26 Chapter 26: Lingering Shadows

As a well-known rich second-generation figure in the American comic book industry, the Dark Knight naturally possessed a complete collection of various equipment.

Whether it was the Batplane, the Batsubmarine, or the Batmobile, there was even a Bat Motorcycle with a seamless transition in art style credited to the original creator, Shōtarō Ishinomori. There was no sense of inconsistency whatsoever. Additionally, there were other gadgets such as the Batboat and the Bat-Glider.

Chu Cheng had no doubt that if Mr. Wayne deemed it necessary, he could summon even a Bat Tricycle or Bat Roller Skates.

The Batplane was considered a relatively conventional piece of equipment. In the previous Arkham Knight game, Batman could summon the Batmobile for assistance at any time. However, in this game, besides the Batmobile, players also had the option of using a Batplane and a Batsubmarine.

During the introductory tutorial on the first day, Chu Cheng received guidance. Players were able to choose from two types of Batmobiles, one submarine, and two fighter jets before going into battle. Pressing the 'E' key during combat would summon the chosen vehicle for support.

Looking at the current art style that seemed to have a touch of retro flavor, Chu Cheng identified this hulking hero who enjoyed grappling with such things. In the United States, it would typically be Superman, in the neon-lit world, they would be called Ultramen, and in China, they were often referred to as Guangdong people (deleted).

In any case, it was evident that these things were clearly beyond the personal capabilities of the Dark Knight. After all, he often stated, "I'm just a detective, I don't have their kind of power." So in such situations, he had to rely on some personalized gadgets for assistance.

Commonly known as "cash abilities."

The Batplane soared rapidly, ascending into the sky like a black crow. A magnificent trail of blue flames spewed out, but by the time the flame's path was reflected in Luo's retina, the aircraft was no longer in its original position.

The control mode of the Batplane was similar to that of the Batmobile in the game "Arkham Knight," but with more weapon functions and a different sense of operation.

Approaching the target at super high speed, Chu Cheng activated three or four different weapons in one breath, using the mouse to lock onto the target with the assistance of the game's shooting guide.

Fire all weapons at once!

The Wayne Industries' specially designed machine guns, the Batplane's customized tactical missiles, and the unique DC universe penetrating rounds fired at ultra-high speed. The firepower was incredibly astonishing.

Batman adhered to his creed of not killing people, so his conventional weapons were non-lethal and primarily focused on disruption and control. However, this did not mean he lacked lethal firepower.

Because Batman only refrains from killing "humans."

As a member of the Justice League, Batman frequently finds himself embroiled in battles alongside his close comrades. Alien fleets and cosmic monsters are all part of his daily routine, and if they're not gods, they're treated as a hassle. Batman never holds back when it comes to fighting extraterrestrial beings, and he has even taken down true gods.

Being a mere mortal and constantly caught in the midst of battles among gods is already difficult enough. But if there's something even more challenging, it's having a group of god-like teammates who constantly expect him to play the role of a strategist.

It's quite strange when you think about it. Every member of the Justice League is practically divine. There are individuals who can effortlessly move planets and take a hot bath in the sun's core while wearing their underwear on the outside, as well as warriors who defy all physical laws and possess speeds that theoretically allow self-interactions. However, despite their incredible individual prowess, they have a debuff: their collective intelligence plummets to zero.

Even the highly intelligent and fan-favorite superhero, Superman, has a formidable level of intellect. He has had numerous displays of high intelligence in his personal comic series, as his super brain is not just for show.

However, these god-like teammates possess a certain level of mystique. Whenever they gather for a battle as the Justice League, it's always like, "Batman, I messed up on the front lines, please save us." Essentially, the routine during team battles is Batman asking, "While I catch one, what are you all doing?"

Especially when some writers of certain publications go off the rails with their plotlines, the members of the Justice League become utterly clueless, forgetting even the simplest abilities like using their E, W, and Q keys. They stubbornly persist with the same skill, completely disregarding any other options. Batman ends up looking like he's dealing with a group of super-powered toddlers.

Being subjected to such intense torment by his teammates has forced Batman to acquire the necessary skills to deal with them. The lethal weapons equipped on the Batplane are specifically designed to take down alien warships and super monsters. Although they can't compare to his god-like teammates in the Justice League, the firepower is definitely off the charts.

The bombardment of firepower causes the monster to be engulfed in black smoke, its size seemingly shrinking. Numerous pieces of black matter are blasted into the air, dissolving into black mist. Various weapons explode upon contact with the monster, creating a dazzling display of fireworks.

The people on the streets, who were previously in a frenzy, suddenly fall silent. They cease their attacking movements and kneel down in pain, clutching their heads while emitting sharp and miserable screams.

As Luo Yajun uses the hardcore method of breaking their legs one by one to prevent them from killing each other, witnessing this scene brings a glimmer of satisfaction to his eyes.

It seems to have worked.

The twisted monster is the source of infection on this street. The infection has just been unleashed, and attacking the monster can effectively disrupt its influence on people's minds.

If they wait for reinforcements from headquarters, it might be too late. However, if they act now, there might still be a chance. If they can eliminate the monster in time, they might be able to sever its influence on the pedestrians.

The only one capable of achieving this at the moment is the hovering Blackbird in the sky.

The bombardment catches the attention of the monster. Two thick tentacles shoot out, piercing through the dark bat wings in the sky.

But this is no random strike. The monster has predicted the flight path of the aircraft and launches a precise attack.

However, the Batplane tilts sideways, and from its right side, a hissing flame is expelled from the bottom of the aircraft. With an unscientific maneuver, the plane swiftly shifts, narrowly evading the two tentacles that barely pierce through its afterimage.

Witnessing this scene, Luo Yajun is once again astonished.

Although he may not have learned how to fly a plane in Hawaii, after spending so much time in Section Nine and having seen pigs run despite not eating pork, he has a rough idea of the capabilities of fighter jets in this world.

What the hell was that just now? What kind of flying maneuver was that?

That instantaneous propulsion at will and those evasive maneuvers that seemed like a joke, is that really an aircraft?

And even if we assume that an aircraft is capable of such performance, what kind of monster would the pilot be to timely execute those maneuvers and flawlessly evade attacks?

Of course, he's probably overthinking it. What he perceived as a flashy high-end operation was simply the arrow keys with the Shift key in Chu Cheng's case.

As he continued watching for a while, he realized that there were more mind-boggling scenes unfolding before him.

Although he wasn't very knowledgeable about aircraft, he knew that this jet fighter, which could take off and stop on command and hover in the air like a helicopter, and accelerate and move sideways in any direction in an instant when under attack, was definitely not very scientific.

Although he wasn't very knowledgeable about aircraft, he knew even better that this jet fighter shouldn't be able to reverse in place. He saw with his own eyes the jet nozzles at the front ends of both wings spewing forward-propelling flames, and then it inexplicably rapidly reversed, avoiding the swipe of the tentacle in front while bombarding it with a series of projectiles.

You're right, it's one thing to accept its high speed and extreme maneuverability, but being able to reverse is a bit too much, isn't it?

Bang.

A shell exploded above the monster's head. After continuous firepower bombardment, the monster had shrunk in size, and a freezing projectile caused endless ice crystals to float down, covering its entire body. In its weakened state, the monster was powerless to resist. Even a slight movement of its tentacles became difficult, as it was sluggish and resembled a frozen sculpture.

Luo Yajun: ???

Wait, what kind of weapon is this again?

Are you telling me that this thing can flash freeze such a large target within seconds? Are you sure it's not some freezing spell disguised as technology?

So, this madman must be a mage after all?

In fact, the sponsor of this projectile technology is none other than Gotham's renowned villain, Mr. Freeze. Well, maybe this gentleman wasn't a willing sponsor, but it doesn't make much of a difference.

Mr. Freeze has delved deep into the field of cryogenics. He has even developed an anti-aircraft cannon that can freeze an entire city. This storyline was depicted in a Batman movie in '97, where the governor played a part.

The Batwing came to a stop, once again defying the laws of physics as it hovered in mid-air. The array of machine gun barrels locked onto the target, ready to unleash a barrage of bullets.

The ice had not only slowed down the monster's movements but also weakened its defenses, rendering it incredibly vulnerable. With one final salvo, the Batwing unleashed all of its output ammunition, emptying its payload in a single breath. The frozen monster shattered into countless ice crystals, scattering through the air like a shower of diamonds.

Luo Yajun watched as the fireworks erupted in the sky, then glanced back at the black Batwing hovering above. While the crisis had finally been resolved, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

Are you seriously calling that thing an airplane?

No, it's not over yet.

Just as Luo Yajun's tense nerves began to relax, he immediately became alert again, sensing something amiss.

That thing isn't finished yet.

Laughter echoed once more, resounding through the city's airspace, between its streets and alleys. It was a mad, hysterical laughter, like a mocking and taunting response to the world.

As the monster exploded, the released dark shadows transformed into a colossal whirlwind. The pitch-black, translucent storm rose like a tornado, invisibly sweeping through the streets of the city.

"Damn it!, they just won't die," muttered Luo Yajun in a low voice.

The spectral entity, even after its physical form was eliminated, had managed to persist and remained powerful.