"In fact, there's no need for you to execute it," said the Primary Universe Batman, ruthlessly refusing him. He flicked his slightly wrinkled cape with a finger and said, "One more of you makes no difference, one less of you the same."
Having said that, he gestured to Deadpool, "Get ready to get on."
After Deadpool ran over, he leaned on the railing of the roller coaster and looked inside, then asked, "Are you sure you've set the track correctly?"
The Primary Universe Batman just silently gave him a look. He wasn't very used to dealing with people who questioned his plans, so he didn't know how to offer assurances. He simply remained silent and turned to walk inside the railing.
Deadpool was actually just asking out of curiosity rather than genuine suspicion. Watching Batman go in, he followed swiftly, leaving the local Batman helplessly standing on the spot.
"Hey, you can't do this. I can be helpful. I am Batman! Wait for me!"
As he walked toward the railing, he saw that the Primary Universe Batman and Deadpool had both boarded the ride. His hand, lifted in the air, froze there. Leaning on the railing, he asked, "So your plan is to ride the roller coaster for fun first?"
It's the same old story, hardly anyone questions the Primary Universe Batman's plans, and he's never good at explaining. In such moments, he just keeps silent. So, he didn't speak, but sat in the front row and pulled down the safety harness.
"Ha! I knew it! You couldn't come up with any useful plan, so you want to ride the roller coaster to clear your head," Batman revealed a "just as I thought" smile, quickly hopped over the railing, and took a seat beside the Primary Universe Batman before Deadpool could.
He too pulled down his safety device, turned his head to the other Batman beside him and said, "I didn't expect your way of relieving stress would be riding roller coasters. Do you have one in your backyard so you can ponder over your plans anytime?"
"Why do you talk so much?" the Primary Universe Batman had already been trying hard not to show his impatience, but ever since this guy appeared, he felt like there were ten thousand ducks quacking beside his ear.
"What are you talking about? I am Batman, the epitome of mystery and elusiveness. People often say I'm not good at explaining, and indeed, many misunderstandings have been caused, but as the avatar of darkness, I am destined to be misunderstood..."
With a press of a button on the remote control, the roller coaster whooshed forward, and all the words the local Batman hadn't finished were turned into screams dissipating in the wind.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
Batman's expression twisted, he screamed wildly, while the Primary Universe Batman sat silently beside him.
"Slower... slower!!! No!!!!"
Watching the slowly ascending ramp in front of him, the Primary Universe Batman really didn't know what all the commotion next to him was about.
Batman seemed to realize he might have started screaming too soon and covered his mouth embarrassingly, but still a sentence leaked out between his fingers, "Uh, aren't you scared?"
"It's too early to be scared now."
As the Primary Universe Batman finished speaking, the ride had reached its highest point. Batman closed his eyes, but then sneakily opened a small slit in one eye to peek through—the Abyss lay below.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
Batman's screams echoed in the sky above Gotham as the roller coaster dived downward, and just as it swept over an upward curve, Batman pressed another button on the remote.
The device connected to the seat activated, catapulting the three of them upwards into a beautiful parabola, and with a swish, they landed right in the center of the factory.
The calculation was perfect, and there was no damage upon landing, the only problem being Batman had become a lump of tearful, soft noodle.
The Primary Universe Batman lifted his shoulders, and Deadpool also wriggled out of the seat, flexed his arms and legs, and looking at the Primary Universe Batman, asked, "How does it feel to fly with your body?"
"Not bad." The Primary Universe Batman also flexed his arms. Although he had rolled around on the rooftop with the chair a few times, he was indeed uninjured, and after moving his stiff arm parts, they felt better—an actual Minifigure body was indeed quite convenient.
Then they noticed the lump of pitch-black stuff next to them. When Deadpool went up to free Batman from the seat, his eyes had completely turned into two coils of mosquito-repellent incense.
"Ugh—!!!!"
Batman, holding onto Deadpool's hand, vomited profusely, staggering like a catwalk model. The Primary Universe Batman couldn't contain his look of disdain, fortunately, the other party couldn't see it.
"You guys... you guys... Ugh!!!!"
The Primary Universe Batman swirled his cape around and walked to the edge of the rooftop to look down, where countless fully armed guards were patrolling, their flashlights sequentially turning on.
Since what flew over was just the seat, not the entire roller coaster, it didn't make too much noise, and the guards below had not noticed. Even so, it wouldn't be practical to just head down like this.
The Primary Universe Batman turned and gestured to Deadpool, who, supporting Batman, walked over. The Primary Universe Batman stuffed something into the local Batman's waist, then kicked him off the roof.
Bang!
Batman hit the ground head-first, crashing heavily onto the ground. He grimaced as he got up, only to be blinded by the beam of a patrolling guard's flashlight.
Instinctively, he used his arm to block the light, missing the best opportunity to either dodge or subdue, and the next second the guard shouted, "Hey, who's that?!"
Batman gasped, but seeing the guard pull out a gun, he subconsciously reached for his waist. Not finding a Batman dart, he grabbed the trigger instead.
"Shut up!" Batman pulled out the gun, aiming at the guard's shield.
The next second, a loud noise reverberated throughout the entire chemical plant.
"Ribbit!!!!"
Batman was stunned. He looked down to see that his gun had a frog's head, and with the trigger pulled, a bright red tongue shot out while emitting an irritating noise.
"What's that? What's that sound???"
"Intruders! We have intruders!! Get ready!!"
"Put the gun down!"
"Hello?! This is the ACE Chemical Factory hazardous materials storage area! An intruder has been spotted! Requesting support, requesting support!"
More and more flashlight beams converged toward him. Batman looked around with the Frog Gun in hand, took two steps back, and turned to bolt.
The noise of helicopters arose in the distance. The Primary Universe Batman looked down at all the guards who had been drawn away, adjusted the grappling hook in his hand, waved backward, and said, "Let's go!"
Two shadows swung across the skyline.
Atop the helicopter above the chemical factory, Barbara cursed through gritted teeth, "Damn clone, how did he find this place? The plan was supposed to be seamless! Indeed, worthy of being Batman."
"Ground forces, immediately surround the factory. We absolutely cannot let this evil clone escape again!"
Meanwhile, the Joker, who had been watching the screens contentedly, suddenly stood up, clenching his teeth, "That damned bastard, how dare he treat Batman like this! This disgusting, evil clone!! I'll make him pay!!!"
He rushed into the adjacent office, snatched Shiller's chair, and while Shiller sat on the ground, still somewhat confused.
The Joker had already pushed the chair into the hallway and leapt onto it, rallying the lined-up criminals with a raised arm.
"Listen up! You damned fools who will never earn Batman's enmity! Now, a clone just as foolish has dared to treat Batman rudely!!! We must rescue Batman from his clutches!!!"
"Oh!!!!!" The criminals let out a thunderous roar.
Shiller went to peer outside the door, and when he looked back into the hallway, not a person was left. He had no choice but to go next door and pick up the tablet, where on the screen, Batman was running for his life.
Suddenly Shiller's communicator beeped, and Tim's voice came through.
"Doctor, the criminals from Arkham Asylum have escaped. Do you have any clues?"
"Ignore them," Shiller said. "Is there anything unusual in the city? Have you seen the police gathering in any direction?"
"About ten minutes ago, a large Gotham police force started moving toward the ACE Chemical Factory," Tim said while working on the computer. "The helicopter carrying Barbara has now arrived above the factory, carrying a large amount of riot gear; some of it looks like Bat Equipment."
"Don't worry about it; if you find anything else..."
"Ah, wait." Tim suddenly interrupted Shiller. He switched a camera angle and captured a familiar figure.
"Who is that? Superman?"
Without needing Tim's reminder, Shiller, who had arrived atop Arkham Asylum, saw that familiar red and blue figure and frowned slightly. Shouldn't Superman be throwing a party at his Fortress of Solitude right now?
Wait, if Superman isn't having a party and has come here, it means that his Fortress of Solitude is unattended.
Shiller immediately picked up his cellphone and said to Tim, "Can you pilot the Batplane?"
"Piece of cake."
The doors of the Batcave hangar opened, and Tim looked at Shiller, confused, "Why are we going to Superman's place now?"
"Not that far; I can't go to Krypton."
"I mean, Superman's place on Earth, is there something there?" Tim asked while walking towards the Batplane with Shiller.
"The best prison in the cosmos."
"Oh, I get it. You want to lock all these lunatics up in the Phantom Prison, right?"
"Quite the opposite."
"...Opposite?"
The Batplane soared into the sky and quickly disappeared into Gotham's skyline while the pursuit inside the chemical factory was in full swing.
Loud rock music echoed above the chemical factory.
"Who is the greatest dark hero?! Ribbit! Batman!"
"Who brings justice to light, who brightens the night?! Ribbit! Batman!"
"Who makes criminals surrender, who is the mightiest of the Gotham Volunteer Police?! Ribbit! Batman!"
"What on Earth is all that noise outside???" Deadpool scratched his head in confusion as he walked through the dim interior of the chemical factory.
"It doesn't matter," Batman replied, expressionless. He walked through the narrow corridor on the second floor of the chemical factory, looking down at the large pool of green chemical solution below, its eerie glow reflecting off his dark cape.
"That must be the liquid that can corrode Minifigures," Batman murmured, "If it can melt all plastics, what material is the container holding it made of?"
"Uh, is now the time to think about that?" Deadpool said. "Should we go down and check it out?"
"This is the most important question," Batman, not moving from his spot, responded, "I've been pondering; if everything in this cosmos is made of plastic, then is there a difference between plastics?"
Deadpool, too, leaned over the railing and thought before saying, "In my universe, there's definitely a difference between plastics; some can be used for food containers, others not, some are heat-resistant, while others can't go in the microwave."
"Exactly," Batman withdrew his gaze, flicked his cape, and moved forward, but just then, a noise came from the end of the corridor.
The two quickly hid behind a cabinet. The sound of a handcart squeaking was particularly loud in the quiet hallway, and a person in a factory uniform pushed a large box on a cart to the edge of the second floor.
Some things were thrown into a huge chemical tank on the first floor, making a sizzling sound and emitting white smoke.
Soon, a type of liquid flowed from the pipes beneath the tank into an unknown device.
Batman squinted his eyes slightly as he closely watched the actions of the worker who seemed relaxed, even humming a tune, showing no signs of furtiveness as if having a guilty conscience.
He gave Deadpool a look.
After waiting a while and getting no response, he gave Deadpool another look.
Turning his head away and then immediately back, he found that Deadpool behind him had started eating chips.
Batman turned back to face Deadpool, who quickly packed up his snacks and wiped the chip crumbs from his mouth, whispering, "Should we grab him and interrogate?"
Batman sighed deeply and was just about to reach for the Batman dart at his waist when Deadpool pushed him aside and said, "I'll handle this!"
Then he charged forward, swords swinging.
Batman covered his eyes, only to hear a clatter—Deadpool and the worker had both fallen.
Batman walked out from behind the cabinet to see Deadpool lying at the edge of the first floor chemical tank, while the worker had disappeared, leaving a wisp of white smoke rising above the tank.
The same liquid flowed from the pipes.
Batman leapt down, his cape deftly sweeping over the dangerous chemicals, even remembering to grab Deadpool on the way down. After jumping down, he looked up to see the multiple pouring spouts on the upper levels.
"Raw material recycling plan..." his deep voice echoed in the empty factory, the thick sense of darkness almost overflowing.
Just as Batman was about to move to the other side of the tank, a figure rushed in through the main gate of the factory.
"Ha! They'd never expect that it was actually my portable sonic weapon! Truly worthy of the great Dark Knight Batman, so easily evading capture, I am really too... eh! What are you doing here?!"
Prime Universe Batman sensing trouble from the reinforcements following him, almost blinked behind Batman, grabbed his cape, and jumped to the edge of the chemical tank.
The two groups converging from different directions saw only a tall dark figure holding another pitch-black object, standing high at the edge of the vast chemical tank.
Prime Universe Batman turned and raised his arm, suspending Batman above the chemical liquid, then turned his head and said to the people below, "Take one more step forward, and I'll drop him."
Leaders of both groups came to an abrupt halt, Barbara shouted, "No! Batman! You can't use vigilante justice! That clone is an important witness..."
"Nonsense! Look clearly at who the clone is!" Batman, being held by the cape, struggled and shouted loudly, "I am the real Batman, this guy is the evil clone! Do I look as dark as him?!"
Meanwhile, Joker, leading the Arkham criminals, glared fiercely at that tall dark figure and said, "Put him down! You damned bastard! This is too much!"
"What do you all know about the raw material recycling plan?" Prime Universe Batman asked unhurriedly.
Barbara's face momentarily flashed with tension, but it did not escape Prime Universe Batman's eyes as he began to pace along the narrow, slender edge of the raw material tank, every step making everyone's heart pound with fear.
"I've been thinking about what constitutes your current state; for you, it's like exploring the ultimate origin of life, but for me, it doesn't involve any philosophical implications, it's more like a chemical analysis problem."
"All the weapons and equipment here look to be made of plastic, but their strength isn't exactly the same, indicating they may be of different materials, the biting force is also different, where do these differences come from?"
Suddenly, Prime Universe Batman turned and grabbing Batman's cape, threw him down. Batman fell to the ground with a thud, as the two converging groups clashed, each trying to seize Batman for themselves.
With a whoosh, that dark figure next to the raw material tank disappeared.
Hiding behind, Deadpool clicked his tongue and said, "This guy must be a Batman from some important universe, so dark."
Barbara grabbed Batman first, and Batman swatted her hand away, roaring at her, "I'll say it again, I am not the clone! Have you ever seen a clone with a voice as magnificent as mine?!"
"I know you are Batman," Barbara also yelled back at him, "I was just afraid that if we expose this, that terrifying guy would have thrown you directly in, and then you'd have turned into a puddle of liquid!"
"Give him to me!" Joker hissed at Barbara, saying, "Only I can protect him! You all are a bunch of useless idiots!"
"You shut up too!" Batman yelled at him.
Joker's face showed disbelief, then he covered his mouth, looking at Batman with a deeply wronged expression and said, "How can you talk to me like this?! I came to rescue you!"
Batman let his hands drop in exasperation and sighed, "Do you guys really think now is the time for infighting? That guy has almost turned the world upside down!"
"Who exactly is he?" Barbara put away her handgun and then said, "I've never seen such a dark guy. Why was he investigating the material recycling plan?!"
Upon hearing this term again, Batman rarely frowned. Just as Barbara was about to say something, Batman raised his hand to stop her and said, "Stop talking, this is also my fault. I should have subdued him the moment he appeared."
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"Stop doubting me!" Batman stomped his foot in anger and said, "That guy only plays mysterious tricks; I am so much stronger than him!"
"Have you run into trouble, Batman?" A voice appeared overhead, and as they looked up, they saw Superman descending like a deity.
"Your communication cut off a bit suddenly." Superman said, "I must explain to you that the Justice League's party at the Fortress of Solitude wasn't meant to..."
"Stop talking!" Batman seemed to finally burst out and said, "All of you just cause me problems! You don't trust me, question me, target me, and isolate me! I'm really fed up with all this!"
Superman's outstretched hand froze mid-air, he slowly withdrew it, and then said, "Hear me out, Batman, we really didn't mean that, I rushed over right after the party ended."
"Yeah, you waited until after the party to come over." Batman turned back to look at Barbara and said, "You really don't believe I'm the genuine Batman."
Then he turned to Joker and said, "You only care about whether I hate you or not, not caring if you are causing me trouble."
Then his gaze swept over every Arkham criminal, even the policemen behind Barbara, and said, "All of you think I'm just creating problems and making irrational complaints every day. What right does a traffic warden have to call himself the greatest Dark Knight?"
The atmosphere in the room fell silent. Barbara reluctantly spoke up, "We don't think that, Batman, you are a great vigilante, Gotham needs you."
"You all think I'm a madman, it's completely unnecessary for me to make myself so dark and powerful for everyday trivialities in the city, I'm just moving myself." Batman scanned each of them and said.
"None of you really understand what I'm doing, not a single one! I hate all of you!"
Superman seemed to want to say something, but he ultimately did not speak. Batman walked away from everyone, heading towards the dark night through the factory gates, looking lonely and decrepit.
At this time, Prime Universe Batman had already penetrated deep into the factory and had found many documents there, but none of them were important until, at last, he found an apparently long-abandoned laboratory beneath the chemical plant.
Undoubtedly, this had been a chemistry lab. Batman saw many chemical analysis instruments he had never seen before and finally found the answer to a question he had been pondering—everything in Lego World was made of plastic, but not all plastics were the same.
Batman thought about the ordinary bricks he had seen in the real world. Most of the time, there's nothing special about ordinary LEGO pieces, but there are also some special components, like metal parts contained within electronic LEGO pieces.
The analysis report he held showed how the ancient ancestors of the Minifigures in Lego World had developed a way to blend some mystical elements into the plastic material and enhance the strength of the bricks, thus evolving plastics material science.
But more importantly, some data indicated that the materials used to construct Minifigures were special. This mysterious chemist had referred to the life-giving part of the materials as "Life Molecules."
Only plastic containing Life Molecules could constitute Minifigures capable of movement, possessing wisdom, and having souls; plastic without these factors was just regular plastic, and no amount of forging could produce sentience.
According to this chemist's hypothesis, these mysterious Life Molecules were likely related to a meteor that had struck this plastic planet millions of years ago.
Batman thought that perhaps this was the origin of life in Lego World, as Life Molecules mingled into the plastic, brought the first forms of life to Lego World.
But this also brought up another issue: if Life Molecules were brought by a meteor, like gold, then they should be limited, perhaps even rare.
This made Batman think of the raw material recycling plan; the shortage in this plan was likely not plastic, but these mysterious, elusive Life Molecules.
If the quantity of Life Molecules was fixed, then even if it meant that the population on Earth was limited, it shouldn't easily run short unless some conditions caused the Life Factor to be consumed.
Batman thought of the assembly feature of the Minifigures.
Was there really no consumption when they were broken into pieces and reassembled? Even from a realistic perspective, this was impossible; LEGO always experiences wear, and long-term forceful assembly might cause the joining nubs of the components to fail, preventing reassembly, or making the parts loose.
In Lego World, what kind of force was repairing this wear?
Perhaps it was this mysterious Life Factor.
The Minifigures living in Heaven might not have thought about it, they were not paying a price for their injuries, yet the cost cannot be discovered by ordinary people, but one day the cost would accumulate to an unbearable level.
And there were some people, Batman looked down at the documents in his hand, he thought, some idealists must have realized the truth, which is why they proposed this raw material recycling plan, they wanted to replenish the Life Factor.
But in a situation where the total amount is absolutely constant, how could they replenish the consumed Life Factor?
Perhaps not replenish, but reduce consumption—as much as possible using chemical agents, recycle the "brick originals" that had not yet been overly depleted.