You all can read extra 40 chapters on [email protected]/annihilator009
______________________________
"Alex, are you even stronger now?" Harley asked, circling me and scrutinizing every detail, as if searching for hidden changes in my appearance.
"Yes, it seems that way," I replied, giving her a confident nod. To demonstrate, I materialized a macadamia nut in my palm—the kind with a shell that's often called the hardest on earth. Its skin reliably protects the fruit from any external pests. Most people consider cracking the nut impossible without tools, but that's precisely what I intended to attempt. Or rather, I'd try to open it without damaging the kernel inside.
I pinched the nut delicately between two fingers, exerting just the right amount of pressure—or so I thought. But, failure! The macadamia crumbled into a powdery mess.This is exactly what I had feared. My control had faltered again. I should have expected it, really. After all, I'd taken Ivy's meta-gene serum and the Lazarus Pit elixir—all within a single day. Such a sudden surge in strength wasn't bound to leave me unscathed.
I could almost hear Batman already, preparing for another grueling training session to help me regain my grasp over these new abilities.
Well, no matter—I'd endure it. With my newfound powers, a rematch with the big-eared vigilante was only a matter of time. Rematch, Bats, wait for me.
"Your control leaves much to be desired," Pamela said, echoing my own thoughts. "Be careful. Until you adjust to your new powers, you're a potential hazard."
"Pam, you exaggerate," I shot back with a small grin.
"I'm only stating the obvious," the dryad replied, snorting and folding her arms decisively across her chest. "Now that we're done with Kavita's cure, I have a favor to ask."
"You can ask for anything. I owe you," I answered honestly.
"I want you to give me all the water from the Lazarus Pit—all that you have," Ivy requested, taking me by surprise. Why would the Mother of the Forests want so much of the green liquid? Unless…"You want to purify it?"
"Correct." Isley nodded, cultivating a small flower with an unopened bud in the palm of her hand. "I noticed that, as I purified the liquid of impurities and absorbed the foreign substances, my connection with the plant world strengthened. You told me the Lazarus Pit is the planet's source of life force, and nature is intrinsically tied to the earth's essence. I believe that purifying the green substance will expand my bond with the mystical force of Greenery, perhaps even allowing me to evolve into a new form." As she spoke, the bud in her hand bloomed—an exquisite orchid unfurling its petals.
The flower hovered near Pamela, as if it were an extension of her will. It was invisible to others, but I was certain the orchid was expressing gratitude to its creator for giving it life. It was both touching and beautiful, a private miracle offered as thanks.
"All right, Ivy, I'll give you as much of the mystical substance as you need for your evolution," I promised. "How much can you purify in a day?"
Pamela considered a moment before responding. "About five thousand liters. But I'll need time to process it. That's about two or three days' work."
"Looks like we'll have to coordinate our schedules," I said, genuinely pleased at the thought of visiting Ivy more often.
"I don't mind at all."
I was eager to see what Isley could achieve with the Lazarus Water. After all, I had nothing to lose—in fact, quite the opposite. Dr. Rao needed purified water for her medicine, and the process itself could help Pamela grow even stronger. As they say, kill two birds with one stone.
"Ivy, I'm so happy for you!" Harley exclaimed, leaping forward to embrace her best friend. "Soon you'll be even more beautiful and powerful. No one in Gotham will ever boss us around again! Oh, wait—that's not what I meant!" Harley giggled, sticking out her tongue and tapping her forehead in her classic, goofy fashion. "What I meant to say is: you'll be able to help the world even more, show everyone the beauty of nature, and reveal the right path. Kindness and plants—those are the things that can save humanity."
If you gave Harley a pair of white wings and a little glowing halo, people might mistake her for an angel. And as she stood next to Ivy, it felt as if a soft light really did surround them both, like a blessing.
Maybe Alison, known as Dazzler, was responsible for that faint shimmer. No one would have ever guessed that these women—once called Gotham's wildest villains—now exuded so much warmth and kindness. It was fun to see their evolution, especially when their old quirks slipped through.
I found myself swelling with pride at Harley and Pamela's efforts to embrace new lives. Harley was already making a full recovery—just think about her concert performance, the care she took in preparing for her stage debut in the music scene. Isley, though, wasn't quite at the same point. She showed no eagerness to leave Babylon's safe confines and definitely wasn't keen on facing the world just yet. But that couldn't last forever; she needed to start thinking about her public image. And I thought I'd finally figured out how to help her.
"I actually agree with Harley, Ivy. Kindness and plants really could save the world. Didn't you once say you wanted people to see you not as an eco-terrorist, but as a key defender of the environment?"
"You're plotting something," Pamela said, arching a skeptical eyebrow. "What's on your mind?"
"I think it's time to start coming out. You need to show the world that you're not some crazed criminal but a vital member of the global environmental community. If you want people to listen to you, you need to win their hearts. And for that, you need to show them a new side of yourself."
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?" Pamela's laughter was dry, but I could see she was intrigued. "Start growing roses on the city square?"
"You could develop a universal antidote. You've already been researching in that direction. If you make a drug containing even ten percent of your antibodies, you could market it as an all-purpose cure—'Poison Ivy guarantees!' Just imagine: 'An antidote for every occasion!' Don't you think that would grab attention? What do you think, everyone?"
"I like this idea," Dr. Rao said, nodding supportively. "Ivy, you really should think about it."
"I agree with the professor," Alison Blair chimed in, her tone warm. "If everything works out, you'll build a positive reputation and gain people's trust. You're practically the legal representative of Flora; if you want the public to listen, you need their support."
"I'll fund the research," I told Isley, meeting her gaze. "If this works, everyone will know what the Babylon lab has been doing. Right now there's a lot of scrutiny on us, and releasing a universal antidote will help divert any suspicion. Not to mention you'll win public trust and I'll earn a few karma points myself. After all, I'm already seen as Gotham's shining knight. I shouldn't let that reputation slip."
"I'll consider it," Ivy said at last. "But even if I were to start work right away, it would take time. Plus, purifying and absorbing the elements from the Lazarus Pit is a lengthy process."
We all nodded; her reasoning was sound. As the conversation wound down, I had one last request for Dr. Rao before we left. "Could you try to finish your research and provide a stable version of the Lazarus Elixir before the New Year? I'd like to give it to someone special as a gift."
"I'll do my best, but—" Rao began.
"We can do it." Poison Ivy interrupted, her confidence clear. "Now that I'm available, we can finish the cure before the holiday if we work together."
"I'm counting on you," I said, smiling at the team. Business in Babylon was concluded for the day.
"Alice, do you regret coming here today?" I asked before we parted ways.
"It was a little scary at first," Alice admitted with a shy laugh, recalling her nerves during her initial meeting with the passionate doctor. "But I'm glad I came. It's amazing to meet such incredible people. Your dedication is awe-inspiring."
"Sweet!" Harley cried, sweeping the studio director into a hug. Dr. Rao wasn't far behind, expressing her gratitude while embracing Alice as well.
"Thank you for the opportunity," she said. "I've dreamed of studying the X-gene ever since I first encountered a living mutant, and I thought I'd never get the chance. But you—" Before she could go on, I gently interrupted the professor's heartfelt monologue and redirected the focus back to everyone else.
"All right, she gets it!" I said, cooling Dr. Rao's enthusiasm as she crossed her arms with a huff.
"I think we should be going now. There's still much to do—we're celebrating a belated Christmas, after all, and there are preparations to finish. Harley, are you coming?"
"Of course, darling!" Harley said, grabbing my hand. "I'm ready to enjoy the holiday. By the way, has anyone opened presents yet? Because I think I should go first!"
.
.
.
.
Thank you all for reading, please vote with power stones.