"Of course, if you still need me, I wouldn't mind coming out for a stroll." Peter Parker was evidently uncertain about his future.
The sense of responsibility in his heart, along with the phrase "With great power comes great responsibility," still echoed in his mind.
"I think you'd be better off just living a peaceful life." Jessica thought for a moment.
If a retired hero had to return to the battlefield, it likely meant things had already spiraled out of control—perhaps many superheroes had perished in whatever catastrophe had occurred.
Peter Parker chuckled.
He thought so too.
Just as he was about to say something, they had already reached their destination.
The landing area originally designated for the Batwing slowly opened.
It was spacious enough for Bruce to land the Quinjet there.
"Wow, you actually have a Batcave."
"Yes. But I did blow up your Spider-Cave." Bruce controlled the Quinjet, slowly bringing it down.
Hearing that his Spider-Cave had been destroyed, Peter Parker immediately understood why Aunt May's house had been reduced to ruins.
After all, the Spider-Cave was right beneath Aunt May's home.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say, but since he had already decided to retire as Spider-Man, perhaps the destruction of the Spider-Cave wasn't such a bad thing.
Jessica patted Peter Parker on the shoulder. "There was no other choice at the time."
Peter didn't say anything.
Right now, all he wanted to do was check on Aunt May.
In the kitchen, Aunt May had been preparing dinner when she heard the sound of an aircraft landing. Immediately, she became alert.
The noise was completely different from the Batwing she had heard before. She gripped the self-defense weapon Bruce had made for her and cautiously stepped out.
What she saw was indeed not the Batwing.
Bruce unfastened himself from the pilot's seat and glanced at Peter Parker. "I'll go greet Aunt May first. You come down in a bit."
The old lady needed a moment to prepare herself. Otherwise, as soon as Peter Parker appeared before her, there was no doubt she'd faint on the spot.
Watching Batman step off the jet and walk toward Aunt May, Peter Parker remained inside, quietly observing their conversation.
"Looks like a lot has happened while I was dead." Peter Parker glanced at an area covered by a black cloth. The intricate devices beneath it hinted at how long Batman and the others had been living here.
At that moment, Bruce waved toward the Quinjet.
"Alright, Bruce has explained everything to Aunt May."
Jessica turned and started heading down.
But Peter Parker didn't move. He remained standing in place, frozen.
It seemed like he wasn't ready.
"What are you waiting for? You want Aunt May to come up and drag you out herself?" Jessica turned back to look at him.
"I just… I just…"
The emotions he felt at the thought of seeing Aunt May were too overwhelming.
He needed to mentally prepare himself—even though he had been doing that the entire way here.
But now, it felt completely different.
Jessica didn't quite know what to say.
However, someone else took matters into their own hands.
Mary Jane grabbed Peter Parker by the hand and dragged him out of the Quinjet.
She was no longer the delicate actress from before—now, she was the new Wonder Woman.
Peter Parker barely had time to react before he was pulled down.
Aunt May glanced at Bruce beside her, then at Jessica, who was waiting nearby.
She still couldn't believe it.
Was Peter really alive again?
But today wasn't April Fool's Day, and no one would joke about something like this.
When Mary Jane appeared, pulling someone behind her, Aunt May began to believe it—at least halfway.
She knew Mary Jane wouldn't play such a cruel joke on her.
And the figure standing behind Mary Jane… no matter how she looked at him, he was identical to the Peter Parker in her memories.
Aunt May staggered slightly.
Bruce had already positioned himself beside her, ready to support her if needed.
At last, Peter Parker fully revealed his face.
"Hello, Aunt May." He smiled at the woman who had raised him.
Aunt May took a hesitant step forward, as if wanting to touch Peter's face.
But before she could reach him, she suddenly collapsed.
Mary Jane caught her in time, ensuring she didn't fall to the ground.
Even with Bruce's warning, Peter Parker's return was still too overwhelming for her.
Bruce immediately scanned her.
"She's fine. It's just an emotional shock, causing temporary oxygen deprivation."
That was the best possible outcome.
As long as it wasn't a heart attack or something triggered by high blood pressure, it was manageable.
For an elderly person, those conditions could be extremely dangerous.
"Come over."
After the scan was complete, Bruce led Mary Jane, who was holding Aunt May, toward a designated treatment room.
Aunt May couldn't stay here.
It wouldn't be good for her recovery.
Peter still felt a bit anxious as he looked at Aunt May lying on the hospital bed.
"I—"
Peter Parker wanted to say something, but Mary Jane just held his hand and shook her head.
"The most important thing right now is to stay by Aunt May's side."
Mary Jane's words brought Peter Parker back to his senses. He took Aunt May's hand and quietly waited for her to wake up.
Jessica withdrew her gaze. It was only then that she realized Bruce had already left at some point.
Glancing at Peter Parker and Mary Jane, Jessica also silently slipped away.
As for where Bruce was now, she didn't need to guess—she already knew.
"Are you okay?" Jessica walked up to the control panel, looking at Bruce, who was sitting there, immersed in his work.
"There were twelve robberies today, three armed homicides, and one—" Bruce stared intently at the screen in front of him.
It recorded every crime that had occurred since Batman left his position.
"But I'm not talking about New York. I'm talking about you." Jessica cut him off, locking eyes with him.
Bruce simply turned to glance at her but didn't respond.
Jessica was used to this reaction.
She said nothing, just stood beside him, silently watching the stream of crime reports on the control panel.
The Batcave was illuminated only by the flickering glow of the screen.
"She shouldn't have been dragged into this danger." Bruce finally spoke.
"Then just have some red date bread, and everything will be fine," Jessica said with a grin.
Bruce remained silent. The taste of red date bread was something he could never quite forget.
"See? Just thinking about it, and you've got nothing left to say," Jessica teased, leaning casually against the railing outside the terminal.
She looked up at the ceiling, which had long since been modified beyond recognition.
Maybe Batman now felt the same way she once did—that unbearable sense of solitude.
Bruce didn't reply. He simply refocused on his control panel, proceeding with the next phase of his plan.
Sometimes, people needed something to keep them occupied.
Like now—Bruce no longer had his Batwing. He needed a new one.
And that wasn't all.
The Batmobile also needed an upgrade.
Given the current state of the world,
Bruce's instincts were already warning him.
After all, it was precisely in times of chaos that even greater catastrophes had fallen upon humanity before.
Bruce needed to prepare.
To be ready for anything.
To ensure he had the strength to fight back.
Of course, that didn't include the Red Death and the Ravager, who were locked away in his mind's prison.
"If this world continues down this path, the real threat won't come from above—it will come from humanity itself," said the Bat within him.
"Humans have always been good at destroying themselves," Bruce replied expressionlessly.
Super-soldier arms races, the previous metahuman wars—it had all been their doing.
"All we can do is eliminate as many potential crises as possible within our power."
Bruce glanced at the Bat, then at Lego Batman and Thomas.
As for the other two?
To Bruce, they had nothing of value to offer.
Their worlds had already been destroyed the moment they gained their abilities.
And now, obsessed with pursuing greater powers, what could they possibly contribute?
"Then you're going to need a lot of things."
The Bat looked up at Bruce, who had walked right up to him.
After the last war, he understood better than anyone—when those who could annihilate the world's strongest metahumans descended, all he could do was clear the cannon fodder that interfered with their battles.
"The real question is, how much time do you have?"
"Never enough."
Bruce stared resolutely at the caged Bat.
The Bat returned his gaze just as seriously.
(End of Chapter)
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