Batman fell to the ground, his hands trembling uncontrollably from overexertion. From Batman's perspective, two venomous snakes were coiled around his arms, tightening their grip.
One of the snakes flicked its tongue, bared its fangs, and lunged at him. Batman struggled with all his strength.
Scarecrow Jonathan raised his stun baton and brought it down hard on Batman's head. Electricity flashed, and Batman collapsed to the floor, gasping heavily. Fear had already taken root in his subconscious.
"You know?" Jonathan bent down and poked Batman's face with the baton. "I envy people like you. Look at that strong body, those sturdy arms. You're like a giant!"
"Then look at me... I'm like a branch that'll topple over in the wind. I hate being like this." Jonathan stuffed the straw spilling from his abdomen back into his clothes, making himself look a little stronger.
"But you towering giants still fell at my feet! You think having a strong body makes you valuable? Makes you powerful?"
"No! Beneath your strong appearances, you're incomparably weak! You're afraid to see your true selves. You're scared. When you scream yourselves hoarse, trembling like a pile of mush, you're not even as brave as delicate little girls."
Jonathan spoke excitedly as he paced back and forth nearby.
Villains had a habit of dying from talking too much, but keeping this kind of exhilaration bottled up would have been such a waste—and far too unbearable.
It was like creating a great work of art only for no one to appreciate it. That would be the greatest failure! If he could, Jonathan would even go up Gotham TV Tower and announce his success to everyone!
"Oh, looks like someone wants to meet you." Jonathan took a pager from his pocket and headed upstairs with a bored expression.
Batman,