Batman's Painful Alley

"Hmm?" When he realized that the Hellfire on the chains hadn't engulfed Batman, the Joker raised an eyebrow. But the next moment, a smile appeared on the Joker's lips, and the chains that Batman was holding suddenly began to change shape, instantly transforming into a scythe that slashed towards Batman's neck!

"Huh?!" Batman's pupils contracted slightly. The sudden change in the chains' attack was something Batman hadn't anticipated. However, Batman wasn't without a way to counter this move.

Of course, the inspiration for the solution did not come from the current Joker, but from Elsimmons, who had been possessed by the Hell Demon King and died. At that time, Al Simmons also possessed similar chains and the ability to shapeshift.

After repeatedly watching videos of Robet and Al Simmons' battle, Batman found a way to counter this ability!

With a "whoosh," any method that Batman had planned for became almost instinctive for Batman. A Dark Energy condensed on Batman's body, filling the space between himself and the scythe formed from chains like a sponge.

When the scythe struck the Dark Energy, it was as if the mud had entered the sea; the power was almost entirely dissipated. This was a completely new way of utilizing Dark Energy that the Joker had never developed before.

At that moment, Batman exerted his strength and pulled the chains toward him, trying to drag the Joker to his side.

After a brief exchange, Batman discovered that the Joker's Hellfire was extremely powerful, not only more potent than his Dark Energy, but also incredibly difficult to deal with, like a persistent Hellfire.

However, the Joker is not without weaknesses. At least, the Joker's strength is not greater than Batman's, as can be seen from the fact that Batman just kicked the Joker away and Batman blocked the Joker's skeletal claws.

Therefore, Batman decided to engage the Joker in close combat. If his gauntlets could withstand the Hellfire, then Batman would have a chance to defeat the Joker!

At the very least, we need to buy enough time for the Dark Power to envelop the area, pull the Joker into the Dark Space, and then use our home-field advantage to defeat him completely!

"Huh?" On the other side, the Joker didn't expect Batman to choose to pull him over. He used the chains to try and drag Batman to him, trapping Batman and testing Batman's ability to use the Penance Stare.

However, after realizing Batman's intentions, the Joker did not immediately let himself be pulled over. Instead, he feigned resistance, stomping on the ground beneath his feet as flames continuously scorched the ground, turning it into charred matter.

It appears the Joker is trying his best to resist the pull from Batman, but ultimately fails due to the difference in strength; the Joker is indeed weaker than Batman.

So, after leaving a charred mark on the ground, the Joker was finally dragged to Batman's side. But at that moment, the Joker suddenly launched an attack. The blocked scythe did not launch a new attack, but the chains that Batman was holding changed again. New chains spread out, like countless tentacles, binding Batman's body on the spot!

"You! Are guilty!" An indescribable darkness and flame swirled in the Joker's eyes, his Penance Stare activated instantly. "Look into my eyes. Your soul has been corrupted by those you have killed. Feel their pain..."

As the Joker spoke, he realized something was amiss. Batman was wearing the Ika Mask. Although General Ika was feigning death, upon hearing the Penance Stare's declaration of judgment, General Ika instinctively opened his eyes, blocking Batman's view and meeting the Joker's gaze.

"Ah! No! Ah, I'm dying!" General Ika panicked immediately when he saw the Penance Stare. Even for a supernatural being like him, the Penance Stare was not without threat. In fact, all beings with their own souls would be judged by the Penance Stare; this was unavoidable.

Therefore, when General Ika saw the Penance Stare, he truly panicked, and his entire Mask trembled as if it were trying to break free from Batman's face.

At the same time, powerful Dark Power continuously leaked from the Ika Mask, resisting the burning of Hellfire and protecting General Ika's soul.

Hellfire is not absolutely invincible. As long as one is strong enough, one can ignore the burning of Hellfire. At this moment, General Ika's strength is not enough to ignore Hellfire, but fortunately, General Ika has the power of the Dark Dimension constantly supporting him. Otherwise, he would have died at the hands of the Joker by now.

"Shit! Get down here!" When the Joker discovered that the Ika Mask had actually helped Batman block his Penance Stare, Joker instantly became enraged again. This was an opportunity he had finally managed to seize, but it had been ruined by the Ika Mask. At this moment, the Ika Mask was no longer the cute little Ikka in the Joker's heart!

The Joker reached out to remove Ika Mask, but at that moment, a terrifying energy suddenly erupted from Batman's belt, the recoil alone sending Batman's body flying backward.

With a "whoosh!" sound, the terrifying force pierced through the Joker's body, shattering his skeleton into countless pieces. In the end, it exploded, scattering bones from various parts of his body everywhere, as if he had died on the spot.

After losing the power of the Joker 'Hellfire, the chains binding Batman instantly turned into ordinary chains, showing no signs of abnormality, and naturally could no longer restrain the current Batman.

With a "crack!", the chains shattered under Batman, but the expression beneath Batman Mask wasn't good. The Joker was dead, breaking Batman's principles...

"The power is indeed great, but I didn't expect it..." Batman removed the struggling Ika Mask, Ika Mask was still trapped in the power of the Penance Stare.

However, with the Joker no longer providing a constant stream of power to the Penance Stare, and with the power of the Dark Dimension protecting General Ika Mask, General Ika should ultimately be able to withstand this Penance Stare. Even so, the fact that General Ika has fallen silent indicates that this Penance Stare has still caused considerable damage to General Ika's consciousness.

Fortunately, Batman doesn't really value General Ika's own consciousness. General Ika is merely a medium Batman uses to communicate with the Dark Dimension forces behind him. Whether General Ika has his own consciousness or not makes no difference!

"Is he really dead?" A hesitant glint flashed in Batman's eyes as he looked at the Joker's remains, which had been reduced to bones and scattered in all directions.

If it were before, the Joker would have been dead if he'd been blown up like that. But the Joker is now in the realm of the supernatural. Although the source of Joker power is still unclear, Batman feels that the Joker shouldn't die so easily...

"If the Joker really isn't dead, then this state of being the Joker is the easiest to imprison!" Batman looked at the Joker's remains scattered everywhere, a thought flashing through his mind. He then took out an object resembling a pistol from his belt and aimed it at the Joker's remains.

With a "bang!", a thin net shot out from the pistol, covering a large area of Joker's remains, and then packed away.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

Then, several more sounds rang out, and the Joker's remains were all caught in a large net. If the Joker wasn't dead, Batman could take the opportunity to lock Joker up and give him treatment. If the Joker was truly dead, Batman felt a pang of unease, because this had broken his No-Kill Rule...

The No-Kill Rule is definitely one of the top bottom lines in Batman's mind, and it is also a restriction that prevents Batman from falling into darkness. Perhaps sometimes, there are priorities, and Batman can break this principle for more important things, but this does not mean that Batman can be unaffected after breaking the No-Kill Rule!

Putting aside the fact that the deceased was Batman's longtime adversary, the Joker, if he had no reverence for life itself, then Batman would already be a terrifying figure of the dark side; he would no longer be the Batman he is today, he would have utterly fallen...

Batman, unusually lost in thought, stared at the Joker's remains in silence. The Joker could certainly die, and Joker even deserved to die, but he shouldn't have been the one to kill him.

"You are guilty!" Just as Batman was staring blankly at the Joker's remains, a flame instantly erupted in the Joker's skull eye. The Penance Stare activated immediately, staring into Batman's eyes and saying, "Look into my eyes. Your soul has been corrupted by those you have killed. Feel their pain..."

"Huh?!" Batman's pupils contracted sharply. The two times the Joker used Penance Stare, Batman hadn't felt the power of this move. After all, one time it was against Elsey, and the other time it was blocked by the Ika Mask by chance.

Therefore, even knowing that the Joker's move was not simple, Batman still didn't know what the mystery of this move was, or rather, he didn't know how to defend against or counter it...

The next moment, Batman's consciousness became somewhat hazy. Before his eyes, countless vengeful spirits lingered, the consciousnesses of the dead who hated Batman. Batman had indeed adhered to the No-Kill Rule, sending every criminal to court for judgment.

However, not every criminal can ultimately provide proof of mental illness and be admitted to Arkham Asylum for treatment. Those who are admitted to Arkham Asylum are exceptional individuals; ordinary criminals do not have this ability.

In truth, these people's deaths shouldn't be attributed to Batman, but the consciousness of those vengeful spirits doesn't see it that way. Hellfire connects to the consciousness of the Hell Origin, and those vengeful spirits aren't necessarily hallucinations; they truly experienced the agony of death...

"Killing you, I have no regrets!" However, Batman's expression did not change in the face of the torment of those wronged souls. Even if it happened again, ten times, or a hundred times, Batman would still choose to bring these criminals to justice!

Especially since Batman, despite being tricked by Batman Joker, realized he hadn't truly killed Joker. His previously affected state of mind had recovered, and the iron-willed Batman felt no regret whatsoever, letting the vengeful spirit's pain wash over him...

However, just as Batman was enduring the pain, his surroundings suddenly changed. He found himself back in a place he didn't want to remember: a dark alley where, as a child, Batman had watched helplessly as his parents were shot and killed—a pain he could never undo in his lifetime!

At this moment, Batman experienced this pain once again, which finally caused a change in Batman expression.

But Batman continues to suffer these pains because, although he doesn't want to relive this memory, he has actually recalled it far too many times, even many times, and each time it's more painful than the last...

"Why is there still no reaction?" In the real world, Hellfire rose from the Joker's skeleton, burning away the large nets on the spot, and his body began to be pieced back together, with the lost bones growing back.

When the Joker's body finally reformed, he frowned. Since the Penance Stare had been activated, there was no reason why Batman hadn't reacted yet!

Thinking of this, the Joker increased the output of the power of the Penance Stare. Soon, the corners of Batman's Mask and chin under the mask changed slightly, and his eyes also flickered. This made the Joker excited. He seemed to see the hope of judging Batman!

However, the Joker hesitated again. He wanted to lift Batman's Mask to see the pained face Mask, but Joker was also worried that the face beneath the Mask would disappoint him. This caused his expression to constantly change...

Ultimately, before the Joker could make a decision, Batman suddenly opened his eyes, the Ika Mask instantly covering Batman face, and at the same time, Batman threw a punch at the Joker's body.

"It failed?!" The Joker's eyes widened as he was blasted away by Batman, the flames in his skull pupils flickering.

Previously, the Penance Stare was only unable to control the magnitude of its power, but theoretically, Batman should be affected regardless of the amount of evil committed. Especially since Batman's previous reaction already indicated that he was indeed affected, how come he opened his eyes unharmed so quickly and even launched a counterattack?

"If you die, and I'm hit by this move, it might actually work on me..." As if seeing the Joker's expression, Batman's hoarse and deep voice echoed around, making the Joker's heart sink...

The next chapter will be a little later~