Bruce Yu: I'm the Real Environmentalist

Penguin Oswald Cobblepot tapped the marble floor of the Iceberg Lounge with the tip of his umbrella.

Thirty-seven gang leaders sat around the long table, with Two-Face and Riddler surrounding them, the air thick with the smell of cigars and fear.

"Gentlemen," the Penguin said with his signature fake smile, "Batman's departure is an opportunity for all of us."

The Two-Face sitting opposite tosses a coin, its silver light swirling in the air.

"Cooperate head-on, kill on the other side." His scarred half-face twitched. "Guess which side?"

The Penguin, with a cigar in his mouth, gestured for him to announce the prize.

The coin landed on the back of the Two-Face's hand—heads.

"Looks like we've reached an agreement." The Penguin clapped his hands, and a waiter pushed in an ice sculpture shaped like a bat symbol pierced by an umbrella.

"I propose the formation of the ' Gotham Council,' with territory allocated according to contributions."

The Riddler adjusted his glasses. "Riddle: What increases in quantity when divided?"

"Power," the Penguin sneered. "The next question?"

The Conference Room door was suddenly blown open!

The Joker stood amidst the smoke and fire, holding a ticking pocket watch. "Time's up, birds!"

The Riddler suddenly stood up. "Damn it! What are you doing here, you lunatic! What business is it of yours!"

The Joker grinned widely. "Make some money."

"The cost of baby formula!"

Poison Ivy's fingers brushed across the newly sprouted roses, and the Petals bloomed with an eerie purple light under her touch.

The entire Botanical Garden breathes beneath her feet, with vines coiling around the building's framework like snakes.

"They've started, sisters." A light voice came from the shadows, and Catwoman's leather pants gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

Poison Ivy chuckled. "Let the boys play their games of power." She raised her hand, and a giant carnivorous plant burst from the ground. "What Gotham needs is... to be greened again."

"Tell Copperfield and the Joker that from today onwards, the Diamond District is a green zone!"

Nightwing crouched on the Dripping Beast, watching the chaos on the street below.

Gangs are robbing banks, Penguin's henchmen are setting up roadblocks, and GCPD, well, Commissioner Gordon is holding out for the City Hall with the remaining police force.

"How long are you planning to stand by and watch?" a voice came from behind.

Nightwing didn't turn around; he knew it was an emissary from the Court of Owls —those ancient families who thought they had controlled Gotham for centuries.

"This city is beyond saving. It's beyond saving since that guy left."

"The court has granted your request." The messenger handed over a gilded mask. "Only if you resolve these troubles."

"I won't kill anyone." Nightwing stood up. "Tell those old fogies that what Batman did, I, Nightwing, cannot do."

After watching Nightwing depart, the messenger from the Court of Owls muttered to himself, "It seems we need to find that distant relative of the Wayne Family."

Three days later, at Gotham Pier.

Blood dripped from the tip of the Penguin's umbrella; it was the blood of a Joker Gang.

The Two-Face stood to his left, half of his good face already bruised, while the Riddler was tied to a pillar with his own tie stuffed in his mouth.

"Seventeen gangs," the Penguin said, panting. "Six left."

Boom—

A Rocket suddenly hit the dock warehouse.

Harley Quinn bursts out on her scooter from the flames. "Surprise!"

Two-Face tossed a coin, this time tossing it tails. He raised his gun, but was first hit in the chin by Harley's Baseball Bat.

The Penguin pressed a mechanism on the umbrella handle, and a steel blade shot out, piercing the throat of one of the attackers.

He stepped back behind the container, pulled out his phone, and said, "Damn it! What about our agreement?"

A series of rustling sounds came from the other end of the phone. "I'm busy, don't bother me."

"Damn bitch!" The Penguin had just finished cursing when the entire dock suddenly shook violently.

The concrete cracked, and vines as thick as arms burst through the soil, suspending the villains who were still playing with guns in mid-air one by one!

Poison Ivy looked down at them from her plant-formed throne. "I told you, come to me and submit to me, Gotham will become a giant Botanical Garden!"

Catwoman emerged from the shadows and snatched the Penguin's pocket watch. "Voting time, gentlemen~ Option one: continue killing each other until the League of Assassins takes over, Option two..." She pointed at Poison Ivy, "... let Pamela be in charge."

"The League of Assassins?" Two-Face frowned. "Weren't they taken by that Batman guy?"

"Batman is gone," Catwoman interrupted him. "The League of Assassins will definitely come back. I believe you local gangs don't want to see outside forces take over the city, do you?"

The Penguin, though suspended in the Sky Manipulation, suddenly laughed, "Interesting. What about option three?"

The vines suddenly straightened, and Poison Ivy's expression turned alert. "Someone's coming!"

In the darkness, a black-haired figure slowly glided out on a scooter.

Upon seeing this figure, all the villains frowned, especially the Penguin.

"Hello."

Bruce Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.

He pulled the lollipop out of his Barry, looked at the villains hanging in the air, and Poison Ivy hanging them, and said, "I think I said that Gotham needs to prevent that damn Batman's retaliation. You guys should unite against him and take care of Batman first. Who told you to fight amongst yourselves?"

Catwoman, who had never met Bruce Yu, spoke first, "What a joke! Do you think you get to decide that?"

"What I say goes."

"On what grounds?"

"Just because..." Bruce Yu clasped his hands together, closed his eyes slightly, and a powerful and mysterious chakra rapidly gathered within his body.

A faint green light emanated from his body, as if he had merged with the power of the earth.

As he slowly spread his hands, the ground began to tremble violently! Thick tree roots burst forth from the soil like dragons, growing and spreading wildly!

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!" Bruce Yu shouted in a deep voice!

In an instant, countless towering trees rose from the ground, their branches and leaves intertwining to form a dense forest that instantly swallowed Poison Ivy and the villains she was holding with her vines!

The enormous canopy of the tree blocked out the sun, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow!

Poison Ivy was stunned by the sudden power and stared wide-eyed. Feeling the life-giving and powerful Wood Release energy around her, an uncontrollable excitement welled up in her heart!

After a long while, her voice echoed through the forest as she excitedly shouted, "Bruce Yu! From today onwards, I belong to you!"

The voice carried a fervent worship and longing!

Bruce Yu shuddered upon hearing this, a helpless expression on his face, and said, "There's no need for that. However, although I don't like what you said, I like your attitude."

He raised his voice a few decibels. "The rest of you! If you don't have this attitude, you can become nourishment right now."