Their pursuit led them to the Serpent Coil's central sanctum, a hidden chamber beneath an abandoned cathedral, where the air thrummed with dark energy. The Coil's leader, a gaunt figure named Elias Thorne, stood before an ancient altar, wielding an artifact that pulsed with a malevolent green light, a chilling echo of the Overseer's power source.
The battle erupted, a chaotic clash of batarangs, arrows, enhanced strength, and arcane energies. Thorne unleashed blasts of dark magic, forcing them to take cover. "You cannot stop the Coil!" Thorne shrieked, his eyes glowing with fanatical zeal. "We will unlock the true power of the ancients!"
Thorne focused his attacks on Michael, his voice dripping with a disturbing familiarity. "The island… it whispers your secrets, Queen. The sacrifices you made. The darkness you embraced." Michael flinched, the ghosts of Lian Yu momentarily resurfacing. But he held firm, channeling his emerald energy with renewed focus, pushing back against Thorne's dark magic.
Batman, witnessing Michael's struggle against the psychological assault and his unwavering commitment to stopping Thorne, saw beyond the enigmatic powers. He saw a man fighting his own inner demons while battling a tangible evil. In the end, it was Michael's understanding of the Overseer's residual energy within the artifact that allowed him to disrupt Thorne's control, creating an opening for Oliver to deliver the decisive blow.
As they apprehended the remaining Coil members, Batman offered Michael a rare nod of acknowledgment. "You understand more than you let on, Queen."