Chapter 76: Allen's First Rage
The vampire Kainster stared at his abdomen in disbelief—a bloody hole had appeared out of nowhere.
There was a three-meter distance between him and Batman, making it clear that his opponent hadn't made a move.
Splat!
A fountain of blood sprayed into the air.
When Kainster looked up, he saw another figure standing beside Batman, wearing a similar battle suit.
"Ah…"
Kainster let out an unwilling hiss as his body slowly turned to ash.
"Redemption Blade!"
Bruce immediately recognized the weapon Allen was holding.
Allen casually waved the short fruit knife-sized Redemption Blade and smirked. "Not anymore. I use it to scrape dead skin off my feet."
That's right—the Redemption Blade, which Ra's al Ghul had long coveted, was nothing more than Allen's pedicure tool, used during his baths. Frankly, he couldn't think of any better use for it.
"How did that blade harm a vampire?"
Bruce was puzzled. By all logic, only silver weapons should be able to kill vampires.
"Vampires are dark creatures with their souls imprisoned in their bodies. Using the Redemption Blade for 'redemption' makes perfect sense," Allen said with an air of authority—despite talking complete nonsense.
Of course, there was a hint of truth to his words.
Most likely, the blade's status as a holy relic naturally gave it the power to counter dark beings.
"Bats, let's play a game. I guarantee it'll be fun."
Allen's eyes gleamed with excitement as he suddenly thought of an amusing idea.
"How do we play?"
With a powerful ally backing him up, Bruce no longer had to be overly cautious.
"Kekekeke…"
—
13th Floor
Bruce strode openly down the hallway, without his usual vigilance or caution.
At the far end, in a spacious office area, a group of vampires wielding melee weapons had been waiting for him.
"To think that Batman actually managed to take down Kainster, who had awakened a speed-related ability. As expected, he is no ordinary man."
The leader of the group was a lean man with eyes that looked as if they were outlined with heavy black makeup. A katana rested on his shoulder.
The other six vampires carried an assortment of exotic and deadly weapons—so obscure that even Bruce, despite being a master of over a hundred combat styles, couldn't identify two of them.
"Awakened ability?"
Bruce caught the key phrase, and a realization dawned on him.
"All first-generation hybrids experience an awakening, similar to how mutants develop various abilities," the black-eyed vampire explained arrogantly.
In truth, the abilities of first-generation hybrids paled in comparison to those of mutants.
However, their longevity gave them an undeniable advantage.
Even the most powerful Omega-level mutants were ultimately bound by the lifespan of an ordinary human.
"Enough talk."
Bruce raised his hand, forming the shape of a gun, and said solemnly, "I am actually a wizard. I can kill people with magic from a distance."
"Hahaha!"
The vampires erupted into laughter.
Batman's reputation preceded him—he was a well-known physical fighter. A wizard? That was the most absurd thing they'd ever heard.
"Looks like you don't believe me."
Bruce pursed his lips and, despite himself, let out a somewhat embarrassing sound.
"Biu!"
Splurt!
The vampire who had been laughing the loudest—the black-eyed man—suddenly had a gaping hole in his chest.
"You—"
Before he could finish speaking, his body disintegrated into ashes.
"What just happened? What kind of ability was that?!"
"Could Batman actually know magic?"
"Impossible! If he really knew magic, he wouldn't have been taken down by criminals so many times before!"
"Who is that?!"
Allen had launched his attack while invisible, but with his strike complete, the effect faded, revealing his presence. The six remaining vampires were startled to see a stranger among them.
"No need to panic. I'm just the Comedic Bat, definitely not a good person."
Shk!
As soon as he finished speaking, Allen stabbed the nearest vampire in the heart with his dagger.
"Kill him!"
Immediately, weapons of all shapes and sizes came slashing toward him.
The first-generation hybrids' abilities were primarily focused on enhancing physical attributes. It was exceedingly rare for any of them to develop supernatural powers, which meant Allen could handle them effortlessly.
Watching Allen take down such formidable foes on his own, Bruce felt an unusual sense of relief.
Having a powerful ally was undeniably pleasant.
"So, Bats, wasn't that fun?" Allen asked smugly.
"Not bad," Bruce replied half-heartedly.
He wasn't used to such deceptive tactics. It was completely at odds with his usual approach.
Allen's eyes lit up. "This time, let me play the wizard."
Bruce spread his hands. "I can't turn invisible."
"What a shame. You keep playing the wizard, then," Allen sighed. "I'll indulge you."
"…"
Bruce thought to himself, This guy's condition is getting worse. Not only is he crazier, but it's happening more frequently. I need to come up with a contingency plan in case he completely loses control.
But was Allen really that easy to handle?
As he continued to traverse timelines and master profession after profession, Bruce would eventually come to realize just how terrifying Allen truly was.
—
14th Floor
Rows of people were vacuum-sealed inside transparent bags. Tubes extended from their noses and mouths, supplying oxygen and nutrient solutions.
These people were nothing but skin and bones. Tubes were inserted into their arms, continuously draining their blood.
"Damn vampires."
Bruce seethed with rage at the sight.
It was clear—the vampires had been keeping humans as long-term blood sources, treating them like livestock.
Rows of bodies hung from metal racks, stored like frozen pork in a slaughterhouse.
"They must be homeless people."
Allen noticed that they all shared the same characteristics—dirty, long hair and gaunt, pale faces, the result of years spent living on the streets.
Bruce fell silent.
Throughout the vampire crisis, he had been focused on protecting the citizens of Gotham. But he had never considered the homeless population. Even the police hadn't bothered to keep track of them, leading to their complete neglect.
The Wayne Foundation did run charities, providing free food and supplies at designated locations. It was the best they could do within their limits. But even with billions in assets, Bruce couldn't possibly support the city's entire homeless population.
"Bats, call the police. Make this a public issue."
Allen analyzed the situation seriously. "Once this is exposed, the vampires won't be able to kidnap people so brazenly anymore."
"We can report it, but we can't let it go public. If the vampires feel cornered, they might retaliate in even worse ways."
Bruce thought further ahead.
Vampires existed all over the world. With their extended lifespans, they had undoubtedly amassed vast wealth and power. Media exposure might not be enough to deter them.
If they were provoked, they could escalate their actions, endangering even more innocent lives.
"Do what you need to. I'm going to kill some vampires."
Allen's expression darkened as he vanished into thin air. It was clear—what he had seen had stirred something deep within him.
At the same time, Bruce saw a rare moment of recognition in Allen's eyes.
"He may be crazy, but his heart is in the right place. I can trust him unconditionally."
"We need an organization to deal with the vampires."
A bold idea took root in Bruce's mind.
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