"Of course, if there are alternative solutions, it's better not to resort to this plan. After all, the Hell Dimension isn't much different from the Celestials; they're both enemies of Earth..." After Bruce Wayne grasped the general situation, Tony Stark continued speaking.
To be honest, if there were other options, Tony Stark would prefer not to involve the Hell Dimension. Even though Robert had ventured there numerous times, as Stark had previously pointed out, the Hell Dimension was even more formidable than the Celestials. Furthermore, it was also an enemy of Earth. His contingency plan was nothing short of negotiating with a tiger.
"I'll keep that in mind. Do you have any other intelligence to share with me?" Bruce Wayne nodded, though it was unclear if he took Stark's warning to heart, as he continued to ask for more information.
"As far as intelligence on the Celestials goes, this is all we have. Their movements are notoriously difficult to track. If you've managed to gather a significant amount of information on them, it likely means the Celestials are already on Earth," Tony Stark warned, his voice grave.
"Do you think the Hell Dimension is aware of the Celestials?" Bruce Wayne asked after a brief moment of thought.
"I'm not sure, but based on the intelligence from the Saiyans, it seems the Celestials don't operate on a dimensional level." Stark admitted he had no definitive answers to Wayne's query.
"So, is it possible that the lack of information on the dimensional level is because the Celestials aren't using their true identities there? Otherwise, how could they detach from the universe yet return to it at will?" Wayne speculated after a moment of silence.
"You still lack understanding of dimensional matters. That scenario is highly unlikely. The Saiyans are capable of tracking Celestials even in other dimensions..." Stark acknowledged Wayne's imaginative thinking but dismissed it as impractical.
If the Celestials existed between dimensions, their immense power would have made them a prominent name in the multiverse. Even if they tried to keep a low profile, they'd still be discovered.
In the multiverse, where a brutal "dark forest law" governs, any dimension pretending to be weak would long since have been invaded. If they survived despite covetous enemies, their power would already be legendary across dimensions.
While Wayne's idea wasn't completely without merit, it didn't help locate the Celestials' hiding place, which seemed to be an area unknown even to the Avengers or Wayne himself.
"The Avengers know more about dimensional matters than I do. It makes sense, given the number of dimensional incidents they've resolved. And then there's Kamar-Taj, which specializes in dimensional issues..." Wayne refrained from voicing further doubts but began formulating plans in his mind.
"The Saiyans have also surpassed Earth's capabilities, freely traversing dimensions. If even they can't find the Celestials, perhaps the Celestials truly are hiding somewhere beyond our understanding. The universe is vast, and not even the most advanced civilizations claim to know it entirely..."
"Hello? Are you still there, Bruce? What are you thinking about?" Stark's armored suit waved a hand, calling out when Wayne fell silent.
"Hmm? You're still here? Didn't you say you had no more intelligence to share?" Wayne frowned, puzzled to see Stark's armor still in the Batcave.
"Seriously? I give you intel, and you're not going to share anything in return? What are you, a freeloader?" Stark replied disdainfully. "Don't tell me you're just going to take without giving anything back?"
"Share? What do you mean? You want Skrull tech? The Avengers wouldn't even be interested in that," Wayne responded, confused.
"Your armor! That Hell Demon armor of yours. Even if you don't want to share the suit itself, you could at least give me the data. Two plans are always better than one if we have to deal with the Hell Dimension," Stark said impatiently.
Wayne hesitated before responding. "I can't give you the suit because I'm restarting research in that area. But I can share the data with you."
While Wayne found it irksome that his armor had been exploited by the Skrulls, it still contained significant technological breakthroughs. However, trusting no one, Wayne would only share limited data, including methods to extract extraordinary powers like those from the Hell Dimension into technology.
Such a method was something Stark had yet to master, as his path was entirely technological. Wayne's data would be immensely helpful to him.
After preparing a computer with the relevant files, Wayne allowed Stark to copy the data. Stark's suit promptly left the Batcave, but instead of returning directly to the Avengers' base, it self-destructed outside Gotham, disintegrating into dust.
Both Stark and Wayne knew each other too well. Even though they weren't outright enemies, they'd seize any opportunity to infiltrate each other's systems and uncover secrets. Wayne ensured Stark had no access to his core data, while Stark avoided bringing potentially compromised armor back to the Avengers' headquarters.
"Such vigilance. Still, facing threats like the Celestials and the Hell Dimension, my current strength feels woefully inadequate," Wayne murmured as Stark's armor exploded outside Gotham. His eyes gleamed with determination.
The world was becoming increasingly incomprehensible to him. When Robert and Clark first emerged, Wayne felt confident in handling them. But over time, his ability to manage extraordinary events diminished. Now even incidents within Gotham often required Robert's assistance.
This wasn't entirely Wayne's fault. With limited intelligence and resources for dealing with unprecedented crises, he often found himself helpless, especially when those crises far exceeded the scope of his plans.
Wayne considered improving his contingency strategies, but he'd reached his limits without access to higher-tier intelligence or equipment. The matter of the Celestials was clearly beyond his grasp, even with Stark's data.
His only option was to prepare as best he could and hope that Earth could withstand the Celestials' might—a decision neither he nor Stark could make.
"It seems this fear-based power is easier to lose oneself in. Its potential is even greater and less controllable than the power of the Dark Dimension, at least based on my understanding..." Wayne's gaze settled on the depths of the Batcave, where some of his most critical assets lay hidden. Among them was the yellow power ring of fear that had emerged from a forbidden palace on Oa.
Although he didn't fully understand the ring's origins or how it reached Earth, it had chosen him—or rather, its fear-based energy had. Despite using fear to intimidate criminals as Batman, Wayne didn't fully trust such power, knowing its unpredictability.
Thus, when he first acquired the ring, he sealed it away, intending to use it only in the direst circumstances or integrate it into a new piece of equipment.
Now, after learning about the Celestials, Wayne felt the ring's power might not be as uncontrollable as he'd feared. At least compared to the Celestials' threat, it seemed almost trivial.
As he donned the ring, a yellow glow enveloped him, and his mind momentarily blurred. His body trembled slightly before he growled through gritted teeth, regaining clarity. "No power controls me. I control it."
The yellow light receded, leaving only a faint outline around his Bat emblem. Unlike the full Yellow Lantern uniform, the power adapted to his will, manifesting in small ways.
"An incredible force... capable of material and psychological influence. Stronger than the Icarus Mask," Wayne muttered, testing the ring's abilities. It could generate barriers, weapons, and tools—even allow him to fly.
For someone with Wayne's indomitable will, the ring wasn't just a source of power—it was a key unlocking new possibilities.
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