Ready for Action

Alex froze. Bronze Tiger!

How had such a fierce man become Jack's subordinate?!

Bronze Tiger was not his real name. His real name should have been Benjamin Ben Turner. Bronze Tiger was one of the strongest martial artists in the DC world and one of the earliest members of the Suicide Squad. He was Richard Dragon and Lady Shiva's senior brother in their school. Though he had no superpowers, his formidable fighting skills still placed him among the strongest mercenaries and assassins.

Just how strong was he? A simple explanation: there were several top martial artists in the DC world. One of them was the famous Batman, yet Bronze Tiger had defeated Batman barehanded several times. That alone was enough to demonstrate his strength.

Bronze Tiger could be considered a representative of Earth's strongest humans. He simply was not particularly famous in DC comics, nowhere near as widely known as Batman.

But how had Bronze Tiger become Jack's subordinate?!

Was he repaying a life-saving debt by helping Jack rule Lower City while he was at it?

That guy, Jack...

Alex no longer knew how to describe him. One of the world's top martial artists was under Jack's command. No wonder he had dealt with a Crimson Angels gang so easily, while also helping him take over Lower City.

Alex did not speak to Bronze Tiger, nor did he have the mindset of a transmigrator eager to see impressive local figures. Other than wanting to see what a few members of the Justice League were like, he had no particular desire to befriend heroes, villains, or anyone else. He was the type who would think, Oh... so you're someone I remember as being really impressive, then simply do nothing and have no interest in getting acquainted.

As long as they did not interfere with him, Alex would let things take their course.

Before, his Human Physical Limit had not been inferior to Bronze Tiger's. He merely lacked Bronze Tiger's vast combat experience, forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. But Alex had now surpassed himself. How much more agile and powerful he had become compared to before was impossible to estimate. Bronze Tiger would no longer be his opponent, so Alex had even less reason to introduce himself.

In DC comics, Bronze Tiger was clearly a man who valued loyalty, generous and forthright, open and steady. Facing Jack's life-saving favor, Alex roughly understood Bronze Tiger's thoughts. Still, he could not help marveling at Jack's incredible luck. He had actually rescued a severely injured Bronze Tiger and unexpectedly taken him in as a subordinate. For a time, with Bronze Tiger protecting him, Jack would have nothing to worry about.

Once he knew Jack's safety was assured, Alex gave a few brief instructions, telling Jack to keep an eye on Lower City. He said he would make his move next and told Jack to prepare to take over the territories of the other two gangs. Once he had completely ruled Lower City, he hung up.

A day later, Alex officially began his operation.

He sorted through the superhero outfit he had prepared and gradually put each piece on.

The black combat uniform was made from Kevlar and titanium. It was bulletproof, blast-resistant, impact-resistant, slash- and stab-resistant, fireproof, and insulated. It fit as closely as a shirt and did not hinder his movements. The gloves and boots were both black and specially reinforced, helping protect Alex's fists and feet from recoil injuries when attacking.

Wearing the full black uniform, Alex stood tall before the mirror, looking neat and sharp. A cool, resolute air naturally emanated from him.

He removed his black-rimmed glasses, revealing his full face. His temperament suddenly seemed completely transformed. His black eyes were deep, the beauty mark beneath the corner of his eye, the calm curve of his lips, and the faint, unrestrained smile all made him seem as though coldness and gentleness coexisted within him.

But in truth, he was naturally detached, heartless, and cold. Deep within those black eyes lay icy indifference.

After returning the black glasses to the display case, Alex picked up the black trench coat from the table beside him. He slipped his right arm into it, adjusted the angle slightly, then inserted his left arm. He straightened the front of the coat with both hands, making it fit closer to his body. Then he reached his right hand behind his head, pulled out the hood concealed within the coat, and draped it over his head. At once, he seemed even colder and more mysterious.

Many of Alex's pieces of equipment had actually been modeled after Batman's gear. Before this, he and Batman had both possessed the strength of the Human Physical Limit. According to Alex's plans, with Batman's mature equipment concepts as a foundation, he had directly incorporated much of Batman's gear and modified it roughly for his own use as a superhero.

For example, the black trench coat was made from special memory nylon fibers combined with Kevlar fibers, allowing it to flutter like any ordinary fabric garment. But once the fibers were charged, they rapidly hardened. It was fireproof and insulated, with many inner compartments for concealed flat items such as throwing knives and coins. When the hem of the black trench coat was spread out, the back could also be electrified and hardened into a glider, making it useful for escaping from high places.

It had originally been modeled after Batman's cape. Later, Alex felt that capes were truly the romance of comic-book heroes, but were heavily restricted in combat. Though a cape could be rolled up, it clearly did not suit him, so he changed it into a black trench coat. He also thickened the lining considerably, giving it many more functions.

And over the past few days, while training Magnetic Psionics, Alex discovered that he no longer needed technology to electrify it. He could harden it himself with Magnetic Psionics, so he removed the electrified glider function.

After putting on the black trench coat, Alex casually selected some throwing knives, daggers, coins, small plastic explosives, smoke bombs, and other items, placing them inside the coat's lining. He also inserted a small cutting tool, breathing assistance equipment, a simple grappling hook and rope, and other items around his black belt. As long as they did not affect his movement or combat, these small parts were not heavy. Alex did not mind being thoroughly prepared, lest any unforeseen accident occur.

He had also removed many smaller items. Since he could accomplish some functions with Magnetic Psionics, there was no need to carry too much. For example, the glove bracers had originally contained electrified magnetic components capable of generating powerful adhesion, helping Alex climb and move along walls more easily. But after gaining Magnetic Psionics, Alex discovered he no longer needed the gloves' function. He could create countless tiny barbs with Magnetic Psionics to cling to his body, so he directly modified the gloves into lighter black armored gloves, making combat more convenient.

Over the course of several days, he revised the various small items he carried. His equipment, which had originally been extremely similar to Batman's, no longer needed many components because of Magnetic Psionics. Instead, it developed its own personal characteristics.

At last, after putting on the complete set of superhero equipment, Alex used his fingers to fasten the buttons on the front of his trench coat one by one, from bottom to top.

Once they were fastened, the hem of his black trench coat swayed as he walked straight to the display case holding the mask.

Inside lay a full-face mask without features, smooth and curved like half an egg. Its Silver Glow shimmered faintly. Only two horizontal slits opened where the pupils should be, making it inexplicably cold and terrifying.

Taking out the mask, Alex pressed it onto his face with his right hand and adjusted it into place.

In an instant, clad in black uniform and trench coat, with the brim of his hood concealing his eyes and more than half of the smooth silver mask exposed, he resembled the Grim Reaper in the darkness, sending chills down one's spine.