SHATTERED WORLDS | DC (2022)

Part 4: The Never Ending Story

Batman

Bruce removed his cowl as they all materialized in the Batcave beneath Wayne Manor, the strain of the day evident in his gaze. They had all fought so hard, and the result had not been what they'd hoped. The tension in the cave was palpable, everyone processing their own disappointment.

Barbara was the first to break the silence. "We were so close," she murmured, her eyes on the screens displaying various news outlets. They were ablaze with chaotic coverage of the battle of the gods.

"We still made a difference," Tim argued, though his voice lacked conviction. "Superman's regime won't recover easily from this."

Cassandra, ever the silent observer, merely nodded in agreement, her eyes still distant as they recounted the spectacle they'd just been a part of.

Artemis, Harley, and Ares stood a little apart from the group, each engrossed in their own thoughts. Jason, who was leaning heavily against a console, finally looked up at Batman.

"But we didn't stop him, B," he said, a rare note of frustration creeping into his voice. "Superman's still out there."

Bruce met his gaze and nodded. "Yes," he said, his voice measured, "but this isn't over. We regroup. We learn from this, and we make our next move. This war isn't over. Not yet."

The determination in his voice spread through the cave, a reminder of the unyielding spirit that had brought them all together. Even in the face of failure, Batman was ready to keep fighting, and his conviction infused his team with renewed hope. The war against Superman's regime was far from finished.

The quiet hum of the Batcave was disrupted by the sound of departing footsteps. Each of Batman’s allies, worn down by defeat and discord, chose to seek solace on their own, their spirits dampened.

However, Adeline and Cassandra stayed behind. The bonds they had formed with Bruce held firm, even in the aftermath of disappointment. As the remaining members of his team, they were silent pillars of support as Batman grappled with the new reality of their situation.

With his friends and allies dispersed, Ares, the god of war himself, pulled Batman aside. Their union had been a strange one from the start, born of necessity and not trust, and now it seemed to be reaching its breaking point.

Bruce removed his cowl, his eyes mirroring a rare display of frustration as he voiced his concerns to Ares. The battle was supposed to have tipped the scales in their favor. It was supposed to have been a turning point. But all they had managed to do was to thrust themselves further into uncertainty.

Ares responded defensively, claiming he had no knowledge of High Father’s intervention, let alone the message he bore from the omnipotent Presence. Bruce then asked what their next move could be, to which Ares stated the chilling reality that this was the end of their alliance.

Bruce, for the first time in a while, felt anger surge through him. He confronted Ares, calling him a deceiver and a liar. But his concerns, especially regarding the curse that held Adeline captive, were met with a dismissive response from Ares. He declared that it was no longer his concern, an open refusal to honor their original agreement.

What hit Batman the hardest was the blatant truth in Ares' parting words, that he could do nothing to stop him. Powerless and infuriated, Bruce was left in the echoing silence of the Batcave.

Once again, he found himself back to square one, grappling with a painful defeat. Alone in his lair, Batman was left to regroup, to piece together a shattered plan, his path forward more unclear than ever before. Despite the weight of the situation, one fact remained clear in his mind - his fight against Superman's regime was far from over.