Chapter 179

Fufufufufu...

A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, its propellers spinning, came to a stop on the outskirts of Smallville. Sixty people disembarked to begin final battlefield cleanup.

Bardi gathered himself, donned the white trench coat handed to him by his subordinates, and boarded the aircraft with Raven. As for Jonathan, he and the remaining operatives would return to Universe Biotechnology Co., Ltd., following Bardi's instructions.

He had given Jonathan hope. In the future, Jonathan would have to offer greater loyalty to see the hope Bardi promised become reality.

Anyone can be used, especially desperate people. Bardi particularly favored that kind.

Drag them into the abyss of despair—and you become God.

The transport plane, capable of holding ninety-two crew members, carried only Bardi and Raven. They sat across from each other in silence.

Inside the cabin, the military interior was olive-green, the air slightly stale, ventilation poor. The hot air was stifling, making their skin feel greasy and tight, especially for Bardi, whose body carried a persistent stinging sensation, making it even more uncomfortable.

As always, his expression remained cold. His eyes held many thoughts—unknown and unreadable.

He sat down and placed the swaddled baby on his lap, feeling the ache throughout his body.

His hands gently rested on the swaddle. Clark... would never leave his side.

Raven's cloak and hood had been pulled back, revealing her pale face. Her long lashes trembled, and her black-and-white eyes settled on the infant resting on Bardi's legs. Her expression was hesitant.

This baby… would it end up like that memory again…?

Raven had always believed that Bardi was kind, no one more so than him. She had seen into and understood his heart.

It's just that... he didn't want to be hurt—so he became a demon to make others fear him.

Only good people desire to become demons.

...Raven... he was complicated, with depths of pain, regret, sorrow, and love that couldn't be spoken.

She lowered her eyes to the cabin floor, studded with holes for securing military cargo, fasteners, nylon ropes, and hooks along the bulkhead grooves. They were meant to quickly stabilize equipment in transport.

She didn't know… and right now, she didn't want to know.

Her heart was a mess.

She hoped Bardi wouldn't harm anyone, that he wouldn't burden himself with more pain. She hoped, more than anything, that Bardi would smile.

To her, Bardi was sunlight, hope, light, and warmth.

Raven's pale face twisted with sorrow, her eyes trembled, and her dark purple lips pressed into a tight line.

Just as she was about to speak—perhaps to persuade Bardi not to harm the baby.

Bardi spoke first.

"Raven, cast a spell on this child and on me that prevents future sight."

Bardi suddenly said to her.

He had always trusted his own judgment. There were people out there saving the Justice League—one not yet fully formed—and someone who knew the future.

He felt that he must've gone in the wrong direction.

Bardi had thought it would be the Flash traveling back in time, arriving at this moment.

But when the moment came, no one appeared. No one saved Superman, no one saved Clark. It was too unusual.

"Okay."

Raven froze for a moment, then softly agreed.

Bardi had told her before: someone who knew the future might eventually oppose him. Raven knew.

That's why she had been placed beside Clark—to lie in wait.

And yet, no enemy had shown up.

The magic to block future sight was simpler than the magic to predict the future itself. Raven bowed her head, chanted a spell, and cast it on both Bardi and Clark. Afterward, she couldn't help but ask Bardi,

"Bardi... this child… will you kill him?"

Raven's face was filled with sorrow. She looked at Bardi, even a flicker of pleading in her eyes. Bardi wasn't cruel enough to harm a child... right?

A flicker of surprise passed through Bardi's eyes—then understanding dawned.

He realized...

Raven might part ways with him over this.

This child was destined to die.

And Raven—too kind—would never accept doing such a thing.

Kind people always believed their kindness was right.

They often acted on emotion more than reason.

It was entirely possible she would even try to save Clark.

In that moment, Bardi realized.

Raven's kindness was something he had to be truly wary of.

Immediately, Bardi's eyes softened. He smiled helplessly. For a moment, the stifling air of the cabin seemed less heavy. The space warmed, like sunlight breaking through the clouds.

"How could I? Who do you think I am?"

Bardi shook his head, amused. Who do you think I am? Probably… a devil.

Raven let out a sigh of relief. She pulled her cloak around her, rose, and walked to Bardi's side. Resting her head on his arm, a gentle smile graced her lips, her eyes filled with quiet contentment.

She thought.

Bardi had changed.

….

It was a dark space—justly so. There was no light, no heaven or earth.

Suddenly, a black shadow emerged. In the darkness, the outline of the figure could just barely be seen.

Another shadow appeared shortly after, rushing forward.

"The son of light you speak of—the hope of Earth—has been captured and now lies in his hands." The first shadow spoke with a magnetic voice, its tone unrecognizable.

"I'm still saving him." The second shadow—who'd appeared in a hurry—replied calmly, his voice lazy, detached, graceful, and indifferent. He casually brushed the back of his head, but the shadow was bald, with no hair. Realizing this, he paused and lowered his hands. His voice, too, was magnetic—unrecognizable.

"I know. I'm just curious—how will you save him? You've already pulled Barry Allen, Hal Jordan, Victor Stone, and me from Bardi's sights. And now, it seems, there's no longer a chance to save the so-called 'Hope of Earth.'"

"There still is. Clark's body contains a nano extra-dimensional wormhole device implanted by his father. That device can host Jor-El's consciousness and naturally, it can hold Clark's. His body will die but he'll be reborn... Hmm… I can no longer sense Clark's fate. Did you sense something, since no one appeared to save him?"

"I don't think highly of your plan. You rely too much on so-called future predictions. You've said before—you can't predict anything involving Barmulodi. And anyone he interacts with is affected, disrupting your foresight."

"I can't predict him directly. But through others—vaguely—I can piece together his actions! We can still make limited predictions. Raven will kill Clark because of Barmulodi, and that will cause a rift between the two of them. As long as I have a moment to retrieve Clark's body, it'll be enough. I might even be able to bring Raven to our side."

"So I'm not needed at all?"

"No. That's the extent of what I can do. That's why the future now depends on your wisdom. I will awaken your future memories. Child, you still need to train, to become the future Dark Knight who will oppose this cruel king."

"You want me to go through the League of Assassins again?"

"No. That place is already slipping from my foresight. It will become Barmulodi's underground intelligence network. Go to Africa. There, you'll merge with your future memories and become a true Dark Knight."

"Africa?"

"There's someone there, someone also changed by Barmulodi's influence. Before, I could see his future clearly. His life was devoted to killing Barmulodi, consumed by hatred and understanding of him. On that battlefield, you will train, grow, and become the Dark Knight. I can no longer see his end, but he is the best candidate to confront Barmulodi."

The voices gradually faded, and the two silhouettes dissolved. In that dark space, they blended and vanished.

(To be continued.)

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