American Comics: Multiverse of Madness

148. The Unknown ‘He’.

"This is..."

Alex's eyes narrowed, a look of disbelief flashing across his face. The pitch-black bat shuriken had no reflective surface and was mirrored in Alex's pupils. Staring at this extraordinary weapon, Alex felt a twinge of unease. He knew very well what this item represented. It was the fear that crept from the dark alleys, the lingering regrets deep within dreams, and the shadow of justice looming over all evil.

Pietro and Kara fell silent, their eyes on the wordless Alex. They didn't know what Alex was contemplating, but they understood it was best not to disturb him at this moment. The bat shuriken was not an uncommon tool across many multiverses, but the most renowned user was undoubtedly Batman.

At first glance, Alex was sure this was no replica. In this Marvel Universe, there were no Batman comics, so the possibility of someone imitating a superhero from another world could be ruled out. Yet, this very fact made the appearance of the bat shuriken all the more bizarre. It shouldn't be here. At least, not under normal circumstances.

"Did you find this in the cave?" Alex asked seriously.

"Yes, it was deeply embedded in the wall. It seems to have been there for a long time," Kara replied. "Maybe someone tried to kill this monster and left it behind. I can't be sure."

Alex nodded, then shifted his gaze to the dried, solidified bloodstains on the shuriken. Perhaps useful DNA could be extracted from it, potentially containing clues about its owner. However, Alex doubted this would be effective. If the user of the bat shuriken indeed came from another universe, DNA wouldn't reveal his identity.

"Could it be Bruce? I remember you said there's only one Batman in the multiverse, and this item clearly belongs to him," Pietro speculated.

"It's not that simple," Alex shook his head slightly. There was indeed only one Batman, but the entire Bat Family used bat shurikens. Alex couldn't determine the identity of the owner. Besides...

"And if it were Batman, do you think this mutant would still be alive? Bruce Wayne is ruthless with inhuman monsters."

"Is it possible that the unknown Batman lost the fight? After all, this mutant seems very strong, especially against ordinary people," Pietro suggested but faltered under Alex and Kara's intense gazes.

For some reason, Pietro had always underestimated Batman, perhaps because the Flashpoint Batman left him with the impression of a drunk. But neither Alex nor Kara thought Batman was weak. After all, he once defeated General Zod, even if Zod was weakened.

"Alright, alright, but it's possible Batman was injured, right? In a wounded state, unfamiliar with this world, he could fail, couldn't he?" Pietro defended himself.

"If he wasn't certain, Batman wouldn't have acted," Alex said gravely.

This wasn't blind faith in Batman but acknowledgment of the Bat Family's motto of 'caution.' They might be ordinary humans who could suffer serious falls or ambushes that confined them to wheelchairs. But every hardship made them more cautious. They would think and reflect, especially in an unfamiliar environment. Unless they were absolutely certain or had no other choice, they wouldn't expose themselves.

Alex now understood why Kara was angry. Someone using a bat shuriken had been here, but the monster still lived, indicating two possible outcomes.

First, the suspected Batman made a misjudgment, thinking he had killed the monster when he hadn't. The monster faked death and survived, living cautiously until now. But this was highly unlikely. If the person was indeed Batman, the monster couldn't have faked death. Batman would have ensured the monster was dead.

If the monster had survived, it should have known its lair was no longer safe. A powerful being knew its base's location. If news of its survival spread, that person would return to kill it.

Even the dumbest, most inhuman monster would have basic survival instincts, not allowing a threat to remain while continuing to live in an exposed lair. So,

The most likely result was this:

The being from another universe using the bat shuriken had already met his demise.

Even before Alex and his companions arrived in this world, he had perished due to unknown dangers. If not for their arrival, his traces in this world would have been completely lost in history, unnoticed.

"What a pity..."

Alex sighed deeply, feeling a mix of emotions.

"What are you thinking?" Pietro asked, slightly tilting his head.

After a pause, Alex lightly tapped the bat shuriken with his finger. The sound of the nail against metal was clear, and emerald-green magical energy danced on its smooth surface, emitting a faint glow in the dim illusion.

"Pity I can't yet refine the Observer's Eye into a magical artifact. With the Observer's all-seeing eye, I might be able to 'see' the identity of this bat shuriken's owner."

The power of the Observer's Eye was immense, transcending conventional entities in the Marvel Universe. Its ability to see through 'spatial properties' could ignore reality's barriers, revealing beings from other worlds. But using this power wasn't easy. At his current level, Alex couldn't do it. Maybe once he replenished his energy, he could achieve this.

The bat shuriken's appearance unsettled Alex; its implications were too significant. Not just the owner's identity, but the fact that someone from the DC Universe could enter the Marvel Universe demanded Alex's attention.

Who exactly was 'he'?

How did 'he' come here?

Most importantly,

Was 'he' the only one?

...….

20 advanced chapters on p@treaon
For advance chapters: /Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
149. The Plan.
150. Devouring Magic.
151. Power Enhancement.
152. A Future Shrouded in Gloom.
153. Watching from the Shadows.