Starting With Batman

"It is finally over..."

This time, it was not a hallucination. Charlie relied on his exceptional willpower, nearly at superpower level, to forcibly suppress the illusions created by the spiritual infection. With a final, resolute effort, he completed the counter-kill against the mental pressure.

However, as the kill was finalized, the screen in front of Charlie abruptly went black, and he was returned to the hero selection interface.

The Batman character in the column had turned grey, indicating it was no longer selectable. The only heroes available for selection were the Huntress, who had recently been featured in ten consecutive draws.

Charlie navigated the cursor back to Batman. After hovering over the character for a few seconds, a status description appeared below it, detailing:

"resting in progress; progress: 0%, estimated remaining time: 24 hours."

This meant that while the hero character Charlie had been using could be revived from its negative state, it wasn't like ordinary games where a character can instantly return to full health. Recovery required a cooldown period. For instance, Batman would need a full day to regain his full state and be ready for action again.

Charlie's gaze shifted to the Huntress, who now stood as his only alternative. He had previously thought the inclusion of such a hero, overlapping with Batman's role, was redundant. Yet, it became clear that it wasn't entirely superfluous. For the next twenty-four hours, while Batman was recovering, if any urgent situation arose requiring a fighter intervention, the Huntress would be his sole option.

In essence, she was a substitute.

---

Just moments ago, Charlie had been in a state of intense concentration, his nerves taut as he operated. Now, as he paused, he realized his entire body was drenched in sweat, his clothes clinging to him uncomfortably. The sweat-slicked fabric felt like a second skin.

It's said that with repetition comes familiarity, but despite having performed similar actions multiple times, Charlie felt more drained than ever. His hands and feet felt weak, and he nearly stumbled when he tried to stand. His eyelids drooped heavily, weighed down by exhaustion. He leaned against the wall for support, feeling his way along it until he reached his bed. As he collapsed onto the mattress, the expansive, plush surface enveloped him in a comforting embrace, drawing him into deep, much-needed sleep.

 …

While Charlie sank into restful slumber, the rest of the team remained wide awake, grappling with the aftermath of the crisis.

The Ninth Special Service team swiftly cordoned off the area and took control of the scene. All individuals suspected of being infected were taken into quarantine for thorough investigation.

Detective Ivan, who had been present throughout the entire operation, was brought back to headquarters after undergoing a series of exhaustive body checks that left him both physically and mentally drained.

Upon entering the meeting room, Ivan found the senior leaders and experts from the headquarters already assembled, waiting for his report.

Before Ivan arrived, the experts had engaged in a vigorous academic debate about the monstrous entity that had emerged in the city.

To an ordinary observer, the creature with its grotesque tentacles, bulging eyes, and menacing barbs might evoke images of madness or supernatural phenomena. But for researchers, the focus was on how to replicate and harness such extraordinary capabilities. Could they create something similar in their labs?

The phenomenon of infection had been known for over two years. The Ninth Special Service Devision was a relatively new department, still in the early stages of understanding and addressing various infection incidents.

This incident marked the first time that spiritual entities from multiple infected individuals had merged to form a colossal monster. The Ninth Special Service Division had no precedent for dealing with such a situation, leaving the management, who had been blissfully unaware and asleep in their homes, stunned when they received the news.

In the past, infected individuals could be dismissed as suffering from insanity, drunkenness, or societal grievances. Larger-scale incidents could be contained or hidden from public view.

With their formidable capabilities and resources, the Ninth Special Service could have swept this incident under the rug. However, even if they managed to cover it up, there was no guarantee that similar events wouldn't occur in the future.

The escaped monster could be part of a larger pattern, and no one could predict if it would happen again.

The body of Greg had been recovered and was undergoing standard security checks. Once inspection, isolation, and observation were completed, to ensure safety, the next step would be to perform an anatomical study to determine the source of the infection.

Understanding how the infection worked was crucial.

Beyond the anomaly of the infection and the monstrous entity, the most intriguing aspect of the incident was the enigmatic bat-like figure.

This was the main issue everyone in the conference room wanted to address with Ivan.

Ivan began his account with his solo infiltration of the mafia gang's casino. The details of his mission up to this point were not particularly riveting, so he summarized it briefly. The focus intensified when he reached the part about the bat-like monster.

Fortunately, Ivan had activated the video recording equipment mounted on his body during the operation. Despite the low resolution and some less-than-ideal scenes, the footage provided first-hand data that offered a clear perspective on the events.

During the initial segment of the discussion, experts were captivated by the opponent's incredible agility and the cutting-edge technology displayed.

For instance, in the casino lobby, the figure had dispatched numerous foes almost invisibly, a feat that was only discernible through the loss of heads that occurred without anyone's awareness, including Ivan's. This highlighted not only the adversary's exceptional training but also the substantial financial resources at their disposal.

The technological prowess and intricate gadgets used were equally impressive. The sheer monetary expenditure displayed by the subject was beyond what typical wealthy individuals could afford.

Then, when the monster appeared on the screen. A jet-black bat fighter hovered in the air with an imposing presence, nearly eclipsing the wealthy patrons. The bat-like figure demonstrated its prowess by seizing and climbing up the plane with its clawed weapon, leaving an impression of its formidable power and grace.

"A hovering jet fighter."

The speaker at the end of the conference table was a man exuding calm authority. He had remained silent during the previous discussions, but his presence commanded respect.

Commander Ross, head of the Ninth Special Service Division.

"Dr. Hines, can we replicate something like this?" he asked, directing his question to a figure in a white coat beside him.

Dr. Hines, a leading expert in related fields, adjusted his glasses. "It's not impossible; there are already prototypes with similar capabilities, but the technology isn't fully matured for practical use yet."

He continued, "The technology demonstrated in this aircraft appears more advanced than our prototypes in testing. I would be very interested to study how it overcomes the technical challenges we have faced. If possible, this could greatly advance our own developments."

After a moment, he added, "However, even without it as a reference, I believe that within a year, we could develop fighter jets with comparable systems ready for combat."

While Dr. Hines admired the bat fighter on the screen, his stubborn confidence in his own technological advancements remained. However, as the video continued, the bat fighter's rapid, fluid maneuvers, including its seemingly impossible drifting and intricate aerial stunts, began to defy his conventional understanding.

The climax of Dr. Hines' shock came when the bat fighter executed a complex aerial maneuver that defied the principles of physics, making even Newton's theories appear obsolete.

Dr. Hines was left in stunned disbelief.

Is this really an aircraft?

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