"We're here. This is it."
Batman pushed open the heavy iron door, stepping into a dimly lit, reinforced cell. Inside, the Joker sat shackled, handcuffed, and secured in place—yet he didn't seem to mind.
He was grinning, talking to the plastic flower pinned to his chest as if it were an old friend.
"Ohhhhhh! Isn't this Batman?" The Joker's grin widened as he spotted them. "Did you come to play a game with me? I'm so touched!"
SMACK!
Batman punched him square in the face, drawing a streak of blood from his nose.
"You killed fourteen people during your escape," Batman said coldly.
"Yes, yes, I know," the Joker chuckled, unfazed as he wiped the blood from his lips.
"But you see, I had no choice."
His voice lowered, taking on an almost hypnotic tone.
"This was the only way… the only way to make you come to me… because only I have the clues."
Then, he burst into laughter.
"HaHAHAHAHA! Confused yet, Bats? Those monsters—oh, those monsters!"
"They give me such an… interesting feeling."
The Joker's eyes glowed with manic excitement.
"It feels like they could end the whole world!"
He leaned forward, still chuckling.
"Of course, if you want to know more… you'll have to play my game."
Batman didn't hesitate—he punched the Joker again.
Then, turning to Shin, he muttered, "I assume you have a special way to get him to talk?"
"Even if you turn him into a toad or a bat, it won't make a difference."
Shin grinned. "Oh, don't worry."
"I have something much better than that."
Shin shook the water gun in his hand.
"You see, the cursed springs of Jusenkyō aren't as simple as you think."
"The Animal Drowning Spring is just the most basic one. There are springs for mythical beasts, humans, and even superhumans."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "And what exactly are you using?"
Shin smirked.
"This time… it's the legendary spring of Drowned Good Man."
Before anyone could react, he pulled the trigger.
A stream of cold water splashed onto the Joker's face.
In an instant, his expression changed.
The chaotic, psychotic gleam in his eyes vanished. Instead, his gaze became… calm, steady, and resolute.
His posture straightened, and a strange aura of righteousness radiated from him.
It was so intense that it was almost visible to the naked eye.
Is the Joker… now reformed?
The Joker sighed, shaking his head.
"This is… a nightmare," he muttered.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he unlocked his handcuffs without even looking.
Then, he smoothed his messy green hair back into a slicked-back style. His normally grinning mouth relaxed into something far more… composed.
Though his face still had its signature eerie look, the sinister energy was gone.
Batman stiffened, staring at him in shock.
"What the hell did you just do?"
Even for someone as rational as Batman, this was unprecedented.
His greatest nemesis—the psychopath who lived to torment him—was now acting like a mild-mannered gentleman.
Shin simply shrugged. "I told you—it's the legendary spring of Drowned Good Man."
"From now on, if you splash him with cold water, he'll turn into a good person. Pour hot water on him, and he goes back to normal."
"Just like your bat transformation."
Batman's breathing slowed as he processed the implications.
If this really worked…
Then every dangerous criminal he fought—every supervillain in Gotham—could be… fixed.
With just a squirt of cold water.
For the first time in years, Batman actually felt… tempted.
But he quickly shoved the thought away.
Instead, he scowled and muttered, "How is this any different from giving the Joker schizophrenia?"
Before Shin could respond, the Joker spoke first.
"No," he said, his voice unnervingly steady.
"I've never been more sane than I am right now."
He looked directly at Batman.
"Or do you actually think I was a 'normal person' before?"
Batman clenched his fists but didn't argue.
After all… if Joker was considered "normal," then no one on Earth could be called insane.
"Alright, let's not dwell on this," Shin interrupted.
"Tell us about those demons."
The Joker—still eerily composed—nodded.
"The monsters? The ones that chase fear?"
He rubbed his chin.
"They first appeared in the employee rest area," he explained. "Then, they went straight for the Scarecrow's cell."
Shin raised an eyebrow.
"They specifically targeted Scarecrow?"
Joker nodded. "It's obvious—these creatures have a deep connection to fear. They don't just sense it—they feed on it."
"The only reason they showed up in Arkham was because they were drawn to the overwhelming terror inside the asylum."
Shin and Batman exchanged glances.
Arkham was filled with lunatics, but there were still plenty of normal people working there—guards, doctors, administrators.
And living in a place like Arkham?
Of course, they'd feel constant fear.
It was like a beacon, attracting something far worse than criminals.
A Parademon infestation.
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