A/N: I think it's about time I've updated this, don't you agree? It's pretty challenging to come up with the challenges for Bruce, but I'm pretty sure I know what I have planned for him the rest of the way… I just have to get it on paper.


Raining Fire and Arrows

Batman and Persephone appeared on another battlefield filled with trenches and pits as archers and foot soldiers were continuously battling each other. The trenches were miles long in both directions. It seemed that no matter how far he went to either side, the war would still be there. The twilight in the sky made the arrows harder to pick up as they bolted through the air. Just like the warriors in the underworld, these archers and soldiers would revive themselves a few minutes after they were slain.

Batman began to analyze the situation as Apollo appeared in front of him, blocking off his view of the battlefield. "You may return to the throne room Persephone, I shall guide this mortal from here."

"Thank you Apollo." Persephone nodded to Apollo before returning her attention to Batman. "You have indeed earned my respect, as I have no doubt that you'll honor Diana if you do succeed. Although it is forbidden for anyone to interfere, I do wish you good luck on the rest of your journey. With that, I have no problem calling you Batman." Batman bowed to Persephone in thanks for her kind words before watching her disappear.

A bow and arrow magically appeared in Apollo's hands as he shot the arrow between two lanterns at the peak of a small hill. The two lanterns instantly caught fire as the arrow embedded itself into the ground. "Now mortal, the task is very simple… you must find your way past the trenches of the battlefield and through those two flaming lanterns behind the bunker. The battle will stop, and only stop, if you make your way between both lanterns. Do you understand what must be done?"

"Yes" Batman said flatly.

"Very well, this is where I leave you." Apollo vanished as Batman went back to analyzing the battlefield.

"Great… raining arrows… looks like fifteen trenches separate me from the bunker. From there it looks like a good fifty yards of wide open space separating the bunker from the two lanterns… obviously going up the middle is suicide… will start out on the left… less attention there. Will probably work my way to the right and back over to the left and attack the bunker from there. Must find a way to move as quickly and safely as possible down those fifty yards with no cover… at least the twilight's darkness will give me a little cover while I'm in the trenches." Batman checked on his wounds once more before taking off.

"Bruce is crazy! There's got to be about a million arrows being launched at him! There's no way he can avoid all of those!" Superman whispered angrily.

"Well he doesn't have a choice now does he…" Shayera stated irritably knowing that every time someone said that Batman couldn't do something made Diana feel worse.

Flash threw his arms up into the air in frustration, extremely upset that his friend had to do such a completely ridiculous mission. "This would be a piece of cake for me… we should ask them to make this a tag team match… I'll run circles around those guys."

"Calm down Wally… have faith…" Donna continued to hold Diana as she was kneeling on the floor, still unable to take her sights off of the vision cloud. "We both know he'll get pass this, just watch." Donna whispered to her big sister.

Robin elbowed Nightwing to get his attention. "You think he's still got it to dodge all of these?"

Nightwing rested his chin on his hand thinking. "The old man's reactions and agility aren't as quick as they once were… as long as fatigue doesn't slow him down any further, he should be ok…"

Batman quickly made his way down towards the first trench, avoiding all the arrows aimed his way. He jumped into the trench and snuck behind two warriors… breaking the one on the right's neck while taking his sword and slicing the other's head off in one motion. Picking up a shield, Batman climbed out of the trench and into the next one while dodging as many arrows as possible and blocking the rest with the shield. Batman continued to methodically make his way through each and every trench, staying low, hiding within the shadows, and taking down warrior after warrior with flawless execution and precision. "Half way there… need to stay focused… keep moving before they revive and attack me from behind." Batman forced his body to continue to move in and out of trouble.

"Wow… he's making this look way too easy…" GL said with optimism slowly creeping back into his voice.

"Yea… I just hope his body will hold up." Shayera went over to help Donna comfort Diana.

"This mortal is not half bad… his agility almost rivals that of a Greek Hero." Apollo said as he looked to see Zeus' reaction at what was taking place.

Athena raised her eyebrow in curiosity. "Since this mortal is faring so well against your challenge… I wonder what the agile limits of this mortal actually are."

"Yes indeed… this mortal looks like a Greek Hero." Zeus sat up to get a better view of Batman striking down several foot soldiers at once.

A smirk quickly appeared on Hades' face. "Maybe we should place a catapult or two that launches fireballs directly at him behind the bunker… that would be interesting…"

Hearing that, Diana's grip on Shayera's hand increased to the point where she was almost crushing it. "Hand… Hand!... HAND!" Shayera screamed as Diana quickly realized what she was doing and released her hand.

"Oh… Sorry…" Diana looked down in distraught.

Shayera carefully placed her hand on Diana's shoulder. "It's ok…"

"That's not fair!" Flash angrily shouted. "We can't just stand here and let the Gods try to kill him like this!"

"Quiet Flash, you'll get us in trouble!" GL ordered in a low voice but saw Flash stomp off towards the Gods.

"Hey that's not fair! You guys can't just do that! Are you guys trying to test him or kill him!" Flash threw his hands in the air in disgust.

"SILENCE! You dare attempt to interfere with our judgment?" Zeus was about to smite him for his irritating interruption but Diana quickly grabbed Flash by the collar and yelled at him.

"YOU IDIOT! IF YOU SAY ONE MORE WORD I'LL RIP YOUR LIMBS OFF AND FEED YOU TO CERBERUS MYSELF!" Diana threw him back towards GL. "Make sure he doesn't say another word or I'll break you in half!" No one had ever seen Diana so angry before. Her eyes were bulging out of her head as she clenched her teeth so hard that it wouldn't surprise anyone if they had shattered due to the extreme amount of force she exerted on them.

Still annoyed by Flash's actions, Zeus furiously pointed at him. "For your pitiful friend's annoyance, YOU ALL now share the same fate as The Batman if he fails these trials."

"Well maybe he's right Zeus… it wouldn't be fair to have a catapult or two at the bunker… we better make it five." Hades' smirk turned into an evil giant grin.

"Done. Apollo place five catapults at the bunker with their primary function to kill The Batman." Zeus sat back into his chair as he glared at Flash.

"Yes my King" Apollo quickly waved his hands, and much to Batman's surprise, five catapults appeared on the battlefield.

Everyone turned and glared at Flash. They wanted to kill him for his idiotic outburst that now caused all of them to endure eternal damnation if Batman were to fail. Not to mention he made Batman's task even harder to complete with the extra catapults he now has to avoid.

"You really are an idiot, you know that…" Green Lantern gritted his teeth as he looked at Flash.

"I'm going to KILL YOU!" Shayera leaped at him with her mace in her hand.

Superman quickly stopped her. "Calm down Shayera… Bruce will pull through…"

"I was just trying to help…" Flash said softly, knowing that everyone in the room wanted his head.

"Then shut up." Nightwing said in a flat unemotional tone. "You have unnecessarily raised the stakes in this game. You think everyone in here is mad… just wait until Batman finds out that the price of his failure will not only cost him his life and Diana's happiness… but our lives as well. You're a dead man where you stand." Flash took a big gulp knowing how scary Batman can really be.

"Five catapults! Damn it…" Batman leaped out of the trench, just barely avoiding the first giant ball of fire. "Need to move faster…" Batman dropped his sword and picked up another shield as the second and third balls of fire came crashing down at him. "No time to fight… got to keep moving!" Using both shields to block oncoming arrows, he plowed his way through the many Greek warriors in his way. Many warriors were able to slice Batman along the arms and legs as he didn't have time to maneuver around them with the giant fireballs continuously raining down upon them.

"Three trenches to go… must keep going." Batman forced his arms to continue to bash the oncoming warriors within the trenches as another giant fireball came crashing down from above. As he climbed out of the trench and dove out of the giant fireball's way, an arrow went straight through his right shin. "ACK… DAMN IT!" Batman rolled down into the first of the three remaining trenches. Forcing himself to ignore the agonizingly sharp pain in his right leg, he held onto both shields, protecting himself from the warriors that were now hammering away at him. Giving one forceful push, he stunned the warriors long enough to take out a smoke bomb and throw it onto the floor. The smoke distracted them and gave Batman the cover he needed to make his escape, but he couldn't put much weight on his right foot without grimacing in pain. "It's going to be risky but I don't have a choice, not with another fireball coming soon…" Batman threw five more smoke bombs towards the bunker and in the last two trenches to help cover him as he took his Batclaw and aimed for the furthest catapult. Still holding onto one shield with his right hand, he quickly zipped towards the catapult. Holding onto the Batclaw left him vulnerable on his left backside as two arrows got him on the left triceps and the left shoulder blade. Just before reaching the bunker, Batman released the batclaw and threw three detonating bat-a-rangs into the bunker's opening as he rolled off of the roof. The bunker exploded just after he jumped off of it and used another batclaw to zip towards the giant lanterns. Finally reaching the lanterns, Batman dove between them as the arrows being shot at him instantly disappeared. The only sound that remained on the battlefield was Batman gasping for air as his lungs were working overtime to supply his body with much needed oxygen.

"Man… I don't know how much more of this he can take…" Superman said nervously.

"I don't know how much more SHE can take…" GL tilted his head towards Diana as they both saw here in tears with Batgirl, Donna, Shayera, and Queen Hippolyta doing everything they could to try to comfort her.

Somewhat impressed, Athena approvingly nodded her head. "This mortal refuses to die… interesting… I have never seen such determination like this from a mortal before…"

"Yes I agree… Artemis, go to the mortal and prepare him for his next challenge." Zeus leaned back into his chair without breaking his concentration on the vision cloud.

"As you wish." Artemis bowed before disappearing.


A/N: I don't know why, but I like picking on Flash. I always remember the scene from the cartoon when he accidentally blows up the side of Wayne Manor. I think he makes a great comic relief at the expense of Batman.