Warframe Voidwalker : Multiverse Journey

Though the assassins' identities remained unknown, Marcus had discovered the channel through which they accepted missions.

Despite not knowing each other personally, these killers could rapidly assemble under the blood drop emblem and coordinate through their secure communication network to execute assassination contracts.

"I don't know who operates this organization, or who hired them to kill Bruce."

As he spoke, Marcus transformed into Titania [Illusion Butterfly Fairy] and gestured toward the assassin who still clung to life.

The Illusion Butterfly Fairy's ability, Phantasmal Lantern, activated instantly. Several razor butterflies flew toward the wounded killer, using energy strands to wrap around him and suspend him in midair.

The assassin now resembled a macabre lantern, not only glowing with unnatural light but also emanating extreme heat, illuminating the surroundings while igniting the bodies of fallen assassins nearby.

With a snap of Marcus's fingers, even more terrifying flames erupted from the suspended killer. All the bodies were instantly reduced to ash by this devastating conflagration.

When the flames finally subsided, only charred marks on the ground remained—nothing else suggested a group of killers had ever been present.

The razor butterflies fluttered their blade-like wings and returned to Marcus.

Having resolved the immediate situation, Marcus shrank to butterfly size and hovered overhead. More assassins would inevitably converge on Gotham, and he would wait for them.

The razor butterflies circled him in the air while blue energy butterflies patrolled the alley below.

Soon, more killers arrived. The moment they entered the alley, Marcus deployed Phantasmal Lantern on them.

"It's an honor to die beneath the Phantasmal Lantern."

As one of Titania's signature abilities, Phantasmal Lantern was far more than simple mind control. The enchanted target would inexorably draw others toward them, while simultaneously storing all incoming attack damage—damage that would be inflicted simultaneously when the lantern effect ended.

Furthermore, anyone approaching the Phantasmal Lantern would be engulfed by high-temperature flames until incinerated. When the lantern effect finally terminated, it would release even more devastating flames, reducing everyone in its vicinity to ash.

Now an assassin hung suspended in the air like a marionette, drawing in other killers who continued to arrive.

As more assassins gathered, those at the perimeter began sensing something amiss. Why did their comrades ahead seem bewitched, rushing toward the alley with fanatic determination?

One assassin, observing from an elevated position, identified the source of the anomaly—a figure floating in the air, wearing the blood drop emblem unique to their organization.

Surrounding this airborne figure were numerous individuals engulfed in flames, also bearing the blood drop insignia.

Bang!

Gunfire echoed through the alley as the observing assassin fired, his weapon emitting wisps of green smoke. To his astonishment, the bullets had no effect—the floating target remained unharmed.

"Quick! Kill that one!"

The assassin shouted to his companions, who raised their weapons and opened fire on the Lantern-controlled assassin.

What they failed to understand was that their target wasn't immune to their attacks—the Phantasmal Lantern merely stored the damage temporarily. Once the effect reached its time limit, all accumulated damage would be inflicted instantaneously.

Though the controlled assassin appeared unharmed, his fate was already sealed. When the Lantern effect ended, not only would he suffer all accumulated damage, but everyone within range would be consumed by an even more devastating inferno.

These killers were expending effort in vain. As a lure drawing in numerous assassins, the controlled target—and all those enthralled by the Lantern—were already doomed.

Meanwhile, assassins who hadn't yet fallen under the Lantern's influence remained vulnerable. Marcus dispatched his remaining razor butterflies toward them.

Though razor butterflies primarily existed to draw enemy fire away from Titania, the sharp blades covering their bodies were as lethal as any weapon. They were more than capable of dispatching these assassins.

Several razor butterflies danced through the air, leaving blue trails of light as they swarmed the killers. They slashed through flesh during flight, repeatedly piercing the assassins' bodies.

Accompanied by countless agonized screams, these relatively clear-minded killers were systematically reduced to skeletal remains by the relentless butterfly swarm.

Finally, the Phantasmal Lantern effect expired. Before the controlled assassin could even scream, he and all enthralled killers were instantaneously incinerated by an explosive conflagration.

Surveying the thoroughly scorched alley, Marcus flew away, surrounded by his razor butterfly contingent.

The events in the alley hadn't gone unnoticed. The continuous gunfire had terrified nearby residents.

People living adjacent to the alley trembled in fear, worried that stray bullets might penetrate their windows.

After the initial gunfire ceased, some had considered investigating—until another wave of assassins arrived, sending them back into hiding.

The alley once again erupted with fierce gunfire and blood-curdling screams, leaving residents shaking with terror.

After a prolonged silence fell, scavengers who lived nearby finally emerged cautiously from their homes. Only when no further sounds occurred did they timidly venture into the alley.

"Hey, what's the situation up ahead?"

One resident, still hiding behind, called to someone who had moved forward. Too frightened to investigate personally, he remained in the rear.

"Nothing. Come see—there's absolutely nothing here!"

"Impossible! After such intense gunfire, something must remain!"

The skeptical resident approached, and upon seeing the alley, froze in disbelief.

No evidence of conflict remained. The area was completely empty—apart from darkened walls, nothing had changed.

"That's odd. They couldn't have cleaned up so quickly. With such agonized screaming, they must have left something behind."

As professional scavengers, collecting bodies was their livelihood—an unspoken arrangement between them and various gangs. But what had happened here?

Despite an intense firefight involving numerous combatants, not even a drop of blood remained.

"Could they have incinerated all the bodies?" someone suggested.

The alley walls had indeed darkened significantly, and residual heat lingered in the air, suggesting recent exposure to intense flames.

"Impossible. With so many people fighting in such a confined space, even if casualties were minimal, they couldn't have cremated everything so quickly."

...

Bruce, now safely returned to Wayne Manor, sat reading in the study. He held a book on Stoic philosophy.

This had been his father's favorite volume. Having escaped the assassins' pursuit, Bruce wanted to relax and learn about his father's austere, disciplined lifestyle.

As he turned the pages, something felt amiss. The book's content seemed fine, but its cover appeared unusually thick.

He opened the cover to investigate and discovered a hidden compartment on its underside. Nestled within this cavity was a black controller.

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