Chapter 3: Gotham City
"Dimensional transfer complete. Coordinate anchor point being marked... Marking successful."
As a wave of disorientation washed over him, the *Codex's* gender-neutral voice rang out within Lin Bai's mind. Travel via the dimensional magic circle was inherently random;
However, once a world had been visited, the *Codex* would automatically mark it. Returning in the future would be a far simpler task.
Although it styled itself a "Dimensional Organization," it seemed to offer little assistance beyond the dimensional circle itself—the sole means of teleporting across the myriad worlds of the multiverse.
Furthermore, the *Codex* no longer possessed the capabilities it held in their home world—the ability to instantly record all knowledge and gather every treasure in existence.
For Lin Bai—a man suffering from a terminal case of chronic laziness—this came as a devastating blow.
*Sigh.*
*Oh, well.*
*If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.*
Although the teleportation was random, the *Codex* would do its best to roughly steer the destination in a direction aligned with Lin Bai's needs.
At this moment, he was floating high in the atmosphere. The familiar oxygen levels and the presence of the ozone layer confirmed to Lin Bai, beyond any doubt, that he was indeed on Earth.
Drifting slowly downward, the first sight to greet his eyes was a sprawling complex of modern Gothic architecture. The towering skyscrapers possessed a distinctive, retro aesthetic; while undeniably artistic, the Gothic style of the city nonetheless evoked an indescribable sense of oppression in those who beheld it.
From his vantage point in the sky, Lin Bai spotted familiar sights down on the streets below: familiar people, familiar vehicles, familiar billboards...
*Wait.*
*Actually... not so familiar.*
This wasn't China; it appeared to be a foreign land—the United States, or somewhere similar. Yet, one thing was certain: this was the modern world Lin Bai knew so well.
Suddenly—and for reasons he couldn't quite explain—Lin Bai felt a surge of inexplicable excitement.
What did the modern world have to offer? Computers! The Internet! Video games! And... 2D waifus! *Ahem.*
Overcome with excitement, Lin Bai nearly forgot his primary objective for this trip:
To collect human genetic samples. These samples could potentially save Lin Bai tens of millions of years of effort.
The power of the *Original Codex* could utilize these samples to compile a complete human genetic map; armed with this map, Lin Bai could—through the aid of the *Codex*—exercise the functions of a Creator and bring human beings into existence.
This was, in fact, one of the *Original Codex's* inherent capabilities: given the "cause," it could inevitably bring forth the "effect."
If possible, he also wished to collect genetic samples from animals, marine life, plants, and birds; for true ecological diversity is a crucial prerequisite for a world's continued propagation and survival.
However, Lin Bai wouldn't need to go to any great trouble. In modern society—driven by the imperative to ensure the continuity of life and the survival of human civilization—vast genetic banks are typically established. These repositories would undoubtedly contain a wealth of genetic material from both humans and the animal and plant kingdoms.
They might even house genetic samples from long-extinct creatures, such as mammoths or dinosaurs.
Just as Lin Bai was contemplating exactly what he needed to acquire in this world, his attention was drawn to something rather intriguing.
He spotted a figure clad in peculiar attire—a person in a black, hooded cloak—clutching a humanoid monster that, while vaguely human in shape, was clearly not of human origin. The creature bore a pair of dragonfly-like wings upon its back, which lifted it into the air.
The two figures darted and weaved through the airspace between the towering skyscrapers, locked in a fierce aerial combat.
Although Lin Bai had slept for such an immense span of time that many of his memories from his days as a human had faded, memories never truly vanish. They are not erased, merely forgotten—buried deep within the recesses of the mind.
Now that he possessed the *Original Codex*, however, he could swiftly recall them.
That figure in the black, hooded cloak... if his memory served him right... was that Batman?
And that winged monster... a Parademon?
So... this is Gotham City? Lin Bai glanced around at the towering Gothic-style buildings.
Hmm.
It certainly looked like the right place.
Dimensional Worlds are pocket universes born as extensions of Lin Bai's Prime Universe. They may not be as vast as the Prime Universe—perhaps comprising only a single planet or a solitary galaxy—
Yet, the knowledge and underlying substance they contain are in no way inferior. This is because Dimensional Worlds are brought into existence by the collective power of human imagination within the Prime Universe.
When the power of human imagination reaches a certain intensity—or when a conceptual framework aligns with the fundamental laws of reality—these Dimensional Worlds are born. They exist on a lower ontological tier than the Prime Universe, yet possess a tangible reality of their own, operating strictly according to the dictates of fate.
Of course, the humans responsible for creating these worlds could not possibly be those from Lin Bai's own timeline. After all, in Lin Bai's current era, let alone the existence of modern Earth, even the earliest hominid ancestors of humanity have yet to appear.
To enter these Dimensional Worlds, one must rely on a "Dimensional Array." This serves as both a form of authorized access and a ritual of ontological demotion—a ceremony that temporarily lowers Lin Bai's existential tier, thereby enabling him to cross the threshold into a Dimensional World.
Naturally, Lin Bai's actual power level remains unchanged; furthermore, upon returning to the Prime Universe, his ontological tier is automatically restored to its original state. The only potential caveat is that any knowledge or abilities acquired within a Dimensional World may undergo slight alterations when brought back into the Prime Universe.
If my memory serves me correctly, this particular opening scenario corresponds to the beginning of the *Justice League* storyline.
The overarching plot revolves around three mysterious artifacts known as "Mother Boxes" located on Earth—devices possessing the power to utterly annihilate the planet.
They were originally brought here by a formidable antagonist named Steppenwolf. His intention was to terraform Earth, transforming it into a mirror image of his own homeworld—a desolate, ravaged husk of a planet. (Seriously, who would actually want to live in a place like that?)
However, he was ultimately driven out by the combined might of Earth's various metahuman and supernatural factions of that era: the Atlanteans, the Amazons, the humans, the Olympian Gods, and the extraterrestrial Green Lantern Corps. In the ensuing conflict, the Mother Boxes were left behind on Earth.
Deemed too dangerous to be kept in a single location, the Mother Boxes were subsequently divided into three separate parts... ...portions—one for the Amazons, one for Atlantis, and one for humanity.
Now, thousands of years later, Steppenwolf has returned to exact his vengeance, once again seeking the Mother Boxes to destroy the Earth.
The monster currently locked in combat with Batman is known as a Parademon—a creature formed from the remains of lives Steppenwolf has taken. They serve as his minions and feed upon fear.
As the forces of justice, the Justice League naturally had to intervene to stop Steppenwolf. Consequently, Batman rallied Earth's various superheroes; together, they defeated Steppenwolf, drove him off the planet, and officially founded the Justice League.
That, in essence, is the basic premise of the story.
Within the Justice League, the concept of "bloodline supremacy" is largely prevalent. The Atlanteans, the Kryptonians, and Diana—with her divine lineage—all possess bloodlines that seem ripe for genetic extraction.
According to the original texts, a mere blood sample is sufficient to decipher and replicate an entire genetic code. These are races endowed with immense potential; acquiring samples from them would undoubtedly be a worthwhile investment.
While Lin Bai was lost in these thoughts, the battle between Batman—Bruce Wayne—and the Parademon was drawing to a close. After grappling in mid-air, they crashed onto the rooftop of a nearby building, where their violent struggle continued.
Bruce hurled the Parademon against a wall, only to be sent flying himself moments later by a powerful kick from the creature.
Even as he was knocked backward, he drew a weapon from his utility belt. The device fired a large net that ensnared the Parademon, pinning it immovably against the wall and rendering it completely helpless.
After thrashing desperately for a time, the Parademon appeared to suffer a critical overload; its body began to emit an intense, blinding light before violently exploding, leaving behind nothing but a splatter of green blood and a peculiar, cryptic symbol.
It was a flawless, fluid execution—truly worthy of Batman, the sole member of the Justice League who, despite being a mere mortal, stands as an equal alongside beings of near-godlike power. "What is that?"
"A scout."
A white man—also on the rooftop—limped over and asked Batman.
It was the petty thief Batman had captured at the beginning of the movie—the very man whose fear had inadvertently drawn the Parademons to them.
Gazing at the symbol left etched on the wall after the Parademon's demise, Batman replied in his signature, electronically modulated, low, gravelly voice.
"From outer space? Is an alien army invading?"
The white man looked up at the sky, his voice tinged with slight panic.
However, Batman did not answer him just then; instead, he slowly turned his head to look at the spot where Lin Bai had been hovering moments earlier, his expression growing slightly grave.
But now, the spot was completely empty.
"Alfred, was there anything else in my vicinity just now?"
Batman's low voice was transmitted through his microphone to Alfred, who was stationed back in the Batcave.
Alfred stared at his computer screen—displaying the real-time feed streaming directly from Batman's location—and furrowed his brow slightly. After a brief moment of recollection, he began typing rapidly on his keyboard.
But the string of data that appeared on the screen made his eyes widen in astonishment; he murmured softly:
"I think you need to come back here and see this for yourself."
Batman fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low tone:
"What did you see, Alfred?"
"I detected a massive energy signature. Although it was fleeting, we still managed to capture it. I've only ever encountered an energy reaction of this magnitude in one other place..."
The old butler's voice drifted through the earpiece as he slowly replied to Batman.
"What?" "
Batman asked softly.
"Doomsday."
...…