Chapter 21: Bat's Traits
Chaos erupted inside the warehouse as the mercenaries swarmed in, their eyes wild with the high of artificial enhancements. They moved with brutal efficiency, weapons glowing with high-tech energy. But Ark, Batman, and Daredevil were ready.
Ark's body moved on instinct, every muscle coiled, every sense heightened. His Spider Predator Instinct flared as he weaved through the incoming hail of gunfire. He flipped high onto a stack of crates, webbing up one mercenary before dropping down with a brutal kick to another.
"Left flank, incoming!" Batman barked.
Ark didn't hesitate. His Radar Sense pulsed, guiding him as he launched himself toward the incoming squad. He moved faster than they could react, disarming two with fluid strikes before webbing their weapons to the floor.
Daredevil swept through the center, billy club in hand, dismantling opponents with ruthless precision. Every strike was calculated, every move honed from years of experience.
But their enemies weren't normal thugs. The enhancements were obvious now—they fought harder, hit stronger, and kept coming. Ark noticed their wounds healing faster than normal, their aggression heightened to a feral degree.
Batman adjusted fast. "High ground. Cut off their reinforcements!"
"On it!" Ark leapt to the upper levels, using his webs to swing above the fray. His Ghost Strategist trait ignited, mapping out the fight in his mind. He spotted the snipers and heavy gunners trying to pin them down.
With surgical precision, Ark dismantled their positions, disarming them with web shots and disabling their gear. He moved like a phantom, striking before they could even register his presence.
Below, Daredevil and Batman pushed forward. Batman planted small explosives at key support points while fending off attackers with brutal takedowns.
Ark's mind raced as he saw two of the enhanced mercenaries injecting themselves mid-fight with another dose of serum. They roared, muscles bulging grotesquely as they charged.
"We've got berserkers incoming!" Ark shouted.
Daredevil gritted his teeth, intercepting one with a sweeping kick, followed by rapid strikes to the head and joints. The brute stumbled but kept coming.
Batman was already moving. He hurled smoke pellets to obscure their vision, then struck from the shadows with brutal precision, targeting pressure points and vital nerves.
Ark swung down, webbing one berserker's legs and yanking hard to slam him into a steel beam. He followed up with a double kick to the chest, sending the brute crashing into stacked crates.
Despite their efforts, more mercenaries kept pouring in, some wielding advanced energy weapons. Ark's Spider Predator Instinct screamed warnings as he narrowly dodged a blast that vaporized part of the floor.
"They're trying to box us in!" Ark warned.
"Not if we finish this now," Batman said, voice like steel.
The trio moved in concert, each playing their role seamlessly.
Ark used his agility to weave through enemy lines, disarming key targets and webbing explosives onto their weapons. Daredevil moved through the smoke, disabling enemies with precise strikes to joints and temples. Batman fought like a storm, breaking bones and incapacitating foes while simultaneously setting his charges.
The tide began to turn. Ark's Ghost Strategist trait highlighted weak points in their formation, and he exploited them without hesitation, sending key targets crashing into their own allies.
Amidst the chaos, Ark spotted it—a console tucked in a secured corner, flashing with activity.
"Found something!" he called out, making a dash for it.
He fought his way through, disabling the guards and grabbing the drive from the console.
> [Mission Complete!]
[Rewards: 4 Trait Tokens + 1 Random Trait.]
He barely glanced at the system alert, too focused on staying alive.
"Pull back!" Batman ordered, detonating the charges.
Explosions rocked the warehouse as they retreated. Flames consumed the structure, collapsing it onto itself, burying the mercenaries and their weapons beneath rubble.
Breathing hard, Ark followed them onto a nearby rooftop overlooking the inferno.
Batman handed Ark a small, sleek communicator. "Keep it on. They'll retaliate. When they do, call me."
Ark accepted it without a word, nodding.
Daredevil's voice was calm but firm. "This isn't over. They're going to escalate. Be ready."
With that, Daredevil slipped away into the night, leaving Ark alone with Batman.
As Batman finished speaking, Ark's Trait System pinged quietly.
> [Target Detected: Batman (Bruce Wayne). Potential Traits Available for Copying.]
Options appeared before Ark's eyes:
1. Peak Human Conditioning (Passive)
2. Master Martial Arts (Passive/Active)
3. Genius Intellect (Passive)
All while Batman kept talking, his words focused on strategy and future threats.
Ark's mind raced even as he kept a straight face, nodding as though fully absorbed in the conversation.
Peak Human Conditioning... I'd be tougher, stronger, harder to wear down. But I already have enhanced durability and strength.
Master Martial Arts... I'd be an unstoppable fighter, combining it with my reflexes and instincts. But fighting isn't the only battlefield anymore.
Genius Intellect... This is why he's always ten steps ahead. Strategy, tech, deduction... I'd never be blindsided again.
A thought crept in as Batman kept speaking.
Did he know who I was? It was Batman—he probably knew everything already. But he never said it. He just kept talking about the fight, the mission, nothing personal. No names. Still… unsettling.
As Batman continued, Ark made his choice.
I can handle fights... but I can't afford to fall behind in everything else.
Without hesitation, he mentally selected:
> [Copying Trait: Genius Intellect (Passive).]
A soft confirmation flashed in his vision.
> [Trait Successfully Copied: Genius Intellect (Passive).]
[3 Trait Tokens Consumed. Remaining Tokens: 1.]
Ark kept his expression neutral as a rush of clarity filled his mind. Connections snapped into place. His thoughts moved faster, sharper.
Batman finished his words, giving Ark one last look before vanishing into the darkness.
Ark stood there alone, feeling the difference already. The city stretched before him, the war just beginning.
He exhaled slowly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"I'll need every edge I can get," he muttered.
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End of chapter
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