It was a lucky escape, and even the classically stoic Bruce had to acknowledge that. Most men who played dice with their lives didn't usually get lucky.

As it happened, he was greeted at Wayne Manor by a visibly concerned Alfred. "Your little scuffle has made it on the news, sir."

Sighing, Bruce relegated himself to the living-room couch, whereupon he subjected himself to the half-frenzied conversation that played itself on Gotham Nightly News. "Here we go again," he sighed.

"...the man wrestled with another male who, it has been reported, has ties to the cult The Heavenly Avengers. At this stage, our reports are purely speculative. However, it has been alleged the scuffle was started by billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne..." A faint smashing sound could be heard near the television.

"Alfred... get to the Batcave, now." Rather calmly under the circumstances, Alfred made his way to the manor's elevator and soon disappeared into the dark, musty caves. Making his way to the suit chamber, he closed his eyes for a brief moment. He opened his eyes, braced himself for what was to come, and took the Batsuit out of its storage space.

Damien Livingstone, along with several members of The Heavenly Avengers, had broken into Wayne Manor with one mission: to capture and murder the "saviour" of Gotham, the great heathen Bruce Wayne. He was going to pay for his sins with his blood.

"Brother Vincent," Livingstone hissed. "Find Wayne. Finish off his man-servant if you can find him!" His second-in-command, Vincent Carradine, nodded and ran inside the manor.

He addressed the others. "Ransack his den of sin. Destroy his worldly possessions." The brothers, at his urging, tore off to the living room. Livingstone himself grinned malevolently and twirled his cross pendant around with his fingers.

"You will be mine, Bruce Wayne."

Vincent Carradine ran along the main hallway, smashing ornate vases as he did so. His eyes searing with hatred, he reached the end and came across Bruce's bedroom. He was about to enter it when a low growl came to his ear.

"I don't think you'd better go in there." Batman stood opposite Vincent, his black cowl and cape looking as menacing as ever. His eyes fixated on Vincent's enraged face.

"HEATHEN!" he screamed as he traded blows with Batman. "You will pay with your own blood!"

At the main entryway of the manor was an old, exposed fireplace. A poker stood next to it, rusted and battered, but functional.

The pummels, punches and kicks continued as the two battlers took the action to the main entrance. With a kick to the face, Batman fell to the ground as Vincent scrambled to pick up the poker. He thrust it into the blazing embers and then emerged waving the flaming-hot poker around, grinning maniacally.

While still on the ground, Batman was able to kick the poker out of Vincent's hands for a time. He rained blows upon Carradine. He was met with a returning kick to the stomach, temporarily being winded. The poker returned again, being thrust near Batman's face.

"Burn in hell!" cackled Vincent with glee.

"Not quite," Bruce replied as he gave an almighty kick. Vincent, along with the poker, sailed into a nearby wall. The battered cult member laughed when he recovered. "Now is the time for you to be cast into the lake of sulfur," he beamed. Then he saw flames engulfing his jacket. To his horror, he tried stamping the fire out, but the flames piled higher and higher, reaching his body. Within seconds, his entire body, including his face, was engulfed in flame. He screamed in agony as he became scorched to the bone. After a few minutes of being burnt alive, his charred corpse slumped to the floor.

"Hope the lake of sulfur's treating you well," Bruce grimaced as he went to face the other crazed Heavenly Avengers followers.