Chapter 225: The Batman Who Laughs Makes a Bizarre Choice—and a New Showcase Begins!

Timeline detected… The Batman Who Laughs!

Confirmed as a past event!

Calculating reward…

Calculation complete!

Reward One: Permanently obtain the dark power bestowed by Barbatos! Note: The Dragon of Destruction will no longer be able to reclaim this power.

Reward Two: Double your current strength.

The World Forge!

Barbatos was stunned for a moment before flying into a towering rage!

He had separated a full tenth of his dark power and placed it within the Batman Who Laughs!

That power was enough to ensure that the Batman Who Laughs could travel throughout the Dark Multiverse without accidentally dying, while also allowing him to cross through the “gaps” and reach the worlds on the other side!

It could also be used to create passages whenever necessary.

Most importantly—

After they invaded another universe, that darkness would separate from the Batman Who Laughs and suppress the world itself, preventing the nightmare Batmen from being expelled by the world’s will!

Originally, Barbatos could reclaim all of it with a single thought.

But now, it was about to become the Batman Who Laughs’s permanent possession!

How could he possibly not be furious!?

That Joker-Batman had always harbored his own schemes. The moment he gained the opportunity, he would definitely betray him!

On the beach, Bruce’s expression changed drastically, his face filling with shock and fury!

This was far too outrageous!

He did not know exactly how much power Barbatos had placed inside the Batman Who Laughs.

But even if it were only one percent—or one-thousandth—it would still be unimaginably terrifying!

That power could definitely destroy all of them with ease!

At this moment, confusion suddenly rose within Bruce’s heart, just like when his parents had died.

“What exactly are we supposed to do in the future…?”

Marvel World.

Captain America, who had never admitted defeat, sighed and shook his head.

Even though he was not part of that world, he could still feel its overwhelming despair!

This was not something that could be solved merely by refusing to retreat.

It was an eternal night in which not even the faintest trace of dawn could be seen.

At the same time, countless knowledgeable viewers had already sentenced the positive DC Multiverse to death within their hearts.

A deranged Batman whose mind was already like that of a demon, combined with power on the level of a supreme cosmic being…

It was impossible to imagine what kind of monster would be created!

This was not as simple as one plus one.

It might become one multiplied by ten—or even one hundred!

But in the next second—

Selection complete… Reward Two!

The moment that majestic voice fell, countless viewers froze.

Kamar-Taj.

Inside the recovery room.

“Wong… I must have heard that wrong, right?”

“He chose the first reward… He definitely chose the first one!”

Strange looked like a complete idiot. His eyes widened so much that they nearly popped out, while the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

At this moment, he could not help suspecting that it was not only his hands that had been injured.

Perhaps his ears—or even his brain—had been damaged as well!

Wong stared blankly ahead and muttered,

“This makes even less sense than hearing that the Sorcerer Supreme went to learn how to drive a truck!”

“What!?”

Strange violently twisted his neck around and nearly killed himself in the process.

Wong instantly returned to his senses and replied without the slightest hesitation,

“I said this makes even less sense than the Ancient One saving an ordinary person from a truck accident!”

“Mr. Strange, you should understand that she normally only concerns herself with matters of the mystic arts.”

Wong spoke without any change in expression, then silently praised his own quick thinking.

Damn, I’m brilliant!

Perhaps I really could become the Sorcerer Supreme someday!

Strange immediately revealed a worried expression.

This was bad.

It seemed there really was something wrong with his hearing!

Hueco Mundo.

Aizen frowned slightly.

He would not have misheard it.

That meant the Batman Who Laughs had truly chosen the second reward.

It made no sense.

Everything that had happened before had already proven that the first reward was always the superior choice!

Aside from that shortsighted fool Yhwach, no one would choose the second!

And the Batman Who Laughs was not only far from foolish—he might possess one of the greatest intellects across All Worlds.

So why had he made this choice?

On the beach, Barry, whose face had previously been filled with despair, excitedly leaped into the air and grabbed Arthur and Clark with a joyful expression!

This was undoubtedly the best news the three of them had heard in a very long time!

But they quickly realized something was wrong.

A few meters away, Bruce did not look relieved at all.

Instead, his expression had become even more solemn.

Barry’s heart skipped a beat as a terrible premonition rose within him.

“Idol, aren’t you happy? The Batman Who Laughs chose the second reward.”

Bruce took a deep breath and replied seriously,

“The person who understands Batman best can only be another Batman. Even though he has merged with the Joker, that fundamental nature should not have changed too much.”

“In my opinion, there is only one reason he refused the first reward!”

“He isn’t afraid of Barbatos.”

“Instead, he must already have another choice—or another source of power—in mind!”

“Without question, it must be something even more powerful than the dark energy currently inside his body!”

“But for now, he still has to pretend to cooperate with Barbatos. He cannot openly turn against him, nor can he flee.”

“That is why he could only choose the second reward!”

Bruce looked at Barry, whose expression had collapsed once again, and sighed inwardly.

After thinking for a moment, he continued,

“However, this is also an opportunity for us.”

“At the very least… he has not obtained that unknown power yet, has he?”

Distributing Reward Two!

Distribution complete!

The World Forge!

Barbatos was first dumbfounded before becoming ecstatic!

He had not misheard!

He truly had not misheard!

It seemed the great Lord of Darkness had already completely corrupted the Batman Who Laughs’s heart.

That mad dog now belonged entirely to him!

Heh.

Victory was assured!

Within a certain dark and ruined world, the Batman Who Laughs felt his mind becoming even more active and his thoughts growing increasingly swift.

He glanced at Ozymandias, whose eyes had turned pitch-black and whose face was completely vacant, before a mocking smile curved across his lips.

Heh.

How could that stupid dragon possibly understand what I truly desire?

He is probably…

No.

He must be celebrating wildly right now!

Hahahaha!

That expression must be fascinating!

The footage and reward distribution finally ended.

Inside A.R.G.U.S., Amanda Waller released an exhausted sigh.

The pride within her heart had already been torn to pieces. Cracks had even appeared in her previously unyielding resolve, making her increasingly aware of humanity’s insignificance.

Perhaps after three more videos ended, she should visit Doctor Fate once again.

Kamar-Taj.

Strange froze once more.

The Batman Who Laughs really had chosen the second reward.

That meant he had not misheard anything!

Although he still could not understand the decision, that world had nothing to do with him.

There was now another issue he needed to address.

He slowly turned his head toward Wong, who was staring fixedly at the floor tiles, and asked eerily,

“May I ask which school the great Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, attended to learn how to drive a truck?”

“Once I recover, I would also like to enroll.”

Wong lowered his head as cold sweat poured from his forehead.

He was not afraid of Strange.

But would the Ancient One kick him straight into Hell after hearing this!?

This was bad!

Why did that possibility feel so incredibly high!?

Whoosh—

At that moment, the darkened screen lit up once again.

Within a brilliant emerald radiance, a man wearing a red cloak floated in midair.

His hands formed mystical seals, while his profound eyes seemed capable of witnessing countless infinite possibilities!

Marvel Earth-199999!

The Greatest Variable—Doctor Strange!