Gotham Falls

Gotham, perpetually shrouded in dark clouds and steeped in shadow, had become a living Purgatory.

The streets had long since descended into chaos. Countless civilians fled in every direction, seeking only to survive this terrifying disaster. But their fear would not change the outcome; if anything, it would draw even more Para-demons.

Police sirens blared across entire blocks, but those defensive lines were nothing more than flickering candles in the wind. The enemy attack had come too suddenly, and the GCPD had been completely unprepared. Many officers had been hastily called in.

Under the Para-demons’ assault, the officers’ defenses were gradually collapsing. Their bullets could handle ordinary Para-demons, but against Doomsday Para-demons, they were no different from fire pokers.

Even so, they had not given up. The entire GCPD headquarters stood empty; every active member had taken up a combat position.

Shouting "GCPD," they rushed toward the districts with the densest crowds. Countless Para-demons were massacring civilians there, and it was also where they were needed most.

Gunfire and artillery roared without end. Less than half an hour into the battle, one-third of Gotham had already fallen. By the time people realized what was happening, this island beyond the mainland had been left isolated and helpless.

"Commissioner, still no word from Batman!?"

The Bat-Signal had been lit once more. Above the heavy clouds, a glaring bat emblem hung in the night sky. Yet now, that symbol of courage and hope served no purpose at all.

"Still no response. I’m afraid we can only rely on ourselves." Commissioner Gordon stood on the rooftop, staring at the western half of the city engulfed in flames, his expression grave.

In the past, whenever a crisis arose, Batman would foresee it and step in to resolve it. But Gotham was now at the brink of life and death, yet Batman and the others had shown no reaction whatsoever. That was clearly not normal.

Commissioner Gordon had no choice but to prepare for the worst. If Batman still had not appeared at a time like this, then there was only one possibility.

"Thirty-Ninth Street has fallen. We’ve lost contact with three squads, Commissioner. What do we do?" an officer cried anxiously.

"Gather everyone. Bring them all together!"

Commissioner Gordon no longer had time to consider anything else. He chambered a round in his pistol, turned to several detectives beside him, and said, "We don’t have enough manpower to support the entire city. At this point, establishing a safe zone is our top priority."

"What about the fallen districts? There are still many civilians trapped in there." The young detective looked despairing.

"We can’t worry about that now. Contact every unit. How many people do we have left?"

Commissioner Gordon waved a hand, then looked toward an older detective beside him and asked.

"Thirty, I’d guess." The elderly detective sighed heavily.

"Thirty-one. How does that sound?"

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice appeared on the rooftop.

The detectives turned in astonishment, only to see someone they could hardly believe was standing there, slowly climbing the stairs with a sinister grin.

He was a man in a suit, neatly dressed and looking like an elite professional. But when their eyes shifted to his face, that visage was enough to make anyone frown.

The entire left side of his face was disfigured, hideous flesh and blood turned outward through the skin, sickening to behold.

"Harvey!?"

Commissioner Gordon’s eyes widened. He stared at the man for a long while, unable to speak.

"Hi, James. Surprised to see me?"

Two-Face smiled faintly, his eyes brimming with madness. "I don’t think this is a good time to catch up. We should get moving."

Commissioner Gordon slowly swallowed, then nodded lightly. The nod gradually became firmer.

"Yes."

Looking around at the others, seeing every gaze fixed on him, Commissioner Gordon felt an indescribable strength surge from the depths of his heart. He gritted his teeth.

"Gentlemen, it’s time to move!"

Smoke filled the air and artillery fire soared into the sky. Every gang in Gotham had come alive.

Though the Para-demons’ combat power and numbers were enough to make anyone shudder, these people did not hesitate in the slightest. They threw themselves into battle of their own accord.

Explosions rang out across the city. Submachine guns and grenade launchers thundered one after another, adding more flames to the war.

At the Iceberg Lounge, the entire building trembled continuously beneath the bombardment.

Yet Penguin, the head of the Cobblepot family, sat calmly at the dining table, holding a knife and fork as he agonized over where to begin cutting the steak on his plate.

Suddenly, an old man with blood all over his face rushed in. He stumbled all the way to Penguin’s table and, having run too fast, fell directly to the floor.

"Boss! Those monsters are charging in again! A lot of the men on the front line are dead. Maximilian Zeus’s stronghold has been breached, and our people probably won’t be able to hold out much longer."

Hearing that, Penguin finally shifted his gaze away from the steak.

The Para-demons’ invasion had come suddenly, but at first, the gangs had not been afraid. As far as they were concerned, even if the sky fell, the Justice League would be there to hold it up.

But so much time had passed. Forget the Justice League—even Batman had vanished without a trace. Only then did these crime bosses gradually realize the severity of the situation.

Maximilian was not the first gang leader to join the battle, and likewise, he would not be the first supervillain to die.

Five minutes earlier, Penguin had received word that Deadshot had died while covering Penguin’s daughter.

Penguin’s lips trembled slightly, madness flickering in his eyes. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, yet he still forced out a smile.

"Maximilian was nothing but trash. Send everyone we have. We absolutely cannot let those monsters defile my kingdom."

"B-but all of our communications have been cut off—"

"What did you say?"

At those words, Penguin’s eyes snapped onto the old man. He breathed heavily, as though suppressing some uncontrollable force within himself.

"Where are the others? Where are the people here!?"

"The people here are meant to protect you. They’re our last armed force. We can’t send them out!"

The old man shakily climbed to his feet, bracing both hands against the table as he spoke carefully.

"We… we might be able to evacuate."

"Evacuate?"

Penguin roared, his face pale.

"THIS IS MY CITY!!"

He shot to his feet and limped around the dining table in a wide circle until he reached the old man.

Grabbing the old man by the collar, Penguin yanked him close. In a trembling, crazed voice, he gritted his teeth and spoke word by word.

"Gotham is a part of me. If those monsters outside want to take it from me, then they’ll have to kill me first!"

Penguin’s furious body tensed like solid stone. His eyes were wide and unblinking, bloodshot veins filling his pupils, his cheeks deathly pale.

After a pause, Penguin’s voice suddenly softened. Almost in a whisper, he asked.

"Do you understand?"

The old man, clutched tightly in Penguin’s grip, could do nothing but tremble. Other than nodding, he could not utter a single word.

The next moment, Penguin roared with all his strength.

"THEN PICK UP THOSE DAMN GUNS!!"

The deafening shout made the old man shudder. He then scrambled out of the room on hands and knees.

In the vast dining hall, only Penguin remained, along with the sound of his ragged breathing.

Huff—ha—huff—ha—

Tiny veins bulged across his forehead like taut cords. Penguin stared blankly in the direction the old man had gone, unable to recover for a long while.

His eyes remained fixed wide open, as if they were about to pop from their sockets.

After a long time, Penguin turned around, picked up a glass of red wine from the table, and drained it in one gulp.

Then he lifted the assault rifle that had long been prepared beneath the table and strode out.

Though he limped with every step, his stride was incomparably resolute!