Chapter 3

Here we go! The Last Laugh! This chapter will have action and emotional impact, and, best of all, Issei will bond with Pamela Isly and help her turn a new leaf.

With the Royal Flush Gang.

"Let's get this done before the boss man gets here," King said while loading up a truck while. Queen sighed while looking at her watch but saw no sign of Joker.

"Something isn't right. Joker should've been here by now." Queen said before Jack replied.

"Hey, Joker said he's coming, and the guys kept his word so far since we swapped out the real firework for the boss's Joker Fear Bomb. Now we wait to get out of town before the fake blows up, and Gotham is his while we enjoy our new city as well." Jack said while Ten chuckled in response, coming out of the truck.

"Jack, right. Once Joker shows up, then it'll be time for our new turf, which he promised us." Ten said, glad to be out of Cadmus but excited to work with Joker until a bullet flew in the air and took out the lights, causing them to be prepared for anyone trying to sneak up on them until a voice spoke to them.

"So your Joker's new gang doing his dirty work for him?" Jason Todd, Aka Red Hood, said before reading his guns while the emergency power kicked on to reveal him to the Royal Flush Gang.

"Red Hood!" King shouted, instantly raising his staff at the vigilante. "You got a death wish, buddy?"

The Royal Flush Gang was filled in on all of Joker's main enemies in Gotham, which included the Bat Family and Red Hood, meaning they knew what the first Robin was capable of while Red Hood smirked under his helmet, his guns leveled at the gang members.

"I could say the same about you. Working with Joker? That never ends well." Red Hood said before the Queen stepped forward, her eyes narrowing.

"We don't take kindly to threats, Hood. Also, you're outnumbered."

Jason chuckled darkly while readying his guns. "Outnumbered, sure. Outgunned? We'll see."

Without another word, Red Hood lunged forward, his guns blazing. The Royal Flush Gang scattered, firing back. The dim emergency lights flickered as bullets whizzed through the air. Jason dodged and weaved, taking down one gang member after another with precision shots.

However, the bullets weren't doing much to Jack since his elastic body deflected them while Ten powered through the bullets with his invulnerability.

Queen, on the other hand, was shocked when she wasn't able to control said bullets before seeing that they were special plastic bullets that still hurt like regular ones.

King, on the other hand, was annoyed by how Red Hood was making them look, so he used his staff to fire a round of fireballs at Red Hood, causing Red Hood to stay away from King before Ten charged through the flames and proceeded to tackle Red Hood through the warehouse until Red Hood put a sticky bomb on Ten's head, causing him to freak out from it until it blew up and granted it didn't kill him but it definitely knocked him out.

However, Red Hood wasn't expecting a sucker punch from Jack, who then wrapped around Jason and then began squeezing him like a boa constrictor does its prey.

King and Queen walked towards him with a smirk on their faces, ready to punch him into the ground, six feet deep, that is, until the lights were turned off, shocking the hero and villains until King ignited a small flame.

"Who's there, and where are you?!" King asked, slightly afraid of the dark around him since he'd never been a big fan of dark places, even when he was a kid before Cadmus took him to their 'reformation center' until Joker broke them out.

All of the Royal Flush Gang may have been taken from their families, but they didn't have good lives.

King was the second oldest since he was around twelve at the time his powers awakened, and it was the worst day of his life.

Grant Emerson discovered his pyrokinetic abilities at a young age when he was helping his parents at home after his old man got back from a business trip; however, the problem was that during a gas explosion, the explosion killed both Grant's parents but not him due to him gaining the ability to control and create fire.

Sadly, Grant had no other relatives, which led to Cadmus, where his abilities were harnessed and trained for combat purposes. Grant was often frustrated by his inability to control his temper and his powers since he hated how they punished him when he tried to escape by blasting him with pressurized water that sniffed him out in an instant. Still, the worst part was when Grant was placed in that dark room where he slept and shivered from the cold despite his powers due to him being a wet match.

Eventually, the others came, and Grant realized he wasn't the only one who had a life messed up due to their powers.

Leila Stone, also known as Queen, lived with her parents in a modest home. During a violent storm, a massive lightning strike caused their house to collapse, trapping her family under debris. In a desperate attempt to save them, Leila's latent metal manipulation powers emerged, but she couldn't control them. The twisting metal crushed her parents while sparing her. Devastated and alone, she was discovered by Project Cadmus and taken away for training. As Queen, she uses her powers to manipulate metal with precision, but the memory of her parents' Death haunts her.

Cameron Hicks, Aka Jack, was on a family road trip when their car skidded off a bridge into a river. As the car sank, his parents struggled to save him. In the panic, Cameron's body instinctively stretched, allowing him to escape through a narrow gap. Unfortunately, his parents drowned before they could be rescued by the rescue team, leaving Cameron orphaned; however, when he was taken in by Project Cadmus, who recognized his potential, he realized that the rescue team let his parents die so they could obtain Cameron for their organization.

And last on the Royal Flush Gang was Marcos Sanchez, Aka Ten. Marcos lived in a rough neighborhood with his parents. One evening, a gang-related shootout erupted near their home; something about a gang trying to defend their turf and people. In the chaos, Marcos got shot, but his super durability activated as he shielded his parents from the gunfire.

After the fight, Marcos emerged unscathed; his parents were fatally wounded but still alive, but a few years later, another shootout from another gang took away his folks. However, it wasn't just another gang; it was Cadmus coming in to claim 'The Iron Man' and bring him to Cadmus. Marcos put up a fight, but it only resulted in him losing his family and getting caught.

All in all, the four of them had a rough life ever since their powers woke up and Cadmus took them away to turn them into living weapons, but when Joker took them away from the hellhole in the desert, then they would do anything to fight for the man who saved them.

King yelled before he felt a left hook send him flying into the truck, making Queen use the metal around her to form a sword, trying to strike her assailant until a fist shattered not just her sword but also her nose, sending her into a wall.

Jack was freaking out since he wasn't sure who was attacking them before he was feeling cold all of a sudden, which made him slowly turn around to see a pair of blue eyes.

"Y-Your-!" Jack stuttered before being frozen solid by a blast of cold air.

The assailant then looked at Red Hood, who was groaning and about to wake up to see who helped him until he was shot by a tranquilizer in his neck, causing Red Hood to collapse as the power began to come back on in the warehouse.

"Was that really necessary, Luthor?" The woman asked as her appearance was then revealed to be a woman in her early adult years and had a white bodysuit with a boob window on the chest, along with short blond hair and blue eyes.

"Oh, give it a rest. We needed to make sure that no one noticed us transporting four superhuman teenagers back to Cadmus." Luthor said before tossing a headband to his partner in crime. "Put the mind control headbands to get them under control before putting the cuffs on them."

The woman scoffed at Lex before heading to the four and began to place the cuffs and headbands on their heads, which were created not only to contain deadly superhuman beings but also to control the subjects without a struggle.

The woman, her cold demeanor betraying a trace of sympathy, carefully placed the headbands on King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, ensuring they were securely fastened before locking the cuffs around their wrists.

King groaned as he regained consciousness, feeling the metallic chill against his temples. "What... what's happening?"

Lex Luthor stepped into the light, his figure imposing and authoritative. "Welcome back to reality, King. Did you really think you could escape from Cadmus indefinitely?"

King's eyes widened in recognition and fear. "Luthor... no. We were free. Joker promised us freedom!"

Lex chuckled darkly. "The Joker's promises are as reliable as his sanity, King. You were always destined to return to Cadmus since they owned you. Did you really think that you and your little friends could escape that easily?"

As the Royal Flush Gang began to come to their senses, the woman, Galatea, observed them with a mixture of pity and professionalism. Despite her reluctance to work with Luthor, she knew the mission required her cooperation. She finished securing the last headband and stepped back, allowing Luthor to inspect her work.

"Good," Luthor said, his gaze sweeping over the restrained gang members. "Let's move them to the transport. We need to leave before anyone else arrives."

The gang, disoriented and weakened by their restraints, was herded toward a waiting armored vehicle. Galatea walked beside them, her presence ensuring no resistance. Jason Todd, still unconscious, was left behind, a faint sign of their encounter etched in the bruises on his face.

As they exited the warehouse, the hum of the city night surrounded them. Sirens blared in the distance, a reminder of the chaos that was Gotham. Luthor's men swiftly loaded the Royal Flush Gang into the vehicle, and within minutes, they were on their way back to Cadmus.

Without a trace, a fight hadn't taken place in the warehouse to begin with.

Elsewhere in Gotham, Issei Hyoudou patrolled the parade with Pamela and Supergirl, along with Ace checking the fireworks and seeing that the contents of the Joker Fear Bomb were destroyed thanks to the antidote that Pamela created with the sample she was given back at her lab.

Relieved that the bomb was dealt with, Issei let his body relax a bit in his armor, but he was curious where the Joker really was until his earpiece, given to him by Supergirl, crackled to life as Barbara Gordon, Oracle, contacted him.

"Issei, we have a situation. Red Hood had engaged with the Royal Flush Gang just an hour ago, but he's not responding. I've tried calling him, but he isn't picking up. His last known location was an abandoned warehouse on the east side."

Issei frowned, concern evident in his expression. "Understood...Oracle." Issei said before informing Supergirl and Ace to keep watch over the parade with Pamela before Pamela stopped him and grabbed his left arm.

"Please come back. I'm worried since Joker is still out there with Harley." Pamela said before Issei caressed her head as if comforting his lover until Pamela laid her head into his armored hand. However, it still comforted and warmed her soul as she looked in between the visor and could see the eyes of the man who gave her a chance to prove herself that she wasn't here to harm but help, despite the crimes that she'd committed to save and protect Mother Nature.

Ace was surprised as she looked into the minds of her protector and Pamela and could tell that the villain seemed to be developing feelings for her big brother, which made her feel unsure about this possible romance between her big brother and the poisonous villain until Kara chuckled at the sight.

"Come on, Ace, now that the threats have been dealt with, why don't we celebrate by getting some food? I see a nice corn on the cob with your name on it." Kara said that knowing that warm food was a weakness for the girl before the girls left, Pamela and Issei headed to a bike rack and saw a motorcycle for two.

A biker looked at Issei as if he wanted to pick a fight until Issei summoned a few thousand dollars and handed it to the biker, which made him gasp before counting it and checking it.

"Heh. Clever kid. All yours." The biker said as Issei took the bike and decided to tweak it to suit his style, so he had his tassels move and connect to the motorcycle and began to modify it to be a more tech-style bike.

Issei then sat on it before asking Pamela to join him, which made her happy as she got on before Issei began to rev up his new bike as he sped through the darkened streets of Gotham, his mind racing with possibilities.

Issei was honestly worried about Jason and knew he should've sent Kara to help Jason out instead of assisting them in locating the fake fireworks and destroying the chemical bomb.

Pamela, on the other hand, was worried about Harley since the two were good friends and possibly lovers, but something didn't sit right with her since she pondered where Joker would really be during this chaos that he was creating since he isn't the type to sit back and watch the carnage.

Eventually, they arrived at the warehouse; Issei cautiously dismounted and approached the building. The door was ajar, the silence inside unsettling. He activated his infrared vision, scanning for any signs of life. Seeing a faint heat signature, he moved in, his hand on the hilt of his sword Ascalon in his storage portal.

Pamela watched his back as he entered; Issei then found Red Hood lying on the ground, still out cold. Issei quickly checked for a pulse and sighed in relief when he found one. "Red Hood...is alive...but unconscious."

"Good work, Issei. Stay with him until he wakes up. We need to find out what happened." Oracle said while Issei nodded, kneeling beside Jason, and Pamela kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings. It wasn't long before Jason stirred, groaning as he pushed himself up.

"Easy there, Hood," Pamela said, helping him sit up before asking him. "What happened here?"

Jason rubbed his neck, wincing at the residual pain. "Don't know. I was doing fine after taking out the big guy until Jack began to strangle me and almost knocked me out. Lights went out, and the next thing I knew, someone took out the other three. I was about to wake up when something hit my neck that took me out of the fight. That's all I can remember."

Jason said before Issei patted the boy's head and nodded until handing his earpiece to him so Jason could fill Oracle in on the situation Jason. He thanked Issei until Pamela took Issei to the side.

"Joker isn't the kind of guy to just sit back and watch from afar. He likes to be close to his plans to see them through, but where would he do it? And why take Harley with him?" Pamela asked before Jason walked towards them.

"I got a theory." Jason's voice was low but persistent, his eyes glinting with a mix of determination and anger. "Joker isn't just out to cause chaos. Also, I think this parade was just a distraction from his real plan. He always has a real plan and one to distract us. If he's taken Harley with him, it's personal since his side is her since she turned into a villain. Joker always hits places that cause the most chaos, so he's going to hit somewhere that means something to us, somewhere he can cause the most pain."

Issei nodded, processing Jason's words until Ddraig appeared in detective attire before speaking to Issei. "Gotham has countless targets, but we need to think like him. Where would he go to make the biggest impact, both on the city and on Batman?"

Pamela's brow furrowed as she thought it through. "The Joker would want to make a statement. He'd target somewhere public, where he could watch the city descend into chaos. But also somewhere that hits close to home for us."

Jason's eyes narrowed. "Wayne Tower. It's not just a symbol of Gotham's wealth and power but also a personal blow to Bruce. The Joker would see it as the ultimate stage for his grand finale."

"Not to mention," Pamela added, "it's close enough to the parade. He could hit two birds with one stone, causing maximum chaos and drawing out the rest of the Bat Family."

Issei's fists were clenched, and his brain finally put together the final pieces of the puzzle since he realized the Joker didn't want to use the parade firework but something else created by Wayne Enterprise.

"We need...to get there...now!"

Just as they were about to move, Oracle's voice came through the earpiece. "Jason! I'm picking up increased activity around Wayne Tower. Security systems are being overridden as are. Looks like your hunch was right."

"Understood, Oracle. We're on our way," Jason replied while Issei mounted the motorcycle again, and Pamela climbed on behind him. Jason followed, riding his bike.

As they sped through the city, the tension mounted. The streets were eerily quiet, the usual bustle of Gotham muted by the anticipation of the Joker's next move. Issei's mind raced with plans and contingencies since he refused to allow any of the innocent people to suffer from the clown. Still, Issei had no intention of letting the clown live since, from the many battles Brainiac put in Issei through his collection, Issei knew that the Joker was an irredeemable monster who didn't deserve to live so Issei would do the world a favor and do what the heroes are too cowardly to do, especially Batman.

Kill Joker and ensure that he is erased for good.

Arriving at Wayne Tower, they found the area surprisingly quiet.

Too quiet.

Issei scanned the surroundings, noting the subtle signs of tampering with the security systems. The trio moved cautiously, entering the building through a side entrance, while Jason told Oracle to inform Kara and Ace and to make sure the parade went off without any problems.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense.

The dim lighting and occasional flicker of the emergency lights added to the sense of foreboding. They split up, with Issei and Pamela heading to the main control room while Jason checked the upper floors.

In the control room, Issei quickly accessed the security feed, his fingers flying over the keyboard while using his tassels to hack and see the areas that couldn't be seen by the ones taken down.

"Joker...is here," Issei said before pointing to the video of the top floor.

Pamela peered over his shoulder, her eyes widening. "That's a transmitter. He could broadcast his chaos to the entire city from up there. But there's something else..." Pamela said before using the cameras to zoom in until she gasped at the image.

"A cloud seeder," Pamela said before backing into the wall as Issei calmed her down before Ddraig appeared.

"Yep. We hacked into the scanners and internet to find out about the robbery of the cloud seeder. Once we put two and two together, we realized that Joker used the threat for the parade to get all police forces to cover said parade to avoid the real plan, which is to use the special formula that he made with Scarecrow inside of the cloud seeder." Ddraig said until Pamela continued his explanation.

"And if it activates and succeeds, then the rain will cause all of Gotham to become trapped in a nightmare that'll tear them apart mentally until they begin to kill each other."

"Not if we stop him first," Ddraig said grimly as they then made their way to the elevators, bypassing the security lockout with Oracle's help.

As the elevator ascended, Ddraig turned to Pamela. "Stay close to Issei. We don't know what traps Joker might have set, though if anything, he's probably hoping Batman would show up."

Pamela nodded, her resolve hardening, hoping to save her friend and her children. "I'm ready."

The elevator doors opened to reveal a scene of controlled chaos. Joker stood in the center of the room, his trademark grin plastered across his face, but there was no sign of Harley at his side.

Around Joker were various makeshift devices, each one more dangerous-looking than the last.

"Ah, my guests have arrived!" Joker exclaimed, spreading his arms wide. "I was beginning to think you'd never show."

Joker then groaned as he was disappointed by who showed up. "Really? No Batman, but some knockoff wannabe and Plant Girl? No Bat Brat? Ugh, this was supposed to be my big moment!"

"Where is Harley?!" Pamela yelled before Joker looked at her.

"Ah, yes. Well, Harley is my assistant since this formula is untested, and who better to be my little Guinea pig than my jester?" Joker asked before revealing Harley was attached to a chair under the cloud seeder, but a tube was connected to her so she'd get a dose as well.

"Well, since Batman hasn't shown up, I guess I'll take my leave," Joker said before pulling out a device and pushing a button, causing the cloud seeder to activate and running out of the building.

"Bye for now, though I wonder how you'll get me while you're busy with her!" Joker yelled as he laughed while running away.

"Joker! You coward!" Pamela yelled before Jason kicked in the door and headed over to the trio.

"Pamela and I will deal with the cloud seeder. You and Ddraig stop the Joker from escaping." Jason said, with Issei agreeing with the plan, before the knight ran in Joker's direction, and the cloud seeder began to fly up.

Issei dashed through the corridors, his heart pounding with determination. He couldn't let Joker escape and execute his twisted plans. Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind, guiding his steps.

"Keep going straight. He's heading for the roof. We can't let him get to a helicopter or another escape route."

Issei's feet pounded against the concrete floor as he raced upwards, his enhanced speed and agility making him a blur.

The sound of Joker's maniacal laughter echoed faintly, growing louder with each flight of stairs he ascended. Issei's grip on his sword, Ascalon, tightened, the blade gleaming with a righteous fury.

Bursts of light and the occasional explosion from Pamela and Jason's battle with the goons protecting the cloud seeder illuminated the path ahead, casting eerie shadows along the walls. Issei could hear their voices, distant yet persistent, as they worked to turn off the deadly device; it began to take off into the air but was then held back by Pamela's plants on her person.

Reaching the roof, Issei burst through the door just in time to see Joker climbing into a helicopter. The rotors began to spin, lifting the aircraft slowly off the ground. Issei didn't hesitate. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, grabbing hold of one of the helicopter's landing skids.

The pilot freaked out a bit from the extra weight, but Joker was laughing while looking down at the knight.

"Persistent, aren't you?" Joker sneered from the open side door, his eyes wild with amusement. He brandished a gun, aiming it directly at Issei. "But you're too late!"

BANG!

"Ahahaha!" Joker laughed before looking down to see that Issei's head was lowered a bit until he looked back up with his forehead with a small red bump as the bullet casing fell to the ground, causing Joker to be shocked by this until Issei's eyes ignited as he then took a deep breath and unleashed fire, causing Joker to jump back from the flames while the pilot was freaking out and trying not to crash the plane.

However, that was in vain as the helicopter crashed into the rooftop, which made Joker growl as he slowly stood up from the wreckage.

"You ruined everything! It was supposed to be my ultimate plan and a last fight with Batman! I'm the only one who can kill him!" Joker shouted while Issei grunted and pulled himself out of the wreckage with no injuries on him.

"Do you...ever stop...talking?" Issei asked in a bored tone before Joker's grin widened, a bit fazed by the comment.

"Oh, you're adorable! But don't you see? The chaos has just begun!"

Without warning, Joker lunged at Issei with a hidden knife, aiming for his throat. Issei didn't move an inch when the knife struck his throat but shattered into pieces, shocking Joker before Issei grabbed Joker's arm, making Joker struggle to get away until he heard a strange sound leaving Issei's mouth.

At first, it was a faint chuckle.

A chuckle that slowly evolved into a faint laugh.

"Stop it..." Joker said as the faint laugh began to grow, which made him even angrier, unaware of the explosion of the cloud seeder and the chemicals spilled around the duo on the rooftop, causing the smoke to envelop the roof.

"Hahaha." Issei chuckled lowly before speaking to Joker. "It's no...surprise that...you were so...obsessed...with Batman, despite him...being a bad joke...like you."

"Don't you try to psychoanalyze me, boy!"

"I...don't need...to understand...a joke...like you..." Issei said before punching Joker, sending him into an AC unit, causing Joker to slowly get up but barely see Issei through the smoke until Issei began to chat with his voice flying through the air and, for some reason, making Joker feel something he never felt even when facing Batman.

Fear.

The Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime, was afraid of the being that was beginning to mock him while the gas continued to cover the rooftop.

Laughter. Low, ominous, and growing louder, it echoed through the rooftop as the gas swirled around them. The Joker's eyes darted wildly, trying to locate Issei through the thickening smoke.

"You think you can scare me, you wannabe Batman?" Joker yelled as he pulled out a shotgun and fired in the area, but Joker didn't hear a body collapse.

However, the voice continued to mock the Joker.

"Who's...the joke now?" Issei's voice taunted from somewhere within the cloud. "You think... you're chaos incarnate... but all you are... is a sad clown... whose time is up."

The Joker, feeling the weight of true fear pressing down on him, tried to regain his composure. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small device, his trembling fingers barely able to press the button.

"You're nothing but a… pathetic clown," Issei's voice reverberated through the smoke, echoing in Joker's ears. "Hiding behind chaos… because deep down, you're scared. Scared of being forgotten, scared of being irrelevant."

Joker's eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint Issei's location. His grip on his device tightened, his mind racing. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Just another hero in a long line of failures!" he yelled into the haze.

"No," Issei's voice came from behind him. "I'm something the other heroes will never be… a true protector."

BZZT!

Sparks flew from the device, and for a moment, the smoke parted, revealing Issei standing a few feet away, his eyes glowing with a fiery intensity.

"You don't scare me!" Joker shrieked, desperately trying to free himself from Issei's grip. "I'm the Joker! I am fear!"

Issei closed the gap quickly as he then leaned in close, his breath against Joker's face. "No… you're just a man who's run out of jokes."

"Desperation... suits you...Joker,"

Before Joker could react, Issei moved with lightning speed, his hand closing around the Joker's throat. Lifting him effortlessly off the ground, Issei brought him close, their faces inches apart.

"Do you...feel it?" Issei whispered. "The feeling of fear. It does... not just exist...in others. It exists...within you, too."

The Joker struggled, his hands clawing at Issei's armored arm, but his strength was nothing compared to the Dragon Knight's. Issei's grip tightened, and the Joker's face began to turn red.

"Say goodnight, Joker," Issei said coldly, his other hand forming a fist.

But before he could deliver the final blow, a voice called out from the entrance to the rooftop. "Issei, wait!"

Batman and Kara emerged from the smoke, both of them looking worse for wear due to there being a couple of goons who put up a good fight, but they still defeated them. Kara's eyes were filled with concern, while Batman's were hard and relentless.

"Don't do it," Kara said, stepping forward. "Don't become like him."

Issei hesitated, his grip loosening slightly. He looked at Kara, then back at the Joker, who was gasping for breath.

"He's not worth it," Batman added. "Let him face justice the right way."

For a moment, Issei considered it. He looked into the Joker's eyes, seeing the madness and chaos that had tormented Gotham for so long. But he also saw the fear, the humanity that still lingered beneath the surface.

However, that was not enough to make Issei forgo his sense of Justice, which is why Ddraig appeared and scoffed at them.

"So you mean to tell us that you'd rather let a psychotic villain, who's shown absolutely no mercy to thousands of innocent lives, have made his life goal to try and kill you, tortured Jason for over a year in an abandoned wing at Arkham. Oh, and let's not forget how he literally blew Barbra's legs off and almost took her out of the game. He's a really good person there." Ddraig said while narrowing his eyes at them.

"How many more? Just think for a moment and ask yourself, Batman. How many people have died from these villains, you let live or died in your name?" Ddraig asked as Batman began to flashback to the many lives he saw live and die because of his actions.

Batman's eyes flickered with the weight of memories and regret. He had always believed in the sanctity of life, but Ddraig's words cut deep, exposing the chinks in his moral armor. The deaths and the chaos were all caused by the very villains he refused to kill.

Issei's grip on the Joker's throat tightened again, and Joker's eyes bulged with terror. For once, he had no quip, no sardonic comment—just pure, unfiltered fear.

"Issei," Kara said, her voice softer now but still urgent. "Please. We're heroes. We don't cross that line."

Issei hesitated, torn between his burning sense of Justice and the moral high ground Kara and Batman were trying to uphold. The tension in the air was palpable, the weight of his decision hanging heavy.

In that moment, Joker, gasping for air, managed a twisted smile. "Even now… you can't do it… you're just like them…" Joker rasped, his voice weak but taunting.

Issei's eyes burned with fury, and for a split second, it seemed like he might end it all right there. But then he looked at Kara—the compassion in her eyes, the belief in a better way.

The eyes reminded him of a nun who showed so much warmth and kindness to even a Devil that she was banished from a church all because she wished to do good and live a life where she could live a normal life and have real friends.

However, even kindness has its limits, and Issei had seen it abused and manipulated against the very nun he loved with all his heart.

With a frustrated growl, Issei threw Joker to the ground, releasing his grip. Joker coughed violently, sucking in deep breaths of air, still grinning despite his near-death experience.

"There's a difference between you and Issei, Batman. We kill to ensure our future and that a monster like him never returns from the grave." Ddraig said before Issei roared into the air, causing Joker to laugh no longer but freeze as he saw not only Death but something else in front of him.

The victims of his actions and sins were not pleased.

Issei then summoned Ascalon as he dragged his sword on the roof, causing sparks to appear and making Joker back away.

"N-No! Batman! Batman! Please help me! Please!" Joker yelled as Issei walked towards the cowering villain as if he were the Grim Reaper itself, and now Death was coming for Joker's life.

Issei didn't even care about how Kara tried to stop Issei with her super strength, which was nothing against a dragon. Batman's gadgets had no effects as well, which just annoyed Issei before he threw aside Kara and, grabbed Joker by the throat and held him into the air with Ascalon raised high into the sky with a pillar of light shining from the sword.

"Joker!" Issei's voice thundered, reverberating through the rooftop, "This is your judgment for all the lives you've destroyed, the people you've tortured, and the chaos you've spread."

The Joker's eyes widened in true, unabashed fear. This feeling was a side of Justice he had never faced, a relentless force that saw through his facade and aimed to end his reign of terror once and for all.

"No! No! You can't!" Joker shrieked, his voice cracking with panic. "I'm the Joker! I can't die! I can't—"

With one swift, decisive motion, Issei brought Ascalon down. The blade cut through the air with a blinding flash of light, and the Joker's screams were abruptly silenced.

His body went limp, hanging from Issei's grasp for a brief moment before being unceremoniously dropped to the ground, lifeless and still.

Kara and Batman stared in stunned silence, the weight of what had just happened sinking in.

The Joker, the embodiment of chaos and terror in Gotham, was no more.

Issei stood over the fallen villain, his eyes still burning with a fierce determination before Ddraig joined him and patted his partner's back.

"It is over." Ddraig declared, his voice firm and unyielding. "No more innocents will suffer because of him."

Issei nodded at his partner's words as Batman approached slowly, his expression a mixture of anger, sorrow, and a reluctant understanding. "You crossed a line, Issei," he said quietly. "One we can't uncross."

"Sometimes...the line...needs...to be crossed," Issei replied, his voice steady. "For the...greater good...of the...people."

Kara stepped forward, her face etched with concern and a hint of sadness. "Issei, we understand your pain, your anger. But this... this isn't who we are."

Issei turned to face her, his expression softening slightly. "Maybe...it's not...who you are...Kara. But...it's who...I need...to be."

With that, Issei sheathed Ascalon, the blade's light fading away. He walked past Batman and Kara, his steps heavy but resolute.

"I'm not...a hero," he said, almost to himself. "I'm...a protector. And sometimes...that means...making the hard...choices."

As he disappeared into the shadows, Batman and Kara were left to grapple with the implications of what had transpired. The Joker was dead, and Gotham's future had been irrevocably changed.

In the distance, the first light of dawn began to break through the clouds, casting a pale glow over the city. It was a new day, one free of the Joker's madness. But the cost of that freedom would linger in the hearts and minds of Gotham's protectors for a long time to come.

[In other news, the Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime and Mayhem, has been killed by a mysterious hero who seemed to be working with other vigilantes such as Batman, Red Hood, Oracle, and Supergirl, but it seems that the Batman and this new hero have different ideals about Justice.] A news lady reported before continuing by going down to the camera crew on the ground to hear their thoughts on Joker being killed.

The scene cut to the bustling streets of Gotham, where the camera crew was interviewing citizens. A man in his mid-40s, dressed in a business suit, spoke first.

"Honestly, it's about time someone did something," he said, a hint of relief in his voice. "The Joker has terrorized this city for too long. I'm just glad he's finally gone."

A woman with her two young children nodded in agreement. "We lived in constant fear because of him," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I can finally sleep at night knowing he can't hurt my family anymore."

But not everyone shared this sentiment. A young man wearing a Gotham University sweatshirt looked conflicted. "I understand why people are happy, but we can't just go around killing people," he said. "Even someone as evil as the Joker deserves a fair trial. What makes us different from them if we don't follow the rules?"

The camera shifted to an older woman, her eyes filled with wisdom and sorrow. "The Joker caused so much pain," she said softly. "But taking a life, no matter whose, changes you. I worry about what this means for our heroes."

The news returned to the studio, where the anchorwoman continued her report. [The debate over the Joker's Death is dividing Gotham. Some see it as a necessary act of Justice, while others fear it sets a dangerous precedent.]

The broadcast then cut to a statement from the Gotham Police Department. Commissioner Gordon stood at a podium, his face grave.

"The GCPD does not condone vigilantism," he said firmly. "While the Joker's Death may bring a sense of relief, we must uphold the rule of law. We will be investigating this incident thoroughly."

[And in other news-!] As the news report concluded, the television was turned off in the BatCave, where Batman stood watching the news, his expression somber. Kara, dressed as Supergirl, landed softly beside him.

"They're divided," Kara said quietly, her eyes scanning the city below. "Issei's actions have stirred up a lot of emotions."

Batman nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "He made a choice, one that will have lasting consequences. Gotham will never be the same."

Kara sighed, her shoulders heavy with the weight of recent events. "Do you think he did the right thing?"

Batman was silent for a moment, considering her question. "It's not about right or wrong," he finally said. "It's about the cost. And whether we're willing to pay it."

Meanwhile, Issei stood on a distant rooftop, watching a city he had helped to protect. Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind. "You did what you believed was necessary, partner. But this path will not be an easy one."

"I know," Issei replied, his voice unwavering. "But if it means keeping the people of Gotham safe, then it's a price I'm willing to pay."

As the first stars began to twinkle in the twilight sky, Gotham stood at a crossroads, its fate hanging in the balance. And for Issei, Batman, and Kara, the true battle had only just begun.

The Next Day.

The scene shifted to the grand hall of the Justice League Watchtower, high above the Earth. The main seven members, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter, were gathered around a holographic table displaying various news reports and surveillance footage of the recent events in Gotham.

Superman, his arms crossed and face stern, was the first to speak. "Bruce, we've all seen the reports. What happened?"

Batman, standing at the end of the table, his cape draped over his shoulders, took a deep breath. "Issei killed the Joker. It was a decisive action, one he believed was necessary to protect Gotham. It's caused a significant divide among the city's citizens and within our community."

Wonder Woman leaned forward, her expression a mix of concern and understanding. "What about the other villains in Arkham? How are they reacting?"

Batman activated a holographic display showing several profiles of Gotham's most notorious criminals. "There's been an unprecedented response. Several villains who escaped during the chaos have turned themselves in, terrified of facing Issei's wrath. Others are living in constant fear, hiding and abandoning their plans."

Flash, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. "So, in a twisted way, it's working? Gotham's crime rate is dropping?"

Green Lantern, skeptical as always, shook his head. "Fear isn't a sustainable strategy, Flash. It can backfire. People need to feel safe, not terrorized by the ones who are supposed to protect them."

Hawkgirl nodded in agreement. "We can't let this become the norm. Fear should not be the foundation of Justice."

Martian Manhunter, always the voice of reason, looked directly at Batman. "What do you propose we do, Bruce? Issei's actions have consequences. We need a plan."

Batman remained silent for a moment, considering his words carefully. "Issei's actions, while extreme, have shown results. But we need to ensure this doesn't spiral out of control. We need to find a balance. We have to make sure that fear doesn't become the primary tool of Justice."

Superman stepped closer, placing a hand on Batman's shoulder. "We're with you, Bruce. We'll figure this out together. But we also need to understand Issei better. Who is he? What drives him?"

Batman nodded, appreciating the support. "From what Ddraig told us on the first day they appeared, Issei is a warrior from another world, driven by a deep sense of Justice and protection. But his methods are shaped by different experiences and harsher realities. We need to help him understand our principles, our way of doing things."

As the discussion continued, the Watchtower's advanced surveillance system detected unusual activity in Gotham. An alert popped up on the holographic display, showing several Arkham escapees voluntarily walking into police stations, surrendering themselves with expressions of sheer terror.

Green Lantern raised an eyebrow. "Looks like the Joker's Death has really shaken them up. They're calling Issei by another name now."

Superman glanced at the display, reading the new moniker being whispered among Gotham's criminal underworld.

"The Dragon Knight," he read aloud, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and concern. "They see him as an unstoppable force, something more than just a vigilante."

Wonder Woman, her eyes thoughtful, spoke up. "We need to harness that. Turn it into a symbol of hope, not fear. If Issei can become a beacon of Justice, a true protector in the eyes of the people, we might be able to reshape the narrative."

Batman nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "I'll talk to Issei. We need to guide him and show him the way we operate. With our support, he can be a powerful ally, not just for Gotham but for the world."

The League members agreed, each understanding the delicate balance they needed to maintain. As they dispersed to handle their respective duties, Batman lingered for a moment, his mind racing with the possibilities and the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, with the Dragon Knight in Gotham.

In Gotham, the night was calm, and the city was unusually quiet. Issei stood atop a skyscraper, gazing down at the streets below. He could feel the shift, the palpable fear among the criminals, and the cautious hope among the citizens. Ddraig's voice echoed in his mind, steady and reassuring.

"You did the right thing, partner. The Joker was just another version of Rizevim, and he would never redeem himself for his sins or actions. Others may see you with fear, but you expected that, didn't you?"

Issei nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "I did...Ddraig. For this city...for those who can't protect themselves." He then recalled a time when he was young and how he desired to become a Hero of Justice.

However, during his time as a Devil and the Red Dragon Emperor, Issei learned that Justice took many different forms, and he saw both the good and bad of the ideals of the people he fought with. However, Issei cared about protecting his loved ones, which led to Issei being unsure of who his enemies he could trust until Vali fought alongside him, which helped Issei realize that not all of his enemies are truly evil, like Rizevim Lucifer, which is why Issei ensured to see if they were either guilty or redeemable but if not then he'd kill them.

It's why he let Pamela live since Issei could tell that Pamela is a neutral person and cared deeply for Harley, someone who showed her kindness and love.

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Issei knew that his journey had only just begun, which is why he'd fight to continue protecting his loved ones, and if he had to stain his hands with blood, then that is the path he would walk on until Death claims his soul once and for all.

Scene!

Sorry this took so long. College life has been busy, and I wanted to show the ideals of Issei clashing with the Justice League since there was a line that Red Hood said to Batman that touched me and made me question his code.

"You want to rule them by fear, but what do you do with the ones who aren't afraid?"

This quote made me understand Jason's POV since he was the first Robin, worked alongside Batman the most, and knows the good and bad aspects of Batman's code.

Issei is the same way since he does show mercy to some of his foes but not all of them since he cannot forgive some of them for their actions or what they had done.

That's why Batman struggles with both Jason and Issei since the two are alike and willing to control crime and do what has to be done.

Still, though, this will set up more interesting scenarios with Issei interacting with the other members of the Justice League, so tell me, who should Issei join next in a mission or rehabilitation?

Superman?

Wonder Woman?

Flash?

Martian Manhunter?

Hawkgirl?

Green Lantern?

Or another member of the Justice League Unlimited?

Which villain should Issei meet next?

Let me know in the reviews, and remember to Favorite and Follow.

Ta-Ta!~