Chapter 251: Unita Is the Mind Stone
"Damn Skynet, stole my front-page headline again."
Arthur the Joker angrily crumpled the newspaper and threw it to the ground, then stomped on it for good measure, still not feeling satisfied.
First, there were rumors about the Comedic Bat, followed by Batman coming forward to clarify things.
Arthur thought no one could possibly steal the top news slot anymore—but then Skynet emerged, invading America.
Penguin and Riddler were glued to their phones, watching updates from various battlefields.
Without even turning his head, Edward commented, "You should be glad you're not running for mayor of New York—get elected and you're just waiting to take the fall."
"Filthy politicians love using scapegoats to calm the public. It's better here in Gotham—we don't even bother with appearances," Cobblepot grinned. "We don't have to give a damn what Gotham's citizens think."
"Dude, you seriously sound just like a politician," Edward teased.
"Right back at you."
Cobblepot chuckled and flattered him: "Future Senator Edward."
Boom!
Allen smashed through the window, landing with both hands dramatically flaring his cape.
"Joker, Penguin, Riddler—you've betrayed this city."
The three locked eyes on Allen.
Same entrance, same drama.
He never used the door. Always had to go through a window—definitely not a man of convention.
"Boss, could you please use the front door next time?" Cobblepot asked awkwardly.
"Not even a chance."
Allen arrogantly showed off his Bat suit. "The main entrance just doesn't match the aesthetic."
Just then, Nanaue pushed the door open and walked in.
With a physique like his, there was no way to scale buildings. He had to use the front door like a normal person.
"You back from your vacation, Boss?" Edward asked offhandedly.
"Almost forgot the real reason I'm here."
Allen straightened up, solemnly saying, "Get the reporters and your men ready to evacuate civilians. Skynet's heading for Gotham."
Ugh…
The most crushed was Arthur. He genuinely wanted to run for mayor.
With Skynet's arrival, Gotham was doomed.
"What's Skynet coming to Gotham for?" Arthur asked, confused.
"I led it here."
Allen admitted it without hesitation.
The three of them cursed in their hearts.
What the hell is wrong with you?
Who picks a fight with Skynet for fun—and drags everyone else into it too?
"Don't worry, fear not."
Allen swept his cape over his face, full of confidence. "Everything is under the control of the Comedic Bat. I'm giving you all a golden opportunity for your campaigns. Make good use of it."
Once they had a second to think about it—
Allen was absolutely insane, but he'd never actually failed before. The three of them felt reassured.
The leaders of the Joker Gang and Penguin Gang were summoned to make arrangements and deployments.
…
Bruce monitored Skynet's movements via satellite positioned in geostationary orbit.
Superman was the first to arrive in Gotham to confront Skynet, while Bruce piloted the Batjet at full speed to follow.
The rest of the Justice League split up to support other cities.
New York had fallen.
Los Angeles was still holding its ground.
Other cities remained in the thick of battle—the overall outlook was grim.
Superman and Skynet arrived nearly simultaneously.
They clashed mid-air from a distance.
Superman's heat vision versus Skynet's laser beam.
The two surging energy blasts collided, emitting a blinding light across the sky, like a second sun had risen.
Boom!
The resulting shockwave radiated intense heat, sweeping through Gotham's sky, dispersing the city's usual gloom.
Panic gripped Gotham.
But the Joker Gang and Penguin Gang were already prepared. Members donned reflective vests and began organizing evacuations.
High above, Superman and Skynet exchanged brutal blows, fists meeting flesh in a back-and-forth brawl.
Bruce, arriving on the scene, leapt from the Batjet and landed steadily on a rooftop—because Allen was already there, watching the battle from afar.
Crash!
Superman's body flew through a skyscraper, with Skynet in hot pursuit...
"Hey, Bats, looks like your insurance building's going down."
Allen pointed to the collapsing tower—its sign clearly marked as a Wayne Insurance property.
Bruce's mouth twitched slightly as he asked calmly, "You have a plan to deal with Skynet?"
"Well, since you're asking, I'll generously tell you—"
Allen struck a heroic pose, hands on hips. "Nope."
Nope? Then why the hell were you acting like you had everything under control?
Just as Bruce's expression soured with disappointment, Allen smirked like his trap had sprung. "I lied. I brought Skynet to Gotham on purpose—so I could finish it once and for all…"
He explained everything in detail.
Bruce's face turned even grimmer. In disbelief, he asked, "You mean... you don't need our help?"
"Exactly."
Allen blinked sincerely. "In my plan, once Skynet enters the Arkham Fortress, Unita Sun Sun will take care of it. No ground combat required at all."
"…"
Bruce's nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply, like he was about to cough up blood from sheer frustration.
Because while they were chatting, Superman and Skynet had crashed through several more buildings—every one of them a Wayne Enterprises asset. The financial loss? Unimaginable.
"Let's move, Bats."
Allen had no interest in watching the rest. As far as he was concerned, Superman was destined to lose.
Skynet had mimetic abilities. As long as it could replicate infrared light, it could neutralize Superman.
Bruce's eyes widened as he saw the portal open in front of them. It led to a high-tech base—Allen suddenly felt like a stranger.
"This is the base of the Comedic Bat and the Comedy Troupe Task Force," Allen said. "Built beneath Arkham Asylum. Cool, right?"
But Bruce's attention was on the holographic image of Unita.
Holographic tech—something even he hadn't fully mastered yet. Stark Industries was leading the field. He never imagined Arkham Fortress had this level of tech.
"You built this?"
Bruce had no superpowers—just his wealth—and he knew Gotham's infrastructure better than anyone. In case of emergencies, he had retreat routes mapped out. But he'd never come across anything like this Arkham Fortress.
There's an old saying in Arkham: You can ambush Batman, but don't ever try to schedule a fight with him.
"Someone gave it to me. Problem?"
"No problem."
Bruce fell silent, already wondering who had given Allen such advanced tech.
"Commander, target approaching," a voice reported.
On the screen, Skynet was dragging Superman by the leg down a tunnel, heading straight for Arkham Fortress.
It raised its hand, energy building in its palm.
The next second, the metallic vault doors slid open.
Skynet's body glowed red, simulating infrared light to suppress Superman's powers.
Clark, beaten half to death, hung limp like a dead dog, his face swollen and bruised, barely conscious.
"Hand over her core," Skynet demanded, pointing to Unita's hologram. "Or I will level this entire city."
"Hope you can keep it together, pretty boy."
At Allen's signal, Unita activated a control—lowering the metal roundtable and raising a new device from underneath.
Atop the device sat a single gemstone, glowing orange-yellow.
"That's... the Mind Stone?!"