The Batcave’s conference room was dimly lit.
Unlike their usual tactical meetings, there was only one piece of paper on the table—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TtoCU4g1i
Everyone sat up straight, yet it was as if they had all forgotten how to speak.
Tim was the first to break the silence, his voice barely above a whisper:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2N2O7gg8BN
“…So, that girl… or rather, that deity… her name is Nana?”
His brows furrowed with mathematical precision, as though solving a complex equation. “That doesn’t exactly sound divine. It’s way too cute. Kinda glad we didn’t follow Dick’s plan to read out every god’s name out loud… or we might’ve never stumbled across hers.”
The way he said it sounded half like a joke—yet not entirely.
Would saying that name aloud really summon something?
Dick shrugged, lips twitching into a sheepish grin. “Hey, I was just suggesting—didn’t force anyone. Alright, alright, maybe I don’t get how weird this world really is.”
He paused. “Anyway, we’ve already contacted Zatanna. She said she’s on her way.”
A hush fell again, and all eyes shifted toward the one sitting silently against the wall.
Jason.
His eyes were still red from crying. He looked like someone who’d just surfaced from deep underwater.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPpYRAD6tl
Normally, someone might have cracked a joke to ease the mood—even just to get a reaction. But today… no one dared.
After all, he’d died.
And today was the first time they all truly understood what that meant.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQrXPEY1EK
He’d had his memory taken, too.
“People who’ve died get a free pass… right?” Tim murmured.
No one responded. But everyone agreed.
Jason didn’t acknowledge them. He just kept staring at the paper in front of him, completely still, like he was afraid it might turn to ash if he looked away.
He wanted to memorize every stroke of the handwriting, every fold of the paper.
He wanted to make sure that this time—he wouldn’t forget her.
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Zatanna finally arrived.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYhPdYWKN8
Draped in her black cloak, she looked like a mysterious guest carried in by the wind.
The moment she appeared, Jason stood and walked directly toward the same isolated chamber as last time—
That “quarantine room” they’d set up so she wouldn’t go blind from the glow of his divine markings.
This time, he said nothing.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaS5TYuVwW
He just wanted to know the next step.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwvNFvVCBt
How to find her. How to save her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrhap9DiB1
How to bring her back.
Zatanna entered the room, looking unusually serious.
“Wow. You guys moved a lot faster than I expected.” She lifted the paper. “So this is her name? Nana… huh. Yeah, this name doesn’t appear in any divine registry I know.”
When she spoke that name—Nana—the air in the room actually seemed to shiver, like someone had exhaled softly against their ears.
Jason, from the other room, raised his voice:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzhKXMWIv1
“Then what’s next?”
Zatanna tilted her chin, her tone ritualistic, almost chant-like:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTmi6frKM4
“Since we know the world tried to erase her, to bring her back… we have to make her into something the world will accept.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMQnrxfCdP
She paused. “That means—”
Batman cut in, voice firm:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82OmAmy9wQ
“Be specific. What do we need to do?”
Zatanna turned toward him with a sly expression, her tone suddenly teasing:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjeySwebUh
“Bats, you’re not gonna like this answer. Because you might have to… betray Jesus a little.”
Everyone blinked.
“…What?” Tim frowned.
“I mean,” she said plainly, “you’ll have to make her legitimate. Through faith. Through belief. You must invite her to become a deity.”
Zatanna spoke each word clearly:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9fyqlklEV
“You have to become believers. You have to build a faith. Only belief can move the Will of the World—can grant footing to a being it once tried to erase.”
A heavy silence settled.
Then, in unspoken unison, they all turned toward the object list on the table—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufnxsbPI5y
The one Zatanna had provided.
Dick unfolded it. His face grew increasingly conflicted.
Candles, animal blood, a symbolic mirror, a bone vessel, luminous powder, torn pages from a spellbook, hematite sand…
Together, they formed a ritual altar.
It looked like something from a heretic trial.
“…This isn’t some weird prank show, right?” Dick muttered, voice dry with disbelief.
No one laughed.
Jason didn’t wait for discussion. He was already on his feet, halfway out the cave, yelling over his shoulder:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxtCzhw8PF
“I’m going to get supplies!!”
He bolted like a man newly converted to some obscure cult.
His eyes burned with fire. His feet practically lifted off the ground.
“…He’s actually kind of scary right now,” Tim muttered.
Damian crossed his arms and scoffed:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcvXhVtfUq
“He’s always been scary.”
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Gotham is a city of contradictions.
Tonight, the very people who usually wear body armor and leap across rooftops in pursuit of criminals were now holding candles, burning incense, and carrying strange objects as they assembled for a ritual that looked dangerously close to occult judgment.
Who would’ve thought the Batcave would ever host an altar?
But the real kicker—
“…How the hell did you buy all this so fast?” Tim whispered, eyeing the candles, vials of blood, metal rings, and ancient scrolls.
“Gotham actually sells this stuff? Or did you make a quick trip to the underworld?”
Jason didn’t answer. He simply stood in the center of the altar, arms folded.
His expression was solemn—not like a man about to perform a ritual, but more like someone standing vigil.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe14PfdnUZH
Or awaiting something that might tear through the fabric of reality itself.
Zatanna raised her hands.
“Alright, now you need a lead officiant.”
She grinned. “I guess in religion they’d call it a high priest? Anyway—someone to lead the ritual. The first official representative of this new faith.”
Jason didn’t wait for her to finish.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ039T25WSDh
He stepped forward and stood quietly in the center.
No one stopped him.
Zatanna simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2jWR7XNqj
“Well, fair enough. You’re definitely the right one for the job.”
Batman had been assigned to stay outside the ritual circle.
“You’re too unstable, Bats,” Zatanna said, half-joking, half-serious. “We need someone who’ll draw the blade, not flip the table.”
He didn’t argue. He nodded silently.
And from the shadows, he watched the children he had trained—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhggFx6YJJl
prepare to summon a forgotten deity.
A child from the past.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhZRr95yZI
A child he had once… forgotten.
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