Marcus settled back comfortably on the living room sofa and regarded both of his students with a thoughtful expression. Although Bruce and Selina had performed admirably during their recent battle, there was one fundamental issue they seemed to have completely misunderstood about their mission and capabilities.
"I'm genuinely pleased that you both want to help change Gotham for the better," Marcus began, his tone carrying both approval and gentle correction. "But with your current strength and resources, you are at best capable of serving as nighttime vigilantes in a very limited capacity."
Hearing Marcus's frank assessment, both young vigilantes felt an immediate urge to argue and defend their broader ambitions. However, when they tried to formulate counterarguments, they found themselves unable to articulate any convincing responses.
"Do you really think that just the two of you, acting as independent vigilantes, can somehow transform Gotham completely?" Marcus continued with pointed questions. "That kind of expectation is essentially pure fantasy. Can you tell me exactly why you originally decided to become vigilantes in the first place?"
Seeing their teacher's serious gaze directed at them, both Bruce and Selina slowly lowered their heads in uncomfortable reflection.
After an extended period of silence, during which Alfred finished treating the worst of the bruises and contusions covering both young people, Bruce finally raised his right hand like a student in a classroom.
"We wanted to make Gotham's nights less dangerous and violent," Bruce said with quiet sincerity. "We wanted to protect innocent people from criminals."
This had been their original motivation from the very beginning. When they had first received their advanced combat uniforms from Marcus, they had chosen to become vigilante protectors specifically to combat the violence and crime that plagued the city after dark.
"Yes, that's an admirable goal," Marcus acknowledged with a nod. "But have your actions actually been effective in achieving that objective? Gotham was exactly like this when I left several years ago, and it still hasn't changed meaningfully since I've returned."
Marcus paused to let this observation sink in before continuing.
"Actually, I should correct myself—the situation around the church has improved somewhat, but what about everywhere else in the city? Has anything substantial changed in those areas?"
Hearing Marcus's series of pointed questions, both vigilantes couldn't help but lower their heads even further in uncomfortable recognition of the truth.
Although their patrol activities had protected many individual people and prevented numerous specific crimes, they hadn't succeeded in making Gotham itself a fundamentally better or safer place. Except for the immediate vicinity of the church, the city remained essentially unchanged from their memories.
Observing that both students now understood the limitations of their current approach, Marcus allowed his voice to soften with more encouragement and guidance.
"I know that both of your hearts are in the right place, and you genuinely want to help Gotham," he said with paternal warmth. "But consider Gordon, who shares your desire to change this city for the better. He's been working as a detective here for many years, and even with the full authority and resources of the police department behind him, he hasn't been able to create meaningful systemic change. Do you really think that the daily voluntary actions of just two people can somehow change the fundamental mindset and culture of Gotham's entire population?"
Both students remained silent, unable to refute Marcus's perspective or challenge his logical analysis. After all, Gotham truly was no different from how it had been in the past—and in many ways, the situation had actually gotten worse rather than better.
"For the next several days, you're going to focus on recuperating at home and properly healing from your injuries," Marcus instructed with firm authority. "During that time, you should also work on mastering additional techniques from the Zenurik school curriculum. If you had possessed sufficient energy reserves during your recent battle, the situation wouldn't have become so dangerous for both of you."
Marcus's expression became more serious as he continued.
"You should also spend this recovery time thinking carefully about how you actually want to accomplish your ultimate goals. Simply continuing with your current approach clearly isn't sufficient."
Under Marcus's clear instructions, both vigilantes had no choice but to nod in reluctant agreement. They understood that Marcus was genuinely concerned for their wellbeing and long-term success, not simply criticizing their efforts.
Their recent actions had indeed followed exactly the pattern Marcus described. Although they had helped many individual people and prevented numerous crimes, they had failed to create any meaningful change throughout Gotham as a whole.
The Next Morning
Marcus was conducting his own training routine in Wayne Manor's expansive garden, and behind him, Bruce and Selina were also practicing with serious dedication and focus.
Although they were no longer permitted to go out on active patrol missions while recovering from their injuries, they could still maintain their basic training regimens and conditioning exercises.
Both students practiced with meticulous attention to detail and proper form. After Marcus completed his own advanced training demonstration, their practice session was also approaching its conclusion.
"Since both of you are currently working on developing your Zenurik school techniques," Marcus said as he finished his routine, "I can provide explanations and guidance if there are any aspects you don't fully understand."
After making this offer, Marcus sat down at the outdoor table in the garden and observed both students alongside Alfred, who had come outside to check on their progress.
"These two still have a tremendous amount to learn and experience," Marcus said quietly to Alfred. "They're simply too young and inexperienced to fully understand the complexities of what they're trying to accomplish."
"Although Master Bruce and Miss Selina possess excellent fighting abilities, they really do think too optimistically about other aspects of their mission," Alfred agreed with a slight nod.
Their desire to change Gotham was genuinely admirable, and there had been many other idealistic individuals who had attempted similar goals before them.
The person closest to their current situation was Gordon, who continued trying to be an honest, effective police officer in a city that seemed designed to corrupt or destroy anyone with moral principles. Attempting to maintain integrity and effectiveness in such a criminal paradise seemed like an elaborate joke to most Gotham residents.
To be genuinely good and honest in a place like Gotham was essentially equivalent to making an enemy of the city's entire power structure and criminal culture.
Gordon's experiences over the past several years clearly demonstrated just how difficult and dangerous it was to attempt meaningful change in Gotham through conventional methods.
Bruce and Selina's desire to transform Gotham couldn't be accomplished simply through vigilante activities, no matter how dedicated or skilled they became.
While Marcus and Alfred discussed these challenging realities, Bruce and Selina began practicing specific Zenurik school techniques.
Their current energy reserves were quite limited, and they couldn't quickly master all the advanced abilities available within the Zenurik curriculum. Therefore, both students chose to focus their efforts on practicing Void Siphon—a fundamental technique that could dramatically increase their energy recovery speed and efficiency.
Although their personal energy wasn't actually void energy in the traditional sense, this particular ability could still be adapted and utilized effectively with their unique power source.
Under their focused practice and concentration, the Void Siphon technique began operating within their bodies. Although they could only detect subtle changes initially, even these minor improvements were sufficient to generate excitement and motivation.
After all, in the past, their energy recovery had been entirely dependent on natural regeneration over time. Now they could finally take active control of their energy restoration process.
Even though their current recovery rate remained relatively slow, both students felt genuinely happy about this development. It represented a significant step forward in their personal improvement and self-sufficiency.
"Their natural talents are quite good," Marcus observed with approval. "They've grasped the basic principles remarkably quickly."
Yes, this represented genuine progress and understanding.
Bruce and Selina had moved beyond simply being able to generate and manipulate energy. Now they could be considered true beginners in Zenurik practice, capable of actively restoring their energy through conscious technique rather than passive waiting.
Unfortunately, what they had mastered wasn't true void power, but rather one of the countless derivative energies that existed under the broader umbrella of void manipulation. In terms of both recovery speed and raw strength potential, their current abilities couldn't compare to the genuine void mastery that Marcus possessed.
"Teacher, did we succeed?" Bruce asked eagerly, turning to look at Marcus with obvious excitement as he felt his energy beginning to regenerate.
"You succeeded in taking the first real step," Marcus confirmed with encouragement. "But don't become overconfident yet. You can only say that you're just beginning your actual journey."
Marcus smiled at their enthusiasm before continuing his explanation.
"When this particular ability is developed sufficiently through continued practice and training, your energy will become essentially inexhaustible and constantly renewable."
Inexhaustible, constantly renewable energy?
Hearing Marcus's description of their potential future capabilities, both students immediately fell into excited fantasies about the possibilities.
During their recent battle with Bane, they had experienced firsthand the tremendous attack amplification effects that energy enhancement could provide. With their limited energy reserves, they had been able to boost their attacks to remarkable levels.
If their energy capacity were significantly higher and their recovery speed much faster, they might not have needed to resort to using their specialized emergency weapons at all.
"Teacher," Bruce said with obvious curiosity, "could you show us exactly how much your energy can amplify a weapon's effectiveness?"
Bruce looked at Marcus with genuine fascination, and beside him, Selina also regarded their teacher with expectant, eager eyes.
Seeing both students' anticipation and curiosity, Marcus couldn't help but chuckle with amusement.
"All right, I'll provide a demonstration so you can have a proper understanding of your own current strength in comparison," he agreed readily.
While speaking, Marcus picked up the practice longsword that was normally used for Bruce's training sessions.
"Watch carefully," Marcus instructed as he prepared his demonstration.
As soon as he finished speaking, the previously ordinary training sword became surrounded by intertwining streams of black and white energy that seemed to pulse and writhe with their own life.
This incredible display completely shocked both students. At most, they themselves could manage to wrap a thin layer of energy around their weapons. But the longsword in their teacher's hands now resembled a lightsaber from science fiction, with the original blade completely obscured by the swirling energy construct.
Whoosh!
Marcus raised his hand and swung the energy-enhanced sword with a powerful motion. The energy surrounding the blade roared through the air along with the steel, and the force was so great that it actually separated from the weapon and shot outward as a visible projectile of pure power.
This demonstration was far beyond anything the two students could hope to achieve with their current abilities. Even if they combined both of their energy reserves together, there would be no way to transform a normal sword into such a devastating energy weapon, let alone generate sword energy that could be projected as an independent attack.
"Unfortunately, I still can't properly replicate the legendary techniques of Excalibur's radiant blade," Marcus said with mild disappointment as he watched the energy projectile streak across the garden.
Looking at the impressive sword energy flying through the air, Marcus sighed quietly to himself about the limitations even he faced when trying to match the most legendary weapons and techniques he had encountered.