157 CHAPTER 155

Black Mask's blood-curdling scream echoed through the room as he watched the severed head thud against the cold, grimy floor. He couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "This guy's got more screws loose than a broken-down machine. Ghost keeps company like this?"

Ace, cool and collected, cast a calculating gaze over the three remaining thugs. He relished the thought of giving them a slow and brutal demise right before their boss's eyes. As he prepared to move toward his next victim, a sudden sound pierced the tense air – a sharp "ZEEEEEN."

The noise came from the door, which promptly disintegrated as a figure clad in a sleek green tech suit strode into the room. Black Mask's relief was palpable as he exclaimed, "What took you so long?"

"Sorry, boss," the man in the tech suit replied, "It took us a while to gear up, but we're here now." Ace, still scrutinizing the newcomer's gear, couldn't help but ask, "Did you say 'we'?" His curiosity piqued as he wondered if this man had some sort of split personality or they had more company in tech suits.

"Yeah, the others are taking care of your colleagues as we speak," the tech-suited figure replied.

Ace smirked, "Really now? I suppose I'll have to finish this up before they arrive. I doubt your men pose any threat to them." Of course they didn't, Deathstroke would use them as play things while Captain Cold and Red Hood would form a tag team against them, kind of like a brawl but with tech and advanced weaponry. 

Black Mask, growing impatient, yelled, "Stop indulging him and just kill him already!" He dashed toward the newly created exit, followed by his two henchmen who sought security but were, in reality, fleeing for their lives.

Ace swiftly blocked their escape route, but the tech-suited man effortlessly cut through the sealed entrance with a plasma blade. Black Mask and his henchmen bolted for the exit, and Ace lamented, "Look what you did – you let them escape. No matter, I'll deal with you and then hunt down Black Mask myself. It'll make this boring evening a bit more entertaining."

"You'd be long dead before then, fella. I'll kill you and collect that bounty of yours, my suit could use an upgrade." He said with a smudged look on his face as he prepared to attack Ace. 

Ace assessed the man in the tech suit's gear, clearly unimpressed. "You think you can collect my bounty and upgrade your suit? You'll be regretting those words soon."

The tech-suited adversary charged at Ace, causing the ground to crater beneath his feet, but Ace remained unmoved. In a split second, the assailant was sent crashing into a wall without Ace lifting a finger. Groaning, he pulled himself up, finally grasping the extent of Ace's strength.

"What was that?" he stammered, acknowledging Ace's superior power.

Ace chuckled, "If I told you, it wouldn't be any fun, now would it?"

Undeterred, the tech-suited man declared. "I don't care how strong you are, I'll defeat you and collect your bounty. Don't worry, I'll put it to good use."

Ace's retort was confident, "Like I said, you'll be eating those words soon. And why the fuck are you so fixated on my bounty money?" He faced the oncoming assault as his adversary's plasma blade extended ominously.

As the showdown continued, Ace's mind began to strategize. He deduced that Black Mask would likely attempt to escape to the rooftop, given the commotion on the lower floors. Red Hood had disabled the elevators, forcing Black Mask to take the stairs. Ace took a moment to transmute the stairs, making the ascent a treacherous slop.

Ace was pulled from his thoughts when the plasma blade came perilously close to his head. With a swift move, he dodged the attack and increased his pace. Ace seized an opportunity, thrusting his hand into the chest of the tech-suited foe.

"This is the end for you, Sparky," Ace taunted. "Relying on a suit with such a vulnerable weakness – you're weak."

A look of terror washed over the tech-suited man as he struggled, seemingly stuck and unable to move within the suit. Ace didn't waste a moment. With a sinister smile hidden beneath his mask, he increased the electric current in the suit way beyond safety levels, electrocuting his foe in the process.

"Fighting weaklings is becoming tiresome," Ace mused. "Maybe I'll get the chance to face someone like Superman or Black Adam soon. Let's finish this so I can return to my work as an Architect."

Ace exited the office, heading toward the rooftop's door as he slowly hunted Black Mask. 

… 

[Black Mask's POV]

Falcone had warned me not to provoke the sleeping beast, but I had ignored his advice. I harbored ambitions of seizing Ghost's criminal empire and territory, believing him weak for remaining in the shadows. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Ghost had retaliated by sending formidable mercenaries and criminals after me for a minor disruption to his protected businesses. Now, I was hunted by this unhinged maniac. 

Climbing the sloppy staircase with my remaining henchmen, we reached the rooftop. "Defend the door," I ordered them. "Just in case we're pursued." They complied, their guns trained on the exit.

I gazed skyward, praying the chopper would arrive in time. The sound of gunshots jolted me from my thoughts.

"AHHHHH!" My men cried out in pain. I turned to see them injured, the very ones who had fired the shots. To my dismay, Ace appeared through the door, and dread washed over me. All I could do was open fire, even though I knew bullets were useless against him.

Ace moved closer, taunting me with his slow, deliberate steps. My escape options dwindled, the rooftop my last resort. As I reached the edge, I spotted my salvation – my chopper descending, but something was amiss. It spiraled out of control, its pilot already dead, and headed straight for Ace.

"This might be my lucky day," I thought, hoping the out-of-control helicopter would be my savior.

Ace, however, didn't flinch. He raised his hand, halting the chopper mid-air with its blades still spinning. It was a surreal sight, defying reality. In a cruel twist, he snatched one of my men, raising him toward the deadly blades, and gruesomely severed him.

The screams of my henchman and the horrifying spectacle sent shivers down my spine. I knew there was no escape from the doom I had recklessly brought upon myself. If only I hadn't let my pride and greed lead me to cross paths with Ghost.

"I am sorry… Is that what you want to hear?" I stammered, falling to my knees. Ace paid me no mind and advanced toward my injured henchman, defenseless on the ground.

Desperation drove me to draw a pistol, firing two shots. But, in an instant, agony coursed through my shoulders, my hands immobilized. I couldn't comprehend what had happened.

"Is this your idea of an apology?" Ace mocked. "Smart move trying to lower my guard, but you picked the wrong person."

I remained on my feet as Ace took a call, uttering only "status report" and "Okay, I'm just finishing up here, get the horse ready."

"Horse? Ready for what?" I wondered.

With an eerie focus, Ace tossed my surviving henchman toward me, who had managed to stop his bleeding. Ace then placed his gloved hand on the rooftop's floor for ten seconds before abruptly lifting us into the air. The building collapsed beneath us, but we hovered – a horrifying spectacle of destruction.

"Time for your death sentence Black Mask," Ace declared. "Your subordinate will bear witness, and then I'll end him too. I want one of your people to witness your demise."

Ace carried us through the sky to a remote location within Gotham City. Fear gripped me as I realized that only a miracle could save me from this dire predicament I had foolishly brought upon myself.