Solomon Grundy and Killer Croc both possessed incredible strength. In terms of raw power, Pietro couldn't compare to them at all. But once his speed came into play, the balance shifted entirely. With sheer velocity alone, the mutant could easily overwhelm the two of them.
His hand strikes didn't do much damage against their thick skin, but with enough speed, even small wounds added up. Given enough time, even the strongest opponent could be worn down.
That was exactly what was happening to Croc and Solomon.
Pietro darted around them like a ghost. To his opponents, it felt like every time a gust of wind blew by, more slashes appeared on their bodies. In order to save his younger sister Lorna, the mutant was going all out. His movements were too fast for the naked eye to track.
Even when Poison Ivy tried to cover the ground with vines to limit where he could step, Pietro still struck before the plants could react.
Not far away, Deathstroke stood aiming his gun, trying to get a shot. He shook his head slightly.
It was impossible to predict the mutant's movements. If Pietro were distracted, maybe there'd be a chance. But clearly, he was taking this seriously. Ever since Deathstroke had drawn his weapon, the mutant had been watching him closely. There was no chance to act.
After all, hitting someone moving dozens of times faster than a bullet would require the perfect conditions—timing, positioning, and even luck all working together.
It was like the time Deadshot tried to snipe the Flash, only to realize after pulling the trigger that the speedster had already circled behind him and was asking if he'd been hit.
Meanwhile, watching the fight unfold, 'Bruce' stood on the second-floor balcony with a frown. Through telepathic connection, he contacted Reid, who was currently rushing toward Gotham.
'What's your plan? Do we need to take down Quicksilver at any cost?'
With J'onn and Carol off in space, they had very few options left. The only ones with enough power to beat Pietro without prep time were Reid himself, and Aquaman, who was deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean right now.
On the other end of the link, Reid remained silent for a moment as he flew toward the city. Then he gave his answer.
'No. It's too risky. Besides Quicksilver, there's also the Scarlet Witch outside the city. Tell Killer Croc and Solomon to stand down. Unless those two make the first move, this isn't the time to turn against the Maximoff siblings.'
Truthfully, it was Wanda that Reid was more wary of.
That emotionally unstable woman possessed one of the most dangerous powers in the entire Marvel universe. If she lost control, things could spiral out fast. With just a single sentence, the Scarlet Witch could do more damage than the Infinity Stones.
The stones at least needed a snap, while the mutant just had to speak. One line from her could erase the modified X-genes left by the Celestials in 95% of the global population, wiping mutants out completely.
'I understand,' 'Bruce' replied calmly. His eyes flicked down to the battle below, where the tide of violence had suddenly paused.
Joker, who had also received Reid's message through the psychic link, was already acting. He shouted quickly, commanding Croc and Grundy to retreat. They didn't argue. Bleeding and bruised, both stepped back, glaring at Pietro but making no further moves.
The mutant didn't press the advantage either. He dashed straight to Lorna's side and stood protectively in front of her as she wept quietly.
"Bruce Wayne, the real king of Gotham..."
Even facing the man from a distance, Pietro felt a bit nervous. He had no intention of going to war with all of humanity.
"I just want to protect my family," he said firmly. "I don't want to get dragged into this war between you and the mutants. Lorna is my sister. I'm here to take her away. If she caused you any trouble, I apologize."
There was no clear right or wrong between 'Bruce' and Lorna. But now, Pietro only wanted to get his sister out safely, so she could live a normal life.
He had no choice but to lower his head, to compromise. However, if the man pushed too far, he wouldn't hesitate to use force to carve out a safe place for their family.
Wanda, he knew, likely felt the same.
What the mutant didn't know, though, was that 'Bruce' had actually just let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Despite what fans loved to boast about Batman taking on the entire Justice League, those victories always came with tons of prep and planning. They were desperate wins born of strategy and surprise.
In a head-on encounter, without preparation? Forget Superman, even going one-on-one with Hawkman would push his limits.
And the sudden appearance of Pietro and Wanda was exactly the kind of unexpected superhuman conflict he struggled most to deal with alone.
Fortunately, Quicksilver wasn't a hothead looking to prove who was stronger.
'Bruce,' too, saw the perfect opportunity to de-escalate. He could step back from Gotham's mess and let Reid, who was on his way, take over the rest.
"If every mutant were willing to live peacefully with humans, instead of clinging to unrealistic fantasies, none of this would've ever happened."
Hearing that, Pietro finally relaxed a little. Maybe the man feared him. Maybe he feared Wanda. Either way, the fact that he was willing to talk was a good sign.
Unlike the younger mutant generation, Pietro and Wanda had grown up during the years when both Erik and Charles were aging quickly. They had watched firsthand as those once-mighty figures grew weaker with time.
That's why the two of them had made this choice.
"Thank you," Pietro said softly.
He knelt and gently picked up Lorna, who trembled in his arms, still sobbing from shock and pain.
"I promise, we won't involve ourselves in human affairs anymore. We'll live as ordinary people, nothing more."
With that, the mutant vanished like a flash of light. Holding his sister, he raced out of Gotham.
'Is it really over...?' Pietro thought while running. He had achieved his goal. Lorna was safe. But the real challenge was just beginning. Could he truly protect the life they were trying to live?
'Bruce Wayne' might have sounded peaceful, but Wayne Enterprises and LexCorp's actions toward mutants told a different story.
Even if every mutant wanted peace with humans, those corporations would likely still cause conflict.
Because to them, mutants weren't people—they were resources. With the technology to turn mutant powers into serums for ordinary humans, people like them saw mutants as nothing more than prime test subjects, raw material for a new era of human advancement.
Pietro couldn't ignore what might come next. He knew that relying on himself alone wouldn't be enough forever. One day, he'd face something he couldn't handle on his own.
So maybe... he needed to build something too. A team. An organization.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the blur of his surroundings suddenly shifted.
Among the fast-moving scenery, one figure stood out: Reid.
He had arrived in Gotham, and was standing calmly by the roadside, exactly where Pietro had just passed.
Smiling. He raised a hand and waved slowly.
He could see Pietro.
That realization alone sent a chill through the mutant's spine.
Especially now, right after he had started thinking about creating an organization to protect himself and his sister.
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