For all transmigrators, Gotham was the well perceived "Novice village". Similar to "Hell's Kitchen" in Marvel.
Lawless, Chaotic, Rampant Crime, it had it all. For those who travelled through with gaming systems, the proper place to level up. But when you took a look from a proper perspective, Gotham was downright terrifying.
"Novice village? Perhaps". Amari muttered to himself. His gaze swept all around him and the scorched land came into view.
Bones.... burned skeletons of all sizes.
"The difficulty mode and danger level is set to extreme though".
With no warning whatsoever, thousands of people died in instant. They didn't even have enough time to register a scream.
Even the heavily apathetic Energy Sentient was a little moved.
It was different when the causalities were caused due to the exchange of blows instead of this deliberate massacre.
No matter how you looked at it, Gotham was far worse than Metropolis.
At least, you wouldn't expect a part of the city to suddenly just blow up without warning. Usually, Supervillains would rampage on the streets for a while before the Blue Boy Scout swooped in to take control of the issue.
As for Gotham?
Amari shook his head, his gaze returning back to the billboard screen in the distance. Showing that white face, maniac look and insufferable laughter.
This.... was truly unexpected.
Who knew that the Joker would actually decide to set up several explosives all over the city and detonate them at the same time, today of all days.
But that didn't matter anymore.
Due to the explosion, the wind was particularly violent. His black jacket fluttered slightly within it.
".... As you all know..... I just got back from a rather pleasant vacation. And I oh so wanted to share it with my best pal... You know, a close friend to let em feel you joy...". Joker gestured dramatically.
A grin was plastered to his face, effectively displaying his white teeth.
The next moment however, that grin turned upside down as a contemplating frown appeared on his face.
".... It's too bad, I haven't seen him around. Like he's gone off the grid lately..."
"Well, maybe he didn't get the news of my return. So I decided to hold a party, invite some guests, set up a few fireworks..... You know, the usual...".
Everyone in Gotham shuddered in fright.
Almost a dozen locations had been destroyed throughout the city. The death toll couldn't even be imagined yet.
People in the streets rushed to the nearest shelters they could find.
All of Gotham was in a pandemonium.
The Gotham Police Department turned to the busiest place in the city. Phone calls came in from all lined turning the pace into a disordered mess.
"Someone trace this video feed. Find this Goddamn bastard at all costs". In the GCPD, Chief Gordon yelled out orders at the top of his lungs.
His intense gaze was fixed on the video of the man on the screen, showing unprecedented anger and fury.
".... Hehehe.... So Batsie, are you watching? How did you like my surprise?"
The psychotic green eyes screamed pure madness as the frown switched again to a demented smirk.
"..... Hahahaha!" A maniac laughter emerged from his raspy voice. People everywhere in Gotham collectively held their breath.
Despite knowing he wasn't there beside them, the children who were literally scared to tears had their mouths covered by their equally frightened parents.
Peventing them from making a sound as if their loud voices would cause this demonic madman to suddenly appear a distance away from them.
"Well you can let me know on your own when you find me. And just to make it all the more fun, I'll continue setting up the gorgeous fireworks all over the city, for every hour you don't show up".
"So come on, Batsie, come out to play".
"Hahahaha". The maniac laugh was the last thing anyone heard before the television channel switched back to what was originally on.
But no one was in the mood to care.
Fear! This was what everyone in Gotham felt at the moment.
Pure, uncontaminated fear.
The temperature in Gotham's night just dropped by a few dozen degrees.
Everyone, even commissioner Jim Gordon felt a chill run up his spine.
There was no doubt about it.
"What's the situation. Do we have anything?" Turning towards the analyst, Gordon asked anxiously.
"No sir. The time was too short. We couldn't pinpoint the location". The female analyst at the side shook her head and said with a gloomy expression.
"Shit!" Jim slammed his fist on the table in anger before turning around to order.
"Get all available officers on the streets. The chaos that's about to erupt is going to be unimaginable. All hands on deck, we need to find this motherfucker and find him fast".
As soon as he finished speaking, Gordon didn't waste another minute and rushed towards the door.
"Chief..... Where are you going?"
"Where do you think I'm going, the roof".
All they heard was his loud voice and his figure disappeared out the door and up the staircase.
Gordon was truly anxious at this moment. And so, he rushed to do the only thing he could do.
Go up to the GCPD rooftop and light up the Bat Signal.
.......
Back at Gotham park... Or what was left of it.
Amari stood there, looking at the turned off billboard in silence.
"All this... just for Batman". He uttered lightly with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I have to admit. He is the guy with the most plausible claim of being Batman's archnemesis. This obsession and dedication.... It surpasses Luthor's for Superman".
Amari chuckled inwardly but his expression wasn't smiling in the slightest.
"Sir.... Something's approaching the city".
"Oh?" He exclaimed with slight surprise.
Putting more effort into listening, the sound of something streaking through the air fell into his ears.
That sound was all too familiar.
The air above Wayne Industries.
BOOM!
The sound of someone breaking the sound barrier erupted.
Following the "boom" sound, the figure of a man in red and blue tights appeared in the Gotham sky.
"His reaction is remarkably quick". Amari said with no change in expression. It had been less than a minute since the Joker live streamed his indirect threat, asking for Batman to show his presence and the Man Of Steel was already here.
A bit late, but quick nonetheless.
Only, why would Superman appear in Gotham?
Oh right, Batman was still in a coma. Clark and Bruce had a kind of unspoken agreement.
When it came to matters concerning Gotham, Superman wouldn't intervene. Unless of course, the situation had exceeded the control of The Dark Knight.
And this was one of those situations.
Looking at the fires that could be seen in several parts of the city, Superman moved into action.
Using his hearing and vision, he would quickly determine if there were any civilians that needed rescuing. After that, he would put out the fire with his super breath.
Quick and efficient.
First was the slums. The areas that suffered explosion weren't frozen but the fires were put out with a strong gust of wind generated from clapping his hands.
There were too many people in this area. Using freeze breath would most likely freeze a few unlucky fellows into popsicles.
Clark wouldn't take that chance.
And because the number of people here were too large, he only put out the fires and quickly flew to the next area.
Moving everyone out of the area would waste a considerable amount of time, even for him with his speed.
Next was the harbor. This was easier.
Taking a deep breath from his lungs, he blew out and everything in his range was encased in thick ice.
The subway.... Seeing that the entrance underground was sealed, Clark drilled through the asphalt directly to accomplish his goal.
A red and blue blur sped throughout Gotham saving lives and putting out fires.
Amari watched all this plainly. He seemed to be in no rush.
"That should be the last one". Clark exhaled slightly as he put out the last one. Without caring for the gazes of the people, looking at him as if watching a spectacle, his telescopic vision swept around for anything he might have missed.
"....That's....".
Sure enough, he noticed something.
In a particular location, smoke rose into the air. Weirdly, there was no fire.
"Strange, I didn't put out any fires there".
With a whoosh, his figure disappeared, appearing above the park.
The first thing that came into view struck the Man Of Steel straight in the heart.
Bodies.... No, they couldn't even be considered bodies anymore.
They were skeletons at this point. Clark saw bones, bones with pieces of scorched flesh attached to them.
They were almost everywhere.
"...". Clark couldn't say a word. He just floated in the air, slightly dazed.
Pain welled up within his heart at the scene.
This was a park. With men and women, parents, lovers..... children.
How many people died here tonight.
In his moment of grief, something else caught his attention. The sight of Amari, standing in the middle of the scorched land made the Man Of Tomorrow temporarily put aside what he saw.
"Him again? What's he doing here?" Clark felt slightly strange.
It seemed that lately, Amari had shown up in every major event that had taken place in recent weeks.
The issue three days ago was still there, and now, this had happened. The frown on his face was growing deeper.
Gotham's waters were deep enough.
But right now, Clark didn't understand the general situation.
Amari looked at Clark floating in the air and lost interest immediately. Superman appearing here was within expectations but that didn't concern him.
He had no desire to engage in an interrogative conversation with the Kryptonian.
Now wasn't the time to talk.
"Sir, you're being watched". Alice's timely reminder fell into his ears.
This one made him frown inwardly.
Strange..... He didn't feel like he was being watched.
Not in the slightest.
Alice was an AI. There was no way that she could sense someone watching him physically that he couldn't.
Then the only other possibility was.....
"How?"
"Through surveillance". Sure enough, he guessed right.
Someone was spying on this little scene taking place right now.
"Towards your left, north camera. Three story building...". Alice called out candidly.
Yep, he could see it. There was a surveillance camera there.
Not surprising, since there was a park in this area. Since it was surveillance, Alice already knew who it was.
"Interesting....". Amari muttered.
His slight mutter was low. Too low for anyone that wasn't close enough to hear.
But for a kryptonian, it was clear enough.
Clark wanted to talk but the sound coming into his ears made him snap his head in another direction.
A small town, Silverton, Colorado.
An avalanche was currently taking place in the mountains. A rather heavy one to be honest.
If he didn't do anything, the town would soon be submerged in heavy snow.
Superman turned his head to Amari, only to see the sight of the latter's body disappearing into thin air.
The next second, he was gone.
"He just pulled a "Batman" on me". Clark spat out a sentence with a weird expression before blasting off to the skies.
He didn't have time to stop and investigate this matter thoroughly.
He just heard the sounds of explosions coming from Gotham and rushed here as fast as possible.
Now, he was needed elsewhere or even more people would die.
As for what happened in Gotham, Clark would call other leaguers to deal with the situation.
This wasn't his city after all. He had done his best within the limited time.
....
The chaos of the day and night made the street look a little sluggish, with rubbish everywhere, and almost no people could be seen. Occasionally, a head can be seen from one of the windows of the residential buildings on both sides, but he quickly retracted and tightened the bed curtains.
Amari walked on the streets and alleyways of Gotham with a cheerful spring in his step.
Like a boy scout going to the next block to deliver cookies.
"..... I've found his location. Do you want to....".
"Hold on a minute". Amari cut in indifferently. His eyes filled with amusement as he moved along.
"Someone's so interested in me, I feel like we should give our shy stalker a chance to show themselves".
For the Joker, he was in no hurry. The latter wouldn't live past tonight anyway.
Let him enjoy his last days of madness a little longer.
Ring Ring Ring... Ring Ring Ring...
Away at a telephone booth about ten meters away from him, the phone rang suddenly.
The ringtone on the quiet street is very crisp.
Step by step.
Amari walked towards the phone booths slowly, and then.... crossed the phone booth and continued forward as if he didn't even hear the ringing in the first place.
The ringing phonebooth seemed to be unwilling and continued calling until Amari walked away and then stopped sadly.
Amari's expression didn't change in the slightest as he continued on his way. But when he reached the next phone booth, it rang again.
Twice, the phone booth rang, and twice, Amari ignored.
It's important to note... There are a lot of phone booths in Gotham. And so it continued.
The first, the second, the third, and fourth....
As long as he passed by a phone booth, it would ring.
He ignored it all without blinking.
Until Amari left the road and turned to an alley next to him, he saw a dark silhouette jumping from the nearby rooftop on both sides.
Click!
The silhouette landed on the ground, the grappling gun was retracted and the figure was finally clear in Amari's view.
Batgirl standing in the distance was a little annoyed. Is this guy deaf? After making so many phone calls, she ran all the way from the roof of a few blocks, took a deep breath, and just about to speak, she saw Amari pointing to herself and chuckling.
"Trust me when I say this. Batman's mysterious routine, isn't suitable for you. Calling from a phonebooth? This is the twenty first century, not a Sherlock Holmes movie".
"..."
....
Finally, I can say I'm ten Chapters ahead on Patreon. Honestly, writing isn't easy.
If you wish to read ahead, Consider visiting. I appreciate the support.
Patreon.com/Future805