SON OF BATMAN

Bruce Wayne slowly opened his eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. 

"Where… where am I?" he muttered, blinking as he tried to focus. 

He found himself standing in a vast, empty expanse of shadows and mist, with no landmarks or sounds to guide him. 

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the swirling mist—vague and shrouded in long, flowing robes, his face hidden deep within a hood.

Bruce instinctively tensed, his hand reaching for a weapon that wasn't there.

"Who are you? What is this place?" he demanded, his voice steady despite his confusion. 

The figure didn't respond.

He waved his hand, and a glowing object shot out at incredible speed toward Bruce, creating an arc.

Instinctively, Bruce raised his arm to block, and the object landed in his palm.

He looked down at his hand, where the light had coalesced into a small, ancient artifact—a metal sphere with shifting runes that pulsed faintly with an otherworldly energy.

He felt the weight of it, both physical and metaphorical, as its purpose eluded him. 

"What is this?" Bruce asked, his analytical mind already trying to decipher the object's significance. "Why did you give this to me?"

The figure finally spoke, his voice seeming to come from all around, neither male nor female, neither old nor young. 

"When the right time to use this comes, you will know," He said, the words heavy with a sense of finality.

After a pause, the figure continued, "But know this, Bruce Wayne… when you do use it, it will be the last thing you do." 

Batman's mind flooded with questions. 

"Wait!" he called out, stepping forward as the figure began to dissolve into the mist.

"What does it do? Why me?" 

But the figure continued to fade, offering no further answers. 

As he disappeared completely, a blinding light flared from the surroundings, intensifying rapidly.

Bruce raised a hand to shield his eyes as the light spread across the dreamscape. The brightness consumed him, and in the next instant, Bruce jolted awake, back in reality.

******

Bruce Wayne jolted awake, breathing heavily as he tried to shake off the remnants of the dream. Sweat clung to his brow, and his heart pounded in his chest.

For a moment, he was disoriented, but as he looked around, reality began to settle back in.

He was in the Batmobile, surrounded by his fellow Justice League members—Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Flash.

The armored vehicle sped through the desolate Russian landscape, heading straight for the abandoned city where Steppenwolf had taken refuge.

It was there where Steppenwolf had brought together the three Mother Boxes, intent on uniting them to unleash the Unity and transform Earth into a new Apokolips.

Superman was still absent, having disappeared after his resurrection, and the team was racing against time to stop Steppenwolf before the Unity was completed.

The stakes couldn't be higher—if they failed, Earth would be doomed.

As Bruce's breath steadied, the gravity of their mission came rushing back to him. But something else caught his attention. He looked down at his hand and saw it—the artifact from the dream, real and solid, resting in his palm. The small, ancient sphere with its shifting runes pulsed faintly, just as it had in the dreamscape.

The dream wasn't just a dream. It had actually happened, and now he was holding proof of it.

******

The battle raged on. It was fierce.

Superman's arrival lifted some pressure off the rest of the Justice League and helped to turn the tide against Steppenwolf and the Parademons.

Wonder Woman's sword flashed as she cut through swathes of Parademons, her movements graceful yet deadly. "Push them back!" she called out, her voice carrying over the din of battle.

Aquaman, wielding his trident with deadly precision, fought back-to-back with Cyborg, whose energy blasts kept the flying Parademons at bay. "Getting tired of this ugly mug," Aquaman growled, gesturing at Steppenwolf.

Flash zipped across the battlefield, a blur of red as he evacuated civilians and disrupted Parademon formations. "Guys, I don't mean to be a downer, but we're kind of on a clock here!"

Energy blasts, flashing swords, and the thundering impact of fists filled the air as they fought desperately to prevent the Unity—the merging of the Mother Boxes—from completing.

However, when it rains it pours…

At that moment, as the Unity neared completion, suddenly, electricity crackled behind them, and a portal appeared.

Steppenwolf's eyes widened with elation as he realized what was happening. 

"He's here!" he exclaimed with grim satisfaction.

The portal opened, tearing through the fabric of reality, revealing an ominous presence on the other side.

Darkseid.

His menacing figure loomed, surrounded by the countless legions of his armada, ready to descend upon Earth.

The members of the Justice League looked grim, realizing the gravity of what was about to happen. The battle against Steppenwolf was only the beginning, and the true threat was now before them.

The Unity was almost complete. Cyborg and Superman were locked in a desperate struggle, trying to pull apart the three Mother Boxes before they could merge fully. The air crackled with energy as the power of the boxes surged, fighting to stay connected.

Steppenwolf roared in fury, charging at them to stop their efforts. Wonder Woman and Aquaman intercepted him, their weapons clashing as they fought to keep him away from the Unity.

Batman stood at a distance, watching the chaos unfold. His eyes shifted to the portal that had opened behind them. Through it, Darkseid loomed, his massive form surrounded by his commanders and endless armada, ready to descend upon Earth.

As Darkseid started moving towards the portal, time seemed to slow down for Batman as he looked around and saw his teammates locked in battle, each fighting for survival, unable to break away.

Superman and Cyborg trying to separate the Mother Boxes.

Aquaman and Wonder Woman making sure Steppenwolf didn't stop them.

Flash on the ground, too exhausted from all the running he did to generate the charge needed to propel Cyborg inside the Unity.

Batman turned back to look at Darkseid on the other side of the portal, and at that moment, the figure's words echoed in his mind: "When the right time to use this comes, you will know."

Batman knew exactly what he needed to do. This was the moment. There was no other way.

Without hesitation, Batman sprinted toward the portal, the artifact glowing faintly in his hand.

As Darkseid began to step through, Batman activated the artifact. A powerful shockwave exploded from it, radiating outward with Batman at its epicenter.

The shockwave spread across the battlefield, creating a deafening noise that caught everyone's attention.

The wave reached Superman and Cyborg, and as it hit them, it gave them the final boost they needed to successfully separate the Mother Boxes. The boxes flew apart, their deadly energy dissipating as the Unity was broken.

The shockwave also struck Steppenwolf, causing him to falter. Seeing the Mother Boxes separated, he was momentarily stunned, his guard lowered. Seizing the opportunity, Wonder Woman and Aquaman delivered the final blows, slaying Steppenwolf and bringing him down.

As the wave continued, it surged into the portal, passing over Darkseid and his commanders. The Justice League, now free from their immediate battles, turned toward the source of the shockwave, their eyes widening as they saw Batman standing before the portal, and Darkseid, who had been advancing, now standing completely still.

At that moment, DeSaad's eyes narrowed as he noticed something was wrong. "My lord… your legs…" he called out, his usually cold voice tinged with uncharacteristic concern.

Darkseid looked down at his legs, where the petrification had begun, slowly turning his body to stone. His face remained calm, his eyes indifferent as he observed the transformation. "Interesting," he remarked, his voice deep and measured. "But this will not last forever. At most it will take a few years… and I will be free again."

He lifts his head, raising his gaze to meet Batman's. His red eyes locked with the Dark Knight's.

"You have done well, Earthling… but it's all in vain," Darkseid said with unsettling calmness.

The petrification spread over his chest, up his arms, and finally reached his face, freezing his features in an expression of cold, unshakable determination.

DeSaad and Granny Goodness could only watch, powerless to stop the inevitable.

As the last of Darkseid's form turned to stone, the portal began to destabilize, flickering violently before collapsing in on itself, sealing Darkseid and his petrified form away from Earth.

As the portal closed, Batman staggered, his body suddenly feeling the full weight of what he had done. He looked down at his hands and saw the artifact, now glowing faintly, beginning to crumble. The light dimmed as the artifact slowly turned to ash, the remains slipping through his fingers and disappearing into the wind.

But that wasn't all. Though Batman's black bodysuit concealed most of his injuries, he could feel the effects coursing through him—pain surging from the hand that had held the artifact, spreading like poison through his veins. His vision blurred, his breath came in short, ragged gasps, and his strength was rapidly fading.

Batman managed to move to the side, leaning against a wall for support as his legs gave out. He slid down to the ground, the pain in his body intensifying with every passing second. The Justice League, noticing something was terribly wrong, rushed to his side.

Wonder Woman knelt beside him, her concern growing. The others gathered around, their expressions shifting from relief to horror as they watched Batman struggle to breathe, his strength visibly draining away. Gently, Wonder Woman removed his mask.

What they saw filled them all with dread.

Bruce's eyes were bloodshot, the whites now a deep, angry red as though they were bleeding internally. Dark, vein-like lines snaked up from his neck, visible beneath the pale skin, spreading from the arm that had wielded the artifact. His face was ashen, the signs of the immense strain and internal damage clear to all of them.

Cyborg quickly scanned him, his expression growing darker with each passing second. "His vitals… they're critical," Cyborg said, his voice filled with sorrow. "The energy… it's like it's burned through him from the inside out. There's nothing we can do… his body… it's shutting down."

Flash, his usual jovial demeanor gone, looked around frantically. "There has to be something we can do! We can't just... we can't let him..."

Aquaman placed a hand on Flash's shoulder, his own face grim.

The team could only watch helplessly as Bruce's breath became more labored, the dark veins continuing to spread. His eyes, once so full of resolve, were now dull and unfocused, the life slowly fading from them.

At that moment, Wonder Woman placed a hand gently on his shoulder. She leaned in close, looking him in the eyes.

"Bruce," she said softly, her voice steady despite her own grief. "Everything's going to be okay. You saved us. You saved the world. Your sacrifice won't be in vain. I promise."

Her words, filled with sincerity and resolve, seemed to reach him. For a brief moment, Bruce's eyes flickered with the faintest hint of relief. The tension in his body eased slightly as if some of the burden he carried had been lifted.

Superman, his voice thick with emotion, added, "Rest now, Bruce. We'll carry on your legacy. Gotham, the world—we'll protect them. For you."

The damage was too great, and his strength was gone. With one final, labored breath, Bruce Wayne, the Dark Knight, passed away, his sacrifice complete.

The Justice League stood in grief-stricken silence, knowing that Bruce had given everything to ensure their victory. The battle was won, and Earth was safe—for now—but the cost was immeasurable.

Back in the Batcave silence permeated.

Usually, the only sounds that could be heard here were the soft hum of machinery and the distant echo of dripping water. But now an eerie constant beep was ringing.

Alfred sat alone in front of the Batcomputer, his eyes fixed on the monitor. The screen displayed a series of readings—heartbeat, vitals, suit diagnostics—all tied to the man he had raised from childhood.

But now, the heartbeat on the screen had flatline. The once steady pulse reduced to a single, unbroken line. Bruce was gone.

Alfred's breath caught in his throat, his heart heavy with grief. He stared at the monitor, his eyes misting as the reality of what had just happened set in. He had always known this day might come, but nothing could have prepared him for the cold finality of it.

Memories flooded his mind—a young Bruce, devastated by the loss of his parents; the determined teenager swearing to fight injustice; the man who had become Gotham's silent guardian. Alfred had been there through it all, a constant presence, a guiding hand, a father in all but name.

He took a moment to steady himself, his hand trembling slightly. Then, with a deep, steadying breath, he reached to the side of the console. His fingers brushed over a small, isolated button.

Alfred pressed the button.

On the monitor, a brief message appeared: *Transmission Sent.* A signal had been dispatched.

Alfred stared at the screen for a moment longer, the weight of his action settling in. He knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

"Farewell, Master Bruce," Alfred whispered, his voice barely audible. "May you find the peace in death that eluded you in life."

******

Some Time later in the Batcave…

The Batcave was steeped in an oppressive silence, the kind that seemed to swallow even the faint hum of the computers and the distant drip of water echoing through the cavern. A soft, cold light illuminated the steel table at the center of the room, where Bruce Wayne's body lay shrouded in darkness.

A short distance away, the Justice League—Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Flash—stood gathered, along with Alfred and Dick Grayson—Nightwing.

Earlier, Dick Grayson had taken a moment alone by Bruce's side. Standing over the man who had raised him, his heart heavy with grief, Dick had said his final, silent goodbyes. But now, he had stepped away from the table, joining the Justice League as they gathered a short distance away, trying to figure out how to move forward.

As Dick rejoined the group, he quietly slipped into the conversation that was already underway, his voice calm but tinged with sorrow. "Gotham's going to need answers soon. We can't let them think both Bruce Wayne and Batman are gone. The city will fall apart."

Wonder Woman nodded, acknowledging Dick's input.

"We need to decide how to handle this," she said, her voice steady but filled with sorrow.

"If we announce Bruce Wayne's death, the world will eventually connect the dots to Batman. But if we announce Batman's death, Gotham will lose its protector, and criminals will take advantage." Wonder Woman continued.

Cyborg, ever the strategist, was already analyzing potential scenarios. "We could create a cover story for Bruce, make it seem like he's gone off on some international business venture. It would buy us time, but eventually, people will start asking questions."

Aquaman folded his arms across his chest, his eyes glancing back at the table where Bruce's body lay. "If Gotham thinks Batman is dead, they'll lose their fear of the shadows. They'll tear the city apart."

Superman, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "Whatever we decide, we need to honor Bruce's legacy. He gave everything for this city, for the world. We owe it to him to protect what he fought for."

Flash, who had been listening quietly, was overwhelmed by the weight of the situation. The loss of Bruce, someone he had admired deeply, left a void that he was struggling to process. "I can't believe he's really gone," he muttered, more to himself than the others. "It doesn't feel real."

Needing a moment to himself, Flash turned away from the group, his eyes drifting back to the table where Bruce's body lay.

But when he turned, what he saw made him freeze.

Standing beside Bruce's body was a tall figure, dressed entirely in black. The figure's back was turned to the group, and the only details visible were his stark white hair and his imposing, broad-shouldered silhouette. The presence was so sudden, so unexpected, that Flash's first instinct was disbelief, not just because he had appeared so suddenly, but because none of them had sensed his arrival.

"Uh… guys?" Flash's voice wavered as he pointed toward the figure, trying to comprehend what he was seeing. "Was that guy always here? Or is the security system taking a nap?"

The rest of the League turned quickly, their eyes locking onto the mysterious figure. Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Dick Grayson immediately went on high alert, their bodies tensing for potential combat.

Even with their powers and advanced technology, none of them had detected the figure's entry into the Batcave—a fact that sent a ripple of unease through the group.

Superman's expression hardened, his voice stern and cautious as he addressed the figure. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

The figure remained silent, his attention seemingly fixed on Bruce's shrouded form. The Justice League exchanged tense glances, each of them acutely aware of the Batcave's advanced security systems. For someone to bypass all of it, and to enter so silently that even Superman hadn't heard him, was almost unthinkable.

Dick Grayson, feeling the tension rise, glanced at Alfred with concern. "Alfred… were you expecting someone? Who could've gotten in here without setting off the alarms?"

Alfred, standing slightly behind the group, took a step forward, his eyes squinting as he tried to identify the figure. Something about the presence was familiar, but the white hair and imposing stature threw him off.

"I'm afraid none of my acquaintances match the description of this individual." he replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

As if in response, the figure finally moved. He lifted his head from Bruce's body and slowly turned to face them

As he did, his voice cut through the silence, deep and composed. "What is this, Pennyworth?" he asked, his tone laced with an edge. "You no longer recognize me?"

Alfred's eyes widened in shock as the figure's face became fully visible. The sharp, angular features, those intense eyes—there was no mistaking it, despite the years that seemed to have passed.

"Young Master Wayne…" Alfred breathed, the realization dawning on him.

Dick Grayson's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, his voice filled with both surprise and recognition. "Damian?"

The rest of the Justice League, who had been on high alert, exchanged confused glances. The tension in the room shifted from one of potential threat to one of bewilderment.

Flash, ever the voice of curiosity and confusion, was the first to speak up. "Wait, you guys know who this is?"

Cyborg, catching on quickly, chimed in, his voice dry with realization. "He just called him 'Young Master Wayne,' so it's not hard to guess. This is Bruce's son."