"Everyone knows our current situation, so let's start taking action. Our time is limited."
Batman shrunk under his cape, ending his speech.
Calling it a Justice League meeting was quite generous, really it was just him presenting the plan, while the others listened.
Questions could be asked, but rebuttals were not allowed. Everything was planned out, and would not change randomly.
Ron and Superman stood beside him, given the failure of their previous plan, they were now too embarrassed to question Batman's words.
Even though this plan sounded like a wild gamble.
Seeing the Tier Two and Tier Three heroes surrounding them disperse, Batman quietly stood still, silent.
In the last fight during Earth's sinking, many heroes were seriously injured, both physically and psychologically.
They were sent to a place called "Shelter," a secret organization used by the Three Giants of the Justice League to heal and protect heroes.
There they might gradually recover, but clearly not now, so this time fewer people were able to join the plan.
Clark was still contemplating some things Batman mentioned earlier, while Ron connected his thoughts to Batman's, his voice directly resonating in both their minds.
"Do you think we've fallen into Luthor's trap?"
"Yes, we may have misjudged the Dark Creation Power, Luthor's progress is likely far beyond our estimates, and he might only be lacking Papetua's power now, while our actions on the Origin Wall were driven by him."
Batman crossed his arms, his black cape forming two arcs.
"But it was Star Hero who proposed this plan, and he's reliable."
"He's only got half a brain, the other half is with Luthor," Batman said emotionlessly, his thought exchange very discreet, he could completely disregard Star Hero being right beside him: "If it were the Star Hero from past stories, he'd be a hero, but this one now may not be the one we know."
Ron took a deep breath: "Frankly, I feel useless, my psychic abilities are now countered by too many methods, lately there's been too many impostors mixed into the Hall of Justice, fake Barbara, fake Deathstroke, fake Copperhead, if Star Hero is fake too...."
"He's not, however, the possibility of control is still 20%, we can't ignore the risk, and as evidence shows, events always lean toward the worse... we must halt the decline before the news of the Origin Wall being bombed and the world about to be destroyed spreads."
Batman interrupted Ron, talking about past events now was pointless, what mattered now was the future plans.
"Do you think Luthor would do that?"
"Yes, he'd definitely do it, Superman is the heart of the Justice League, if this gets exposed, the Justice League would lose the trust of the entire universe, suffering unprecedented damage. This would certainly impact Superman, Clark believes in others, thinking they'd reciprocate trust, but things only get worse, not like he'd imagine."
There was a hint of pain in Ron's eyes, he knew Batman was right, when the Origin Wall exploded, the New Gods were collectively erased, Sena Gang and several Lantern Groups all tore up their contracts with the Justice League, all insiders now hate the Justice League.
If the plan succeeds, they might not acknowledge your merits, rather they think of it as their own efforts.
If the plan fails, the blame is definitely yours, they bear no responsibility.
This is the grim reality heroes, especially Earth heroes, inevitably face.
Ron actually adapted to life on Earth better than Clark, because he was previously a senior cadre of the Super Inspection Team and the Celestial Eye Association, the darkness he had seen was not something Kryptonians could compare to.
"We should prepare in advance, if you're so sure, perhaps use X Metal for a global broadcast, revealing the truth ourselves first to take the initiative publicly?"
"It's useless, when they know the Earth is about to be destroyed, the Multiverse on the brink of ruin, you think humans can calm down to listen to you?" Batman's mouth corners drooped: "They may drink heavily and wait to die in bed, they might weep and pray on their knees, most will raid for what they think will let them survive longer, but they certainly won't listen to others."
"Seems neither language nor thoughts work before madness..." Ron was a bit disappointed, knowing in his heart, yet really facing all of this brings some sentiment.
Batman stood motionless: "Unless we solve the root problem in advance, fixing the Origin Wall is out of the question, but we can defeat the Destruction Legion, defeat Papetua, maybe find a way to preserve the Multiverse."
"Maybe we could ask Deathstroke?" Ron suddenly suggested, recalling something: "It was him who saved me from the Cosmic Tuning Fork last time."
"Him? You want the global populace to hear your explanation, he could think of ways, like tying all people once more to the Tuning Fork or the Dark Tower, rendering them immobile, then using X Metal or magic to brainwash them."
"Sounds a bit dark."
This indeed solves the problem, but it's not the Justice League's style, this is a bit too crazy to abduct globally. And apparently this plan isn't Deathstroke's, rather Batman's speculation spoken....
Batman continued without pause, "I'm not going to do that. We have our own principles, for justice."
"For justice." Ron still accepted Batman's statement: "I'll go contact the relevant people and prepare the gear."
After speaking, Ron soared into the air, transforming into a slender noodle-like shape, and flew out through the small hole Superman had entered earlier.
Clark then approached; he had had questions for a long time, but it was clear that Batman and Ron were distracted. He guessed the two were secretly communicating.
But now it seemed Ron was persuaded by Batman.
"Hey, Bruce, could you explain what the concept of Dimension is? There are many parts of your plan I don't quite understand."
"Actually, I don't know much either; you should ask Deathstroke. I feel he has more information that we don't know. But once we implement the first step of our plan, we'll learn some previously unclear things, narrowing the gap."
"Will such a plan work?" Clark was somewhat helpless; Batman was using things he didn't fully understand for a plan, which was too risky.
Batman went to the side, casually took out the Bat Terminal and began setting some things, while also throwing out many small spherical objects, their nature unknown, as he spoke:
"We don't know much, and neither does Luthor. What we need to do now is bring both sides onto the same level, rather than remain behind in intelligence; as such, we have no chance of winning. We must break out of this mindset and reach a new level to seize a chance."
Clark thought for a moment and finally nodded. As long as someone on their side understands the concept of Dimension, it doesn't matter if it's Batman or Deathstroke.
"Alright, I'll follow your lead. What do you need me to do now?"
"Destroy all the buildings covered here, creating an apocalyptic scene; that's your task."
Batman said calmly, while manipulating the entire building's sky to change, projecting a desolate ruinous landscape, with clouds in the sky seemingly torn into strips by air currents, creating an apocalyptic atmosphere.
"Huh? Demolishing buildings, that's not really my strong suit." Clark had a look of difficulty, not because he can't destroy, but because these must have owners, right?
"Don't worry, I've bought all the buildings in this block. Just crash into them with all your might, everyone else has been evacuated, it's quite safe." Batman replied expressionlessly.
"Why do we have to do this? Many of these buildings are landmarks in Metropolis with historical value." Superman scratched his head.
"The Martian prophecy Ron brought back contains a sentence, 'Black snow descends in the winter of the second decade of the new century, everything will burn before her,' which should have happened next year. Now we need to simulate next winter's scene; it's a tactical necessity."
Batman still gave an explanation; if it were anyone else, he wouldn't have answered:
"If you don't want us to become history, you better do it; I still need to prepare artificial snowfall and cooling, which will take time."
Superman shook his head, deflatedly ran a hand through his hair, and flew off.
While the pitch-black Bat just stood in place, he had to ponder what Black Snow really referred to.
.................
"This city... Darkness is boiling, they cling to every building and street in a special form."
Mackenzie walked out of the Teleportation Gate, her high-heeled boots completely submerged in water, but her eyes saw more than just the accumulated water; through the twisted moisture, she saw more.
Purplish-black Negative Energy, like clouds or thick smoke, wound through the streets and alleys of Gotham. Even with the sun hanging in the sky, the city appeared pitch black in her eyes.
"This thing that draws Negative Energy in a special form is called Amber Gold. Back when the Owl Court expanded Gotham City, they incorporated Amber Gold into most of the building materials, maybe steel, maybe cement, or even possibly living people."
Su Ming followed behind her, the exit of the Teleportation Gate located at Grant Park in North Gotham City; not far north is Knight's Arena, several blocks south, crossing the Sipulan River is Arkham Sanatorium.
For Gotham, this can be considered the new city district, while the oldest southern district of the city was the old city, so nearly all the buildings here were tampered with by the Owl.
"Heh, I haven't come to Gotham before, how did I miss such an interesting place? Compared to here, the City of Angels is far inferior; someone spent hundreds of years just to construct a giant Dark Magic Array, fascinating."
Mackenzie licked her lips, tears of blood flowed from the rotting side of her face.
"The Array used to summon Barbatos, we all know about it. Can you do something useful now?" Diana interposed between Deathstroke, deciding to speak directly to the crazy woman.
"Hmm? Although I agreed to repay Deathstroke's favor and followed you to the Main World, I didn't say when I'd help him search," Mackenzie revealed a mischievous smile like a little girl: "I'm a bit hungry now, go find me a few living people to taste, see if their souls are as dark as this city?"
Wonder Woman clenched her fists.