Chapter 254: I Can Fly
Within moonlight, Venom Robin unmistakably appeared different from normal symbiote-and-moonlight coexisting state—a second form.
Entirely pure white throughout his body. Even his head completely covered by white bandages. Eye positions glowed faintly white. Physique stretched from adolescent proportions into elongated yet powerful-feeling build.
His chest displayed one protruding crescent moon silhouette. His waist gained one white belt resembling Batman's utility belt design.
"..."
Currently calling him Venom Robin obviously appeared inappropriate. His appearance more thoroughly matched pure Moon God Khonshu proxy appearance: "Eclipse Knight."
As he inhaled deeply, his back's white cloak animated without wind.
If this were adolescent-form Venom Robin, he'd currently be speaking witty remarks.
But current Eclipse Knight didn't. He silently stood on Octavius's constructed moonlight platform. Silently using glowing white-radiance eyes—surveying everyone in the laboratory.
Ultimately his gaze stopped on Batman, facing Batman from distance. Both silently observed each other.
One instant—even nearest Dr. Octavius couldn't see clearly. He only heard two nearly-fused air-cutting sounds. One crescent dart and one batarang collided mid-air.
The crescent dart whirled back toward Eclipse Knight's hand, grabbed lightning-fast. The batarang clinked onto the floor.
"Robin?" Dr. Octavius tentatively called. Hulk also lowered his crossed arms, clenching fists while vigilantly observing Eclipse Knight.
Eclipse Knight didn't acknowledge Octavius's call. He swept his rear cloak. Next second, throughout the entire laboratory, lunar radiance bloomed. As though countless Eclipse Knight figures appeared from thin air.
Even Hulk couldn't react. Those figures—layered repeatedly, substantial and insubstantial—charged toward Batman.
Eclipse Knight's movement through the laboratory brought consecutive whirlwinds. Batman stepped forward one pace, precisely capturing Eclipse Knight's form from countless figures.
But just as Batman prepared acting, he suddenly turned toward standing-nearby Professor Morbius.
Within howling winds, Professor Morbius's body slowly levitated into air.
Morbius wore one black long-style trench coat. Currently the coat's hem flew through air. Beneath clothing, bulging movements suggested something preparing to break from cocoon.
Simultaneously, Eclipse Knight had already—trailing countless afterimages behind—arrived at Batman's rear. Speed completely undiminished. Gripping crescent dart, he stabbed straight toward Batman's back heart.
Just as Eclipse Knight nearly succeeded, Batman—seemingly anticipating—shifted his body slightly, dodging the attack while following momentum kicking outward.
Batman's kick similarly didn't connect. Eclipse Knight's speed was extremely fast. Though leaving afterimages mid-air, his speed nearly matched former Gamma Goblin.
One kick missing—Batman's gaze remained locked on Professor Morbius while his body rolled rightward accordingly, dodging Eclipse Knight's another attack.
CRACK, CRACK...
Just as Eclipse Knight prepared attacking again, Professor Morbius's body emitted consecutive muscle-tearing sounds.
Professor Morbius faced skyward, opening his mouth to display full fangs while releasing one roar.
Hulk's vision couldn't track Eclipse Knight. He'd grown somewhat anxious when hearing that howl from Professor Morbius. He immediately opened wide mouth:
"ROAR!"
Thunderous roar emerged from Hulk's mouth—obviously demonstrating.
Fortunately, though demonstrating, Hulk obviously still remembered Batman saying he needed following commands before attacking. He didn't charge forward.
Eclipse Knight's movements stopped. He silently stood not far away, observing Professor Morbius.
As he stopped, laboratory's strong winds gradually disappeared. Morbius's wind-suspended body also began descending groundward.
But just as Professor Morbius nearly landed—RIP!
Morbius's torn muscles finally burst through sleeves. Wrist exterior sides, elbow joint exterior sides, shoulders—five total slender bones pierced outward.
These bones—like bat wings—possessed joint segments. Each adjacent bone connected via gray-black blood-vessel-containing wing membranes.
Unlike legendary vampire wings growing from backs, Professor Morbius had unmistakably grown one pair of broad wing-membrane wings beneath his armpits.
One second before landing, Professor Morbius moved both arms, driving wing-membrane wings flapping, making his body suspend mid-air again.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Professor Morbius flapped wings, slowly attempting not moving arms—only controlling underarm wing-membrane wings.
This seemed carved into instinct. Without excessive attempts, Professor Morbius succeeded once.
Airborne, Professor Morbius released two cold laughs. His skin-and-bones face displayed slight smile.
Not everyone in the laboratory observed Professor Morbius's new changes. At minimum, Eclipse Knight didn't.
The instant Professor Morbius released laughter, Eclipse Knight once again transformed into consecutive afterimages, charging toward Batman.
Simultaneously, Professor Morbius's facial smile disappeared. Increasingly sharp red eyes suddenly looked toward Batman's direction, charging over regardless of sequence with Eclipse Knight.
His speed was similarly extremely fast. Eclipse Knight left white figures. Professor Morbius left consecutive black figures.
BANG!
Batman stood motionless in position.
Under twenty centimeters before Batman's eyes, one extended gray-black claw grabbed another white fist gripping crescent dart.
CRACK, CRACK...
This time—not muscle-tearing sounds, but strength competition between Professor Morbius and Eclipse Knight.
Eclipse Knight's strength obviously didn't match symbiote-and-moonlight coexisting Venom Robin. Facing Professor Morbius's claws, he actually deadlocked briefly.
But ultimately Professor Morbius's strength still couldn't match Eclipse Knight. As the white fist slowly applied force, Morbius's arm was pressed backward segment by segment.
Watching Professor Morbius's arm nearly breaking, Batman covertly shook his head toward Hulk, then extended both hands respectively grabbing both combatants' wrists.
"Eclipse Knight's strength has diminished. Approximately ten tons. Professor Morbius's strength has increased. Approximately seven tons."
Batman immediately tested both parties' strength levels upon contact, using his fifty-ton strength to easily separate them.
"Professor, are you maintaining consciousness?" Batman first asked Professor Morbius.
"I've never been this conscious." Professor Morbius followed momentum, lowering his claw pulled away by Batman, flapping underarm wing-membranes while flying backward several meters distance.
"Blood hunger?" Batman asked again.
"Intense. But I can still restrain it." Professor Morbius—hearing the word "blood"—couldn't restrain licking his black, shriveled lips.
"Professor, catch!" Dr. Octavius immediately extended mechanical tentacles, gripping one pre-prepared blood plasma bag and tossing it over. Professor Morbius caught it immediately, impatiently tearing open one opening and pouring it into his mouth.
One blood bag consumed, Professor Morbius inhaled several deep breaths. He again looked down, scrutinizing his underarm twin wing-membrane wings:
"Heh. I can fly now."
Hulk snorted.
Professor Morbius attempted controlling wing-membranes retracting. The different-length bones extending from wrists, elbows, shoulders began slowly adhering toward arms.
Within under two seconds, wing-membrane wings had completely retracted, no longer showing any silhouette.
"I'm fine, Batman." Professor Morbius clenched fists, sensing his body multiple times stronger than before while addressing Batman. "What's Robin's situation?"