No traps, no bombs, nothing.
After being super-enhanced, the Hell Bat Armor was easily discarded by the Laughing Bat, now transformed into a two-legged chair resembling a lotus.
"This armor has ten types of metal, yet he treats it as a disposable item," Su Ming, arms crossed, said to Batman beside him.
Batman stepped over to inspect the armor, then examined the corpse on the ground: "The Hell Bat Armor carries a self-destruct program, but I cracked it. The Laughing Bat has been communicating with you via intercom, and the person inside, from Luthor's Artificial Superman project—it's uncertain if he is from our world's Luthor."
The pale corpse was incredibly scrawny, resembling a starving person with skin and bones, its expression of terror frozen in the darkness. Who knows how Batman recognized such an abstract piece?
"An Artificial Superman, huh? This guy looks better than 'Bizarro.' At least when terrified, he has a human appearance, unlike Frankenstein's type."
Su Ming sighed, finally understanding why this armor lasted so long.
"He was likely under some kind of mind control until just before death. Although he awoke in the end, it was too late." Batman stood up, eyeing the Hell Bat beside him, seemingly considering getting in.
Seeing his movement, Su Ming softly remarked, "You're not planning to use what Laughing left you, are you? I advise against it; since he anticipated your arrival, there might be traps you haven't noticed."
"I won't use it now. It must be completely disassembled and reassembled to ensure no issues, but we don't have time now." Batman turned around, looking at the wobbling Justice League, and asked Deathstroke, "Next, we need to rescue Superman, ensure the Laughing Bat is gone, defeat the Destruction Legion, and investigate what the White Superman is."
Su Ming reached for a cigarette from his belt to light up: "Sounds like a pile of trouble. If you're asking about my plan, you'll need to offer something in exchange."
Batman was expressionless, his entire body cloaked in black: "Sometimes I really don't know what you're thinking. The Multiverse is in extreme danger now; aren't you worried that the benefits you have can't be realized?"
"That's my own business; I'm someone who likes to work hard and hopes to receive a return. You reap what you sow. I took significant risks fighting alongside you; I don't want you to take it for granted in the end." Su Ming exhaled a faint smoke ring, looking down at the corpse on the ground.
"No one in the Justice League sees others' contributions as taken for granted; we all appreciate your help." Batman coldly stated.
Su Ming chuckled and shook his head slowly: "That's where the problem lies, Batman. The world takes the Justice League protecting Earth for granted; you don't demand them to contribute, so the masses feel you have no relation to them... You've lived in Gotham; tell me, what value does human affection carry?"
"...I always knew the Hall of Justice should charge admission." Batman understood what Deathstroke meant, and the two surprisingly agreed. Batman had said similar things to Superman not long ago: "We protect Earth, and when people, for various reasons, want to give something for us, we kindly refuse, saying 'no need,' which precisely isolates us from the masses."
Su Ming stroked his beard; this is the tragedy of the vigilante.
If well done, it's taken for granted; if poorly done, they're eternal sinners. Humans are driven by habits, and the Justice League has conditioned them into expecting unearned rewards:
"Even if it's just one US Dollar, the Hall of Justice should charge admission; it's a form of communication and connection. Currency replaced bartering, but the essence of exchange hasn't changed. People need communication in all aspects; I'm just showing you this point, and you feel uneasy."
Batman, arms folded, glanced at the Joker beside him, seemingly having forgotten previous unpleasantness. He now cheekily grinned, sitting on the corpse with hands resting like a flower under his chin, watching the two.
"What do you want?" Batman understood why Deathstroke needed compensation. As for the notion of owing favors, he was doubtful about whether he himself would reciprocate, let alone others: "Of the four tasks I mentioned earlier, you'll need to take on at least one."
"Planning to split forces again? Waiting for Luthor to break us one by one?" Another puff of smoke floated away, and he flicked cigarette ash to the side.
"What's your suggestion then?" Batman immediately covered the pit he dug.
"I want one of each of the Five-Colored Kryptonite, or you can directly give me the Anti-Superman Gloves; that's the condition." Su Ming raised a finger, gently shook it: "You know, with my capabilities, finding these things is quick; it's just more convenient to take them directly from you."
Actually, there's a type of Kryptonite applicable to all Parallel Universe Supermen, which is Pink Kryptonite.
Its function is to turn Superman homosexual... How should I say it? Its strategic significance outweighs its tactical significance.
Batman was silent for a moment at Deathstroke's suggestion, then nodded. In his view, Deathstroke harbored no animosity towards Superman. Seeking Kryptonite, like himself, was merely a precaution.
Seeing Batman hand over the Five-Finger Death Punch, Su Ming accepted without any guilt and immediately changed the subject: "Now we have four tasks before us, and splitting forces is a risky method. We can notify our allies to share part of the load."
Batman in the darkness said in a low tone: "Earth has no allies left. Since the Origin Wall broke, former allies from other planets in the cosmos have severed agreements."
Su Ming raised his arm to call everyone for a meeting, and only spoke after seeing everyone gather around, wiping their mouths: "You all made the same mistake I did before, always looking into the distance and not paying attention to what's right under your feet. We have many allies."
Batman frowned, while Diana seemed to understand Su Ming's point: "You want to mobilize the warlocks from the Magic Realm?"
"Diana, do you remember the threat from within Earth? The race that claims to raise all humans like livestock?" Su Ming shook his head with a smile. There are indeed powerful beings among the warlocks, but those people don't get along with the Justice League.
Batman understood Deathstroke's words, showing no expression: "You're talking about the Xida People. They are from another dimension, products of human evolution pushed to the extreme, or rather, monsters."
"Seems like you remember them, the other branch of humanity, the Xida People. To be honest, even their hair has evolved into poisonous tentacles to kill their kind? This evolution went a bit too far."
Su Ming shrugged. Although the Xida People are unfamiliar to many, they can be compared with more well-known races from other worlds.
They are like the Dark Elves from the DND worldview, except this is the DC version. Not elves, but Dark Humans evolved in another harsh dimension.
Although they don't believe in gods, there are many similarities between the two.
For example, now it's matriarchal authority, their favorite mounts are giant spiders, they claim to bring 'pain' when attacking, and everyone excels in intrigue and deathblows.
Of course, they look very unattractive, their skin is fluorescent green, and they have writhing tentacles on their heads, completely different from the sexy and hot Dark Elves.
Moreover, they're seeking no ruling power; they only consider Earth Surface People as food.
Dealing with them has always been the task of the Magic Realm; the Xida People's homeland is a place called Miracle Rock, situated in another dimension, and it's the warlocks' task to seal teleportation gates that could appear in city sewers at any time.
Not always are they successful; many times the Xida People's armies have rushed out of the sewers, but at most they just ate a few thousand people.
Batman quietly pondered, Ron did the same; perhaps they hadn't thought of it before, but now that Deathstroke brought it up, they had to face this possibility.
"You're saying the Xida People's world is in the Third Dimension, and they are weapon-biology created by Papetua?" Batman questioned.
Ron nodded: "The Mars Guardian once told me, Papetua once created a kind of creature, possessing the physique of Mars People, the mind of Earthlings, cruel and belligerent, bloodthirsty. Now it seems, it indeed fits the depiction of the Xida People, how could I have missed this point?"
The Xida People claim to be the pinnacle of human evolution, coming from unknown other dimensions, with glowing green skin. All these traits fit perfectly.
"I thought those giant statues on the Origin Wall were Papetua's legion..." John was a bit puzzled; the cities invaded by the Xida People were limited, and he wasn't a superhero back then.
"The Xida People are very skilled in genetic technology. Their giant spiders and giant wasps are standard army equipment; creating giants is not difficult for them. Furthermore, Papetua might have left them methods and ways." Ron immediately convinced John.
Diana rubbed her chin: "I remember a long time ago, the Magic Realm once fought a major battle against them, and together the warlocks wiped out all pathways leading them to the Main Dimension, logically there should be no more issues..."
"But that was before. Barbatos's invasion was a month ago. Since then, the Xida People have found a way into the Dark Multiverse; now they are searching for the path to our Multiverse."
Su Ming calmly revealed information unknown to everyone present, and this is the fact.
No one doubted this matter, so for a moment, the atmosphere became even more grim.
"Alright, what I wanted to mention isn't this, just letting you know the enemy ahead of time." He clapped his hands again, signaling everyone to regroup: "Always, there's been a team in the Magic Realm focused on dealing with the Xida People. Their experience in fighting those Alternate Dimension creatures is unmatched. Let's invite them to help."
Diana never backs down, even with no hope she will continue fighting, let alone since Deathstroke provided a clue: "I know, you're talking about the Seven Invincible Warriors."
"Yes, the third generation of Seven Invincible Warriors. Now their members are Zatanna, Frankenstein, Witch Child, Mr. Miracle, Knight of Radiance, Missile Heroine, Manhattan Guardian, along with a freelance young man 'Xi Jing'."
Su Ming nodded to Diana with a smile, directly providing the roster, and this team, aside from Zatanna, is undoubtedly composed of anti-heroes.
Although they seldom gather, as warlocks usually have their own matters, during critical moments, they are willing to listen to Zatanna's orders.
"As for mobilizing this team, it's not an issue because we have Batman."