Reading settings
Chapter 324 Race Against Death
"Rat-tat-tat—"
A dense spray of gunfire was accompanied by terrified screams. The thick curtain of a smoke bomb engulfed the entire floor of the building under construction, punctuated by the crisp cracks of breaking bones and agonized howls.
That was Batman at work. Just another ordinary night in Gotham.
Recently, a new guy called Black Mask had emerged in Gotham, a gang leader who had assembled a formidable new force. Tonight, it seemed he had acquired a bomb that was said to be capable of blowing up three city blocks. After breaking a pile of bones and turning half the city upside down, Batman had finally located the countermeasure device.
He had fought his way through all obstacles into this building under construction, taken down all of Black Mask's henchmen, and was now just one step away from the countermeasure device when he ran into the final barrier.
"Deathstroke," Batman said in a low voice, his eyes narrowing.
He was a man wearing a two-toned mask of black and gold, its straps fluttering dashingly behind him. He had a burly physique and was fully armed in his combat armor. From the longsword on his back to the dagger at his waist, and with the ammo belts and firearms strapped to his body, he was practically a walking armory.
Deathstroke, the super-soldier with a regenerative healing factor, the best assassin in the world.
Although he had agreed to join Luthor's little team, it didn't interfere with his private work. Right now, he was working for Black Mask.
"You want this, don't you, Bat?" Deathstroke said, dangling the countermeasure device in his hand.
"Put it down, Deathstroke," Batman said coldly. "A lot of people will die, and none of this has anything to do with you."
"Sorry, it's not personal, it's professional ethics. Besides... alright, it's a little personal."
Deathstroke slowly drew the blade from his back, his voice chilling.
"I was careless and lost to you by a single move last time, but it won't happen again."
Batman said no more, stepping forward and leading with a punch.
There wasn't much time left. The bomb was on a timer, and the countermeasure device, a fail-safe created by the researcher who designed it, was the last chance. There was just over a minute until the explosion; only by getting the device before then could he stop it.
Deathstroke slashed with his sword, but Batman blocked it with his gauntlet. Sparks flew as his armor collided with Deathstroke's blade.
He threw a flurry of punches, switching between the techniques of several different martial arts schools within a few blows. But Deathstroke's response was equally masterful. Completely unfazed by the dazzling variety of his opponent's fighting style, his swordsmanship was perfectly balanced in offense and defense. The two were evenly matched, a series of clanging metal impacts echoing between them.
But after a few rounds, Batman suddenly took a major risk, charging forward without dodging Deathstroke's incoming blade. The blade struck the armor on his neck with a sharp crack. The sheer force of the blow even tore a rift in the Batsuit, sending beads of blood flying. But he ignored the injury and pressed in close. His right hand shot out, snaking up Deathstroke's body with the flexibility of a water snake, aiming straight for the countermeasure device.
He knew Deathstroke was no second-rate fighter; their combat abilities were on par. Even if he could win, it would take over a hundred moves, which was impossible in under a minute.
Therefore, he was willing to shed blood just to snatch that countermeasure device. As long as he could disable the bomb, he could take his time figuring out how to deal with Deathstroke.
But while this risky move succeeded in touching the device, Deathstroke's reaction was incredibly fast. He countered with an elbow to Batman's chest. The air was knocked out of Batman's lungs, his hand involuntarily loosened, and the countermeasure device was flung away. But as he retreated, he instinctively lashed out with a kick, which also struck Deathstroke in the abdomen.
They both fell back, catching their breath for a moment, before their gazes simultaneously fell upon the countermeasure device that had been tossed aside during the fierce struggle.
The countermeasure device was now tumbling toward the edge of the building, half of it already hanging over the void above the hundred-meter-high construction site below.
They both glanced at the device, then looked at each other with a silent understanding.
The next moment, they launched themselves forward almost simultaneously, sprinting desperately toward the countermeasure device.
However, though it seemed like they were both recklessly racing for the device, Batman had already made another calculation in that split-second decision.
He knew Deathstroke was a modified human, his body having crossed the threshold of mortal limits. In a short-distance sprint, there was no way he could be faster. Therefore, he deliberately pretended to react half a beat slower, intentionally falling half a body length behind at the start. This way, Deathstroke's back would be completely exposed to him, and he also wouldn't be able to notice the Batarang that Batman had stealthily pulled from his cape.
Twenty seconds remaining until detonation.
The Batarang was thrown!
Batman wasn't just a martial arts grandmaster; he was also one of the top tactical masters on the planet. Having worked alongside god-like beings for years, he was naturally better at using his head than his fists.
However, just as the Batarang was about to hit, in the instant before impact, a cold gleam flashed behind Deathstroke, though he didn't even turn his head. With a flash of his sword, the Batarang was sent spinning away with a clang!
Fifteen seconds remaining until detonation.
"Heh, don't think you're the only tactical master here, Bat," Deathstroke sneered.
That's right, Deathstroke was also a master of strategy. He knew his physical abilities were superior to Batman's, but Batman surely knew that too, so he would definitely consider methods other than a straight race.
Always remember to think from your opponent's position—that's the foundation of tactical thinking.
Furthermore, Deathstroke's hearing was also superior to a normal person's. He didn't need to turn around; he could pinpoint the direction of the hidden weapon just by listening to the whoosh of the air. Thus, he deflected the Batarang without turning his head, not letting it affect his sprinting speed in the slightest.
"Sorry, Bat, I win this time!"
However, just as he was about to reach the countermeasure device.
A shadow like death itself fell from the sky, covering the spot where Deathstroke was.
Deathstroke's pupils contracted.
"This is..."
The moment he looked up, he was horrified to see the overwhelming sneak attack from above... it was the steel beams that had been hanging overhead!
In an instant, his enhanced brain figured out the connection.
Deathstroke's prediction of the Batarang sneak attack had, itself, been predicted by Batman!
Not only that, but Batman had also predicted that Deathstroke, in order to save time in the sprint, would definitely rely on his hearing to track and deflect the projectile—that too was a basic skill of a master.
What Batman had just used was a throwing technique he had practiced specifically to counter such a skill. He had hidden a second Batarang in the sound of the first; the first was merely a feint to cover for the real hidden weapon.
And the target of that second Batarang wasn't Deathstroke. Instead, its trajectory was calculated against Deathstroke's running speed to perfectly sever the rope holding the bundle of steel beams above his head.
Getting hit by one Batarang wouldn't have much of an effect on Deathstroke's constitution; he could have taken the hit and still grabbed the countermeasure device before Batman. But a whole bundle of steel beams falling from the sky was a completely different matter.
Deathstroke gritted his teeth.
His own prediction... had been completely predicted by this Bat!
But he still had a way.
Just as he was about to be hit by the steel, Deathstroke roared and leaped forward. Relying on the jumping power of his augmented physique, he slid out from under the falling steel beams in the nick of time, snatched the countermeasure device, and leaped directly from the hundred-meter-high building with the device in hand!
Deathstroke had willingly jumped off the building to snatch the device. Batman had no choice but to leap down as well, in hot pursuit.
Ten seconds remaining until detonation.
Batman fired his grappling gun, wrapping its line around Deathstroke's body. He yanked hard, pulling Deathstroke toward him, and swung a fist at his face.
Deathstroke, in mid-air, found it difficult to retaliate. But his mind was sharp, and without a second thought, he thrust the countermeasure device out, using it like a shield to block the path of Batman's fist.
Sure enough, Batman's fist stopped dead in its tracks.
If this device was destroyed, there would be nothing left to stop that bomb.
Deathstroke seized the opportunity, pulling the device back and landing a counter-punch on Batman's face. Batman coughed up blood, knocked back to an arm's length away.
"Nice tactics, Batman, but you're one step behind," Deathstroke said with a cold laugh. "Looks like I win in the end."
Batman gritted his teeth.
Five seconds remaining until detonation.
However, in that fleeting moment, with only five seconds left.
A golden light beam, as if from the heavens, pierced the night sky. It flew in a dazzling arc, entering the fray as Batman and Deathstroke were both in free fall.
Like a bolt of golden lightning, it descended from the clouds and precisely struck Batman as he fell through the air.
Wrapped within that light was a ring.
It slid unceremoniously onto Batman's finger.
"Bruce Wayne of Earth, you have the ability to instill great fear..."
The radiance of the Power Ring lit up the skyline, turning the dark night into a golden hue.
"...Welcome to the Sinestro Corps!"
Deathstroke: "???"
(end of chapter)
"Rat-tat-tat—"
A dense spray of gunfire was accompanied by terrified screams. The thick curtain of a smoke bomb engulfed the entire floor of the building under construction, punctuated by the crisp cracks of breaking bones and agonized howls.
That was Batman at work. Just another ordinary night in Gotham.
Recently, a new guy called Black Mask had emerged in Gotham, a gang leader who had assembled a formidable new force. Tonight, it seemed he had acquired a bomb that was said to be capable of blowing up three city blocks. After breaking a pile of bones and turning half the city upside down, Batman had finally located the countermeasure device.
He had fought his way through all obstacles into this building under construction, taken down all of Black Mask's henchmen, and was now just one step away from the countermeasure device when he ran into the final barrier.
"Deathstroke," Batman said in a low voice, his eyes narrowing.
He was a man wearing a two-toned mask of black and gold, its straps fluttering dashingly behind him. He had a burly physique and was fully armed in his combat armor. From the longsword on his back to the dagger at his waist, and with the ammo belts and firearms strapped to his body, he was practically a walking armory.
Deathstroke, the super-soldier with a regenerative healing factor, the best assassin in the world.
Although he had agreed to join Luthor's little team, it didn't interfere with his private work. Right now, he was working for Black Mask.
"You want this, don't you, Bat?" Deathstroke said, dangling the countermeasure device in his hand.
"Put it down, Deathstroke," Batman said coldly. "A lot of people will die, and none of this has anything to do with you."
"Sorry, it's not personal, it's professional ethics. Besides... alright, it's a little personal."
Deathstroke slowly drew the blade from his back, his voice chilling.
"I was careless and lost to you by a single move last time, but it won't happen again."
Batman said no more, stepping forward and leading with a punch.
There wasn't much time left. The bomb was on a timer, and the countermeasure device, a fail-safe created by the researcher who designed it, was the last chance. There was just over a minute until the explosion; only by getting the device before then could he stop it.
Deathstroke slashed with his sword, but Batman blocked it with his gauntlet. Sparks flew as his armor collided with Deathstroke's blade.
He threw a flurry of punches, switching between the techniques of several different martial arts schools within a few blows. But Deathstroke's response was equally masterful. Completely unfazed by the dazzling variety of his opponent's fighting style, his swordsmanship was perfectly balanced in offense and defense. The two were evenly matched, a series of clanging metal impacts echoing between them.
But after a few rounds, Batman suddenly took a major risk, charging forward without dodging Deathstroke's incoming blade. The blade struck the armor on his neck with a sharp crack. The sheer force of the blow even tore a rift in the Batsuit, sending beads of blood flying. But he ignored the injury and pressed in close. His right hand shot out, snaking up Deathstroke's body with the flexibility of a water snake, aiming straight for the countermeasure device.
He knew Deathstroke was no second-rate fighter; their combat abilities were on par. Even if he could win, it would take over a hundred moves, which was impossible in under a minute.
Therefore, he was willing to shed blood just to snatch that countermeasure device. As long as he could disable the bomb, he could take his time figuring out how to deal with Deathstroke.
But while this risky move succeeded in touching the device, Deathstroke's reaction was incredibly fast. He countered with an elbow to Batman's chest. The air was knocked out of Batman's lungs, his hand involuntarily loosened, and the countermeasure device was flung away. But as he retreated, he instinctively lashed out with a kick, which also struck Deathstroke in the abdomen.
They both fell back, catching their breath for a moment, before their gazes simultaneously fell upon the countermeasure device that had been tossed aside during the fierce struggle.
The countermeasure device was now tumbling toward the edge of the building, half of it already hanging over the void above the hundred-meter-high construction site below.
They both glanced at the device, then looked at each other with a silent understanding.
The next moment, they launched themselves forward almost simultaneously, sprinting desperately toward the countermeasure device.
However, though it seemed like they were both recklessly racing for the device, Batman had already made another calculation in that split-second decision.
He knew Deathstroke was a modified human, his body having crossed the threshold of mortal limits. In a short-distance sprint, there was no way he could be faster. Therefore, he deliberately pretended to react half a beat slower, intentionally falling half a body length behind at the start. This way, Deathstroke's back would be completely exposed to him, and he also wouldn't be able to notice the Batarang that Batman had stealthily pulled from his cape.
Twenty seconds remaining until detonation.
The Batarang was thrown!
Batman wasn't just a martial arts grandmaster; he was also one of the top tactical masters on the planet. Having worked alongside god-like beings for years, he was naturally better at using his head than his fists.
However, just as the Batarang was about to hit, in the instant before impact, a cold gleam flashed behind Deathstroke, though he didn't even turn his head. With a flash of his sword, the Batarang was sent spinning away with a clang!
Fifteen seconds remaining until detonation.
"Heh, don't think you're the only tactical master here, Bat," Deathstroke sneered.
That's right, Deathstroke was also a master of strategy. He knew his physical abilities were superior to Batman's, but Batman surely knew that too, so he would definitely consider methods other than a straight race.
Always remember to think from your opponent's position—that's the foundation of tactical thinking.
Furthermore, Deathstroke's hearing was also superior to a normal person's. He didn't need to turn around; he could pinpoint the direction of the hidden weapon just by listening to the whoosh of the air. Thus, he deflected the Batarang without turning his head, not letting it affect his sprinting speed in the slightest.
"Sorry, Bat, I win this time!"
However, just as he was about to reach the countermeasure device.
A shadow like death itself fell from the sky, covering the spot where Deathstroke was.
Deathstroke's pupils contracted.
"This is..."
The moment he looked up, he was horrified to see the overwhelming sneak attack from above... it was the steel beams that had been hanging overhead!
In an instant, his enhanced brain figured out the connection.
Deathstroke's prediction of the Batarang sneak attack had, itself, been predicted by Batman!
Not only that, but Batman had also predicted that Deathstroke, in order to save time in the sprint, would definitely rely on his hearing to track and deflect the projectile—that too was a basic skill of a master.
What Batman had just used was a throwing technique he had practiced specifically to counter such a skill. He had hidden a second Batarang in the sound of the first; the first was merely a feint to cover for the real hidden weapon.
And the target of that second Batarang wasn't Deathstroke. Instead, its trajectory was calculated against Deathstroke's running speed to perfectly sever the rope holding the bundle of steel beams above his head.
Getting hit by one Batarang wouldn't have much of an effect on Deathstroke's constitution; he could have taken the hit and still grabbed the countermeasure device before Batman. But a whole bundle of steel beams falling from the sky was a completely different matter.
Deathstroke gritted his teeth.
His own prediction... had been completely predicted by this Bat!
But he still had a way.
Just as he was about to be hit by the steel, Deathstroke roared and leaped forward. Relying on the jumping power of his augmented physique, he slid out from under the falling steel beams in the nick of time, snatched the countermeasure device, and leaped directly from the hundred-meter-high building with the device in hand!
Deathstroke had willingly jumped off the building to snatch the device. Batman had no choice but to leap down as well, in hot pursuit.
Ten seconds remaining until detonation.
Batman fired his grappling gun, wrapping its line around Deathstroke's body. He yanked hard, pulling Deathstroke toward him, and swung a fist at his face.
Deathstroke, in mid-air, found it difficult to retaliate. But his mind was sharp, and without a second thought, he thrust the countermeasure device out, using it like a shield to block the path of Batman's fist.
Sure enough, Batman's fist stopped dead in its tracks.
If this device was destroyed, there would be nothing left to stop that bomb.
Deathstroke seized the opportunity, pulling the device back and landing a counter-punch on Batman's face. Batman coughed up blood, knocked back to an arm's length away.
"Nice tactics, Batman, but you're one step behind," Deathstroke said with a cold laugh. "Looks like I win in the end."
Batman gritted his teeth.
Five seconds remaining until detonation.
However, in that fleeting moment, with only five seconds left.
A golden light beam, as if from the heavens, pierced the night sky. It flew in a dazzling arc, entering the fray as Batman and Deathstroke were both in free fall.
Like a bolt of golden lightning, it descended from the clouds and precisely struck Batman as he fell through the air.
Wrapped within that light was a ring.
It slid unceremoniously onto Batman's finger.
"Bruce Wayne of Earth, you have the ability to instill great fear..."
The radiance of the Power Ring lit up the skyline, turning the dark night into a golden hue.
"...Welcome to the Sinestro Corps!"
Deathstroke: "???"
(end of chapter)
