Bronze Tiger

Night, Lower City.

Booming music blared through Pania Street, Nige Mountain Street, Nige Mountain Avenue, West Nige Mountain Street, Seventh Avenue, and the Nige Mountain District. The seductive, mocking music echoed endlessly through the dark alleys.

It was "HOP," known domestically as the Bulgarian Beast King—a song that went... hot girl... fucker... The moment one heard it, the Bulgarian Beast King's seductive figure vividly appeared in one's mind.

The entire eastern part of Lower City was shrouded in the seductive sound of... hot girl... fucker... Behind Alex came an unbroken stream of police cars, roadblocks, and sealed roads. The police had set up several ambush points, but Lower City's chaotic urban planning, countless narrow streets and alleys, reckless reporters, and crowds of locals watching the spectacle left them completely helpless. Alex rode his motorcycle freely through the streets, accompanied all the way by... hot girl... fucker... with sirens and furious police curses following behind him as he sped away at ease.

By the time the system had played enough, the sound of... hot girl... fucker... around Alex gradually stopped. He rode his motorcycle into an alley, made several turns, and easily shook off the pursuing police and fearless reporters.

In a dark alley beside Yopi Heights Avenue in western Lower City.

Alex rode a specially modified motorcycle, its sharp, angular lines brimming with a mechanical feel. Its headlight was dimmed, barely providing enough light to see through the darkness, while its engine purred softly as he slowly moved forward.

"Wasn't that awesome... hahaha!" The system's wild, smug voice rang beside Alex's ear. "I could have controlled the soundwave frequency to vibrate inward, strengthening your body and improving your power and control over your own body and Magnetic Psionics."

"But you just wouldn't cooperate." The system chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll keep picking fun background music and make you, this superhero, famous."

"All right, thank you."

Alex thanked it calmly. He had enjoyed himself as well. Not bad—this could continue. They would see who played whom to death.

The system might seem to be playing music at random to mess with him, but it had never interfered with his private identity. It only played background music to disrupt him when he was acting as a superhero.

And it never played the music for long. Whenever he appeared to fight, once the fight was over and he left the scene, it silently turned off the background music, allowing him to escape safely.

From that alone, Alex could tell that the system was truly useless and cowardly. Even it was afraid that his true identity would be exposed and lead to his death.

Even though the system had provocatively played music for two hours today and caused the Lower City police to hunt him down, it had still kept watch over his safety. At times, it lowered the music so he could clearly hear other movements, car sounds, actions before gunfire, footsteps, and so on. It even dared not let the motorcycle run too low on fuel. It had never put him in truly dangerous circumstances.

That was why the system's little trick left Alex disappointed. He had originally thought its punishment would be to electrocute him. This was truly... disappointing.

"You..."

No longer bothering with the system, Alex rode his black motorcycle onward at an unhurried pace. The dim headlight was like a beam cutting through a fogged-up windshield, illuminating the road ahead.

Yet his mind was occupied with the various forces in Lower City. After he had taken down quite a few groups, the Severed Hand Gang had once controlled most of Lower City and was close to becoming its ruling force.

But vaguely, the underworld factions from other districts seemed to be making moves toward Lower City.

From the Russian Gang, Alex had unexpectedly learned that, with the Russian Gang as its representative, underworld forces from other districts had infiltrated Lower City to cooperate. He did not know what they intended to do, but Alex's appearance had caused their plans to fail.

"What are they trying to do in Lower City by working with Al Swan?"

Alex frowned slightly. During the process of killing the Russian Gang's core members, he had learned that Al Swan was involved in this sort of gang conflict.

There was simply no reason for it.

Given the Swan family's momentum, its assets and influence were nearly enough to elevate it to the ranks of Central City's upper-class aristocracy. Why get involved with organized crime now?

Alex could not make sense of it at all. Were they trying to ruin the Swan family's future? Was the Swan family really that foolish?

"It looks like I'll need to sound them out at the Central City Brotherhood party. Is this Al Swan's personal action, or the Swan family's?"

Alex considered the matter with great seriousness.

Lower City was practically settled now. He absolutely did not want anyone else interfering in this territory.

Did they think Alex was so easy to take advantage of?

The clamor of police sirens on distant streets gradually faded, as though separated by an entire world. The narrow street was quiet, broken only by the soft hum of the motorcycle's engine.

The wind was somewhat cold as it swept past Alex's black trench coat. He rode slowly onward through the dim, hazy street, his faint headlight slicing through the darkness ahead like a battle blade.

Suddenly.

A tall, dark figure stood in the road. Under the hazy moonlight, he cut the outline of a towering, muscular man with the fierce aura of a tiger.

The motorcycle's headlight shone straight from the ground onto his feet. His feet stood rooted in place, as firm and towering as mountain peaks, giving off an unshakable presence.

Alex's right hand tightened, and with a squeal, he braked the motorcycle to a stop.

Snap!

With a flick of his thumb, the light abruptly switched to high beams. The powerful glare was like a bayonet in the night as it fell upon the tall figure.

The glaring white beam illuminated his powerful body. He wore a black tank top, his arms muscular, his broad back and narrow waist like those of a tiger. A deep, unfathomable gleam lurked within his tiger-like eyes—the light of someone who had spotted prey and was eager to move. His face was calm as still water, while his upright body was like a towering mountain, making him seem impossible to shake.

He simply stood there, his gaze fixed on Alex behind the high beams. Like a savage beast, he had locked onto Alex's figure.

"Bronze Tiger!"

Alex blurted it out almost without thinking, immediately reaching a conclusion about the newcomer's identity.

At this time, in this place, Alex could not think of anyone besides Bronze Tiger at Jack's side who would block his path.

He was the renowned Bronze Tiger of DC, the man who had defeated Batman barehanded several times.

"I want to spar with you." Bronze Tiger's voice was deep and resonant, magnetic and steady, giving people a sense of security and reassurance.

But the strange gleam in his eyes intensified. His fingers twitched slightly, and every muscle in his body was relaxed yet taut with explosive force. His breathing was regulated like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Since leaving the League of Assassins, this was the first time he had encountered such a powerful human. Delighted at finding worthy prey, he could not help wanting to test his skills.

"I mean nothing else by it. I approve of what you've done. I simply want to spar with you." Seeing that Alex made no move, Bronze Tiger gave a steady explanation.

It meant nothing else. It just meant he wanted a fight.

Alex understood the feeling of a Human Physical Limit martial artist whose combat skills had reached the pinnacle, a fighter with few human opponents left in the world, when he encountered a worthy adversary.

Upon seeing an opponent, the urge to fight was like an itch that spread from the heart to the skin.

"All right. I'm grateful for the care you've shown Jack."

Alex came to a realization and smiled lightly. He got off the bike, removed his smooth silver mask and black trench coat, revealing his combat outfit. He folded the coat over the motorcycle, then walked toward Bronze Tiger.