Kindred Spirits

The shell tore through the air.

Trailing a brilliant tail of flame, it shot straight at the windshield.

Kingpin and Sloan's expressions changed dramatically.

The car might have been bulletproof, but against a shell, it was entirely outclassed. There was probably nothing they could do.

Batman had moved too quickly for them to react. They could only shield themselves and huddle behind the front seatbacks, bracing for the flames that would engulf the entire vehicle.

Boom!!

The next moment, the shell blasted the whole car several meters into the air.

Kingpin rolled around inside the car for a while, leaving him bruised and burned. Fortunately, none of it was fatal. It could only be considered minor injuries.

Thankfully, money had never been an issue for him. When he had this car customized, he had taken the possibility of an attack into account.

If he had cut corners to save money, he would not have emerged unscathed now.

Sloan's physical condition was far worse than Kingpin's.

He was thrown around inside the car until his head was bloodied. After a long while, he crawled out through a shattered window and onto the roadside, lying on his back against the curb and gasping for breath, unable to move.

Meanwhile, in a furious rage, Kingpin kicked the damaged car door away and stared viciously at the Rabbit Armor in the distance.

He clenched his fists, fire blazing in his eyes.

Over all these years, the king of the underworld had never been reduced to such a miserable state.

"Batman!"

Kingpin spoke the name one syllable at a time, staring at the Rabbit Armor before him.

"Kingpin, nice to meet you. It seems I've made quite an impression."

Through the Rabbit Armor, Anton greeted Kingpin amicably and slowly stepped forward.

Kingpin did not retreat in the slightest.

Though the Rabbit Armor's metal shell looked intimidating, Kingpin was exceptionally gifted. He had trained every muscle in his body to an unimaginable degree.

Tests had proven that his strength far exceeded that of an ordinary person.

Even against a mech, he would not consider himself inferior.

"I'll tear you apart!"

Kingpin forced the words out through gritted teeth. With one stomp, he burst forward at a speed utterly mismatched with his "fat" body, reaching the Rabbit Armor in an instant.

Bang!!

The Rabbit Armor traded punches with him.

Creak, creak!

A faint strain came from the mechanical bearings.

Anton remained calm and activated a shell.

But Kingpin seemed to sense it coming. He abruptly retreated, picked up the cane he had dropped beside the wrecked car, and swiftly pressed its hidden trigger.

Whoosh!

A bullet shot from the cane.

It collided with the shell that had just been fired.

Boom!

A massive burst of flame exploded in midair. Centered on the point of impact, the shockwave swept in all directions, making the hem of Kingpin's suit flap wildly.

The firelight shone across Kingpin's face, but his expression remained icy. He stared coldly at the Rabbit Armor with the air of someone determined to fight to the death.

Far away in Los Angeles, Anton narrowed his eyes.

He had underestimated Kingpin!

This king of New York's underworld—indeed, America's underworld—truly possessed extraordinary abilities.

After thinking for a moment, the Rabbit Armor took several steps back.

Clearly, against an enraged Kingpin showing such all-out determination, a simple contest of strength would not solve anything.

More importantly, Anton had already achieved his goal for tonight. There was no need to fight Kingpin to the death.

Their battle could be saved for another day.

"You're running?"

Kingpin seemed to see through Anton's intentions. Drawing on the trash-talking skills he had hidden for years, he barked, "That's it?"

"We have plenty of time, Wilson Fisk."

The Rabbit Armor released a cold electronic voice. Then Kingpin watched as it picked up Bullseye beside it, walked to the other side, and lifted the helplessly struggling Sloan as well.

"You think I don't exist?"

Kingpin flew into a rage. He felt that this bastard was not taking him seriously at all, humiliating him right in front of his face.

Whoosh!

Unable to restrain himself, he threw a punch at the Rabbit Armor.

Boom!

The next moment, a powerful shell forced him to stop.

By the time Kingpin had dealt with the shell in furious embarrassment, the huge metal monster before him had vanished amid a gust of wind and dispersing smoke.

"Fuck!!"

Kingpin was beside himself with rage, his expression utterly grim.

Staring into the dark alley, he shouted in fury, regardless of whether the other side could hear him.

"Batman, I'll find you!"

Ignoring the shouts behind it, the Rabbit Armor sped through the city with a person in each hand.

Though it was already night, traffic in the Big Apple remained horribly congested.

The astonishing figure appeared once more on the streets of New York.

People cheered as they recognized it.

"Batman!"

Though it differed somewhat from its original appearance, those pointed ears and that distinctive armor left no doubt about its identity.

"Where's he going?"

"Who are the people he's carrying? More criminals from somewhere?"

People discussed it animatedly.

Some ran alongside while holding up their phones, just to capture the spectacular sight.

They followed him all the way to the New York Police Department.

By coincidence, George Stacy had just returned to the station after a long traffic jam, bringing the incapacitated Brotherhood members and former Brotherhood member Carlos with him.

He had barely parked when he saw a familiar figure arrive.

"No way..."

A sense of foreboding rose within George Stacy as he watched the figure approach the New York Police Department and toss two people toward them.

"No need to thank me."

The Rabbit Armor's red-glowing eyes flickered like stars, as though winking at him.

"Huh?"

George Stacy exploded in anger. "Fuck you!"

The Rabbit Armor's towering figure stood face-to-face with George Stacy, yet George Stacy did not look small beside it.

The image was strangely harmonious.

Of course, that was only how it looked to anyone unaware of what the two were saying.

Click!

From the shadows in a corner, Eddie discreetly snapped a photo. He examined it repeatedly and wore a smug grin.

Tomorrow's front page was secured!

[Kindred Spirits, Joining Forces to Capture Criminals! The Superhero and the New York Police Department Commissioner!]

Look, Eddie had even come up with the headline.

"Anton!"

A sweet voice reached his ears. Anton turned and saw the actress playing Rachel batting her eyes at him seductively.

As Batman's first female lead, she did not have much screen time, but it was perfectly reasonable for her to be here.

The moment Anton saw her, he instinctively supported his waist, his calves trembling slightly.

She was a monster.

"Anton!"

Another familiar voice called out. Looking again, Anton saw Betty emerge from behind the actress. Her exquisite face was no less beautiful than the actress's, but her expression was blank and her tone icy. "Jim is looking for you."

"Oh, okay. I'll go right now."

As if he had found a lifeline, Anton vanished from before the two women in a flash.

Only after blending into the crowd did he stop, suddenly realizing something.

Wait, what am I afraid of?

I've inherited all of Batman's strength. With my current physical condition, never mind seven times in one night—I could do it seventeen times!

A man can't throw away his dignity like this!

Just as he was about to turn back and reclaim his dignity, Anton suddenly spotted Jim waving at him ahead. He adjusted his mood and walked over.

Forget it, forget it. Business comes first.

Behind him.

Betty and the actress exchanged looks.

The actress's expression darkened.

Betty, meanwhile, sneered and silently mouthed two words at the actress.

Bitch!

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