AM I SUPERMAN?

Kaius was sitting on the couch, watching the live coverage of Bane's attack in Gotham. The footage showed the destruction and chaos wrought by the mercenary leader, leaving Gotham's citizens in fear.

"Metropolis barely caught its breath, and now Gotham is under siege," Kaius muttered, shaking his head. "The so-called capital of crime… it never disappoints."

As he sighed, his phone buzzed. It was Oliver Queen, also known as the Green Arrow.

"I've seen the situation," Oliver said over the line. "Gotham's in trouble. If Bane isn't stopped, this could escalate beyond control."

"Don't worry, Oliver. I'll handle it," Kaius replied calmly, hanging up the call. Yet he couldn't help the heaviness in his chest. He recalled a pivotal moment from the comic lore—the Battle of the Brokeback.

Kaius knew the story well. Bane had once faced off against Batman, delivering one of the most iconic defeats in superhero history. In some versions, Batman recovered and returned stronger; in others, he was forced to pass the mantle to Robin or even Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael).

Bane's weakness was obvious: the Venom delivery system that fueled his strength, often through tubes running to his mask or his back. Disabling those tubes would leave him vulnerable. But knowing the weakness didn't make it easy to exploit. Bane's raw strength and speed often overwhelmed his opponents, making a direct attack on his Venom supply nearly impossible.

"If it were that simple," Kaius thought, "Batman wouldn't have suffered like he did."

As Kaius stood to prepare, he noticed Diana, already suited up, adjusting her armor and divine shield.

Before he could ask, Fiora appeared, descending from the rooftop. Moments earlier, she had been sunbathing in a bikini. Now, clad in her dark Kryptonian battle armor, she saluted sharply.

"General Kaius," Fiora announced, her voice firm, "I'm ready to fight by your side."

Diana smirked, striking her Vulcan Sword against her shield with a resonant clang. "I'm going too," she declared. "This Bane… he reeks of Ares' influence."

Kaius raised an eyebrow at Diana's certainty. Her fixation on Ares seemed to cloud her reasoning, but given past events—like Corporal Evan's attack on Lois Lane—it was hard to dismiss outright. "Ares stirring up trouble again?" he mused. "Maybe."

"All right," Kaius said, relenting. "You two can come, but no one moves until the nuclear threat is neutralized."

As the trio took to the skies toward Gotham, Kaius wondered how Bane—an enhanced human—would react to facing the daughter of Zeus and a Kryptonian warrior. The thought almost made him feel sorry for the mercenary. Almost.

In the depths of the Batcave, Alfred Pennyworth sat in front of the monitors, watching the same live coverage. The sight of Bane taunting Gotham's protectors had left him deeply unsettled.

Suddenly, the rumble of the Batmobile filled the cave. Alfred turned just in time to see the vehicle screech to a halt. The cockpit opened, and a battered Bruce Wayne stumbled out, coughing up blood.

"Master Wayne!" Alfred cried, rushing to his side.

Bruce collapsed before he could take another step. Alfred caught him, gently easing him to the floor. Removing the Kryptonian-alloy Batsuit, Alfred winced at the sight of Bruce's bruised and battered body. His ribs were likely fractured, and the discoloration on his torso suggested internal bleeding.

"My God… what did Bane do to you?" Alfred whispered. Despite his years of service, seeing Bruce in such a state never got easier. "Perhaps it's time to suggest adding shock-absorbing technology to the armor."

Alfred carefully laid Bruce Wayne on his bed, his face etched with concern. He retrieved a small, ornate bottle of healing serum from the bedside table. The serum, sourced from the Arabian Peninsula, was renowned for its near-miraculous restorative properties. It could heal minor wounds in a day and even severe injuries, like fractures, within a week.

After applying the serum to Bruce's injuries and ensuring he was comfortable, Alfred returned to his workstation. Sitting before the Batcomputer, he resumed analyzing the chaos unfolding in Gotham.

Meanwhile, Bruce, though unconscious, was far from restful. His closed eyes moved rapidly under his lids, his breathing uneven. In his mind, a strange sound echoed—a melodic voice, almost like a song, slowly growing clearer.

"Bruce… Bruce… Listen to me. It's Lois. Lois Lane… She's the key… Bruce!"

Bruce jolted upright, his body drenched in cold sweat. His heart raced as he saw a blinding white light in the room. From the light emerged streaks of yellow lightning, crackling and surging with energy. Within the lightning stood a figure—a man clad in a red uniform, half of his body protruding from the bolt. On his chest was a yellow lightning bolt emblem on a white background.

The man's voice was frantic, his words tumbling out as if in a rush. "Am I too early? Bruce, you were right… you've always been right. She's the key—Lois is the key. I think I'm in the wrong timeline. I'll find you again…"

Before Bruce could respond, the vision faded. He woke with a start, his breathing labored, and his body trembling. Cold sweat dripped from his brow as he clutched the sheets.

Noticing Bruce awake, Alfred hurried to his side, holding a glass of water. "Master Wayne, are you all right?" he asked, his tone filled with worry.

Bruce took the glass and drank deeply, trying to calm his racing heart. "Who was that? What did he mean? Lois Lane… What does she have to do with this?" His voice was shaky but insistent.

Alfred placed a reassuring hand on Bruce's shoulder. "It was just a nightmare, Master Wayne. There's no one here. Perhaps it's a side effect of the healing serum."

Bruce glanced at the ornate bottle on the table, frowning but saying nothing. He swung his legs over the bed and stood, rubbing his face with both hands as if trying to shake off the strange vision.

Alfred hesitated, his expression troubled. It was clear he had more to say.

"What is it, Alfred?" Bruce asked, his voice firm despite his fatigue. "If there's bad news, just tell me."

Alfred sighed. "Promise me you won't overexert yourself, Master Wayne. You're in no condition—"

"I'm fine," Bruce interrupted, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Now, what's going on?"

Alfred nodded reluctantly and turned to the Batcomputer. He tapped a few keys, pulling up a surveillance video from earlier that evening.

"This appeared on the lawn outside the manor about thirty minutes ago, while you were unconscious," Alfred explained.

On the screen, the lawn in front of Wayne Manor's gates glowed faintly. A large, burning symbol became visible, etched into the grass by what appeared to be a laser. The symbol was unmistakable: a capital 'A', encircled.

Bruce's eyes narrowed as recognition dawned. "That's the Avenger's symbol… The same people I saw during the chaos in Metropolis."

Alfred nodded, though his tone was calm. "Master Wayne, I don't believe they mean us harm. If anything, it could be a signal, perhaps an invitation."

Bruce clenched his fists. His mind raced with questions, but before he could analyze further, a familiar whisper echoed in his ears. The whisper was barely audible but unmistakably sinister.

"No matter their intentions, you must be prepared…"

Bruce's expression hardened, his eyes sharp and resolute. He rose and strode purposefully toward the Kryptonite weapon rack he had been developing. "Alfred, set up countermeasures. If they think Gotham will kneel, they're wrong."

"Master Wayne," Alfred called after him, his voice tinged with concern. "Are you certain this is the right course of action?"

Bruce paused for a moment but didn't turn. "I don't take chances, Alfred. Not with Gotham."

With that, he disappeared into the shadows of the Batcave, his resolve unshaken.

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