Chapter Summaries

Killer Croc and Gotham's forces faced a powerful plant army that overwhelmed their defenses, but Zuo Ci's promised reinforcements arrived and began to turn the battle. The chapter left the outcome unresolved as a red brain-emblem flag appeared on the battlefield.

• Killer Croc rescued people in the sewers, captured Zaragu by mistake, and brought him to the front line after Man-Bat Kirk warned of an advancing plant army.
• Cobblepot reported that the plants had broken through three defensive lines, and ordered all forces to attack when the fourth began collapsing.
• MacArthur ordered the plants to use Leaf Umbrellas to bounce away the humans' artillery shells.
• Purple Fire Peashooters destroyed the armed helicopters, while catapult plants hurled explosive plants into the humans' defenses and camp.
• Killer Croc and Kirk despaired as the humans were overwhelmed, but Cobblepot held on because Zuo Ci had promised reinforcements.
• A red flag bearing the image of a brain entered the battlefield, and the tide began to turn.

Zuo Ci's zombie reinforcements clashed with MacArthur's plants, turning the battle into a fierce stalemate as both sides revealed their strengthened abilities. Killer Croc, Penguin, and Kirk watched in disbelief while Zuo Ci returned carrying Gordon and the tied-up police officers.

• The zombies charged MacArthur's plant army, and Jester Zombies and Umbrella Zombies deflected the plants' attacks.
• Armored Cavalry Zombies advanced, but MacArthur's Mushroom Regiment used armor-piercing spores to burst many of them apart.
• Wizard Zombies disabled plants with magic, prompting MacArthur to send Coffee Beans and the Witch Hazel Wizards into the fight.
• Bungee Zombies smashed through the Leaf Umbrellas and attacked the plants, forcing MacArthur to unleash his artillery against the giant zombies.
• Killer Croc, Penguin, and Kirk watched the battle in shock as Zuo Ci returned carrying Gordon and the bound police officers.
• Cobblepot greeted Zuo Ci, while Gordon asked to be put down after being carried through the air.

Gordon checked on the allied base after Zuo Ci healed him, while Harvey rescued wounded people amid an explosion. As Harvey began questioning his past after discovering his face was disfigured, Zuo Ci healed him and everyone else, interrupting his crisis.

• Zuo Ci healed Gordon, who asked Cobblepot about the allied base and its condition.
• Cobblepot reported that the base was mostly intact despite damage from enemy shells and explained that he had helped contain the plants to protect residents.
• Harvey carried a wounded man through the rubble and continued rescuing people despite his own injuries.
• Harvey saw that the explosion had destroyed the left side of his face and began questioning his dedication to justice and the law.
• Zuo Ci used Bathing in Spring to restore Harvey and the other wounded people to health, and Harvey thanked him.

After Gordon led the survivors toward the Temporary Safe Zone, Zuo Ci stayed behind with Killer Croc and Cobblepot. Cobblepot showed him Zaragu, whom Zuo Ci tortured until Zaragu confessed to every wrongdoing, then revealed that Zaragu was a demon.

• Zuo Ci assured Gordon that the zombies would hold off the plants, and Gordon gathered his men and retreated from the city center.
• Killer Croc stayed behind because he feared his appearance would frighten people, so Zuo Ci sent him to find Jack.
• Cobblepot told Zuo Ci about someone claiming to be a harmless Pokémon and brought him to Zaragu.
• Zuo Ci slapped Zaragu, demanded a lengthy written confession, and burned him with a dangerous liquid when he could not comply.
• Cobblepot questioned Zuo Ci's cruelty, and Zuo Ci revealed that Zaragu was a demon.

Zuo Ci and Cobblepot tortured the demon Zaragu, mistaking him for a weak specimen, until Lucifer took control of him and confronted Zuo Ci. After looking through Zaragu’s memories, Lucifer was left questioning modern human exorcism methods.

• Cobblepot learned Zaragu was a demon and asked Zuo Ci whether hurting him could earn heavenly credit, but Zuo Ci clarified that the liquid was aqua regia.
• Cobblepot switched on the electric chair, and he and Zuo Ci discussed using demons for experiments and equipment materials while Zaragu endured the shocks.
• Zuo Ci decided to give the surviving Zaragu to Batman, but Zaragu’s aura suddenly changed, prompting Zuo Ci to retreat with Cobblepot.
• Lucifer revealed himself through Zaragu and questioned Zuo Ci, then searched Zaragu’s memories and reacted to the mortals’ exorcism methods.

Lucifer arrived in Gotham and tried to bargain for Zuo Ci’s soul, but Zuo Ci refused to accept his offer. A sudden downpour of holy water destroyed Zaragu’s body and severed Lucifer’s control, leaving him wondering who had intervened.

• Lucifer watched Zaragu’s memories and found humanity’s ideas for using demons as machinery materials unusually creative.
• Zuo Ci feared Lucifer’s power and considered whether he could use Constantine to distract him.
• Lucifer approached Zuo Ci, praised him, and offered to grant any wish in exchange for his soul.
• Zuo Ci refused to act, wary that accepting or responding might bind him to Lucifer’s deal.
• Holy water fell on Lucifer’s borrowed body, melting Zaragu into ashes and breaking Lucifer’s control.
• Lucifer wondered whether Michael, Gabriel, or someone else had sent the holy water.

After escaping Lucifer, Zuo Ci reunited with his upgraded system and discovered it could read his thoughts, so he retaliated with blasphemous stories. God struck him with lightning, leaving Zuo Ci chastened and resolved to leave the heavy lifting to Batman and Superman.

• Lucifer lamented that his conversation with Zuo Ci had been interrupted and considered how to visit the Mortal World without destroying it.
• Zuo Ci thanked his upgraded system for rescuing him, then argued with it as it mocked him for being single.
• Zuo Ci realized the system could access his thoughts and flooded its memory with blasphemous stories, while Cobblepot overheard and recoiled.
• The system disabled its thought access, but God struck Zuo Ci and Cobblepot with lightning after Zuo Ci continued his blasphemous tale.
• Zuo Ci apologized to God when another strike threatened, then decided to leave the hard work to Batman and Superman and focus on slacking off.

Mr. Freeze struggled to protect Nora as Clayface and Scarecrow pursued them through the ruined city center. Zuo Ci arrived in time to freeze Clayface and save the couple, then inspected the frozen villain and Scarecrow.

• Mr. Freeze carried Nora through Gotham’s ruined city center while Clayface chased him and Scarecrow urged Clayface to help their group.
• Scarecrow joined the pursuit, and Mr. Freeze reassured Nora that he would keep her safe.
• Clayface hurled a rock that knocked Mr. Freeze down, then tried to kill the couple and the battered person he was carrying.
• Zuo Ci arrived and froze Clayface with Ice Burst before he could strike.
• Zuo Ci used Bathing in Spring on Mr. Freeze and joked about Clayface’s frozen form and Scarecrow’s smoking flying device.

Zuo Ci defeated Clayface by freezing him and then electrocuting his waterlogged body, leaving him immobilized rather than dead. He discovered a Talon from the Court of Owls among the casualties and prepared to interrogate him, while Mr. Freeze and Nora hurried away.

• Zuo Ci froze Clayface into an ice sculpture, but Clayface melted his way out and charged at him.
• Zuo Ci used lightning on the water-soaked Clayface, drying him into a cracked clay statue, then shattered and vacuumed up the pieces.
• Zuo Ci told Mr. Freeze that Clayface was not dead and noticed a mangled man wearing an owl-like helmet.
• The Talon tried to attack Zuo Ci with his Steel Claws, but Zuo Ci severed his arm and threatened to make him answer questions.
• Mr. Freeze carried Nora away to avoid Zuo Ci's impending interrogation.

Zuo Ci healed and restrained a Talon operative, then left him tied beneath a Channeling-enchanted trident to be repeatedly struck by lightning. At Solomon Grundy's Butter Prison, Killer Croc and Jack noticed an owl-faced figure spying on them from the ruins.

• Zuo Ci healed the Talon operative and threatened to interrogate him, but Alfred persuaded Zuo Ci to avoid methods that might disturb Dick.
• Zuo Ci tied the Talon operative to a trident, plugged his electric scooter into the operative, and ordered two Death Knights to guard him.
• A huge storm gathered over the Talon operative, and lightning repeatedly struck his location.
• Killer Croc lost every card game against Jack while Jack exercised and carried Solomon Grundy.
• Jack and Killer Croc detected an unfamiliar presence and spotted an owl-faced figure watching them from ruins about three kilometers away.

Killer Croc fought a Talon from the Court of Owls, who bound him with steel wire and nearly killed him before Jack intervened. Jack freed Killer Croc and overpowered the Talon, swinging him around like a weapon.

• Jack recognized the figure as a Talon and identified the Court of Owls as likely responsible for the riot.
• Killer Croc charged the Talon, but the Talon slashed his face and trapped him in steel wire.
• The Talon prepared to stab Killer Croc in the brain, but Jack knocked him away with a pebble and cut the wires.
• Jack bit through the Talon's Steel Claws, grabbed his leg, and began swinging him around at tremendous speed.
• Killer Croc watched as the Talon's trails and sonic booms made Jack look as if he wore luxurious formalwear.

Zuo Ci subdued Solomon Grundy with a Momotaro Rice Ball and sent Jack and Killer Croc to gather the Talons. Meanwhile, Hush and Doctor Hugo prepared to evacuate their hidden basement after Scarecrow and Clayface failed to return, but someone warned that a demon had come back.

• Jack and Killer Croc discussed Talon’s resilience and Jack recalled losing an exhibition match to Batman despite his advantages.
• Zuo Ci arrived, learned Jack and Killer Croc had captured Talon, and used a Momotaro Rice Ball to make Solomon Grundy obedient.
• Zuo Ci told Jack to round up the other Talons and gave him a Person-Finding Needle, while Killer Croc carried Talon and was told to stomp him whenever he began recovering.
• Hush worried that Scarecrow and Clayface had not returned, and Doctor Hugo ordered the group to pack up and relocate.
• An alarmed voice announced that a demon had returned.

Zuo Ci found the villains hiding in a basement and began punishing them, first cursing Deadshot so anything he launched would return to strike him. He turned his attention to Doctor Hugo, whose strange iron-and-LED outfit made Zuo Ci laugh, and began casting another spell.

• Scarecrow spotted Zuo Ci returning, and the villains hurried to escape through a secret passage.
• Zuo Ci tore open the ground and entered the basement, while Scarecrow disappeared.
• Deadshot opened fire on Zuo Ci, then tried to flee when his bullets failed to harm him.
• Zuo Ci renamed Deadshot Bullseye and cursed anything he launched to return and hit his body, causing his expelled blood to drill back into his wound.
• Zuo Ci laughed at Doctor Hugo's iron underwear and LED lights, then began casting Bathing in Spring.

Zuo Ci healed Doctor Hugo and threatened him with an even more painful Kidney Stone Cycle, but a nuclear explosion in Gotham interrupted them. After containing the radiation, Zuo Ci searched the System Shop for a cheap way to clean up and found a promising option in the recruitment tab.

• Zuo Ci used Bathing in Spring to regenerate Doctor Hugo's urinary system, then threatened to give him larger, spiked kidney stones.
• Doctor Hugo smashed the LED on his iron underwear just as Zuo Ci prepared to cast his spell.
• A red giant in the city center suddenly exploded, creating a mushroom cloud and spreading intense nuclear radiation.
• Zuo Ci detected the radiation, cleansed and protected himself, and enclosed the city center in a light barrier.
• Zuo Ci searched the System Shop for a cost-effective way to remove the radiation, then spotted a promising option under the recruitment tab.

Zuo Ci recruited Black Sperm and assigned him to clean radiation and titan remains, then went to stop the tsunami threatening Gotham. His freezing spell only briefly slowed the flood, so he unleashed a powerful surge of psychic energy against it.

• Zuo Ci summoned Black Sperm, caught him before he fell, and hired him to clean up the radioactive area.
• Black Sperm worried that the radiation would kill him, so Zuo Ci gave him protein powder and a radiation-removal device.
• Zuo Ci flew toward the sea after realizing the tsunami could overwhelm Gotham’s weakened foundations and remaining defenses.
• Zuo Ci cast Heaven and Earth Transformation, freezing the tsunami’s leading edge, but the water behind it shattered the ice and kept surging forward.
• Zuo Ci invoked the Emperor and released overwhelming psychic power at the oncoming tsunami.

Zuo Ci used his newly acquired psychic power to push Gotham’s tsunami back into the sea, then joined Robin and Diana to confront Poison Ivy. He discovered Ivy had imprisoned Catwoman and watched the two kiss, while Ivy’s strange behavior suggested something was influencing her.

• Zuo Ci formed a psychic barrier and pushed the flood back into the ocean, but the effort caused his nose to bleed.
• Zuo Ci reflected on the dangers of uncontrolled psychic power and the powerful threats in DC Comics before heading to deal with Gotham’s remaining problem.
• Poison Ivy kept Catwoman imprisoned in a vine cage and insisted she was clearheaded, then kissed her.
• Zuo Ci watched Ivy and Catwoman through binoculars while a camera recorded them, and Robin questioned his behavior.
• Diana enjoyed watching the pair and considered buying the recording, but Zuo Ci offered her a copy as a Gotham souvenir.

Zuo Ci flew to the Botanical Garden to rescue Catwoman from Poison Ivy, who had used her new power to restrain and torment her. Poison Ivy transformed into a gigantic plant monster and challenged Zuo Ci, who answered by revealing Dave’s Garden Shovel.

• Dick tried to use binoculars to see what Zuo Ci and Diana were watching, but Zuo Ci stopped him and said it involved someone who might become his stepmom.
• Diana asked Zuo Ci about Bruce’s romantic history, and he clarified that his jokes concerned two women, not sunflowers.
• Alfred urged Zuo Ci to hurry because Selina was in a bad state, so Zuo Ci flew toward the Botanical Garden while Diana stayed behind.
• Poison Ivy restrained Catwoman with her vines and prepared to continue tormenting her until Zuo Ci intervened and freed Catwoman.
• Poison Ivy confronted Zuo Ci and grew into a colossal plant giant, but Zuo Ci produced Dave’s Garden Shovel, which could dig up an entire plant.

Zuo Ci uprooted Poison Ivy’s colossal plant body, rescued Catwoman with a cushion, and helped the group decide how to stop Ivy from controlling the plants. Diana and Catwoman began beating Ivy unconscious while Zuo Ci filmed, leaving Robin shielded from the spectacle.

• Zuo Ci used his shovel to uproot Poison Ivy’s enormous body and toss it into the air.
• Zuo Ci caught Catwoman’s fall with a cushion, and she complained about the rough landing and his constant demands for money.
• Diana admired Zuo Ci’s damage-free use of the shovel, then asked what the group should do with Poison Ivy.
• Zuo Ci explained that Ivy could still grow plants through the Green and suggested beating her unconscious to limit her control.
• Diana and Catwoman began beating Poison Ivy while Zuo Ci filmed and covered Robin’s eyes.

Zuo Ci and Diana and Catwoman subdued Poison Ivy, then used Hermit Purple to locate Batman after Barry failed to find him in Gotham. The photograph revealed Batman bound and naked on an operating table beside Joker, but Zuo Ci refused to show it to anyone.

• Diana and Catwoman beat Poison Ivy while sparing her face, and Zuo Ci told Robin to keep her from recovering.
• Barry arrived, ate a giant stuffed pancake from Zuo Ci, and reported that he had searched Gotham without finding Batman.
• Zuo Ci used Hermit Purple to smash a camera and produce a photograph showing Batman's location.
• Robin asked to see the photograph, but Zuo Ci refused after seeing Batman trussed up on an operating table beside a delighted Joker.
• Zuo Ci wondered whether Joker's bizarre behavior had anything to do with him.

Zuo Ci used a photograph to locate Batman after Alfred saw how dire the situation looked and urgently searched Gotham. Zuo Ci found Batman in a hidden room, where he interrupted a bizarre scene involving a naked Batman and a tearful Joker.

• Dick demanded to see the photograph, but The Flash warned him off after taking a peek and then sped away to avoid explaining what he had seen.
• Zuo Ci sent the photograph to Alfred, who was horrified by Bruce's appearance and quickly found his location through the Batcave's surveillance network.
• Zuo Ci refused to take Robin along and left to rescue Batman alone.
• Zuo Ci found a concealed passage behind a damaged wall beneath Gotham and followed it to a hidden room.
• Zuo Ci kicked through the room's wall and found a naked Batman, a vulnerable, tearful Joker, an operating table, and a torn purple suit.