Batman watched as the life gradually faded from the Serpent Demon Elder's vertical pupils. Yet in that final fleeting glance, Batman understood that he was not the only one who drew lessons from history.
No matter the world, there were always those who awakened first. They looked upon the long river of history, emerged from the mist and smoke of the vast earth, and told the masses below, walking the thorn-covered road of pioneers.
Batman closed his eyes where he stood, his teeth clenched tight. Once more, he repeated that sentence ten thousand times in his heart—don't think you're the only smart person in this world. Stop treating yourself as a savior.
If there was a savior in this world, then those being saved would never understand that they should not entrust their lives and deaths to someone else.
If they truly wanted to be saved, everyone had to learn to save themselves. If they wanted true fairness, they all had to seek fairness for themselves.
If they wanted freedom, they first had to have a sense of self.
As the last trace of life left the Serpent Demon Elder's body, it slowly turned to ash. The Serpent Demons around him began chanting an ancient ballad in a mournful melody.
Batman slowly rose to his feet. He glanced at the demons around him, who stared at him in shock, and said:
"Let's go. Find somewhere safe."
Batman walked forward in silence, with all the demons following behind him. In truth, they were shocked, frightened, and lost. They could only follow that figure, having no idea where they were headed.
Batman led this battered remnant force toward Third Mountain, the closest mountain to Central Mine. The two peaks were part of a mother-and-child mountain range. Third Mountain was actually an offshoot