"Ah!"
Bound tightly by the Lasso of Truth, The Merciless let out a heavy sigh.
"Diana, you've ruined everything!" he exclaimed helplessly. "Why did you suddenly decide to save me? I had my own plans, and you've destroyed them all!
"You were always like this when we were together. Every time you had one of your whims, I'd have to adjust my schedule and make concessions…"
His bluntness was uncharacteristic, jarring even, and Bruce immediately noticed something was off.
Then his eyes flicked to the glowing golden lasso wrapped around The Merciless.
Ah, so that's it.
The Lasso of Truth forced him to speak honestly. What The Merciless had just said were likely unspoken grievances from when they were together.
Clark, however, didn't share Bruce's amusement. His tone was stern as he addressed Diana.
"Are you looking for an excuse to let him live?"
"Of course not," Diana replied, shaking her head. "The Merciless slaughtered an entire world. A quick death would be far too lenient for him."
"You're too softhearted, Diana," The Merciless said from the ground, shaking his head as best as he could under the constraints of the lasso. "You may say otherwise, but I can hear the hesitation in your voice.
"Didn't your battle with Ares teach you anything? Mercy toward your enemies will only lead to your own ruin."
Diana's expression darkened. Without a word, she kicked him over, sending him sprawling.
He dares lecture me? After all of this?
Bruce refrained from commenting on the exchange. Instead, he turned to Diana with a straightforward question.
"What do you plan to do next?"
"Take him back to Earth-11 Minus," Diana said decisively. "That world he destroyed still has a chance for rebirth. The Merciless will pay for his crimes by giving everything he has to aid in its restoration."
From the moment Bruce had revived her, Diana had entertained this plan. With Bruce's earlier mention of Swamp Thing and Solomon Grundy, she had realized that Earth-11 Minus wasn't beyond saving.
Diana was a god, blessed with near-immortality. She had all the time in the world to wait—for greenery to reclaim the barren wasteland, for life to sprout anew, for the planet to heal and flourish.
It might have been a fool's hope, but Diana was willing to dedicate her life to it.
But The Merciless dismissed the idea with a low, humorless chuckle.
"It's meaningless, Diana," he said, his tone somber. "As long as there's light and dark in the universe, your efforts will amount to nothing."
"That's how I might have thought before," Diana said, glancing briefly at Bruce. "But now I believe that in my lifetime, this wrong—this dark multiverse—can be brought to an end."
Bruce froze under Diana's gaze.
Wait, what does she mean by that?
Was this Diana pinning her hopes on him? Expecting him to lead a charge against the darkness itself?
Bruce's chest tightened. He had to resist the urge to protest. My goal has always been to protect Gotham, not to fix the entire multiverse. That's far beyond me.
The Merciless laughed bitterly at her optimism, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Impossible!" he bellowed. "To end the dark multiverse, you'd have to defeat Lord Barbatos! And Barbatos is invincible! No one can beat him!"
No one.
The Lasso of Truth guaranteed the sincerity of his words. This was a belief deeply rooted in The Merciless's heart.
"You can't change anything!" he continued, his voice rising in defiance. "The only path left is revenge—revenge against the material world! Make those who live in the light feel the pain of the darkness!"
It was the only way. The only path he could see.
Diana's face fell as she listened. The man she had once loved—the Bruce she knew—had been consumed. His unyielding will had twisted into despair, and he had become a willing agent of the darkness he once fought.
"He's beyond saving," Bruce said coldly. "You heard him, Diana. The Merciless has passed the point of no return."
"I…" Diana hesitated. She wanted to argue, but no words came. She knew Bruce was right.
"The Merciless must answer for what he's done," Bruce said firmly. "But not here. We'll take him back to Earth-11 Minus."
There, in his homeland, The Merciless would meet justice.
The Merciless let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "You're dreaming! The moment I return to Earth-11 Minus, the Dark Knights will know, and they'll come to rescue me!"
The Lasso of Truth forced him to speak honestly, which only made his taunts more brazen.
Bruce had heard enough. He shot The Merciless a withering glare.
"You seem excited about that prospect. Trust me, they won't arrive in time. I'll kill you myself before they do."
"And so what?" The Merciless replied without a hint of fear. "I've made preparations. There are things I couldn't accomplish, but my heirs will carry on my work.
"As long as the prime world suffers for what it's done to us, I'll die content!"
Bruce stiffened. Heirs?
The word hit him like a jolt of electricity. What does he mean by that?
"What do you mean by 'heirs'?" Bruce demanded. "Do you have a child?"
Diana also turned her gaze toward The Merciless, waiting for his explanation.
"Close enough," The Merciless replied with a smirk. "He's not exactly my creation, but he exists because of me."
Then, he added with a knowing glint in his eye, "Bruce, haven't you found it odd that I haven't used the Still Force against you this time?"
Bruce frowned. "I assumed it was because I didn't use the Speed Force."
"Of course not! I put Grodd's brain to far better use!"
The Merciless broke into manic laughter. "Bruce, you have no idea what kind of monster I've created. He was born to do one thing—erase you completely!"
His laughter echoed with arrogance and triumph, as if savoring the success of his foresight.
Perhaps, as Barbatos had once forewarned, Bruce's departure from the DC Universe had unraveled the predetermined threads of his fate. The original Dark Knights might no longer have been enough to defeat him.
Thus, The Merciless had prepared for the future, crafting a being that embodied the darkness of all Batmen—a weapon designed to ensure that no matter how powerful Bruce became outside the multiverse, Barbatos would remain inescapable.
The Merciless had set that plan in motion.
"You think I'll never figure out what you've done? We'll see about that," Bruce said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the Lasso of Truth binding The Merciless.
"Tell me all about your so-called brilliant plan," Bruce prompted, his voice sharp and unwavering.
The Merciless, compelled by the lasso's power, nodded instinctively. "Of course."
"Go on, then." Bruce folded his arms, ready to listen.
"The Still Force's true potential isn't just to counter the Speed Force," The Merciless began, his tone shifting into a lecturer's cadence. "It's one of the seven mysterious forces sealed within the Source Wall, tied to the very fabric of reality…"
He went on to elaborate.
The Still Force, according to The Merciless, acted as a bridge—a connection to the Source Wall, which encased the DC Multiverse. The Source Wall was an extraordinary construct, a boundary that sealed away countless powerful entities and the consciousnesses of past champions.
When a living being temporarily connected to the Source Wall through the Still Force, it could lead to inexplicable phenomena.
For instance:
Lifeless objects could suddenly gain sentience.
A vessel might inherit the power of a being imprisoned within the Source Wall.
Such occurrences weren't mere theories—they had precedent.
Take Uxas, the father of Darkseid. Though his body was trapped within the Source Wall, he had once projected his consciousness and powers into Shazam.
Shazam…
Bruce's mind raced as the pieces fell into place. Could The Merciless's earlier acquisition of Black Adam's body have been for this very reason?
Shazam and Black Adam shared similar power structures. Both were divine vessels, designed to channel pure godly might. If Black Adam's body were modified…
Bruce turned sharply toward The Merciless, voicing his theory aloud.
"Correct," The Merciless confirmed without hesitation. "Black Adam's body is pure divine energy. His true form is nothing more than a frail old man.
"There was no better subject for this experiment."
Bruce's blood ran cold. At last, he understood why The Merciless was so fearless, even in the face of death.
He had already laid the foundation for the Prime Universe's destruction.
His death would not derail the plan.
It all makes sense now.
"Not good!" Bruce exclaimed, a new urgency overtaking him. His mind flashed to Diana and Kathoom, both still imprisoned.
"Where is your Batcave?" he demanded. "Are Diana and Kathoom there?"
The Merciless's grin widened cruelly. "I told you before—you can only save one…"
Before The Merciless could finish speaking, Bruce slapped him hard across the face.
"Talk! Where are Diana and Kathoom?"
"They're in separate Batcaves," The Merciless muttered, his head hanging low. "I set it up so you'd have to choose who to save… but I swapped their locations at the last moment."
Bruce couldn't help but marvel at the cunning of the plan. Had things gone as The Merciless intended, Bruce would inevitably have broken his vow to protect Diana.
Fortunately, that scenario had been avoided.
Bruce forced the locations of the Batcaves out of The Merciless and then turned to Clark.
"You still want to send me away, don't you?" Clark asked calmly, understanding Bruce's intention. "But you know I don't want to leave."
"I do," Bruce admitted. He had no desire to fight Clark anymore. Instead, he decided to propose a different solution.
"But you owe me, don't you?" Bruce pressed.
After all, it was Bruce who had freed Superman from mental control by giving him Magneto's helmet. That helmet was still perched on Clark's head—there was no denying the debt.
"I do," Clark admitted. "But that's not enough to—"
"You misunderstand," Bruce interrupted. "I don't want to use a favor to force you. I want to make a pact—a gentleman's agreement."
The unexpected statement piqued Clark's curiosity. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for Bruce to continue.
"I want you to guard Earth-11 Minus for a while," Bruce proposed. "That devastated world has only just begun to show signs of renewal. It's fragile and needs protection.
"Think of it as an invaluable experience, Clark—watching a world rebuild itself from nothing. It'll give you perspectives you've never had before.
"It wouldn't be forever. Before the end of my life, I'll come for you, and we can finish our unfinished fight. If you win, you can stay wherever you want."
Clark fell silent, contemplating Bruce's words. The idea of witnessing a world's rebirth intrigued him deeply. He wasn't originally from this universe and had only lingered to learn from his mentor's guidance.
Experiencing the birth of a new world firsthand… it wasn't a bad idea.
"A 'Dark Multiverse Observer'—how does that title sound?" Bruce added with a slight grin. "Breaking the chains of the dark multiverse and creating a new world… isn't that what you've always wanted?"
Clark's lips quirked into a small smile. "It is," he admitted. Then his expression grew serious. "But how long would I have to guard it? Don't pretend you don't know, Bruce. Even if plants and microbes appear, it'll take millions of years to evolve animals, let alone civilizations."
It was an astronomical commitment.
Even with Superman's long lifespan, it was a daunting prospect.
"You don't need to worry about that," Bruce reassured him. "The Parliament of Life will ensure balance. Since Earth-11 Minus already has the Green and the Gray, the Red—representing animal life—will appear soon as well."
Extraordinary forces would drastically accelerate evolution.
How much faster? Bruce couldn't say for sure.
"Really?" Clark asked, still skeptical.
"Absolutely," Bruce affirmed with a firm nod. "I promise I'll come for you. This is a gentleman's pact—my sincerity for yours."
Clark studied Bruce intently before finally relaxing. Doubting Bruce's resolve now would have been impolite.
"I'll give you a hundred years," Clark declared. "If you don't return by then, I'll act according to my own will. Remember, Bruce, after this, we owe each other nothing."
With that, Clark removed Magneto's helmet and handed it back to Bruce.
A century seemed long, but to Superman, it was barely a blink.
"Then it's a deal." Bruce nodded, then kicked The Merciless lightly. "And what about this guy?"
"I'll take care of him," Clark said suddenly, his voice cold. "He won't get the chance to call for Barbatos."
Reassured by Clark's promise, Bruce activated the Speed Force, enveloping Diana, Clark, and The Merciless as they left the DCEU universe.
The kaleidoscopic scenery of the multiverse streaked past until they landed back on the barren Earth-11 Minus.
Clark stayed true to his word. Under Bruce and Diana's watchful eyes, he took The Merciless and vanished into the wasteland.
When he returned, Clark held the blood-stained Lasso of Truth in his hands, alone.
"Want to inspect it?" he asked, handing the lasso back to Diana. "By the way, that guy was unhinged to the end. Even in his final moments, he laughed, saying his mission was complete."
"He's gone mad," Diana said softly, her gaze lingering on the blood. Her tone was somber, though she quickly regained her composure. She couldn't let herself dwell on this any longer. The Merciless was far beyond redemption, and agonizing over him would only hurt herself.
"In a way, dying in his homeland was a mercy," Diana said. "I'll bury him in my old casket—it's the last bit of kindness I can show him."
Clark nodded. Since Diana seemed steady, he saw no harm in letting her bury the body.
Bruce accompanied them to confirm that The Merciless was truly, irrevocably dead. Satisfied there was no risk of a resurgence, Bruce said his goodbyes to Diana and Clark and returned alone to the DCEU universe.
There, one final problem awaited him.
As Bruce sped back, a thought crossed his mind, drawing a sardonic smirk.
"The Merciless's ending is a bit too ironic, isn't it?" Bruce mused. "His wife and Clark, alone on a barren planet, with his grave right beside them."
What is this? Some tragic funeral-widow trope?
He shook his head to clear the thought. He had no time for such nonsense. His next goal was finding his Diana.
Oh, and that pesky owl.
---
The Merciless's network of Batcaves wasn't limited to just one location—there were three in total. In two of them, massive crosses stood at the center, holding the captives: Diana and Kathoom.
Bruce, now armed with the knowledge of their locations, wasted no time. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in one of the caves.
Before him stood a towering cross with an unconscious Diana bound to it.
Bruce quickly freed her, lowering her gently and whispering her name to wake her. Diana's eyelids fluttered, and when she opened her eyes, she was greeted by Bruce's smile.
"You…"
In that brief moment of clarity, Diana understood everything.
"It's all over?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Almost," Bruce replied softly. "There's still one more—Professor Pigg. Once we deal with him, the war is truly over."
Of the seven Incarnates, the final one left standing was, ironically, the weakest of them all.
The idea seemed almost laughable.
"Good… good…" Diana murmured, unsure how to express the surge of emotions within her. Bruce had fulfilled the promise he made to her.
He had vanquished the most formidable foes. He had fought and survived the most grueling battles. And now, despite all odds, he had come for her first.
A fleeting thought crossed her mind—Kathoom might be disappointed.
"Diana," Bruce said, sensing her inner turmoil. "I know you have a lot to say, but we don't have time."
Taking her hand, he gently pressed his ring against hers, the two artifacts resonating faintly.
"The Merciless left behind one last trap for us. We need to deal with it immediately."
"Y-Yes, of course!" Diana stammered. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, being near Bruce made her chest feel tight, as if the air was too thin.
Especially now, cradled in his arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, his breath brushing against her ear. It was overwhelming.
She suddenly felt the urge to draw closer.
It must be gratitude, she thought.
Gratitude for how he had set everything right. That had to explain why she felt so unsteady.
"Let's go, then!" Bruce said, though his tone held a hint of reluctance. The moment they shared could have deepened their bond, but they didn't have the luxury of time.
Yet when he looked back, Diana hadn't moved. Instead, her gaze was fixed intently on his lips, as if lost in thought.
"Diana?"
It took him calling her name several times to bring her out of her daze.
"We need to move," he said again.
"Oh! Of course!" Diana blurted, clearly flustered. She worried that Bruce had seen through her stray thoughts.
Fortunately for her, Bruce was too focused on their mission to dwell on anything else. He helped her to her feet, steadying her as they prepared to leave for Professor Pigg's Batcave.
"Wait!" Diana suddenly exclaimed. "Aren't we going to save Kathoom?"
Bruce hesitated briefly before shaking his head. "No, we'll go straight to Pigg's location."
"The owl doesn't need saving."
Kathoom, after all, had allowed himself to be captured intentionally to protect Diana. Now that everything was coming to an end, Bruce was confident Kathoom would find his own way out.