Chapter 2: A Very Considerate Cheat Ability
Chapter 2: A Very Considerate Cheat Ability
Time rewinds to three minutes earlier.
Allen successfully finds a power socket and pulls out a nurse's cap hairpin that he had swiped from Catherine earlier.
"I'd rather be shattered to pieces than let my integrity be tarnished."
Then, without hesitation, he decisively inserts it into the empty slot.
Snap!
A burst of electricity flashes—his vision goes black.
The Arkham Asylum experiences a power outage and circuit trip. Allen successfully burns out the fuse in the voltage regulator.
[Host has activated the Omniprofession System. Currently available professions: Warrior, Rogue, Archer. Upon mastering the first profession, a second one can be established.]
[Selection timeout. Random allocation in progress.]
[Congratulations, Host has chosen the Rogue profession.]
[Available timeline affiliations:]
Justice Faction: S.H.I.E.L.D., Checkmate, Bureau of Occult Affairs.
Crime Faction: Hydra, The Hand, League of Assassins.
[Selection timeout. Random allocation in progress.]
[Congratulations, Host has chosen the League of Assassins.]
Allen had unknowingly activated his cheat ability, entirely unconscious throughout the process.
Meanwhile, Arkham's backup power kicks in—but Allen is nowhere to be found.
In the asylum warden's office, Quincy Sharp anxiously searches through surveillance footage, replaying it repeatedly to confirm. Cold sweat drips from his temples onto his shirt.
Quincy knows very well that the reopening of Arkham Asylum wasn't merely a decision under Commissioner Gordon's proposal.
The whole "incarcerating criminal lunatics" narrative was just a cover. The real purpose was to keep constant surveillance on one target—Allen.
With trembling hands, he dials a number.
"Fury, the target is missing."
After a brief report, he immediately dials another number.
"Amanda..."
---
Amidst snow-covered peaks, an ancient, oriental-style building stands tall.
This is one of the many training bases of the League of Assassins, where orphans from around the world are raised into cold-blooded killers.
This particular base, perpetually blanketed in ice and snow, is designated exclusively for the rigorous physical and combat training of adult assassins and warriors.
Ra's al Ghul, the Demon's Head, stands solemnly before a gathered crowd, delivering his ideology of justice.
"Wars have plagued the world since ancient times, and all of you have suffered loss because of them. The purpose of the League of Assassins is to end all wars and create a world where no one suffers such losses again. You shall be the judges who eradicate the instigators of war..."
Indeed, the League of Assassins specifically takes in war orphans, molding their minds from a young age through ideological indoctrination, ensuring their unwavering dedication to assigned missions.
They wholeheartedly believe they embody justice itself, viewing Ra's al Ghul as both their spiritual guide and supreme leader.
"Well said, boss."
Clap, clap, clap...
Suddenly, an untimely round of applause echoes.
In the front row, a man with a hole cut in the mouth area of his mask claps his hands together, mimicking a gorilla's clapping motion.
Yes, that man is Allen, who has just traveled through timelines.
"Boss, I'll be your loyal supporter from the shadows."
As he speaks, Allen nudges Nyssa and Talia with his elbows, signaling them.
"Come on, give some reaction! The boss's speech was so passionate, I almost believed it myself."
Talia shoots him a fierce glare before turning to Nyssa with a look of reproach.
Nyssa's face is filled with helpless regret.
Thinking back to three days ago, she now realizes she never should have picked this lunatic up from the snow. Ever since, the League of Assassins' entire atmosphere has shifted.
"Why did you cut a hole in your mask?" Ra's al Ghul asks, frowning.
Having lived for centuries, his heart has long been as still as water. Yet at this moment, he has an overwhelming urge to thrust his sword into this man's mouth and shred his tongue to ensure silence forever.
"Sir, I couldn't breathe."
"Then why not just take the mask off?"
"I wanted to maintain a bit of mystery as a man of justice."
I'm an idiot. Truly.
I should've known better than to ask a fool a foolish question. In fact, I shouldn't have spoken to him at all.
"Nyssa, since you brought him back, you're responsible for training him," Ra's al Ghul declares, emphasizing the last three words.
A daughter knows her father best—Nyssa immediately understands.
"Understood, Father."
The meaning is clear: train Allen so brutally that he voluntarily gives up and leaves.
Why not just eliminate him? Simple—Ra's al Ghul has spent years brainwashing his followers into believing the League is a just organization. He cannot afford to tarnish that image by outright killing an innocent man.
Especially not a disabled one. In theory, they should be offering him assistance.
"Come with me."
Nyssa strides ahead with a cold expression, while Allen bounces along behind her.
"Sister, since you're training me alone, won't they get jealous?"
"Sister, won't they feel left out?"
"Sister, won't they want to beat me up?"
"So scary... Not like me, I only care about you, sister."
Allen's deliberately annoying and flirtatious tone makes Nyssa clench her fists so tightly that her nails nearly dig into her flesh.
From a distance, Talia watches with a look of schadenfreude, suddenly finding Allen rather amusing.
As daughters of the Demon's Head, both sisters have undergone the same brutal training since childhood, each vying to one day inherit leadership of the League. Naturally, they've developed a competitive rivalry.
Seeing her sister suffer is oddly satisfying.
---
Training Hall
Nyssa tosses a bamboo sword at Allen, her expression serious.
"From today onward, I will teach you all forms of combat until you become a true warrior—or until you give up."
Allen picks up the bamboo sword, strikes a dramatic pose, and gazes at the snowy peaks outside at a 45-degree angle.
His eyes radiate a sense of melancholy and solitude, as if he were a lone swordsman reminiscing about his past.
Nyssa furrows her brows, unable to figure out what nonsense he's about to pull now.
The mind of a lunatic is impossible to predict. One second he's acting flirtatious, the next he's playing the aloof warrior. There's no pattern to follow.
"I can no longer hide the truth." Allen sighs deeply, speaking to himself.
"Once, I wielded my sword to cut through eternity and stand against the enemies of the multiverse. Since then, I have sealed my blade for countless ages. Do you truly wish for me to unsheathe it?"
Nyssa's eye twitches slightly.
"You claim to have cleaved through eternity? I'll break your ribs instead."
Growing impatient, she urges, "Enough nonsense. Attack me."
"If it cannot be avoided, then I shall use my most prized ninjutsu."
"Ninjutsu?"
Allen nods solemnly.
"I once roamed the world and came across a place called the Hidden Leaf Village, where I learned an extremely powerful ninjutsu. But I fear you may not be able to handle it."
Nyssa scoffs.
"Hah… Go ahead, show me."
Ninjutsu is a real martial art, and the League of Assassins has collected several techniques of its own.
Mentioning it in front of her? He must be joking.
"Brace yourself."
Allen inhales deeply as if gathering power for a grand technique.
Nyssa instinctively tightens her grip on her sword, her eyes filled with caution. For a brief moment, she actually wonders if his claim holds some truth.
"I need to use the bathroom first."
Ultimate Ninjutsu: Shiton—Can't Hold It In!
Without looking back, Allen walks straight out of the room.
"Get back here, you bastard!" Nyssa roars in fury.
This guy wasn't just mocking her intelligence—he was outright insulting it.