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SM/DC Chapter 43 : Justice VS Justice - 2
🕑 Added 2025-02-27 20:04:57 +0000 UTCThe shadow at Arthur’s feet twisted, creeping outward like a living thing, swallowing the dim light. The air turned thick, heavy with an unnatural weight that pressed against Batman’s senses.
Arthur’s voice was low, mocking. “What’s wrong, Batman? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Batman didn’t move, his sharp eyes analyzing every detail. He had seen Arthur’s power already back through footage and also during this fight, his sheer strength, speed, durability but this?. He knew what came next.
“I know what you’re about to do,” Batman said, his voice unreadable. “You’ll summon those black wraiths. Things that shouldn’t exist.” His tone was controlled, but there was an edge of something else. Not fear wariness.
Arthur chuckled darkly. “Right on cue.”
And then Doom emerged.
From the abyss at Arthur’s feet, a towering figure rose, clad in pitch-black, its body a silhouette of nightmares. Its eyes burned like embers in the void, and the moment it fully materialized, it did something that sent a shiver down even Batman’s spine.
It knelt.
Doom growled, its voice deep and guttural, dripping with devotion.
Robin, still clutching his injured leg, went still. Even through the pain, he managed to utter this, “Doomsday…”
Hal Jordan, still struggling to his feet, narrowed his eyes, his ring pulsing with green energy. “Oh yeah, this just keeps getting better. First, we get shadow boy over here breaking ribs like it’s a hobby, and now he’s got the horror as a sidekick? You just love stacking the odds, don’t you...”
Arthur didn’t respond.
Hal exhaled sharply and focused. His ring flared as he constructed a green support brace around Robin’s shattered leg solid, efficient, buying the him some time. “Alright, Robin, you’re patched up. Don’t start breakdancing just yet.”
Batman remained silent, calculating. The presence of Doom changed everything. If Arthur alone was already overwhelming, this, this was an entirely different fight.
Arthur rolled his shoulders. “I really didn’t want to do this.” His tone was casual, almost regretful, but his eyes gleamed with dark amusement. “But take this as my advice, do try to stop him if you can.” His smirk deepened. “I wouldn’t advise killing him… though, that’s assuming you can.”
Hal gritted his teeth. “You talk too much.”
His ring flared as he launched himself forward, forming a massive construct gauntlet around his fist, aiming straight for Arthur
Doom moved first.
Before Hal could react, Doom’s fist met his midair, the impact sounding like a gunshot.
BOOM.
Hal Jordan was sent flying. His body crashed through a row of crates, tumbling across the floor before finally skidding to a stop. He coughed, pushing himself up, his ring flickering. “Okay—ow.” He looked at his construct it was shattered.
Arthur didn’t even look at Hal his attention remained on Batman.
His voice was calm, almost… disappointed.
“So what will it be?” Arthur asked, tilting his head. “Continue this and die for that clown…?” He stepped forward, his shadow stretching. “Or let me be on my way?”
Batman didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at Arthur, his expression unreadable, but his fists clenched at his sides.
The fight wasn’t just physical anymore.
This was a battle of ideologies.
Arthur could see it in Batman’s eyes the refusal to back down, the unyielding need to fight for control. It was who he was. No matter how battered, no matter how hopeless a situation looked, Batman never surrendered.
And Arthur found that frustratingly predictable.
“So be it.”
A dark mist coiled at his feet, thick, unnatural. From its depths, another creature began to rise.
A Shadow Demon.
It was different from Doom while its much weaker, but no less terrifying. Its jagged form shifted in and out of the darkness, its eyes glowin. The moment it fully materialized, it let out a low, guttural snarl, its body twitching as if barely restrained.
Arthur stepped back, giving a lazy gesture towards Batman and Robin. “Keep them busy.” His voice was smooth, but the command carried weight.
The demon obeyed instantly.
With a sudden burst of inhuman speed, it lunged, closing the distance between itself and Batman in the blink of an eye.
Batman reacted immediately. His body twisted as he barely dodged the razor-sharp claws that swiped at him, his cape billowing as he landed into a defensive stance.
Robin, despite his injured leg, with the help of lanterns construct, he gritted his teeth and forced himself. His staff extended with a metallic snap as he swung at the creature’s head.
It caught the staff mid-swing.
The moment it did, its red eyes gleamed, and it let out a low, eerie chuckle.
Then, with brutal efficiency, it yanked Robin forward and slammed him into the ground. The impact cracked the floor, and Robin let out a sharp gasp of pain.
As Batman turned his head, he barely caught a glimpse of Arthur before he disappeared completely into the abyss, his glowing blue eyes piercing through the darkness.
And just before he vanished, he spoke:
“Trust me on this one, Bruce... I’ll do you a favor...”
His voice was distorted, fading into the void.
Batman’s eyes widened slightly, and for the briefest moment just a fraction of a second he felt something rare.
Dread.
Arthur was gone.
In his place, another Shadow Demon stood.
And now there were two of them.
Batman had no time to think. The demons attacked in unison, one going high, the other low. Batman’s movements were precise, flawless, blocking, dodging, countering, but he was outnumbered, outmatched.
Robin groaned, trying to push himself up, his eyes blazing with frustration. “This...” He hissed, gripping his staff tightly. “This is bad.”
Batman’s jaw clenched. His mind raced. he needed to stop Arthur before he reached Joker first.
“We need to stop him before he gets to Joker.” he said, his voice sharp, urgent.
On the other side, Hal Jordan was not having a great time.
Doom was relentless.
Each of Hal’s constructs shattered on impact, his ring struggling to keep up with the sheer ferocity of the monster’s attacks.
Doom’s massive fist swung, crashing through another barrier Hal had created just in time. The Green Lantern was sent skidding backward, his boots leaving deep marks on the ground as he barely kept himself standing.
Hal wiped a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth, his ring flickering. “Kinda busy, Bats!” he shot back, exasperated.
Doom was already lunging again.
Hal cursed under his breath. This wasn’t going to end well.
****
Arthur stepped through the doorway onto the rooftop, his senses sharpened, his eyes scanning the dimly lit skyline. The cold night air brushed against his skin, but he already noticed something.
And then
BRRRRRTTTTTT!
A storm of bullets erupted, ripping through the night, tearing into the doorway behind him. The roar of Gatling guns echoed across the rooftop, the sheer force of it kicking up dust, debris, and smoke.
Arthur didn’t move.
He didn’t flinch.
The bullets tore into his clothes, but they didn’t pierce his skin. They flattened and clattered to the ground, utterly useless against his body.
Through the thick veil of smoke, a high-pitched, maniacal laugh filled the air.
“Oh-ho-ho! Whoops!” The voice was theatrical, exaggerated. “Did I get ‘im?! Heheh—Oh, who am I kidding? Of course not! That would’ve been way too easy!”
The wind shifted, blowing away the dust and revealing Arthur.
Unscathed.
His eyes burned a haunting blue, his expression unreadable as he stepped forward
That was when Arthur saw them.
A dozen figures stood in a loose formation across the rooftop, clown masks covering their faces, each holding a different weapon. Some had machine guns, others baseball bats, knives, one even wielded a chainsaw.
And at the center of them all, grinning like a devil in the pale moonlight… was the Joker.
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he studied Arthur. Then, his painted lips stretched into that familiar, twisted grin.
“Well, well, well… You’re not the Bat..” His voice dripped with amusement, but there was something else lurking underneath. Curiosity.
He took a step forward, twirling a revolver in his gloved hand. “You’re meaner-looking… but still all dark and broody. Maybe a cousin? A long-lost brother? No...” He pointed at Arthur with the gun, chuckling. “You’re something else entirely, aren’tcha boy?”
Arthur didn’t blink. Didn’t smile.
Didn’t even hesitate.
He took another step forward, his shadow twisting beneath him, writhing like a living thing.
His voice was low, calm dangerous.
"No. I'm something you can't laugh away."
Joker’s grin faltered.
The clowns around him stiffened, their grips tightening on their weapons.
Arthur kept walking forward.
