"Those who fight monsters for too long become monsters themselves; and if you stare into the abyss for too long, the abyss... stares back."
The amygdala came to in the midst of excruciating pain. Weeping, he began to howl, lamenting the suffering and torment he had endured.
Killer Croc released the amygdala.
Chen Tao looked at him. Even his manic, chaotic mind could feel Batman's gaze.
His cries were cut off as if an invisible hand had clamped around his throat. He whimpered and collapsed to the ground, trembling as he curled his body up.
"It's all over, Batman. You've become a captive of Gotham's evil, too."
Riddler declared, "Do you remember the Roman? Carmine Falcone. Did you know that when Carmine Falcone was young, his goal in life was to put an end to all the evil in Gotham?"
"—But he later became Gotham's biggest crime lord. You're the same, Bat. When an upright person submits to sin, it's as harmful as poisoning a public well!"
He said somewhat manically, "Therefore—Batman is dead!"
He threw the gun in his hand to the ground. "Bat-King has been reborn!"
He bowed extravagantly to Chen Tao, like a jester performing in a stage play. "Batman! You're a criminal now, too!"
He shouted in jubilation:
"You're no different from us!"
Riddler had already convinced himself of the logic he had devised. In his eyes, Batman, who had murdered Joker in cold blood, was undoubtedly a criminal companion just like him.
And Batman possessed the same qualities as him, yet was far more powerful. Therefore—
He had surrendered, in every sense of the word.
Chen Tao knew that if he curled a finger at this moment, Riddler might pounce over and lick his toes frantically...
Well, perhaps the other man would show a little