DC Universe, Earth Zero.
Superman sat silently in a corner of the Oblivion Bar.
His red and blue battle uniform, which should have symbolized hope, was now covered with a layer of indelible grayness.
He didn't look at anyone, only staring at his outstretched palms, those hands that could move planets, yet now couldn't even protect the one he loved most.
His Metropolis is gone.
His wife... Lois... was turned into... the Doomsday by that monster from the Dark Universe, that the Devastator.
The thought churned in his mind like a red-hot steel needle.
The suffocating feeling of being imprisoned by Barbatos in his nightmare hadn't yet dissipated when reality delivered an even harsher blow.
The bar was deathly silent.
The Flash Barry Allen, the Flash, hung his head, his fingers unconsciously tracing circles on the table. Central City had been transformed into the Red Death's slaughterhouse; no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't outrun the tragedy unfolding before him.
Green Lantern Hal, leaned against the bar, the light of his Lantern Ring dimmer than ever before. His once-proud willpower was being corroded by an acid called "fear" after witnessing Coast City being swallowed by darkness.
Aquaman Arthur clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force.
His trident stood beside him, but his kingdom had fallen, and his wife Mera... He dared not think any further.
As the ruler of the ocean, he couldn't even protect his own home.
Detective Chimp Bobo, with a pipe dangling from his lips, exhaled smoke rings that carried a bitter taste.
The Nightmaster held his magic guitar.
Mister Terrific and Kendra stood to one side, while Deathstroke, like a statue, hid in the darkest corner, his icy killing intent perfectly concealed within him.
I told you so long ago.
Kendra's voice broke the suffocating silence; there was no sympathy in her tone, only a cold weariness, as if she had foreseen everything.
"I should have taken care of him back then. If Batman were dead, there wouldn't be these Dark Batman, there wouldn't be Barbatos, there wouldn't be anything."
No one answered her.
This silence is more weighty than any rebuttal.
It's like a huge boulder, weighing on everyone's heart.
Just then, Superman, who had been standing like a stone statue, finally moved.
He raised his head, his blue eyes bloodshot, and looked at Wonder Woman Diana.
" Diana," his voice was terribly hoarse, "In my dream... in that dark place, I felt... I felt Bruce."
All eyes immediately turned to him.
"He... he's pleading with me for help." Superman struggled to form his words, as if each one was draining all his strength. "I know it sounds crazy, but it feels so real. I feel... we have to get him out of the Dark Multiverse first."
Diana's brows were furrowed, and her face, as perfect as a Greek sculpture, was filled with solemnity.
She stepped forward and gently placed her hand on Superman's shoulder.
" Clark, I received it too." Her voice was steady, with a reassuring strength. "I felt the signal too. But... how can we be sure it's not a trap? Barbatos is best at using our hopes to destroy us."
"I heard it too!" Nightwing Dick Grayson interjected eagerly, emerging from the shadows with a look of relief on his face. "In my dream, I heard Bruce calling my name!"
"Bang!"
A muffled thud.
Everyone turned to look at the sound and saw Damian Wayne, the bat cub who always held his head high, just withdrawing his fist from Nightwing's stomach.
"Why won't he contact me!" Damian's eyes were red, filled not so much with anger as with the resentment and panic of being abandoned. "I'm his son! Robin! Why does he only contact outsiders like you!"
Nightwing clutched his stomach, wincing in pain, but couldn't utter a single word.
He knew that his younger brother was just scared.
That's enough.
A deep, resonant voice drowned out all the arguing.
Doctor Fate's golden helmet reflected a faint light in the dimly lit bar; he hovered in mid-air, as if he had always been there.
"Arguing is pointless. Batman is indeed trapped in darkness, his spirit sending out a desperate cry for help through a rift in the universe."
Doctor Fate's voice was devoid of emotion, "But saving him won't solve the immediate crisis. The only thing that can fight Dark Metal is Nth Metal itself."
He raised his hand, and three points of golden light appeared before him.
"Based on my perception, pure Nth Metal still exists in three places."
"First, the Rock of Eternity, the source of magic, and where the most ancient powers are sealed."
"Secondly, in the depths of space, on the Thanagar."
"Third, the lava of Atlantis lies deep within the Earth's mantle, at the very depths of the ocean."
Everyone immediately realized that this was their only chance to turn the tide.
"We must split up," Diana decided immediately.
Just as they were about to discuss how to allocate manpower, a sharp, grating laugh suddenly rang out in the air.
Hehehehe...
A thin figure appeared out of thin air in the center of the bar. He was wearing a tattered Robin uniform, his skin was pale, and an exaggerated smile was drawn on the corner of his mouth with blood. He was none other than Laughing Robin the Batman Who Laughs's men!
He grinned widely, his eyes gleaming with madness, and lunged at the nearest Superman!
" Clark!"
"Careful!"
However, a dark figure appeared faster than anyone could scream.
With lightning speed, Deathstroke hurled his long sword!
Pfft!
Before the twisted Robin could even let out a second scream, a long sword pierced his chest, pinning him to the bar wall.
His limbs twitched a few times, his grin still holding that crazed curve, but the light in his eyes quickly went out.
The bar fell silent again, leaving only the corpse hanging on the wall like an eerie decoration.
A chill ran through everyone.
This place... isn't safe anymore.
"There's no time for discussion." Superman stood up, the sadness in his eyes replaced by a resolute determination. "We must act immediately."
" Steel and I will try to break through the cosmic barrier and send Clark to the Dark Multiverse," The Flash said. This was their only way to rescue Batman.
"I'm going to space." Hal Jordan's Lantern Ring glowed again, confidence returning to his face. " Mister Terrific, and... that egg, you two come with me, I need you."
" Atlantis is mine." Aquaman Arthur picked up his trident, his eyes as cold as the deep sea. " Deathstroke, you're quite skilled. Come with me."
Deathstroke didn't speak, but simply pulled his knife from the wall, flicked the blood through the air, and that was his way of agreeing.
In the end, only Diana, Kendra, and Doctor Fate remained.
"Let's go to the magical realm of the Rock of Eternity." Diana looked at Doctor Fate.
Doctor Fate nodded, his expression unreadable beneath his golden helmet.
He opened his arms, and ancient incantations flowed from his mouth, enveloping the entire Oblivion Bar in a golden halo of divine power.
"Set off."
The golden light instantly engulfed everyone.
The light faded.
Inside the Oblivion Bar, only Detective Chimp Bobo, Nightmaster, and Robin, who lies dead with a grin on the wall, remain.
Bobo took off his pipe, looked at the empty room, and muttered to himself, "Alright, now it's our turn to guard the house."