DC: My Name Is Not Billy Batson [New]

"You don't think you're walking away from this so easily, do you, Batman?" Poison Ivy sneered, his defiance masking the unease in her eyes.

Batman didn't flinch. The gas had clearly forced her into a corner, and while it wasn't a permanent solution, he'd already calculated his next move.

"Don't test me," he said coldly.

Just then, a new voice rang out behind them.

"Batman, need a hand?"

Dane's voice was calm but firm as he appeared in a flash of magical light, stepping into the botanical garden. He had arrived just in time, thanks to Batman activating the emergency contact line the moment he'd spotted Superman.

Poison Ivy's confidence faltered, her smirk fading into a tense grimace. She knew who Dane was—and what he was capable of.

"I heard you have a little problem," Dane said, his tone neutral as he glanced at Poison Ivy.

Catwoman, intrigued by the sudden change, took a few steps back, silently observing the exchange. Her eyes darted between Poison Ivy and Dane, curiosity glinting in her gaze.

Dane tilted his head at Poison Ivy. "Didn't you promise to stay out of trouble?"

"I didn't mean for things to escalate," she replied, avoiding his piercing stare. Then, as if regaining her nerve, she added with a sly grin, "But now that you're here, I can't help but wonder… You or Superman—who's stronger?"

The words were barely out of her mouth when Clark moved, streaking toward Dane with superspeed.

Dane's reaction was instantaneous, he intercepted Superman's charge with a single punch, sending the Man of Steel flying backward.

"I'll deal with you later," Dane muttered, his tone sharp.

Before Poison Ivy could process what had just happened, a crackling bolt of lightning erupted from Dane's fingertips, stunning her and rendering her temporarily unconscious.

But there was no time to celebrate. In the distance, Clark was already closing the gap, his heat vision illuminating the sky.

With supersonic speed, Superman collided with Dane again, the force of their clash sending shockwaves rippling outward shattered the glass in nearby buildings, and shards rained down like a deadly waterfall.

Batman watched in grim hush. "This has to end now," he muttered under his breath, realizing the collateral damage was growing.

Superman wasn't holding back. Dane noticed it too. Clark, even under Ivy's control, seemed to instinctively recognize the threat Dane posed. And so, he fought with reliantly.

Dane, however, remained composed. He caught Clark mid-charge, gripping his face with one hand and his arm with the other. In a swift motion, Dane accelerated upward, dragging Superman out of the city.

The two figures streaked across the sky, their speed breaking the sound barrier. Dane directed their trajectory toward Arkham City's outskirts, an isolated area.

With a strong thrust, Dane slammed Superman into the ground, burying his head deep into the earth. Dust and debris exploded outward, blanketing the barren terrain.

Dane hovered above him. "Clark," he said, "you need to fight. You're stronger than her control."

Superman growled, his eyes still glowing red as he began to rise from the crater. But for a split second, a flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

Dane landed, standing his ground. "Come on, Clark. This isn't you."

Dane's relentless assault left Clark momentarily dazed. He had been dragged, pummeled, and slammed with unrestrained force—a spectacle of power that sent shockwaves across Arkham City.

Superman's body lay embedded in the rubble of a collapsed building, dust rising like smoke around him. His eyes glowed faintly red as he pushed himself up from the debris.

Dane stood nearby, lightning still crackling around his fists. He raised a hand, beckoning Clark with a subtle grin.

"It's time wake up Clarky," Dane declared, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.

Blazing white lightning spiraled around his arm, Zeus's divine power fueling his movements. With super speed, he closed the distance between himself and Superman in an instant, his fist crashing down with unstoppable force.

Clark barely managed to raise his arms to block, but the impact sent him hurtling through the air. The ground below him trembled as he skidded across the terrain, leaving a massive trench in his wake.

The shockwave of Dane's strike rippled outward, shaking Gotham City to its core. Windows shattered, car alarms blared, and people across the city felt the tremors.

"Was that an earthquake?" some murmured, peering out their windows into the night.

High above, Dane and Superman took to the skies, their battle continuing like a clash of titans. Dane delivered another electrified blow, forcing Clark to counter with a burst of heat vision. The twin beams struck Dane's chest, driving him back, but not before he absorbed some of the energy and redirected it through his fists.

As the fight raged on, the city below buzzed with speculation. Blurry cell phone footage and panicked reports began flooding social media, with Gotham's residents speculating wildly.

"Is this an alien attack?"

"Looks like a missile test gone wrong!"

"No, it's Batman again, obviously!"

Meanwhile, back at the botanical garden, Batman had successfully subdued Poison Ivy. Bound and cornered, she sat sullenly, her earlier confidence replaced with reluctant submission.

"You should know," Batman began, his voice icy and deliberate, "that no one can protect your plants right now. Not you, not anyone."

Poison Ivy's eyes widened with anger and fear. "You wouldn't!"

"Try me," Batman replied.

For a moment, hush, broken only by the faint rumble of distant explosions. Finally, Poison Ivy sighed in defeat.

"Fine," she muttered, her voice laced with bitterness. "I'll cooperate. Just don't—don't touch them."

Batman's lips curled into a faint, grim smile. "Wise choice."

He activated his communicator, sending a signal to the authorities to secure the scene. His voice was calm, but he was already thinking ahead, piecing together the next steps.

In the skies above, Dane and Superman's battle reached its peak. Dane, now fully embracing the combined might of Shazam's divine powers, closed in for the final blow.

"Clark!" he called out mid-flight, his voice echoing with authority. "Snap out of it! Fight her control!"

Superman hesitated for a split second, the words cutting through the haze of Poison Ivy's influence. His fists clenched, and his flight wavered.

Dane noticed the shift and seized the moment. He halted his assault and hovered in place, extending a hand toward Superman.

"You're stronger than this," Dane said firmly. "You're the symbol of hope. Don't let her control define you."

Superman's eyes flickered between red and their usual bright blue as he struggled against the lingering effects of Ivy's toxins. A loud, guttural cry escaped his throat as he finally broke free, the red glow dissipating entirely.

Clark hovered, panting heavily, his gaze shifting to Dane with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude.

"I—thank you," he managed, his voice hoarse but sincere.

Dane smirked. "Don't mention it. But next time, try not to make me polish your face with the ground."

Superman chuckled weakly, shaking his head. "I'll keep that in mind."

The two descended back to the botanical garden, where Batman awaited them with a restrained Poison Ivy. The battle was over, but the night was far from quiet.

Batman's eyes flicked to the unconscious Superman hanging limply in Dane's grip, then back to Dane himself, his expression unreadable. Dane had just proven himself capable of matching and overpowering one of the most strongest beings on Earth.

And now, he was standing in Gotham, an unknown quantity with extraordinary power.

"You didn't have to break the roof," Batman said dryly, his voice laced with the faintest hint of irritation.

Dane smirked, setting Superman down gently. "It felt dramatic, and he was heavy."

Catwoman, leaning against a nearby railing, raised an eyebrow. "Dramatic's an understatement. You just dropped in like the god of thunder."

Ignoring the banter, Batman turned his attention back to Poison Ivy. "Hush. A man wrapped in bandages," he murmured, processing her earlier words.

"He's someone from Gotham, but you don't know who he is?"

Poison Ivy nodded reluctantly. "I've never seen his face. He's careful—always communicates through intermediaries or encrypted messages. He knew too much about me, though—about all of us. That's how he got me to cooperate."

Batman's jaw tightened. The description was vague, but "Hush" sounded eerily methodical, almost surgical in his precision. A new player, but a dangerous one, he concluded.

"And the money?" Batman pressed.

"Gone," Poison Ivy said simply. "He wired it somewhere. I don't know where. I didn't ask. I just... did what I had to do to keep my friend safe."

Batman studied her carefully, searching for any hint of deceit. Ivy's expression was a mix of regret and resignation. For once, she didn't seem to be lying.

"Do you have the names of anyone else he's contacted?"

"Not many. But I overheard him mention someone called 'Raptor' during a conversation. That's all I've got," Ivy said with a shrug.

Dane, listening in hush until now, interjected. "Raptor? Sounds like Gotham's rogues are getting a little more creative with names."

Batman shot him a sharp look but didn't comment. "I'll dig into it."

He turned to Dane. "You've handled Superman. I trust you've got a good explanation for how you managed that."

Dane smiled faintly, his confidence unwavering. "Let's just say Shazam's powers are well-rounded, and leave it at that. Superman's fine—just knocked out. Ivy's pheromones did most of the work on him. But if you want to add me to your suspect list, go ahead."

Batman didn't respond, though his piercing gaze lingered on Dane for a moment longer than necessary.

Catwoman, sensing the tension, quipped, "Boys, if we're done measuring egos, maybe we can figure out how to clean up this mess before the cops show up?"

Batman's attention returned to Poison Ivy. "You'll give me everything you know about hush and Raptor. Then you're going to Arkham. No arguments."

Ivy sighed but didn't resist. "Fine. Not like I have much of a choice, do I?"

Dane watched the exchange, a subtle grin tugging at his lips. He leaned toward Batman. "You've got your hands full, but if you ever want a backup plan, you know where to find me."

Batman didn't respond immediately, but his mind filed the offer away. "Let's move," he finally said, signaling to his team.

As they prepared to leave, the faint sound of sirens echoed in the distance. Gotham was waking up to yet another chaotic night—and the promise of a new mystery lurking in the shadows.

The hunt for Hush had begun.