Chapter 20: The Bat
Night wrapped the city in its cold embrace, but Ark was already moving.
Perched high above the streets, he scanned the city below, his Radar Sense picking up subtle shifts—strange movements, unusual gatherings, the kind of quiet that wasn't peaceful but planned.
His Trait System pulsed softly in his mind.
> [Mission Objective: Investigate the growing organized crime surge and uncover the hidden powers behind it.]
Reward: 4 Trait Tokens + 1 Random Trait.
Ark narrowed his eyes beneath the mask.
This wasn't another monster hunt. This was something colder—calculated.
Following the faint ripples he'd sensed before, Ark tracked a convoy of armored trucks winding through the side streets near the docks. They moved carefully, avoiding main roads, headlights dimmed, every route deliberately chosen.
Rooftop to rooftop, Ark kept pace—silent, unseen, the night air brushing past him.
The trucks finally stopped at an old, rusted warehouse by the waterfront. Ark didn't hesitate. He slipped inside through a maintenance vent, his body moving on instinct, every step guided by his fused stealth and tactical traits.
Inside, the warehouse was a hive of activity.
Dozens of armed men moved crates packed with sleek, high-tech weapons. Ark's eyes narrowed—this wasn't street-grade tech. Military-level hardware, designed for wars, not robberies.
He focused on two workers nearby, voices low but clear to his sharpened senses.
"Falcone doesn't like delays," one muttered, glancing around nervously.
"Forget Falcone," the other whispered. "Black Mask's the real problem. He'll gut us if this goes sideways."
Ark froze.
Gotham names. Here.
Falcone—old-school crime lord. Black Mask—sadistic, brutal, unpredictable.
His chest tightened. This wasn't just New York's fight anymore.
---
Moving swiftly, Ark took out a few guards, webbing them to the walls and ceiling, stripping them of their radios.
But before he could dig deeper, a familiar heartbeat echoed nearby—steady, focused.
He turned just as Daredevil emerged from the shadows, billy club already in hand.
"Guess we're chasing the same ghosts," Daredevil said, voice low.
Ark kept his tone neutral. "You know about Falcone and Black Mask too?"
Daredevil gave a grim nod. "They've been moving pieces for weeks. They're here for more than territory."
Together, they dismantled the remaining guards with precision. Ark's agility and instincts blended seamlessly with Daredevil's brutal efficiency.
As they searched the office, they uncovered blueprints for future shipments—dates, locations, and coded messages about "Gotham reinforcements."
Daredevil frowned. "They're building an army."
Ark's skin prickled. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were just scratching the surface.
---
Then, a voice—deep, calm, and commanding—cut through the darkness.
"You two are being careless."
Ark's entire body tensed. His instincts screamed—but not with danger. With recognition.
A shadow peeled itself from the far wall, moving with unnatural grace.
Batman.
Ark's breath caught for a heartbeat.
The figure stepped forward, cape flowing, cowl casting his face in shadow. His mere presence seemed to press down on the room like gravity itself.
"I've been tracking them since they left Gotham," Batman said, his voice steady but sharp. "This isn't a turf war. It's a takeover."
Daredevil's stance remained guarded. "We noticed."
Batman's gaze shifted toward Ark, piercing through him despite the mask.
"You're in over your head."
Ark bristled but kept his composure. Batman wasn't taunting—just stating fact.
"They're after more than guns and drugs," Batman continued. "They want control. And they've already secured political cover in both cities."
He tossed a flash drive onto the table, its surface sleek and unmarked.
Ark watched as the files revealed intercepted messages—talk of shipments, experimental weapons, and thefts from companies like Wayne Enterprises.
Batman's voice darkened. "They're moving fast. Faster than I anticipated."
Ark's mind reeled. This wasn't just crime—it was something global.
---
The three quickly formulated a plan.
"There's a major shipment tonight," Daredevil said. "We hit it, we cripple their momentum."
Batman nodded. "We move together. No mistakes."
Ark listened carefully, absorbing every detail. Watching Batman work was like watching a masterclass in control—every word precise, every contingency planned.
For once, Ark didn't feel like the smartest man in the room.
But he also wasn't intimidated.
---
Night deepened as they reached the docks.
Moving like shadows, the trio slipped past guards. Ark's Ghost Strategist trait let him weave through traps and patrols, while Daredevil eliminated stragglers with brutal efficiency.
Batman was something else entirely—disabling cameras, cracking locks, and subduing enemies with terrifying silence.
Inside, the warehouse was packed with more than just weapons.
Crates of glowing green liquid lined the walls—each labeled with strange serial numbers and Gotham logos.
Batman's face darkened. "Venom derivatives. Modified."
Ark's stomach twisted. He'd heard rumors of Gotham's worst—of Bane and the monstrous drug that nearly broke the Bat.
"They're planning to enhance their soldiers," Batman said, grim.
Before they could move, Ark's Radar Sense spiked.
"Incoming," Ark whispered.
Suddenly, alarms blared. Red lights flooded the room as doors slammed shut.
Black Mask's voice crackled over the speakers, dripping with cruel amusement.
"Well, well," he sneered. "Look what we have here. Gotham's rodent, Hell's fool, and the spider brat. All under one roof."
Ark's fists clenched.
Black Mask laughed. "You should've stayed in your corners, boys. Now? You're going to burn together."
Heavy doors burst open, and armed mercenaries flooded in—dozens, maybe more. Their weapons glowed with advanced tech, and their eyes held no fear.
Batman's voice remained calm.
"We fight our way out."
Daredevil's stance shifted, ready.
Ark's heart pounded—but not from fear. From resolve.
His body moved before thought, instincts blazing as he activated Spider Predator Instinct.
The trio stood back-to-back, surrounded on all sides.
Ark's thoughts were sharp, steady.
This isn't just a mission anymore.
This is war.
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End of Chapter 20
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