Inside the vault, a robber clutched a bag of cash and said with excitement, "Boss, we're hitting it big this time!"
"Quit yapping! Time's up; we gotta move, or the cops'll be on us!" the lead robber hissed, grabbing another hefty sack of cash as he prepared to head out.
But just as he reached the door, a man crouched outside in a leather coat with a black hood pulled low. He held a loaded rifle, aimed directly at them.
"What the hell, man? Get out of the way!" one of the robbers shouted. But the lead robber noticed something wasn't right. He started reaching for his gun—too late. A bullet tore through his wrist.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The muzzle flashed, and before they could react, a hail of bullets precisely targeted their ankles, sending each of them sprawling in pain, blood seeping from their wounds.
The robbers never expected someone to be guarding the exit, and now they lay helpless, groaning in agony.
Once he was sure they were immobilized, Noah wasted no time. He leapt into the getaway vehicle they'd prepared, hitting the gas and making his escape.
Ten minutes later, he parked the old, beat-up car with fake plates in an empty lot on the outskirts of town. He grabbed a sack and began counting his take.
"About 400 grand in cash, seven gold bars of different weights, plus a stash of jewelry and bonds," he murmured, feeling a mix of relief and satisfaction. After fencing the loot, he'd be sitting on a cool million.
But as he admired his spoils, he heard the sound of a cane tapping against the asphalt behind him.
Alert, he turned to see a man in a red hood, a cane in hand, and a black leather jacket. Only the area above his nose was visible, but Noah recognized the figure immediately.
Noah sighed. "Seriously? I can't even knock off a couple of robbers without running into you?"
"Hey, kid. You've got something that doesn't belong to you," the man said with a smile.
"Oh, great, Daredevil. I thought you were busy brawling with Kingpin. What brings you to a lonely road in the dead of night?" Noah's hand was already creeping toward the car's stereo controls.
"You know me, huh?" Daredevil took a few steps forward, the calm confidence of a man who knew his own strength. "Then you know I'll give you one chance to come quietly. Don't make this harder on yourself."
Noah leaned casually against the car, left hand positioned just by the stereo. "How thoughtful of you, Daredevil. But I think I'll pass on your offer."
He cranked the volume, unleashing a popular track that echoed down the empty street, then launched a lightning-fast kick aimed at Daredevil's chest.
Whoosh!
The speed and power behind the kick were intense, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. But Daredevil was already in motion, sensing the danger even through the cacophony of music. He shifted his center of gravity, backing up just enough to brace himself and raise his baton.
Clang!
Noah's kick landed hard, the impact clanging against Daredevil's baton. The force sent Daredevil skidding back four or five feet, but he quickly steadied himself, crouching into a defensive stance.
Noah used the rebound to flip back into the car. From the window, he fired off two quick shots, aiming right at Daredevil.
But before he could pull the trigger, a thin steel wire wrapped around his arm, yanking him off balance. Daredevil had extended a wire from his multi-tool baton, firmly snagging Noah's arm.
Daredevil's earlier casual demeanor had vanished, replaced by a grim determination. The exchange had shown him that this wasn't just a street punk. This kid had real power, and with enough time, he might even turn into a serious threat.
"Alright, kid," Daredevil said through gritted teeth, "you're good, but I'm better. Let's end this."
Noah felt the wire digging into his skin, but instead of fighting it, he smiled, muttering to himself, "Alright, Daredevil, you asked for it."
Snap, snap!
Daredevil cocked his head at the strange sound, faint crackles that seemed to be coming from Noah's body.
Daredevil's sensitive ears picked up more than just Noah's heartbeat. The crackling wasn't just his bones adjusting; it was the sound of Noah's body amping up as he accessed his strengthening ability.
"Oh, crap," Daredevil muttered, realizing what was happening just a beat too late.
In a split second, Noah had closed the distance. Planting his left foot like a piston, he drove his right knee up with terrifying force.
Thud!
The knee connected with Daredevil's chest, sending him flying back. He twisted in midair, spitting blood before crashing onto the road, his body skidding another eight or nine feet before coming to a stop.
Daredevil lay still, chest heaving, clearly in no shape to get back up.
Noah exhaled, shaking his head as he dusted himself off. "Man, I just wanted a quiet night with a little extra cash. Guess even the simplest plans go sideways in this town."
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All right, my exams for this week are done. So, I will try to consistently upload for maybe the next 2 days. And here is one of the promised Bonus Chapters. There will be more. Maybe...
So, this is my first time doing this. I hope you guys can help me improve by providing your feedback, and some stones would be nice. (づ ◕‿◕ )づ