Tubers

With a thud, Bane's mask clattered to the ground. The black and white cowl, though cracked and damaged, had stubbornly clung to his face until this very moment. Now, it lay discarded, a symbol of Bane's sanity slipping away into the darkness.

[Alert! Alert! Anchor item detected:]

[Bane's Mask]

[Description: This mask fell from Bane's face after enduring a siege by 20,000 troops, exposure to Joker's Venom, and the corrupting influence of the Black of Decay. Along with this mask, Bane's pride and sanity were consumed by darkness. It may be used to summon a Batman from a parallel universe.]

Adam nearly forgot about the Alfred Protocol.

[But can an entity summoned through a corrupted object be pure and untainted?]

["No! Damn it! This is... the Joker's laughing gas? Hahahaha, that's rich! How could this be? I, Bane, am immune to such pathetic toxins... Ahahahaha! I am the ultimate warrior, Bane! Rrraaaghhh—"]

[Warning! Warning! Batman No. 52 is too distant from the anchor item. Secure it immediately!]

Adam's eyes fixed on the mask lying beneath Bane's feet. He took a deep breath, then turned to Robin and whispered a few words.

The forest succumbed to the encroaching power of the Black of Decay. Trees withered and rotted, and the one beside Harley Quinn turned into a pile of rotten wood with a foul smell right in front of her.

Squirrels and other small creatures fled in terror, their tiny minds unable to comprehend the sudden decay of their home. Just as Harley reached out to rescue one of the creatures, Deadshot shot it without hesitation.

"Hey! What the—"

"Take a closer look," Deadshot interrupted.

Harley turned to see the once-cute squirrel writhing in pain. Maggots crawled on its decaying face, and insectoid limbs erupted from its body, dripping with mucus. The creature transformed into a grotesque, spider-like monstrosity, then leaped towards Harley.

Bang!

Deadshot fired another shot, stepped forward, and unleashed a torrent of flames from his flame pistol. The squirrel shrieked and writhed in the fire. Deadshot took a step back, muttering, "Never seen anything like that before."

Poison Ivy remained silent, raising her hand to summon vines from the ground. The vines quickly enveloped Harley Quinn, forming a protective armor of on her body.

"Harley, be careful," Poison Ivy said through gritted teeth. "Don't let that thing touch you. These vines are imbued with the Green, and they'll protect you, for now."

"How about you make one for me, too?" Deadshot quipped.

Poison Ivy ignored him.

"Oh, Red! Thank you!" Harley cried, hugging Poison Ivy. "You're the best!"

"So, why can't I get one too? I'm scared of dying, too, ya know."

"Buzz off," the two women said in unison.

The vibrant green of the forest rapidly withered under the influence of the Black of Decay. Solomon Grundy, the hulking zombie, watched the encroaching darkness with a disgusted expression. "Grundy hates this!" he grumbled.

Adam leaned towards Poison Ivy, whispering, "How much more of the Green can you muster?"

Poison Ivy glanced at the captive Plant master.

The Plant master, who had just fallen to the ground, was weakened not just by the herbicide, but by the extensive decay that had ravaged his body, leaving him helpless and in need of Poison Ivy's restraining vines.

But now, his face resembled a dying tree, like an old man over 100 years old who was about to die. His once robust form and the lush green leaves on his cheeks had turned a sickly grayish-black.

This was precisely Batman's doing. Adam felt a twinge of guilt, but quickly pushed it aside. Poison Ivy released the vines that had sealed Plant master's mouth. "Jason, we need your help!"

Adam asked, "Where are the Swamp Thing's tubers?"

"I... feel the power..."Bane grinned, the Joker's toxin still affecting him even amidst the Black of Decay's corruption. "Ha! Ha! Ha... Ho ho..."

"What's happening?" Another voice emanated from Bane. "We are the Hunters. How could a mere mortal's toxin..." "Enough! Don't embarrass yourself. The Black hasn't fully taken control. He's still partially alive, protected by the Red—there's no time for this. Prepare to face the enemy!"

Bang!

Solomon Grundy's fist slammed into Bane's face, sending his head snapping back, but Bane seemed oblivious to the pain. He laughed gleefully and gave Solomon Grundy a hug.

"Fool! Prepare to face the might of the Black of Decay..."

"???"

Adam whispered to Poison Ivy, "Solomon Grundy is an undead zombie, neither alive nor dead. The Black of Decay has no power over him. But we can't expect this mindless brute to help us defeat the enemy."

"I know, I know! I'm looking for it, don't rush me!" Killer Croc grumbled, his hands buried deep within Plant master's plant body.

Poison Ivy, using her connection to the Green, had sliced open Plant master's body, and Killer Croc was rummaging through his insides for the remaining tubers.

So far, they had found nothing. Poison Ivy grew anxious. She stood up and grabbed Plant master's face.

"Damn it, Jason! Do you realize how dire the situation is? The Black of Decay is right here, and you're still fighting me?"

"Is this it?" Killer Croc suddenly exclaimed, holding up a hard green object coated in a sticky residue.

Poison Ivy turned. "That's the leftover husk after Jason absorbed all the nutrients." She turned back to Plant master. "Think, Jason! No matter how much we squabble, we are all part of the Green!"

"You're guilt-tripping me," Plant master scoffed. "Traitor!"

"Ugh!" Killer Croc stood there like a fool for a while, and then almost vomited. He forced himself to swallow his disgust and shoved the husk back into Plant master

I can't stand this guy!

"Jason! We're friends, we—"

"Enough! Look!" Adam interrupted Poison Ivy, pointing towards the battlefield.

He forced Plant master's head to turn towards the scene where Solomon Grundy and Bane were locked in combat. Deadshot and Cat were firing at Bane.

"If the Black of Decay wins, we're all doomed!" Adam warned. "And before I die, I'll make sure you're the first one fed to that monster!"

Plant master was silent for a moment. Then, he coughed up two tubers.