The gangsters' throats dried up; it was as if all the moisture had vanished, leaving behind a raw atmosphere of decay.
Normal people and customers quickly fled the scene, fleeing for their lives, and Allen, of course, didn't stop them.
The creaking sound of wood began to echo, the tentacles giving off a terrifying sensation as they emerged from a portal to the depths of hell.
"Ahhhh!!"
"Noooo!!"
The gangsters' screams were more of terror than pain, as death is fleeting, but in their souls, they felt that if those tentacles dragged them, they would spend the rest of eternity in suffering.
One gangster was grabbed by the leg and thrown to break through a wall; another gangster was seized and dragged towards the portal, while the rest fired in all directions.
"Wait!!! Nooo!!!"
Amidst screams and panicked gunfire from the gangsters at the sight of a scene straight out of Lovecraft's nightmares, Allen walked towards a piano they had in the place. It was dirty and neglected as if it had never been used, merely a decoration.
"My mother used to say that the beauty of music depends on the musician who plays it," Allen sighed as his fingers gathered dust while hitting a piano key, realizing it was out of tune. "However, an instrument also matters... and this one is dead."
"Help me please!!!"
A man clung to Allen as he was pulled by a tentacle. Allen simply remained silent as the man was dragged away.
Allen looked at his hand, feeling like he could transform it into a claw or something else. The Radio Demon originates from an animated series, Hazbin Hotel, popularized on the internet before being produced and broadcast on streaming.
Alastor is a terrifying and cannibalistic demon with enormous and mysterious powers, what most caught Allen's attention was that this set of abilities came with a restriction that read (Limited by contract).
Allen couldn't use abilities and powers that pushed the boundaries of what he could endure. However, rotation only had a couple of disadvantages. First, it took time to reinstall a lost ability or power. Replacing the ability containing Kaido's defense with the abilities of the Terrifying Radio Demon Alastor, which Allen obtained from a purple chest, was practically instantaneous. But if Allen wants to regain Kaido's defense, he has to wait a week. The higher the rank of the ability, the longer it will take to become available again.
The second disadvantage, as mentioned before, is much more difficult with abilities and powers that have a connection with Allen, such as Limitless and the power of the god of destruction, and other similar abilities. For Allen to rotate an Iridiscent-ranked ability would be equivalent to feeling like his arm is being cut off and replaced with another.
So he should limit himself to replacing at most purple-level abilities. In that case, he can do it as much as he wants.
Allen shook his head and raised his hand towards the ceiling; at the same time, black-gloved claws appeared, dripping a dark liquid like tar. These claws traversed the walls like shadows while the screams of tormented souls were heard. The gangsters had long since crouched down in fear, while some were trapped by the tentacles that had already broken several bones.
Allen smiled widely as he closed his hand, and the building was compressed by an invisible pressure.
"This is not a polite way to visit others' homes."
As everything was about to collapse, a sharp and pretentious voice called out directly to Allen.
From the balcony of the second floor, a short man in an elegant suit and a monocle in his eye leaned out. His nose was abnormally long and pointed, and his body felt chubby, giving him the appearance resembling a penguin.
Allen smiled as the claws and tentacles disappeared, his trench coat turned black again, and his eyes white.
"The Penguin Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot," Allen said the man's full name in front of him with imposed mockery.
Oswald widened his eyes at seeing that Allen knew his true name. However, as expected from a man who has been living in the underworld for a long time, he returned to his fake smile while adjusting his monocle.
"I see I am known even among the new generations of Supervillains," The Penguin spoke condescendingly, pointing at Allen as a rookie.
His men tensed and held their weapons. Unlike the Joker, who often left his clowns to their own devices, the Penguin was a more reliable boss. He cared for his loyal subordinates like a mafia boss rather than a psychopath.
For that reason, his gangsters were very loyal. However, faced with a terrifying monster like Allen, they all tensed.
This situation, where the Penguin provokes Allen, can only be seen as a suicidal move, but the Penguin is not so simple; he manages to live in a city with a Batman in it for a reason.
The Penguin managed to gauge Allen's personality. He saw him brutally beat and break the bones of his subordinates but not kill any of them.
"Hahaha," Allen laughed as the atmosphere relaxed. "I didn't expect any less from someone so astute as to use a network of tunnels in the sewers to hide from Batman," Allen responded to the provocation, calling the Penguin a coward. One of Oswald's eyebrows twitched, but he controlled himself.
...
Somehow, Allen ended up playing a poker game with Oswald, who seemed intrigued by why Allen appeared in his casino.
"I wasn't planning on coming to your casino, nor that you'd be here."
"It's just a coincidence," Oswald said, taking a card while looking sharply at Allen. "I didn't expect someone to be about to destroy my casino... Isn't it excessive?."
"Who knows heh..."
Allen looked down, they were in the upper part of an underground ring. Illegal fights and black market auctions were held here. This building was larger than Allen thought; apparently, it was connected to other places.
"I just don't like being threatened," Allen said, picking up a card, two eights, and little else. Allen didn't enjoy gambling much because luck always played against him.
Penguin gritted his teeth, but an idea immediately occurred to him "Mr. Walker, how about we make a bet?"
"Oh?"
"It's not complicated... I just would like you to help me with Batman..."
"Assuming you win... right?"
"Hehe, yes, of course... and what would you like if you win? Would a humble crime lord have something that catches your eye?"
Allen pointed to the Penguin's hand, which held his umbrella. The Penguin frowned; with the money and power he had, he could create ten more, but that didn't matter. The Penguin's umbrella was his symbol, his trademark; taking it away would simply humiliate him.
The Penguin began to contain his anger, he managed it and began to focus on his hand. He had three Aces, it was a very good hand.
"It's a deal, Mr. Walker."
"Heh."
Allen had a terrible hand, and the spectators knew it; besides, there was a camera broadcasting the Penguin's hand.
===
– Allen would end up on the street if it depended on luck -_-
– It's just absurd that you bet in a game of chance D:
– Huh, then are you going to unsubscribe your new father-in-law from life? Batgirl won't like that.
Allen smiled at the comments from his viewers, as many already considered this game lost.
"Hey, have a little faith in me; I'm more than just a handsome man with powers," Allen reproached them from the Chat Mode.
(A/N: From now on, when Allen isolates himself to talk to his Chat, we'll call it Chat Mode)
===
Allen scrutinized the Penguin. It was true that winning a game of chance was impossible for him, but Allen was a villain, and he never intended to do things by the book. Allen's eyes began to laugh, making the Penguin nervous.
Although he was sure of winning and had already discovered that Allen didn't usually kill, that didn't mean the Penguin could see through Allen's entire personality. He couldn't be sure if Allen wasn't a complete lunatic who would suddenly tear him apart.
Oswald started sweating under his clothes, with no other option, he loosened his necktie and cleaned his monocle, waiting for Allen to make his move.
Allen smirked, and the images of all the cards in his hand changed to others. What Allen had now was an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, all of the spades, a Royal Flush, the strongest poker hand.
The jaws of the people dropped to the floor; there weren't enough words to describe Allen's blatant act. Not only did he change all his cards, but he chose the strongest hand to cheat, using the system's inventory.
"Here I go, hehe!" The Penguin showed his hand, a Full House with three Aces... However, before he could celebrate, Allen smiled and revealed his hand.
"No, it's impossible!" The Penguin slammed the table.
The Royal Flush is often used to impress, but the reality is that the chance of getting it is 1 in 650,000, simply ridiculous.
The Penguin felt foam coming out of his mouth, and it wasn't an illusion; he was foaming at the mouth.
"You filthy cheat! Shameless brat!" The Penguin and his henchmen pointed their guns at Allen. "I invite you into my house, show you hospitality when you're just a kid who barely showed up... And you DARE TO INSULT ME!"
"Heh," Allen chuckled as they all aimed at him. "Who do you think you're talking to?" With a condescending look and a cold voice, Allen released some of his power, and an invisible pressure fell on everyone present, causing them to lose their balance and their breath.
"...!"
The Penguin felt like a bucket of cold water was poured down his back; it was terror and a mistake he made. 'Him... that's right... him.' The man who challenged Superman and the man you're threatening with guns.
The Penguin couldn't speak or apologize knowing he had made a mistake because instantly his face crashed into the table, and his nose broke, just like his monocle.
The Penguin didn't have time to complain when he saw his subordinates fall in a scream of pain, with broken limbs.
"..." the Penguin was speechless.
"What's wrong, don't you have anything else to say?" Allen spoke in a low voice while pressing the Penguin's head against the table, which was gradually giving way. The Penguin felt like his skull could break at any moment.
"WAIT! IT WAS MY MISTAKE, YOU WON!!"
"In the face of death, every man reconsiders his life," Allen pressed the Penguin's head a little more. "Tell me, Oswald, are you afraid?!"
Oswald's complexion turned pale, and his lips trembled. Allen didn't kill; this fact made the Penguin naively think he could be on equal terms with Allen, who could use it to take down Batman.
But he was wrong. Oswald is confident that Batman, Robin, and Batgirl won't kill him because they are heroes, but Allen is a villain, absurdly powerful, an apocalypse in motion. Oswald was wrong to think he could control him.
"You won't say anything?" Allen mocked.
Oswald felt all his blood freezing. 'Am I going to die? After decades of building my empire, enduring under the sewers, hidden from the police and Batman, when I finally managed to become a crime lord, am I going to die now? No!! Nooo!!'
"Wait! I have many resources that you might want."
"..."
"Money!!"
"I have bought several public officials and several police members!!"
"..."
"You challenged Superman for recognition, didn't you?! You want to make a name for yourself, I have what you need!"
"Hehe, what makes you think you have something I can't get?" Allen narrowed his eyes. "Besides, you're mistaken, Oswald, I don't want to be a Supervillain, I already am one!"
The Penguin felt his heart stop, and he used all his neurons to look for a way out of imminent death... even though Allen wasn't going to kill him.
===
Hestia HC – The Penguin is a bastard, but he's starting to make me feel sorry for him, hahaha. By the way, it's more comfortable to talk in this Private Chat :3
Gwen HC – Allen already intimidated him enough for this guy not to raise his voice again.
Felicia HC – I think he'll have nightmares about you for years, Lmao.
Ruby HC – I think you should break one or two of his arms and leave him locked in a dungeon.
MJ HC – Did someone get mad because that penguin insulted Allen? Hehe, but I agree with Ruby, that bastard was very rude to Allen.
Natasha HC – little by little, you all become more sadistic.
===
Allen felt it was enough and was considering letting the Penguin go. However, the Penguin mistakenly thought Allen was already bored of talking and was going to kill him.
"I have Poison Ivy!!"
Allen stopped his movements upon hearing the Penguin's words.
"What?!"
...
The Penguin led Allen to an underground warehouse. Inside a hermetically sealed room, you could see a cloud of toxic gas and, somewhat invisibly, the figure of a woman wrapped in vines.
It was the Supervillain Poison Ivy. Allen looked at the Penguin with annoyance.
"We didn't do anything to her; in fact, I lost ten men capturing her. I was planning to auction her off or trade her for favors."
"And what makes you think this will help save your life?" Allen narrowed his eyes, scaring Oswald, who fell to his knees.
"I saw you were interested in Supergirl and flirted with her," he replied, trembling. "I figured you might be interested; setting aside the deadly poison that would kill a hundred elephants when approached, she is a very beautiful woman."
===
Rick – This guy just praised his life, hahaha.
Jack – He's got your kryptonite, Allen, hahaha.
Yuri – I don't understand anything, what bad luck!
===
Allen wanted to hit someone, but he had reached the point where he couldn't deny that he was a womanizer.
Allen looked at the Penguin with disdain. "You can leave."
The Penguin ran for his life, leaving Allen and Poison Ivy alone. Allen entered the isolated room, activating his shield to avoid the poison.
As he approached, he saw Poison Ivy up close, also known as "Poison Eve." She was bound with chains of venomous vines and thorns around her.
With her distinctive red hair and pale skin, her exotic and alluring beauty stood out. Her seductive gaze and enigmatic figure made her a femme fatale.
At that moment the camera went off and the women knew what was going to happen.
Ivy's eyes widened and she looked at Allen as his gaze turned interested, she smiled as she licked her lips.
===
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