Comics multiverse: Reborn as a special mutant

Norin thought of a movie he'd watched before his rebirth.

It featured a parallel universe with a background eerily similar to the one he was in now.

If this was truly that universe, it was like joining the German Army in 1944, moving to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, and pledging allegiance to the captain in 1949.

No, it was even worse!

At least those three scenarios had a chance of survival.

In this universe, death was inevitable.

To confirm his suspicions,

Norin looked in a specific direction. According to the enthusiastic girl earlier, Wayne Manor was located there.

He hailed a taxi and soon arrived at Wayne Manor, with the driver glancing at him curiously along the way.

Unlike what he'd imagined,

Wayne Manor looked much shabbier than he remembered.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with no one in sight.

If someone told Norin this was a haunted house, he'd believe it.

As he walked, Norin carefully sensed the vibrations around him.

The faint clatter of ants and the soft rustle of caterpillars were the only vibrations in the absence of human activity.

No one else was within dozens of meters of him.

After a few more steps, he reached the iron gate outside the manor.

Norin rang the doorbell several times.

No one answered.

Seeing this, Norin grew more certain of his suspicions.

Without hesitation, he climbed over the gate and headed toward the manor.

As he walked, he finally detected a faint vibration in his mind.

It was weak, but he was sure—there was someone in the building ahead.

If he wasn't mistaken, that person was Batman, Bruce Wayne.

And this universe…

It was most likely the universe from The Flash, destined to be destroyed and reset after Barry Allen altered the past.

In this universe, Bruce Wayne was already in his sixties or seventies.

He'd dealt with villains like the Joker and the Penguin decades ago.

He'd cleaned up Gotham's underworld.

Then, over time,

He'd used his wealth to transform Gotham.

Turning the once-darkest city into the safest in the world.

In this universe,

Wonder Woman didn't exist.

Aquaman's father never met Atlanna, Queen of Atlantis, while working at the lighthouse. He only had a wife and a dog named Arthur.

Barry Allen wasn't struck by lightning and didn't gain the Speed Force to become the Flash.

Instead, he grew up in a harmonious family, his parents still alive.

Victor Stone was playing football at Gotham University. He wasn't disabled in an experiment explosion or turned into Cyborg by his father.

As for Superman, Clark Kent,

He never made it to Earth.

Only his cousin, Kara Zor-El, landed on Earth and was likely held captive by an organization for research.

If Norin remembered the timeline correctly,

2013 was the year Zod invaded.

Although Kara Zor-El in this universe was a true Kryptonian with the Code of Life, she was also the real "Superman" of this world.

But since her spacecraft had been intercepted upon arrival, she'd never had the chance to bask in the sun for decades.

By the time the Flash rescued her, she'd barely had a day in the sun before facing Zod and his elite soldiers.

Going from the tutorial straight to a world-class boss? No wonder she died!

She ultimately fell to Zod.

Batman also died in that battle.

As for the Flash and the younger Barry Allen of this universe,

He'd go back in time countless times, trying to save Kara and Batman, kill Zod, destroy the World Engine, and save Earth.

But in the end, this universe was doomed.

Young Barry tried for decades, growing old in the process, but he couldn't kill Zod or save everyone.

Finally, the Flash went back in time, resetting the universe.

Effectively destroying it.

If this was truly the universe destined for destruction, then they were in serious trouble.

The most urgent task was to confirm his suspicions.

If this was truly that universe, they had to find a way to fix it.

After all…

This world had Supergirl, Kara Zor-El.

A superpowered girl who combined beauty and strength.

She was the true protagonist of DC.

A Kryptonian bloodline with limitless potential.

If Norin could acquire Supergirl's powers, all he'd need to do back in Marvel was bask in the sun until he became invincible.

However, given the limitations of his abilities, he had to ensure Kara lived long enough.

He needed to continuously improve her genes and replicate her powers until they became permanent.

Before that, the world couldn't end.

At the very least, Kara Zor-El couldn't die.

As Norin walked, he planned his next steps.

By the time he snapped out of his thoughts, he was already at the manor's entrance.

The white manor was overrun with weeds, and ivy-like vines covered the outer walls.

The place looked like it had been abandoned for years, almost completely deserted.

Clearly, the owner hadn't hired anyone to maintain the manor in a long time.

Either he was enjoying his retirement,

Or he simply didn't welcome visitors.

Even now, with Norin standing at the front door, Bruce Wayne showed no sign of coming out to "greet" him.

There was no warning, no movement.

Norin didn't believe for a second that Bruce was unaware of his presence.

Batman was still Batman. Even in this doomed universe, even as an old man, Bruce remained the invincible man with the power of money.

After all, this universe's Batman had truly dispelled Gotham's darkness, clearing away the shadows and letting the sunlight in.

In that regard, he'd surpassed 99% of Batmen across the multiverse.

To put it another way, this feat was like the Chinese national football team winning the World Cup while the table tennis team took last place.

That was the level of achievement.

Maybe Bruce's vigilance had dulled over time, but Norin was sure Bruce was in a room somewhere, monitoring his every move.

Bruce was clearly confident, not seeing Norin as a threat. He might have even let Norin in on purpose, just to kill time.

"Aren't you coming out?"

"The Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman Bruce Wayne."

Norin looked up at the surveillance camera above the door and spoke softly.

Still no response.

Seeing this, Norin pushed the door open and walked inside.

The door wasn't locked. Based on what he knew about Bruce, he probably thought no one would bother coming to Wayne Manor.

Or maybe he'd left it unlocked on purpose.

Once inside,

Norin didn't wander aimlessly. Instead, he used his infrared thermal imaging to map the temperature differences throughout the house.

After a moment,

Norin's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Found you."

Combined with his vibration-sensing ability,

Norin walked with purpose in one direction.

He passed through the fireplace hall, where the fire still burned,

Until he reached a door.

He paused.

Infrared thermal imaging revealed the scene inside.

A small pot of boiling water.

Chairs still warm from recent use.

And lights that had just been turned off.

Norin saw Bruce Wayne.

The man was currently hiding in a closet.

No doubt about it.

Bruce had been preparing lunch when he noticed the uninvited guest.

He hadn't had time to turn off the stove and had hurriedly hidden in the closet to observe.

The slippers scattered on the floor were clear evidence.

After "seeing" this, Norin pushed the door open and stepped inside.

He glanced around casually, then fixed his gaze on the closet.

"Come out, Bruce Wayne. I'm unarmed."