Chapter 209: Another Batman
From thousand-mile New York transit at maximum velocity, Batwing Two arrived at New Mexico gamma facility airspace, streaking overhead.
The instant Batwing Two's Oracle AI synchronized with Batman's cowl receiver, Batman issued rapid orders:
"Barbara, destroy that aircraft!"
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!
Machine gun extended from Batwing's undercarriage. Countless rounds streamed toward The Leader's aircraft. Simultaneously, Batman extracted multiple batarangs from utility belt, hurling them outward.
High-frequency sonic batarangs, gel bomb batarangs flew toward surrounding inferno.
Under hardening gel's influence, gamma facility conflagration immediately stalled. Hardening gel completely encased majority combustible materials, eliminating oxygen access for flame propagation.
Batman knew Venom's fire vulnerability. How could he possibly fail preparing countermeasures?
Gel bomb batarangs served dual functions beyond movement restriction—they constituted Batman's fire suppression equipment.
Both applications activated simultaneously. Partial gel bombs temporarily restricted Red Hulk's mobility. Others coated gamma facility combustibles completely.
As flames diminished, Venom surged from Batman's core again—not manifesting suit configuration this time, but extending countless pitch-black tentacles from Batman's back.
Batman had concealed capabilities throughout entire engagement. Until new Batwing reached battlefield, Batman deployed Venom exclusively for suit manifestation, cross sword generation, and physiological regeneration—nothing beyond.
Even high-frequency sonic batarangs remained unutilized.
Every concealed capability—reserved for this decisive strike!
Tentacles didn't thrust directly toward Gamma Goblin. Batman recognized his extreme velocity made direct capture unrealistic.
But capture wasn't Batman's objective. He required Gamma Goblin voluntarily entering trap!
WHOOSH!
Countless pitch-black tentacles writhed behind Batman's back, twisting chaotically like tangled fishing net.
Gamma Goblin predictably vanished exploiting velocity advantage. But simultaneous with his disappearance, high-frequency sonic batarangs transmitted vibration wave sequences from every gamma facility vector.
High-frequency sonic batarangs functioned through vibration-induced disorientation.
Batman had deployed this tactic once against Abomination, then withheld subsequent usage.
But under current unexpected sonic assault, Gamma Goblin's vanished form rematerialized.
CRASH!
He collided with gamma facility's already devastated wall section. Instantly, countless black tentacles swarmed forward, coiling around him.
While Batman processed Gamma Goblin, Batwing's sustained fire successfully disabled The Leader's aircraft.
Crescent-shaped Batwing wasn't disposable Harrier GR9 modification anymore. Maneuverability, velocity, firepower—all vastly superior specifications.
The Leader resisted naturally. But Oracle AI-controlled Batwing demonstrated extreme agility—exploiting evasive maneuvers to hack enemy aircraft systems before executing ballistic destruction.
THUD! CLANG!
First sound: The Leader plummeting from altitude, impacting scorched ground. Second sound: Gamma Goblin tentacle-bound, hurled violently into disposable Batwing cockpit's transformed containment cage.
Cage sealed with metallic resonance. Previously elevated by four alloy stakes, cage descended—stakes transforming into restraint framework, imprisoning Gamma Goblin completely.
Gamma inhibitors, heavy-duty sedatives, powerful anesthetics deployed simultaneously. Injection needles penetrated Gamma Goblin's scaled hide, delivering pharmacological cocktail.
THUMP!
Gamma Goblin resisted momentarily before immediate stillness. His physiology rapidly contracted within cage confines.
From hunched scale-covered form with taloned extremities and pointed ears, he rapidly reverted to naked middle-aged human configuration.
Unmistakably Norman Osborn.
Within eyeblink, tactical situation reversed completely. Red Hulk just now breaking free from hardening gel. The Leader and Gamma Goblin both neutralized.
As Red Hulk roared preparing renewed assault—BOOM! Violent detonation excavated crater beneath Red Hulk's stance, destabilizing him momentarily before tumbling collapse.
Batman's additional feigned weakness—withholding devastating attack until critical moment: gel bombs!
He'd consistently utilized gel bomb batarangs' hardening gel as movement restriction tool exclusively.
But Batman never forgot equipment's complete designation: "Hardening Gel Bomb Batarangs."
Explosion constituted their primary function!
Amid detonation firelight, Batman patted Venom coating:
"Hide yourself, Robin."
Venom had reached critical exhaustion. Continued Red Hulk engagement risked lethal symbiote depletion.
Gamma Goblin threat eliminated. The Leader, aircraft-deprived, posed negligible danger.
Currently singular opponent remained: Red Hulk, possessing extreme thermal output Venom couldn't withstand.
Despite this, Batman stood ramrod straight, observing Red Hulk emerge slowly from gel bomb explosive flames. Batman advanced toward him.
Utility belt batarangs depleted completely. Batwing ammunition ineffective against Red Hulk. Venom critically weakened. Yet Batman's footsteps carried zero hesitation—actually accelerating gradually.
Red Hulk likewise accelerated, footfalls generating resonant impacts. Casually batting aside obstacles in forward trajectory, his pace escalated progressively before transforming into full charge.
Observing charging Red Hulk, Batman's expression remained impassive. Instead, both arms extended, muscles flexing deliberately.
TING! TING!
Two crisp metallic sounds. Bat-claw web fluid cartridges ejected, clattering to scorched concrete. Batman's grip simultaneously deployed replacement cartridges, loading into bat-claws.
Batman hadn't merely relocated bat-claw firing mechanisms pre-departure—from outer forearm to inner forearm positioning.
He'd prepared hundreds of specialized web fluid formulations for this operation, compressing them into swappable cartridges enabling instant tactical adaptation.
Thus, Batman's operational preparations—excepting Alpha Protocol—had seen complete deployment.
One combatant: methods exhausted, possessing only hundreds of web formula cartridges, having lost majority stamina through sustained engagement—Batman.
Opposite combatant: rational consciousness, strength exceeding Hulk specifications, extreme surface temperature—Red Hulk.
"Advantage: mine." Batman broke into full sprint, charging Red Hulk directly.
One-versus-one engagement formally commenced.
---
Rikers Island vicinity, near Rikers Prison—Daredevil found himself surrounded completely. Nearby concrete: exsanguinated corpse.
The corpse wore orange prison jumpsuit. Obviously former Rikers inmate.
Daredevil had rushed here immediately after news reports of Rikers destruction. But he'd arrived one step too late. Maximum threat imprisoned here—Kingpin—had already escaped.
"Stop him."
Kingpin occupied electric wheelchair, observing Daredevil from beyond encirclement perimeter.
Statement concluded, Kingpin turned away from Daredevil, advancing toward helicopter parked on Rikers Island.
"FOR KINGPIN!"
Prisoners swarmed forward—as though obstructing Daredevil for Kingpin constituted tremendous honor.
Within minutes, over one hundred inmates' coordinated assault delivered countless blows. Blood trickled through Daredevil's mask seams.
Police vehicles blocked several kilometers from Rikers Island. Law enforcement couldn't penetrate. Kingpin, though imprisoned, had long since prepared escape protocols.
Hearing Stark Expo's crimson mech destruction proceeded without Batman intervention—Tony Stark's bodyguard Iron Man responding instead—Kingpin recognized optimal escape timing.
WHAM!
Single punch penetrated between Daredevil's billy clubs, connecting heavily with his skull.
Daredevil experienced immediate disorientation. He recognized today's futility—couldn't stop these prisoners alone.
But suddenly, Rikers Island experienced cold atmospheric disturbance. Next instant, dark silhouette materialized beside Daredevil.
Detecting this figure's nearly inaudible heartbeat and respiration patterns, Daredevil inquired:
"Who are you?"
The newcomer opened his mouth, exposing pronounced fangs while observing surrounding inmates plus blood-covered Daredevil beside him. Both hands slowly manifested razor talons:
"I am Batman."
Daredevil's breathing hitched. Despite his blindness, he involuntarily oriented toward the speaker's position:
"Another Batman?"
***
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