บท 161: Cracks in ice
The blue light beams sliced through the air, leaving a trail of intense heat that warped the very atmosphere of the cave. The plasma cutter fired by Batman radiated like a burning star, aimed directly at Link's jet-black, armor-like exterior. But before the beam could fully connect, Link twisted his body with inhuman speed. The beam only grazed him, and he darted toward Batman, closing the gap between them with terrifying agility.
"Plasma cutters need sustained contact to melt through that casing, sir," Friday's voice chimed in Batman's earpiece, her tone as calm and clinical as ever.
But Batman had already recognized this. He deactivated the plasma cutter in one swift motion, pivoting just in time to evade a crushing uppercut from Link. The air whistled as the punch sliced through the space where Batman's head had been mere milliseconds earlier. Another straight punch followed, a thunderous blow aimed at his chest. Batman, ever precise in his movements, sidestepped smoothly, his reflexes honed to perfection through countless battles.
With calculated efficiency, Batman seized Link's extended arm. He braced himself, rotating his hips in preparation for a powerful chest throw—an ancient technique designed to send opponents crashing to the ground. But something went wrong.
A screeching sound emanated from Batman's armored arm. The servos whined, the hydraulic systems struggling under the immense strain of Link's brute strength. It was as if Batman had attempted to lift a mountain, the metallic components grinding together as if on the verge of snapping under the pressure.
Despite Batman's enhanced strength, bolstered by the suit, Link's raw power was overwhelming. In a shocking display of force, Link broke free from the hold with ease. With a single, effortless motion, he flung Batman across the cave. The Dark Knight's body spun in the air, momentum carrying him backward as he rolled along the ground to diffuse the impact.
Batman landed on his feet, his movements controlled despite the force that had thrown him. But before he could fully recover, Link was already charging at him again. His movements were primal, like a predator that had zeroed in on its prey, and he was relentless.
Batman, always thinking three steps ahead, reached for his utility belt. His hand closed around the familiar shape of a bat bomb, and without hesitation, he lobbed it directly at Link's chest.
Boom!
The explosion sent a shockwave through the cavern, momentarily engulfing both combatants in fire and debris. Link, who had been rushing forward, was blasted off his feet, his body thrown backward by the sheer force of the detonation. Even Batman was caught in the periphery of the blast, sent tumbling by the concussive force.
Charlie's screen flickered as Batman's armor absorbed most of the explosion's damage. The interface registered a dip in the suit's integrity, the special effects indicating that the Dark Knight had been injured despite the protective layers.
But the worst surprise was yet to come.
Emerging from the thick cloud of smoke, Link appeared again, his monstrous form seemingly unscathed. His movements were savage, his focus locked solely on Batman. It was as though the explosion hadn't even fazed him.
Charlie's eyes narrowed.
That wasn't just an ordinary bomb. Batman had upgraded his arsenal since the previous encounter, and this explosive device was designed to be far more destructive than the standard bat darts. Yet here was Link, standing tall, shrugging off the blast like it was nothing.
"Sir, the bomb caused damage," Friday's voice interjected, bringing up a tactical display on the screen. "However, he appears to possess some kind of self-healing capability."
Switching to detective mode, Batman's vision adjusted to the enhanced night optics. Through the residual smoke and debris, Charlie saw it clearly—Link's black armor, though damaged, was regenerating. Cracks and fractures from the explosion were sealing themselves, the dark substance stitching itself back together at a frightening rate.
"Self-healing," Charlie muttered to himself.
"Yes, sir. His protective layer regenerates faster than your equipment can deal lasting damage. You'll need to exceed his healing speed to inflict lasting trauma."
Charlie scowled behind the mask. One shot wouldn't be enough. This required relentless, continuous firepower, something that could overwhelm his regenerative capabilities before they could take effect.
But if physical blows were ineffective... perhaps there was another way.
As Link charged again, his massive form casting a shadow across the cavern floor, Batman subtly activated a trap he had laid moments earlier. Link's foot came down with a heavy thud, triggering the freezing grenade hidden beneath the debris.
Snap!
A thick cloud of ice crystals erupted from the ground, enveloping Link in a bone-chilling mist. The temperature in the cave plummeted instantly, frost forming on the walls and ground. The ice spread across Link's body, freezing him solid in the midst of his charge. His form became encased in a prison of ice, crystallized mid-stride, his arm still outstretched toward Batman as if he were frozen in time.
For a moment, the cavern fell silent. Link was immobilized, his monstrous body frozen in place like a dark, malevolent statue. But even though his body was locked in ice, his mind was not.
Inside the ice, Link's eyes flickered, tracking Batman's every movement. His thoughts were racing, his will undeterred. This sensation—the paralysis, the helplessness—it wasn't new to him. He had felt this before, in a different way, when life had frozen him out, leaving him powerless.
---
Link's mind drifted back to the moment he severed ties with the people he once called friends—his girlfriend, his brother, Jeff. Betrayed by those he had trusted most, Link had entered a phase in his life where everything felt stagnant. His pursuit of strength had hit a wall, leaving him frustrated and lost.
He had once been the rising star of his department, revered for his strength, his leadership, his accomplishments. Yet, despite his victories, he felt trapped, unable to break through to something greater.
That's when the mission came. It was supposed to be a standard expedition—an exploratory mission into an ancient ruin. But something had gone terribly wrong.
It started with the dreams—nightmares, really. Visions of his father, the man who had abandoned him; of his mother, who had died too soon. And then came the faces of those who had betrayed him, mocking him, laughing at his failures. Every night, the same cruel images haunted him, tearing at his sanity.
Soon, the hallucinations began. Even during the day, Link saw shadows where none should be. His grip on reality began to slip. Once, he had even mistaken one of his men for Jeff and had nearly struck him down in a fit of rage.
And then the voice came.
It whispered in his ear, promising power beyond his wildest dreams. It called itself Lytos, an ancient force that could give him the strength to break free from his limitations. All he had to do was release it from its prison.
But Link wasn't swayed. He had always prided himself on his iron will. He wasn't some weak-willed fool who could be manipulated by mere whispers.
Or so he thought.
It wasn't long before he realized that the rest of his team had been hearing the same voice—and unlike him, they were falling under its spell. He saw it in the way they looked at him, the way they whispered behind his back, plotting to betray him.
He had been betrayed before. He wouldn't let it happen again.
One by one, he led his team into the heart of the ruins, under the guise of a mission. When they reached the deepest chamber, he locked them inside and detonated the charges he had planted along the way. Their shocked, confused faces were the last thing he saw before he sealed the entrance, trapping them all in the ruins.
Link had laughed then, a bitter, triumphant laugh. They had thought they could outsmart him, but he had been five steps ahead all along. He had rid himself of the traitors.
But as he stood outside the ruins, alone and victorious, he realized that his battle was far from over.
---
Crack.
The sound of ice splitting echoed through the cave, pulling Batman from his thoughts.
The frozen casing around Link began to crack, fissures forming along the surface of the ice. With a deafening roar, Link broke free, shards of ice flying in every direction as his black form emerged once again. His eyes, wild with fury, locked onto Batman, filled with a primal rage that promised no mercy.
---
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