Not long ago, a strange-looking teenager appeared in Jump City. His green hair and clothes were his distinguishing features. He was the one who was always "solving problems." He always appeared at the right time and in the right place. Days and weeks passed. His popularity in the city grew, and people began to recognise him on the streets, mistaking him for the next "hero" and admiring his actions. The local law enforcement agencies had no way of influencing the boy. Firstly, because he did not directly break the law. However, the police still disliked the boy because they could not control him. Secondly, he could not simply be caught. One second he was there, and the next he was gone.
As it turned out, I was able to gain enough reputation in the world to open the "Auction" and "Chat for Newcomers." The auction wasn't the freebie I initially thought it would be, all because of the market's unique currency system. Only gold coins dropped from Danja were accepted, and, as you might guess, they couldn't be duplicated. The only other way to obtain an item was through a regular exchange. "I'll trade the Eye of Chaos for the Sword of Orthodox Unity!" — there were countless messages like this. Posting ads about sales/exchanges in the chat around the clock also cost a small amount. Although many claim that all sales are processed very quickly online. I only had about two hundred thousand gold coins from the Minotaur boss, and I had nothing to brag about with that amount of money. Just a couple of A or B rank ingredients cost that much money, so I decided to leave my purchases for later. The most interesting part was still the global chat. Some people shared their achievements there. Some people wanted to clarify necessary information. And some, like me, just wanted to talk heart to heart and get free advice.
Naruto-Destroyer-of-Worlds: Hi! Are you new here?
Green Fox: Yes, I recently gained enough reputation... Are you all... really?
Naruto-World Destroyer: If you mean whether there are really as many of us as you see, then yes, that's true. I only recently found out about the chat function myself and was extremely surprised that there are so many of us. What world are you in?
Green Fox: DC Comics...Naruto, Destroyer of Worlds: Phew! You're lucky! No sarcasm, man. It's just that after reaching level 100, my world is clearly becoming boring. Especially if you focus on a specific build. I was talking to one newbie once, and this idiot decided to try to be a jack of all trades. And what do you think? Because he had so many useless abilities, Pain just knocked him out.
Green Fox: Why do you have that name?
Naruto-Destroyer-of-Worlds: Heh, you're not the first to ask me that. You see, I became too powerful and, let's say... "accidentally" destroyed my world. I didn't die, but because of the enormous stress, I wanted to kill myself. Then the system offered me to become a kind of "moderator" and help newcomers get used to their roles.
Green Fox: Get used to their role...?
Naruto-Destroyer-of-Worlds: You are a Player and at the same time a Pawn of the System. You must play and continue to develop. Don't forget that, and your life will be easier.
Green Fox: I understand, but still. Why do these worlds exist?
Naruto-Destroyer-Worlds: To entertain those who are watching us. Perhaps in the future you will understand what I mean and be ready to face the truth, but for now, it's better not to fill your head with unnecessary thoughts. Do what you think is necessary and let the chain of events lead you further and further.
This short conversation filled me with determination to follow my path, despite the fact that there was something mystical behind it all. Well, it's time to get to work.
Not long ago, information leaked online about a popular website called "Your Justice." At exactly midnight, it broadcast a first-person walkthrough of an unknown type. He behaved like a normal person who had gone out for some fresh air and would have attracted little attention, except for one important detail.
"... We are approaching a dark alley where drugs are sold. I counted at least a dozen of these in the city. Dozens, hundreds of people buy this junk. They lose touch with their loved ones, with this world, just to see the world in a new light. I decided to start my career as a "Hero" with a simple yet rather original way of expressing my individuality. Instead of me, you will be the one to decide what I need to do. You will have exactly one minute to think, and when the time is up, I will do what you suggest. Fifty metres away from me is a local drug dealer named Brand Fox. In exactly five minutes, he will sell his merchandise to another teenager. Attention! Make your choice!
First: I kill the dealer.
Second: I beat him half to death and turn him in to the police.
Third: I ignore what is happening, then follow him and find out who he works for.
Oh yes, one more warning. All decisions will have consequences, but don't worry, it will be entirely on my conscience.
I think it's clear that I was the one fighting evil. Needless to say, the online chat was full of people thirsty for "justice" and eager to punish the evil drug dealer. My "show" was just gaining momentum, and even a hundred viewers was already a good turnout. The poll results were as follows: about twenty percent were in favour of murder, about seventy percent were in favour of a regular beating, and only ten percent saw things much deeper than the rest. I stepped out of invisibility, delivered a "light" blow to the dealer's jaw, sending him flying towards the opposite wall. The shocked buyer took a step back. Realising that no one was going to touch him, he took off.
"Who the hell are you?!" The shopkeeper could barely stand, coughing up blood, but he was still full of hatred for me. Apparently, he didn't fully understand the situation.
"Are you deaf?! I asked you a question! Do you even know who I am and who I work for?
"I don't care. In the end, I'm just a tool of public opinion. Say goodbye to our beloved viewers.
"Wh-wh-what?" I lunged forward, grabbed the peddler by the hair, lifted him off the ground, and slammed his head against the wall. As he slid down, I added a couple more blows to his stomach and chest. I realised just in time that one more blow like that would kill him. That wasn't part of my plan. After all, I had to keep my word, otherwise people wouldn't understand.
"Well, how was it? Did you enjoy the show?"
Taking out my modern mobile phone, I recorded a huge number of comments about how cool it was and how he deserved it. People love violence. Especially when it's justified.
The next day, the consequences became apparent. The same dealer I had successfully turned in for drugs was released right at the entrance to the police station due to lack of evidence. It was clear that someone "higher up" had intervened. That's the bad news. The good news was that my website was advertised and the number of visitors tripled.
"...Yesterday I turned a drug dealer in to the police — and what do you think? They just let him go. Now the gang leader is looking for me and wants to get even for messing up a few of his deals. Things aren't as simple as they seem, right? But don't worry, my dear viewers. I saw this coming and have already found the person behind it. Before I begin, I would like to issue a warning. I won't be able to get to him without leaving a couple of bodies behind. Sadly, these types always have a bad habit of keeping a bunch of bodyguards around."
After five tedious minutes of one-sided combat with ordinary people...
"D-don't come any closer!" One of the guards fired his revolver. It was easy for me to deflect the bullet with the blade of my dagger, as if it were an annoying fly...
...The corridors are filled with corpses, and the smell of blood irritates my nose. I am the only one standing amid the chaos, in the office of this pathetic drug lord, who is experiencing a primal fear in the face of his own death.
"So, pay attention! You have a choice!
First: I simply kill him and thus prevent the possibility of his future release..."
"I-I-I won't stand in your way! And I'll never do this business again, I swear!" the drug lord begged for mercy in a trembling voice.
"What are the words of a man who doesn't give a damn about other people's lives worth?
"Are you saying it's my fault that people buy my goods?! I didn't force them to come!
"True, I didn't force them, but you were the one who started it all. You ruined their lives and turned them into pathetic shadows of themselves.
"So, option two: I beat him half to death and call the police. In that case, he'll learn a good lesson, but here's the thing... Not everyone learns from their mistakes. All he has to do is get his friends with connections to help him out, and the cycle will start all over again. Tick-tock! The clock is ticking."
This time, the people were determined to destroy him once and for all, and so their desire was law to me...
Despite the fact that my soldiers and heroes were unable to use their voices, I still wanted to teach them to "communicate" with each other and with me. I decided to use sign language for this. Fortunately, this was available to them. It seemed that whoever cursed them had no idea about this possibility. There was no need to teach each of them individually. The souls in my space had a mental connection with each other and could therefore absorb the necessary information. The "darknet" is a rather dangerous and well-known thing, so many of those who watched my broadcasts wanted to meet me in person. Each of them was sent to the four corners of the earth, because nothing interested me except the city itself. Most likely, they were either those who wanted me dead or those who wanted to hire me for "special" work. The Darknet hackers could easily track my phone by its IP address, but, as I learned from the organisation, it had just been equipped with a protective system against such attacks, designed for the safety of "valuable" mercenaries. I didn't think they were so caring...
Anyway, time passed, and I enjoyed seeing the smiles on the faces of the people of this city when I showed up to help. I didn't consider myself a hero as such, because I was doing it all for my plan.
I decided to buy information from Ras' al Ghul's organisation about all the little-known "teenage heroes" who operate in proud and dangerous solitude. I wanted to have all the trump cards in my hands to recruit the future "Young Titans" team. I am more than sure that Dick Grayson won't stumble upon them just like that. He would search for them specifically in his database to offer them, on behalf of their adoptive "father," a chance for a more successful and safer heroic career. There was only one problem left unresolved. I had no idea when Dick Grayson and his future team would stop in this city. Or would he even stop at all...? I mean, this may be the world of comics, but the people here are real. Accordingly, the decisions they make are not the will of the author, but their own. Well, if he really is with his team in another city, there's nothing I can do. I'll have to visit him...
Three Months Later...
As it turned out, my fears were unfounded, and Robin and his team appeared on the streets of my city. It all started with an experimental bug created by a mad scientist named Brad, who wanted to build a paradise for his future "Hive". He was a real pain in the ass for my city because he only used Giant Ants and put collars on them for his show, with a pre-written speech about the sins of human nature towards these lovely creatures. For two months, he had been annoying me with his attacks, once a week, unleashing his damn pets on the city. Each time, he gave them new features. The fact that his minions were not human and that the recording device on them self-destructed upon death, loss of contact with the individual, or attempted interference, already suggested that this individual was, although a mad scientist, quite intelligent and clearly did not want me to find him. Okay, let's forget about that for now.
Red Arrow, Robin, Kid Flash, Beast Boy, and Bumblebee. A team of five teenagers in a jeep managed to reach the ant that could now spit acid and successfully stop it with a joint effort. Arrow hit its legs with liquid nitrogen, followed by a series of elusive blows to the head from Kid Flash, a shot of kinetic rays from Bumblebee's bracelets, and a final blow to the head with a folding steel staff from Robin. The ant couldn't survive such an attack, and his green blood splattered in all directions.
"Not bad. Not bad at all. You're a really good team," he said with a fox-like smile, applauding as a respectful and open act of goodwill. But Dick Grayson didn't seem to have forgotten me and clearly didn't feel warmly towards me. Only tension and readiness for the battle ahead.
"What do you want?
"Is that how you greet someone who saved your girlfriend from being shot in the back? Oh well..." I shrugged, and his team looked back and forth between me and him in confusion.
"Robin...? What's he talking about?" Beast Boy asks.
"Not now. All that matters is that he's a murderer and has an unknown dangerous power.
They tense up. The guy in the red suit even aims his bow at me.
"You love to throw words around and ignore the situation. That's what pisses me off about you, the Bats family, but I'm not the type to be easily provoked by a few words. I'm not vindictive. On the contrary! I'm quite polite, courteous, reserved, and I plan my actions a couple of steps ahead. You have two choices, Robin," I said, hiding a smile, slightly raising the brim of my Fedora and opening my right eye. "First: we, as civilised people, will have a dialogue over a delicious meal at McDonald's. I'll cover all the expenses. Second, you can ignore me and drive away in your wonder car. I'll say it right away. The idea is extremely lousy, because this time I only allowed you to kill that ant. I wanted to see what you were capable of.
"Allowed?" What does that mean?" Beast Boy didn't understand again. It seemed he was the only one who liked to voice his thoughts out loud.
After a minute of silent contact and reflection, "Robin" finally deigned to convey his answer to me:
"All right, I'll listen to you.
"Great, I was afraid that your pride as a Dark Knight's apprentice wouldn't allow you to speak to the 'Terrible Assassin'," I said, making air quotation marks. "What's done is done.
Unlike his teammates, who preferred not to order anything, Beast Boy once again showed his carefree nature and made what he thought was the right decision — he took full advantage of my promise that he could order anything he wanted. Admittedly, the fact that Garfield was a vegetarian surprised me a little, given his nickname and his ability to transform into various animals and even insects. Interesting... what are the limits of his abilities? Anyway, that's not important right now.
"You never answered my original question.
"All right, all right, I won't drag it out, and before we get to the main point, I'd like to clarify something with you. I noticed that construction of some kind of tower has begun on a small island not far from here. I don't believe for a second that you really didn't know about it. Considering your financial resources thanks to Bats...
"He only helped with the financial part. I took care of everything else myself...
Oh, really! You're not as smart as I thought. Although... it's more likely that Dick Grayson got tired of always being under Batman's wing. He decided to become an independent boy with his own team of people like him. And because this desire was so strong, Dick completely forgot about caution and safety. In short, "freedom" went to his head.
"How did you grow up so fast...?
"I ate a lot of growth food in the mornings. It's not about me, Robin. I want to offer you a job.
"What?! A job?!" the green boy exclaimed indignantly.
"Exactly. Well paid and respectable. All you have to do is keep the town in order. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? I'll be
act as your informant. I have some more important plans than trying to help the locals. This... let's say... 'contract' won't last long. Let's say until your tower is finished.
"What if we refuse?
It seemed that Robin still wanted to prove himself as a strong leader. Or maybe it was just simple pride talking.
"Of course, you can refuse. I don't want to force you to work for me. However, by doing so, you will interfere with my plans, and therefore I will do everything in my power to make your existence here... unnecessary.
"What plans...?
"Secret," I whispered, putting my index finger to my lips.
"I refuse.
"Haah..." I sigh heavily and, snapping my fingers, activate the "Last Warning" ability. "Looks like I'll have to resort to force. I really didn't want to use threats and violence.
"Threat...?
Another stupid question was interrupted by a double-edged blade bursting out of his chest. None of his comrades were able to predict the sudden attack of the summoned undead soldiers. All were killed in a matter of seconds. Bablby's head was severed, three knights pierced Beastboy from different sides and pinned him to the floor, and a series of spirit arrows that pierced him from behind turned Red Arrow into a sieve.
"Argh!!" Robin and his team sighed in shock, while I kept a smile on my face.
"What was that...?" Bubbles finally spoke, holding her hand to her neck as if checking to see if her head was still there.
"I just showed you a possible future where you decided to become my enemies. I just wanted to highlight the most disastrous consequences.
"An illusion...?" Robin suggested, to which I sighed wearily again and shrugged, replying:
"You could say that. In any case, I showed you the difference between us. If you manage to become stronger and defeat me, you will ultimately be able to send me away, try to put me in prison or kill me. Whatever you prefer.
"Why are you doing all this?
"Maybe... because I'm bored? What do you care, Robin? You're not my friend or comrade. So why should I explain anything to you? A trivial and stupid villain might tell you his plan before carrying it out, but I'm not like that. In the worst case, if you think I'm a dangerous, terrible monster, you can always try to call your 'daddy'. Or come up with a brilliant plan to defeat me, chain me up and throw me in some prison.
"I can't trust you...
"Are you afraid for yourself, or rather, for your comrades? Don't worry. As long as they don't get in my way, I won't touch them. I promise," I place my hand on my heart to confirm my promise.
"All right, I guess I have no choice.
"There is always a choice. You just chose the easiest and most accessible option. All right, all right, I won't bother you with my lectures. Now, I must go. We'll meet again, 'Young Titans'.
After bowing respectfully and holding my hat, I used stealth to move quickly. I need to get back to my hideout.
***
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