Chapter 39: The Breath of Despair - The Villain Makes a Mini-Appearance, Danger...
The bat lights illuminated the dim sky, dispersing the clouds and creating an atmosphere that defied description. In the next moment, piercing sounds began to disrupt everyone's restless willpower.
The source of the sound was like a recorder generated from the void. Driven by powerful technology and personal willpower, it passed through the city, which had become a shaking hell due to its excessive shrillness. In the very center of the excessive noise, only creatures resembling mandrakes were wailing in pain.
The moment Batman arrived, the mandrake shattered into powder, and the sound abruptly ceased.
"I didn't expect you to be so powerful now, Batman. You can smash this thing with just one look." Red Hood was right behind him and happened to witness the whole scene. Although he said that, everyone knew that it had nothing to do with Batman. He just happened to be there.
What did you see in the direction you came from?
"No."
As Batman spoke, he collected the powder completely. Just as he finished, he looked up and saw Red Hood vanish into thin air. The nightmare was like a shattered mirror suddenly making a loud noise. He didn't even care about reason and rushed forward, trying to grab Red Hood, but luckily he managed to catch him.
Red Hood, who was being held tightly by Batman, seemed to be silent for two seconds before speaking: "There's an invisible guy trying to drag me somewhere, but unfortunately I've been to hell too many times, and it seems he won't take me."
It seems the mandrake crumbs from earlier were also taken away... right?
Of course not. Red Hood was holding something the whole time. When Red Robin arrived, he brought a cage, which Red Hood threw in with a look of disgust. It was still something he couldn't see.
It wasn't until it was taken into the bat cave and examined by high-precision, mysterious scientific instruments that its complete form was revealed. It was a tentacle, often depicted in anime or illustrations, roughly like an octopus's tentacles with suckers, and the suckers contained a grayish-brown powder. Most subtly, the outer part of the octopus tentacles had a slightly foul odor.
"Great, it looks like my clothes are going to be ruined."
Jason complained that his clothes had completely changed color. Although it wasn't a big problem since he had a lot of them, they had a very unpleasant smell and had been sent for testing.
"Thank goodness everyone's alright! I was so scared!" Enid's face had turned pale from what she'd just witnessed, but knowing Bruce had caught her put her mind at ease. Jason seemed somewhat unconcerned, but everyone knew they were all secretly pleased.
“Well, little druid…” Jason paused, noticing Enid’s slightly agitated expression, and chuckled, “Great druid, hmm, have you ever seen this before? It’s not related to the Stormborn, is it? I know all the villains in Gotham very well, I bet this thing isn’t one of them.”
“I agree with that.” Tim nodded as well. When the test report came out, he had already compared a lot of data, but there were no clues. “However, the weakness is still being detected. So far, 397 substances have been compared, and it did not react, but 21 substances showed a weak rejection reaction.”
If so, then this is clearly what is most needed right now.
“This guy looks so familiar.” Enid leaned closer to the test report, which showed a composite image of the person created by the machine. Suddenly, she clapped her hands, quite excited: “Oh right! He looks just like the picture my friend shared with me!”
She was about to turn on her phone when she suddenly blushed, pretending nothing had happened. Enid quickly changed the subject, trying to save face, and nodded vigorously. "I've thought about it, and it doesn't seem like it."
Before anyone could make any further comments, Enid picked up the test report and examined it carefully, but some things become more impossible to hide the more you try to conceal them. Everyone, except for Damian, seemed to know something about what the picture was. Barbara smiled softly, but didn't make a sound.
"Actually, these are indeed normal tentacles, but the biological structure of this powder... Hmm, it looks familiar... Could you give me the real thing?"
This wasn't mandrake, but the detailed analysis report of the powder didn't find any addictive substances or other toxic substances. Bruce calmly thought about it for a moment and then slowly nodded.
"Be careful, Fia."
"Don't worry, I will!"
Enid placed the test report on the table and carefully took the powder sample that Tim handed her. Green light spots enveloped all the samples, swallowing all the scent before spitting it out. As the light spots dissipated, Enid's expression became even more serious.
She placed the powder down with excessive caution, then immediately and swiftly cast several protective spells on the powder and the remaining sample.
"The powder itself is fine, but if it combines with something, it can form an infectious agent, and the most ingenious thing is that this substance does not exist in our world."
Regarding the infectiousness report, as previously analyzed, there are no concerns in this regard. In other words, the analysis results of this powder are no different from the overall structure and composition of flour. However, considering the initial unusual nature of the powder, the place where it was placed was under very strict protection. The sample that was just handed over was also completely wrapped up, in accordance with the handling procedures for infectious objects.
However, the moment Enid finished speaking, Tim and Barbara immediately began preparing deeper protective measures targeting the area where the object was spreading.
“Share the detailed report on the other substance with Tim.” Bruce hesitated for a moment, but still had Enid share the other substance with Tim.
“Hmm…” Enid nodded and obediently shared the information with Tim. After receiving the information that Enid shared with magic, Tim quickly listed all the information components according to what he knew. “It’s strange, this component is a bit like kryptonite.”
Bruce and the others will be responsible for investigating how this component might be formed in this universe, but he trusts Enid to handle the subsequent preparations. So he spoke up without hesitation: "Fia, prepare the contingency plan if the infection occurs. If you have any problems, feel free to contact me, Barbara, and the others."
"good."
Enid nodded, turned and immediately left the Batcave, entering the potion room Bruce had specially prepared for her. This room was set up to the highest standards according to all the requirements for potion rooms in the book she had given Bruce, and even all the scientific protective measures were arranged to prevent an explosion accident like that one.
Although potions and alchemy are not quite the same, the danger is equally deadly, regardless of whether it will happen or not.
"Regarding this illness, Naya has all the information and the Breath of Despair." The cat emerged from the shadows, and some subtle words appeared before her eyes. Then the cat disappeared into her hidden space, in a towering building that seemed to reach the clouds, filled with countless books, arranged as if by magic in hard-to-find corners.
Only a cat could easily ignore the magical arrangement and find the books among the stacked text, all after Enid sent her the coordinates of the books.
Naya painstakingly moved the books out and gently tossed them onto the blanket. Enid reached out and caught the falling books, leaned against the sofa leg, and sat on the floor to open the books. Although she had memorized all the contents, memory was never the most reliable thing.
“They’re cheering me on too, I can’t fall behind!” Enid took a deep breath to encourage herself, and then quickly found all the information about the Breath of Despair. There were about 137 pieces of material about the Breath of Despair and solutions to break it.
However, not all of this is true, because this was a potion from the time of Oko, which was destroyed by Oko and the mysterious witch because it was too vicious. It was a disease that could infect all breathing with despair, eventually turning people into flying catkins that would emit sharp cries of death in despair.
The flying catkins will flow to all living organisms that breathe, without exception.
"Meow..." This is something from Prince Oko's time. Could it be related to Princess Niaf?
Naya rubbed against Enid somewhat uneasily, her eyes looking a little sad. Her soft body nestled in Enid's arms. Enid paused for a moment, then lowered her head and kissed Naya's little head.
“It’s alright. No matter what, I will find a solution. If it’s related to Niaf, then as her descendant and the only Archdruid at present, I will take the lead without hesitation. If not, then Naya is the best, and so are you. It has nothing to do with Princess Niaf; we are all children of God.”
Her voice was as gentle as a mountain spring. Naya meowed softly, nuzzled against her, and then jumped into the shadows to hide. Enid smiled gently, then used all her knowledge to cross out the incorrect plans one by one.
As dawn broke and the moon began to fall asleep, the door to the potions room was knocked on for the third time, but no one answered.
Damian frowned and kicked the door open, but he was careful not to make any extra noise. Stephanie didn't stop Damian. The two of them had come to see Enid. The situation regarding the "Mandelabra" was still under control. Enid had just compiled all the information and sent it to Bruce.
When they went inside, all they could see were draft papers scattered all over the floor, and wisps of smoke rising from the recently extinguished flames in the potion furnace. Enid was lying on the floor, fast asleep.
The alert cat saw Damian and his companions, then slowly stretched, scratched the blanket with its paws, and walked over to a pile of potions.
"Meow," didn't you receive Fia's message? Here are all the potions!
“Received, Father has already arranged it, there won’t be any problems.” Damian understood what Naya meant, and Stephanie nodded. “So Damian and I came to take a look. I’ll carry Fia upstairs.”
"Meow." Okay.
The cat nodded and jumped into Enid's shadow. Some of the potion had already been taken, but scientific methods couldn't mass-produce it, so Enid had to prepare it herself. Fortunately, the amount needed wasn't much, enough to extinguish all the despair. Stephanie carried Enid into the room, while Damian, Alfred, and the others took the remaining potion to the bat cave.
Extinguishing the Breath of Despair is not impossible, but its appearance is the real challenge. The Storm Child is not fully awake, but it is clear that the appearance of the tentacles is to spread the Breath of Despair. Although the purpose of capturing Jason has not yet been fully determined, it is clear that this is definitely not something that the Storm Child alone can accomplish.
So, who is the helper?
Bruce, still inside the Batcave, heard Tim's voice. He turned around and heard new information about the Breath of Despair: "Bruce, we've found out. It seems the Joker is behind this."
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Author's note: Well, I struggled with this part for a long time, specifically Jason's part, but in the end I decided on this.
As for the Joker, there won't be a scene where Enid is deliberately captured and killed by the Joker. I won't say more, but Enid won't be killed by the Joker!
The Son of Storms has indeed almost awakened, but does he have any followers? He doesn't in this world, but does he really not have any in other worlds?
Lyra is a good girl, but sometimes all I can say is that Lyra isn't lying, but that doesn't mean she knows the truth!
There's a much bigger story behind this! Actually, the plot goes on a bit further, but I felt the earlier parts were too filler, so I'm quickly bringing out the main storyline.
The next chapter is still about the main storyline. The Breath of Despair is a test, so it's not that difficult. Although I wrote a lot from Mei Bao's perspective, the others were also very capable. They finished the Breath of Despair in just one night! Everyone is indispensable. Mei Bao alone definitely couldn't have stopped this infectious disease so quickly.
However, the appearance of the Breath of Despair was merely a prelude.
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