"It's expulsion, not destruction. That makes the plan feasible, Bruce!"
The moment Bruce finished speaking, Lucius, fully aware of the stakes, pulled him into the Technology Research and Development Department. Though this department had once been marginalized and relegated to the underground of Wayne Group, Lucius still had significant resources at his disposal.
Despite its reduced status, he had enough capital and infrastructure to transform the underground Equipment Department into a facility rivaling the Batcave. The space spanned roughly a third of Gotham's area and extended over one hundred thirty meters underground—large enough for Bruce to test vehicles, gadgets, and combat strategies to his heart's content.
Bruce and Lucius, however, paid no mind to superficial details. As they walked, Lucius briefed Bruce on his analysis.
"Wraith appeared only briefly, but I immediately began studying him. From what I've gathered, death itself cannot effectively restrain him. If anything, it can enhance him to a limited extent. But the most challenging aspect isn't his resistance to death—it's his ability to teleport at will, anywhere and anytime."
"And the landing points are completely random," Bruce added. "That's the real danger. But our focus shouldn't be on his teleportation alone—it's why he teleports, Lucius."
"Exactly," Lucius said, nodding in agreement, before leading Bruce to a workstation and opening various files on Axel.
"From my analysis, his teleportation appears to be part of a self-preservation mechanism. He doesn't simply vanish at will; his constant disappearing and reappearing is a method of self-enhancement, ensuring survival."
Bruce leaned in, eyes sharp. "A self-preservation mechanism. I've tracked Wraith for two days and reached the same conclusion. Existing data is already substantial, even if it's not complete."
He began running video files, pausing to point at Axel on the screen.
"Notice that Wraith teleports instinctively, unconsciously, and often without apparent reason, even before death or brain trauma. His ability to teleport may not be fully under conscious control. Combined with his other powers—becoming stronger after death and fundamentally rejecting death—it all ties back to his perfected self-preservation mechanism."
Lucius's eyes widened. "If all of Axel's abilities stem from that mechanism, then targeting it directly could give us a way to contain him."
Bruce nodded, adjusting Lucius's models on the computer. "Exactly. Killing him outright may be unrealistic. But constant expulsion—forcing him to trigger his self-preservation repeatedly—is achievable."
Lucius projected the models onto multiple screens. "We could use several approaches. For example, specific infrasound frequencies could induce madness, causing him to lose self-awareness. But if it fails, it could trigger his killing instincts—too dangerous to risk without precision."
Bruce countered, "I can adjust the frequencies to affect only his mind. Wraith's physiology far exceeds normal humans, so standard effects won't work—but this could test whether his self-preservation operates consciously."
"Additionally," Bruce continued, "there's a plant from the Himalayas that induces maximum fear. Once we confirm his mechanism functions in the mind, fear could become another tool for expulsion."
Lucius agreed. "Worth testing. I can acquire the plant within a day, returning from Nepal tomorrow morning at the latest."
Bruce focused on synthesizing the expulsion sound waves. "Good. But one day won't be enough. Wraith isn't a simple opponent; two contingency plans won't suffice."
Lucius nodded. "Indeed. Beyond self-preservation, Wraith possesses an evolutionary mechanism. We could also create obstacles targeting that aspect, though it's extremely dangerous."
Bruce added modifications to the model. "Wayne Group doesn't work with biological evolution. Luther Group does—they have extensive military cooperation in that field."
"Then perhaps we can borrow military data without infringing directly," Lucius suggested.
"I'll access internal military and S.T.A.R. Labs networks to retrieve relevant biological and pharmaceutical data from Luther's labs," Bruce replied.
Lucius, noticing Bruce's rising focus, added thoughtfully, "Even with science, we can't explain Wraith's origin. Perhaps theology and history hold clues. He may have appeared in myth or legend—if so, he could be a god or a demon king."
Bruce hesitated, but Lucius pressed on. "No 'buts.' We need historians, mythologists, and archaeologists to trace Wraith's origins globally. While we approach him technologically, knowledge of his historical and mythical roots may provide crucial insight."
Bruce nodded, resolve hardening. "Wraith has only been in Gotham for two days, and he's already disrupted normal operations. If we let him run unchecked, the problem escalates globally. This is no longer just a Gotham issue—it's a worldwide threat. I'll call it the Wraith Event."
He continued, listing names. "Invite the best scholars: Matthew Sandra, Kent Nelson, Paul Watson, Te'an Durry, Diana Prince, and others. Compile the list tonight. Tomorrow at noon, we'll convene a board meeting to establish the project and issue invitations worldwide. Meanwhile, I leave for Nepal to retrieve the fear-inducing plant."
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