BATMAN'S FEAR, THE LIGHT'S PANIC, AND THE SYSTEM COUNTDOWN
Recap
BEFORE DAMIAN LEFT — THE CONVERSATION
The night before he left, he stood in the Batcave with Toothless behind him, a packed gear bag at his side.
Bruce turned immediately, narrowing his eyes.
Batman:
"Where are you going."
Damian didn't hesitate.
Damian:
"To the League of Assassins.
I need to take care of something important."
Batman stepped forward sharply.
Batman:
"No. Absolutely not."
Damian didn't flinch.
Damian:
"Don't try to stop me."
Batman:
"Damian—"
Damian (firm, unwavering):
"Father.
I need to do this.
For myself.
For the future."
There was no lie. No half-truth.
Just absolute conviction.
Batman stared at him for a long moment…
Then exhaled, seeing that resistance was useless.
Batman (quietly but with command):
"Fine.
But listen carefully."
He placed a hand on Damian's shoulder.
Batman:
"You come back home. Alive.
That's an order."
Damian nodded once.
Damian:
"I'll return in two weeks.
You have my word."
That was the last thing Bruce heard before the boy mounted Toothless and shot into the night sky.
2. THE LIGHT PANICS ABOUT THE LEAGUE'S NEW POWER
While Damian was away, The Light held an emergency meeting.
The screens flickered with surveillance of the League of Assassins' mountain stronghold:
cybernetically enhanced assassins sparring at extreme speed
holographic AR battlefields
flying drones using technomagic-like scanning
Toothless soaring above the fortress, roaring
new weapons no nation on Earth had ever seen
Lex Luthor leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
Lex Luthor:
"The League of Assassins is evolving faster than any organization on Earth."
Queen Bee folded her arms, scowling.
Queen Bee:
"Alien tech? No.
This is something… newer. Sharper."
The Brain analyzed the footage.
The Brain:
"Their augmentations exceed anything in the public or black-market world.
These are breakthroughs.
Years ahead of expected technological progress."
Vandal Savage gave a rare frown.
Vandal:
"This is the boy's doing.
Damian Wayne changed the League."
No one suspected magic.
No one suspected a crystal.
No one suspected dimensions.
All they feared was:
A cybernetically enhanced League of Assassins.
Lex Luthor summarized the threat:
Lex:
"If the League continues advancing like this…
they may surpass us."
That was enough to rattle even Vandal.
3. BATMAN DISCOVERS DAMIAN'S WORK
Bruce followed Damian's energy trail to the Himalayas.
He didn't interfere.
He didn't announce himself.
He watched from the shadows as:
assassins trained with advanced augmentations
cybernetic limbs moved with impossible grace
neural-link helmets controlled drones with thought
new medical biotech healed trainees in seconds
Toothless roared at trainees like a drill sergeant
Bruce whispered to himself:
Batman:
"Damian… what have you given them?"
But even through the fear…
There was pride.
His son hadn't joined the League as a pawn.
He had walked in like a leader, a force, a future.
Bruce left silently, waiting for Damian's promised return.
4. DAMIAN RETURNS — EXACTLY TWO WEEKS LATER
On the 14th night, the Batcave sensors lit up.
Damian walked in, cloak brushing the stone floor, Toothless lowering his head beside him.
Batman turned immediately.
Batman:
"You're early."
Damian smirked slightly.
Damian:
"I said two weeks.
I meant two weeks."
Bruce examined him carefully.
No wounds.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just purpose.
Batman:
"Did it go as you expected?"
Damian nodded.
Damian:
"I made a deal with the League.
One that protects Gotham…
and my birthright."
Bruce didn't like it.
But he respected it.
The rest of the Bat Family arrived:
Nightwing: relieved
Jason: "Hah, knew the demon brat wouldn't die."
Tim: "What exactly did you negotiate…?"
Barbara: "Please tell me we aren't adopting assassins."
Damian simply said:
Damian:
"I came back.
Just like I promised."
5. THE SYSTEM COUNTDOWN BEGINS — ONLY DAMIAN SEES IT
That night, Damian sat alone in his room.
Blue cracks of light formed around him—the System's interface.
SYSTEM WARNING
REBOOT IN: 16 DAYS
MAGIC SUPPRESSION WILL END
ALL MAGICAL BEINGS WILL SENSE HEXTECH ENERGY
THE CRYSTAL CANNOT REMAIN HIDDEN AFTER REBOOT
Damian's eyes widened.
Damian:
"…So the entire magical world will feel it."
The System pulsed again:
SYSTEM:
Host must prepare.
Once the seal breaks, the Hextech Crystal will attract:
– sorcerers
– gods
– demons
– mages
– magical organizations
– AND the Light.
Damian exhaled slowly.
Damian:
"This month…
everything needs to be prepared."
Toothless curled around him protectively.
The storm was coming.
And only Damian knew it.