The high-speed train successfully left the blockade of Naihe Island via the viaduct. As the microwave transmitter entered Gotham City, the water in the underground pipes within range began evaporating.
The sudden surge in pressure caused sewer covers to shoot into the air one by one, shrouding Gotham City in a poisonous fog filled with fear toxins.
Meanwhile, Bruce had caught up with the train, breaking inside to thwart Ra's al Ghul's scheme and ambitions.
"You never learn, do you?" Ra's al Ghul remarked, unfazed by Bruce's pursuit. After all, Bruce had once been his disciple.
Ra's, however, showed no fear of Bruce as Batman. With a simple wave of his hand, four of his subordinates stepped forward to block Bruce's path.
"I didn't intend to kill you, Bruce, but if you insist on getting in my way, then so be it," Ra's declared coldly, effectively sentencing Bruce to death.
The four subordinates picked up on his meaning and exuded murderous intent as they rushed Bruce from all sides.
Bruce didn't hesitate, utilizing the skills he had honed over the years to face them head-on.
The path that Bruce followed had been recommended by Ra's, and the training Bruce received mirrored that of his opponents. The difference was that Bruce lacked their superhuman strength, but his intense training under the League of Shadows had prepared him for such moments.
Even against four attackers in the cramped train car, Bruce was superior to these shadow fighters. The combat experience and skills he had gained since leaving the League made him a formidable opponent.
With calculated strikes and efficient movements, Bruce took them down one by one without taking their lives.
"Are you going to keep hiding behind your lackeys?" Bruce shouted, addressing Ra's directly.
Ra's al Ghul simply snorted, producing a blade hidden within his cane. With a quick motion, the concealed weapon revealed itself, a sharp straight blade gleaming in the dim light.
"You underestimate me, Bruce," Ra's said, stepping forward with a deadly grace. "You'll see true terror now."
Ra's swung the blade toward Bruce, who had no weapons in hand. However, the armguards on his suit were prepared for such a moment. Raising his right arm, Bruce intercepted the attack, using the reinforced serrated edges of his armguards to trap the blade.
With a sudden exertion of force, Bruce snapped the blade.
"Crack."
The sound of the knife breaking into several pieces echoed in the train car.
Though seemingly formidable, a blade is highly vulnerable to lateral pressure, and Bruce exploited this weakness to destroy Ra's cherished weapon.
Ra's stared at the shattered remains of his blade, a weapon considered one of the finest within the League of Shadows.
This moment reflected Batman's meticulous preparation. When Bruce has time to plan, he becomes a match for even the most powerful foes. His strategies have enabled him to best enemies like Superman in the past, albeit under extreme circumstances.
Returning to the present, Ra's al Ghul remained calm despite the loss of his weapon.
"Do you think breaking my blade will stop me?" Ra's taunted. "You forget, Bruce, I taught you everything you know. You have never defeated me before."
Ra's lunged barehanded, his strikes swift and precise.
Bruce quickly realized he had underestimated his former master. Ra's al Ghul was faster, stronger, and more experienced.
"Thud. Thud."
Ra's landed successive blows on Bruce, his movements too quick for Bruce to counter effectively. The precision of his attacks left Bruce struggling to defend himself.
"Is that all you've got, Bruce?" Ra's mocked. "Never forget, you are my student, and you've always fallen short against me."
Despite Bruce's best efforts, he could not match Ra's in a one-on-one confrontation. His only hope lay in Jim Gordon completing the plan to blow up the viaduct and disrupt Ra's focus.
However, the train had only just entered Gotham City, still far from the Wayne Tower viaduct where Gordon's explosive charges were set. Bruce was running out of time—and options.
At that critical moment, a strange noise came from the train car.
A dark figure suddenly entered through a shattered window, flipping gracefully into the cabin.
"Need a hand, handsome?" Kara, dressed in a battle suit mirroring Bruce's, stood confidently with her hands on her hips, her tone light and teasing.
Despite his battered state, Bruce's relief was evident. "Did you deal with the others?"
"Piece of cake," Kara replied, tilting her head to reveal the blade strapped to her back.
Ra's al Ghul frowned, realizing what this meant. Losing his subordinates spoke volumes about Kara's skill.
"Bruce," Kara continued, glancing at the microwave transmitter in the center of the train. "Don't tell me you still plan to salvage this thing? Why not just destroy it?"
Bruce groaned weakly. "Do I look like I've had the chance to destroy it?"
Kara finally noticed Bruce pinned beneath Ra's, one hand gripping his throat while the other prepared to deliver another punishing blow.
She raised a hand to shield her eyes dramatically. "Carry on—I didn't see anything."
Both Bruce and Ra's shouted simultaneously, "What are you implying?!"