Chapter Summaries

Li Wei granted Alice Vladimir, the Crimson Reaper’s Hero Template, giving her Blood Magic and freedom from her brother’s control. Alice chose to stay at Arkham Asylum for now, while Bruce Wayne returned the next morning under his civilian identity to investigate the asylum through a donation.

• Li Wei offered Alice power to resist her brother, the Mad Hatter, and Alice quickly agreed to receive it.
• Dr. Hugo prepared the Evolution Ceremony, and Li Wei granted Alice Vladimir, the Crimson Reaper’s Hero Template.
• Alice endured the transformation, gained Blood Magic, and changed into a mature, pale, red-eyed form before learning to shift back to her original appearance.
• Alice told Li Wei she could sense a group of vampires and chose to stay at Arkham Asylum until Bruce felt at ease about the place.
• Bruce Wayne arrived at Arkham Asylum as the Wayne family’s young master, using a proposed donation as his reason for visiting.

Li Wei persuaded Bruce to make Arkham Asylum a paid holding facility for criminals Bruce could not send through the legal system. He then explained his plans to the asylum staff and asked Constantine how he and the other guests were adjusting to Gotham.

• Bruce visited Alice and found that Arkham Asylum had treated her well, easing some of his suspicions about Li Wei.
• Li Wei proposed that Bruce send difficult-to-prosecute criminals to Arkham Asylum, and Bruce agreed to pay five times the rate Gotham City Hall paid.
• Li Wei saw Bruce off and reflected that the arrangement would bring Arkham Asylum both money and prisoners.
• Li Wei briefed Dr. Hugo and the other employees on his plan and warned them to conceal anything abnormal from outsiders.
• Li Wei called Constantine over and asked how he was finding Gotham, and Constantine said he felt restless after having nothing to do.

Li Wei sent Constantine and his companions to hunt Hell creatures and evil spirits after sensing that Hell’s contact with the Human Realm had spread to Gotham. The group set out without Li Wei, eager to test their new powers, but their first target had already been destroyed in a house fire and explosion.

• Li Wei told Constantine that Hell creatures had appeared in Gotham and urged him to bring Sif, Zedd, and Chas along.
• Constantine gathered the others, and they agreed to hunt the supernatural creatures; Chas looked forward to proving himself with his Undead Warrior Sion Hero Template.
• Constantine considered how the group could protect cities after leaving them, but decided they first needed to clear Gotham.
• Sif and Zedd used their sensing abilities to mark likely locations, and the four drove to the first site in an SUV prepared by Warwick.
• The group found the possessed person’s house burned and blown apart, and Constantine used a spell to learn that the evil spirit had been an ordinary possession case.

Constantine, Sif, Zedd, and Chas found that Gotham locals had already destroyed several evil spirits through brutal methods, so they hurried on to protect anyone who might still be at risk. At the next site, Chas charged into a house where an evil spirit’s host was trapped, and Constantine hypnotized the gangsters before they could set it alight.

• Constantine and the others found the first evil spirit had been destroyed by Gothamites using flames and explosives, then encountered more sites where locals had dealt with the spirits themselves.
• The Los Angeles group continued to the marked locations, determined to save anyone who might not be able to resist an evil spirit.
• Chas used Sion’s Brutal Charge and raced into a house packed with explosives as Gotham gangsters prepared to burn it.
• Constantine arrived with Sif and Zedd, cast a hypnotic spell on the gangsters, and made them leave while chanting that littering and arson were immoral.

Constantine, Sif, Zedd, and Chas cleared Gotham’s evil spirits, with Chas overpowering hosts and Constantine destroying the spirits. The resulting injuries sent many former hosts to Arkham Asylum, and the pattern in their cases reached Director Barnes, who was left to consider the report.

• Chas subdued an evil spirit’s host, and Constantine destroyed the spirit and treated the man’s dislocated arms.
• The four-person team cleared Gotham’s marked locations in less than three days, often finding that residents had already dealt with the spirits.
• Former hosts arrived at Arkham Asylum with unexplained injuries, and Dr. Hugo diagnosed them with sleepwalking after Li Wei explained what had happened.
• Gotham police traced the former hosts’ strange incidents but set the cases aside because the people had Arkham’s sleepwalking diagnoses and had caused little harm.
• Gordon delivered the officers’ report to Director Barnes, who read it and fell into deep thought.

Barnes concealed the worsening effects of Alice’s blood toxin while Li Wei withheld the antidote, hoping to bring Barnes under his control. After the exorcists returned to Arkham, they planned to travel onward as a team, and Dr. Hugo took charge of angel feathers for his artificial-angel experiments.

• Barnes ordered Gordon to close the investigation into Arkham because they had no evidence, then hid his worsening blood-toxin symptoms and injected himself with a sedative.
• Li Wei watched Barnes struggle with the toxin and kept secret that Dr. Hugo had already found a way to neutralize it.
• The four exorcists finished clearing Gotham of supernatural threats and decided to travel to other cities to fight creatures entering the Human Realm.
• The team returned to Arkham, where Li Wei approved their plan and gave them a check for expenses.
• Dr. Hugo took the angel feathers collected in Los Angeles and continued developing ways to create Artificial Angels.

Constantine and the demon-hunting team left Gotham while the city’s factions grew wary of Li Wei. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne advanced as a vigilante, and Li Wei discovered Jerome’s plan to bomb a Wayne Enterprises hospital, then called Alfred to speak with Bruce.

• Constantine and the others agreed to report strange people and events to Li Wei before departing Gotham without interference from its factions.
• Bruce Wayne improved his armor and crime-fighting skills with Lucius Fox’s help while maintaining his public playboy image.
• Li Wei discovered Jerome and the Criminal Alliance preparing Ian’s precisely placed bombs to destroy the grounds of a Wayne Enterprises hospital without harming people or nearby buildings.
• Li Wei decided to let Bruce confront Jerome’s plan and called Wayne Manor to ask Alfred to put him through to Bruce.

After Li Wei warned Bruce Wayne that someone planned to bomb a Wayne Enterprises hospital, Bruce struggled to find a lead and began building a citywide intelligence system. He installed concealed ultrasonic devices in Wayne-branded statues and moved on to a free streetlight project, while Li Wei watched Bruce advance toward becoming Batman.

• Li Wei warned Bruce Wayne that someone in Gotham planned to blow up a Wayne Enterprises hospital, but he could not identify the culprits or their plan.
• Bruce tried to trace the threat through explosives, but Alfred explained that too many Gotham residents possessed them for that lead to be useful.
• Bruce decided against human informants and ordinary cameras, then proposed using bats’ ultrasonic echolocation to monitor Gotham.
• Lucius designed compact ultrasonic devices, which Bruce arranged to hide inside Wayne Enterprises statues across the city and connect to his father’s supercomputer.
• Li Wei watched Bruce establish the intelligence system, intending his enemies’ greater strength to push him toward relying on wealth and technology.
• Bruce proposed that Wayne Enterprises replace Gotham’s streetlights for free, and City Hall accepted the plan.

Bruce used the citywide ultrasonic pulse network to locate Jerome and the Criminal Alliance preparing explosives, then sent a miniature drone to scout them. Jerome shot the drone down, but Bruce identified the four main criminals and began planning how to capture them without confronting them head-on.

• Wayne Enterprises finished installing ultrasonic pulse devices disguised in streetlights across Gotham in under three days, disrupting the Criminal Alliance’s bomb preparations during construction.
• Bruce used the Batcave supercomputer to investigate the city and located Jerome and the others manufacturing high explosives in a warehouse.
• Bruce sent a miniature drone to observe the warehouse, but Jerome sensed it, fired his sniper rifle, and destroyed it.
• Bruce recognized Jerome, Scarecrow, Riddler Edward, and Bomb Man Ian among the gathered criminals and judged that he could not defeat them all in a direct fight.
• Bruce decided to find another way to stop the bombing and capture the Criminal Alliance members for trial and imprisonment in Blackstone Prison.

Bruce anonymously reported Jerome’s warehouse to the police, forcing the Criminal Alliance to evacuate before officers arrived. Jerome traced the operation to Bruce at Wayne Manor and watched him prepare in the Batcave, setting the stage for their next confrontation.

• Bruce anonymously reported the warehouse to the Gotham City Police Department, which deployed a large force after mistaking the explosives for the Mad Hatter’s bombs.
• Jerome spotted the police convoy, realized the warehouse had been discovered, and ordered the Criminal Alliance to move its explosives and flee.
• Sheriff Gordon arrived to find the warehouse empty, and Edward’s preparations left the police unable to track the Criminal Alliance.
• Officers mistakenly accused the Mad Hatter of having accomplices and beat him during interrogation, while he wrongly hoped the Criminal Alliance would rescue him.
• Jerome used his vision across Gotham to identify Bruce Wayne as the person behind the police raid and watched him prepare equipment in the Batcave.

Jerome prepared the Criminal Alliance’s bombing operation while Bruce monitored their nearly flawless plan through Gotham’s ultrasonic devices. Jerome then volunteered to stay behind and announced that he would give the Gotham police a “big gift” by making himself the result of their investigation.

• Li Wei observed that Bruce and Jerome both remained quiet for several days, though he suspected Jerome was already plotting.
• Ian finished processing the explosives, and the four Hero Template hosts gathered the Criminal Alliance members to arrange the bombing operation.
• Jerome and Edward the Riddler devised a nearly flawless plan, which Bruce overheard but could not find a way to stop.
• Jerome changed the plan by volunteering for the rear guard, saying he intended to give the Gotham police himself as their long-awaited result.
• Jerome ordered the Criminal Alliance member originally assigned to the rear guard to stay with him, and the frightened man swallowed his anger and agreed.

Bruce warned the occupants of Wayne Enterprises' private hospital and the Gotham City Police Department about the Criminal Alliance's planned bombing, then set out to confront Jerome alone. The Criminal Alliance found the hospital evacuated but proceeded with its attack as Sheriff Gordon and the police arrived.

• Jerome ordered a Criminal Alliance member to stay behind and help cover the retreat while the group prepared to attack the hospital.
• Bruce anonymously warned the hospital and the Gotham City Police Department, then armed himself and headed out to face Jerome.
• The Criminal Alliance transported Ian's explosives to Wayne Enterprises' private hospital disguised as a food-delivery convoy.
• Edward discovered that the hospital had been evacuated and the police were approaching, but he ordered the group to continue with the plan.
• The Criminal Alliance carried the explosives into the hospital as Jerome waited with a detonator and Gordon's police sirens drew near.

Jerome held Gotham police at bay with a detonator while his accomplices escaped, then challenged Gordon about Gotham’s crime and inequality as reporters broadcast their conversation. He revealed that Bruce Wayne was the person he had been waiting for and called him out as “Little Bat.”

• Edward led the Criminal Alliance members in withdrawing from the hospital while Jerome and the unlucky fellow stayed behind.
• Jerome threatened to detonate explosives hidden in the hospital, and Gordon ordered the officers to lower their weapons.
• Jerome refused to let anyone leave and said he was waiting for someone before explaining what he wanted.
• Jerome questioned Gordon about Gotham’s crime and its causes, and reporters broadcast their exchange live.
• Jerome announced that the person he had been waiting for had arrived and called out to Bruce as “Little Bat.”

Bruce confronted Jerome at the hospital, killed Jerome’s hostage, and was apparently swallowed by a blast after Jerome detonated explosives. The explosion also seemed to kill Jerome, while Li Wei and the police began processing the scene and the revived Gotham Police Department’s condition was confirmed.

• Batman approached the hospital as reporters and officers watched, and Li Wei formally summoned him to the Gotham Police Department for questioning.
• Bruce took Jerome’s subordinate hostage and shot him dead, then blamed the death on Batman to provoke Jerome.
• Bruce entered the hospital compound, and Jerome detonated the explosives, engulfing the hospital and apparently killing them both.
• Gordon and Bruce searched the ruins and concluded Jerome had died in the blast.
• The police sealed off the scene, while Li Wei brought Dr. Hugo and Warwick to observe the Fountain of Resurrection’s revival process.

After Tan Police Chief revived in the Fountain of Resurrection, his plan forced Gotham to pursue Batman and put Jerome under public scrutiny. Jerome used the belief that he was dead to seek out his twin brother Jeremiah, while Arkham prepared a Joker Gas trap for him.

• Tan Police Chief revived at Indian Hill Hospital, then told Wayne that his plan was not finished and intended to create another Jerome by targeting Jeremiah.
• Chief Li Wei ordered officers to bring Batman in for questioning without firing, and Jerome escaped through Gotham before returning to Rom Manor.
• Jerome revealed to Li Wei that his identical twin Jeremiah had lived a better life and decided to find him while Gotham believed Jerome was dead.
• Arkham asked Dr. Hugo to make Joker Gas, then arranged for a disguised guard to deliver a gift box to Jerome at the private research institute.
• Jerome opened the gift box after the guard left, unaware that Arkham had set the trap to drive him and Jeremiah into madness.

Arkham, disguised as Han Xiangbo, arranged for Jerome to receive a gift box containing Joker Gas, hoping to awaken his buried madness. Jerome survived the gas and embraced his altered state, then began preparing to destroy Gotham City.

• Arkham obtained Dr. Wayne's Joker Gas and delivered it in a toy box to Jerome's private research institute.
• News coverage of Batman and Arkham stirred public anger, while Jeremiah's televised words drew followers who began gathering across Gotham City.
• Jerome opened the gift box, inhaled the gas, collapsed, and appeared to die as the chemicals spread through his body.
• Jerome regained consciousness with his madness unleashed and began planning Gotham's destruction, including the Wayne family.
• A guard checked on Jerome, who concealed his change and prepared to continue his plan.

Jerome’s followers turned a protest into a violent riot, and Li Wei led the Gotham City Police Department in confronting them as Bruce struggled against the mental toxin. The clash left officers burned and dead, while Alfred contacted Jeremiah and revealed that Bruce was connected to the riot, leaving Gotham’s next move uncertain.

• Jeremiah secretly returned to Arkham Asylum after Jerome died, while Shen’s Joker Gas infection intensified.
• Jerome’s followers gathered in growing numbers, and factions supplied them with weapons as they marched toward the Gotham City Police Department.
• Li Wei briefed Wayne on Jerome’s plan, then received Bruce’s authorization to deploy the police and block the marchers.
• The marchers attacked the officers, and a thrown Molotov cocktail ignited fuel across the police line, badly burning officers who shot themselves to escape the flames.
• Li Wei’s officers broke the rioters’ formation, while Alfred called Jeremiah and told him that Bruce was connected to the riot.

Bruce used Jerome’s identity to gather the scattered believers and stop them from wrecking Gotham, while Jerome brought out the Batmobile and turned the riot into a direct confrontation. The Batmobile charged toward Gordon Manor as fires and violence spread across the city.

• Chief Li Wei ordered the police to fire on the believers after firebombs set officers ablaze, and the rioters scattered across Gotham.
• Alfred told Jeremiah that Bruce was alive and connected to the riot, prompting Jeremiah to resume his plans.
• Bruce wore Jerome’s armor and used his brother’s reputation to gather scattered believers, who accepted him as Jerome.
• Jerome revealed the Batmobile from a hidden passage and drove it toward Gordon Manor after spotting Bruce gathering the believers.
• Jerome led believers through Gotham as they looted and set fires, while Bruce moved on to gather more groups.

Bruce used the Batmobile’s tear gas and pepper spray to incapacitate Li Wei’s rioters, but Jerome escaped in the confusion. After Gotham police arrested the rioters, Jerome turned his attention to a charity gala hosted by the Gordon Group, while Li Wei and Director Barnes discussed the police department’s situation.

• Bruce attacked the rioters with gas canisters from the Batmobile, and Jerome escaped while the smoke and chaos hid his movements.
• Bruce called the Gotham Police Department, and Sheriff Li Wei sent officers to arrest the incapacitated rioters.
• Li Wei visited Director Barnes and complained that the director’s absence left him carrying the department’s responsibilities.
• Jerome analyzed Batman’s actions and planned to target the Gordon Group’s upcoming charity gala.

Jeremiah and Barnes infiltrated the Gordon Group charity gala aboard a cruise ship, while Li Wei suspected Jeremiah would target the event but could not stop it. As the gala was about to begin, Jeremiah appeared before the guests and announced a game.

• After rioters were returned to Gotham City, Li Wei released most of them and spent five days worrying that Jeremiah had survived and was planning another attack.
• Director Barnes accepted an invitation to the Gordon Group charity gala, which Jerome, Theo Galavan, and Galavan Gordon also planned to attend.
• Li Wei tried to stop the gala but, lacking evidence, brought officers to the pier under the pretense of patrol duty.
• Jeremiah disguised himself as a dock worker and planted explosives aboard the cruise ship, while Barnes boarded disguised as a laborer and planted more explosives.
• Jeremiah revealed himself to the guests just as the cruise ship was preparing to depart and announced that they would play a game.