.
In the theoretical value of possibilities, without considering external factors, each one occupies about 33%, and the first two are beneficial to the Justice League, totaling 66%.
If Manta Ray is killed now, it effectively tells the Destruction Legion that the surrender option is off the table.
Only escape and confrontation remain, each at 50%.
The chance for the Justice League to gain the upper hand drops from 66% to 50%, losing a 16% chance of victory, something Batman would not permit.
Using the night to disband the enemy and defeating isolated individuals has always been a core tactic of the Bat.
He handed the Totality to Luthor knowing that each member of the Destruction Legion harbors secret ambitions.
Just like Manta Ray, seeing the immediate benefits, he'd choose to betray Luthor. Villains have no sense of moral obligation.
Before handing the Totality to Luthor, the Justice League needed to deal with the entire Destruction Legion.
But now, as Luthor gets closer to the fruits of victory, the Justice League really only needs to deal with him alone.
Luthor wouldn't share the glory of saving humanity with others; the Destruction Legion is merely pawns in his hands, and these pawns will betray him at specific moments.
Disbanding the Destruction Legion and preserving the Multiverse is what the Justice League should be doing now.
This is Batman's plan, but he won't explain it, especially now that Luthor might be monitoring them; he can't explain.
"I'll pay more." Batman slowly walked up to Deathstroke, looking down at the debilitated Black Manta; this Black mercenary had been overwhelmed by fear: "The employer has new requirements, the enemy needs to be taken alive, so as a mercenary, you'll still act according to your own set boundaries."
Arthur stood aside, clueless, wondering what Batman and Deathstroke were talking about. The Sea Demon over there was about to fall! Why not focus on that first?
Whether to kill or not, first imprisoning Manta Ray would be the right choice, wouldn't it?
Su Ming sighed.
Even though he knew Batman was like this, not encouraging killing and having long-term plans, wasn't this something Arthur should decide?
Manta Ray mainly targeted Atlantis and had personal grudges with Arthur; Arthur and his family were the real victims.
However, judging by Arthur's indifferent expression, he seemed to have decided to follow Batman's arrangements.
His thoughts must be: 'Oh dear, I want to kill Manta Ray, but Batman doesn't allow killing. On second thought, I'm not that angry, so I'll listen to Batman.'
Thus, Batman's plan succeeded.
Every time Diana and Arthur want to kill someone, Batman shows up, reasoning with facts, and their anger dissipates, making it naturally impossible to act on their impulse.
Heroes often kill out of impulsiveness; they're essentially good people. When the impulsiveness fades, having them execute the bad guys like a death sentence is probably something they can't do.
Not to mention them, even Captain America, who kills the most in the superhero world, doesn't kill enemies who lay down their weapons.
However, Batman seems to be probing something, and Su Ming squinted, contemplating for a moment.
"Alright, we'll discuss the added money numbers later, Manta Ray is yours, but I want his entire set of equipment." Su Ming swung his great sword, destroying Manta Ray's transmission and communication device, and kicked him, sending Manta Ray to Batman's feet.
Looking at Manta Ray's confused state now, he's probably about to become an idiot. Since Batman wants him alive, he can be kept in the Justice League prison as amusement.
Even if Batman wants to gift Manta Ray to the Celestial Eye Association to bolster the Suicide Squad, Amanda probably wouldn't accept him.
Speaking of the Suicide Squad, it seems none of the others have turned into Fish-Men; Amanda, that black fat lady, has quite a strategy, though it's unknown where she's hiding it?
Batman had the Titan Squad come over to imprison Manta Ray, requiring the removal of his costume for strict guarding, agreeing to Su Ming's terms.
"I'll do it, I'm the best at stripping bad guys' clothes." Beast Boy volunteered, licking the corner of his mouth while rubbing his hands, eager to approach.
He didn't notice Raven and Steel Armor not far away, whispering as they watched his back, the two girls' eyes resembling those who sight a pervert.
"You have plans, regarding that." Batman walked towards the ship's railing expressionlessly, pointing to the Sea Demon in the distance, its massive figure occupying everyone's vision.
He knew ever since Deathstroke returned, he definitely had a plan.
"Loneliness + alienation + fear + despair + self-worth ÷ ridicule ÷ condemnation ÷ misunderstanding × guilt × shame × failure × judgment, n=y = hope = foolishness, love = lies, life = death, self = dark side."
Su Ming stood beside him, silently watching Diana and the others circling the Sea Demon, responding to Batman's question in a dull tone.
Batman: "..."
"Familiar, isn't it? Hearing this makes you think of those Omega Beams slicing across the sky?" Su Ming calculated the distance the Sea Demon fell into the water, time was actually ample.
"You brought Harley and Poison Ivy, not for dealing with Grell, the Anti-Life Equation doesn't affect our situation whatsoever."
Grell is Darkseid's daughter, and according to the cosmos' rumors, she holds the Anti-Life Equation now, intending to use it to kill her father.
Harley and Ivy lack the competence to face her, they would only cause chaos.
Batman remained calm, unlike Sea King, who was anxiously scratching his head, depriving Su Ming of much entertainment.
"I'm merely helping you expand your thinking — the Death Sea Demon with concepts of annihilation, death, and destruction naturally has opposites in conceptual terms, the cosmos is vast, you should explore it."
Beast Boy had stripped Manta Ray down to just underwear, indeed like he said, he's exceptionally quick at undressing others.
Su Ming picked up Manta Ray's large helmet, handing it to Arthur as a souvenir, while keeping two daggers for himself, leaving other items for his secretary, Little Fortune Ape, to pack away.
"You refer to the Life Equation, but it's been proven nonexistent by the New Gods of the Creation Star." Batman shook his head, staring ahead.
The Creation Star's ruler, Darkseid's brother, the New God 'Celestial Father,' attempted to find the Life Equation as a force against Darkseid.
Unfortunately, he failed, with his assembly of Lantern Rings, he gained only a scepter that could turn all creatures into beastly monsters, causing numerous troubles.
Afterward, he declared the Life Equation non-existent.
Su Ming leisurely removed his hand armor, handing it casually to Little Fortune Ape beside him: "Batman, we live in a world where even what we see and hear are false. If you haven't tried it yourself, don't believe what any Guardian or New God says."
Su Ming placed his hand on the ship's railing. His fingers bore only a complex pattern glowing with purple light, which was the Invisible Light ring.
Like a tattoo, if not activated, it's even invisible.
"Invisible Light, just like the one John once wore." Batman crossed his arms, standing as still as a sculpture on a Pharaoh's coffin, waiting for Su Ming's explanation.
"Haha, not looking closely, that's not the insight a detective should have. Was your eye hurt last time from the injury? Have another look." Su Ming grinned, activating the Invisible Light's power.
Soon, nine other rings emerged entirely from the phase, all on his fingers.
The power of Invisible Light allows these Lantern Rings to perform phase transfer, rendering them invisible and intangible, appearing only when Su Ming commands them.
With so many rings, the fists can't grasp tightly, making weapon handling prone to slippage. Su Ming had long planned for the Invisible Light's ring, appreciating its phase ability.
This prevents Su Ming from looking like a nouveau riche while avoiding reduced melee capability, without worrying about simultaneously issuing ten sector maps or hearing ten voices translating in his mind.
Now he simply needs to wear the Invisible Light ring ordinarily, and even this ring can be phase-transferred if he wishes.