Perhaps the masked men weren't afraid of death, but it depended on how they died.
Getting shot by a street gang in some dark alley was one thing. Being corroded by some inexplicable giant monster until not even scraps remained was another.
They thought going out at night with their faces covered to fight crime meant living in darkness, but the battle unfolding in broad daylight today was merely the universe lifting a corner of its dark veil for them.
"Ugh, another brainless one." Su Ming shook his head, showing no sympathy for the victim. "Even an idiot should have tried a weapon first. What kind of move was punching it with bare fists? Didn't he get sucked in by the enemy like a noodle? Oh, right, Little Ka, contact Little Wong for me. Tell him I want pasta for lunch today."
"Yes, Master." Kaecilius activated a communication spell and exchanged a few words with Wong. "He asked whether you wanted to add some tentacled monsters from the Alternate Dimension for seafood pasta."
"No seafood today. Tomato sauce pasta will do."
Su Ming kept his eye on the bridge. The monster was still advancing rapidly, while those heroes were retreating just as quickly.
At least faster than when they had arrived. It looked a little like they were fleeing.
This was truly the worst batch of Vigilantes the Sorcerer Supreme had ever seen.
Then again, it made sense. Street-level fighters facing an Alternate Dimension creature mutated and fused through Gamma Radiation were practically throwing their lives away.
They had rushed over eagerly without understanding the situation. Once they found an enemy they couldn't handle, they couldn't simply leave either. There were too many civilians around, too many eyes and cameras, with everyone watching them expectantly.
If they ran today, they'd