In Batman's original world, both Superman and the Flash had experienced instances where they lost their powers.
The reasons varied: sometimes it was a shift in mindset that led them back to a farm in Kansas to inherit the family legacy; sometimes it was a future version of themselves causing trouble; and other times it was the result of an enemy's schemes or external artifacts.
Just as Venom Robin had suspected, when Batman discovered he had lost his abilities, his decision to put on the Spider-Man suit was itself an experiment.
In Batman's eyes, donning the Spider-Suit carried a certain symbolic weight, just as the "S" was a symbol for Superman. Whether or not his powers returned after putting on the suit, Batman intended to gain a deeper understanding of the various abilities possessed by Peter Parker's body.
Whether it was genetic modification like the Hulk's, a blessing from a deity like Venom Robin's gift from Khonshu, or simply derived from some other external source.
As for his mindset... Batman's mindset had never changed. From beginning to end, he remained steadfast in the belief that he was Batman, that he was Bruce Wayne, and not Peter Parker.
During the previous two months, this clear sense of self-identity had not caused this body's powers to vanish. Even with the prerequisite that his powers returned upon wearing the suit, Batman immediately ruled out "identity crisis" as the cause for the fluctuations in his abilities.
"Setting aside the changes from my physical training, the blood tests, urine samples, and full-body scans show no difference from before. We can also rule out physical physiological changes as the cause for the disappearance and return of these powers."
On Bat-Island, Batman reached this conclusion after conducting a series of internal and external monitors and lab tests on himself.
But he wasn't finished. Standing beneath the unfinished Parker Manor, Batman utilized the heavy machinery and facilities to test his limits, including but not limited to strength, speed, Spider-Sense, and his heightened senses.
During these tests, Batman immediately identified the problem.
His super-strength had indeed returned, but his lifting capacity had dropped from the fifty tons he had achieved through rigorous training back to twenty tons. His top speed was only 190 kilometers per hour at full effort, and even his Spider-Sense—which he had trained to the point of manual control—had reverted to its original, instinctive state.
"The regained powers are exactly identical to my initial state when I first arrived, before any training was applied." Batman's expression gradually darkened.
For most of the time since his arrival, he had kept everything under control. But now, events had clearly veered far beyond his expectations. This "reset" of all his stats to their default state upon the return of his powers even made Batman begin to doubt the reality of the world he was in.
"Rule out genetic issues; rule out training-induced causes."
The remaining possibilities were external objects, symbolism, gods, his past or future self, or someone else tampering with him—and the least likely possibility: that something had gone wrong with the soul of the Peter Parker who had presumably traveled to Gotham.
Batman reminisced. Among the external objects he had contacted recently, the holographic projector was a product of technology and had nothing to do with granting powers—Batman's research had confirmed as much.
The Primordial World likewise lacked anything capable of altering Spider-Man's powers. Batman had performed an autopsy on the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex carcass he had dragged back after killing the Lizard, and he already understood the principles of its telepathy via its horns.
---In essence, it used infrasound to physically suppress others, and the presence of the horns slightly increased its intelligence. The combination of the two allowed it to become a leader in that primitive world.
"External influences can also be completely ruled out." Batman's gaze was like a torch.
"Regarding deities... this world has a faith regarding a Spider-God, but neither Peter Parker nor anyone around him is a believer. I don't have Peter Parker's memories, so I can't rule out the possibility that a spider-related deity made contact with him at some point."
Thinking of this, Batman sent a message to Venom Robin at the Bat-Bunker in Manhattan City Hall:
"Robin, help me contact the Moon God, Khonshu. Meet me at the top of the Empire State Building tonight at midnight."
"Huh?" Venom Robin replied with a single letter.
Batman ignored Robin and continued to deduce the remaining possibilities.
After eliminating all other options, whatever remained, however improbable, had to be the truth. Now, only "symbolism" remained.
The spider was a symbol of a certain power. This power once belonged to Spider-Man, Peter Parker; it did not belong to Batman.
He, who had always identified as Batman, had lost that power, but upon donning the Spider-Suit, that power was returned by the "Spider" symbol.
"That might explain why the returned power is at the level it was before my training, rather than after."
Batman stroked his chin, feeling himself drawing closer to the truth. But as for how to contact or guard against this "symbol"—or even how to make the other party withdraw the power—Batman hadn't the slightest clue.
After all, this was only a hypothesis.
"Perhaps I can think of it from another angle... Spider-Man, the Lizard, Doctor Octopus, Squid, the Goblin, Black Cat, Silver Sable, Hawkeye, Ant-Man..."
"Of most the individuals I've encountered with various identities, regardless of the reason, their powers or titles are animal-related. Even I am 'Batman'."
"I have no power-based connection to Barbatos, but he did assemble the Dark Knights. While there was no granting of abilities, there was a connection. Perhaps this world also possesses something animal-related that influences reality—gods, symbols, or... totems?"
Whether it was a totem or a god, Batman intended to investigate and find the source.
Aboard the Helicarrier sailing over unknown waters, everything was in chaos.
The death of Garrett, the disappearance of Hawkeye, the loss of contact with Black Widow, and Batman being unscathed... none of these were the root cause of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s current state of total disorder.
The real reason was that tonight, for some unknown reason, S.H.I.E.L.D. had lost control of almost every satellite capable of adjusting flight paths and orbits.
These included monitoring satellites, signal satellites, and a large number of armed defense satellites designed to counter threats from space.
"Sir, we've lost control of all armed satellites. We need to request support from NASA to launch a shuttle and reprogram them..."
"Sir, an unknown virus has been roaming through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal systems. According to the tech team's analysis, its target seems to be 'Project S.W.O.R.D.'..."
"Director! Project S.W.O.R.D. has been activated! The target is... uh, the Moon?"
At the same time.
Midnight. A waning moon hung high in the night sky.
On the rooftop terrace of the Empire State Building, over four hundred meters above the ground, Batman and the Moon God Khonshu stood face to face. Venom Robin, wearing a white mummy-wrap shroud suit, crouched nearby.
"For what reason hast thou summoned me?" Khonshu spoke, appearing in the form of a man with an avian skull for a head, holding a crescent scepter.
"I need you to find a deity or power related to spiders for me," Batman demanded without ceremony.
Khonshu looked down at Batman, a cold flame burning within his hollow eye sockets.
"My mission does not lie there."
"But you will do it," Batman said. "Weapons capable of damaging the moon to a significant degree are currently aimed right at it. If that isn't enough to move you, my next step will be a nuclear bombardment plan."
Venom Robin had been crouching on the ground, letting his long, crimson tongue hang naturally from his mouth, swaying back and forth.
Upon hearing Batman's insane words, Venom Robin froze on the spot, unable to fathom why the old Bat wanted to use nukes... and where on earth he had gotten them.
"You seem certain that damaging the moon would affect me." Khonshu's hand tightened slowly around his scepter. "Why?"
"Because I am Batman." Batman looked at Khonshu. "Help me. This is my request. The price is that I will help you once in the future, provided it does not cross my moral lines."
Khonshu shook his head. "I do not think you are requesting. You are threatening."
"Because I need sufficient leverage to cooperate with you, Khonshu," Batman said.
"This is not the act of a hero." Khonshu raised his scepter, pointing the crescent blade at Batman.
"I was never a hero," Batman replied, pulling a button from his utility belt. "If I press this, the first round of the lunar bombardment begins."
"I never knew you were this mad, Batman." Khonshu stared at the flash of madness in Batman's eyes. It was the first time he had seen Batman like this. Even as a god without a physical heart, Khonshu couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat.
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