26 Sibling bonding

Black Mask was not having a great day. Firstly, there was him losing the flash drive to that blindfolded bastard. Then there were his various business operations that were put down by said blindfolded fool. Everything had been falling off from there and he was losing more of his previous grip on the city due to this.                    

His chances of ever regaining control of Gotham City were slipping. And all because of some blindfolded fool. It was quite honestly funny in its absurdity. And now, of course, there was this, which was the worst.

That blindfolded bastard was here, in the lobby area of his privately owned building, busy giving his men downstairs the business. What were the odds of the bastard actually finding him? Now, to make matters worse, he brought company.

He himself was already a bane to deal with, and now there was 'her'. A crazy broad with powers. Just what he needed—one freak—was not enough, it seems. There just had to be another seemingly more crazy bastard that paid him a visit.

Black Mask truly felt like killing something. Everything he built was crumbling down right before his eyes, and there was nothing he could do. It was infuriating, and such anger was felt only once before. He had lost control of the city, and now all his hard work was going to go down the drain. Yet again, history repeats itself.

But he was not going to give up without a fight. So, picking up his phone, he made a call. He still had people who owed him some favors, so he was going to be making use of them. He did not care anymore—anything to see that blindfolded bastard dead and gone.

But after this, he might need to leave the city. He was not delusional; with his businesses in shambles, there was just no way he was going to get the city back within his grasp. But he had enough of the city anyway; this city is so filled with an array of freaks. Freaks who also regularly serve to be bains in his existence and business.

A change of scenery would be nice; Penguin could have Gotham for all he cared. He just had enough of this sh*thole of a city.

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The lobby area of the building was almost a haunting sight of destruction. Bullet holes litter the walls, creating a chaotic pattern of destruction. The once pristine marble floors were now stained with pools of blood, hinting at the violence that ensued. Shattered glass from shattered windows covers the floor, reflecting the devastation that occurred. The reception desk, once a symbol of order, now lies in splinters, its surface riddled with bullet impacts. The atmosphere was heavy with the smell of gunpowder, a chilling reminder of the violence that erupted within these walls.

And then, of course, there was the array of bodies sprawled about on the ruined floor. Some had bullet wounds of their own, while others were surprisingly alive, contrary to the vast destruction.

"Hey! You totally made me do all the work, you ass!" In the midst of the destruction, the two siblings stood untouched. Currently, a pouting Akane is glaring at an uncaring Gojo.

"What? I thought you said you wanted to help."

"Yes, help. Do not do all the work!" She whined as Gojo merely shrugged while Akane continued. "You can learn a thing or two about being a gentleman, Satoru. A delicate maiden such as me should not be doing everything." She stated this while also sounding so sure of the status of 'delicate maiden'.

"Delicate maiden?" Gojo quinquished with a grin. "Where?" Satoru even made an effort to scan the area for the delicate maiden. But nothing, no delicate maiden

"Hilarious." Akane merely deadpanned at his younger, grinning brother.

"I know, maybe I should become a comedian." He murmured thoughtfully, as if he were actually going to give the idea an honest chance. "But anyway, these guys said the big boss was up stairs. I'm going on ahead."

"Hmph! Do what you want; I do not care." She huffed as she turned her head to the side while crossing her arms in front of her chest. It seems she was actually angry, though Gojo only shrugged as he clasped his hands together, and in the next instance, his form blinked out of existence.

Leaving Akane alone.

("You're such a Yanki Satoru.") She huffed once more for good measure as she heaved a sigh. That boy really was something, but that was just how Satoru had always been. But he seemed a tad strange; it was not that he was acting different than usual or anything like that.

It was how he viewed everything; something was hidden behind those radiating blue eyes. Unfortunately, it was something she was going to have to think about later. Leaning her head to the side, something whizzed past her face.

Something akin to a large red bolt of plasma struck a wall behind him, burning through it with appreciable ease. Akane gazed forward and towards the one responsible.

He was a very large man who stood tall at 7 feet, with a physique akin to a mountain. His muscles bulged beneath the sleek, metallic exosuit that engulfed his form. Crafted from ultra-lightweight yet durable alloys, the armor gleamed with a polished sheen. Intricate circuitry lines every inch, pulsing with energy. The heavy plasma rifle he carried was a marvel of advanced technology, emitting a low hum as it charged and surrounding its barrel with a corona of crackling blue electricity. Capable of firing superheated plasma rounds with pinpoint accuracy and devastating force, this weapon renders almost any obstacle defenseless. That wall is a prime example.

"Haha, looks like I got lucky~" The large man started, his voice a muffled boom that traveled through the lobby area. "You look like a cut of fuckable meat!" He jeered as a sneer mopped onto Akane's face.

"Repulsive oaf."

"Don't you worry, I won't hit anything that will ruin my fun once I'm done with you." The man sneered beneath his helmet as another bolt of plasma ripped through his rifle. It sped through the air at a blinding speed as it neared Akane, but...

Suddenly, a shockwave rippled through the air. The armor of the man disintegrated before her eyes, dissolving into minuscule particles that drifted aimlessly. The man, once a towering figure, vanished into thin air, leaving only an empty space and a lingering sense of disbelief in its wake.

"I've no time to play around with dogs." Inversion, her Cursed Technique She reflected action and intent in the most simple terms. There was more to it than an upper limit, but it was quite a powerful technique. Nothing quite compares to Limitless and Six Eyes, though.

"You sure cleaned the house." She heard Gojo behind her murmur. Turning to him, she spotted the man slung over his shoulder, but she did not pay any attention to that for the time being. "But your technique sure is something." He continued absentmindedly as a full smile broke onto her features upon hearing his words.

"Yes, yes. Praise me more!"

"Nah." He received a pout from the tall girl.

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The Batcave, a secret underground lair located beneath Wayne Manor, was a sprawling complex designed to accommodate Batman's needs. Its dimly lit entrance boasts a massive, retractable garage door adorned with a bat symbol. As one ventures further, stalactites hang from the cavernous ceilings, forming an eerie ambiance. Illuminated by computerized screens, high-tech gadgets, and an extensive surveillance system, the Batcave houses an array of crime-fighting vehicles like the Batmobile and the Batwing. The cavern's walls exhibit a mix of natural rock formations and sleek, industrial architecture, creating a seamless fusion of the organic and the man-made.

Currently, Batman is monitoring something.

It stood at around seven feet tall and had a muscular and broad-shouldered physique. Its body was covered in dark, leathery armor that emphasized its powerful and ominous presence. It had fierce red eyes that seemed to glow with intensity, adding to its intimidating aura. The creature's facial features were jagged, and it had a snarling mouth full of sharp, pointed teeth. It also has large, bat-like wings that enable it to soar through the air with great agility and speed. Finally, its hands and feet are equipped with sharp claws, perfect for tearing through any opponent.

Within the confines of the Batcave, Batman stared at the creature through the large monitor of the Batcomputer.

"Freaky." To his side, Robin commented as he examined the creature as well. "What is it?" He questioned.

"Parademons." The dark knight informed me as his frown deepened. "But they are not important as of right now. Report."

"Right, well, I managed to track him down easily enough. The problem is that I did not have a window to approach. I was too busy putting guys down who were after him. I know Satoru, but I did not expect him to have a bounty on his head." Robin murmured absentmindedly as he continued. "But still, I can't figure out why he left."

"Focus Tim."

"Right, my bad." He apologized sheepishly. "Well, I managed to figure out where he was going to be heading next." Tim informed. 

"I see. Good work, Tim. I want you to make contact. Take some of the Titans with you." Batman ordered.

"Why? Satoru may be doing some questionable things, but he's a friend. I do-"

"Just in case, Tim." Batman cut him off. "It's just a precaution." He clarified, and Tim could just sigh.

"Yeah, I get it." Batman was being paranoid once again, it seems.

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