DC: A Cop in Gotham

Chapter 17: A watch

Damian didn't hesitate as he swung the broken sword, striking each Trench clan member with precise blows to the back of their heads. Whether they had been alive or dead moments before, they were unquestionably dead now.

Nightwing stood nearby, silently observing. While the Bat-Family adhered to a strict no-kill principle, even Atlanteans did not classify the Trench clan as human. Damian's actions, brutal as they were, didn't violate their code in this unique case.

After finishing his task, Damian tossed aside the heavily worn blade and glared at the others. Placing his hands on his hips, he addressed them sharply: "You two seem to know these monsters pretty well."

Dick raised an eyebrow, his tone measured. "Didn't do your homework, did you? These are the Trench people, one of Atlantis's deadliest threats. Aquaman's fought them before. There's no way Bruce didn't include information about them in the Batcomputer's files. You just didn't bother reading it, did you?"

Damian scowled. "I've only been Robin for a few days. Even if I had a perfect memory, it'd take years to sort through all that junk Batman keeps in his archives."

The younger Wayne chose not to push the argument further. While he disliked being lectured, he couldn't deny that if not for Dick's timely intel, both he and Dean might not have survived the encounter. The Trench clan were monsters in every sense of the word. Even Damian, with all his confidence, knew victory wasn't guaranteed without heavy costs.

Then something clicked in Damian's mind. His sharp eyes narrowed as he turned to Dick. "Wait a second—why were you here so quickly? Were you following me?"

In that instant, Damian's frustration turned to anger. He had deliberately kept this mission from Bruce, determined to solve it alone. Yet if Dick had been following him, it likely meant Bruce already knew.

A wave of bitterness washed over Damian.

Dick noticed his younger brother's tense expression and sighed. "Don't give me that look, Damian. First of all, I wasn't following you. Second, I didn't tell Bruce about any of this."

Damian crossed his arms and scoffed. "I'm not Robin anymore. I'm an independent hero. I don't need to report everything to Batman."

Meanwhile, Dean held Manaphy protectively in his arms. The little Pokémon trembled, clearly shaken from the earlier battle.

Dean's system chimed in with its delayed notifications:

[Repel the Trench Clan and gain 100 points.]

[Successfully protected Manaphy and received a directional extraction opportunity.]

The alerts came at the perfect time. The encounter with the Trench had drained Dean significantly, and he was in dire need of a boost to his strength.

Though Dean had begun to absorb the combat techniques inherited from Gintoki, his physical body remained his biggest limitation. Even with his three-stage sword dance, his human foundation could only carry him so far. Against monstrous foes like the Trench, skill alone wasn't enough.

Dean's marksmanship, however, was another matter entirely. His past life memories had driven him to master firearms from an early age. By the time he was twelve, he'd already earned the title of Central City's best young sharpshooter. His skill with a gun was impeccable, but even that wouldn't have been enough against creatures like the Trench.

After finishing his exchange with Damian, Dick approached Dean and extended a hand. "First time meeting on the field. I'm Nightwing, hero of Blüdhaven and the first Robin."

Dean's expression was unreadable as he stared at Dick's outstretched hand. "Funny introduction, coming from someone who was in a closet last night." He chose not to voice that thought aloud. Instead, he said, "It's an honor to have someone like you keeping an eye on me. Though I did expect it—when universes collide, it's hard to stay under the radar."

Dick raised an eyebrow at Dean's comment. "Universes colliding? That explains a lot. Bruce would never call for backup unless the situation demanded it. So, this little guy—" he gestured toward Manaphy, "—is from another world?"

When Dick reached out to touch Manaphy, the small Legendary Pokémon panicked, hiding behind Dean and vanishing with its water-refraction ability.

Dean smiled apologetically. "Manaphy's scared of strangers. Oh, and Nightwing? That disapproving look you're trying to copy from Bruce? It makes you look cross-eyed. For the record, Batman already knows about Manaphy. I didn't keep its existence a secret."

Hearing Bruce's name eased some of the tension. Damian let go of the hilt of his sword, though his frustration was still evident.

Dick, however, turned his attention to the aftermath. "We need to figure out what to do with these bodies. Leaving them here is not an option."

Damian responded without hesitation. "Tie them to rocks and toss them into the sea."

Dick stared at him incredulously. "What kind of gangster logic is that? These things are tied to Atlantis. Dumping them into the ocean could cause more trouble."

Dean interrupted, his voice calm but firm. "Do as Damian suggested. Throw them into the sea."

Dick paused, studying Dean's expression, then nodded in understanding. "If that's what you want."

As the corpses sank beneath the waves, Dean couldn't shake his unease. The appearance of the Trench hinted at a larger crisis tied to Atlantis. Adding this to the ongoing Legendary Pokémon issue made it clear: Dean couldn't handle it all alone.

He needed allies. A team.

Robin, Oracle, and Nightwing were obvious choices, but Dean knew he needed more than just teamwork. Regular methods of improving his abilities wouldn't cut it anymore. He needed something extraordinary.

As the last Trench body disappeared beneath the waves, Dean's thoughts drifted to the looming challenges ahead. Protecting Manaphy and dealing with the Trench were just the beginning. The connection to Atlantis weighed heavily on his mind.

The arrival of the Trench reminded him of a significant event tied to the underwater kingdom. With the Legendary Pokémon issue already stretching him to his limits, this new complication felt almost insurmountable.

Dean clenched his fists. He couldn't handle this alone anymore.

"Damian, Dick," Dean said, turning to the two vigilantes, "We need to prepare. There's more to this than just protecting Manaphy or dealing with these Trench creatures. Something bigger is coming, and I can't face it on my own."

Nightwing's expression softened as he nodded. "You're right. Whatever's happening here seems to be escalating. You've got me and Damian, at least. And if you need it, Oracle can lend her support too."

Damian crossed his arms, his usual scowl firmly in place. "Tch. Don't get too comfortable. You still have to prove yourself worthy of calling this a team-up."

Dean smiled faintly. "Fair enough."

But his mind wasn't just focused on forming a team. If he was going to survive what lay ahead, he needed more power. Not just skill, but something extraordinary—something beyond the normal limitations of any human.

Taking a deep breath, Dean's consciousness sank into the system space. The familiar, shimmering mixed pool appeared before him. The 100 points he had just earned transformed into a golden fishing line, which landed in the center of the pool.

The mixed pool was a chaotic blend of items and abilities from countless universes. Artifacts of immense power and utter trash coexisted here, making it a gamble every time Dean dipped his line.

As the fishing line vibrated, Dean gripped the rod tightly, bracing himself. The golden light in the center of the water shifted as if resisting his pull.

The last time he'd fished from the pool, he had drawn Hoshikudaki with relative ease. But this time, the process was far more challenging.

Dean gritted his teeth and pulled with all his strength, but the golden light barely budged. It felt like trying to lift a mountain.

"Come on," Dean muttered under his breath. "What am I doing wrong?"

He paused, adjusting his grip. This wasn't just about physical strength—he needed to channel his willpower. Closing his eyes, he focused on Manaphy's desperate fear when it had been captured, on the unshakable resolve he felt to protect the small Pokémon.

The weight suddenly lifted. The golden light, which had seemed immovable, now felt as light as air. Dean gave a final tug, and the object emerged from the pool in a brilliant flash.

As the light faded, the true form of his prize was revealed.

[Name: Broken Omnitrix]

[Type: Other]

[Quality: Unknown (Awaiting Repair)]

[Special Effect: Gene Conversion]

[Description: A large, dark-green watch, heavily damaged in battle and missing most of its functions. It has drifted through space for millennia and requires rare materials to restore itself.]

[Note: This item is the guaranteed reward from the pool. Remember: gambling with the system can lead to unexpected rewards.]

Dean stared at the Broken Omnitrix in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me…"

Dean stared at the device in his hands, his heart racing. Even in its damaged state, the Omnitrix held incredible potential. If he could repair it, the possibilities were endless.

With every twist and turn of its potential, he saw entire worlds, alien powers at his fingertips. He could transform into beings of unimaginable strength, manipulate time itself, become an unstoppable force. There were endless opportunities, each more tempting than the last: leading armies, gaining ultimate knowledge, rewriting the rules of reality.

He could be a hero, or a tyrant—there was no clear line between the two. Reshape the world, bend it to his will. He could save people, defeat any villain, and never be weak again. His mind raced, imagining all the ways he could use it. No more limitations. No more restrictions. Just pure power.

Dean snapped out of it and shook his head to erase the thoughts.

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