As the rocket cut through the air, its fiery tail left a streak aimed directly at the windshield. Kingpin and Sloan's faces twisted in alarm. Though the car was armored and bulletproof, such weapon was a different matter altogether.
Batman moved too quickly, leaving them barely any time to react. Instinctively, they ducked behind the front seats, bracing for the explosion that would engulf the car.
BOOM!
The shells hit with a thunderous force, sending the car skidding several meters. Inside, Kingpin tumbled violently, sustaining bruises and scorch marks. Despite the damage, he was fortunate to escape with minor injuries, thanks to the reinforced, customized vehicle that took the brunt of the explosion.
For Sloan, age-worn yet resilient, the impact was nearly as brutal; he rolled within the car before finally staggering out through a broken window, collapsing onto the road and struggling for breath.
Kingpin's fury blazed as he forced open the damaged car door and glared at the Rabbit Armor. His fists clenched tightly, and an intense flame seemed to ignite in his eyes. Never, in his reign over the underground, had he been humiliated this way.
"Batman!" Kingpin spat the word out, each syllable sharp with rage as he fixed his gaze on the towering Rabbit Armor before him.
Through the helmet's speakers, Anton's voice filtered in, tauntingly: "Kingpin, our first meeting—and it seems I've left quite an impression."
Kingpin's teeth ground audibly. Though the Rabbit Armor's metallic armour was formidable, Kingpin had trained his body to superhuman levels. His strength surpassed that of ordinary men; facing a metal behemoth didn't faze him in the least.
"I'll tear you apart!" he roared, launching forward at a shocking speed for a man of his size, closing the distance to the Rabbit Armor with a single leap.
The Rabbit Armor met him halfway, its heavy metallic fist colliding with Kingpin's massive frame.
CRACK!
A subtle sound of strain came from the Armor's mechanical joints, yet Anton held back from escalating with a full barrage of artillery. Kingpin, sensing a chance, snatched up his fallen cane, deftly pressing a hidden trigger to fire a bullet straight toward Anton's Armor.
The bullet whizzed forward, intersecting with a shell from Anton's shoulder cannon in a fiery clash that exploded midair, sending a shockwave rippling outwards.
The blast illuminated Kingpin's face, his expression steely, a testament to his indomitable spirit. Anton, watching from Los Angeles, furrowed his brow. He had underestimated this king of New York's criminal empire, and he knew it.
Calculating his next move, Anton pulled back the Rabbit Armor, recognizing that wrestling with Kingpin directly wasn't a productive path tonight. The bruised, yet unbroken Kingpin sneered as Anton retreated.
"Running away already?" Kingpin growled, his taunts dripping with contempt.
Anton's voice echoed coldly from the Armor, "The night is young, Wilson Fisk. We'll finish this another time."
With that, the Rabbit Armor turned, scooping up the unconscious Bullseye in one hand and the struggling Sloan in the other, before striding down a dark alley.
Kingpin's face contorted in pure rage as he realized Anton was ignoring him. The audacity of Batman's exit was like a slap to his pride, and the crime lord bellowed after him, "Batman, I'll find you!"
The Rabbit Armor didn't slow down, weaving through New York's streets. Even at night, the city bustled with traffic, and Anton's imposing figure didn't go unnoticed.
New Yorkers stopped, pointing, and cheering as they recognized the Rabbit Armor—its pointed ears and sleek design unmistakable.
"Batman!" someone shouted, snapping photos. "Where's he taking those guys?"
A crowd began to gather, following Anton as he made his way to the New York Police Department. Coincidentally, George Stacey had just arrived, his car packed with captured Fraternity members and a certain defector, Cross.
Parking, he stepped out of his vehicle only to catch sight of Anton's figure striding up to the precinct.
"Oh no," George muttered, a sinking feeling in his gut. He watched as the Rabbit Armor marched up to the station, dropping Bullseye and Sloan on the ground with a heavy thud.
"You're welcome," the Rabbit Armor's eyes gleamed red as Anton's voice, layered with electronic distortion, teased the befuddled police captain.
George's jaw dropped in exasperation. "I'll thank you later!" he snapped, barely restraining his frustration.
In the corner of the scene, Eddie Brock snapped a photo, grinning as he previewed the image on his camera.
Tomorrow's headline practically wrote itself: "Batman Teams Up with NYPD Chief to Take Down Criminals!" Eddie could already envision the morning edition's front page.
Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, at a lavish party, Anton snapped out of his surveillance trance as a familiar voice chimed in: "Anton!" He turned to see the actress playing Rachel, her eyes alight with flirtation.
As the on-screen love interest of Batman, she had every right to be at the event, but Anton knew her a bit too much. She wasn't called "the succubus" by him for no reason.
Feeling a pang of anxiety, he instinctively adjusted his belt, his leg twitching slightly at the sight of her.
"Anton!" another voice called, sharper this time. Betty approached, her expression steely, yet her beauty easily rivaled that of Rachel. "Jim's looking for you," she stated curtly.
"Oh, right! I'll be there in a sec!" Anton stammered, excusing himself as he hurriedly slipped away from the two women, escaping into the crowd.
Moments later, he stopped mid-stride, a realization dawning on him. Why am I running? he thought, mentally shaking himself.
He'd inherited all of Batman's abilities, and his physical condition was impeccable. With his enhanced endurance, he could handle anything these women might throw at him. No manly dignity should be lost here.
Straightening up, he was about to head back and reassert his confidence when he spotted Jim waving from across the room. Taking a deep breath, he decided to keep things professional for now and walked toward him.
Behind him, Betty and Rachel exchanged looks. Rachel's face soured, while Betty gave a mocking smirk, mouthing a single word at the actress: Bitch!
…
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