A wide laboratory in the Watchtower, the low hum of machinery running throughout, and the gloomy, deep-blue cold light cast the entire space in an increasingly solemn atmosphere.
Batman stood before the massive holographic console, the hem of his black Batsuit shifting slightly in the airflow.
Those sharp eyes locked relentlessly onto the molecular model jumping continuously on the screen.
That was the microscopic structure of the Viltrumite's cells, restored after days of precise calculations.
His fingertips tapped lightly on the console, and the screen instantly split into two sets of comparative data.
On one side were the energy circulation trajectories of Superman's cells under yellow-sun radiation, closely followed by the distribution pattern of magic particles in Shazam's cells.
Both presented the characteristics of "external energy intervention strengthening," with clear and traceable energy trajectories.
The Viltrumite cell model on the other side was completely different.
Pale-golden energy diffused outward from the core of the cells, alternating between bright and dim like breathing, without any external energy anchors—completely an autonomous burst from the inside out.
It is itself providing superpowers, rather than being externally enhanced like Superman or Shazam.
Batman's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a trace of confirmed solemnity.
For days, he had repeatedly analyzed the blood samples obtained from Shane, and through the high-magnification particle analyzer, he had finally captured those exceptionally active microscopic particles deep within the cells.
They differed from any known atomic structure, possessing extremely strong autonomy, capable of autonomously repairing cell damage, bearing energy bursts, and even completing self-optimization during cell division.
He raised his hand to input commands into the console, naming this unknown particle the "Viltrumite-Atom," and entered it into his private encrypted database.
Immediately following, an element-interaction report popped up on the screen, with red warning symbols occupying more than half the layout.
Of the 118 known elements in the Earth's periodic table, only 3 could produce appreciable erosion on Viltrumite-Atoms.
However, all three of these elements required synthesis in the extreme high-temperature and high-pressure environment of a particle collider for even minor quantities, and their decay period was less than a second; whether it was mass-production cost or combat availability, it was practically zero.
Batman's brow furrowed into a dead knot, his fingertips sliding across the search term "cosmic elements" on the screen.
Since Earth elements were ineffective, the answer could only be found in the wider universe.
He immediately activated the encrypted communication, contacting Hal Jordan—who had just finished a cosmic mission and returned to Earth—his tone leaving no room for questioning.
"Head to the Watchtower immediately. There is an urgent experiment that requires cooperation."
Half an hour later, the sound of slightly lazy footsteps echoed from the entrance of the Watchtower.
Hal Jordan wore his iconic Green Lantern uniform, spinning his Lantern Ring on his finger, and couldn't help but gasp in admiration the moment he stepped into the space station.
"Whoa, this place is way cooler than the Hall of Justice in New York! If I'd known you were hiding such a great spot, I wouldn't have put up with the United Nations' nagging at every single meeting."
While glancing around at the surrounding tech facilities, he walked briskly toward the experimental area where Batman was located.
"Spit it out, why'd you call me here? You want me to use the Power Ring to simulate the energy fluctuations of some monster again?"
However, before Hal's voice had even faded, Batman suddenly raised a hand to signal him to stop, his gaze instantly shifting toward the special observation room in the corner of the laboratory.
Stored inside was the purified Viltrumite-Atom sample. The pale-golden particles that had originally floated stably were now wildly agitated, resembling ignited sparks, rolling violently within the container, and even faintly showing a tendency to break through the energy barrier.
"Don't move."
Batman's tone turned icy instantly, his brain working at high speed as a bold guess formed in his mind.
He stared at those agitated atoms, then looked at the Lantern Ring on Hal's hand, and said in a deep voice.
"Walk closer slowly, don't activate the Power Ring's energy, and maintain a steady pace."
Although full of confusion, Hal still slowed his pace as told.
As the distance between him and the observation room gradually shortened, the agitation of the Viltrumite-Atoms grew increasingly violent, and the energy barrier on the surface of the container began to ripple.
When he reached a point three meters away from the observation room, Batman suddenly gave the order.
"Activate the Power Ring, release Green Light energy in separate frequencies, starting from the lowest frequency, increasing by 10% each time, and record the atomic reaction."
"What kind of game are you playing? This thing is even more sensitive than the Green Lantern Corps' energy detector."
Hal muttered in complaint, but his fingertips still condensed, and pale-green energy slowly spilled out from the Lantern Ring, adjusting the frequency according to Batman's request.
At first, the Viltrumite-Atoms merely accelerated their rotation.
As the Green Light frequency gradually increased, those particles suddenly began to aggregate with one another, and the originally scattered pale-golden light spots unexpectedly gathered into more stable energy crystals, causing the energy fluctuations to surge accordingly.
The data on the holographic screen refreshed crazily, and Batman's gaze grew increasingly grave.
Under the influence of the Green Light, the Viltrumite-Atoms were completing structural evolution at an astonishing speed, and their cellular load-bearing capacity and energy conversion rate had increased several-fold compared to before.
Moreover, the multiplier of this evolution was still continuously increasing.
The energy of emotional willpower...
He muttered in a low voice, arriving at a startling conclusion.
"Viltrumite-Atoms can be influenced by the subject's emotional willpower, completing unconventional combat power leaps. The recorded physical data is completely devoid of reference value when the subject's emotions fluctuate violently."
He turned to look at Hal, his tone carrying unprecedented seriousness.
"If the master of these particles were to acquire any emotional Lantern Ring, their abilities would exhibit exponential growth, and might even surpass any superhuman known to you or me."
The banter on Hal's face slowly faded, replaced by a trace of skepticism.
He knew the power of emotional Lantern Rings far too well; if some creature could genuinely undergo mutual catalysis with one, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Hal Jordan wanted to ask a few more details, but Batman directly cut him off.
Batman raised a hand to activate the Watchtower's teleportation device.
"Come with me to the secret laboratory in Gotham; we need further verification."
The instant the teleportation beam enveloped the two of them, he solemnly warned Hal.
"Before I confirm that Shane is relatively harmless, do not cross paths with him under any circumstances, and absolutely do not let your Lantern Ring get close to him, understand?"
"Relax, I'm not looking to provoke an alien kid who can be strengthened by Green Lantern energy."
Hal shrugged, though his tone clearly didn't take it all that seriously.
However, the moment the two of them arrived at the secret laboratory in Gotham, the console's surveillance screen suddenly popped up an alarm.
On the screen, the figure of a black-haired youth appeared on the streets of Gotham.
It was precisely Shane, after saying goodbye to Superman.
At that moment, Shane was frowning and rubbing his arms, his face bearing obvious discomfort.
Stepping into Gotham for the second time, he always felt that his whole body was out of sorts, an indescribable itch welling up from his bones and spreading through his blood all over his body.
And the closer he walked toward a certain direction, the more intense that itch became, as if something within his body was being awakened and was craving to resonate with the outside world's energy.
What he didn't know was that the force pulling him came precisely from the Lantern Ring on Hal Jordan's hand.
On the surveillance footage, Shane's footsteps gradually drew closer to the direction of the secret laboratory.
Meanwhile, Hal beside Batman had already clenched his fists, the Lantern Ring glowing slightly as a flash of eagerness flickered in his eyes.
As a Green Lantern, he was instinctively full of curiosity about such powerful energy resonance, itching to step forward and test it out immediately.
"Don't move."
Batman shoved Hal against the wall, his arm pressing hard against Hal's shoulder, his tone severe to the extreme.
"I'll say it again: you are not allowed to contact him, or the consequences will be unimaginable."
While suppressing the restless Hal, he quickly activated an encrypted channel and spoke in a deep voice into his headset.
"Who is near Gotham? I can't spare myself here for the moment."
"I'm investigating that smuggling case from last week down at the Gotham docks."
Nightwing's voice quickly came through the headset, carrying a trace of briskness.
"What's wrong, Batman? Run into some trouble again?"
Without any extra explanation, Batman quickly transmitted a portion of Shane's basic data to Nightwing, stating only concisely.
"Help him find someone, and keep him away from my location for the time being."
With that, he cut off the communication directly and turned to glare at Hal Jordan.
Perhaps because he rarely saw Batman emphasize something so strongly, Hal's eager look ultimately retreated.
He raised both hands, indicating that he wouldn't mess around or move rashly anymore.
"Fine, fine, stop glaring at me like that, I'm getting goosebumps."
On the other side, Nightwing looked over the data received on his terminal.
An alien youth merely fourteen years old, a Viltrumite... suspected to be currently hunted by his home planet.
"An alien refugee this young?"
Nightwing raised an eyebrow, and the tragedy of the Second Robin being killed two and a half years ago involuntarily flashed through his mind.
Over the past two years, compared to before, Batman had become much darker and more violent, frequently beating petty criminals to the point where even their own mothers wouldn't recognize them.
Nightwing, who had already left Gotham to work solo in the neighboring city, was precisely afraid that Batman would bottle things up like this and produce even worse results, which was why he rushed back every few days.
Nominally helping out, he was actually closely monitoring Batman's state.
No way... He figures it out just like that without a single sign? Is this guy about to find a new Robin from among the alien refugees?
After thinking for a long time, Nightwing still decided to make personal contact and observe the situation.
Abandoning the plan to hide his identity, he vaulted onto the motorcycle parked by the roadside and sped away in the direction where Shane was located.
A few minutes later, Shane frowned as he watched the motorcycle youth execute a slick drift and block his path.
The other party took off his helmet and flirtatiously shook the tousled locks on his forehead that had been flattened by the helmet.
"Dick, Dick Grayson. Heard you're looking for someone in Gotham?"
Before Shane even had a chance to speak, it took him about two seconds to finally dig that Butt Prince of the Batman Family out of his distant memories.
Huh?
Was Batman actually this considerate?
"You know I'm looking for someone? So Batman sent you?"
As soon as he heard Shane put it that way, Dick instantly grew even more certain of his own guess.
"Whoa, of course. You've got some pretty good luck—I'm a private investigator, and I grew up right here in Gotham!"
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