Multiverse: Deathstroke

Chapter 47: Ch.46 Ultimate Speed

Beyond Talia's sight, in the endless snowfield, a streak of red light sped rapidly over the thick snow.

Countless snowflakes were flung high into the air, like scattered blossoms blown skyward. But before they could fall back to the ground, the one who had stirred them up had long since vanished. Focusing on the front of that glowing trail, one could see it was the cloaked figure, carrying Bryce on his shoulder, legs moving at an insane pace.

It was as if time itself had frozen around them because they were too fast, and the world was too slow.

"How do you feel? I've never carried anyone through the Arctic Circle before."

The cloaked figure asked with concern, his legs never slowing. Snowflakes couldn't even touch him, both of them enveloped in a golden-yellow lightning field.

Bryce just stared coldly ahead at the non-existent path. The pitch-black polar night stretched infinitely in her view. She couldn't see where the horizon of the snowfield ended, but she knew they were rapidly approaching the coastline.

"If you know another version of me, then you should know I have my own ways to endure pain."

"Uh, I mean, if it's not necessary, you don't have to endure anything, Batwoman. Uh, saying that still feels awkward." As the cloaked figure's legs moved, the corner of his cloak lifted, revealing the red suit beneath.

"Actually, your so-called Speed Force has us wrapped in a special field, just like all those other times. I don't feel anything at all."

Bryce responded faintly. The world felt unfamiliar to her now. Things she had never imagined were happening to her. If this cloaked figure hadn't presented evidence, she would never have believed in what he called the future.

"This environment, where time seems to stop relative to the outside world, is called a 'bullet time' zone. I temporarily shared some of the Speed Force with you, so we're in sync. When our speed and acceleration match the Speed Force's field... Uh, you don't seem to care."

The cloaked figure had started rambling, explaining the theory of the Speed Force, accumulated over years of using his abilities.

But he realized Bryce was completely spacing out. It was as if she were mentally elsewhere, completely uninterested in what he was saying. This Bryce was different from Batman; Bryce would never zone out around others.

"Alright, enough of your relativity research report. We still have business to take care of. Once everything's resolved, I can pay for you to have a lecture at the Gotham Stadium. I can hire as many people as you want as your audience."

"Emmm, why would I share my abilities with unrelated people?" The cloaked figure was puzzled.

"Then there's no need to tell me either." Bryce shook her head. If she wanted to know something, she only trusted her own investigation, not something someone volunteered. "So, just take me back to Gotham. Take me home."

The cloaked figure sighed. One by one, they were all like this. Was every Batman in every world this awkward with people?

"Alright, Bats are always the boss. We're about to cross the sea."

With Bryce slung over his shoulder, he reached the edge of the snowfield without slowing down and plunged straight into the sea. The floating ice and waves around them were completely still in their perception. He ran straight across the water's surface, leaving a massive spray of water in his wake.

In the dark night, they seemed to be running towards the sunrise.

"Is it really okay to leave Mr. Butler on the island?"

The cloaked figure continued running, his mouth moving as fast as his legs. He asked another question, and Bryce rolled her eyes. It was this chatter that had made her believe his story.

No one would send someone so full of nonsense to deceive her. After all, the more one talked, the more mistakes they'd make. A liar had to be careful with every word to avoid getting caught, especially with someone like her. A person who talked this much couldn't possibly pay attention to everything they said. Therefore, everything he said had to be true.

"I'll say it again: that's Observation Post No. 7, not some deserted island. Alfred is safest there." Bryce corrected his wording. "If I'm not mistaken, your Batman should have also found that place suitable."

"Yes, Miss Bryce. As an elderly man, a tropical island near the equator might indeed be good for my legs. But we can't have bananas and coconuts for breakfast again tomorrow. Perhaps you should improve the menu."

Alfred's voice came through the pointed ears on Bryce's head, which doubled as a communicator and bat-radar.

"Don't worry, Alfred. I know what I'm doing."

Bryce accepted his goodwill but, as usual, felt compelled to show she could handle things. The cloaked figure had already taken her around the world several times in the past month, visiting many places and making various preparations. But generally, they would still return to the island for dinner.

Alfred had insisted on being responsible for their balanced meals.

The island's specialties were coconuts and bananas. Over the past month, they had tried every conceivable seafood and coconut-banana recipe. Although Alfred was an excellent cook, people aren't monkeys, and no matter how good bananas are, one would get sick of them eventually.

"So, Miss, could you come to the observation post to pick me up? The manor hasn't been cleaned for nearly a month. As a butler, that's a serious dereliction of duty."

"I'm still unsure about Gotham's situation."

Bryce intended to refuse. To avoid sensitive areas, she hadn't approached her home, even though she had taken down Bane and confiscated his nuke an hour ago, but that was underground.

To her, unless she could restore the city's surveillance footage for the past month and understand what had happened there, Gotham's situation remained unknown.

That was why she wanted to return to Wayne Manor this time.

The butler wasn't in a hurry. He still spoke with his usual elegance, "But Miss, you already have a plan, don't you? Everything will be resolved, just like always."

Bryce fell silent for a moment, blue eyes reflecting her thoughts.

"Yes, you're right. Preparations are almost complete." She patted the cloaked figure's shoulder. "Let's go to the island first, then to Gotham."

"Then we need to speed up a bit. Give me ten seconds." The cloaked figure did a quick calculation and laughed as he gave a time frame. "This trip really feels like a weight-loss journey. I've lost too much weight."

Despite his words, the cloaked figure quickened his pace even more, his legs becoming an indistinguishable blur.

More lightning erupted from his body, enveloping them both completely. Like a golden comet, they cut a deep path through the ocean, veering towards the equator.

No creature could see their passing, because it all happened too quickly to register on their retinas. Perhaps only the gods knew what had transpired.

As if in the blink of an eye, they appeared on a tropical island. The sun had not yet set, and Alfred was by a nearby grill, preparing buttered grilled bananas.

The cloaked figure took a breath, grabbed a banana from the grill, and stuffed it into his mouth. He felt he would pass out if he didn't eat something, though bananas reminded him of apes—and he had once fought a war against a nation of apes.

"May I remind you, Mr. Allen, that you didn't wash your hands?"

But the cloaked figure just shrugged, his mouth full of golden banana, moving it around because of the heat, and mumbled, "Actually, I did. I just did it too fast."

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