Lux wasn't the most avid self-identified nerd. He didn't indulge in video games as frequently as some of his friends, and his foray into Dungeons & Dragons had been a singular event. However, despite some gaps in his knowledge, when it came to certain realms like DC Comics, he was confident that few could claim ignorance of its iconic figures.

Superman, known as The Man of Steel, and Batman, often referred to as The Caped Crusader, were names that reverberated in casual conversations about the DC Universe. It was a world teeming with superheroes battling in the name of justice to preserve the ordinary fabric of life. Yet, equally infamous was the pervasive brutality lurking in every corner of the DCU.

Despite the vigilant efforts of Batman, Gotham City remains a nightmarish hellscape for its average citizens. The presence of the Dark Knight may strike fear into the hearts of criminals, but it does little to alleviate the pervasive corruption, poverty, and decay that infest every street and alleyway. While Batman battles the colourful rogues gallery that plagues the city, ordinary residents are left to fend for themselves amidst the ever-present threat of violence and crime. The city's infrastructure is crumbling, its institutions are rife with corruption, and its police force is often ineffectual or compromised. For every criminal that Batman apprehends, ten more seem to rise to take their place, perpetuating a cycle of despair and hopelessness. The spectre of Gotham's dark past looms large over its present, casting a long shadow that even the Caped Crusader struggles to dispel. In the end, despite Batman's tireless efforts, Gotham remains a symbol of urban decay and despair, a place where the line between good and evil is blurred and hope is a fragile commodity at best.

Hell, even a metropolis, the city of the residence of the Last Son of Krypton, the Symbol of Hope, the Champion of Truth and Justice, Superman faced its fair share of difficulty often.

'Damn, I guess this is the price of freedom; I never would have guessed it would have tasted so bitter,' Lux found himself within an in-between, his desire to leap out of his void home was strong, but the idea of trading one personal hell for another weighed onto his mind. However, he had found himself trapped in events outside his control, so the only way he was left to move was forward.

'I mean, I guess if I have nothing better to do, I can become a hero and put my mother's words to the test again. What's the worst that could happen? I already died.' A hollow laugh echoed within the confines of his mind as Lux confirmed the notification to scroll on to the next one.

'So these are my stats? Is 10 good?' As Lux observed his stats, a multitude of inquiries flooded his mind, questioning the ordinariness or extraordinariness of his attributes. In a world where individuals could effortlessly bend metal bars like twigs and defy gravity by soaring through the skies, understanding the baseline of abilities became paramount. A rating of 10 could either position him comfortably within the realm of superhuman capabilities or thrust him into a disconcerting alternative, where his strength might equate to that of a mere child.

Yet, amidst Lux's internal turmoil, the system offered no solace. It provided no guidance, not due to any deliberate choice, but rather a deficiency in programming designated for such areas of assistance.

'Well at least for now, I should be fine,' Lux sighed as once again the serenity found within the void assured his mind, focusing him on the positives rather than the negatives. 

'Firstly it seems that there is some sort of difference between traits I'm skills. I'm guessing traits have to deal with something beyond the ordinary or perhaps something incredibly hard to achieve, whilst skills can be worked towards. Perhaps I can gain some skill in "reading" if I read hard enough or "thinking" if I focus, however, I doubt that because I have no clue what the hell the system means by "excessive work within specified fields", I'm guessing there are some preexisting skill that I can acquire by achieving the requirements?' Thanks to all Lux's boundless time within the void he had found himself becoming decently adept at bouncing around certain ideas, or hypothetically.

However, amidst the myriad of questions swirling in his mind, a sense of relief washed over Lux as his gaze fixated on the one Unique trait he had managed to acquire. Despite its inherent vagueness, Lux found solace in knowing that he possessed something that set him apart from the average person, a quality he could claim as his own and utilize to navigate the impending hellish landscape of his journey. Though the skill appeared seemingly impractical within the void, where even light failed to penetrate, Lux couldn't shake the intuition that his trait would prove fundamentally crucial for survival in this new world. The applications were however best to experiment else were his first concern and the most was escaping the void.

A week had elapsed since Lux found himself ensconced within an unfamiliar abode he had taken to renting. Over those seven days, Lux grappled with several realizations, shedding light on certain misconceptions he previously harboured.

Despite the passage of time, Lux found himself unable to advance even a single level. While he noted minor upticks in certain stats, his overall level and skill total remained unchanged. Initially, one might attribute this stagnation to laziness, assuming Lux was content to while away his days in idleness. However, upon closer examination of his circumstances, a different truth emerged.

For starters, Lux discovered he was in Gotham City.