The men, who introduced themselves as the President's representatives, escorted Batman into a secured building.
"This room is completely shielded. Even someone like Homelander shouldn't be able to hear us," one of them said as they entered a wide, reinforced chamber. "At the very least, we won't be disturbed here."
Batman remained silent, his expression unreadable beneath the cowl.
The representative cleared his throat and continued, "Right now, Homelander is deploying enhanced soldiers, possibly even genetically engineered ones. He is using force to strip people of their freedom and democracy. He has begun interfering in conflicts across multiple countries, trying to expand his control and influence globally."
Batman listened, his gaze steady. After a brief pause, he asked, "Do you think ending slaughter and war is a bad thing?"
"Of course not," the representative replied quickly. "But it is not that simple."
Batman gave a slight nod. "No, it isn't. Wars don't begin for a single reason. Religion, territory, generational hatred, all of it plays a part. Peace, if it is to exist, has to be enforced. And someone has to enforce it."
He stepped forward slightly, voice calm but firm. "I understand why you brought me here. You believe Homelander is on the verge of taking over the world, and you think I can stop him."
The representative met his gaze, hope flickering in his eyes. "Yes. Will you help us?"
Batman's injured hand clenched at his side. "If it comes to that, if there is no other choice, I will take him down."
Then his tone sharpened. "But I didn't come here just to hear your fears. I came to tell you that you need to do better."
The representative raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Is that so? Then explain something to me. Earlier, on the rooftop, you acted as though you mistook me for someone else. You seemed genuinely startled."
Batman's voice remained flat. "That was deliberate. You've been through enough already. There was no reason to unsettle you further."
A brief pause, then a dry addition, "Besides, I might even vote for your newly elected President."
The representative blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected remark. "Uh… thank you."
For a moment, his thoughts stumbled. Could Batman even walk into a polling station and declare himself openly?
Batman continued as if nothing had happened. "I can't do this alone. I'll need a team."
"I anticipated that." The representative reached into his case and handed over a file.
Batman took it. "What is this?"
"Profiles. Individuals with abilities, or resources. Potential allies. Their strengths, weaknesses, psychological evaluations. Most importantly, none of them have aligned with Homelander."
The man straightened, his tone turning serious. "They're your best chance to build resistance."
Batman skimmed the document. The first name that caught his eye was Black Canary from Star City.
"Possible familial conflict. Possible foreign contact," he read quietly, falling into thought.
"I have my own files as well," Batman said after a moment, lowering the document.
"I know," the representative replied, folding his hands. "We can exchange information, fill in each other's gaps."
Batman gave a small nod, then turned to leave.
He had barely taken two steps before he froze.
His posture stiffened. His gaze hardened. Slowly, his hand moved toward his utility belt.
Before his fingers could reach the switch, a sound echoed from outside.
Click. Click. Click.
From the shadows beyond the doorway, Adrian stepped into view.
"If I were you, I wouldn't reach for anything," Adrian said calmly.
The representative turned, and the moment he saw Adrian, his face drained of color.
Before he could react, a flash of red light cut through the air.
The Heat Vision struck his shoulder.
Blood sprayed instantly as he was thrown backward, collapsing to the ground. His arm hung at an unnatural angle, barely attached. He struggled, dragging himself away, leaving a trail of blood behind.
Adrian's gaze shifted back to Batman.
"I didn't expect we'd meet again this soon," he said, his tone almost conversational. "Talking through a screen felt distant. This is better."
Batman's voice remained steady. "How did you find this place?"
"I was passing through Gotham. Saw the Bat-Signal. That led me to you." Adrian tilted his head slightly. "I expected you to be more cautious. Turns out, your sense of responsibility is predictable."
He extended a hand. "Now, hand over the documents."
"I won't."
Batman's grip tightened. "The moment I took them, I prepared a contingency. If they leave my hands, they're destroyed. You can test whether your speed is faster than my reaction."
As he spoke, he moved the documents closer to his belt.
A blur of motion.
A violent impact slammed into his chest before he could finish.
Batman was launched backward, crashing into the ground with crushing force. The reinforced floor shattered beneath him, cracks spreading outward as dust filled the air.
Adrian stood over him in the next instant, as if he had teleported.
Without hesitation, he bent down, grabbed Batman by the armor, and lifted him.
"I can show mercy," Adrian said, his voice cold. "To some. Not to you."
He hurled him forward.
Batman's body smashed through a wall, tearing a hole straight into the next room.
A pained grunt escaped him as he hit the ground. Blood filled his mouth, but he forced himself up, firing his grappling gun toward a distant structure outside.
The line caught.
Glass shattered as he was pulled through the window, escaping into the open air.
Behind him, Adrian stepped into the room.
Batman reacted instantly, throwing a set of Batarangs.
They sliced through the air, fast and precise.
Adrian caught them effortlessly.
A second later, they detonated in his hand.
The explosion roared through the room, flames and smoke erupting outward.
Batman swung through the air, clutching his chest, glancing back at the blast. For a brief moment, he thought he had gained distance.
Then a streak of red cut through the night.
The Heat Vision struck not him, but the grappling line.
It snapped instantly.
Batman dropped, forced to deploy his cape, gliding downward through the cold night air.
Wind rushed past him as pain surged through his body. He knew the explosion would not hold Adrian for long.
Homelander was a predator, and Adrian was no different.
Reaching into his belt, Batman pulled out a breathing filter and secured it in his mouth. Then he activated a specialized smoke bomb below.
Thick smoke spread rapidly, distorting light and vision.
It was not guaranteed to work, but he had no other option.
He descended into the smoke, preparing to disappear.
But the moment he entered it, a blazing beam of Heat Vision tore through the haze toward him.
With no time to evade, he raised his forearms, bracing for impact.
The gauntlets took the hit.
They failed instantly.
The energy tore through them, sending him crashing to the ground.
The impact shattered the pavement, forming a crater beneath him.
Batman lay there, barely able to move. Pain flooded every nerve, his ribs broken, his arm useless. Blood spilled from his lips as darkness threatened to take him.
He bit down hard on his tongue, forcing himself to stay conscious.
Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up.
Adrian descended from above, landing with quiet precision.
His presence seemed to merge with the night itself, cold and overwhelming.
"Two broken ribs. A shattered left arm," Adrian said, his voice devoid of warmth. "You can barely stand. Are you still going to fight me?"
Batman coughed, blood staining what remained of his mask. Half of his face was exposed now, battered but unyielding.
"I haven't changed," he said hoarsely. "Not my stance."