Chapter 71
In the dark vacuum of space, the Knowledge Explorer was as tiny as a speck of dust.
Colt and Timothy were surveying the best placement points for the wormhole.
According to the calculations, there are two suitable placement points: one is located at the edge of the Solar System, the other is between Saturn and Jupiter.
If the edge of the Solar System is chosen, the wormhole can be larger and more stable, but a distance of over one light-year is too far for humanity. If the area between Saturn and Jupiter is chosen, the size of the wormhole can only meet the minimum requirements for safe interstellar ship navigation. However, it would be closer to Earth, making it more convenient for interstellar migration.
The two analyzed the pros and cons and ultimately chose to place the wormhole at the edge of the Solar System.
One light-year is certainly far, but Earth's existing technology is already capable of building Interstellar Warp Ships. Moreover, with the help of Superman and Green Lantern, Quantum Teleportation has already passed tests outside the Solar System; as long as it can be applied on a large scale, distance will not be an issue.
Moreover, placing the wormhole outside the Solar System is safer for Earth.
The other end of the wormhole has already been selected: Cygnus, located 490 light-years from Earth. There are several habitable stars in that region that are suitable for terraforming, one of which is similar in size to Earth and has an environment suitable for human survival, with plenty of resource-rich planets nearby that can be utilized. Most importantly, there is a natural wormhole near Cygnus that leads to a cosmic waypoint, which will facilitate interstellar communication for humanity.
They revisited the Mars Base to discuss whether the large-scale application of Quantum Teleportation could replace Interstellar Warp Ships.
Colt envisioned the future, while Timothy discussed the specific methods of implementation, analyzing whether the underlying logic would create conflicts.
Neither of them mentioned that there were only two days left on the countdown, but they would often be passionately discussing something one moment, only to suddenly look at each other with sorrowful eyes the next.
Then, a hug, a kiss.
Saying nothing, as if sadness did not exist, he continued to discuss the matter at hand.
Colt discovered that as the time point approached, the world's resistance grew increasingly weak, suppressed by the power of the 1,736 parallel worlds within the Earth Simulator; this weakness was normal. However, Colt felt no joy of impending victory; his intuition told him the world was accumulating strength, attempting a final, deathbed struggle.
His intuition had never been wrong.
Within the invisible perception, the dying world suddenly erupted, spewing out a massive dark power. The Earth Simulator took the opportunity to completely swallow the world, but that dark power had already begun to spread.
Let's take the Quantum Teleportation Channel; I haven't experienced it yet.
Colt put away the Knowledge Explorer and chose to return to Earth faster.
He was still one step too slow.
The two had just emerged from the Quantum Teleportation Channel of the Moon Batcave when they received a Bat-Alert—it wasn't even a red exclamation mark, but a black one.
Batman issued a maximum emergency summons.
Timothy put on the communicator and used the computer in the Batcave to check the situation.
A black hole appeared above New York, alien warships swarmed out like a hive of bees, as the Titan Giant demanded that Earth surrender the gems.
Brainiac's spaceship also appeared above Metropolis, with countless alien robots swarming toward the ground.
The Himalayas were covered in darkness, a massive Hand of Flame reached out from within the shadows.
Gotham also suffered a massive riot at Arkham, as the madmen broke out of prison en masse.
Joker released Joker Gas in the city center, Scarecrow mixed Fear Gas into the waterworks, Mr. Freeze caused heavy snow to fall across the entire city, Poison Ivy let the plants in Wayne cover half the city.. Even worse, the Leviathan beast in Gotham Harbor has awakened, the Hell Gate has also been opened.
..
Is it the world's backlash?
Timothy's hands tapped the keyboard so fast they left afterimages, as disaster reports from all over the world appeared on the screen.
Volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis—natural disasters appeared without warning.
"Disasters from the next few decades are all happening at once." Colt used the Quantum Superbrain to run repeated calculations; the best solution was to activate the plan in advance.
“Tim, I think it's time.”
Timothy understood what "the time" meant; he grit his teeth and grabbed Colt's hand.
“Wait one more day. Tomorrow will be the seventh day that the prize pool has been emptied; perhaps tomorrow we can still draw a gem.”
Even if we can pull a gem tomorrow, there will only be five, we need six to make a wish." Colt shook his head slightly and gave Tim a hug. "We will see each other again.
Timothy reached out: "Wait.."
Colt didn't wait for Timothy to finish speaking; he broke free from his hand and rushed through the ceiling out into the open. While mid-air, he summoned the Knowledge Explorer and used the Leap Mech to leap back to Earth.
Colt didn't dare wait.
Timothy's voice would make him weak and hesitant; he was afraid that he would be too afraid of failure to say goodbye, because he lacked the absolute confidence that he could return.
If he could never return, that would have been the final embrace.
I should have held him for one more second, held him a little tighter; perhaps I should have kissed him one more time. Last night, I should have chosen a Shared Dream; that way, a single night could have turned into years within the dream. Still, being squeezed together in the Leap Mech cockpit, embracing in the vast starry sky, is an unforgettable memory.
Colt's mind wandered, he felt relieved once again that he had escaped quickly.
If Timothy were before him right now, he certainly wouldn't have the courage to leave.
Colt returned to a chaotic Earth, where Gotham's monsters were dancing wildly. This was no metaphor; the monsters were literal demons. Angels spread their wings to protect the children of humanity, while demons mingled among the crowds to assist the angels.
Oak Tree Manor was covered in mutated plants, making the roads and buildings impossible to see.
Dad is not at home.
Colt released his spiritual power and found his father in the city center.
Joseph drove the repaired Leap Mech, chasing the Joker with a Ray Gun slung over his shoulder.
Batman was busy saving people and did not stop Joseph.
Birdie followed Red Robin, wearing his little cape, pecking at eyes and noses, knocking Mad Hatter's hat off, acting as a tiny Robin Bird.
The superheroes were all risking their lives.
..
Colt took off the Bat-communicator and tucked it away carefully, then stowed the Knowledge Explorer into the Golden Book before passing through the swaying vines to return to his home.
The bird path Birdie used to frequent was overcrowded, roof tiles were blown away, the interior of the house had been invaded by plants. The living room had seemingly turned into a forest, the newly replaced crystal chandelier lay shattered in pieces. The Arctic Flower on the dining table had overturned, its dried petals scattered everywhere. Red Robin's favorite coffee tin had a hole in it, with coffee beans spilled all over the floor. Despite being roasted coffee beans, a few of them had eerily sprouted. The kitchen sink was covered in moss, spice jars containing cumin and Sichuan peppercorn seeds had shattered, allowing the seeds to grow into small seedlings. Even the storage cabinets were crowded with potato sprouts, which were blooming with tiny white flowers..
The upper floor was a total wreck. The Joker timer lay sprawled on the ground, the statues of the Prince and the Merfolk stood lopsided in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, a vine had pried the Prince's crown askew. Grass was sprouting from the display wall, Robin Capes were scattered across the floor..
Colt put the Merfolk and Prince Highness statues into the Golden Book, along with the Golden Tree, Violet eyes, clothing, accessories, other valuables obtained from the Dream Treasure Chest, storing them all within the Golden Book.
Finally, he took the hidden Robin Bird from the bedside table and stroked the crest on the little bird's head.
Are you in love? The kind that leads to marriage.
Colt smiled and felt it again.
[Want to fall in love? The marriage kind.]
.
Colt answered silently. He took two photos from the picture frame—photos of them at ages eight and eighteen. Colt tucked the photos into his pocket, arrived at Ghost, placed the Golden Book under Timothy's pillow, retrieved the love letter from a crevice in the wall.
Colt brought the love letter, the photos, the Robin Bird. After a moment of thought, he also picked up the Joker and headed to the computer room on level -3.
The machine room looked exactly as it had the last time they had been here, with a notepad left on the console. The notebook was filled with Colt's handwriting, occasionally interspersed with a few hearts and smiley faces drawn in red pen by Timothy, along with some little comics.
Timothy's drawing skills were excellent; he drew Little Ghost much cuter than the real thing.
Colt tucked the love letter and photos into the notepad, put on his lab coat with large pockets, stuffed the notepad into his left pocket, placed a Robin Bird in his right pocket, then looked toward the Quantum Superbrain.
The Earth Simulator had ceased operation; the Virtual Earth was no longer rotating quietly in the air, leaving only the Quantum Superbrain emitting a silvery-white glow.
Colt closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Spiritual Power transformed into a massive hand, reaching toward the Quantum Superbrain. Since it was his own power to begin with, there was no obstacle when he reclaimed it. The majestic power surged like a river flowing into the sea, the once vast Spiritual Space became an infinite universe Dream Station, resembling a tiny star with four gems and a spleen floating within it.
This is my world; I can crush it and reshape it.
With a single thought from Colt, the entire situation on Earth projected into his mind. Under the subconscious guidance of the Quantum Superbrain, he compared the New World Project model, correcting the original erroneous parameters to allow the underlying code of the New World to run more smoothly.
Timothy returned to Earth.
The Red Robin motorcycle flew out of the Batcave, encountered the Leviathan monster wandering in the Gotham River, was swatted away like a mosquito.
Colt pointed a finger, the massive monster, hundreds of meters tall, melted like marshmallows.
This is not the power of a god; this is the resentment of the Reader.
Colt heard the power vibrate with countless tiny sounds—some were curses against the Editor for being inhuman, but most were blessings for the hero's happiness. Countless people were saying, "Gotham City, where the people are so simple and pure, Arkham is a place of extraordinary talent and spirit."
Colt did not strike again.
The operating rules of this world are conflict—the conflict between disaster and salvation, despair and hope, reason and emotion. Dealing with villains is like performing surgery on a patient with terminal cancer; the cancer cells have already spread, even if they are cut out, they will regrow. One must sever the very soil in which the cancer cells grow at a genetic level.
Colt rushed toward Arkham, but was delayed by a few seconds because he had to catch a child falling from a building.
“Colt!”
Timothy rushed to catch up, shouting behind him.
When you're in uniform, you use your codename.
Colt answered in his mind. He didn't turn around, but his pace automatically slowed down.
Where is Batman? Why doesn't Batman stop Red Robin? Oh, Batman is fighting demons. Why isn't Red Robin fighting demons?
Coventry District is adjacent to Neither Island, Oak Tree Manor is not far from Arkham. With Colt's current strength, he could theoretically reach Arkham in a single step, but he was blocked at the entrance of Arkham's dilapidated courtyard by the drifting Red Robin Motorcycle.
Colt looked at the person in front of him; he clearly could have bypassed them, yet he found it difficult to move even an inch. With his hands in his pockets, one hand clutching a Robin Bird and the other pressing against a notebook containing love letters and photos, he used emotionless words to emit an emotionless voice:
“Red Robin, you should be on the battlefield, not here.”
"I'm not here to stop you." Timothy flipped off the vehicle and strode toward Colt, opening his arms wide.
Colt shook his head: No hugging, if I hug you, I'll lose the courage to keep moving forward!
Timothy ignored the refusal and hugged Colt tightly.
Colt's resistance vanished in an instant, his body gradually softening as he buried his face in Timothy's neck, his hands clinging to Timothy's back, apologizing in his heart countless times: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..
Timothy gently stroked Colt's hair and patted his back, looking at the Joker timer floating behind Colt. He took a deep breath, lifted Colt's face, gave him a kiss, then released him, stepping back.
Colt reached out as if to hold him back, but slowly lowered his hands, feeling only a terrifying coldness in his arms.
Timothy pursed his lips, pulled a small red velvet box from the first small pouch on the left side of his belt, knelt on one knee.
I've invited many friends, prepared fresh flowers and an arch, I plan to propose to you tomorrow at Wayne Manor." Timothy opened the velvet box, revealing the diamond ring inside: "The band was forged by Batman, the diamond was crafted by Superman, only the setting and the engraving were done by my own hands.
Colt didn't move an inch.
This is the entrance to Arkham, right beneath Arkham lies the Hell's Gate.