Chapter Three: Gods and Monsters
The night was cold, Gotham's skyline barely visible through the thick fog creeping in from the harbor. Wayne Tower stood tall and silent, a dark monolith watching over the chaos below. Batman stood on the rooftop, cape billowing in the wind like the shadow of a demon. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the streets. It had been a long time since he had watched Gotham from this height, but the city was no longer his to protect.
No. Now it was his to hunt.
In the distance, two figures approached. He didn't need to see them to know who they were. Superman and Wonder Woman. The gods had finally decided to confront him.
Batman didn't move as they landed softly on the rooftop. Clark was the first to speak, his voice low but laced with concern. "Bruce."
Diana crossed her arms, her sharp eyes never leaving him. "We need to talk."
Batman didn't respond immediately. His gaze stayed on the city below, the jungle that had become his domain. Finally, after what felt like hours, he spoke.
"What do you want?"
Superman stepped forward, trying to keep his tone calm. "This has to stop, Bruce. What you're doing… it isn't right. You're not—"
"I'm not what, Clark?" Batman's voice was flat, void of any warmth. "Not playing by your rules? Not the man you knew?"
Diana frowned, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "You've crossed lines, Bruce. We've heard the reports. You've been brutalizing criminals, leaving them broken. You're acting more like a warlord than a protector."
Batman finally turned to face them, his eyes glowing a faint red. "They deserve worse."
Superman shook his head, frustrated. "I get it. You lost them. But this isn't the way to—"
"You don't get it," Batman growled, his voice dropping into something more menacing. "You have no idea what it feels like to have your family butchered while you're off saving the world. I've given Gotham everything. My blood, my life, my soul. And they still took everything from me."
"You've changed, Bruce," Diana said softly. "But this? This isn't you."
Batman's smile was cold. "No. I'm better."
Clark stepped closer, his eyes filled with sadness. "You're not a god, Bruce. You're a man. You always were."
In a flash, Batman was in front of him, faster than even Superman could react. His hand shot out, gripping Clark's throat in a vice-like grip. Superman's eyes widened in shock as Batman lifted him off the ground, his strength overwhelming.
"I'm not a man anymore," Batman hissed, his red eyes glowing brighter. "I'm something far worse."
With a flick of his wrist, Batman hurled Superman across the rooftop like a rag doll. Clark crashed into a concrete wall, shattering it on impact, coughing as the kryptonite laced in Batman's gauntlet burned against his skin.
Diana didn't waste a second. She lunged at Batman, her sword drawn. She was fast, but Batman was faster. He sidestepped her attack, his bone spikes erupting from his arm to block the blade with a sickening scrape of metal. With a twist, he disarmed her, sending the sword flying off the roof.
"You think I'm still the man you knew?" Batman asked, his voice mocking. "I'm beyond you now, Diana."
He swung at her, his punch connecting with her shield. The impact sent her skidding back, her boots digging into the roof as she struggled to hold her ground. Batman didn't let up. He was on her in an instant, raining down blows faster than she could block. Her shield rang with each hit, her arms straining under the force of his attacks.
Finally, he grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her forward before slamming her into the ground. She gasped in pain, her armor denting under the pressure.
"I don't play by your rules anymore," Batman growled, standing over her. "Gotham is mine. I hunt now. And if you think you can stop me, you're welcome to try."
Superman staggered to his feet, his eyes blazing red. "Bruce, we don't want to fight you."
Batman smirked, his own eyes glowing in response. "Good. Because you'd lose."
Clark launched himself at Batman, faster than a speeding bullet. But Batman was ready. He met Superman head-on, their fists colliding in an explosion of power that shook the entire rooftop. Batman's strength was unreal, his blows landing with a force that even Superman struggled to withstand.
The fight raged across the rooftop, each punch sending shockwaves through the air. Superman's heat vision seared toward Batman, but Bruce countered with his own, their red beams clashing in mid-air. Batman's power was terrifying. He was faster, stronger, and more ruthless than either of them had ever seen.
In a blur, Batman caught Clark by the throat again, slamming him into the rooftop with enough force to crack the concrete beneath them.
"You're not stronger than me," Batman whispered, leaning close to Superman's ear. "Not anymore."
Superman struggled under the weight of Batman's grip, his eyes filled with disbelief. Batman released him, stepping back.
Wonder Woman, bruised but defiant, stood between them. "Enough."
Batman's eyes flickered, the red glow fading slightly. He stared at her for a long moment, then turned his back to them, walking to the edge of the roof.
"Go back to your League," he said over his shoulder. "Stay out of Gotham. This is my city. And if you get in my way again…"
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't have to.
Clark and Diana exchanged a look, both realizing the same thing: the man they once called their friend was gone.