Starting With Batman

The Ninth Special Service Division, Aircraft Carrier.

"The prison lock program has been unlocked!"

"All security systems disarmed!"

"The prisoner has been released! Repeat, the prisoner has been released! The situation is extremely dangerous…"

The loudspeaker's urgent voice echoed across the aircraft carrier, its words fueling an already mounting tension among the agents of the Ninth Special Service Division. This was the most secure facility in the world, a floating fortress housing the most dangerous criminals. And now, someone had breached it.

The agents looked at one another, confused and alarmed. What just happened?

Lately, it seemed like every time they turned around, another crisis was unfolding. Ever since that strange being called the Phantom had emerged, their once impenetrable defenses had crumbled, their security unraveling as fast as a market collapse. The safety protocols they had relied on for years were suddenly inadequate. It was as if their elite base was plunging headfirst into chaos, its once bulletproof defenses unraveling like an old threadbare coat.

Before the Phantom arrived, they dealt with lunatics and dangerous individuals, but they'd always maintained control. Now, these phantoms had transcended human limits, and with their unstoppable abilities, they were something the agents were woefully unprepared to handle. All their experience and technology couldn't keep up with these new enemies.

Professor Miyazaki was frantically working on a new method to neutralize this otherworldly threat. But until then, the agents had no choice but to respond to these incidents in real-time, doing their best to hold the line with the tools they had.

The situation was spiraling out of control, but they couldn't afford to let their guard down. With the blaring alarms, the agents gathered their gear and rushed toward the high-security felon prison. The halls buzzed with frantic energy as they sprinted into formation, locking down the narrow corridors. They knew what was at stake. If even one of these prisoners escaped, the entire carrier could be compromised.

Finally, they reached the prison block, and a group of agents assembled near the sole exit of the passage. Guns drawn, bodies tense, they formed a line, ready for whatever might emerge. The plan was simple: overwhelm the prisoner with firepower the moment they stepped through the door.

Everything was in place.

Then, the deafening bang of metal echoed through the passage. The reinforced alloy door—designed to withstand immense force—was blasted off its hinges as if it were made of paper, flying across the room with a screeching metallic sound. The agents stood frozen in disbelief, barely able to process what had just happened.

Through the smoke and debris, a shadow emerged—a tall, imposing figure, 6'2" in height, walking with the deliberate precision of a machine. His silhouette was unmistakable.

Batman.

The agents stared in shock as Batman, cloaked in his dark armor, strode out of the prison, exuding an aura of pure, cold dominance. It was as if the very air around him crackled with authority and power. His cape swirled behind him like a dark shroud, and every step he took was filled with intent.

The agents blinked, confused. Wait, Batman? How did he—what's going on?

As they stared in disbelief, the sound of another body hitting the floor reverberated from inside the cell. A battered figure lay slumped at Batman's feet—Link, their dangerous prisoner, the one they had just been alerted had escaped. Except now, it seemed he wasn't going anywhere.

Inside the cell, Batman was still dealing with Link, pummeling him with methodical precision. Each hit was delivered with calculated force, and it was clear that Batman wasn't just trying to contain Link—he was overpowering him.

The agents' confusion grew. Since when did this place become the Bat Mothership?

They had barely received the alert about the escape, and here Batman was, already handling the situation. It was as if he had appeared out of thin air, faster than they could even mobilize. Batman was already beating the escapee back into submission, cleaning up the mess before they even had time to react.

It was surreal.

But inside the cell, Link was regaining his composure. Though the sonic sneak attack had left him dazed, he was no ordinary prisoner. A dark tendril emerged from his back, lashing out with blinding speed, aiming to force Batman to retreat. This wasn't the first time Link had faced Batman, and this time, he was prepared.

He had disabled his hearing aid, rendering Batman's signature sonic attack useless. And now that he knew Batman was a cunning and resourceful opponent, Link wasn't going to underestimate him again.

A smirk spread across Link's face as he spoke, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Is that all you've got? Can't fight without your cheap tricks?"

Batman didn't respond. His face remained expressionless, the cold mask of a predator. Instead, he clenched his fists, and arcs of light blue electricity began to crackle across his black gloves.

Link's smirk deepened. This is it? He planted his feet and launched himself forward, moving like lightning. His body blurred with speed, leaving afterimages in his wake as he aimed a crushing punch at Batman's chest.

Link had immense confidence in his physical prowess. He was no longer bound by the limits of a normal human. He had evolved beyond that, becoming something more, something superhuman. He was faster, stronger, and more resilient than anyone Batman had faced before—at least, in a fair fight.

But Batman wasn't here to rely on tricks. Not today. He was here to test new equipment.

Bang.

Link's fist collided with Batman's raised arm—and stopped dead.

Link's eyes widened in shock.

What…?

His punch, which should have crushed bones, was effortlessly blocked. He stared at Batman's arm in disbelief. His confidence wavered as the realization set in: this wasn't the same Batman he had faced before.

Last time, Batman had relied on gadgets and small, precise movements to stay ahead. His strength had been that of an ordinary human—at least, that's what Link remembered. But now? Now, Batman's power felt… different.

For a brief moment, Link was frozen in disbelief. But before he could react, Batman's iron fist smashed into his nose. The force was devastating, nearly breaking the bone, and an electric current surged through the punch, exploding across Link's face.

His vision went dark as he staggered back, the raw strength behind the punch catching him completely off-guard. But his survival instincts kicked in, and he quickly stabilized himself, throwing out a quick jab in retaliation.

It was futile.

Batman saw the punch coming. With a fluid movement, he dodged the jab and leaped into the air, twisting his body in a perfect 360-degree rotation. His black boots connected with Link's chest, delivering a thunderous kick.

The force of the kick was enough to launch Link across the room. He flew through the air, crashing into the reinforced alloy wall with a deafening bang. The entire room seemed to tremble with the impact.

The agents outside the door were stunned. Wait, what?

Didn't Professor Miyazaki's report say that Batman was just a regular human?

Since when could regular people kick someone across the room like that?

The move Batman had just performed—the spinning kick—was a masterful display of combat technique. It was one of the most powerful and efficient strikes in martial arts, designed to deliver maximum force. Batman had executed it with precision, timing it perfectly to counter Link's jab and unleash an attack that left no room for recovery.

Link groaned as he pulled himself off the ground. His body was tough—tough enough to survive the beating, but the pain radiating through his chest told him something was very, very wrong. He looked up at Batman with wide eyes, shock and confusion mixing with the adrenaline rushing through his veins.

How? Just yesterday, Batman had been nothing more than a skilled human. Now, it was as if his strength had multiplied tenfold. What had happened in the span of a single day? Had he fallen off a cliff and found some ancient martial arts manual? Was there some hidden power Batman had tapped into?

Link's gaze shifted toward Batman's suit. The dim lighting of the prison block had hidden it at first, but now that he looked closely, he could see the difference. This wasn't Batman's usual attire.

It looked the same at first glance, but there was something else—something much more advanced. The suit was no longer just made of bulletproof fabric. It had been upgraded with interlocking plates of dark, gray-black armor. This was no ordinary bat suit.

It was a full-body exoskeleton.

Batman had never been one to shy away from using advanced technology, but this suit was different from anything Link had ever seen. It was lightweight and flexible, yet it seemed to magnify Batman's strength to an incredible degree.

Linked directly to Batman's nervous system, the suit amplified his reflexes, speed, and strength by 600%. The nano-network structure embedded in the armor allowed Batman to move with perfect coordination while enhancing his abilities far beyond human limits.

It wasn't as bulky as Iron Man's armor, but it didn't need to be. Batman's suit provided him with the power of a super soldier without sacrificing the agility and stealth that made him the Dark Knight.

For a moment, Link was at a loss. This was no ordinary exoskeleton—this was something more. Something far beyond what he had prepared for.

But Batman wasn't done.

And this was just the warm-up.

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Posted up to chapter 162

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