System: The consequence will be... not much of a consequence. Baia: "?!"
Amazo's eyes had turned completely golden. Its damaged body hovered in mid-air. The goddess trying to help Baia was held back by the golden wind swirling around the robot, unable to advance a single step, using her bracelets to shield against the onslaught of golden particles.
The light grew more intense, eventually forming a golden sphere that enveloped Amazo.
The experience varied from person to person. Tony could hardly maintain his flight and had to land, while Tim, on the other side of the city, felt his head splitting with pain. Both of them could only hear... the sound of a rushing river.
Amazo, however, knew this was not the sound of a river.
Its mainboard analyzed the chaotic data, sparks flying. The overheating core was melting itself, and it stammered, "So... this is—"
Whatever it wanted to say, it couldn't finish.
The overworked core had melted, Amazo's AI had crashed, and the light in its eyes gradually dimmed. The golden particles scattered, then suddenly converged and exploded, dispersing into the air.
Except for the charred remains of a robot on the ground, it seemed like nothing had happened.
Batwing tilted its head, resembling a dog tilting its head in confusion, while a big question mark popped up from the tiny processor of Friday.
Baia let out a sigh of relief, then grew angrier, scolding the system, "You scared me! How could you joke at such a critical moment?!"
System: There was nothing to worry about. System: It was never worthy.
The system's mechanical voice usually had a very human-like, slightly cheeky, and somewhat cute tone. But now it sounded extremely cold, even haughty.
System: Imagine, if you were the most powerful species in the universe and created a weapon so terrifying that it could destroy everything in an instant—past, future, and present... how many layers of safeguards would you put on it?
Baia: "A weapon..."
The system chuckled: Even without any safeguards, something like Amazo attempting to replicate a digitized version of me is as laughable as trying to fit a 3A game into a 102KB memory card. And even with that 102KB, the information contained within would be beyond its comprehension. Even you had your memories wiped—
Baia: "How much memory does a human's memory take up? An AI like this shouldn't even compare to a human brain, right?"
System: Good question, then ask me, ask me what I am, who you are! If you ask, I'll answer! If you want, I can give all your memories back!
"I..." Baia faltered.
System: ... System: It's alright, this way is good too. System: I like you as my host, even if you don't ask anything. I just activated a countermeasure protocol, and some aggression remains in the personality simulation module. I'll clean it up and be back.
Batman called out to her on the comms, his voice calm but with a hint of concern, "Swallow, report status."
"All clear, I'm not injured."
Baia wiped her face, feeling tears seep through the domino mask and run down her cheeks. She couldn't understand her fear, why she couldn't even ask a single question. She only vaguely felt that once the truth was revealed, everything would end.
Friday: "Miss Wayne, don't cry."
Its voice was probing; even with its intelligence, Friday couldn't understand why she would suddenly cry after the battle, perhaps she was scared?
"I will always protect you," Friday comforted gently, "Don't be afraid."
The Justice League members gathered around the damaged Amazo robot, their consultant crouching by the wreckage, pulling out tools to pry open Amazo's still hot back panel.
The completely melted mainboard formed a symbol. Batman frowned and took a picture of it.
"Got a secret weapon?" Superman looked at the Batplane circling above.
Batman didn't look up, still examining the robot, "You've seen her."
"Now I remember," Superman said, familiar with the Bat-family, and smiled as he figured out who it was, "So it was her."
At that moment, the system's voice returned, sounding more mechanical. Baia realized it wasn't the usual system she chatted with, but more like some automatic program.
System: Congratulations on completing the hidden task [Battle of Amazo], assisting the Justice League in defeating Amazo. Due to the activation of the system's security protocol, there is no reward for this battle.
"Isn't there even a Best Support?" Baia asked.
System: The Best Support for this battle is [Batman].
Baia: ...?
Looks like it's not easy to compete with the consultant.
System: Clark Kent's goodwill has reached the standard, [Superman] has unlocked a skill for you.
Following [Heart of Frost], Baia's skill bar finally gained another shield icon.
[Day of the Week] generates a continuous energy shield on friendly targets for 5 minutes, with a 100% duration increase when used in sunlight. This skill only protects against physical attacks and cannot defend against mental or magical attacks.
Previewing the skill effect, wow, it's golden.
This shield looks like a little sun from a distance, with "Come and hit me" written all over it, perfectly fitting the Chairman's personal setting of the Justice League.
Originally, I wanted to put it on Bruce and the others during the night patrol, but upon further thought, having a few golden light bulbs flying around in the hail of bullets and flying debris is simply unbearable to watch. But when this shield shines, the light of the angel's song is like a firefly's glow, it's actually a good way to divert attention.
Batwing's window was knocked on.
Baia looked up and saw Tony in his cool gold and red armor, although there were some places dented by Superman's blow, it's just that he's made of iron.
"Back to reality, little silly," Tony said, "Friday, land."
Batwing rubbed against Tony's hand, as a jet black, menacing-looking aircraft, rather than a pet, this scene was quite frightening.
Batwing slowly landed, Baia adjusted her emotions, that inexplicable fear came and went quickly. Letting Friday pop up the control interface of Batwing, putting on her watch, she jumped down with brisk steps.
"Thank you all for your hard work," Superman smiled brightly, after all, this was Metropolis, his territory, "Especially this little one."
Superman just needs to sunbathe to recover, but Batman, Wonder Woman, and Orion aren't like that. And even if the wounds heal, they still bring long-lasting pain.
So, healing is treasure.
Superman didn't realize how flying too fast could cause trouble for the healers.
Although Martian Manhunter is gentle, he's a man of few words, usually quite silent, but because Baia saved him, he also showed a smile, "Thank you, Swallow."
Swallow was helping Wonder Woman heal her final wounds, the heroic goddess ruffled her hair.
"It's what I should do," Baia said.
Steel opened the loudspeaker, "Anyone want to go home?"
The superheroes of the Justice League were all busy during the day, many of them having dual identities, bidding farewell to each other and leaving in twos and threes.
The subsequent reconstruction work was taken over by relevant government departments, and Superman still had to go find Luthor.
Baia grabbed a corner of Superman's cape, "Um..."
"Anything else?" The Man of Steel smiled gently, trying to give himself some impression points, as if he hadn't been the one to angrily hammer Amazo just now.
This is how you treat friends warmly as spring and enemies cold as winter.
Baia, who was almost taken to the Metropolis Police Department, was moved.
"I think the hospitals will be under a lot of pressure," Baia said, "I want to help the injured civilians."
Superman's approving look intensified, "I'll help you."
"Don't call an ambulance! I won't go in an ambulance!" A civilian with a leg crushed by a building shouted heartbreakingly on a stretcher.
The reason is simple, American ambulances are too expensive.
The bird in black and blue uniform stood by his side, and with a soft white light, a miracle appeared.
This incident caused hundreds of injuries and several deaths. Seeing these civilians sobbing in front of her, Superman's anger towards Luthor surged again.
"You've worked hard," Superman saw Baia rubbing her temples, "Can you still hold on?"
In fact, most people only need a month of exposure, recovering 60% of their health in 24 hours, enough to heal most wounds. Only a few citizens hovering between life and death consumed Baia's energy.
Baia: "It's okay, at least they won't be running around everywhere."
Superman felt a bit touched by her words.
While Baia was healing the wounded one by one, Superman quickly cleared away the rubble of the buildings with super speed, and then stayed by Baia's side to comfort the frightened children.
Swallow.
The name of this bird was remembered by many people today.
Including...
"Swallow?" Luthor's fingers brushed over the image on the printed paper. "Interesting. Do we have any language in our system that matches this?"
The image on the paper was the core of Amazo being melted. A sharp pattern resembling the symbol "∞" was surrounded by a circular ring of text, appearing solemn and mysterious.
Precursor: "No, sir. This looks like some kind of warning or threat."
Cadmus Laboratory, underground, unknown level.
Luthor, dressed in a black suit, sat down with his legs crossed and projected the symbol into the air.
"Do you have any impression of this symbol?"
His conversation partner didn't seem like a living being. It was about 1.5 meters tall, wrapped in heavy armor, with only a faint glow from the metal eye socket suggesting it might be alive, but it still looked more like... a pepper shaker.
And this somewhat ridiculous, seemingly harmless creature had killed a security team from LexCorp before being subdued by Luthor in armor.
At the mention, the creature, completely encased in machinery, raised its eyepiece slightly and looked at the projected image.
"Time Lord..."
Its mechanical voice trembled, sounding angry and hysterical.
"Time Lord," Luthor said, "Too little, I need more information."
"Council!... Eliminate! Eliminate!"
It excitedly spun around, trying to escape the cage Luthor had built for it, constantly firing lasers in all directions.
And Luthor quickly grew tired of it. Apart from "Time Lord," "Council," and "Eliminate," he didn't get any more information.
"Do you know why I named you Precursor?" he asked in the elevator.
The elevator answered him, "I don't know, sir."
Luthor was suddenly immersed in a sense of pride that even artificial intelligence couldn't match his intelligent brain.
"You see, the world is changing so fast..."
Images appeared before Luthor one after another.
The pepper shaker-shaped creature, an old photo of a damaged angel statue, the blonde girl in Gotham Hospital, Iron Man, the symbol "∞," and the swallow inadvertently looking at the camera surrounded by the injured and medical staff.
Xavier's School.
"This is a precursor. See?" Luthor said, "These, are precursors."