Never Apologize for Your Looks

Hearing Duke's insane idea, Batman felt a chill run down his spine. He knew full well how terrifying Joker was, and he could not guarantee that he would still be able to hold firm under Joker's mental corruption.

"You're too crazy. If I transplant Joker's personality, I'll hurt a lot of people."

"Mr. Batman, don't underestimate your own willpower. Believe in yourself—you can defeat him." As Duke spoke, he raised a hand and swept it forward. In an instant, a freezing wind howled up, and the bone-piercing cold covered the ground in solid ice. Batman, clad in black armor, was pinned tightly within an iceberg, with only his head left exposed.

Duke had underestimated Batman, thinking that would be enough to seal his movements, but Batman still broke free with all his strength. Human-limit strength might not have been enough to accomplish that, but Batman had Money Power, capable of turning all impossibilities into possibilities. The Batsuit was frost-resistant, ensuring his muscles would not freeze stiff. His cape was made from special memory fibers, and once electrified, it rapidly expanded, shattering the iceberg trapping him.

The moment he escaped, Batman immediately turned and fled. He knew too little about Duke. Without intelligence, there could be no battle plan to deal with him, and he never fought battles he was not sure of winning. It was not cowardice, but a cool head—he knew that only by preserving himself would he have a chance to turn things around.

"Money Power users really are troublesome. If I actually let you get away, you might come up with a plan that even I can't break!" Duke said, casually waving a hand as he cast a Number 90 Hadō without an incantation.

"Hadō #90: Black Coffin!"

Black light projected from a crack in the void,