Changing Gear, Rejoining the Team, and the Final Pre-Battle Meeting

When Diana said the three words, "I'm in," the air in the antique restoration room seemed to relax. The faint pressure emanating from her demigoddess body quietly dissipated, replaced by the sharp, soaring aura of a warrior. She was no longer Diana Prince, the peaceful antique restorer who kept apart from the world. She was the Amazon princess about to return to the battlefield—Wonder Woman.

"I need to retrieve my equipment." Diana's eyes regained a warrior's clarity and decisiveness. "It's stored somewhere safe."

"Of course." Bruce nodded. He knew that, to a warrior, weapons and armor were a second life. "We don't have much time. We need to move quickly."

The two left the restoration room one after the other and crossed the silent museum hall. This time, Diana did not take the staff passage. She walked openly out through the front entrance. As she approached, the heavy glass doors seemed to be pushed by an invisible force and quietly swung open.

When they returned to the museum rooftop, a familiar golden lightning bolt was already waiting there.

But this time, Barry Allen seemed somewhat different.

He was no longer wearing that somewhat crude red suit that looked like it had been modified from firefighting gear. Instead, he had changed into an entirely new, streamlined dark-red armored suit. Its material looked sturdier and lighter, its surface covered in intricate patterns, while the lightning emblem on his chest had become more three-dimensional and eye-catching. The entire suit brimmed with futuristic technology, fitting perfectly against his toned frame and vividly outlining the muscles of an elite runner.

"Hey! You finally came out!" The moment Barry saw them, he excitedly waved. He seemed completely unaware of the undercurrent-filled confrontation that had just taken place between them. His face practically screamed, "Look at my new clothes!"

"I just went back to Central City." He jogged in place, showing off his new gear as he kept explaining, "I talked it over with my frie—my team, and they were all super supportive! Then I also ate twelve family-sized Hawaiian pizzas and two hundred energy bars! I feel completely pumped now!"

Diana looked at the chatterbox of a young man, a trace of curiosity flashing through her eyes. She could sense a strange and powerful force surging within him, an energy unlike anything she had ever encountered.

Bruce's gaze immediately locked onto Barry's brand-new suit.

His tactical lenses instantly activated their high-precision scanning and data analysis mode. Countless streams of data flashed through his vision, parsing the suit's materials, energy transmission pathways, aerodynamic design...

"Material: Speed Force-conductive fiber mixed titanium-alloy polymer... Design concept far ahead of its time. Speed Force energy utilization efficiency has improved by at least thirty percent over the previous model... Micro energy guides at the joints can effectively reduce energy loss during high-speed movement..."

Beneath his mask, Bruce's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"This suit's design... is too perfect. Too perfect to be a product of this era."

A name flashed through Bruce's mind.

Eobard Thawne. Reverse-Flash.

Bruce understood. This nemesis from the future had indeed developed a strong interest in Kryptonians. This suit was ostensibly a gift, but in reality, it was surveillance equipment. Thawne's goal was far more than helping Barry. He wanted to use this opportunity to gather combat data at close range on a Kryptonian, an Amazon demigoddess, and... Batman himself.

An interesting pawn. Bruce snorted coldly inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged. He could likewise use this war to gather all the data he needed on The Flash and that suit. Mutual exploitation was the norm in this world.

"Very nice suit, Barry." Bruce offered a flat assessment, cutting off Barry's endless chatter. "Now, we need you to make another run."

He looked at Diana. "Where is your equipment?"

Diana's gaze swept over Bruce and Barry, as though assessing how secure this trip would be. In the end, she chose to trust this newly formed alliance.

"Gotham," she said, naming a location that surprised both Barry and Bruce.

"My equipment is stored in a bank vault in Gotham City."

Understanding flashed through Bruce's eyes. Hiding the most precious things in the most dangerous place was indeed a clever method. Gotham's chaos was itself the best camouflage.

"Good." Bruce was concise. "Destination: Gotham, Wayne Manor. Barry, take us there."

"No problem! Passengers, please stand steady and hold on tight. The Flash Airlines is about to take off!" Barry gave a goofy salute, then placed one hand on Bruce's shoulder. His other hand... hesitantly reached toward Diana.

When he met Diana's faintly scrutinizing and imposing gaze, Barry sheepishly withdrew his hand and merely enveloped her in a Speed Force field.

Boom—!

Golden lightning tore through the night sky once again, and the three vanished from the museum rooftop in an instant.

Time and space warped. Light and shadow sped past.

When their feet touched solid ground again, they were already inside a vast, empty cave. Thousands upon thousands of bats hung upside down from the ceiling. Icy underground water dripped from the rock walls with crisp plinks. At the center of the cave, a menacing Batmobile and a futuristic aircraft sat silently on a platform. Not far away, the massive Batcomputer screen displayed real-time developments from across the globe.

This was the Batcave.

"Still so... cool." Barry looked around at everything before him and let out a quiet sigh of admiration. This was not his first visit, but every time, the Batcave's unique atmosphere—a blend of primordial nature and cutting-edge technology—left him shaken. His eyes swept over the dormant Batmobile, like an armored beast lying in wait, then over the aircraft suspended on its lifting platform, before finally settling on the enormous Batcomputer screen, where data streamed downward like a waterfall.

Diana's reaction was much calmer. She merely looked around, her eyes, which had witnessed the vicissitudes of millennia, studying this nest that belonged to "Batman." She could feel the cold, dark atmosphere here, as well as its absolute order. Her gaze lingered briefly on the weapons and equipment gleaming with a chilling sheen before settling on an elderly man descending the stairs, dressed in an immaculate tailcoat with silver hair combed perfectly into place.

"Welcome back, sir." Alfred carried a tray with three steaming cups of coffee. His tone was as calm as ever, as though he was not the least bit surprised that a demigoddess and a speedster had suddenly appeared in the house. "And two... new guests."

"Alfred, this is Ms. Diana Prince, and this is Mr. Barry Allen." Bruce made a brief introduction. "They are our allies."

"It is a great honor, ma'am, sir." Alfred bowed elegantly.

"Now isn't the time for coffee, Alfred." Bruce took over. "Prepare a changing room for Ms. Prince. Also, contact Clark. I want to know the situation in Metropolis."

"Right away, sir."

Led by Alfred, Diana carried an ancient metal case toward a spare changing room deeper within the Batcave.

Bruce walked over to the Batcomputer, and Superman's image immediately appeared on the massive screen. He was hovering over Metropolis, with countless vehicles and crowds evacuating in an emergency behind him.

"Bruce," Superman's voice came through the speakers, carrying a hint of urgency, "I've safely brought Mother to Wayne Manor. I'm evacuating civilians now, but... there are too many people. I'm afraid there may not be enough time."

"Do your best." Bruce's voice carried no emotion. "Waller's forces should be arriving soon as well. They'll help you seal off the area. Remember your mission, Clark. Save whoever you can, but do not hesitate because of it. War inevitably brings sacrifices."

"I understand." Superman nodded heavily.

Just then, the sound of steady, powerful footsteps came from the direction of the changing room.

Bruce, Barry, and Superman on the screen all turned their eyes toward it.

Diana had changed into a suit of armor steeped in mythic splendor.

A golden double-W eagle emblem was emblazoned across her red fitted breastplate, perfectly outlining the full, athletic curves of her chest. Her blue battle skirt was decorated with white stars and fluttered gently as she walked, revealing her long, powerful thighs, like sculptures carved from ivory. A golden tiara bound her long hair, while her bracers, arm rings, and knee-high boots all gleamed with a sacred metallic luster.

At her waist hung the coiled Lasso of Truth on one side and an ancient God Killer Sword on the other. On her back, she carried a round divine shield bearing Medusa's face.

At that moment, she was no longer the gentle antique restorer. She was a true goddess of war. The sacred majesty and endless fighting spirit rooted deep in her bloodline were released without reservation, making the air throughout the Batcave seem to freeze.

Barry stared at her in shock, his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.

Clark, on the other side of the screen, also revealed a surprised expression.

Only Bruce's gaze remained calm. He stepped forward and extended his hand.

"Welcome aboard, Wonder Woman."

Diana looked at him, then extended her own hand and clasped his firmly.

"For the sake of protecting this world."

"All right, everyone." Bruce released her hand and turned toward the enormous Batcomputer screen.

"Now, let's hold the final pre-battle meeting."