"This fear-based energy can also be released as a pure energy attack. Its destructive power surpasses the dark energy I've used before, and it also includes a psychological aspect. While it harms the body, it can erode the enemy's mind, making them feel fear?" In the Batcave's secret chamber, Bruce Wayne continued to familiarize himself with the powers of the Yellow Lantern Ring, its yellow glow flickering around him.
"So, I can focus this energy entirely on psychological attacks, trapping enemies in eternal fear? Testing its physical effects is easy, but assessing its psychological impact is more challenging. After all, mental phenomena are hard to quantify..."
"Should I test it on some criminals? Hmm, it's not out of the question. Perhaps demons could work, too—they feel emotions just like us, including fear. But I wonder if the Celestials, who seem almost godlike, even experience emotions?"
Testing on criminals didn't trouble Bruce. While his no-kill rule remained unbroken, it didn't mean he'd show leniency to criminals. Fear had always been a cornerstone of his tactics as Gotham's Dark Knight.
"Hmm? Wait, what's this?!" Just as he was preparing to further explore the ring's powers and seek out criminals under cover of darkness, Bruce discovered something unusual about his body.
Though a highly trained human operating at peak physical condition, Bruce Wayne was still mortal and no longer young. Years of relentless training and combat had left his body riddled with hidden injuries. However, it wasn't these old wounds that startled him now—it was the presence of an extraordinary force within one of them.
His body, which had never been imbued with supernatural power, now contained a faint yet unmistakable trace of it. Alarm bells went off in Bruce's mind as he sensed this anomaly.
"When did this happen? Could it have been when the Skrulls captured me? Did they do something to my body?" Bruce swiftly began piecing together possibilities while carefully probing the mysterious energy. As he concentrated, his mind briefly wavered.
A faint black glow flickered in his eyes, followed by a sharp and resolute expression.
"Damn it! When did this happen?!" Bruce now recognized the source of this power—it was the dark energy from the Icarus Mask, a force he had thought surpassed by the Yellow Lantern Ring.
When he wielded the mask, Bruce had outmatched even General Icarus in mastery and potency of dark energy. At the time, he thought little of it, attributing his success to his indomitable willpower. But now, he realized he'd been marked by the Dark Dimension all along.
He recalled the Skrulls' previous ploy, where one impersonated the Joker but ended up consumed by the Joker's madness, wielding dark powers without the mask. Back then, Bruce had dismissed it as an isolated anomaly. Now, it was clear that both he and the Joker had been marked by the Dark Dimension, granting them higher authority over its powers.
"Marked by darkness... no wonder I could use those powers so effectively," Bruce muttered.
He attempted to use the Yellow Lantern Ring's power to erase the dark mark, channeling its fear-based energy into his body and mind. However, the dark mark remained untouched, as if it had fused with him entirely.
"So, it can't be removed? Dimensional forces are this potent? I thought the Dark Dimension's power was inferior to the Yellow Lantern Ring..." Bruce's initial frustration gave way to calm analysis. He couldn't understand why the ring's energy, potent as it was, had no effect on the mark. It felt as if the mark had become a natural part of him.
As Bruce pondered, the mark suddenly activated, flooding his body with dark energy. Strangely, this new power coexisted harmoniously with the Yellow Lantern's energy, with no signs of conflict between them.
"It's just like when I wore the Icarus Mask... no, it's stronger now!" Bruce's careful probing led him to a surprising conclusion.
"Does this mean my dark energy is now equal to the Lantern's power? Why has it strengthened? Is it because my authority over it has grown, or is the power itself conscious, trying to prove its worth?"
"If it intended to clash with the Yellow Lantern energy, there would've been an internal conflict by now. Instead, the two powers feel like extensions of myself... Wait!"
Bruce's eyes narrowed as a new concern surfaced. He retracted the Yellow Lantern energy and focused solely on the dark power, sweeping it through his body. He was searching for another mark, fearing the ring might have left its own imprint on him. However, after a thorough search, he found nothing.
From the discovery of the dark mark onward, Bruce had felt a growing unease. Though he now wielded two formidable powers, each with unique strengths, he remained wary of both. Each carried the risk of spiraling out of his control, even if neither showed signs of rebellion—for now.
"If there's no immediate solution, I'll have to accept it for now. At least, if one power goes rogue, the other can act as a counterbalance..." Bruce sighed, his voice low.
"If the dark mark is permanent, the Yellow Lantern Ring can't leave my hand either. Together, they maintain a balance. Fortunately, if the worst happens, I've already prepared contingencies to ensure these problems are dealt with—even if it means dealing with myself."
His gaze shifted toward the deepest part of his equipment vault. If he ever lost control, neutralizing himself would be simpler than purging the dark mark or the ring. Bruce had long accepted this grim reality.
As Tony Stark had remarked, Bruce never trusted anyone completely—not even himself. Just as he had plans for others, he had plans for his own downfall.
"Still, with both the dark mark and the Yellow Lantern Ring, I might not need to create new suits or equipment for a while. Night's falling; it's time to test these powers."
Bruce changed out of his Bat-suit into civilian clothes. Channeling the combined energies of fear and darkness, he conjured a new uniform. The outfit was pitch-black, save for the yellow glow encircling the Bat emblem on his chest.
The harmony between the two powers seemed complete. As Gotham's Dark Knight, wielding both fear and darkness felt entirely natural.
"Also, I can summon the Shadow Warriors again. They'll help monitor Gotham... though Gotham's been quiet lately, with no major disasters or supervillains cropping up."
"Instead, I'll send the Shadow Warriors into the Hell Dimension. They can gather intelligence and study its power. Individually, they may be weak, suitable only for low-level demons. But since they're expendable and not tied to my energy, I can use them freely."
"If the Dark Dimension marked me, it should be prepared for me to exploit it. Shadow Warriors shouldn't drain its resources much."
Since losing the Icarus Mask, Bruce had relied heavily on Hell-based materials, even crafting a Hell Demon armor. He also devised a method to open small Hell portals. Though dimensional breaches were still present on Earth, high death rates discouraged Hell's denizens from invading directly.
Bruce opened a small Hell portal within the Batcave. Five demons emerged, their eyes gleaming with greed as they spotted Bruce.
"A human!"
"A delicious human!"
"Let's eat him!"
The demons lunged at Bruce, snarling. But he had faced such threats countless times before. With a thought, a barrier of fear and darkness surrounded him. Five Shadow Warriors materialized, their katanas slashing toward the demons.
Clang!
Rip!
One demon was injured, but the others shattered the katanas and tore the Shadow Warriors apart.
"No flesh or blood? Dimensional beings? Not made of organic matter?" The demons grew cautious, now eyeing Bruce warily.
"Human! Is this your doing?"
"One-to-one, the Shadow Warriors aren't a match. Let's increase the numbers," Bruce muttered. Ten Shadow Warriors appeared, overwhelming the demons.
Minutes later, the demons lay dead, their blood pooling on the floor, while over twenty Shadow Warriors stood silently, awaiting orders.
"One to ten—barely enough to win. And even then, only because the demons were already injured. Still, without injuries, the Shadow Warriors could win with greater numbers. Not bad."
Bruce gazed at the demon corpses thoughtfully.
"These weren't the lowest-level demons. For weaker ones, I wouldn't need as many Shadow Warriors. Still, to gather meaningful intel, I'll need thousands of them. No rush—I'll take my time..."
With a thought, Bruce sent a legion of Shadow Warriors streaming through the Hell portal. They disappeared into the Hell Dimension, beginning their reconnaissance.
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