Damn Tsundere

The Freeze Gun could fire Freezing Rays close to absolute zero. As long as they hit a wall, they could almost halt the molecular movement of the cement and steel reinforcement.

No matter how sturdy the wall was, to Jude, it was nothing more than paper—something that would break with a poke.

I have five seconds at most. I have to subdue Killer Croc before he reacts.

Thinking this, Jude swiftly pulled the trigger. Several Freezing Rays struck the wall, followed by a fierce punch.

Ruili Cosmetics Company, seventh-floor warehouse.

Killer Croc sat there, glugging down liquor as he watched the trembling hostages.

He bellowed, "Shut up, all of you! Whoever makes even the slightest sound again, I'll snap his neck."

The crowd immediately fell silent.

Suddenly, he lifted a woman crouching by the table with one hand and tore the tape from her mouth.

The woman trembled in terror, yet she did not dare make a sound.

Killer Croc was very pleased with the effect of his intimidation. He stuck out his scarlet tongue, licked the corner of his mouth, and asked, "Tell me, am I ugly? Am I disgusting?"

The woman hurriedly shook her head. "No, no, sir. You're not disgusting at all. You're just... a little special."

"Really? Then do you like this appearance?"

"Of course. I like it very much."

A vicious glint appeared in Killer Croc's eyes. "Liar. All I can see in your eyes is fear. The liking you speak of is nothing but the same line those circus people used."

"You only see me as a deformed monster, some freak born from a cross between a mother and a crocodile. You only mock me, don't you?"

The woman was stunned by Killer Croc's sudden roar. Yellow liquid flowed from between her legs, dripping onto the floor.

"Hahahaha... Are you scared? No need to be scared. Before long, all of Gotham City will become just like me. This place will become a city of monsters, and I'll no longer be the special one. Hahahaha..."

"Huh? Why does it feel a little cold?"

Bang!

A sudden explosion sounded behind him. Killer Croc hurriedly turned around and saw a man-sized hole in the wall. He instinctively grabbed the woman and held her in front of him as a shield.

"FUCK!"

Jude could only lower the hand that had been about to fire. He forcefully stepped on the broken wall, activating the Gravity Boots.

Like a great bird, he leaped above Killer Croc's head. Freezing Rays fired continuously, instantly freezing the crocodile and the woman with him into an ice sculpture.

From breaking through the wall to ending the fight, it had taken no more than five seconds. Before the hostages could even understand what was happening, the situation had already been reversed.

Jude revealed himself and repeatedly pressed both hands downward, signaling the hostages to stay calm.

"Keep it down, friends. I'm Batman's friend, and I'm here to save you. If you make any more noise and draw Clayface over here, I won't be responsible for you."

Hearing Batman's name, the hostages quickly quieted down, all looking at Jude anxiously.

"That's more like it. The police will be here to rescue you soon."

As Jude spoke, he walked to the broken wall and gave Commissioner Gordon below an OK sign.

Gordon quickly picked up his radio and shouted, "Killer Croc has been subdued. Move!"

At his command, dozens of police officers descended from the rooftop on zip lines. They kicked through the glass and quickly gathered on the seventh floor. Seconds later, the warehouse doors were smashed open from outside, and police officers poured in.

"All right, I'll leave this place to you. I'm going to help Batman."

The action team Captain saluted him, then immediately asked, "Sir, what should we do with those two?"

"No rush. The freezing will wear off on its own in two hours. You'll have the advantage while they're helpless. Do I need to teach you that?"

"Understood. Thanks!"

Elsewhere, Clayface was shrieking as he attacked Bruce. His hands had turned into two enormous clay hammers, each blow smashing a huge hole into the wall.

Bruce rolled and dodged nimbly, flicking several Batarangs from his hand.

"You think those things will work on me?"

Clayface did not care in the slightest as he let the Batarangs strike him. The Batarangs were incredibly sharp and embedded directly in his flesh—if he still had flesh, that was.

Clayface remained completely unaffected and continued attacking. The giant hammers on his hands turned into spears and stabbed straight toward Bruce's chest.

Bang bang bang...

At that moment, small explosions erupted across Clayface's body, blasting him into a stagger. Several craters appeared on his body, filled with red, glaze-like residue left behind after soil had been scorched at high temperatures.

Bruce seized the opportunity to leap up and kick him in the head. With the strength of his legs, even this monster was kicked straight through a door and into an office.

But knowing this old opponent would not be so easily dealt with, Bruce took another anesthetic grenade from his belt.

White smoke instantly enveloped Clayface, while Bruce pulled out a respirator and put it over his mouth.

After waiting a few minutes and seeing no movement, he finally let out a breath.

Just as he turned to leave, a black shadow suddenly shot out from the smoke. Clayface pounced and wrapped himself around Bruce.

"Heh heh, you got careless, Batman. I'm dirt. Would anesthetic work on dirt?"

With his neck strangled from behind, Bruce could only drive his elbow into Clayface. But what he struck was hard as stone. Clearly, this level of attack would have no effect.

"What? Are you getting anxious? Are you worried about those hostages? Don't worry. After I kill you, I'll send them to hell to keep you company."

Clayface shouted as he turned one arm into a short blade and stabbed it toward Bruce's chest.

Clang!

The Bat-Armor blocked the clay blade.

"Haha, you think that thing can protect you? Die!"

White smoke suddenly began hissing from the point where the clay blade touched the Bat-Armor. Clayface was using his corrosive ability.

Bruce's mind raced as he searched for a way out. At that critical moment, a Freezing Ray struck Clayface's arm, immediately stopping his movement.

Then another laser pierced straight through Clayface's head, splattering yellow sludge all over Bruce.

"Hehe, don't mention it, Batman."

Bruce shot Jude a cold glance. "What about Killer Croc and the hostages?"

"Of course I took care of all of them. Otherwise, how could I have freed up my hands to save you?"

"I had a way out even without your help."

"Heh. Damn tsundere!"

After the two exchanged a few barbs, Clayface, who had just fallen, stood up again. His blown-apart head had already recovered completely.

"This guy... he really is tenacious."

"Batman, you broke your promise! I'm going to kill the hostages!"

Jude said speechlessly, "Even villains need to use their brains. I'm standing here—what do you think happened to Killer Croc?"

Clayface froze for a moment, then raised a clay hammer and smashed it toward Jude. Unfortunately, before it could get close, a Freezing Ray had already frozen the clay hammer.

"You should be grateful you're so big. Otherwise, that ray would have frozen you completely. Surrender now, and you'll suffer less."

Looking at his frozen arms, Clayface roared furiously. Then he slammed his arms together with all his strength, and with a bang, they shattered into ice fragments across the floor.

Just as Jude was about to give him a thumbs-up, Clayface's body wriggled, and his arms grew back.

"Oh! This situation seems a little bad. Run!"