The sudden attack instantly interrupted the group's casual conversation.
The moment the metal canister appeared, everyone on the scene was already prepared to react.
Even though this was Gotham, it was still an unfamiliar universe. And for the Bat-Family—who had vigilance ingrained in their very DNA—being caught completely off guard was never an option.
Despite their playful banter and seemingly relaxed demeanor, every one of them was on high alert, ready for any danger.
Even Tony Stark was no exception. After everything he had been through, he knew how dangerous the multiverse could be. That's why he always kept J.A.R.V.I.S. in automatic surveillance mode.
The moment J.A.R.V.I.S. scanned and determined that the canister was just a smoke grenade rather than a high-powered explosive, Tony immediately pieced together what was happening.
Then, as thick smoke obscured their vision, a series of sharp whistling sounds cut through the air—an unmistakable sign of an incoming attack.
Dick reacted instantly, spinning around as he drew the short batons from his waist, deflecting every projectile aimed at him. Even in near-zero visibility, his trained ears and instincts were enough to pinpoint the attackers' positions.
Damian was just as quick to react, but just as he was about to roll away, Jason grabbed the back of his collar in one swift motion.
With Jason's super-soldier-enhanced strength, Damian didn't stand a chance of escaping. Like a cat being lifted by the scruff of its neck, he was effortlessly pulled behind Jason, who then raised his arm. A black, circular shield emerged, blocking all incoming projectiles.
"Hey! I can handle this myself, you know!" Damian protested.
Jason, however, didn't even acknowledge him. Instead, he spoke coldly, "Stay behind me and don't move."
Damian glared, clearly about to resist, but one glance at Jason's now ridiculously muscular arms—thicker than his own legs—made him hesitate. Begrudgingly, he stayed put. But the ambush wasn't over. Soon, explosions erupted from all directions, growing more intense.
Jason frowned slightly, using his shield to block the oncoming projectiles while simultaneously analyzing the attack's direction and pattern.
Razor-sharp, triangular spikes slammed into his shield, but not a single dent was left behind. After all, Jason's shield wasn't just any ordinary piece of metal—it was a modified version of Captain America's vibranium shield.
After being forced to take over the Avengers and become "Captain Federation," Jason had inherited this iconic shield as well.
The shield represented an entire era of heroism. Though its original owner had died in battle, his legacy still endured in the wasteland.
After receiving it, Jason customized its appearance to his liking. Under normal circumstances, modifying an artifact left behind by a legendary hero would be seen as disrespectful. But Jason had been thrown into leadership unwillingly, so Lex Luthor had simply turned a blind eye.
After all, Jason had only changed the design. Luthor knew all too well that the Bat-Family had a habit of putting a "bat" prefix on everything they touched. It was hardly surprising.
Now, the shield was deep crimson, with the five-pointed star at its center replaced by a stylized armored bat symbol.
Combined with Jason's broad and powerful build, his new look was far from that of a guardian—it was more like a bloodthirsty destroyer.
And that suited Jason just fine. He had never believed in passive defense. To him, the best defense was a relentless offense.
As he deflected another wave of projectiles, Jason suddenly tilted his head slightly, his ears sharpening as he focused.
Among the sharp, piercing sounds of the projectiles, he detected something subtle—a mechanical spring activating.
Judging by the trajectory, speed, and angle of the attacks, this wasn't a human opponent. It was a pre-set trap.
Jason wasn't the only one who noticed. Behind him, Damian also realized something was off. He didn't hesitate.
"Red Hood!" he called out in warning.
"I know—" Jason cut in immediately, eyes scanning for Dick's position through the thick smoke.
The dense cloud had nearly blinded them, but the occasional flashes of light and the metallic clangs told Jason that Dick was still dodging and countering attacks.
Without hesitation, Jason shifted his weight and threw his shield.
The vibranium disc spun through the smoke like a deadly blade, vanishing into the darkness.
The next second, a rapid series of explosions rang out. The shield rebounded multiple times, striking down hidden projectiles with pinpoint precision, as if it could see through the smokescreen.
Jason extended his right hand, tracking the shield's return trajectory. He was ready to catch it. But before he could, Damian's voice cut through the chaos again.
"Watch out! Something's coming!"
Jason's brow furrowed slightly. The next instant, he felt a powerful gust of wind—a punch flying straight toward his face.
The sheer speed of the attack was enough to make him pause for a split second. But that was all—just surprise.
With the super-soldier serum coursing through his veins, Jason knew his physical capabilities had long surpassed human limits.
The attacker was fast, yes—but still within human range.
Instead of dodging, Jason met the punch head-on. He absorbed the blow without flinching and immediately countered with a punch of his own, fully prepared to trade blows.
Yet, his opponent was just as quick. Sensing Jason's aggression, the assailant immediately abandoned their attack and retreated into the smoke, causing Jason's punch to strike only empty air. Meanwhile, behind him, Damian sensed something off.
His instincts kicking in, he swiftly drew his short baton and swung it to his left.
A sharp clang echoed as he struck a shadow moving through the smoke.
Realizing they had missed their mark, the attacker immediately switched to an all-out assault, unleashing a barrage of strikes—all aimed at Damian's vital points.
Damian reacted on pure instinct and muscle memory, parrying each strike while trying to maintain his footing.
The opponent pressed forward relentlessly, forcing Damian back, separating him from Jason in the process.
The fight escalated rapidly, reaching a fever pitch within moments. The air was thick with the sounds of metal clashing and rapid footsteps.
Despite only a few fighters being involved, the battle sounded like an all-out brawl between dozens.
Outside the smoke—
Tony Stark sat casually on a stone pillar, one leg crossed over the other, watching the battle unfold with amusement.
The smoke might have blinded ordinary people, but to him, it made no difference.
Even without his Eye of the Sorcerer, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s enhanced vision allowed him to see everything happening in perfect detail. So from the very start, Tony had already identified the attackers.
"In a way, you could say they're family," he mused to himself. "What was it that Alex always said? 'No fight, no friendship'? Guess I'll let them sort out their own family issues."
"They'll be fine on their own," came a low voice from behind him.
The sudden voice nearly made Tony Stark fall off the stone pillar. He whipped around, only to see Batman standing behind him without a sound.
"WTF! When did you get here?!" Tony Stark's eyes widened as he stared at Batman's cold, expressionless face.
"When you opened the portal."
Batman remained calm, his gaze never shifting from the smoke-filled battlefield. It was clear he had a way to see through the haze—something Tony Stark wasn't aware of.
Thinking back, the moment the attack began, Tony had immediately opened a portal to distance himself from the battlefield. But he never expected Batman to follow him through—without him even noticing.
"It was just two seconds! You followed me without a trace?!" Tony's mouth twitched.
"That was enough. Your focus was entirely on those two kids. You weren't paying attention to me." Batman, for once, offered an explanation.
But Tony caught something interesting in his words.
"'Those two kids'… You figured out their identities already?" Tony crossed his arms and spoke in a low voice.
"They exposed themselves. I know this kind of fighting style too well. There's no Green Arrow in this world, so it wasn't hard to guess." Batman's voice was deep and steady.
Green Arrow, to Tony, felt like a wandering version of Hawkeye. He shook his head slightly, then asked with interest, "So, what do you think of these two kids?"
Batman fell silent for about ten seconds before he finally spoke.
"They have potential."
"Of course. Tim and Stephanie are both talented. Even Alex acknowledged that." Tony Stark smiled slightly.
But Batman shook his head. "Talent isn't the issue. Their mentality still needs refining. The Bruce of this world spoils them too much."
"Uh…"
Tony Stark didn't know how to respond to that. Meanwhile, the battle below was nearing its conclusion.
From the initial defensive reaction, it had taken less than a minute for Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin to completely take control of the fight.
As the smoke gradually cleared, the battlefield became visible.
Damian's short staff was pressed firmly against the throat of a masked man. Beside him, Nightwing held one of his escrima sticks in one hand, while in the other, he gripped a black, oddly shaped staff—most likely the masked man's weapon.
On the edge of the battlefield, Jason stood face-to-face with a masked girl. Judging by his expression, he didn't seem to take her seriously at all.
.....
📢Advanced chapters on p@treaon📢
For advance chapters: [email protected]/Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
1. 30 advanced chapters of American Comics: Multiverse of Madness.
2. 30 advanced chapters of Warhammer, but Emperor's Chosen.
3. 20 advanced chapters of The Witcher: Wolf School's Hunting Notes.