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Chapter 148: An Odd Paradox VII
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"I see," Ian nodded in full understanding, "You bought out the universe, didn't you?" The most charitable of them all couldn't help but let out a sigh, "As I thought, the universe is a corrupted piece of shit..."
"???"
"A weirdo," Thomas to the side calmly pointed out.
"Hm? Why so rude? I even went as far as to kindly reunite you two of father and son..."
Ian shook his head at people's rude behavior before bringing out his staff and bringing it down on the dying Reverse Flash, accelerating his death.
The body turned to a mummy before the two Batmans could even react, and Ian vanished directly after
"What a weirdo." Thomas couldn't help but point out again.
"He is, and I've just learned a lot more about him," Bruce nodded, very much agreeing while stroking his chin.
"Don't you think it's weird?" Thomas wondered.
"What is?" Bruce asked, not seeming too bothered by what Ian had just done, quite odd of Batman.
"The fact that he doesn't care about giving out information. It's just like last time, he didn't seem to care about us knowing more about him."
Bruce shook his head, knowing way more about Ian than basically anyone else, "He's just not afraid at all. Not afraid of what I might do, and I think I know why, aside from his obvious powers which he certainly didn't have before."
Thomas nodded, eyeing the body one last time before making his way back to the Batwing not far from them, "Let's discuss more in private."
Their matter of speech was quite odd for a father and son, almost like they were speaking business.
Perhaps they had their reunion tears, and now they were pursuing something else, something like saving the world.
"We shouldn't have much time, so let's act with hast. Let's find the Flash, and test a theory of mine while at it."
Batman nodded with a frown, knowing the severity of the situation more than anyone else, perhaps even more than the Flash himself because the latter failed to take a variable into account, Ian Rose.
You see, the Flash was desperate to the point he had to ignore Batman's words because they were inconclusive.
He didn't want to lose Iris nor did he want to lose his mother, and the world was threatening their lives both.
Iris was suffering the most because she had to watch herself growing older by the hour... If only it was that simple because she also had to watch herself get younger, and not in a good way.
The curse Ian used on her was one of the most sinister in the book of eternity, using one's own life force to produce the intended effect.
And what's meant by getting younger is literal. Parts of her body are slowly but surely turning into those of a baby, and what follows is Death.
It's a spell that brings nothing but desperation because many tried to use it to attain youth again to no avail, almost as if it was made to bring despair.
Iris's state was... Indescribable to the point it almost broke the Flash. Not just because of her appearance, but because he sensed specks of his speed force in her.
That naturally led her to believe that him messing around with time somehow led to her current state, a punishment of sorts, a very cruel one.
Ian was certainly commendable because he truly felt bad, but what was done had to be done for the greater good, and he was willing to bear the burden of guilt.
If asked, he'd say he is the one to suffer the most in this situation because he had to do something bad for the greater good.
And what is his greater good one might say? Well, the Flash wants to find out as well. Batman told him Ian's words. Let's meet where the speed lies.
That was a mistake, but in fairness, Batman had no idea about Iris' situation, so he didn't know the Flash would be so reckless as to try to reach the true speed force.
The how was simple. Just run fast enough. That was the solution to most things, so he ran and ran, seeking to reach a certain point beyond time, but he felt something stopping him, a barrier of some sort.
Ian knew it will likely take him a long time to do it, so he used that time for other things, such as a vacation.
While people were panicking, he was having the time of his life. While people were making conspiracies, he was laughing his ass off.
While people were dying, and chaos was spreading, he was taking sips of juice while enjoying the show.
What show, one might ask? Well, Ian was back in the empty Gotham. There were very few people in the city, all from the government and secret agencies, keeping it confined.
However, he went in without any trouble. In fact, He took over the incident location.
Ian was resting on Sunlounger, drinking orange juice. He was attired in a casual aqua blue shirt in memory of the late Aquaman, giving him the respect he deserves.
That was complemented by white shorts and glasses, quite cozy under the warmth of the sun. Laughter and cries of surprise surrounded him as everyone enjoyed their time.
Yup, he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by the girls, namely Selina, Ivy, Harley, Zatanna, and even Xanadu. Unfortunately, Raven wasn't here because she was studying as usual.
And they were having lots of fun. Ian was mostly just relaxing while observing a few things through magic, and thinking things through; through the Rose of Speed.
The area they were in was supposed to be a closed area, tightly guarded by numerous soldiers, and it was as such until he arrived.
The area was special because it was the source of the paradox with numerous cracks spreading outwards.
"I feel like something is weird." Zatanna couldn't help but point out as she eyed the other girls.
Xanadu was calm, well, she was heavily breathing as she was holding Ian's hand, his Death force constantly flowing into her. She was the calmest of the bunch.
The others, on the other hand, were special cases because the calmest of them was surprisingly Ivy.
All she was doing was standing next to a paradox fracture with dozens of her plants surrounding her. Her face was constantly twitching as she watched her plants vanishing into the fracture one by one.
Not only that, she lost connection to them. What she was basically doing is some scientific experimentation, using all kinds of different plants to see how they'd react to fracture.
Her plants were of course not normal. She worked hard along with Ian to create some magical and nonsensical plants with a variety of uses.
Most are results of biological studies and chemical reactions, some contain some odd energies. Unfortunately, no matter how she tried, the fracture remain still, seemingly frozen in time.
And it was making her annoyed to no end, especially since her plants are dying one by one, "Aghh, so be it. I'll use it."
Ivy nodded with determination before she waved her hand, releasing a massive flower. Its petals were luminescent green, and they were closed, seemingly hiding what was inside.
Not for long though as the flower bloomed, showing a small glowing crystal within, its green radiance overwhelming the area.
Ivy carefully picked up the crystal with a sweet smile. This was her baby, her and Ian's baby, or at least, that's how she considers it.
It was created with their collaboration after all. Hell, she even called it Sweet Rose in his name.
She then threw it into the fracture... Nothing happened, it was all silent minus Harley's giggles, and Selina trying to scam the paradox somehow.
"I see... Nothing. Perhaps I was too hopeful," Ivy let out a sweet laugh, not seeming annoyed at all.
Instead, she just walked back to Ian with a sweet smile, "Darling, mind sending me to the labs? I want to get our babies..."
Ian's face slightly twitched though he tried to hide it to the best of his ability. God, he hates that word, but he still complied, allowing Ivy to go crazy, "Sure."
His Death force moved, triggering a door to appear right next to him. The gate to the House Of Mystery.
"I'm starting to regret booking a spot on your team. I suddenly feel like I'm joining a bunch of graduates from Arkham Asylum." Zatanna rubbed her temple in dismay.