Bruce turns to another page.
*INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN*
'My Mind stat is already at 47 with the 2.5x multiplier active. That's roughly equivalent to an IQ around 150-160. Genius level. But that's not enough.'
He thinks about the threats he'll face. Brainiac with his 12th-level intellect. Lex Luthor's superhuman genius.
The Riddler's pattern recognition. Batman's greatest weapon in the original timeline was his mind, but even that had limits.
'I need to push past human limits in intelligence too. The system says there's no ceiling on advancement. If I study constantly, if I push my Mind stat past 100, what happens? Do I become superhuman in intelligence as well as body?'
The possibility is intoxicating.
'Plan: Use the Pocket Dimension to study 24 hours a day. Start with fundamentals. Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology. Build a foundation, then specialize. Learn programming and hacking. Study detective work and forensics. Master engineering and inventing.'
Bruce writes quickly, his enhanced mind generating a comprehensive curriculum.
'I'll need books. Lots of books. I can order them through Wayne Foundation, claim I'm coping with grief through learning. Alfred will support it. By the time I'm twelve, I should have master's level knowledge in multiple fields. By fifteen, doctorate level. By eighteen, beyond anything human universities can measure.'
He pauses, then adds another note.
'And I need to study the metahumans and aliens too. Kryptonian biology. Speed Force physics. Amazonian magic. Green Lantern ring technology. I have meta-knowledge of how these things work in the comics. I need to figure out if they work the same way here, and how to replicate or counter them.'
Another page.
*POWER ACQUISITION PLAN*
This is the most dangerous part. Bruce knows from his meta-knowledge that there are dozens of ways to gain superpowers in the DC Universe. Some safe, many lethal.
'Conservative approach first,' he writes.
'Push my Physique and Mind stats as high as they'll naturally go with training and study. See if the system lets me break past human limits through sheer effort.'
But he knows that might not be enough.
'Less conservative options:'
Genetic Enhancement
- Kryptonian DNA integration (risky, requires access to Superman's DNA)
- Amazonian blessing research (Wonder Woman's power source)
- Meta-gene activation (many metahumans have dormant meta-genes that can be triggered)
Chemical Enhancement
- Velocity 9 formula study (gives temporary speedster powers, highly addictive in original formula)
- Miraclo research (gives 24-hour super strength, Hourman's drug)
- Venom derivatives (Bane's super-steroid, but without the addiction)
- Lazarus Pit exposure (healing and life extension, but causes temporary madness)
Mystical Enhancement
- Study under Zatara or other magicians
- Acquire magical artifacts
- Make deals with magical entities (extremely risky)
Technological Enhancement
- Develop powered armor beyond anything Tony Stark created
- Neural implants for enhanced processing
- Nanomachine integration for healing and strength
Bruce stares at the list. Each option has risks, but each also has potential.
'I have ten years before I need to make these decisions,' he thinks.
'Ten years to research, to prepare, to find the safest methods. I'll pursue the conservative path first: train my body and mind to their absolute limits. Then, when I'm sixteen or seventeen, I'll start implementing enhancements carefully.'
He writes one more critical note:
'By age 18, I must be at minimum equal to Superman in overall capability. Not necessarily in the same ways - I might not have his strength, but I could have superior speed, or intelligence, or magical abilities he's vulnerable to.'
'The goal is parity with the strongest Justice League members, achieved through multiple smaller advantages rather than one overwhelming power.'
Another page.
*INFLUENCE & CONTROL PLAN*
'The Justice League in the original timeline was democratic. Everyone had a vote. That's inefficient and leaves too much room for moral grandstanding and poor tactical decisions.'
Bruce writes quickly.
'When the League forms, it needs to be under my control. Not obviously, not dictatorially, but structurally. I need to be the one who funds it, houses it, provides the technology and intelligence.'
'Batman was already the strategic leader in the original timeline, but he was always fighting against Superman's boy scout idealism and Wonder Woman's warrior philosophy.'
He thinks about how to achieve this.
'Step one: Build the infrastructure before anyone knows they need it. By the time I'm sixteen, I should have a secret base far superior to the Batcave. Satellite network for global surveillance. AI systems for data analysis. Teleportation technology. Everything the Justice League would need, already built and operational.'
'Step two: Recruit the heroes on my terms. When Superman appears, I approach him first. Not as a threat, but as an ally who can offer him what he needs: a secret identity protection, a base, resources, friendship. Same with Wonder Woman when she leaves Themyscira. Same with Flash, Green Lantern, all of them.'
'Step three: Position myself as indispensable. They'll trust me because I'll have proven myself. They'll follow my strategies because I'll have the best intelligence and plans. They'll accept my leadership because I'll make them stronger together than they ever were apart.'
Bruce leans back in the chair, staring at his notes. Hours have passed in the Pocket Dimension. He's covered page after page with plans, contingencies, timelines, resource calculations.
'Now, the first steps,' he thinks, turning to a fresh page.
*IMMEDIATE ACTIONS - NEXT 6 MONTHS*
Physical Training (Age 8-9):
- Begin basic bodyweight exercises in Pocket Dimension
- Focus on flexibility and foundational strength
- Target: Bring Physique from 4 to 15 by age 9
- Hire a gymnastics coach (claim it's therapeutic after trauma)
Mental Training:
- Order advanced textbooks in mathematics, physics, chemistry
- Begin learning Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, Russian
- Study detective work and observation techniques
- Target: Bring Mind from 47 to 55 by age 9
Resource Gathering:
- Map out Wayne Enterprises assets and capabilities
- Identify loyal employees who can be trusted with projects
- Begin building secret accounts and identities
- Start collecting information on metahuman activities globally
Timeline Investigation:
- Research current ages and locations of future heroes
- Confirm which DC continuity this world follows
- Identify threats that will emerge and when
- Plan interventions that won't reveal meta-knowledge
Bruce looks at the timer in the corner of his vision. He's been in the Pocket Dimension for thirteen hours. Thirteen hours of pure planning, organizing, calculating. His mind feels sharp and focused despite the time spent thinking.
'This is just the beginning,' he thinks, closing the notebook. 'I've spent thirteen hours planning. Now I have eleven hours left to start the physical training. Test the Proficiency Panel properly. See exactly how fast I can make progress.'
He stands up from the desk and makes his way to the manor's gymnasium. The room is silent and empty, equipment waiting to be used.
Bruce stands in the center of the gym, looking at his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors. An eight-year-old boy. Small, weak, pathetic by any measure.
But with a plan. With advantages no one else in this universe possesses. With time, guaranteed progress, and perfect knowledge of what's coming.
'The original Batman became peak human through years of brutal training and discipline,' Bruce thinks, dropping to the floor for his first pushup.
'He was limited by human biology and talent. He had to seek out masters and beg them to teach him. He had to travel the world and spend years learning each martial art.'
His arms shake as he completes one pushup. Then another. His muscles burn but he continues.
'I don't have those limitations. The Proficiency Panel guarantees progress with every attempt. The Pocket Dimension gives me double the time to train. My enhanced intellect lets me understand techniques faster. And my meta-knowledge tells me exactly what I need to learn and where to find it.'
After thirty pushups broken into multiple sets, Bruce moves to squats. Then situps. Then stretching exercises. His body screams in protest but he pushes through.
And with each movement, he feels it. The system watching, measuring, recording. Progress happening in real-time even though it's invisible.
'By the time the Justice League needs to form,' Bruce thinks, sweat pouring down his face as he forces himself through another set of squats, 'I won't be the weak link. I won't be the baseline human trying to keep up with gods.'
He collapses on the gymnasium floor, breathing hard. His muscles are jelly. His body wants to quit.
But his mind is crystal clear.
'I'll be stronger than Superman. Smarter than Brainiac. More prepared than anyone in this universe has ever been.'
Bruce forces himself to stand. Eleven hours left in the Pocket Dimension. He's going to use every single minute.
'This is just day one,' he thinks, moving to the next exercise. 'I have twelve to fifteen years before the major events begin. That's twenty-four to thirty years of training time.'
'By then, the DC Universe won't know what hit it.'
He drops to the floor for another set of pushups. His arms shake violently but he completes them anyway.
He had a sudden thought, 'I take back my words from back then. Gym bros deserve respect for this...at least the ones not on steroids.'
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