American comics: Damn it, I’m surrounded by those who worry about their fathers!.

Chapter 1098: A Maniacal Laughter Appears?

Peter and Raven walked out of the room and stood on the porch.

The two gazed at the horizon in the southeast direction.

Where there should have been the low horizon of the stars, there was now an ominous dark red glow, as if a huge furnace was burning deep in the earth.

Even more unsettling were the energy fluctuations emanating from the direction of Gotham City.

Even from such a distance, Peter's intuition could clearly detect the chaotic and distorted vibration.

"Dad, this energy..."

Raven's unease grew stronger. "I can feel it; it's full of evil and darkness, much clearer than I've felt before."

Peter nodded, his brow furrowed.

Just as he was about to say something, the strange changes in the sky reached their peak.

An unprecedentedly massive bolt of lightning tore through the darkness and struck directly toward Gotham.

Immediately following was the sound of rolling thunder.

In the instant the lightning flashed, Raven vaguely saw that the dark red cloud above Gotham seemed to have condensed into the shape of a blurry, giant bat with two wings, but it vanished in an instant, as if it were just an illusion.

"Wow!"

A torrential downpour began, and the sky quickly turned into a vast expanse of white.

Meanwhile, in Gotham City, at Arkham Asylum.

The infamous building now appears as an isolated island in the eye of a storm, though the storm is not entirely natural.

Outside the mental hospital, gunshots, explosions, terrified screams, and the roars of some inhuman creature mingled together, and the police defenses quickly crumbled under the unknown terrorist attack.

"Oh my god! What is that?! Get away from me! Shoot! Shoot!"

The guard's scream abruptly stopped, replaced by a sickening chewing sound and the cracking of bones.

Inside the cell, Edward Nigma, the Riddler, was nervously pressing his face against the door, which was covered in green question mark graffiti, trying to hear what was happening outside.

His usually proud mind was now in complete chaos.

Is someone trying to escape from prison?

Was it the work of an old rival?

Penguin? Two-Face?
No, that's not like them.

Just as the riddle-maker was frantically trying to figure out what had happened, the sounds of resistance outside completely ceased.

Then a deathly silence descended, leaving only the sound of rain pattering against the iron bars of the windows and the faint sound of city sirens in the distance.

This silence was even more chilling to the riddle-maker than the previous clamor.

He tried to stand up, but found himself completely enveloped by fear and unable to move.

It seemed that something terrifying was gradually approaching him.

Just as the riddle-maker grew increasingly uneasy, the heavy iron door of the cell, which theoretically required three passwords and a physical key to open, clicked softly and then slowly opened inward.

The riddle-maker's gaze was subconsciously drawn to the other person.

The "thing" standing outside the door made the riddle-solving man freeze instantly, his brain almost stopping.

It was a nightmarish fusion.

The other person had Batman's signature black silhouette and pointed helmet, but the material of the bodysuit looked like a filthy purple cloth and black leather that had been forcibly sewn together.

The newcomer's mouth was torn to the roots of his ears, revealing jagged, scarlet teeth, forming a crazed, clown-like smile.

The other person's gaze, in particular, sent shivers down the spine of the riddle solver.

Through the eye openings of the bat mask, a chaotic, frenzied, and evil light seemed to emanate.

Of course, this is not the most terrifying thing for riddle solvers.

What's terrifying is that next to this "Batman" are several heavy chains covered in unidentified stains. At the other end of the chains are several creatures dressed in Robin's uniform, but in tattered clothes, with empty eyes and drool dripping from their mouths.

The "Robins" made unconscious hoarse sounds, their bodies twisting unnaturally.

"Heh~heh~heh..."

A strange, shrill laugh came from the other person's torn mouth.

“Edward Nigmar, my dear riddle master, I know what’s going on in your little head right now… You’re thinking, ‘This is impossible! What’s the probability? How many combinations are there? How could I be so… creative?’ Right?”

The riddle-maker instinctively backed away until his back hit the cold wall, leaving him nowhere to retreat.

He was truly terrified, gripped by an unprecedented fear.

This wasn't the Batman he knew; Batman wouldn't exude this kind of pure, naked madness and malice.

"Yes, I am Batman."

"Batman" said in a nauseating tone, while giving an exaggerated, comical salute, "But I'm a little... different from your always-bitter, rule-abiding Batboy. Is my distorted, artistic face scaring you? Don't worry, you'll get used to it, hehehe..."

He shook the chains in his hands, and the "Robins" whimpered.

"Let me introduce you, this is my lovely child, isn't he/she adorable? We are a happy family~"

The riddle-maker listened to Batman's eerie words, his throat went dry, and he couldn't utter a single word.

“Relax, Mr. Nigma.”

The Laughing Bat took a step forward, and a mixture of blood, chemicals, and rotten smells assaulted his senses.

"I've traveled through mountains and rivers, traversed so many... boring layers of reality, to come to this little asylum, not to torture a second-rate character like you. That would be too inefficient. I'm here to make a deal—a deal you can't refuse."

Batman seems to be very familiar with the Riddler's riddle rules and enjoys them.

He stretched out his hand, which was covered by a worn-out glove, with a card gleaming with a dark metallic sheen between his fingers.

The card features a design that is both a bat symbol and a clown's smiling face.

"Look, I even prepared 'cards' for you, to match your aesthetic sense, right?"

Batman teased him, "Outside, your 'neighbors,' like Scarecrow and Killer Croc... they wisely accepted this little gift, and then, guess what? They unleashed their true... potential! This world is too dull; it needs a bit of chaos, and you guys are the best performers!"

The riddle-maker's gaze trembled as he looked at the metal card in the other person's hand.

He could sense the unimaginable power contained within the card, a whisper that tempted him to fall and unleash all the dark desires within.

“Catch it, Nigma.”

Batman's voice was full of seduction: "Join this party, let Gotham... no, let the whole world become our playground! Hehehe... From now on, we are the rules!"

The next day.

In downtown Gotham, the once bustling streets have been reduced to a hellish scene.

The "mountain" that appeared out of nowhere on the outskirts of Gotham is not a rock structure in the traditional sense, but rather a dark, seemingly living mixture of metal and crystals, which is eroding the city at a visible rate.

The ever-spreading "mountains" formed a series of overlapping ring-shaped structures, distorting the streets and crushing buildings.

The air was thick with dust and the smell of blood.

"Squeak!"

On the chaotic street, a private car went out of control due to the driver's panic and the sudden change in the road surface, screaming as it rushed toward a mother and daughter who had no time to dodge.

The mother immediately pulled the child into her arms, trying to escape as quickly as possible.

But because it was going too fast, it was completely too late!

At the critical moment, a blue figure swept past like a gust of wind.

"careful!"

Nightwing (Dick Grayson) yells and throws a batarang, puncturing the tires and causing the car to change direction and crash into a long-abandoned newsstand.

Almost simultaneously, a green shadow expanded.

Beast Boy (Garfield Logan) transforms into a giant rhinoceros and catches the mother and daughter who are thrown out by inertia with his broad back.

"It's alright, ladies."

The beast boy transformed back into human form, revealing a reassuring smile.

He offered a word of comfort to the frightened mother and daughter, then immediately pulled out his phone and quickly took a selfie with the chaotic streets and eerie craters in the background. "I have to record this... This is definitely the craziest day in the Titan Log."

"Garfield, now is not the time for taking pictures."

Starfire (Kolianda) descended from the sky, her body radiating a dazzling energy.

While cautiously scanning her surroundings, she complained to the beast boy, "We're not playing around."

Xinghuo's home planet, Tamaran, had also experienced war, but the supernatural chaos before her still sent shivers down her spine. "I know, I know."

The beast boy put away his phone, his expression turning serious. "It's just... this is too surreal."

Beast Boy and Starfire are members of the Teen Titans, a new group formed by Nightwing after the vampire incident.

After the vampire incident, Nightwing absorbed the power of the meteorite and became the vampire king, but was betrayed by Mordred and had his throne stolen. He was then humiliatingly hung in Wayne Tower.

Although the matter was eventually resolved perfectly and Nightwing regained his senses, he still harbored resentment about being tricked by Mordred.

Seeing that Mordred had more than a dozen superpowered siblings, Nightwing also formed a superpowered alliance.

After all, there's strength in numbers, and next time we can team up to deal with this brat.

Beast Boy, Starfire, and Cyborg were all absorbed into him in this way.

Beast Boy, whose real name is Garfield Mark Logan, suffers from a rare tropical disease and has to be injected with an untested serum for treatment.

The serum turned his skin green and also gave him the ability to transform into any kind of animal.

As for Xinghuo, this girl with orange skin and fiery red hair comes from the planet Tamaran and is its princess.

Nightwing glanced at Beast Boy and Starfire, then lowered his head to check on the mother and daughter.

After confirming that the two women were only frightened and otherwise unharmed, he instructed them to proceed to the official shelter as soon as possible.

After the mother and daughter left, Nightwing stood up and looked at the huge, ominous crater not far away.

For some reason, the evil aura emanating from the crater in front of him gave him a sense of déjà vu.

I sensed a similar aura the last time I became a vampire.

Is there some connection between the two?

After pondering for a while without success, Nightwing raised his head and continued to look at the crater.

The mountain range spreads across the city center, forming a huge, crater-like structure.

Even more striking are the two enormous doors that stand out starkly against the surrounding environment on the inner wall of the crater.

The door was made of some kind of dark wood, painted with two huge question marks in a shimmering, fluorescent green paint.

"That's... the Riddler's style."

Nightwing said in a deep voice, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Batman is not in Gotham, communications are severely disrupted, and now, the Riddler's symbol, which should be imprisoned in Arkham, has appeared here.

Could Batman be in there?

Starfire flew over to Nightwing's side and asked.

"It's uncertain, but it's the only clue we have right now."

Nightwing gripped the Cali Stick tightly. "We have to go in and see, no matter what."

The three of them exchanged glances, nodded, and cautiously walked towards the two question mark doors.

The door wasn't locked; with a gentle push, it opened silently inwards.

The sight behind the door made even the well-informed Xinghuo gasp in shock.

The interior of the mountain was not the cave they had imagined, but a space far larger than they had ever imagined.

The entire space is upside down. The three of them stand at the entrance, with a ceiling-like structure beneath their feet, while looking up, the "sky" is a flat ground with even an upside-down Gotham City architectural model on it.

Countless passages, staircases, and doorways intertwine and crisscross in a way that defies the laws of gravity, forming an incredibly complex three-dimensional maze.

A low, humming sound, like countless gears turning, echoed in the air.

"What...what is this place?"

The beast boy opened his mouth wide.

Just as the three were surveying the maze, a voice that Nightwing found somewhat familiar echoed in the inverted space: "Welcome, uninvited visitors."

"Riddler?"

Nightwing immediately recognized the voice. He looked around warily, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound.

"It's me, Nightwing, long time no see."

Nightwing asked him, puzzled, "Why are you here?"

"That's a long story, but before that, let's talk about something else. Have you heard the story of Pharaoh Amenemhat II of ancient Egypt?"

The beast boy asked in confusion, "Who is that?"

The riddler's voice continued, with a condescending smugness: "Amenemhat II, a wise ruler."

"He built a pyramid unlike any other, filled with countless ingenious labyrinths, hidden rooms and intricate courtyards. This magnificent structure successfully deterred greedy tomb raiders for centuries, safeguarding his eternal peace."

Nightwing, having no interest in listening to the Riddler's boastful display of historical knowledge, shouted, "Enough nonsense, where's Batman? Where is he?"

The Riddler seemed quite displeased at being interrupted, his voice turning colder: "Impatient young man, in my field, you must learn patience. You ask about Batman? Heh heh... He's an early arrival, perhaps playing an even more interesting game in some corner of the maze."

He paused, his voice once again filled with a sense of control: "As for you... you have trespassed into my pyramid, and I, the great Riddler, Edward Nigma, am the ruler here, the sole master of this upside-down labyrinth! And you..."

His voice suddenly turned shrill:

"...You tomb raiders who attempted to desecrate my sacred domain! Now, the game begins! Try to find me, if you can survive until then! Hehehehe..."

The riddler's laughter echoed through the vast, upside-down maze.

Nightwing, Starfire, and Beast Boy stood back to back, facing this completely unknown and terrifying maze that defied the laws of physics.

In the shadows of the labyrinth, countless twisted figures seemed to be stirring, lurking within this enormous trap, waiting for their prey to come to them.

"Be careful of your surroundings."

Nightwing whispered, "The structure here can move, and traps could come from any direction."

Before he could finish speaking, something unexpected happened!
The wall, which had previously only emitted a faint sound of gears turning, suddenly developed countless tiny cracks.

Immediately afterwards, blood, emitting a strong, pungent stench, gushed out like a flood bursting its banks.

The wave of blood came incredibly fast, almost instantly engulfing the three men's ankles, and then rose at an incredible speed.

Even more terrifying is that the blood seems to possess a life-devouring property.

Nightwing felt a chill creep up his legs, his strength draining away like a flood, and his muscles aching.

He tried to jump out, but found that his once light and agile body had become heavy and unbearable.

The brilliant energy aura surrounding Xinghuo dimmed rapidly. She tried to fly away, but the blood seemed to have a sticky quality, holding her firmly in place. The energy dissipated after only half of its concentration.

The blood waves formed a huge vortex, pushing the three of them involuntarily toward the edge of the maze.

At the end, where there should have been a wall, a bottomless, pitch-black cliff suddenly appeared.

Nightwing!

Starfire exclaimed and reached out to grab Nightwing's arm.

"Hold on to me!"

The beast boy also desperately tried to get closer.

But the force of the blood was too strong, and the group's strength was draining away too quickly. They were about to be swept into the endless abyss of darkness.
At the critical moment, a dazzling green light suddenly shot out.

The green light solidified instantly in mid-air, transforming into an incredibly sturdy rope that stretched between the sea of ​​blood and the cliff, blocking the way for the three of them.

Driven by the instinct for survival, the three immediately reached out their nearly exhausted hands and grabbed the life-saving rope tightly.

"Children, you'll suffer a great loss if you barge into other people's territory without knowing anything about it."

A mocking voice came from above.

The three of them looked up in shock.

At the top of the wall, a tall, slender figure stood leisurely.

Loki wore a magnificent dark green robe, with a deep green cloak flowing behind his shoulders, and a simple, ancient-style crown on his head, making him look quite imposing.

"Loki?!"

Nightwing recognized the newcomer, his voice filled with surprise.

Mr. Patrick's children have arrived. Has he arrived yet?

Nightwing immediately became excited.

(End of this chapter)