Attack

The fastest-germinating plant in the world is the soybean. Its seeds can sprout in just 3 to 5 days under ideal conditions. Other common plants typically take over a week. But with a little supernatural boost, 3 to 5 days can become 0.3 seconds. 

As the last freezing grenade on the monster detonated, Poison Ivy slowly rose, arms outstretched. Thick green vines erupted from the soil, ensnaring the monster within 0.3 seconds. Harley Quinn cried, "Red! You scared me half to death!" 

Adam gave Poison Ivy a subtle nod of approval. He knew from the comics that the Black of Decay was a major player in the magical side of the DC universe. Their creations were magical beings, and as Deadman once said, only magic could defeat magic. 

These fundamental elemental forces weren't immune to science and physics. For example, no matter how powerful Plant master was, he was helpless against the herbicide, a chemical concoction designed to kill plants. Similarly, when Dr. Kirk Langstrom (Man-Bat) injected himself with his serum, the Red had no choice but to empower him. However, magic was often anti physical, and Adam never imagined he could subdue a Black of Decay creation through physical means. That's why he instructed Poison Ivy, who was already regaining consciousness, to stay "unconscious" while he took some soybean seeds she provided and discreetly planted them near Plant master. 

"Damn the Green!" the monster struggled, Ms. October's beautiful human skin sloughing off and rotting away, leaving behind a foul stench. The once alluring facade was gone, revealing the blackened, decaying flesh beneath. 

"The Black will not be denied! The Black will rule the world! Our master, Anton Arcane, will corrupt everything! And I, one of the three Hunters, will—" 

"Typical third-rate villain monologue," Adam interrupted dismissively. "Even an old Shakespearean actor wouldn't spout such clichés."

"How dare you mock the Black! The Black is—" 

"The elemental force representing death and decay—on par with the Red and the Green," Adam recited, his eyes cold. "And it's been quite active lately, trying to upset the balance of power. Do you think I'm some uncultured savage? I'm well aware of these things." 

The monster's voice faltered. What? Was the Black of Decay really that well-known? He finally fell silent. He glared at Adam's back, while Poison Ivy met his gaze without flinching. "I will return. We will return, and when we do, the Black will—" 

Thud! 

The vines tightened violently, crushing the monster's head into a pulp. "Why do you all insist on monologuing?" Poison Ivy asked rhetorically. Unfortunately, the Black of Decay embodied death itself. The concept of "death" simply didn't exist for them. 

The monster's form barely coalesced. "Remember, I am one of the three Hunters. When the Black rises again, I will—". Before he could finish, the threat of Poison Ivy's tightening vines caused him to voluntarily dissolve, his body collapsing into a pile of rotting flesh, then disintegrating into ash. 

"The Black of Decay is immortal. They will always return, but not now," Poison Ivy said after a moment of silence. Adam turned to see her standing on her own, having shrugged off Harley's support. She gently stroked the plants killed by the herbicide, a look of sadness in her eyes. 

"When you used those herbicides to murder these plants, I was so angry I almost lashed out," she admitted. "But the Black of Decay is a greater threat. I understand your actions, and I condone them." The green-skinned woman offered a silent moment of mourning for the plants. "But I grieve for their loss." 

Clank! 

Adam turned his head to see everyone had discarded the weapons he had provided. Deathshot, in particular, had stripped himself of every piece of Batman-provided gear, including the surge gun he had been inseparable from just hours earlier. The gun now lay abandoned in the mud, and the man who had professed his undying love for it mere hours ago stood beside it as if it were nothing. 

Adam showed a look of disapproval. "It was just a precaution, a contingency plan. A Plan B. What ulterior motive could I possibly have?" he asked, adding, "You're overreacting. Being unreasonable." 

While saying, "Pick up your weapons," he activated his money ability, and within minutes everyone was re-equipped with their deadly arsenal. Looking at the unconscious Plant master, Poison Ivy busying herself with restoring the greenery, and the messy but settled battlefield, Adam finally breathed a sigh of relief. If nothing else went wrong, this ordeal was finally over. I wonder how Gordon's doing? he thought. 

.... 

Roar! 

Venom coursed through Bane's veins, amplified to its maximum potency. In essence, Venom wasn't a single-use drug. It was a scientist-engineered cocktail of supercharged male hormones, a highly addictive synthetic steroid, and various neurostimulants. Its effects were potent and rapid, surpassing any other substance. Bane's "zombie" followers had constructed a Venom circulation system for him, allowing the drug to continuously flow through his bloodstream, granting him superhuman strength. 

The central nervous system stimulants amplified his energy. The dangerous combination of drugs created explosive, unstable reactions within his body, kept in check by the X-factor, achieving a precarious balance. 

But if, hypothetically, the Venom dosage exceeded the X-factor's suppression, those explosive reactions would spiral out of control. They would tear tendons, forge stronger tissues, and the overstimulation of the central nervous system would affect the brain and potentially boost his intelligence. 

"Tell me! Where is Batman?" Bane bellowed. The soldier stared at the 13-foot-tall muscle monstrosity before him, his legs trembling, urine trickling down his pants. 

Behind Bane lay countless soldiers, swatted like insects. Tanks were torn apart like paper, corpses littered the streets, and blood flowed like a river. "Batman is... dealing with the scientist kidnapping. Gordon told us." 

A flicker of rationality returned to Bane's eyes. This was exactly what he had planned. He gently lowered the soldier, but before the man could rejoice, Bane twisted his head off. He then knocked the soldier's head against his own, just to ensure it wasn't filled with muscle.

As Bane turned to leave, a missile filled with Joker's laughing gas landed in the center of the battlefield. With a hiss, Bane, who had just regained a semblance of sanity, was overcome by a sunny, maniacal grin.