Metropolitan Lostbelt (10) Seven Days Countdown...
Seeing Roman's bewildered and comical expression, even though he was still wearing Solomon's skin, Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was amused, had to admit that a doctor is indeed a doctor!
“Yes, Doctor, times have changed.” She patted Roman’s shoulder with feigned seriousness. “Chaldea has become a mobile fortress.”
"Huh???" Roman's pupils contracted slightly, his face filled with shock.
Roman's expression completely satisfied Fujimaru Ritsuka's slightly mischievous sense of humor, visibly improving her mood. "As for the rest, let Da Vinci answer your questions when we get back."
“As for now,” she said, glancing at Bruce in the back seat, arms crossed, calmly watching the unconscious Batman. “Hello, Mr. Batman of the Lostbelt. I think Wong’s strength is a bit inferior to Merlin’s.”
It's strange that Bruce, who was knocked unconscious by Merlin, has woken up, while Batman, who was knocked unconscious by Gilgamesh, hasn't woken up yet.
Batman: "..."
"Who are you?" He opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as he stared at Fujimaru Ritsuka. But the next second, Merlin, smiling, blocked his view.
“It’s quite obvious, we’re your saviors. But I thought you’d thank us first,” Merlin said. “But you asked who we are, where do I even begin to explain that…”
—
“You know them, Caster, you’re letting them off easy.”
Inside the cold palace, Superman's crimson cloak billowed, and his icy eyes blazed with undisguised rage. His gaze was fixed on the still-smiling blond youth.
Seemingly unaware that this could be considered a betrayal by Superman, Kirshtalia nodded calmly in agreement.
He did indeed go easy on them, doing nothing more than necessary defenses.
Superman hadn't seen anyone defy him so directly in a long time.
His eyes blazed with fury as he pierced Kirshtalia, the air seeming to freeze, leaving only the sound of his pounding heartbeat. "The reason."
He uttered each word carefully. In truth, he never listened to the excuses of traitors, but if that person was Kirshtalia Wodim, he was willing to give his perfect creation a chance.
Or rather, he had to give a chance to someone whose abilities were no less than his own.
“Old acquaintances, they want a fair chance to compete.” Kirshtalia raised an eyebrow. “In that case, why not?”
Before Superman could speak, Kirshtalia silenced him with a question he couldn't refute: "You think you'll lose?"
"...Heh, of course not." Even Batman lost to him, let alone the other teenagers who hadn't even grown their hair yet and the weirdos in strange clothes. Superman chuckled, "And you? Since you're old acquaintances, have you ever fought?"
"A defeated opponent."
“If he’s someone you’ve defeated, I’m really not surprised at all.” Superman nodded, agreeing with Kilshtalia’s idea.
Perhaps he was thinking that Kirshtalia, like him, had a playful attitude towards losing to an old acquaintance... so it wouldn't be so bad to let Batman lose to him again.
But Kirshtalia had left half a sentence unsaid; as he gazed at the tyrannical ruler, he repeated in his heart—
In the past, I was her defeated opponent.
And you, in the future, will be too.
Superman still had matters to attend to in space, so after exchanging a few more words with Kilshtalia, he hurriedly left. The blond youth stood quietly in the cold palace for a while before stepping out the door.
Turning around, Wonder Woman had been waiting for him for quite some time. She was almost dismayed to find Kirshtalia completely unharmed; Superman's tolerance towards him was beyond her imagination.
"Is there anything else?" Kirshtalia stopped and asked politely.
After waiting a while, seeing that Wonder Woman really had nothing to say, Kirshtalia nodded, said "excuse me," and brushed past her.
Wonder Woman: "..."
She was even angrier; it was precisely this extremely indifferent attitude that made her so unhappy.
The next second, an intuitive question leaped into her mind before any thought could form. What if the young man wasn't a creation of a superhuman? What if he were truly alive as a human being…
Will he still work for Superman?
Wonder Woman shuddered and quickly crossed out the option that shouldn't have appeared. After all, even she chose to follow Superman; aside from stubborn individuals like Batman, who would dare to defy absolute power and order?
After saying goodbye to Wonder Woman, Kirshtalia continued walking until she came to a large, lush, and dazzling tree.
The branches, like a flowing river, seemed to welcome his arrival, swaying gently. Cracks stood between the trunks, as if something was about to hatch from within at any moment.
This is the Imaginary Tree, a memory from the past of Kirshtalia Wodim.
But this time, he doesn't have the chance to substitute one thing for another; Superman has truly planted the Imaginary Tree in this world.
The technology here was far more advanced than he had imagined, and the research on parallel worlds was exceptionally ahead of its time. By the time he gained consciousness, it was too late; the world with the Imaginary Tree was already eager to replace human reason.
The tyrannical ruler suspected everyone—former comrades, current followers—suspecting them of being rebel spies or plotting betrayal.
But he never doubted Kilshtalia Wodim's loyalty. This was because she was a homunculus Servant created by Superman through his observation of a parallel world.
It's a real shame.
Superman forgot one thing: the current Servant, Wodym, has completely inherited the memories and personality of the past, including that great ideal that has already failed.
Therefore, Superman didn't create a weapon that obeyed him, but rather an opponent he couldn't guard against. Woodym was unwilling, and absolutely would not, act according to his orders.
He chuckled softly, then turned and left deftly.
When I stand under the Tree of Imagination again, it will probably be time for everything to settle down.
He was really looking forward to it.
—
Meanwhile, in the Shadow Border, Debit is sitting in the driver's seat, slamming on the gas and crashing into a machine that sensed something was wrong and tried to intercept him.
As expected, Kadoc was right. Fujimaru Ritsuka was swaying back and forth in the car while holding onto the handrail. This guy's driving skills are really good!
“Nothing good ever happens when we meet,” Bruce, who was sitting nearby, suddenly said.
Through Merlin's occasional, deliberately rambling statements, the two Batmen came to understand the current situation and the true nature of Chaldea's reinforcements. Compared to the still vigilant Batman, Bruce was more easily swayed by these strange developments.
Because his Gotham had also been in trouble, but Chaldea saved it.
“Perhaps, sir, you could put it another way,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said with a smile. “Every time we show up, we’re preventing things from spiraling into an irreversible abyss.”
Bruce neither agreed nor disagreed. Although he was not used to outsiders interfering in Gotham or Earth's affairs, as Ritsuka said, things would get better day by day after meeting Chaldea.
Bruce thought it would be the same this time. So he changed the subject, "Gilshtalia Wodim, how much do you know about him?"
Compared to the pleasant conversation between the two in front, the confrontation between the group in the back and the Lostbelt Batman was far more intense. Dick knew Batman's stubbornness and bad temper all too well, but he was even more helpless against this upgraded version of Batman.
“B! This is something that you alone, or even the Justice League of our world, can’t do on your own!” Dick pleaded earnestly. “One Superman can’t beat the combination of Superman and Woodym.”
"So, you guys trust someone who's obviously got a lot of ties to Woody?" Batman scoffed. "An organization that he'd let go of to this extent?"
He gripped the handrail tightly, the sight of Dick alive before him making it difficult to control his emotions. Seeing that Dick's expression remained unwavering, his face darkened, and he couldn't help but whisper, "How can you guarantee this isn't a trap?!"
The long and unstable life on the run left a deep mark on Batman, and the surge of anger made the dizziness in his brain even more intense.
Compared to his former colleagues, the sudden appearance and formidable Woodym was the one who caused the Rebel Alliance the most severe losses. He was Superman's weapon, and absolutely loyal to Superman.
Now that Chaldea, with whom he has a close relationship, has suddenly appeared, how can one not be wary and vigilant!
“Hey, B…!” Dick wanted to persuade him again, but Jason’s click of his tongue interrupted him. “The old man is stubborn enough, but you’re even more incorrigible.”
“Ahem, let me add something,” Fujimaru Ritsuka interjected, drawing Bruce’s gaze to her as well. “The purpose of Chaldea’s cooperation with the Rebel Alliance is to cut down something called the Imaginary Tree, which is a matter of life and death for our world.”
"We provide the manpower, the resistance provides the intelligence; no one loses out. Does that at least alleviate some of your doubts, Batman?"
“…If you’re here for that tree,” Batman finally looked up at the orange-haired girl, “it might be too late.”
"Huh? What?" Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked slowly, a bad feeling creeping into her heart. Her tone became more anxious, "Why do you say it's too late?"
"In seven days, Superman will announce a major global event under that tree, and it will be broadcast live worldwide."
Batman's voice was deep, "If I'm not mistaken, for you, everything will be irreversible in seven days."
Fujimaru Ritsuka: "...Eh?!"
Gilgamesh raised his chin, his gaze sweeping over Batman. "Where did this news come from?"
“Superman.” Ignoring the several gazes that suddenly fell on him from behind, Batman said, “He thought I wouldn’t survive the day, and he told me this with ‘good intentions’.”
"...Seven days!!"
Upon returning to Chaldea, everyone was taken aback by the tight timeframe.
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