At Ra's al Ghul's command, Talia dragged Dick through the wooden cabin's roof and fled toward the wilderness beneath the night sky.
Ra's al Ghul had devised this tactic when he sensed the Talons approaching. When defeat became inevitable, he would use his own flesh and blood to safeguard the League of Assassins' last embers.
Talia executed the order flawlessly, with an assassin's professionalism. There were no farewells, no regret or reluctance. Father and daughter did not even exchange a glance, as indifferent as strangers passing on the street.
The fleeing figures also caught the four elite assassins' attention. Having witnessed Bane's true abilities, they all abandoned their spectators' positions and pursued the pair.
Twenty years ago, the Court's negligence had allowed the League to escape death's clutches. Today, the Talons would not let history repeat itself.
But they seemed to have underestimated Ra's al Ghul's resolve.
The elderly leader actually turned his back on a powerful enemy on the battlefield and chased after the four Talons.
The sudden surge of murderous intent behind them chilled the Talons. Looking back, they saw Ra's al Ghul bearing down on them like a red-hot branding iron, searing his hideously contorted face deep into their retinas.
Ra's al Ghul thrust his sword forward. Its sharp blade sliced through the vast curtain of rain, stabbing toward an elite Talon like a bolt of lightning.
"Bane! Save me!!!"
Benjamin Orchard, who had fallen to the rear, was scared out of his wits. As he cried out, he raised both arms, attempting to block Ra's al Ghul's thunderous strike with his flesh and blood.
There was nothing wrong with his reasoning. As long as Ra's al Ghul failed to finish him immediately, the healing ability granted by the electrum compound would help him hold out until