blogombal Chapter 203, Section 100: Re-exploring the Bat Nest
Chapter 203, Section 100: Re-exploring the Bat Nest
Chapter 203, Page 100: Revisiting the Bat Nest (The detailed outline has been finalized; updates will resume at 6K words starting tomorrow)
The rioting crowd, braving the bullets, surged forward, quickly overwhelming the entire GCPD force. The crowd trampled over the corpses of corrupt police officers and squeezed into the main entrance of Wayne Tower, like a surging zombie horde flooding into Survivor's Fortress. Soon, the riot spread like a plague from bottom to top throughout the entire building.
The window on the 10th floor shattered with a bang, and an office chair flew out of the window along with shards of glass.
Shortly afterward, a violent explosion rang out on the 15th floor. The glass curtain wall shattered amidst screams from the crowd below. Then, a man engulfed in flames leaped out of the thick smoke with a scream, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky in a fleeting, bright arc.
It's not just in Wayne Tower; similar scenarios are unfolding in every corner of Gotham right now, inevitably bringing to mind the riots that occurred in the East End nearly a year ago, sparked by the Romans and the Red Hoods.
But unlike that time, this time the wealthy could no longer stand idly by, because what was being set ablaze this time was not some crowded, dilapidated street, but their mansions, villas, and even estates.
People fairly distributed their resentment towards the Wayne family and the courts across the heads of every rich person, across their homes and vehicles, and across their naked bodies, which were no different from those of the poor.
Some people were hung from streetlights and watched as their cars were doused with gasoline and set on fire.
Someone was shot through the chest with a shotgun, and the safe in their residence was wantonly divided up.
Someone was trying to escape Gotham under the cover of bodyguards, but the helicopter that took off was pulled down by the frenzied crowd on the rooftop, spinning and turning into a spark.
That's how it is in free America, where everyone holds a gun. What they need is not weapons, but a reason to carry one.
Standing atop the office building, Qin Wei looked down over the entire city of Gotham. As far as the eye could see, smoke filled the air and firelight flickered, and everyone was hopelessly consumed by plunder, slaughter, and venting their anger.
The city has gone mad, he thought to himself.
Any unresolved conflict will accumulate, and the longer it accumulates, the more devastating the eruption will be—just like a volcano. All the madness and all the backlash were destined from the moment this city of sin was built.
Qin Wei turned his gaze back to the Wayne Tower across the street.
The rioting crowd finally broke through the ground floor office building and headed towards the owl's nest, and their actions unsurprisingly provoked a counterattack from the Venta Guardian "Cub".
Although the cubs seemed weak and vulnerable in Qin Wei and Thomas's hands, they were like killing gods to ordinary people with guns, not to mention that there were quite a few of these killing gods.
The swarming cubs quickly subdued the rioting crowd.
The chaotic landscape shifted, and the Gotham citizens who were previously looting, vandalizing, and burning were instantly transformed into lambs to the slaughter.
The cubs' hidden blades were swift and sharp, and with their scythe-like slashes, the First Army that had invaded Wayne Tower was quickly reduced to a pile of corpses.
It's no wonder that the court officials are so emboldened. With the support of the Castle Law, they can launch devastating attacks on intruders without any limits and without having to bear any legal consequences afterward.
Of course, all of this was within Qin Wei's expectations. If he wanted to lure the cubs away from invading the Wayne Tower, a rabble would not be enough.
He was waiting for another force, a force even more ruthless than the cowardly citizens of Gotham—a gang.
The citizens were quickly driven out of the Tower of Venn by sharp blades.
At this moment, the crowd had lost its previous madness and resentment. Covered in blood, they were filled with fear after witnessing their compatriots being slashed open and their throats cut.
The masked cub army did not pursue them. After driving the citizens out of the gate, they lay in wait in the shadows of the ground floor hall. Behind the collapsed walls and around the corners of the stairs, pairs of cold eyes watched the intruders in the pouring rain.
"Let's find another place to rob!"
Suddenly, someone in the bewildered crowd made a suggestion.
The suggestion quickly spread among the crowd and gained the approval of the majority.
After all, these guys came with the intention of venting their anger and looting. Now it seems they've lost their lives instead of getting anything, which is really not worth it.
Just as the crowd gradually dispersed outwards from the Venn Tower, a short and solitary figure holding an umbrella appeared at the end of the street.
At first, no one noticed his presence, until more and more dark figures emerged behind him.
Compared to the leader, these figures were tall and strong, like a silent yet surging night tide, lined up and pushing towards Wayne Tower in the pouring rain. The arrival of the uninvited guests exacerbated the panic of the crowd, but the newcomers quickly proved with their actions that they stood with the rioting citizens.
The leader folded his umbrella, and his supporters promptly handed him a missile launcher.
The FIM-92 anti-aircraft missile launcher is a masterpiece of General Dynamics, measuring 152.5 cm in length, 7 cm in diameter, with an empty tube weighing 1 kg and a total missile weight of 15.65 kg. The missile has a range of 300–5000 meters and a firing altitude of 10–500 meters.
3000 m.
It also has a more famous name among the people—the Stinger rocket launcher.
"Hmph, the court?"
Oswald ran a hand through his wet hair, released the safety, and slung the launcher over his shoulder.
"This is the first gift I've given you, I hope you like it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the trigger was pulled, and with a crisp, loud "bang" like a can being opened, the missile flew straight toward the bottom hall of Wayne Tower.
boom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A deafening explosion erupted, illuminating the intersection as if it were daytime. The explosive powder, mixed with intense heat, nearly evaporated the ground within seconds.
Of course, those smug cubs hiding in the ruins of the hall also failed to escape.
If the shotguns and pistols in the hands of rioters led them to the absurd conclusion that "firearms are nothing special," then the "big guns" in the hands of gangs were enough to teach them to respect human scientific achievements.
The crowd hesitated for a few seconds in shock, then burst into piercing screams and cheers.
When will citizens and gangs be able to reconcile? The answer is when they share a common enemy.
Oswald waved his hand, and gang members carrying light machine guns and grenade launchers rushed into the burning hall.
Some of them came from the New Romans, but most came from different gangs.
These guys usually engage in gunfights every few days over territory and powder-selling venues, but after that live stream, they tacitly chose to shake hands and make peace, and the credit should of course go to the mediation of gang leader Oswald.
The little penguin learned a lot of talking skills from Qin Wei. Although he wasn't very good at it, he was more than capable of fooling the big, burly black men.
With gang members armed with heavy weapons leading the charge, the rioters launched a second assault on Wayne Tower and successfully captured the drug factory.
Only then did the higher-ups of the Court of Owls, those powerful figures who controlled the entire Gotham City, finally give these lowly, crawling "maggots" a second glance.
The cubs scattered throughout Wayne Tower began to gather and head towards the overrun drug factory.
Qin Wei's first strategy, "luring the tiger away from the mountain," was successful.
Judging that the main forces of both sides had almost started fighting, Qin Wei launched a grappling hook towards the gargoyle sculpture in the middle level of the Wayne Tower.
The improved melee gun has greater penetration and range, and the rope tears through the rain to build a hidden bridge in the night.
With practiced ease, Qin Wei cut through the glass and returned to the Tower of Venn once again. This time, however, there were no annoying cubs blocking his way. With the help of the map of the Tower of Venn drawn by Little Thomas, he rushed from the 52nd floor to the 99th floor in one go.
"Young Master Wayne, turn left at the next intersection, then turn right at the second intersection after the first one!"
The Lucius card also played a crucial role in navigation within the maze.
"Mr. Fox, how's Isaiah Thomas?"
As they moved forward, Qin Wei didn't forget to check on Thomas's condition.
Night Owl had always strongly opposed the live-streaming exposure plan. If he knew that Qin Wei had done this behind his back and turned Wayne Tower upside down, he would be furious.
Qin Wei did not regret it. Night Owl had betrayed him during the prison rescue incident. To put it bluntly, the two were just cooperators, not comrades-in-arms.
He believed that Thomas Jr. also thought the same way: to pursue their own maximum interests without completely betraying each other.
"You mean the eldest young master? He got into a big fight with Mr. Santana, took his newly repaired battle suit from me, and went out."
"You said he—went out? You should have let me know."
"Hahaha, yeah! I have some work to do—"
Lucius spoke casually, clearly he was overestimating the harmony between the brothers.
Before he could finish speaking, an iron fist suddenly appeared from the darkness and slammed into Qin Wei's jaw.
bump!
The punch was stealthy and ruthless, sending Qin Wei's feet flying into the air. Without the protection of the enhanced Bat Helmet, this move would have been enough to shatter his already battered jaw.
Qin Wei adjusted his body in mid-air, rolled to dissipate the force, and threw three bat darts in the direction of the enemy attack.
But the dart was intercepted mid-air, and the clanging of metal echoed in the darkness. Amidst the flying sparks, the owl's murderous figure vanished in an instant.
"Damn it!" Qin Wei couldn't help but curse.
"That's a fucking line I should be saying! You bastard, you've completely ruined Wayne Enterprises!"
Thomas's anger was a wake-up call.
"Wake up! The Wayne Corporation is long gone. All I see is an owl's nest and a puppet being manipulated."
"Fuck you—damn it, I actually insulted Martha!"
Thomas, talking to himself, threw a heavy punch, but Qin Wei blocked it with his raised arms.
The two started fighting in the corridor. Unlike their previous probing, this time they were determined to defeat each other.
But the reality is quite embarrassing.
Thomas's steel claws whistled through the air, but they couldn't break through Qin Wei's armor. They could only turn into sparks flying off the armor in vain. As for Qin Wei, he was strong and had heavy fists, but he was helpless against the nimble and ghostly Thomas.
The two brothers were as humorous as down-on-their-luck samurai who wore plate armor but dueled with tree branches.
After a full ten minutes of beating, leaving the corridor walls riddled with holes, Qin Wei finally couldn't take it anymore: "Stop! All our equipment was forged by the same master craftsman; it can't break through our defenses!"
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Let me rescue him first, we'll settle the score later when we get back!"
"good!"
Thomas nodded, and was the first to withdraw his defense and retreat.
However, Qin Wei had not completely let his guard down, his right thumb still pressing the launch button on the side of his belt.
This suit of armor originated from Thomas, and its belt also contains the nerve gas developed by Scarecrow. Qin Wei had been unwilling to use it before, but if Thomas continued to pester him, he wouldn't mind letting him experience the taste of deep fear.
Thomas was still backing away, one step, two steps, three steps, and it seemed that he had really listened to the advice.
Just as the figure was about to disappear into the darkness, Night Owl suddenly flicked his wrist and threw a long dart!
I knew it! You shameless bastard!
A fierce glint appeared in Qin Wei's eyes.
However, another twist occurred. Just as he was about to press the button, his sixth sense told Qin Wei that Night Owl's target was not him.
Why is this happening?
As Qin Wei began to think, time seemed to slow down around him. In the almost time-stopped bullet time, he clearly observed the trajectory of the long dart.
The dart wasn't aimed at him; instead, it went towards his back.
Night Owl's throwing technique was superb, and the two were only a dozen feet apart. He couldn't believe that his opponent would make such an outrageous technical mistake.
Qin Wei's gaze slid downwards, a look of confusion on his face.
Then a terrifying scene unfolded.
Before he knew it, a long scythe gleaming with a cold light was already at his neck, and the blade was still retracting, just a hair's breadth away from cleanly slicing open Qin Wei's skin and severing his entire head.
Therefore, this time Thomas's target was not Qin Wei, but the mysterious person hiding behind Qin Wei who wanted to launch a sneak attack.
Bullet time expired quickly, and Qin Wei tilted his head back at the last second, watching helplessly as the deadly scythe sliced past his eyes.
Thanks to Thomas's reminder, he narrowly escaped death.
With a soft thud, the long dart pierced the flesh.
Isaiah Thomas's throwing skills remain superb. This time, he aimed for his opponent's left eye, and the sound confirmed that it hit his target.
Apart from the clear sound of the dart hitting the target, there was no other sound in the darkness.
It's worth noting that in order to counter the claws' powerful healing abilities, both brothers upgraded their equipment. Qin Wei used a liquid nitrogen injector, while Thomas used a long tube-shaped projectile containing concentrated sulfuric acid.
Human tissue carbonized by concentrated sulfuric acid is completely irreparable. Even with a self-healing ability as strong as claws, the time required for repair will increase exponentially.
This time was enough for Thomas to leisurely walk up and dig out the amber gold of the claw.
"Which of you two is Bruce Wayne?"
A man's languid question echoed in the dark corridor. With the help of night vision goggles, Qin Wei saw a man carrying a long-handled scythe hanging upside down from the ceiling.
Before he could respond, Thomas spread his arms and blocked the other person's way.
"I am Bruce!"
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