Boom!
A house collapsed in an instant, the explosion tearing through the structure as flames burst outward. A truck parked nearby carried a mounted rocket launcher, and a masked man stood on top of it, shouting wildly as chaos spread through the street.
Residents fled in all directions, panic driving them into blind escape. Within moments, sirens wailed in the distance as police vehicles surged toward the scene, red and blue lights cutting through the night.
It didn't take long before the street turned into a battlefield.
Gunfire erupted between the police and the criminals, bullets tearing through the air as both sides exchanged fire without restraint. Officers ducked behind car doors and barricades, returning shots whenever they found an opening.
George crouched behind the door of a police cruiser, his face grim as he leaned out to fire in controlled bursts.
"These lunatics…" he muttered through clenched teeth.
Before he could say more, his expression changed sharply. Instinct kicked in, and he threw himself away from the vehicle just as a flicker of fire cut through the darkness.
A rocket streaked forward.
In the next instant, the police car he had been using as cover was engulfed in flames and blown apart.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions shook the entire block, shockwaves rippling outward as nearby officers were thrown off their feet. One unlucky officer was caught directly in the blast, his body consumed by fire as screams and curses filled the air.
Compared to the chaos on the police side, the criminals erupted into cheers, emboldened by their advantage.
The situation spiraled rapidly toward collapse.
Then—
A black figure moved.
Under the pale glow of the moon, a shadow darted through the alleyways with silent precision. In the next moment, the figure appeared on the rooftop, directly behind a man holding a gun, his face painted in chaotic graffiti.
Without hesitation, the figure lashed out.
A powerful kick sent the man flying.
Boom!
His body slammed into a nearby vehicle, a pained groan escaping his lips as he crumpled.
The sudden movement drew immediate attention.
"Batman?"
One of the nearby criminals stiffened, recognition flashing across his face. He reached for his weapon instinctively—
—but he was too slow.
Bruce grabbed the man's wrist, twisting it sharply until a scream tore from his throat. With a swift kick, he sent him crashing into another thug who had been rushing in to help.
Bruce didn't pause.
He moved fast, sprinting toward the side of the street as gunfire erupted around him. Bullets cut through the air, but he weaved through them with practiced ease, his movements fluid and precise.
A flash of silver cut through the darkness.
A batarang struck a man square in the chest, sending him collapsing with a cry. His companion rushed forward, yanking the weapon free, his expression filled with shock.
Even now, no one underestimated Batman's equipment.
"Fuck!"
The man operating the rocket launcher spun around, barking orders as his partner quickly reloaded another round. A cruel grin spread across his face as the weapon locked into place.
But before he could fire—
a streak of silver flashed again.
A dart embedded itself into his arm.
"Ah—damn it!"
The launcher slipped from his grasp as pain shot through him. Clutching his arm, he staggered backward and jumped down from the truck, abandoning the weapon.
The shift was immediate.
With the criminals' focus broken, the police seized the opportunity, returning fire with renewed intensity. Bullets rained down, forcing the gang to retreat and take cover.
The momentum had turned.
Sensing it, Bruce pushed forward.
He burst from behind cover, closing the distance in an instant as he reached a man reloading his weapon. A sharp kick to the abdomen doubled the man over, followed by a brutal uppercut that sent him airborne.
The man hit the ground hard, unconscious before he even registered the impact.
Gunfire followed.
Bruce reacted instantly, scaling the side of a structure with incredible speed before dropping back down, avoiding the incoming barrage. As he landed, his leg lashed out, knocking a man off the truck with a crushing blow.
Three more rushed him.
They didn't last more than a second.
His fists moved in rapid succession, each strike precise and devastating, dropping all three in quick succession.
Boom!
A heavy punch slammed into the chest of a man attempting to fire.
"Pff—!"
Blood sprayed from the man's mouth as his body was launched backward, crashing into the truck with enough force to dent the metal. He stared at Bruce in terror as the masked figure advanced.
Bruce's fist came down again—
—but stopped just short, grazing past the man's ear and slamming into the vehicle beside him instead.
The impact thundered through the air.
The criminal collapsed, clutching his head, too terrified to move.
Bruce's chest rose and fell heavily, his breathing uneven. A faint redness lingered in his eyes, something darker flickering beneath the surface.
He didn't stop.
Moving like a storm, he tore through the remaining criminals. One after another, they fell, completely unable to resist him.
Then—
a sharp crack.
A baseball bat slammed into the side of his head.
His body staggered, vision blurring as dizziness hit him hard. The attacker seized the moment, stepping forward with a dagger drawn, driving it toward Bruce's torso.
For a split second, victory flashed across the man's face.
Then—
a hand caught his wrist.
Click.
Bone snapped.
The man screamed, but the sound was cut short as a knee drove into his body, knocking the air from his lungs. He collapsed instantly, unconscious before he hit the ground.
Bruce didn't linger.
He pulled back, retreating toward nearby cover as bullets tore through the space he had just occupied.
His breathing grew heavier.
His condition… wasn't good.
Across the street, the police surged forward, taking advantage of the chaos. Officers rushed in, shouting orders as they overwhelmed the disorganized criminals, forcing them to the ground one by one.
The fight was over.
Almost.
One masked man, his expression twisted with hatred, turned toward the retreating figure disappearing into the alley.
He raised his weapon and fired wildly toward the police.
Then his body jerked.
He collapsed onto the pavement.
George approached slowly, his expression dark as he crouched beside the fallen man. Reaching out, he pulled off the mask—
revealing a face burned beyond recognition.
"Damn it… the Mask Club again," the older detective muttered bitterly.
George said nothing.
His gaze shifted toward the alley where Batman had vanished, his eyes growing deeper, more unreadable.
…
Deep within the alley, Bruce stumbled.
His body gave out suddenly, and he dropped hard onto the ground. Blood trickled from the wound on his head, dripping down across his face.
The injuries he had sustained earlier hadn't healed.
He had pushed too far.
With trembling hands, he stripped off his bat suit, stuffing it into a nearby trash bin before leaning back against the cold wall.
His vision blurred.
The world around him began to fade.
Faint footsteps echoed somewhere in the distance.
Then everything went dark.
....
Join my exclusive P@treon community for 60+ thrilling chapters!
Link: pa*treon.com/MidnightWonder (Remove the *)
If you join now you will get 2 Chapters for free as well.
Don't miss out, join now!