amaotonovel Chapter 4653 Desperate Escape (25)
Chapter 4653 Desperate Escape (25)
Chapter 4653 A Desperate Escape (Twenty-Five)
"The machine has stopped?" Charles said, panting. "Looks like the plan succeeded. I never imagined we could work so well with a group of strangers..."
“It doesn’t look like we succeeded,” Eric said, clearly more knowledgeable in mechanical engineering. He looked down at the support rod. Although there was no gap between the metal rod and the floor, and he couldn’t see anything below, based on the feel of it just now, Eric felt that this wasn’t a normal completion.
Logically, if the balance scale was lifted and supported the ceiling, the design should have a latch locking it at a certain height. However, Eric didn't feel any vibration from the latch locking mechanism. Instead, the pillar trembled for a long time before suddenly stopping. This didn't seem like a normal mechanism working; it seemed more like it had malfunctioned.
Charles was already sprawled on the ground. He rolled over and lay there, looking at the steel needle so close to his face, and said, "Anyway, we've made it through. Good heavens, I wouldn't have made it in a minute."
"You really need to work out," Eric said, though he was soaked in sweat and panting heavily. He turned over and lay down, taking advantage of the precious opportunity to rest.
"What do you think the level designers would do if someone actually broke the mechanism?" Eric asked.
Charles thought for a moment, then said, “I suspected before that there were staff members in this dungeon chamber. Perhaps there are several staff passageways out of our sight. Employees of some evil tech company are moving through those passageways, debugging equipment and monitoring us. Now that the mechanism is broken, they might be trying to fix it.”
"After it's fixed, do we have to do it all over again?" Eric was getting impatient. "This is completely breaking the rules!"
“But other players started it,” Charles shrugged. “However, I think this game doesn’t really have any rules. They build dungeons, we cause destruction, everyone relies on their own abilities. When they designed the mechanisms, they should have considered all possible scenarios for destruction. Otherwise, it’s just that their design was poor.”
“I hope they won’t cheat,” Eric said. “I don’t have the energy to do it again.”
“No, don’t make me lie down, Clark,” Batman said, taking a deep breath. “If I lie down now, I might not have the strength to get up.”
"But we've passed, now we can rest."
“Not at all.” Batman remained serious. “Judging from what just happened, it doesn’t seem like a normal walkthrough. Someone might have broken some mechanism. The level designer might want to fix the mechanism and then start over.”
"How can they do this!" Superman said indignantly. "Their own mechanisms were of poor quality and they didn't take any safety precautions. They were damaged by someone, and now we're supposed to pay for it?"
“That depends on whether this story has any backstory.” Batman knelt on the ground, his voice still firm. “If it really is some company that conducts human experiments, you can’t expect them to have any moral compass.”
"But wasn't the plot designed by the Battle Realm Administrators? Did they really intend to create such an inhumane storyline?"
“There aren’t many human beings among the administrators,” Batman said, hitting the nail on the head. “I suspect there are at least two Jokers, three Schillers, and maybe some other people from Arkham Asylum.”
"I knew setting up high-difficulty dungeons was just asking for trouble!" Superman wailed. "What kind of good stuff can these lunatics design?!"
"I have to admit, the level design is quite good. The guidance is clear, the objectives are well-defined, and there's a certain degree of openness, making it a test of both the player's mental and physical abilities. Honestly, I'd give it a seven out of ten," Batman commented.
"You're really crazy!" Superman couldn't help but say. But then he felt sorry for him and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that, but every time you tell a lame joke with all those injuries, it reminds me of that green piece of chewing gum."
“When I’m not feeling well, I need something to distract me,” Batman said. “Let’s guess what’s going on. The mastermind brought us here not just to have us break his mechanisms.”
“I’ve been thinking about this,” Superman said. “Do you think it could be like Saw, where they brought us here to teach us a lesson or to punish us?”
“If we each have our own identities, then that makes sense. But the copy doesn’t restrict us. Why do you think I keep calling you by your name, Clark?”
“Uh, I thought you were in a good mood,” Superman said. “When you’re in a good mood, you like to call me by my name, not just ‘Superman.’”
“Well, maybe that’s just my habit,” Batman explained, “but the main reason is that I wanted to know if there were any identity restrictions in this instance. It doesn’t seem so. There’s also no information revealing our respective backstories, so the punishment theory shouldn’t hold water.”
“Clark, if there’s anything else about me that deserves punishment… well, you? I really can’t think of any excuse Jigsaw could use to punish you. You love life, are helpful, smart, capable, kind, and simple. If someone like that gets captured by Jigsaw, then he really deserves to be called a terrorist.”
“Oh, Batman, you’re making me blush.” Superman smiled shyly. “But in my opinion, he has no reason to kidnap you, Batman. You accomplished what no ordinary person could, with the body of an ordinary man; you almost saved Gotham. What is there to question about someone like that?”
Batman paused for a moment. He slowly switched legs to support himself. Superman noticed he was preoccupied and asked, "What's wrong, Bruce? Is there something you can't tell me?"
“I think there are some reasons.” Batman glanced at Superman, but quickly looked away. “I have to admit, Clark, I haven’t been honest with my friends. I’m suspicious and guarded. If he asks me about this, I really have nothing to say.”
“Oh.” Superman looked helpless. “Look at who your friends are. Alien giants, Olympian demigods, green interplanetary police, Martian mind readers, super mechanical hackers, the King of Atlantis… and you, you’re just a vigilante with a human body. If you’re completely unguarded against them, it only proves you’re an idiot.”
“From my own perspective, I also think it’s necessary. I’m not so arrogant as to think I’m invincible. If one day someone controls me to destroy the Earth, then the defenses you’ve implemented can save the Earth, and at the same time, save me. Because if I were really controlled to destroy the Earth, I probably wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.”
Superman turned to Batman and said, “Believe it or not, Batman, nobody in the Justice League doesn’t know this—we can live so peacefully on Earth, among ordinary people, all thanks to you as our last line of defense. Otherwise, given how fast Earth is facing crises, I certainly wouldn’t dare live in the solar system; otherwise, I’d easily become a weapon in the hands of those guys who invade Earth.”
Batman fell silent, as usual, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, as if offering a silent resistance. But Superman was clearly the kind of person who liked to press his emotional advantage relentlessly.
"You're unwilling to face this because you always feel that no one can understand you..."
“No,” Batman suddenly said, “I just feel that if you’re all this understanding, I owe you even more.”
Batman wasn't sure if this was the first time he'd talked about owing something to Superman. He didn't like the topic, but if he didn't, it would be Superman's turn again.
He thought Superman would say something like, "You don't owe us anything," but instead Superman said, "Then let's owe each other. We feel like we owe you, and you feel like you owe us, so the Justice League will never break up."
Batman seemed utterly shocked. He remained silent for a good ten seconds before finally speaking, "Who taught you this?"
“Bruce, you still don’t believe that I really put in all my effort to understand you, even trying to understand how the lunatics in Gotham get along. You don’t like loving relationships at all; it’s either mutual indebtedness, mutual harm, or both. If you’re more used to this, then I’ll accept it.”
“No, no, Clark.” Batman’s voice would be even deeper when he was losing control. “You’re Superman, you’re not a madman from Gotham.”
“But you just like to invest more energy in them,” Superman pointed out incisively. “My willingness to add a few morbid elements to our relationship doesn’t mean I’m evil. I’m just catering to my friends’ preferences. That’s exactly how I show my love.”
Batman finally showed a pained expression. He braced himself with his hands and slowly lay down on his side. Superman was startled and quickly reached out to help him, saying, "Didn't you say that if you lay down, you might never get up again? Bruce, wake up, are you alright?"
“I’m not doing well,” Batman said, “but I’m afraid it’s not because of blood loss, Clark. This machine broke at the worst possible time.”
"Loki! Loki!" Thor immediately hugged his brother. The moment the mechanism stopped, Loki collapsed. Knowing Loki as Thor did, he was definitely exhausted.
In fact, Loki's ability to hold on this long far exceeded Thor's expectations. Keep in mind that Loki was injured and highly sensitive to pain. Pain is extremely taxing. Thor had thought he wouldn't last long, but the two of them had persisted for at least ten minutes, which was quite beyond expectations.
Thor turned Loki over and checked on him. Thankfully, Loki was conscious, but too exhausted to move. He laid Loki flat on the ground to rest.
“I understand,” Loki muttered to himself. “This is also part of the challenge.”
"what?"
“When people are...tired and in pain, they are always more likely to express their...emotions, and also...find it difficult to suppress their emotions.” Loki spoke with some difficulty, panting for a long time before finishing, “They become mentally agitated...and have a stronger urge to confide…”
Indeed, Thor's heart was still pounding. This was a side effect of the excessive exertion. He could feel himself very awake; although he was exhausted, he didn't want to sleep at all and wanted to talk to Loki.
“But what’s the downside?” Thor asked.
“It’s not bad for us,” Loki said, “because we have no more conflicts. Except for the times you abandoned me, except for the times you risked your life, except for the times you never listen to me…”
"Alright, alright, Loki," Thor said, wiping his face. "If we keep going like this, other teams probably won't have as many conflicts as we do."
"Okay. In short, if their relationship isn't good enough, or if they are good but have some deep-seated conflicts, these can easily erupt at this time. Even if there aren't any, just confiding in each other can be very tiring due to emotional fluctuations. In fact, many things said indiscriminately at this time may linger in one's mind and affect one's rationality."
“That’s why I said you didn’t need to bother fixing it.” Greed crossed his arms and looked at Stark. “On the surface, it’s a mechanical malfunction that forced us to pause the process, but in reality, it’s another test of their relationship. Look, even Batman almost fell for it, didn’t he?”