Two Face? Penguin? They were fighting, right? No. This wasn't them. The entire underworld of Gotham only thrives if Gotham thrives. The entire foundation collapsed. The banks, the government, the infrastructure. This crippled all of Gotham but also the crime lords.

Two Face and Penguin's organized crime was ground in legitimate businesses. They need Gotham to survive. The fire and the destruction was someone else entirely.

The question was, who?

Everyone was scrambling to find the answer, which was why it was so easy for you to leave the manor.

You landed on a gargoyle and stood tall above the fires of the destroyed buildings.

Y/N: Whoever you are, I'm coming for you.

Y/N: And I'm going to make you hurt.

You leaped off the edge and shot out a line which you used to swung back up into the sky. You then pulled on your cape and activated the glide feature to move through the city faster.

As you glided, you thought back on what you had gathered from the contact lens you were wearing. Still your greatest invention.

Imposters running around, a new group of criminals, and now two members of the family critically injured.

Your blood was boiling and your body ached but the shot was designed to hold you together until you got the job done. That's all you needed. You can get yelled at by Cassandra and Tim and Stephanie later. Right now, you needed to do your damn job.

And you were going to start with those posers.
----------
Everyone gathered in the Batcave where Tim and Damien were still being tended to. Terry and Katie had gotten there last and everyone was surpised to see her.

Helena: So we're just letting anyone in now?

Terry: She's an ally. At least for tonight.

Katie: This is my city to. I'd rather not live in a bunch of destroyed buildings.

Katie looked over and spotted Selina. The two women looked at each other before Katie looked away.

Terry: How bad is it?

Jason: Well, while we were distracted by this stupid turf war, someone else was plotting against us.

Helena: Only government buildings were targeted. God knows how many lives were spared since they attacked at night.

Debra: They still did a lot of damage. No one can go in or out of the city right now. The Blackhawks were even called in.

Terry clenched his fists.

Terry: We need to find out who did this and why. Whatever it takes.

Stephenie: That doesn't even account for the four batmen running around.

Terry: Four?!

Selina: Me and Robin found their cave. There were four cases, all empty.

Jason: So that means that there's four of these bastards we need to take down.

Hel: The longer they're free, the more people they kill. We can't let this keep happening.

Terry: So we have two conflicts to worry about. Two immediate threats.

Everyone was at a lost of what to do. Things have never gotten this bad before. They needed a plan and they needed it now.

Katie: Can't you guys call up the JL?

Debra: They're off planet on a mission. The only reason our Batman isn't there is because he's recovering.

Alfred looked up.
-------
Thug: It's Batman!

You leaped down and delivered a flying kick to the face.
-------
Alfred slowly lowered his head back down.

Terry: Fine. We need to split up into two groups. Huntress 1, Batgirl, Red Hood, Batwoman, and Spoiler, you guys stay on patrol. We need to find out whoever gains the most out of this. If Black Mask is dead, then we need to know who we'redealing with. Selina, Katie, Orphan, and me are going hunting. We need to stop these Batmen.

Alfred: Batman is already on that case.

Everyone turned to him in surpise and shock while Alfred contiued to stich up Tim's injury.

Alfred: What?

Hel: He's....out of bed?

Alfred: Indeed. He left when the call went out. As you can see, he took the standard suit.

Helena: And you...just let him?!

Alfred: Indeed.

Cassandra honestly began to worry. She didn't report her encounter with Azrael for this very reason. She wanted to avoid you getting involved in the conflict against the Arkham Knights.

It was as if her whole world came crashing down.

Cassandra: no.
----------
You stood over the edge of the cave entrance and held up the red flare to look below you. The entire floor where the mock Batcave once stood was now ablazed in orange flames. It was a message.

Too late.

Y/N: Too late? Shame. I was really hoping to kick someone's ass tonight.

You walked down the steps toward the flames and found yourself face to face with a scarecrow like set up. Instead of a straw man, you found a Batman dummy on the stick. There was also a speaker attached to it.

Batsignal: Look who finally showed up. I thought I was done with intruders for the night. Oh well.

Y/N: Duke. I know what you did to Tim.

Batsignal: Before you say anything, it was self defense. He came into my home and fought me. Luckily, I was ready. I finally got actual training from a guy who knows what he's doing.

You grabbed a hold of the cape that was flying in the wind against the hot flames.

Y/N: Duke, I never met you as myself. We knew each other before everything happened. From what everyone had told me about you, this isn't who you are.

Batsignal: You know absolutely nothing about who I am. Look at you. Holding a memory of the past as Gotham burns above you. It's almost poetic. Do you even know who's responsible? Do you want a hint? I'll give you one. But the answer might shock you!

Suddenly, the entire scarecrow relased a powerful wave of electricity they stunned you and sent you to the floor. All of your uninjured wounds echoed in pain endlessly as Duke stepped out into the light.

Batsignal: You should know that Drake took it like a man. He knew the consequences. He knew what turning me down would lead to.

Y/N: Duke...you're...mad. Do you even know what you're doing?

Batsignal: I'm well aware of what I'm doing. I'm saving Gotham.

Y/N: Dumbass say what.

Batsignal: What?

Y/N: Ha! You fool!

You grinned as you leaped up and slammed a fist into Duke's jaw. Duke was further gone than you had thought. You were no doctor but you knew that his mind wasn't right. Something was wrong. He was brainwashed by someone.

Duke got back up but you kicked him in the chest which sent him flying down a set of stairs. You leaped down after him. He threw a batarang at you but you caught it and quickly threw it away. It erupted in an explosion which sent part of the roof into the dark abyss below.

You reached Duke and delivered another lunch to his gut before giving him a left hook to the face. Duke recovered and swung at you. His hit landed but you were quick to counter.

Your leg hit his rib which he grabbed in pain. He then grabbed your shoulders and sent his knee right into your gut. Duke sprayed some gas into your eyes but you didn't let it faze you.

You grabbed his shoulders and tackled him off the ledge you were both on. You both hit the ground, hard, but you pushed yourself up.

Batsignal: Okay. Now let's get serious.

You grinned.

Y/N: I wholeheartedly agree.
---------
Debra: This place is truly hell.

Debra stood on the edge of a building as she looked down below. She cracked her knuckles before he took the dive into the flames. Everyone was now in overdrive and working harder than they ever have before.

Debra was kept on patrol duty to find and stop has many people as she could. Terry had left with his team of two Catwomen and Orphan to find you and the other Batmen. Things were looking more and more grim by the second and they needed to act fast or more people would lose their lives.

Debra landed in an alleyway were three men were attacking a family. She grabbed the first man and broke his arm by slamming it against the wall. She then kicked the second man's knee which she used to leap up and deliver another kick to the last guy. The three men fell to the floor and Debra turned to the family.

Debra: Go to Dr. Thompson's clinic. It's safe there.

The father nodded and led his family out of the alleyway. Debra stood up and sighed before she activated her boots again. She was wearing thin now. The last 24 hours have been nonstop fighting and terror all over Gotham. She couldn't even remember if she slept since this all started.

Regardless, she needed to keep going. Everyone else was giving it their all. She wasn't about to fall behind.

Barbara: It's been a rough week, gang. But if we keep pushing it like we have been, this night might be the last we have to go full throttle. Gotham's underground is going to be violent, desperate, and they're going to do what they can to get ahead in the game. But with Y/N back, even if he is injured, we have hope. We're going to want to take the easy way out whenever possible, bit we can't. We can't fall into things like the Arkham Knights. We need to be better. We need to be what Bruce wants us to be.

All around Gotham, the family all agreed with what Barbara was saying.

Debra: We don't do this because it's easy. We do this because this city needs us. We are Gotham's Knights. Protecting it is what we do.

Helena: Gotham Knights? That has a ring to it.

Jason: Wow, mini me. I taught you well.

Barbara: Alright, break's over.

Hel: Break? I thought this was a pep talk?

Barbara: And for that crack, you got your next assignment. Grundy is running loose near Port Adams.

Hel: Ew! That's sewer duty!

Helena: Be glad you have pants.
---------
Y/N: It's over, Duke!

You kicked his jaw which sent him stumbling back. Duke just grinned as he pulled an explosive out of his belt.

Duke: You're right, Y/N.

He threw the bomb into the air and the two of you leaped away before it could burn you to ash. You jumped over the edge and followed Duke through the tunnels as what remained of the mock cave collapsed. He leaped through a sewer grate which lead into the new subway station. You jumped down as well and landed on the train that was moving.

Y/N: How do you want this to end, Duke?!

Duke: The way it's supposed to end! With me being the Bat!

He swung at you but you caught his wrist. You twisted his arm and slammed him onto the metal roof as the train left the tunnel and the city came into view in the background. Duke stood you and swiped his cape at you. You caught it and pulled on it while you lifted a leg into the air. His face collided with your foot and you swiped his feet.

Duke landed and you stood over him with the cape that you had torn off.

Y/N: Stop this, Duke. You can't win. You should know better.

Duke stood up but you clenched the cape in your hand as you punched him.

Y/N: You're not Batman!

You hit him again.

Y/N: You all killed with the symbol on your chest!

You punched him. A chunk of his mask broke off.

Y/N: You destroyed the city and forsaken everyone in it!

You punched him. He was bleeding now.

Y/N: You're not Batman!

You grabbed a hold of him and pulled him close.

Y/N: I am.

You the slammed your head against his and he went limp in you grip. The train came to a stop and you grabbed Duke. You shot out a line and grappled yourself up to the roof of a nearby building. You set him down and finally caught your breath.

Terry: You're not easy to find.

You turned around to find Terry, Cassandra, Selina, and Katie all landing on the roof as well. They had followed you here after they saw the mock cave collapse. Terry and Cassandra looked at Duke who was still out cold.

Terry: You, beat him?

Y/N: Yeah. It wasn't easy. He put up a damn good fight.

You groaned as you moved your shoulder. You finally gritted your teeth and moved it harder so that it popped. Everyone winced.

Y/N: Now, word is that there's three more running around?

Cassandra walked over to you. You couldn't see her face but you knew she was pissed.

Cassandra: Why are you here?

Y/N: My city is in flames and I have Batmen running around killing people. The hell do you think I'm doing?

Cassandra: You can not be here. You need to recover.

Y/N: The bad guys aren't waiting for me, Orphan. I'll sleep all you want after I make sure Gotham doesn't collapse on itself.

Cassandra looked at you with eyes of worry. Azrael's words rang in her head. The ones she didn't tell anyone.

Batknight: The only way this war ends, is when one dies. Who kills who, I do not know. But I do know, that one of the two people involved, will be Y/N.

Cassandra grabbed the front of your costume and looked up to her. Tears were soaking through her mask.

Cassandra: Please.....go home.

You gently grabbed her wrists and pulled them away.

Y/N: I can't. Not now.

You lifted her mask up to see her face as you smiled softly.

Y/N: I promise, when this is all over, I'll rest. But for now, I need to fight.

You kissed her forehead before Terry nodded.

Terry: Well welcome back, Batman.

Y/N: That's a bit premature, Beyond. I won't really be back until I've taken Gotham. And that battle starts now.

Now, it was time for the Knights to fall. Now, it was time to take back Gotham.

End of Vol. 1