Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Return to Gotham
"Which armor should I create?"
After careful deliberation, Marcus finally decided to address his greatest weakness.
Flight had always been his shortcoming. Gaining this ability would significantly enhance his combat effectiveness.
Several flying armors appeared in his mind: Zephyr [Howling West Wind], specializing in aerial attacks and mobility; Titania [Illusion Butterfly Fairy], who could hide among swarms of butterflies; and Wukong [Monkey King], with its unruly, primal nature.
"Hmm, these are all formidable options."
Zephyr controlled storms in battle, ruled the skies, and could fly at tremendous speed by manipulating air currents.
Titania could shrink to the size of a butterfly, and in combat, she and her swarm of blade-equipped butterflies could scatter deadly dust that dragged enemies into destruction.
As for Wukong, this armor featured the most aggressive fighting style, employing trickster tactics to confuse opponents while protecting its wearer.
The power of these three armors was impressive, making his decision difficult.
After extended consideration, Marcus finally decided on Titania [Illusion Butterfly Fairy], which offered the most comprehensive functionality.
Although Zephyr possessed strong aerial combat capabilities, Titania surpassed both alternatives in versatility and tactical options.
The reason for rejecting Wukong was straightforward—it flew by transforming into mist clouds and lacked genuine aerial combat capabilities.
"It's settled then. Titania [Illusion Butterfly Fairy]!"
[Assume all armor are fit to him or in a male version, picture are taking from the game]
Having determined his choice, Marcus began the transformation process. Four Aya Stars gathered in his hands, and the void energy gradually dissipated.
Just as during his previous armor shaping, the energy from the Aya Stars enveloped him in a humanoid cocoon. The entire room illuminated with the brilliant glow of concentrated Aya energy.
As time passed, the cocoon eventually cracked open with a soft click. From it emerged a battle armor adorned with metallic butterflies, with a pair of folded wings extending from its back.
Marcus, now transformed into Titania [Illusion Butterfly Fairy], immersed himself in the armor's power.
This was a truly unique battle system. The butterflies covering the armor featured razor-sharp edges, capable of inflicting damage during flight. The armor itself resembled a mischievous fairy, able to shrink to butterfly size and fly at incredible speeds.
Titania also included two special weapons: a melee weapon called "Fairy" and dual pistols named "Dex Fairy."
These weapons compensated for Titania's combat vulnerabilities during flight. Fairy could dispatch nearby enemies, while Dex Fairy handled distant threats.
"Not bad at all!"
As he spoke, Marcus activated Razor Wings. His body instantly shrank to butterfly size, hovering effortlessly in the air.
Despite his diminished stature, Marcus's movements weren't hindered—if anything, he became more agile than before. After flying around the room briefly, he deactivated the transformation, returning to his normal form.
"Now that I've addressed this weakness, it's time to return to Gotham. Diana likely has nothing further of importance."
...
In Gotham, Alfred anxiously searched for Bruce, who hadn't returned since the assassins' attack.
Not entirely true—Bruce must have returned briefly, as Alfred found two letters from him in the study.
One was addressed to Alfred himself. From it, he learned of Bruce's current situation: still being hunted, but sheltered by an acquaintance who had hidden him somewhere in Gotham to evade the assassins.
The second letter was for Marcus. Alfred hadn't examined its contents. He could only continue searching for Bruce while awaiting Marcus's return.
"Master Bruce, please stay out of trouble..."
Knock, knock, knock...
While praying, Alfred heard someone at the door, immediately putting him on alert. He worried the killers might have returned.
"Alfred? Bruce? Is anyone home?"
Marcus knocked and called out. He found the situation strange—the massive Wayne Manor seemed deserted.
The garden hadn't been maintained in some time, no longer meticulously groomed as before. The entire estate appeared neglected, almost abandoned.
The door opened, and Alfred regarded Marcus with surprise and relief.
"Mr. Marcus, you've finally returned!"
"What's wrong? I just left for Christmas," Marcus said, puzzled by Alfred's reaction.
He glanced into the house but saw no sign of Bruce.
"Where's Bruce?"
School should still be on break, so Bruce shouldn't be attending classes. Combined with the manor's condition, a sense of foreboding grew within Marcus.
"Shortly after your departure, Master Bruce was suddenly targeted by assassins. After escaping the manor, he only managed to send back two letters—one addressed to you."
Alfred's sadness was evident. He worried deeply about Bruce's safety, with only these letters providing any connection to the boy.
Marcus frowned. He hadn't anticipated Bruce encountering such danger.
Now Bruce's whereabouts remained unknown beyond the two letters, and the assassins had vanished as well.
"I'll investigate this immediately. Try not to worry excessively. Bruce has learned my techniques—he won't be easily overwhelmed. That is, assuming he doesn't face firearms."
He couldn't offer reassurances about guns. After all, shootings occurred daily in this country, especially in Gotham's darker corners. A day without deaths in this city was considered peaceful.
Walking to his room, Marcus opened the letter Alfred had given him.
It detailed Bruce's recent situation: he and Selina were hiding in a secluded location, evading the killers.
Their original plan had been to seek Inspector Gordon's help at the police station. However, upon approaching the precinct, Selina spotted numerous assassins lurking nearby, forcing them to abandon this strategy and remain hidden. Selina had delivered this letter on Bruce's behalf.
Marcus understood Bruce's predicament from the letter but found himself increasingly curious about why these killers were pursuing the boy so relentlessly.
Who would dare raid Wayne Manor and hunt Bruce with such determination?
This question plunged Marcus into deep contemplation. Bruce should be temporarily safe, but Marcus needed to confront these assassins directly.
Their sudden appearance intrigued him greatly. Who were they? Why had they inexplicably targeted Bruce Wayne?
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