The departure from Gotham was quiet, intentional, and utterly devoid of fanfare. One chilly morning, ten-year-old Bruce Wayne, accompanied only by Alfred, boarded a private, unregistered jet headed east. The world knew Bruce was seeking "cultural enlightenment" after his family tragedy. The System knew he was commencing Phase III of the Path of the Bat.
For eight years, Gotham would have a ghost for a savior.
The System, now a seamless extension of his thought process, hummed with efficiency, managing the data streams and logging his progress like a meticulous coach.
> [PHASE III COMMENCED: The World Tour (Age 10 - 18)]
> Goal: Attain physical mastery and academic knowledge necessary for Level 50 proficiency.
> Current Location: Tibet, Northern Mountains.
> Current Objective: Himalayan Endurance and Stealth.
Finn-Bruce—now simply Bruce, his dual consciousness fully integrated into a singular, hyper-focused personality—looked out the window at the snow-capped peaks. He was dressed in thick, practical mountaineering gear. Beneath the clothes, the results of two years of Ted Grant's training were evident: a lean, pre-pubescent body hardened into corded muscle, capable of punishing endurance. His STR/DEX/CON scores, though still low compared to peak human, were already superior to those of many professional adult athletes.
His first stop was a remote, ancient monastery—a classic step in the original Batman's training. But unlike the original, Bruce wasn't just learning; he was optimizing.
The Grind in the Monastery
The next two years were a blur of cold, silence, and pain. The monks taught endurance, patience, and the control of one's inner self.
> [XP Gained: Endurance Training (Himalayan Altitude) \rightarrow +3 XP/day]
> [XP Gained: Meditation and Focus \rightarrow +2 XP/day]
The System logged the hours of meditation, not as spiritual exercise, but as Mental Defense Training, preparing his mind to resist future psychic attacks and manipulation. The Code Breaker trait proved invaluable, allowing him to master the obscure, ancient languages and calligraphy of the monks in mere months, where others took years.
One afternoon, while meditating in an ice-caked courtyard, a new System prompt appeared.
> [ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Neural Fortification]
> Description: Host has achieved mastery over basic biofeedback and pain resistance, accelerating mental fortitude.
> Reward: RES (Resolve) +5. [Trait Upgrade: Determined Will \rightarrow Iron Will]
The upgrade was subtle but profound. He felt an instant hardening of his mental walls—the cold no longer bit so deeply, the phantom ache of his parents' murder was still a wound, but now one he could use as a clean, sharp focus. The System was rapidly turning the psychological trauma into pure, sustainable resolve.
The Academic Accelerator
At the age of twelve, Bruce moved from the mountains to the prestigious universities of Paris and Cambridge. The System dictated that he needed to complete the core academic subjects—criminology, forensics, and advanced chemistry—before his body matured, maximizing his intellectual absorption rate.
He enrolled as a prodigious, private student under an assumed name, using his Scientific Focus trait and his Code Breaker affinity to tear through courses at an impossible pace.
In Paris, he completed a three-year advanced Criminology and Behavioral Sciences program in just eight months. He wasn't just learning theories; the System integrated the information directly into the Batcomputer's database (via encrypted satellite uplink to Alfred), comparing textbook theories with live Gotham crime data.
In Cambridge, he used the Scientific Focus trait to design cutting-edge forensic analysis techniques, logging them as Tech Schematics for future implementation.
> [XP Gained: Academic Mastery (Criminology) \rightarrow +45 XP]
> [XP Gained: Academic Mastery (Chemistry/Forensics) \rightarrow +55 XP]
> Level Progress: 100/200 XP (Level 4 \rightarrow Level 5)
The focus was so intense that he barely slept, using advanced biofeedback techniques learned from the monks to enter a deep restorative state for only three hours a night.
The Physical Leap: Level 5
By the time he turned thirteen, Bruce's physical attributes had hit a critical threshold, combining his accelerated academic learning with sporadic, intense bursts of martial arts training in Europe.
He was working with a retired, unnamed French intelligence agent in the Marseilles underground, learning urban stealth, infiltration, and surveillance. The skills were taught traditionally, but logged by the System in clean, hierarchical files.
One night, while attempting to shadow his instructor across the rooftops, he executed a perfect, complex move: a combination of a Tibetan-taught soft fall and a Ted Grant-honed powerful leap.
> [LEVEL UP! Level 5 Acquired!]
The instant surge of power was more pronounced this time. His focus sharpened, his fatigue vanished, and he felt a sudden, profound increase in his core strength.
> Level 5 Rewards:
> HP/STR/DEX: Increased by 20%.
> Trait Unlock: The Detective (Passive bonus to observation, perception, and deduction. Integrates criminal analysis instantly with the Batcomputer database.)
> New Function Unlocked: Field Interface (HUD) Upgrade (The System can now project crucial data directly onto any reflective surface, no headgear required.)
The Detective trait was the true prize. As he looked down from the rooftop, the chaotic energy of the city below resolved into patterns of activity: he could instantly distinguish a mugging in progress from a common scuffle, and predict the direction of a fleeing suspect based on their gait and clothing. It was the fusion of Finn's lore knowledge, Bruce's trauma, and the System's processing power.
I'm no longer just learning to be a detective, Bruce realized, scaling a wall with sudden, effortless grace. I am a detective at the molecular level.
The Alliance Check-In
A few weeks after hitting Level 5, Bruce initiated an encrypted video call via a shielded server to the Batcave. Alfred answered immediately, his relief palpable.
"Master Bruce! You are looking well. Your resolve remains strong."
"The training is effective, Alfred. What's the status on Project Prometheus and our assets?"
Alfred consulted a sleek tablet—his custom Batcomputer interface. "The Batcave is 100% operational. The Batcomputer is charting crime globally, and Mr. Fox is baffled by the complexity of the data you require. As for the others..."
"Barry Allen," Bruce prompted.
"Mr. Allen continues his work for the Endowment. He's upgraded his lab substantially and is now requesting funds to research 'hypothetical meta-material resonance.' He sends you cryptic but cordial reports on the state of Central City's unusual weather patterns."
Good. Barry is on track for the lightning strike. He's thinking meta-science, Bruce confirmed mentally.
"And Ted Grant?"
"Mr. Grant sends a postcard every month, with only one sentence: 'You're not ready yet, kid. Keep hitting.' His gym is thriving, thank you to your retainer."
Bruce nodded. His two key allies were secure, his base was operational, and he was Level 5. He was thirteen and ready for the next, more dangerous phase of his transformation.
"Alfred," Bruce said, his voice now noticeably deeper, his eyes radiating a cold, focused energy that belonged to a man far beyond his years. "I'm heading to Fawcett City next. I need to study under an expert in advanced chemistry and psychological warfare. Tell Lucius Fox to discreetly purchase a large, decommissioned warehouse."
Alfred didn't question the sudden shift to the home of Captain Marvel. "Right away, Master Bruce. May I ask what the psychological warfare expert specializes in?"
Bruce smiled—a cold, calculated twist of the lips. "He specializes in turning tragedy into madness, Alfred. He specializes in The Joker."