AN: ENJOY...

ARC Nine: Infinite Crisis

Chapter Ninety Two: Carried Upon a Dragon's Back

His consciousness returning to him, he gazed through his helmet and began to see the white space around him, as well as the recognizable fan hurling towards him.

"OUCH! Whuzzat!?"

It slammed across his helmet rattling his head inside. It was this that caused Al to be forced to get up finally. He rubbed his head as he looked up and saw Priscilla crossing her arms as she looked down at him.

"Finally up then? Then get up and let's get moving."

"Jeez Princess, let a man get some R&R."

"Hmph, hurry now."

He got up and dusted himself...then heard the sounds of explosions. Looking up he saw that many branches of the Algol Tree had begun having what appeared to be blasts, fire, shockwaves and stream of beams flying out above them.

"Looks like they started then."

"Oh Deathstroke."

"Hey, it looks like we got separated then."

Deathstroke soon made himself known to them and upholstered his pistol. He cautiously looked around and nodded.

"Alright, we have a chance. Looks like everyone else is distracted, so we can make our way to the top."

Priscilla seemed to smile at the suggestion.

"How interesting….yes then, I order you to help us get to the top of the tree first then."

"Man, you are a handful. Oh well, we're sort of stuck together. Come on then."

Deathstroke led the way as they continued up the tree...even if there was danger all around them.

Reinhard raised his Dragon Sword high and slammed it down, only for it to be be blocked by Master Swordsman Batman's own blade, sending out a loud shattering sound and sparks flying. Electrical currents wafted around them as well. Reinhard sensed the oncoming hit, but was overtaken by his speed and ate a spinning kick. Batman practically walked on the air and grabbed the back of his head, slamming his face to the ground. Superman fired a heat vision attack at him, but it simply curved around him and hit the ground. Seeing his chance, Batman sliced the air, sending out a massive air slice at him. Superman blocked it, only to see Batman behind him, swatting him down to the ground with his sword. As he crashed landed, Batman appeared next to him and stomped down on his face. Felt got behind him, but he simply concentrated and a huge shockwave emanated out of him, sending her flying back.

Reinhard clashed his sword with his own, both of them being locked in a vicious display of strikes. Batman stomped his foot on the ground and spikes made of light sprang out the ground around him, attempting to stab Reinhard.

He effortlessly dodged them.

Only to be headbutted in the face and actually stabbed in the chest with Batman's pointed ears, before he could even heave from the pain, Batman uppercutted him.

Reinhard kicked him away while still in the air, giving Superman the chance to punch him, cracking some of his armor.

Batman sighed at this and karate chopped him the face, then in the neck and shoulder; before grabbing his cape and flipping behind him and proceeding to spin him around and slamming him to the ground. A dagger flew out and completely missed him, he looked over and saw Felt, nervously glaring at him.

His simmering red eyes glared at the girl.

He then fired his own eye beams at her, only for the attack to be shattered away by Reinhard's sword.

Both men glared at each other.

Reinhard got behind him with intense speed, only for Batman to use Yang magic to summon his second Dragon Sword. He unleashed a vicious counter attack, which Reinhard met with efficiency. The trading blows continued, just as Superman flew fast at them, and landed punch on chest, blood shot out of him, only for Batman to growl loudly at them.

"Superman! Careful! He has the Divine Protection of Power Bleeding, he gets stronger the more injured he becomes!"

Sure enough Batman landed a super fast knee to his chin, before he placed his palm on his chest.

"Jiwald."

A blast of magic shot him back, making Reinhard zip past him and continue their trading sword strikes. Then Batman threw one of the swords to his feet, missing him-

"Al Matar."

He then blitzed forward and hit Reinhard with a magic infused knee to the sides, Reinhard struck him with an elbow the side of the head. The blows sent out a powerful push of air around them, making a crater form underneath them. Reinhard had his sword glow, which Batman followed through with as well. Soon they waited...staring...carefully-

"Er!"

"HR!"

The two men's swords struck each other and a the very air itself cracked around them, making Felt almost lose her mind from the powerful force. Superman hurried over and flew throwing a powerful punch to the side of his head-

"I've had enough."

Batman did a masterful spinning slice, getting both men in the chest, before he leapt over and pulled something from his pouch. He stabbed Superman in the back with it.

"GAHHHHH!"

"Superman?!"

Reinhard tackled Batman away, as he used Yang magic to summon light chains that grasped his second sword, pulling to him, he used boith swords to slice Reinhard down away from him, even as he jumped back.

He then saw Felt ready to fight, but simply walked to her, even...as a voice rang out in his head.

"Felt-sama...please stop this!"

"No Reinhard, stay quiet and quit bothering me."

"Please, no more. No more. NO MORE! I can't take it!"

"Shut it, we've been doing this for so long and now you decide to speak up again? After all these years?"

Batman almost reached her as she nervously backed away...Superman tried to get up, but felt the strength in body give way, he looked at his back, and instantly knew what had stabbed him.

"K...Kryptonite?"

Batman turned his head a tad bit as he kept walking towards Felt, who could only back away.

"Yes Clark, I made that dagger especially for you. I was hoping to use it more efficiently than now, but still...this can work."

"Y-You went...so far…?"

"Clark, of anyone here, you should know of my intricate planning and that I always utilize the weaknesses of others."

Superman winced in pain as he couldn't even get up, only to be shot twice in the shoulder by Batman's Jiwald beams.

Reinhard kicked him the face, only for Batman to break through his defenses and punch him in the face, but Reinhard chopped him the shoulder, cutting through his armor and slicing him up. This infuriated Batman who clawed his face, almost tearing apart his eyes, then shoulder thrusted him away and kicking his stomach. Reinhard punched him several times before Batman kneed him in the face. Sending him away from the battle for a moment.

Batman rested his swords on his shoulders as he looked over the situation.

Superman was too ijured to do anything.

Reinhard was bloodied but getting back up.

Felt was scared, but not willing to back down.

"Hahhhh…"

With this, the voice of Reinhard was screaming incoherent words in his head.

He then thought about it….the past and what led him to this.

.

.

.

.

.

It was the night when Batman along with Subaru had fought off Elsa, long enough for Reinhard to come through and defeat her.

When they were outside to leave for the mansion...Batman noticed the situation of him going along with some strangers. He felt it went against his code of conduct to do such a thing. He didn't trust them, he felt he needed to find his own way in this world, just as he would in his own world.

"Well Emilia, here's where we part ways."

"Ah, ar-are you sure about this? I owe you something for saving me and Subaru!"

"Someday...actually, do you know of a place that has some...let's say, mystical power to them? You know a sort of legendary temple or ruins?"

"Hmmm….well, there is the Pleiades Watchtower. They say if you conquer it, you can seek the help of the Great Sage."

"Great Sage?"

"Yes, they are supposed to be the wisest person in the lands."

"I see….thank you Emilia. I do hope we meet again."

Emilia sadly said goodbye, but he promised to see her again.

But it was a lie.

He would do anything to get home.

He summoned the Batwing which startled Emilia and Ram, shaking the carriage a bit. Batman landed in the cockpit and made his way away from there.

His own distrust of them, sent him away from these people.

"Why?! Why can't I just make it?!"

Batman slammed his fists on the sand as he roared out in frustration. It had been three weeks since he left Subaru in Emilia's care, having decided to take on the Watchtower, but no matter what he did...he could not get near it.

He tried flying near it with the Batwing. He was almost always nearly blasted out of the sky.

He tried using the Justice Armor to fly around it. Same results.

The Justice Buster. He was beset by countless Ma-Beasts and almost died.

Nothing he did worked and it was making him angry. He was infuriated with how many times he tried to make it inside. How many times he had to kill off Ma-Beasts all around him. Not knowing that he was merely delaying himself with the interference of Shaula.

"Damn it...DAMN IT!"

He furrowed his brows as it was evident he was exhausted and starving...but he couldn't give up, nor would he. He would beat the tower…

Even if….maybe…

"Reinhard...THAT'S IT! I just need to get Reinhard to help me...but he's too busy being the Sword Saint, so there's that. No...I just…"

A smile crept on his face.

"A just need to find a way...to get his powers. That's it! I need to plan this accordingly!"

Batman didn't know it then...but his prolonged time in the Augria Sand Dunes had made him intake too much of the Witch's Miasma, and now he was slowly, but surely; going insane.

Thoughts corrupted and darkened...he was no longer the same person, nor would he be able to return as such.

His own paranoia and extreme pessimistic tendencies led him to be suspicious of the others around him...unlike other worlds, where he chose to take a risk and trust the people he encountered that fateful day.

Now, the Batman was at the tethers of inhumanity, implementing his horrid plans to get the Sword Saint…and a way back home.

"HOW COULD YOU HAVE DONE THIS, EXPLAIN!"

"It was the only way to get your attention, Sword Saint!"

Reinhard stood atop the Batwing as it flew through the dark stormy clouds. Below them there was a vicious battle being fought by the armies of Lugnica and Vollachia. A destructive event that swept across both kingdoms. Bodies littered the hills, mountains burned away and blood drenched nearby rivers and streams. The sounds of men choking, screaming, begging and crying melded with the roars of dragons roaring, flesh tearing and explosions breaking away the air they breathed.

All of this, part of Batman's plan.

He originally tried to kidnap Felt to get his attention, but it actually failed when he sensed his presence. It led to a fight that got Batman captured...only for him to summon the Batwing that helped to free him and kill his handlers. He even went that far. Killing. Kidnapping.

His mind was gone.

Now using the help of Deathstroke he orchestrated the assassination of countless nobleman from both nations, even going as far as to have him set up explosions near the border, setting tensions to flare.

The final pin in the plan was when he tricked Reinhard to attack him, it was during the destined meeting for the start of the Royal Selection. His appearance there startled everyone, making Reinhard act by swinging his sword at him, intending to slice apart his crazed former ally...only for Batman to open a tear in space and lead the attack into the streets of the capital of Vollachia, killing countless innocent civilians...they saw the tear in space and Reinhard...leading to the entirety of the nation to call for revenge.

Reinhard and everyone there, were so horrified by his actions, they didn't notice him escape through another tear in space.

With this, the candidates now had to act; a war had just started.

Up in the sky Reinhard stabbed his blade into the Batwing, with Batman firing his Frost Gun at him, but to no avail. Batman spun the Batwing in loops, trying to get him off, but Reinhard continued to defy the laws of physics by simply jumping off and run on the clouds themselves.

"I thought you were trusting and noble person, but I see now that was a front to get to me! Batman, in the name of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica, you will be slain for the unwarranted death and destruction you have caused!"

He leaped out to jump on the Batwing, but Batman pushed the emergency lever and shot out of the cockpit, tackling Reinhard in the air...that's when he noticed spell charms all around him, and his Batsuit had strange markings all over it. Batman began to speak incantation, even as Reinhard used he own hands to slice away at Batman-

"HRAGGHHH!"

Batman yelled as he finished the spell, several symbols appeared around them and a bright light shined on them.

"What are you planning?!"

"I...I WILL HAVE YOUR STRENGTH, REINHARD-"

Just then, they were teleported near the Algol Tree's top; slowly their bodies, being unable to stand the sudden pressure began to break apart like clay.

Even Reinhard was shocked by what was happening to them-

-And soon they were teleported out of there and their bodies began falling from the sky and even through clouds.

Soon the Batwing flew under them, catching their pieces of flesh, as they now began to bleed and fester. Soon runes carved into the Batwing began to glow and the Batwing suddenly burst into pieces.

Soon everyone looked up and saw that light, heard the distorted, visceral screaming of two men. And then, saw something crashing down to the ground, causing the ground underneath them to tremble.

Soon from the smoke and debris, a naked man came out of the hole in the ground.

"It worked."

A terrifying amalgamation of dark magic, lost to the world at large, but resurfaced by the machinations of Batman. He had now fused himself with Reinhard completely. His appearance much taller, but a combination of the physicality of Bruce Wayne and the charming eyes of Reinhard. His hair black, but with streaks of red. Cracks formed all over his body, showing the different parts of themselves that melded together.

Reinhard found himself in a dark void floating around, unable to move.

"What...what have you done?"

"I have made us one Reinhard Van Astrea. The powers of the Sword Saint and the skills and intelligence of Batman! The ultimate warrior, the unrivaled being-"

Bruce raised his arms to the heavens as he screamed out to the world watching him.

"I AM THE MASTER SWORDSMAN! AND I WILL BE THE TRUE HERO OF THIS WORLD!"

Reinhard could only watch, yell and plead for him to stop. Watching him as he began killing everyone nearby with nothing but his bare hands. Ripping out spines with his hands, kicking through people's chests, crushing people's heads in with other people's skulls.

It was demented. It was unnecessary. But it was the truth. Batman had now become a villain. And with the powers of the Sword Saint, no one could stop him.

Now, he was in the top floor of the Pleiades Watchtower, clad in a black armor and hood, walking over the bodies of the people sent to stop him.

Julius.

Ricardo.

Meili.

Even Elsa and Maira were hired to kill him, but they all were killed.

Outside the tower was a literal graveyard of armies dead to his his ambitions.

Now pulling with him the corpse of Elsa, her smashed in, looking as if she never had a face to begin with. Her tongue stretched out of a slice in her neck...then he simply tossed her off the top of the tower.

He was looking to the Sphere of light in front of him, now he was ready to wish for his return home...however a thought occurred to him. He asked the star in front of him to show him the other worlds that exist within this universe...seeing over and over the disasters, Subaru was unable to prevent.

"Subaru huh?"

He recalled how he killed Subaru and Rem back in the capital when they tried to avenge Emilia's death during his assault on the Forbidden Archive. He destroyed some spirit called Beatrice and absorbed her mana. Eventually being forced to kill a defending Emilia, when Puck tried to go into a rampage, his head was sliced away by the Dragon Sword, ending the Great Spirit. He got more information on the matter he needed to know and left...but not before completely crippling Roswaal and blinding Ram with a slice to the face.

He felt he went a little too far in this world. He could have done something to keep their peaceful days going. After all, he was the Batman, and what would happen to his reputation if he couldn't fix the problems that plagued this unjust world. So Batman wished to be sent to another timeline...so he could prepare.

He made it to one timeline, an older one.

Rem and Ram were babies, about to be executed by their village for being twins...only for Batman to appear and kill the village chief effortlessly by punching his head clean out of his body. The villagers went on the attack...they were slaughtered.

Batman retrieved the babies and left.

He conquered the Pleiades Watchtower again in this world, wishing for time to bend around them so he could train them in what seemed like years, but was truly only a few hours, his body didn't age, but theirs did.

With Rem and Ram, successfully brainwashed and trained, they went to another world.

In this world, Reala was walking with a young Frederica, who was accompanied by Lewes. She held in her arms a baby Garfiel she smiled and giggled at him sucking on his fingers.

Just as Batman emerged from the trees, his huge frame and his dark blue armor terrified the ladies. Lewes could easily sense the overwhelming power emanating from him.

Still, Rem and Ram snuck up and killed all three of them, Ram catching Garfiel before he fell from Reala's arms.

"And this baby, Batman-sama?"

"His name is Garfiel, when he grew up in the other world, he was quite formidable. It was a shame I had to kill him though."

He mentally recalled how he had snapped Garfiel's neck during his attack on the Sanctuary after they tried to trap him in a powerful Yin spell. When he tossed his body away it fell into fire.

A fire, which was engulfing the entirety of the Sanctuary and the nearby forest.

"He'll become useful to me."

He held the crying baby as they moved away from their corpses, leaving in a tear in space. Once again training Garfiel in a distortion in time, brainwashing the young man...having his inauguration complete.

They moved on to conquer the tower once again, leaving this world behind.

Now they were in Elior Forest, Puck marching through the trees, looking for the frozen girl he was destined to be with. As he found her, his head was sliced in half.

"AGHK!"

Batman was on top of the vanishing Puck's head. The Great Spirit roared out in pain and confusion, he didn't know who this person was, what he was...but all he could do was scream and roar. He didn't want to die...but it was not his choice to make.

He cursed the world, Echidna, the Witches, everyone...then he died and his mana was absorbed into Batman.

He jumped down and found the frozen Emilia, he smiled underneath his helmet….

It was now the day of the Royal Selection Ceremony, Subaru had just made a fool of himself in front of everyone. Here in this world, he did not meet Batman...due to him being mysteriously absent...as if he encountered someone else.

Subaru was being asked to leave, he regretfully slumped his shoulders as he began walking out.

Quietly muttering to himself.

"I'm sorry Emilia...I was really trying to help."

As the doors to the room opened, and Emilia looked away in sadness. Subaru shrieked.

In front of him, a tear in space opened up and out emerged Master Swordsman Batman.

"Well, well. If it isn't Natsuki Subaru, I haven't encountered you for several years now. I almost feel quite glad to see you."

"W-Who are you…?"

"Does the symbol not show you?"

He tapped his chest as he leered down at him. Subaru could only widen his eyes and begin clattering his teeth when he saw the Bat symbol on his chestplate.

"B-Bat-"

"Yes Natsuki Subaru, I am Batman! Here to save this world from all the pain and suffering it will indur in the future and in the countless streams of time. I will save it, then I will move on to my own world and spread that peace. And then the next. And the next…"

He spread his arms out wide to show himself to everyone.

"And then the next. And after that the next! I will complete my task of being the greatest hero in the world! No, ALL OF REALITY!"

Anastasia motioned to Julius, who sighed and prepared to fight the intruder alongside his fellow knights...then the Justice Buster Armor plowed through the bottom of the floor underneath the Knights, reaching out and crushing some of them in its hand. It looked over and bowed to Batman.

"Oh, Rem. Just in time."

"Yes, I will always be on time for my lord."

From the window, breaking through the glass was Garfiel and the Justice Armor adorned Ram, they began plowing through the nobles that were there. Crusch readied her sword, only to be shot in the leg by an ice spear.

"Crusch-sama!"

Ferris hurried over and helped her...only for Justice Surveyor Emilia walking out of the hallways and into the throne room. She looked down at Subaru and scoffed at him, taking off her helmet to show them who she was.

"So, all these people are the others from another world?"

"Yes, this is our second attempt in killing them, so I always find this moment the perfect moment to do it."

"Yeah, that sounds like something you'd say Dad."

She sighed a bit before she saw everyone staring at her in dread. So she whispered to herself and moved her hand to freeze other nobleman to death. Soon Rom, who was trying to get Felt back stormed down the hall, shocking Felt and Reinhard.

"Hang on Felt! I'm-"

"-Stay out of this Rom."

Batman used his own hand to slice Rom in half, killing him instantly, rendering him two slabs of meat, only for his organs to spill out all over the floor.

Felt fell to her knees and bawled seeing her guardian killed so mercilessly.

Batman shook his hand to rid it of blood, but still saw his opponents coming.

"Die...so that the rest of us can live. So that this world can be ruled by the one person who can truly implement justice."

Marcos charged in only for his sword strike to be blocked by Batman catching the blade, shocking everyone. Batman then concentrated and fired Yang beams from his eyes, blasting off his eyes. The knight yelled out in pain, before Batman kicked in his leg, breaking it into a curve. Then as he limped down, he grabbed the man's head and slowly began pulling. His neck tissue started to tear like fabric being pulled to hard, and with one fell swoop, he had his head torn off. Blood shooting out of him, and sprinkling his armor in blood. He then jumped forward and used Marcos' head to crush a Royal Guard's head in, leaving nothing but his shattered bottom teeth left.

Reinhard was now over him, but was shocked when he opened a tear in space and pulled out his own Reid.

"Not possible-"

"-It is Reinhard….I'm the Master Swordsman as well."

Their clash caused the entire throne room to crumble and they both shot down to the city down below. Subaru got Emilia and yelled to Roswaal to begin evacuating...only to see Garfiel charge at them...Subaru and Emilia were flung away by wind magic, saving them from fighting Garfiel.

Subaru saw his chance and led Emilia out of there.

It took them several minutes to reach the inn they were staying and tell Rem they had to run for it, but the carriage they rode in on, was crushed suddenly by the corpse of Roswaal L. Mathers, Rem covered her mouth in terror. Soon they saw something crash land nearby...it was Reinhard.

"Reinhard! I knew you could-"

THey soon saw it was actually Batman holding forward his corpse, sliced down the middle.

"AH!"

"Foolish Subaru, you think that there was a hope of him beating me?! Not a chance, I am the most powerful being in this world, well, at least until I go and kill Volcanica. But I will save that for later, fighting him takes a good chunk of time out."

Batman tossed away Reinhard's corpse away as he quickly ended up next to them, leaning himself close to Subaru's ear. His face plastered with fear and anguish...only for him to whisper…

"Subaru...start running."

Subaru did just that as he grabbed Emilia's and Rem's hands as he sprinted away in a panic. Batman snapped his fingers…

As Subaru and the others began their evacuation with the rest of the city they saw a tear in space open up in the sky and a large dark tower descend, crash landing atop of the castle. Kadomon and his family in preparation of evacuating, when they saw the top of the tower form a light and it began to take shape...to that of a bat...and then it formed a ball. They saw a blinding flash; just as they were all vaporized by beam fired from it. A large stretch of the city was destroyed, and soon more of the city would be too as reinforcements approached.

Later, Batman would follow them to the Mansion, leaving Beatrice, Ram and Frederica dead. The village of Irlham was wiped out as well. Soon enough they would reach the capital and finish off the rest of them; before he captured Subaru.

"I'm not letting you use that looping ability of yours."

"Y-You know?!"

"Of course, I had trouble with you trying to organize parties to take me out in the past. Using knowledge akin to knowing the future...I also seem to recall you actually trying to take me out before I became this way. Too bad that was always a normal version of me from a different timeline."

"Timeline?"

"Yes, I am from another universe."

Subaru trembled in confusion, not understanding what he was saying, but was knocked out with a flick of a finger to his forehead. Dragging him away, he looked to his Justice Commanders who were waiting patiently for him, he then nodded.

"Begin invading."

And so they did and within a few years, they would have conquered Lugnica, Gusteko and would be in the process of invading Kararagi and Vollachia. It was during that time that the Anti-Monitor contacted him and he became one of the first two members of the Society, alongside Natsuki Subaru. They would move around the Multiverse garnering more members to join in the creation of a single reality.

His goal of creating a world without crime and suffering would come into fruition. No matter the sacrifices.

Heretic and the rest of the Partisans stormed the tower that was in full view of the former capital. Going through it, they the intricate halls littering the space inside and the spiral staircases that lead further upward.

"Where would it be?"

Looking around, he had not seen it. The thing he was in search of.

With the Partisans looting or outright destroying anything they could find, they eventually reached the top of the tower. He soon looked to his side and saw a black door. He ran over and kicked it open.

There, he saw what exactly what he was in search of.

"Finally...found you."

Unholstering a pistol he walked over carefully, making sure that the other Partisans were too preoccupied to notice him or the room.

Now reaching his target he looked down at him.

Shirtless, he was under considerable strain and was easily malnourished. Chained by the wrist and with tubes running through his crotch and anus, he also had a large tube in his mouth.

Wires sprouted out of the back of his head, which was shaved and horribly scabbed, His eyes held not light and he had drool slipping out the side of his mouth.

"I feel sorry for you, I really do...Natsuki Subaru."

Here, Natsuki Subaru was kept alive to prevent him from using his looping ability, but with the convergence he was kept alive to prevent him from being killed, believing he was definitely the Prime Subject of said timeline.

And that was his plan.

Master Swordsman Batman was the most dangerous member of the Society, a person who could take on Superman and Reinhard at the same time, shouldn't be allowed to live. But Heretic knew as well that he couldn't take him on solo, he had to take out his way of keeping his bond with the Sword Saint.

Putting on the silencer on his pistol, he aimed it at his head..

"Sorry, but it has to be this way. This'll end your suffering."

Subaru paid him no heed.

He didn't even look at him, he just kept staring at the ground.

Heretic pulled the trigger, killing him instantly.

But...nothing happened.

"What?!"

Everything was still around. This world was not erased.

"But how?! I killed Natsuki Subaru, this should have done it right then and there! So how…?!"

Then he heard footsteps behind himself, he quickly turned back and realized how it was...and what purpose they were there for.

"...It's you then, isn't?"

Batman swung both of his swords attacking Reinhard over and over again with each swing, he tried blocking the hits, but some did slice at him. Then he ate a superfast kick to his shin, making him almost lose balance.

Felt made it over to Superman and helped take the Kryptonite blade out of his shoulder, he coughed from the pain. Felt watched as the two knights were fighting at such high speed, she could barely register what was happening. Only that, Reinhard was in bad shape.

Then Reinhard's sword shined bright blue, he dashed forward and actually did it.

He stabbed Batman through the chest.

Ony for the madman to grab the blade and punch it to hundred of pieces. He yanked out the piece inside his body, spraying blood all over the place, before he stabbed him in the chest with it, then punched him across the face. Reinhard did the same as well, soon enough they began trading blows with each other, but Reinhard began losing a lot of blood and so did Batman.

But he laughed as judo tossed Reinhard into the ground.

"Poor Reinhard, your Divine Protection of the Sword Saint...it allows you to get a new Protection from Od Laguna, anytime you need it right?! Well...have you noticed neither of us have attained a new Divine Protection?"

"...AH!"

"That's right! Od Laguna is too weak to hand out anymore Divine Protections nor can it bring itself to help either of us. We're stuck with the Divine Protections we already have!...And I think you already used Divine Protection of the Phoenix already? So think about it…"



Reinhard got up holding his shoulder as Batman also held his bleeding chest, his red eyes glimmering at him.

"I too also used it once, during my last invasion...so I guess we're both in a predicament, right?"

"...Indeed, both of us have the chance of losing their life here and now. HOWEVER."

Reinhard got into a fighting stance as he glared at the taller opponent.

Then, Superman dashed forward and tackled Batman away, making lose grip on his two swords; only for Batman to hold his hands near the man's head. Releasing a burst of light magic, sightly burning him. Then he used his feet to stop the momentum and land a strike on his chin. Superman countered with his own, but soon ate a headbutt, Superman fired a heat vision beam and so did two attack clashed, causing the very air to push away from them both. Batman used a tear in space behind himself and actually moved his hand to punch Superman in the back of the head, this was before he got under Superman's heat vision beam and uppercutted him, then kicked him in the abdomen, the resulting attack caused the entire tree to shake.

Superman tried to fly back to him, but got stomped into the ground by him and was riddled with Jiwald blasts all over his body. Reinhard finally made it over got ready to fight him, Batman treid making it over to his swords, but Superman got ahead of him and actually tossed the swords far away from them into the empty void around them.

Batman chopped him in the neck before chokeslamming him to the ground, caving in the ground. Reinhard saw his chance and with ridiculous speed made it behind him, his fist glowing bright blue, he punched through his abdomen.

Batman had his own fist over his head and it began glowing blue too, slamming down and chopping off Reinhard's hand.

Reinhard took a step back before he was sliced down the chest by a swipe from Batman. Reinhard retaliated with a slice to the side of his neck, sending blood flying. Batman clawed off more flesh from Reinhard's chest, while Reinhard punched away Batman's shoulder.

Soon both men threw one last faithful punch trying to take the other down..

The strike hit.

Blood gushed out into the open air.

Felt's eyes opened wide, utter disbelief…

Reinhard was punched through the chest by Master Swordsman Batman.

"REINHARD!"

Batman yanked out his fist and reached over to grab Reinhard's arm which lost its hand...and proceeded to rip out from the socket. He then pummeled him across the face with the detached limb, Reinhard let out a roar as he kicked across himself, slicing Batman's abdomen open.

"HUAKK!"

"HNG!"

Batman then raised a fist to punch down Reinhard's head…

Heretic turned to see the person who was standing in the same room as him.

It was this world's Petra. Wearing Subaru's tracksuit still…

"So...you were here to kill Subaru and erase this world?"

"...Yes it was with the intention of destroying the Batman."

Petra walked over to him as she looked despondent, especially in seeing Subaru dead. But she relaxed even with her troubled breathing.

"Then you should know by now then."

"Yeah, you are the Prime Subject of this world, not Natsuki Subaru."

"What will you do know?"

Heretic hesitated to answer, as he too was unsure of the intentions of his next move; he could kill Petra, but he had a habit of never even touching a child, no matter how evil they were. But this girl was a normal girl thrust into a vicious cycle of death and destruction, of which she had to adapt quickly to-

"Listen."

"Hm?"

"I think….I think you should kill me."

Heretic was shocked hearing such a thing.

"This is all to destroy the Batman right? I think that alone is a legitimate reason to do this in fact. Besides that...this world is too far gone. Everything is destroyed, people are broken or dead and should Batman simply die, people may very begin fighting each other for control and profit."

"...Hm."

"Heretic-san, please do this not just for me...but as you did for Subaru, end the suffering caused by the Batman. It would be a mercy."

Heretic...refused

Even he couldn't go through with the killing of child by his own hands, it felt wrong.

Petra sighed as she saw this, but also gave him a warm smile. She moved to sit next to Subaru, holding his head in her lap. She patted his head, playing with the strands of his hair, letting a few stray tears fall from her eyes.

"I loved him you know."

"...Hn."

"I wish I had the chance to tell him, maybe it could have helped ease the pain of losing him later on, like this."

She began shaking her head in pain, but even so did her utmost to make herself comfortable.

"I will never forget them. Rem, Ram, Emilia, the Spirit and of course Subaru...those times at the village and visiting the mansion, were some of the brightest days of my life. It felt almost dreamlike, as if...as if I was carried upon a dragon's back."

"Kid…"

Petra retrieved a magic stone which began to placed it near the side of her head, closing her eyes as she smiled beautifully, like a painting come to life.

"Hey mister...do you think I'll see them again?"

"...I hope so."

"Glad to-"

The stone exploded, destroying half of her head.

Her body fell limp right on top of Subaru. Heretic stood there. Unable to do anything to help, but still...in a way his mission was complete, even if it left a terrible feeling inside of himself.

He soon opened a portal using a stolen amulet and got out of there in time. Petra began glowing white, soon everything around her did as well...her smile didn't waver.

Their world was soon erased.

Batman lost his footing as he began to glow white as well.

"No! NOOOOO!"

Reinhard fell on his behind as Batman screamed out in a animalistic fashion, glaring over at Reinhard.

"I AM NOT GOING TO DIE! I AM GOING TO LIVE AND CREATE A WORLD! A PERFECT WORLD!"

'...Hahhhh."

"A WORLD WHERE A KID DOESN'T LOSE HIS PARENTS TO SOME PUNK WITH A GUN! EVEN IF IT MEANS COUNTLESS OTHERS DIE! THAT BOY WILL HAVE A PEACEFUL EXISTENCE!"

Before he could do anything, his body actually began to bend and shift, like it was being stretched out of existence….then they could have sworn to have seen...Reinhard splintering away as he slowly began to disappear…

He looked out to them...tears running down his face.

"Thank you."

He vanished. Meanwhile, Batman fell to his knees and removed his helmet, just as his armor began falling apart. Now Bruce was no longer the Master Swordsman, he was back to being his normal self...even if he was on the brink of death and still insane.

"I am going to kill all of you! Every last member of your Alliance is going to die, with or without my Sword Saint abilities to back me up! DO YOU KNOW WHY!?"

Bruce got up as his armor fell off his body, he charged at them, almost in a frightening manner, grabbing a piece of his shattered armor, slicing open his palm, but still holding it as a weapon.

"I am going to kill you because of who I am!"

Blood gushed out of his wounds, but he continued marching to them, with every intention of ending their lives.

"I AM BAT-"

His neck was sliced open as a large gust of wind zipped past him. He held onto his fresh wound trying to stop the blood from escaping, but it was useless and he forced himself to look back and see...Felt.

She waited patiently for her moment and she got it. She looked away from him in disgusted manner.

He fell and began trying to crawl over to Felt.

"Ahhhkkk! Hakkk!"

"Y-You are not Batman. The moment you began killing people, the moment you betrayed your friends...you became a...a criminal."

Bruce glared up at her with his bloodshot eyes, his body soaked in blood...then he let out slurred breaths...mumbled words...let out curses from his blood drenched teeth.

Then Felt looked back to him, and gave him...a look of pity.

This was the last thing he saw; and he didn't understand it all.

None of it.

Bruce Wayne took one last breath as he stopped moving. He died.

Felt rushed over to Reinhard, letting him rest his head on her lap.

"Hang on Reinhard!"

"Felt-sama, it is good...to see you safe…"

He coughed terribly as he spoke up to her, Superman limped over as well to see him.

"S...Superman…"

"I'm here Reinhard…"

"Please...can you keep Felt-sama safe...I think my duties are…"

"What are you saying Reinhard?! We can still...we can still…"

"Superman, please promise me…"

"...I promise."

"Thank you."

Superman shut his eyes as he kept watching him slip away.

"Felt-sama, I want you to know…"

"What…?"

Felt was once again crying, she felt herself begin descending down the void of sadness once again.

"Please, do your best helping the country get….b-back together...they will need someone strong like you…"

"Y-yes...Reinhard…"

"Felt-sama...were…"

Reinhard had tears escape his eyes.

"Were we friends?"

"Yu-Yup. Best friends."

"Lovely...please...help...others...s…"

Quietness…

"Reinhard?"

Stillness…

"Reinhard."

Death…

"REINHARD! UWAHHHHHHHHH!"

Felt screamed into the air with tears drenching her face, mucus escaping her nostrils. Superman could only shut his eyes as he reached over to close Reinhard's eyes.

Felt flung herself on top of him, holding tenderly, continuing to bawl for her knight, friend, companion in arms...she lost someone again.

Reinhard Van Astrea.

The Sword Saint.

The World's Strongest.

Here at the base of the Algol Tree, during the Final Battle against the Apocatastasis Society…

Defending his master from harm…

Working to save his friend, Natsuki Subaru…

To restore order to the world…

HAD LOST HIS LIFE.

With his death; the Van Astrea Clan was destroyed, not a single member left behind.

The Lineage of the Sword Saint; was gone forever.

Roswaal L. Mathers stared at his female doppelganger as she summoned her fireballs around the general vicinity and Rey pulled out a wand, aiming it at Ram. She responded by pulling out her own wand...as well as clenching her fist and a yellow ring on her finger began to radiate energy.

Batman and Zarestia stood there with their arms crossed, with her whispering to him.

"Are we...really going to do this?"

"Yes Tia, I won't let them do this to another world."

"I'm with you no matter what."

"Thanks Tia."

Batman glanced at both Roswaals...narrowing his white eyes.

"I'm putting an end to your endeavors, Mathers."

Dr. Fate blasted beam at Omega, only for her to block the attack effortlessly with a barrier...then Minerva leaped over and punched away the barrier, dodging incoming heat beams Omega fired from her fingertips. Sekhmet yawned as she shot a windblade at her...Omega summoning a rock wall that took the damage instead.

Dr. Fate narrowed his eyes as he spoke thusly.

"It is time to show you the true pinnacle of magic, witch."

A legacy lasting four hundred years had now come to an end; but the battle to keep the worlds surviving continued henceforth, regardless of the tragedy.

AN: And like that, another one bites the dust. R.I.P. See ya soon!