Chapter 3: Chaos Ensues
The guests panicked and rushed for the exits as chaos erupted throughout the exhibit hall. Some stumbled over each other, while others screamed in terror. The once elegant museum was transformed into a scene of pandemonium. As the floor emptied, Ivy made her move. With a swift gesture, she sent her vines snaking across the floor, smashing the case right before John. The vine snatched the crystal and plunged it right into it's stalk.
Metallo, enraged, roared, "You overgrown weed! Get your filthy vines off that! It's mine!"
But Ivy, empowered by the crystal, merely laughed. "Fools! This power is mine! With this, Gotham will bloom anew!"
Her laughter was cut short as Superman descended from the balcony. "Ivy!" he boomed, "Release that crystal!"
Ivy's eyes glowed. "You dare challenge me. Come on handsome, you could rule with me!" Thorny vines lashed out at Superman. He deflected them, soaring upwards to dodge a monstrous venus flytrap that erupted from the floor.
"My plants are attracted to power, you cannot escape!" Ivy shrieked. Giant heart-shaped leaves, a poisonous stinging nettle sprouted out of the thick green vine. It's thorns flying towards Superman as projectiles. His powerful, agile body weaved through them, incinerating the thorns with his heat vision.
Metallo, seeing Superman preoccupied, lunged forward. "The Steel Reject is mine, Ivy!" he snarled.
But before Metallo could reach Superman, Batman dropped from the shadows. "And you're mine, Metallo," he growled, delivering a powerful kick that sent the cyborg reeling.
Metallo roared, sparks flying. "Batman! You miserable bat!" He swung a massive fist. Batman ducked and countered with punches.
"Stand down, Metallo!" Batman growled, delivering an uppercut.
"I'm made of steel, you pathetic rodent! Your punches are nothin' to me." Metallo snarled, his voice a grating metallic screech. He unleashed a barrage of kryptonite energy blasts from his chest cavity, the green energy searing the air and leaving trails of acrid smoke. Batman dove for cover behind an overturned display case, the marble cracking and splintering under the intense heat. He hurled a batarang, which ricocheted harmlessly off Metallo's thick hide.