Forged in Chaos: A Transmigrator’s Tale in the DC Universe

**Chapter 12: The Heart of Cipher's Plan**

The room they entered was unlike the rest of Arkham Asylum. Unlike the crumbling walls and decayed hallways, this chamber was sleek, metallic, and filled with high-tech monitors displaying streams of coded data. In the center of the room stood Cipher, clad in his dark tactical gear, his gloved hands tapping methodically against a glowing console.

Beside him, the Joker leaned casually against the wall, twirling a butterfly knife between his fingers. His painted grin widened as Batman and Ethan stormed in.

"Well, well, well," the Joker cackled. "Took you long enough! We were about to send out invitations."

Ethan's fists clenched as he scanned the room. "What the hell is this place?"

Cipher turned, his helmet reflecting the low red glow of the monitors. "The future, Mr. Cross. The next step in evolution."

Batman's eyes narrowed. "Explain."

Cipher stepped aside, revealing a cylindrical containment pod filled with a thick greenish fluid. Inside floated a figure—humanoid, but… wrong. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its limbs twitched with eerie anticipation.

"The culmination of my research," Cipher said. "I've spent years perfecting the process. Enhancing soldiers with nanotechnology, refining the human genome to its ultimate potential." He gestured toward Ethan. "Your abilities are crude by comparison. A lucky genetic anomaly."

Ethan's blood boiled. "And what, you think you can do better?"

Cipher's voice was calm. "I already have."

With a press of a button, the pod hissed open, and the figure inside twitched violently before stepping onto the cold metal floor. Its veins pulsed with an eerie luminescence, and when it opened its mouth, a low, guttural growl echoed through the chamber.

"Meet Apex," Cipher said. "The future of warfare."

The Joker clapped enthusiastically. "Oh, I love a good monster movie."

Apex moved with inhuman speed, lunging at Ethan with clawed hands. He barely dodged in time, rolling to the side as Batman engaged from the flank, striking with precise, calculated blows. But Apex shrugged them off as if they were nothing.

"This thing's not human," Ethan gritted out, landing a powerful punch that barely made Apex flinch. He quickly fused a shock grenade with his gauntlet and slammed it against Apex's chest. The resulting explosion sent the creature staggering backward, but not down.

Cipher watched impassively. "Struggle all you want. Apex is beyond you."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "No one is beyond a fall."

They had to end this—now.