After dealing with Doomsday, Alex closed the mirror dimension and returned to the real world.
Superman and Batman had been waiting outside and, as soon as Alex stepped through the portal, they immediately asked, "What about Doomsday? Is he still alive?"
Even though they had already guessed that Alex had defeated Doomsday, they still wanted to hear it from Alex himself before they could truly relax.
The excitement on Alex's face faded, replaced by a somber expression. This change caused Superman and Batman to feel an ominous sense of dread. Then they heard Alex slowly say:
"Ah, Doomsday…"
Superman and Batman's hearts jumped. Could it be that Doomsday was still alive, and even Alex couldn't stop him?
If that were the case, what would they do? Who could stop Doomsday?
He would eventually destroy this entire universe!
As the two pondered how to deal with Doomsday, Alex continued:
"Of course, I killed him."
Superman and Batman: "???"
"Then why did you look so depressed just now?"
"Because I was hurt by your lack of faith. Do you really think I'm that weak, that I couldn't kill a newly-born Doomsday? I told you already, I've traveled the multiverse and killed countless Doomsdays, including those that evolved to their ultimate forms!"
Batman and Superman finally realized they had been tricked, and gave Alex a speechless look.
But they weren't angry. Being fooled was much better than learning Doomsday was still alive.
After using Doomsday as a punching bag to test his current strength and leveling up his mirror dimension to Lv3, Alex felt great. He couldn't help but think about heading back to his floating island and engaging in a "300-round battle" with his numerous mermaid maids.
However, just as he was about to tear open a portal, his Six Eyes detected two figures rapidly approaching his location. When he saw who they were, he paused and his expression grew strange.
Here it was—the final piece of the Themyscira puzzle!
Seconds later, Superman and Batman also sensed the approaching figures. Within moments, a curvy and beautiful woman, accompanied by a muscular man, arrived at the ruins left behind by the aftermath of the battle.
The beautiful woman with the incredible figure was none other than Diana, the daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta—Wonder Woman. And to Alex's surprise, the muscular man was Shazam.
Shazam's real identity was Billy Batson, a fourteen-year-old boy who had been granted the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Hermes, turning him into a mighty superhero.
By the original timeline, Billy shouldn't have become Shazam yet. But it seemed Alex's interference had caused a butterfly effect, and Billy had been transformed into Shazam earlier than expected, likely due to the Joker obtaining the powers of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Wonder Woman arrived at the ruins, and after scanning the area, she turned to Alex and the others, asking, "I sensed an extremely evil presence. Did you see anything?"
Upon arriving, she had recognized the three figures in the ruins. Since the Black Zero event, the four powerful demigods of Earth had become household names. For some reason, governments around the world heavily promoted these four as some sort of demigods, which had led to a significant reduction in crime rates.
Batman, the most level-headed of the three, spoke up:
"It was a creature born from the body of a Kryptonian, a super monster that can adapt to any form of damage and continuously resurrects, with almost unlimited growth potential. But there's no need to worry—Traveler Batman has already killed Doomsday."
"Doomsday?"
Even though she had never seen the creature, Wonder Woman could imagine its horror just from Batman's description. However, she was surprised that the Traveler Batman had managed to kill such a terrifying monster.
She looked at Alex, a trace of respect in her eyes, and said, "Thank you, Batman from the parallel universe, for protecting this world. I'm curious—how did you manage to kill Doomsday? According to Batman, it can adapt to any attack and is virtually immortal."
Alex looked Wonder Woman up and down. Unlike her film counterpart, this universe's Wonder Woman exuded a stronger divine aura. Her features were exquisitely refined, almost ethereal, making her seem less human and more godlike.
Facing her question, Alex smiled and replied, "Doomsday is indeed powerful, but he has a major weakness: before fully evolving, he's just as vulnerable to kryptonite as any other Kryptonian."
"So you used kryptonite to kill him?" Wonder Woman asked. Superman and Batman nodded, thinking they finally understood how Alex had defeated Doomsday.
But to their surprise, Alex shook his head and continued, "No, I didn't use kryptonite to kill him."
"Then how did you do it?" Wonder Woman asked, her curiosity piqued.
Alex grinned, his gaze deepening. "It's simple. Even an immortal being like Doomsday has limits to its adaptability. If you attack with something beyond what it can adapt to, it won't matter how many times it resurrects—it can't survive. And as for its immortality, if you destroy every single cell in its body, it can't regenerate."
Before Alex could finish his sentence, Superman interjected:
"But according to Kryptonian records, Doomsday can adapt to almost any form of attack. It can even survive planet-destroying weapons!"
Alex shot Superman a disdainful look. "No wonder you're just a second-rate Superman. You have no vision. Kryptonians are nothing special. The reason Kryptonians couldn't detect Doomsday's limits is because their attacks were too weak. If you use power beyond what Kryptonians can comprehend, you can break through Doomsday's limits."
As he said this, a imaginary energy sphere formed in Alex's hand. Under his control, it morphed into the shape of a sword. As soon as the sword appeared, the superheroes around him instinctively backed away, sensing the terrifying power emanating from it.
Alex's voice echoed once more:
"For example, by using an attack that annihilates space and severs the very laws of physics, not even Doomsday could adapt."
Superman and Batman were silent. Only now did they realize just how vast the gap was between themselves and the Traveler Batman.
Wonder Woman stared at the hypothetical sword, feeling a power greater than even the might of Zeus coursing through it.
As for Shazam, his face was full of disbelief. When he had first become Shazam and gained incredible power, he had been ecstatic, thinking that he had finally joined the ranks of the world's greatest superheroes. But now, the Traveler Batman had slapped him in the face with reality. He finally understood—while he and the other demigods might be called "gods" by the world, they weren't even close to being in the same league as the Traveler Batman.
Satisfied with his little show of power, Alex turned to Wonder Woman and asked, "Wonder Woman, it's been a while since you returned to Themyscira, hasn't it?"
Wonder Woman looked at him in shock. Except for a select few, no one knew she was from Themyscira. How did the Traveler Batman know?
Thanks to the passive effect of his Lv4 "Unlimited Void," Alex could easily detect what was on someone's mind, even without actively using the ability. He saw the confusion in her expression and smiled mysteriously.
"In many parallel universes, we're close friends, so I know a lot about you. I know you're from Themyscira, I know about your connection to Zeus, and I know about your battle with Ares. And of course, I also know you can't return to Themyscira right now. Do you want my help getting back?"
Ever since she had left, Wonder Woman had been unable to return to Themyscira, as the magical defenses surrounding it now kept her out. Hearing Alex offer a solution, she couldn't help but show a glimmer of hope. Eagerly, she asked, "You can help me return?"
"Of course," Alex nodded, then added, "But I have a condition."
"What condition?" Wonder Woman asked, desperate to see her mother and friends again. As long as the condition wasn't too extreme, she was willing to agree.
Alex replied calmly, "I want you to be my maid for ten years. Different versions of Wonder Woman across the multiverse have different powers. Some of the strongest can go toe-to-toe with Superman, but most can't. I think it's because the divine power within weaker versions of Wonder Woman hasn't fully awakened. So, during these ten years, I want to conduct some research on you."
Wonder Woman fell silent, but before she could answer, Shazam immediately protested.
Shazam, though still young, already understood the allure of adulthood. As a teenager who had transformed into a powerful superhero, he had quickly become Wonder Woman's number one admirer. Hearing that his goddess was about to become someone else's maid and be subjected to "research," he instantly felt outraged, even though the one making the offer was the much more powerful Traveler Batman.
It was ten whole years! Ten years during which Wonder Woman would be Alex's maid, surely forced to do all sorts of things. What if feelings developed between them? What would happen then?
Just imagining this was enough to make Shazam's body tremble and his heart ache. He couldn't bear the thought of Wonder Woman spending ten years with someone else.
No, he had to stop Alex's wicked request!
Driven by thoughts of the terrifying decade ahead, Shazam blurted out, "No! Wonder Woman can't be your maid! She's perfect and pure, a symbol of grace and power! She shouldn't serve anyone! Besides, if you just want to study her divine power, why does she have to be your maid?"
Alex looked at the indignant, fuming boy in front of him and responded calmly, "I just want to. Is that a problem? It's not like I'm forcing her to do anything. I'm simply offering a deal, and the choice is entirely up to her."
He smirked and added, "And Wonder Woman hasn't even said anything yet. What are you getting so worked up about?"
"You—!" Shazam started, but before he could finish, Wonder Woman interrupted.
"I agree," she said, cutting him off. "But I'll only be your maid for one year."
Alex, pleased with the compromise, nodded. "Deal."
As soon as she agreed, Alex thought to himself with satisfaction, Once you're my maid, escaping won't be so easy.
Shazam was stunned, staring at Wonder Woman in disbelief. He had fought so hard to argue for her, yet she had accepted the deal herself. It felt like a betrayal. Still, despite his heartbreak, he couldn't bring himself to be angry with her.
But his frustration needed an outlet, and he turned toward Alex, his eyes blazing with anger. "No! I won't allow you to insult Wonder Woman!" he shouted, rushing forward to punch Alex, his fist crackling with lightning.
Alex sighed in exasperation. 'Another lovesick fool.' he thought. Apparently, no universe was free of these types, not even a high-level one like the DC Universe.
Wonder Woman quickly stepped forward to stop Shazam, saying, "Shazam, stop! I agreed to this. Traveler Batman didn't force me into anything."
But Shazam, consumed by his anger, wasn't listening. Her words only made him more furious, and the lightning on his fists intensified as he swung at Alex with all his strength.
Watching the incoming punch, Alex's smile became more dangerous. "Alright, enough." he said, his voice filled with warning.
In the next moment, Alex threw a punch of his own, meeting Shazam's blow head-on. The collision of their fists sent a shockwave through the area, but no one was injured, as everyone present was a superhuman.
A red blur shot out from the dust cloud that had formed, flying through the air and crashing into the ground. It was Shazam, sent flying by the impact of Alex's punch. Although Shazam was strong, having inherited the power of six gods, he was no match for Alex's current strength.
Alex pointed at the space in front of him, and reality seemed to ripple. He immediately folded space, pulling the dazed Shazam back to his side in an instant.
Using his Unlimited Void technique, Alex trapped Shazam in place, immobilizing him. He sneered, "You're just a child, too immature to understand the responsibilities of a superhero. So, I'm going to take away your powers."
Fear filled Shazam's eyes at the thought of losing his abilities. Becoming Shazam had transformed his life—no longer a powerless, ignored kid, he had become a superhero, someone admired and respected. He didn't want to go back to his old life. Panicking, he began to beg:
"Traveler Batman, please! I was wrong! Don't take my powers! I'm just a kid!"
Alex: "..."
That line again, Alex thought. But I'm still going to teach you a lesson.
Wonder Woman opened her mouth, about to say something, but Alex cut her off. "Don't forget, you're my maid now." he said with a calm but firm tone.
Hearing this, Wonder Woman closed her mouth, and Superman, who had been about to speak up as well, chose to remain silent.
Ignoring Shazam's continued pleas, Alex placed his hand on the boy's head. With his Lv5 Energy Absorption ability, he could feel the six divine powers within Shazam's body. With a swift movement, he pulled them out.
A swirling orb of six-colored energy formed in Alex's hand, radiating immense power. From what Alex could sense, this energy orb was slightly less potent than Superman's normal state, though still stronger than Batman with his enhancements.
However, the energy had six distinct imprints on it, likely representing the gods that had granted Shazam his power. These energy signatures meant Alex couldn't simply give this power to one of his subordinates.
Then, an idea struck him. He turned to Batman and said, "Batman, you're too weak. You're an embarrassment to the Batman Army of the Multiverse. Here's a chance for you to gain real power. Interested?"
Batman: "??!!!"
A few minutes later, a deep voice echoed:
"Shazam!"
Thus, Symbiote Shazam Batman was born. Now, even without Alex's energy boost, Batman had the power to rival Superman in his normal state!
Afterward, Alex opened a portal and returned to Paradise Island with Wonder Woman, while Batman soared into the sky, adjusting to his newfound power.
Superman, meanwhile, looked down at Billy, who was lying on the ground in a daze. With a sigh, he gently picked him up and flew him back to his home city.
Although Superman didn't agree with Alex's harsh treatment of the boy, he had to admit that Billy wasn't suited to being a superhero, at least not yet.
The Traveler Batman hadn't done anything wrong.
...
Back on Paradise Island, Wonder Woman reunited with her mother, Hippolyta, after decades apart. The two had a lot to catch up on.
During this time, Alex didn't disturb them. Instead, he focused on training his skills, and after a period of intense practice, his Vector Manipulation was on the verge of leveling up.
[Vector Manipulation Experience +1]
[Vector Manipulation Experience +1]
[Vector Manipulation Experience +1]
...
Finally, after a few more minutes, a different notification appeared:
[Vector Manipulation Experience +1]
[Congratulations! Your skill 'Vector Manipulation' has leveled up!]
[Vector Manipulation Lv4 (1/5000): Control all comprehensible vectors' directions, as well as create fictional vector axes. After extensive practice, 'Vector Manipulation' has broken its original limits, allowing control over certain scalar quantities, such as mass, density, temperature, energy, and more!]
A flood of new information poured into Alex's mind, and he quickly absorbed it. Vector Manipulation and Hollow Purple were now his two strongest abilities, both far more powerful than any of his other skills.
Of course, these two skills were also the hardest to level up. Under the same training conditions, other skills could gain five experience points, while these two only gained two or three. However, Vector Manipulation was slightly easier to train than Purple, making it more efficient for experience farming.
Now that Vector Manipulation had broken through to Lv4, it had undergone a significant transformation. Not only could Alex control any comprehensible vector, but he could also manipulate certain scalar quantities.
At its most basic, Vector Manipulation allowed him to control the direction of any vector, which are quantities that have both magnitude and direction. By controlling vectors, Alex could ignore defenses and deal massive damage with minimal effort. However, before Lv4, he couldn't alter the magnitude of a vector—only its direction.
But now, at Lv4, that limitation was gone. He could not only change the size of vectors but also manipulate scalar quantities, which are properties without direction, such as length, temperature, mass, density, and power.
This allowed Alex to break the laws of physics, including the conservation of energy and mass. It was a power capable of altering reality itself!
In Marvel, Iceman was classified as an Omega-level mutant because he could disregard the laws of thermodynamics. But Alex's abilities went far beyond that. He could practically ignore all physical laws!
And this was only Lv4. What would happen if he reached Lv5 or higher? How powerful would Vector Manipulation become then?
Sensing the massive boost in his power, Alex grinned. He was feeling more confident than ever about getting his revenge on the Celestials, but he knew he needed to stay cautious. After all, his strength had yet to reach its full potential.
In the following weeks, Alex lived a blissful life.
During this time, he researched Wonder Woman's divine power, which required close contact. Naturally, their relationship evolved into something more intimate.
The addition of Wonder Woman brought great relief to Catwoman and Mera, as they were finding it increasingly difficult to handle Alex's stamina. Every time they faced him, they would end up utterly exhausted.
Time passed, and one day, after finishing their workout and stepping out of his room, Alex noticed a familiar figure staggering out of one of his portal gates, covered in blood. It was none other than Batman!
The sight of a wounded Batman gave Alex a sense of déjà vu. He immediately teleported to Batman's side, his tone both concerned and exasperated as he asked, "What happened this time? Why the fuck are you injured. Again?"
Batman, clearly relieved to see Alex, forced himself to stay standing despite his injuries. His wounds were healing slowly, likely due to severe energy depletion, but he ignored his own pain and spoke urgently.
"Apokolips is invading Earth. Even with the superhero team I assembled, we are no match for them. I came here to ask for your help!"
Apokolips? Alex thought, instantly realizing that this meant Darkseid's forces had begun their invasion. He had expected Steppenwolf to invade at some point, but with Superman still alive and the Mother Boxes under his control, Alex hadn't anticipated the invasion happening so soon. However, it seemed that despite his interference, the forces of Apokolips were moving forward with their plans.
Still, Alex wasn't overly concerned. This invasion was just another opportunity for excitement—something new to play with. Plus, after handling the situation, he could pay a visit to Apokolips itself.
°°°
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