POV Rio
I was about to leave the Universe and check out where Lex came from when I got a system alert.
[Ding]
[Title Upgrade Requirements Met]
[Upgrading Title King Of Man]
[Title: God Emperor Of The Crystal Imperium
This Title grants the user a powerful deterrent effect on all beings below the Multiversal Level. This causes any beings below the Multiversal Level to have a nearly impossible-to-resist urge to avoid hostile actions towards the user and his Imperium. This will apply to beings regardless of whether they know of the user or not. This effect will also apply to actions that could lead to negative actions towards the user and his Imperium. It makes those under the user fiercely loyal to the user and his dominion. Beings of Multiversal Level or above will have an effect that makes them unwilling to fight the user, but they can overcome this hesitation with either enough power or a strong enough will. This title increases in effectiveness the stronger they become, with no upper limit. Grants The User A Massive Positive Opinion Modifier With All Humans And Human-Related Species. Also makes the user the greatest fear of any evil-aligned gods or beings below. Grants a 1000% boost in damage to any being aligned with Chaos. Grants a 100% Boost to the Charisma Stat. ]
'Wow, that is really good. But what were the requirements?'
[Ding]
[The Requirements Were As Follows:
1. A Base Charisma Stat Of At Least 1000
2. Be Recognized As An Emperor By At Least 10 Billion Sentient Beings.
3. Save A Universe
4. Have Max Karma Value
5. Kill A Multiversal Level Threat
6. Kill An Evil God
7. Be Directly Involved In The Destruction Of Numerous Evil Beings Of At Least Universe Level.
8. Have Control Of At Least 3 Domains
9. Be Immortal
10. Have The King Of Man Title. ]
(AN: Domains were mentioned in previous chapters, but this is basically what divinities are. )
'Okay, I can understand most of those, but what about 7? I don't recall destroying many universe-level evil beings.'
[Ding]
[Ultimate Necrozma Has Devoured The Entire Dark Multiverse As Well As Most Of The Powerful Beings In This Omniverse. Including Beings Such As: Desire, Despair, Destruction, Dream, The Anti-Monitor, The Over-Monitor, Alpheus, Perpetua, Eclipso, The Chaos Lords, The Great Darkness, Doctor Manhattan, The Spectre, And Hundreds Of Gods. It Is Currently Being Held Off By The Presence, Lucifer Morningstar, Michael Demiurgos, And The Hands. They Are All That Is Holding Ultimate Necrozma Back From Devouring The Source Wall. ]
'WHAT?! How the heck did they allow Necrozma to get that strong? I mean, I expected it to devour the Anti-Monitor, but then I figured it would be found and they would stall Necrozma since he would be a threat to the Omniverse. How likely are they to be able to hold off Necrozma until its summoning ends?'
[Ding]
[98% If They Accept Losses. Most Likely Outcome Is That Either The Presence Or Lucifer Survives The Battle. It Is Also Possible They All Perish And Necrozma Runs Out Of Time. ]
'Warn me if Necrozma defeats them. I don't want the Source Wall to cease existing.'
[Ding]
[Affirmative. Also, The User Has Almost Collected The Needed Energy To Upgrade The System. ]
'What energy?'
[Ding]
[Everything That Dies Within The Same Omniverse The User Is In Is Turned Into Energy For The System. This Energy Is Used For The Functioning Of The System And To Eventually Upgrade The System. The User Does Not Even Need To Be Aware Of The Deaths or Destructions. Not Everything Is Turned Into Energy. Souls Are Left Alone Unless The Being Was Particularly Evil.]
'So, every time I used a summon to kill a powerful being, you gained energy. And I assume you are why I don't get XP while in a Trial.'
[Ding]
[Correct. During Trials, Some Are Simulations Made By The System, But Others Are Timelines That Fit With The Requirements For The Trial. In The Case Of Them Not Being Simulations, The System Takes All Earning From Kills In The Trial To Pay For The Energy Cost Of The Trial. Then Any Additional Earnings Are Saved Or Used For The Rewards Of The Trial. ]
'Once you get the needed energy, what will happen?'
[Ding]
[The System Will Require The Agreement Of The User. Once That Is Obtained, The System Will Be Temporarily Unavailable Until The Upgrade Is Done. The User Can Still Increase Their Stats, But All Other Features Of The System Will Be Disabled. This Will Include Inventory, Gacha, Store, Status, The Observe Skill, And Any Other System Features. The Upgrade Will Take Anywhere Between 1 Month And 1 Year. ]
'What features will be added?'
[Ding]
[You Will Have To Upgrade To Find Out.]
'Hmm, very well.'
I decided to leave the system upgrade for now as I didn't know how long it would take to gather the remaining energy. Instead, I used the teleportation device to return to the DCAU Universe. Once I got there, I created some clones. Most would go across the world and start collecting items of value or interest. Most would be sold, but others would be kept for research or display. I didn't intend on staying in this Universe for long. I just had one thing I wanted to do.
A Couple Of Days Later...
I arrive at Wayne Industries headquarters. I had a meeting with Bruce Wayne so I could chat with him. I felt that it would be rude to break into his home to talk, and showing up at his house unannounced is also rude.
'Mother would smack me if I tried that.'
I walk to the front desk and talk to the receptionist. Once they confirmed my identity, they led me to Mr. Wayne's office.
'Who knew I would actually use the Psychic Paper?'
I used it for an ID and it worked flawlessly. It took a few minutes, but eventually Bruce showed up.
Bruce: "Mr. Magus, I presume."
Rio: "Yes, that's me, but please call me Rio. Mr. Magus makes me sound old."
Bruce: "Of course, Rio. Now, what would you like to talk to me about? The meeting notes only say a business proposal."
Rio: "Of course, but first let me ask you a question. If you could see the future, would you?"
Bruce doesn't show much reaction, just a slight thinking face. I had to admit his acting was impressive.
Bruce: "Hmm, an interesting question, but I think the future is what we make of it, so any supernatural fortune telling would be pointless."
Rio: "Ah, perhaps, but what I offer is much more real. And it could save the lives of many. But let's cut to the chase. I set up this meeting to speak to you because I wanted to see if you were as good as I had seen. And I can say you passed the test. So let me introduce myself for real. I am Rio Magus Crepusculum, Emperor of the Crystal Imperium. You can think of me as a visitor to your Universe."
He feigns fear and surprise, but I can tell he is thinking about whether I am telling the truth. So I just drop my human form and turn into my Alicorn form. That actually causes him to freeze for a moment. Then I can see the Batman side take over.
Batman: "Why are you here?"
Rio: "To offer you a chance to avoid what is to come. I can show the future, and it can save the lives of many. I have also come here to offer you a chance to become unaging. NOT Immortal. You would just stop aging. It would allow you to never have to give up crime fighting."
Batman: "And why would I take your offer? What's the catch?"
Rio: "No catch, no strings, no small print. Just a straight deal. I offer you to become unaging, and you do whatever you want with that. As for why you would take the offer, that is because in the future, you may take up a similar offer. But in that case, Ra's Al Ghul tries to possess your body like he did with his daughter's body. Your clone foils the plan, but it shows that you don't want to stop the fight. You would never wish upon anyone the kind of life you have to live to do the mission."
Batman: "A clone?"
Rio: "Yes, Amanda Waller secretly clones you, and then you end up training this clone without knowing it. It is in the future when you retire due to heart issues. I can help you with that, by the way."
Batman: "Why ask me? Why not someone else?"
Rio: "Because you have an unbreakable will. You are the least likely to abuse this gift. And because you are human. Incredibly so. You don't just beat people until they are in a cell and then throw away the key. You talk with them. You try to help them. To reform them. You would sit with a dying criminal to comfort them, even if it might endanger your life. And I know you would use the knowledge I give you to stop some very horrible incidents."
Batman: "Like what?"
Rio: "Robin's near-death at the hands of the Joker. His brainwashing and subsequent conversion into a new Joker. An invasion of Earth. And several others."
I can sense Batman's mind start to think about what I said.
Batman: "What happened to Robin?"
Rio: "It happens to a future Robin. But as I am sure you know, the Joker is smart. In the future, he obtains genetic research and a microchip that encodes the Joker's DNA and mind into him, and eventually turns Robin into a host of sorts. Of course, this happens after Robin is forced to kill the Joker to save your life."
Batman: "He would never."
Rio: "The Joker broke him. Tortured him for days on end. Used chemicals to break him, and Robin was in the end broken. Even after the Joker died, it broke you and your partners. But that can be changed if you see what is to come. And if you are un-aging, you will be in peak condition forever. The Joker will get older and weaker, but you won't. And you don't have to worry about side effects like the Lazarus Pit. And it can't be replicated. So what do you say?"
Batman: "And how do I know you are telling the truth?"
Rio: "I can sign a contract that forfeits my immortal soul if I should be lying, but I imagine you can tell if I am lying or not. After all, they call you the world's greatest detective for a reason."
Batman: "You're right. And I will take your offer. Now, how does this work? Is it a machine or a device?"
Rio: "Nope, I will impart the memories directly into your head. As for the un-aging, that will be given in the form of a potion. You can drink it now or study it, then drink it. I just ask you not to give it to someone else. When consumed, it will heal you of all injuries, but only that one time. It can never be undone or replicated. I would know as I have tried to do so myself, but I can't figure out how. Nor can my citizens."
Batman: "Then do it."
I tap his forehead before he can even react. He slumps in his chair, and he drops the Batarang he had hidden in his hand on the ground. I just placed that in his lap and waited for him to wake up. Once he does, he looks shocked, sad, angry, and even a little disappointed.
Batman: "Sigh. I never thought Shiera would be a traitor. But thank you for showing me."
I place the potion on his desk, and he doesn't wait and consumes it right away. I was a bit surprised, and he just smirked at me.
Batman: "I am not an idiot. I can tell you mean no harm to me and haven't lied once. And if what I saw is going to happen, I need to prepare myself. If you ever need the League's or my assistance, let me know, and I will help. I do have one last question."
Rio: "Sure, what is it?"
Batman: "Where are you from?"
Rio: "A Multiverse from beyond the Omniverse you are currently in. And also, before I forget, you don't have to worry about Darkseid. He doesn't exist anymore and will never exist again. I would destroy Braniac before it is too late, but that is just a suggestion; you do whatever you want. Oh, and I will be leaving your Universe. Another Universe is out there that needs my help desperately. I will leave behind someone who can assist you if you need it. Just use this token if you need help. Especially if it is magical in nature."
I toss him a small crystal horse figurine, and then I say my goodbyes. I got the message from the Clones that I got all I needed, and we could go. I had a few things that I needed to do. One was curing Mr. Fries's wife and healing him of his condition. Dr. Fries requested I do so, and I saw no reason why I shouldn't. The next thing was that I stole almost everything Lex had to his name and donated it. Then I left him the cure to the disease he got from carrying Kryptonite around for years. I also left a recording for Lex made by the Lex I summoned. Once that was done, I went to the next Universe. The one I sort of entered into the trial as. The Young Justice Universe.
--------------------
Authors Note:
So Batman took the offer because Rio was honest with him, but also it was the effect of the Blessing Of The Night Perk and the God Emperor Of The Crystal Imperium Title. It also helped that Rio showed him the future first. If the future weren't realistic, then Batman would not have drunk the potion and would have instead studied it and maybe stored it. As for what Necrozma has been doing, it has definitely gotten way too strong to be killed, and it gains the power of whatever it absorbs, but unlike Amazo, it doesn't get the weaknesses. So it has the powers of Arceus, which makes it immune to almost all forms of damage. And when it devours something, that thing is gone completely. It can't be restored. Now, for the new title, I can't recall who made the comment, but someone kind of guessed the theme of the upgraded title when the King Of Man Title was introduced. It is very powerful but also somewhat passive. It doesn't make Rio stronger, but it does make it less likely for anyone to try and attack him or his citizens. You will have to wait to see what the System Upgrade brings, but just know it won't be too important, just a nice little thing before the story ends. Until next time, Ciao.