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Well, now I can finally take part in the local showdowns. My chances of surviving this chaos had gone up by at least a couple of percent. And believe me, in this madhouse, even a couple of percent was a lot. Every small edge mattered when you lived in the middle of constant insanity. Of course, all that was still to come. For now, I just wanted to savor this moment—this rush of joy brought on by my newly acquired power.
"Alex," a familiar voice called.
I turned, and there stood Bruce, eyes fixed on me.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice calm as usual.
"Better than ever," I said with a grin that nearly split my face. I couldn't help it; satisfaction bubbled out of me naturally. Then my expression shifted, and I stepped closer, lowering my voice to a hushed whisper so no one else could hear. "Although, for just a split second, I felt some intense pain. Tell me, was that your doing? Better confess now, cave mouse."
"You think too much," Bruce replied, the shadow of a grin tugging at his lips. "Could I really do that to you?"
What a smug rat! The corners of his mouth curled, and I instantly wanted to sock that smug expression right off his face. Fine. Let him laugh for now—I'd remember this, just wait! The silent mutiny in my head was quickly interrupted by the sharp sound of heels clicking.
Doctor Kavita Rao strode towards me, holding what felt like the world's largest syringe. The hollow needle gleamed ominously under the lights.
"I'll need your blood," she said matter-of-factly, grabbing my elbow. Her eyes glimmered with a sadistic kind of scientific fever. "We need to run tests, to make sure the serum hasn't caused adverse side effects."
"Uh… maybe that's not necessary." I instinctively pulled my arm back, edging away slowly. I might have become a super soldier, but honestly? Rao's manic scientist smile still set off all my alarms. Whenever she rolled up like this, eyes shining with excitement, it was enough to make even villains run.
"As you once told me," she reminded me, her tone all too delighted. "'We must, Fedya, we must!'"
Why the hell had I ever opened my mouth to say something like that?
In the end, Dr. Rao won the struggle, though not without effort. She eventually managed to pierce my newly reinforced skin, despite its greatly increased density. It had been amusing at first, watching her jab and prod, frown and mutter, but the moment the thick needle actually punctured the invisible armor of my flesh, I winced. Finally satisfied, the good doctor extracted her sample and departed with an all-too-cheerful look plastered across her face. A true fanatic of her craft… and a menace to my sanity.
"Alex, are you absolutely sure you're okay?" Barbara asked suddenly, her sharp eyes locking on mine. She leaned close, scanning me as if searching for invisible cracks in the armor. She circled around me with intent, examining head to toe for wounds or abnormalities.
"Don't worry—really," I assured her, straightening confidently. "I feel excellent. Better than excellent, in fact."
Barbara sighed in relief, easing the tension in her shoulders. Yet when she looked at me again, her expression shifted to something else entirely. It wasn't cautious anymore—it was appraising. Evaluating. Her lips curled into a smile.
"Have you… gotten even more handsome?" she asked in wonder.
"Oh, that," I said with elegant nonchalance, running a hand purposefully through my hair. "We can blame my boosted Charisma for that."
"Maybe," Gordon muttered, reaching forward to poke my torso, testing the feel of muscle. Her brow furrowed in thought. "I'm still not sure yet."
"Oh, how sexy he is!" Harley suddenly squealed, hugging me so tightly I thought she'd melt into my chest. Her hands immediately began exploring every inch of me, brushing over muscles and curves, shameless in her inspection. After a full tour of my body, she squealed again, then climbed up onto my shoulders like a mischievous child, perching happily there.
Her weight, compared to my new strength, felt like nothing more than a feather.
Finally, Sasha, who had stood silently behind Barbara this whole time, spoke up. "I guess I've lost my job," she said teasingly. "You clearly don't need my services anymore."
"What are you trying to say?" My tone intentionally carried both softness and a faint, dangerous edge. "You want to just leave me? After everything we've been through, you think I'd let you walk away?"
"You're stronger than me now," she replied, feigning exasperation. "There's no longer any need for me to shield you. You're your own protector."
"If that's your only excuse," I countered smoothly, "I'll just give you the serum. Turn you into a super bodyguard all over again."
Sasha widened her eyes and stepped back with mock surprise. "You'd really stoop that low just to stop me leaving?"
"If necessary."
At that moment, Harley practically bounced in place, springing off my shoulders. "Oooh! I want the serum too! Imagine what I'd be like! Once I drink it, the Bat has no chance against me!"
A chuckle escaped me, and I tilted my head at Bruce. Dark clouds practically gathered over the top of his cowl.
"Ha-ha… Oh, excuse me," Harley said suddenly, covering her mouth and trying to look contrite. "I'm a good girl now." Then she looked at me and said, "Wait—does that mean I really can't fight the Bat anymore?"
"Well, it's not that simple, Kiwi," I said slyly, a playful grin tugging at my lips. "You can swat him now and then—as long as it's in good humor. That won't be considered breaking form."
I sneaked another glance at Bruce. Thunder practically rolled above his head, yet his face remained a perfect mask of calm, betraying nothing. His self-control was as terrifying as it was impressive.
"Harley," Ivy called in a warning voice.
"Yees, I know," Harley groaned indignantly.
"It's funny, hearing you tell me to behave," the clown pouted playfully. "This from the woman who once wanted to wipe out humanity. My, oh my, Pamela, how you've changed. Then again, I get it~. No one can resist Alex's sheer persuasiveness!" She giggled and turned crimson, hiding part of her face with her palms.
Her teasing words actually made Ivy blush. Slowly, Pamela's expression softened, and for a moment she was lost in thought, drifting into some private world.
"Ivy," I prompted gently, pulling her back.
"Harley's right," she said quietly, almost more to herself than to the rest of us. "Who would have thought that I—me, the one who hates mankind—would stand here, helping someone… especially a man… recreate the serum of a so-called super soldier?" A faint, rueful laugh escaped. "If someone had told me this a while ago, I would have laughed in their face. And yet… here I am. Surrounded by these people. And somehow… it feels natural. As if it was meant to be."
Her voice faltered. "But no. Let's be honest. If not for you, Alex, it would all be impossible."
"So you're saying… you're grateful?" I asked with a kind smile.
She hesitated, torn between honesty and restraint. "I don't know if gratitude is the right word. But… you're… different. Special. Just by existing, you chase away the shadows. You inspire. You lead those long forgotten by mankind. People like… us. That's why it's impossible to truly hate you. And impossible not to… admire you."
Pamela's voice wavered. "I'm grateful, Alex. For Harley—for pulling her out of the grasp of that psychopath. I never managed to… but you did. And I suppose… for myself, too. Though…" She trailed off, lips forming silence where a confession might have been.
For a fleeting second, she seemed almost ashamed, or afraid to label those complicated feelings. Still, I understood.
"Ivy!" Harley squealed and threw herself onto the woman with arms wide, hugging tightly. "I love you sooo much!"
And so there it was: a fleeting moment of pure idyll. It would have been cruel to shatter it.
"Alex," Bruce spoke finally, as I turned back from their scene.
"Yes? What is it?"
He looked at me with only half his eyes visible, but those eyes burned with purpose. His words nearly floored me.
"…Get the walnuts."
"…W-what?" I blinked, dumbfounded. "Where would I even—"
"First," Bruce cut me off. "You're basically a walking shopping mall. You've been hoarding supplies obsessively, buying out whatever inventory crossed your path. Add your bottomless storage trick, and it's obvious where they are now."
I stared in horror. As always, the bastard was right. A relentless paranoid, following every move. The lovechild of paranoia and obsession—but in the worst possible way. Then again, what else could one expect from the so-called World's Greatest Detective? It was still insulting, though.
Yes, I had indeed hoarded plenty of supplies. And yes, it had been anything from food to survival gear. But was that really a crime? In this insane universe where danger stalked you every step, you had to prepare for anything. Picture being stranded on some deserted island—what then? Fish, crabs, turtles, coconuts? Please. Why do that when you own a limitless inventory where time pauses, keeping everything eternally fresh?
To a survivor, this wasn't wastefulness—it was brilliance.
"Second," Bruce continued relentlessly, "you used to crack those nuts in front of me all the time. Making a mess in my ca—" He forcibly coughed. "At home, I mean. Alfred's already tired of cleaning up your shells."
"Ah. Sorry about that," I admitted sheepishly, raising my palm in surrender. "Guilty as charged."
With exaggerated care, I pulled out a bag of walnuts from storage. "Here. Happy now?"
"Crack one," Bruce ordered. "With your bare hands."
"…As you wish, cap."
Taking one walnut, I gently squeezed. The result was immediate—the shell exploded into fragments, but unfortunately, I applied so much force that the kernel was pulverized into worthless crumbs.
"Again," Bruce commanded, tone as sharp as a military instructor.
I sighed and tried again. Still the same. Nothing but rubble left of the walnut's poor soul.
"You see the problem now," Bruce said seriously, fixing me with that gaze of his. "You don't fully control your strength yet."
"So that's what this is about?"
"Exactly. You've become much stronger—but too quickly. To truly adapt, you need work. Patience. Endless discipline. Diligence. Without that, your lack of control could endanger others."
I stared at him. Another round of training. Long, grueling training. But this time?
'Ohhh, Bats… this time, I'll put you flat on your back. Mark my words. Your personal hell is coming.'
I grinned wildly. 'Prepare yourself, flying rat—because I'm coming for you! Hah-ha-ha-ha!'
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