"What the hell are you doing?"
Bruce's voice echoed in Kathoom's mind through telepathy.
He had grown accustomed to the owl's peculiar behavior, but this… this was beyond comprehension.
"Having a bit of fun, diverting Merciless's attention," Kathoom replied nonchalantly. "If you weren't so useless—losing to him—I wouldn't need to pull off stunts like this."
Merciless, like all Batmen, was relentless.
His determination, ruthlessness, and lack of moral boundaries ensured that if he decided to kill Diana, he would see it through.
But being a Batman, he also carried that same insatiable curiosity.
The more absurd Kathoom's actions appeared, the more Merciless's suspicion grew.
The stranger the behavior, the deeper his distrust.
After all, Batman could see malice in a harmless glass of water.
"But how are you even moving in the Still Force?" Bruce demanded. "And if you can move, why don't you just get us out of here?"
"Sorry, can't do that."
Kathoom flapped his wings dismissively. "I've pushed the Speed Force to its absolute limit just to move like a normal person. If I tried to carry both you and Diana, my speed would drop too much to escape."
When Bruce activated the Speed Force, Kathoom's speed automatically multiplied tenfold.
It sounded incredible, but even that boost could only counteract the Still Force enough for him to move.
The Still Force's suppression of speed was simply too overwhelming.
"I've got a plan," Kathoom explained. "I'll use Apparition to teleport you to safety. Just you. I'll stay here to protect Diana."
The teleportation spell wasn't one Bruce had mastered—it was something Kathoom had learned from Ravenclaw's archives.
It could transport others, but not the caster themselves.
"Why can't you take Diana with you?" Bruce asked.
"Unless you're holding her hand, it's nearly impossible," Kathoom admitted with a sigh. "And the two of you are too far apart."
This wasn't an evenly matched battle—it was an ambush. Merciless had come prepared, while Bruce was caught off guard.
The only viable strategy was for Bruce to escape, regroup, and return with a plan.
Kathoom had made up his mind. No amount of protest would change it.
The owl returned to his performance, hurling increasingly outrageous accusations at Bruce.
"In my eyes, Bruce Wayne is an irredeemable menace! He used me to cross universes, committed heinous crimes, became best buds with Red Skull, beat Professor McGonagall with nunchucks, and—worst of all—seduced the poor Deep!"
"I never seduced Deep!"
Bruce protested through their mental link, appalled at the slander. Sure, Kathoom's rant was absurd, but this was taking it too far.
Merciless watched silently, trying to piece together the owl's intentions.
He had been curious at first, thinking Kathoom's antics might serve a larger purpose.
But the more he listened, the more it seemed like the owl was simply venting his grievances against Bruce.
Finally, Merciless's patience wore thin.
"Enough…"
Just as he spoke, Bruce's form began to distort. A strange sound accompanied the phenomenon, and within moments, Bruce vanished.
Only Diana and Kathoom remained.
"What?" Kathoom exclaimed dramatically. "That little bat must've stolen my multiversal teleportation spell!"
Another dimension-crossing trick.
Merciless's face darkened.
His greatest disadvantage against Bruce was his inability to leave this world. If Bruce had truly escaped, there would be no way to pursue him.
"You're sure he stole it?" Merciless asked coldly. "And not that you taught it to him?"
"If I had taught him, why wouldn't I have escaped with him?" Kathoom countered smoothly. "Why would I stay here and face your wrath for someone I barely know? We've only shared a few meals!"
Merciless fell silent, unconvinced by Kathoom's deflection.
The real question was whether Bruce had truly fled beyond reach—or whether he would return.
"That's not like him," Merciless muttered suddenly.
He turned to Kathoom. "Bruce wouldn't just run away. He'll come back."
"Why would he walk back into a trap?" Kathoom asked, feigning confusion.
"Because he's Bruce Wayne," Merciless declared firmly. "He won't accept defeat without exhausting every option to beat me."
This retreat wasn't an escape—it was a strategic regrouping.
Bruce would return.
Reassured, Merciless raised his hand. An icy wind swept through the air as an eerie howling began. Ghostly figures materialized around them, the souls of those Merciless had slain, eternally bound to his will.
The spirits took on physical forms, seizing both Diana and Kathoom, dragging them into the air.
"What are you doing?" Kathoom squawked indignantly. "I'm part of the Dark Knights! You can't harm me!"
"I've grown tired of your games."
Merciless strode forward, yanking the miniature Batman helmet off Kathoom's head.
He stared into the owl's unflinching gaze.
"I just had an idea," he said softly. "One I'm eager to test."
"What idea?" Kathoom asked, curious despite himself.
"I wonder," Merciless mused, "who Bruce would save if forced to choose—you or Diana?"
"Oh, now that's interesting!" Kathoom's eyes lit up. "Mind if I make a suggestion?"
Merciless frowned. "Do you not understand that I'm using you as bait?"
"Of course, but why does that stop me from making this a better plan?" Kathoom replied earnestly. "If Bruce chooses, he'll save whoever matters most to him. The one left behind won't weigh on his conscience for long.
"Here's a twist: secretly swap my position with Diana's. That way, whoever Bruce tries to save, he'll end up rescuing the other. He'll live with regret forever!"
Kathoom explained his devious plan with a level of enthusiasm that left Merciless momentarily stunned.
Such a cruel, manipulative scheme—and yet the owl proposed it as casually as one might suggest lunch options.
"You really don't think Bruce will pick you, do you?" Merciless sneered. "You're just trying to save your own neck."
"Guilty as charged."
Dangling in midair, Kathoom remained as shameless as ever.
"Well? Are you going to take my advice or not?"
Merciless sighed, fully aware of the owl's audacious self-interest.
"Your idea has merit," he said after a pause.
"But I refuse."
"You…"
Kathoom groaned theatrically, as though deeply disappointed.
Merciless had no intention of taking advice from the likes of Kathoom. With a wave of his hand, the spirits carried both Diana and the owl toward his lair.
"I don't need anyone's suggestions," Merciless thought, resolute in his conviction.
His next move was clear: offer Bruce an impossible choice—then swap Diana and Kathoom's positions himself.
After all, Merciless always acted on his own terms.
---
A strange sound tore through the air, and Bruce's figure materialized mid-fall.
With practiced ease, he twisted in the air, landing gracefully on solid ground.
Free from the clutches of the Still Force, his movements felt normal again—no longer burdened by the eerie sensation of his mind racing ahead of his body.
"Kathoom…"
The memory of their last moment together lingered in his mind, filling him with unease.
Though the owl had maintained an air of nonchalance, Bruce understood the gravity of Kathoom's sacrifice. Teleporting him away while staying behind had placed both Kathoom and Diana at the mercy of Merciless.
What kind of torment are they enduring right now?
"They're counting on me to save them," Bruce muttered through gritted teeth, steeling himself.
Kathoom's actions were a testament to his trust in Bruce, even in the direst moments.
Bruce vowed to honor that trust. He would save them both—no matter the cost.
He clenched his fists. I swear on my parents' graves, Kathoom, Diana—I won't let you down.
With his resolve solidified, Bruce turned his focus to his surroundings, surveying the unfamiliar environment.
He needed to know where Kathoom had sent him.
Moments later—
"Kathoom! You've got to be kidding me!"
Bruce's shout of frustration pierced the quiet night air as he recognized his location.
He was in a London orphanage.
"Of all the places… even now, you can't resist being clever?"
The orphan Bruce Wayne muttered curses under his breath, venting his irritation at Kathoom's choice.
Then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"Well, well. Talking behind my back, are we? Gotcha!"
Kathoom's voice carried an exaggerated tone of indignation.
"I sacrificed so much for you, and this is how you repay me? You're bullying me!"
"You're not even human," Bruce retorted flatly, unfazed by the owl's sudden telepathic intrusion.
This wasn't their first time communicating this way.
"How are you holding up?" Bruce asked, his tone betraying genuine concern. "Has Merciless tortured you yet? Maybe scalded you with boiling water before plucking out your feathers?"
"Not yet," Kathoom replied dryly. "He's just locked me up. Diana's in the cell next to mine."
"Shame," Bruce quipped, sighing theatrically.
"Shame your—" Kathoom cut himself off with a frustrated squawk before continuing. "Listen up. You need to be careful. Merciless isn't just any Batman—he's already figured out you'll come back for a rematch. He's prepared."
"Where are you?" Bruce asked.
"In his Batcave," Kathoom said simply.
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. "Where's that?"
"Moscow."
"Moscow where?"
"The Batcave in Moscow."
"…You're hopeless."
Bruce could tell Kathoom was stalling. If the owl knew the exact location, he'd have mentioned it—or escaped with Diana by now.
The Batcave was likely concealed by powerful wards or hidden within a dimensional pocket.
"Looks like I can't rely on you for an inside job." Bruce shook his head. "I'll have to do this my way."
Defeating Merciless wouldn't be easy, but it wasn't impossible.
Earlier, the element of surprise had given his adversary the upper hand.
Now, Bruce had time to prepare.
"Keep an eye on Diana," Bruce ordered. "Don't let him harm her."
"For now, she's safe," Kathoom assured him, glancing at the adjacent cell where Diana lay unconscious on the floor.
"Just hurry up," Kathoom added. "You've talked big about taking down the Dark Batmen. Time to deliver."
"I know," Bruce said, cutting off their connection.
The night sky stretched above him, a blanket of stars glimmering faintly.
An hour ago, Diana and I were gazing at these same stars. Merciless ruined everything.
Bruce's jaw tightened.
That alone is reason enough to end him.
He raised his hand, summoning the shattered Mjölnir.
The hammer flew to his grasp, its fractured surface glowing faintly.
A small silver dragon, Halley, emerged from within, circling him with playful energy before landing with a puff of frost.
But its excitement quickly turned to panic.
Not spotting Kathoom, Harley tugged at Bruce's ear with its tiny claws, letting out mournful cries.
"Relax," Bruce said, voice steady. "Kathoom hasn't abandoned you. He was captured, but we'll get him back."
Captured?
Halley froze, its imagination conjuring horrific images of Kathoom in peril.
Its distress manifested as wailing, tears streaming down its scaly cheeks.
"Don't worry." Bruce placed a hand on Harley's head. "If there's one thing I know about that owl, it's that he's too stubborn to die. He'll be fine."
Halley sniffled, slowly calming down. With renewed determination, it returned to its place within Mjölnir.
Bruce lifted the hammer high, gazing at the fractured piece missing from its head.
Time to retrieve that shard—and finish this.
---
Diana awoke in a dimly lit cell.
Her head throbbed as she sat up, struggling to piece together what had happened.
"What… happened?" she murmured.
"You're awake," Kathoom's voice called from the adjacent cell.
Turning, Diana saw the owl hanging upside down, bound by an unfamiliar white lasso.
"Kathoom! Are you okay?"
Diana's concern was evident.
"I'm fine," Kathoom said casually. "Just taking in the world from a different perspective."
The owl twisted mid-air, revealing the peculiar lasso binding his claws—a relic from a Dark Universe, designed to trap its victim in illusions and lies.
Its magic, however, had little effect on Kathoom.
He had seen far stranger dreams and illusions during his time at Hogwarts.
"What's going on? Where's Bruce?" Diana asked, inspecting the reinforced bars of her cell.
"The Batcave in Moscow," Kathoom answered.
Diana frowned. "That doesn't help me. Where in Moscow?"
Kathoom shrugged. "Somewhere. Anyway, Bruce escaped. He's probably planning his next move."
"You don't seem worried," Diana noted, her tone tinged with suspicion.
"Worry changes nothing," Kathoom replied matter-of-factly. "Accept reality and adapt."
Diana fell silent, then nodded. "You're right. I could learn from your mindset."
"Of course," Kathoom said smugly. "My wisdom is unparalleled."
With a flick of his wing, he retrieved a tiny owl-shaped doll from his feathers and tossed it into the air.
"Go, Kathoom the Third!"