Chapter 562: I, Joker (1)
Translator: Lonelytree
Feng Bujue, Level 43
Wang Tanzhi, Level 40
Passing Rain, Level 40
Laughing Soul, Level 40
“Please select the game mode that your team wants to join.
“You have selected the Team Survival Mode (Normal), please confirm.
“Confirming, the team size has been randomized: A team of 4
“Your team has joined the team queue. Currently searching for other readied players or teams.
“Search completed. Team full.
“Adjusting nervous connectivity, generating the scenario…
…
“Please wait for a moment. Downloading.”
“Welcome to… Thriller Paradise.” A low male voice growled out the opening.
“Download completed, you are currently playing Team Survival Mode (Normal). Scenario introduction is provided in this mode and there is a chance for the trigger of side or hidden mission and special worldview.
“Reward for clearing the scenario: A random draw of an equipment corresponding to your level.
“Playing the scenario introduction soon. The game will start right after.”
After the system finished broadcasted the announcement, the players were greeted with the first person view of the introductory CG. A night sky appeared before their eyes. In the slate of darkness, there was no moon or stars but there were many unusual strange lights. Green, blue, yellow, purple, white and black… they appeared in patches like paint dropped on a canvas, polluting the dark sky. Under the dark sky was a city. For Feng Bujue, this city appeared so familiar yet so strange…
It was like two manga artists were tasked to draw the same character, it was the same thing but it gave off completely different feeling.
[Is this Gotham?] Feng Bujue thought to himself. [What kind of story will it be this time…]
“Perhaps Bruce would never imagine such a future.” The voice of the man from before started the narration. “Gotham became a place of iron law where power spoke louder than words. The people of the city all carried extreme fear and fervor religious worship, they knelt under the feet of the same ‘god-king’. The Bruce.
“That was his name, of course, people would also refer to him as God, the King, the King of Gotham or… the batman. Of course he was not the real Bruce Wayne, the legend of the first generation Batman was something of a history. This Bruce was the descendant of Batman, who inherited the cape, the ruler of Gotham.”
“I get it now, it is that special feature…” At this point, Feng Bujue already knew the major plot of this scenario because he had read this comic before. After he spent a moment in his mind library, the framework of the whole plot would surface, it did not take long for the details to come up as well. But… Brother Jue also knew that even if Thriller paradise had borrowed the background of an established story, it might not follow the plot of the original. If he relied too much on his own understanding of the original, he would in a bad spot.
“21st December, the longest night of the year, the night of chase and challenge.” The narration was still continuing. “It started as it does every year—at the citadel—the ebony-winged cathedral of the bruce.” Following the narration, the camera slowly panned down and a large castle appeared before the players’ eyes. It was a quintessential gothic style building with sharp spires, arches and large colored glass windows. On the balcony of the building, there was a low wall, slender columns and a rather large circular stage surrounded by a stone wall with decorative carvings.
“All hail the bat!” On the protruding stage, a man with white hair, spectacles and brown windbreaker shouted this slogan. This man around 50, no matter how you looked at him, looked exactly like Captain Gordon.
“King of Gotham!””Praise to the bat!” Ten thousands of people gathered on the street. They were wearing strange outfit (They appeared to be costume from the future but they looked so tattered and cheap. If one had to describe them… they looked like beggars from the future). They raised their hands high and looked at the people on the castle walls, and shouted in religious fervor.
“What is this night called?” The man at the top asked, “And who am i?”
“Night of the Blood””The Gordon!” Response came from the crowd.
“I am Gordon, high commissioner, prophet of the hereditary bruce, herald of his coming!” He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Sing praises to the bat! And those he slays for Gotham’s Sake!”
The narration continued, “Night of Bloody cleansing when the great villains are resurrected—only to be slain by the bat. World without end, amen.”
“Look your ancient enemies have risen back from their death!” The man who called himself Gordon was still continuing with his speech, “…and they will be brought under by the power of the bruce again.”
While he spoke, four tube-like glass chambers slowly reached out from inside the building. Inside each tube was a person seized by metallic shackles. Those who had read batman comic before could easily identify them.
“Joke, Harley Quinn, Two Face, Poison Ivy…” Gordon identified them one by one, before he paused, “The rituals demand they be unshackled. Sounds from hundred years ago will be heard in the streets…” At this point, he suddenly guffawed like crazy. His laughter was broadcasted clearly through the speakers that were placed all over the special. On the big screens that were fixed all over the city were showing off a close up of his face and that crazy laughter.