Nitrogen gas springs are compact, provide strong force, and have a long lifespan—a whole list of advantages. However, they're not suitable for firearms, not even for the grappling hook guns of old.
But combining them with a web-shooter? That's a near-perfect match, especially with the flat, military-canteen-shaped design that Batman crafted himself in the black factory, perfectly contoured to fit against the forearm.
The "web-shooter" Batman redesigned barely resembles its original form—it's more akin to a hidden blade now. He wears it on the outer side of his forearm, controlled by muscle movements to trigger the firing mechanism.
The web-shooter's original air-cannon-like mechanism already propelled liquid webbing at speeds that weren't slow—faster than bullets fired from most guns. But Batman's old grappling hook gun, powered by gunpowder or high-pressure air and modified for performance, launched hooks at speeds far exceeding standard bullets.
By combining the two, Batman created a new tool that merged the best features of both the grappling hook gun and the web-shooter.
"Black Cat wasn't taken to the police station, so I can't confirm if she has a record of arson, murder, or robbery."
Batman secured the two newly crafted tools to his forearms. With a subtle flex of his muscles, a faint click sounded, and liquid webbing shot out at incredible speed, solidifying in midair within the blink of an eye and soaring into the distance.
"Peter Parker's computer is only good for basic daily tasks. I need something with higher specs, like the ones in Doctor Octopus's lab, to handle my frequent need to hack into various systems."
Batman had tested Peter's computer, and even after upgrades, it couldn't even run a virtual machine.
While recording data on the new tool's performance, Batman began mentally outlining his next steps.
His goals were clear: take down New York's criminal underworld to amass funds, then refine the formula to invest in Doctor Octopus's nuclear fusion research, multiplying his resources. From there, he'd establish his own business empire to secure funding for developing a dimensional traversal device.
At the same time, he planned to explore other methods and continue his relentless fight against crime.
Fighting crime was practically etched into his soul. Even in this unfamiliar world, Batman had no intention of taking a break.
Naming the new tool the Bat-Claw, Batman also finalized improvements to the web fluid formula. The new formula ensured the webbing could stick to anything, even someone like Squid-Man, whose slimy body had slipped free the previous night. Now, the webbing would hold fast.
Moreover, Batman changed the webbing's color to black. Most of his operations took place at night, and white webbing reflected light, risking exposure.
It was still early, so Batman wasn't in a rush to confront Squid-Man. Before taking action, he had one critical task: spending money and dealing with the guns.
The $150,000 in cash Joseph brought the previous night was enough for Batman to purchase the parts he needed from the market to assemble a computer that could temporarily meet his demands.
As for the guns Black Cat had provided, they came from a weapons factory called Stark. After inspecting them, Batman discovered they'd been tampered with.
The saboteur was highly skilled, with a deep understanding of firearms, but Batman's keen eye immediately spotted the issue: the guns would jam halfway through a magazine due to a flaw in their internal mechanisms. Without precision tools to fix them, they were essentially scrap metal.
Using guns that jam in a gang shootout was about as useful as wielding a water pistol.
Batman dug a pit and buried the defective guns. In the remaining time, he went out as Peter Parker, purchasing computer components and other tools.
After assembling the computer, Batman didn't immediately hack into the New York police system. Instead, he sketched a portrait and uploaded it to the computer.
The sketch depicted Black Cat, her likeness perfectly recreated from Batman's memory.
This was the next step in his plan after leaving Black Cat tied up at the police station, indifferent to whether she escaped: hack into the New York police system to dig up everything about her.
"Black Cat, real name Felicia Hardy, 20 years old, student at Empire State University, father a salesman…"
Batman read the information displayed on the computer screen word by word.
Most of it checked out, though her father's identity wasn't listed as the notorious thief "The Cat" but as a salesman.
The police system showed Black Cat had a record, but not for arson, murder, or robbery. Instead, it noted an incident from her freshman year when she kicked a classmate who tried to get handsy, leaving him… incapacitated.
"According to her statement, Black Cat has trained in various martial arts and combat techniques since childhood… She could be a good ally."
Batman stopped browsing and moved on to the real purpose of hacking the police system.
First task: he deleted all videos that might reveal Spider-Man's movements, accent, or physique, keeping only those where his features were indistinguishable. With his exceptional counter-surveillance skills, no one would trace Spider-Man back to Peter Parker.
Second task: Batman didn't linger in the police system. Instead, he turned his attention to a far more prominent target—the Central Intelligence Agency.
The high-spec computer, his second-priority "gear" after the Bat-Claw, was built specifically for hacking the CIA. He needed to determine if this world had supernatural forces and whether they could help him return to Gotham.
"Squid-Man, real name Don Callahan, a New York City native and lowlife thug. After undergoing Osborn Industries' Super Soldier Serum enhancement program, he became Squid-Man, hired by various New York gangs as an assassin. Confirmed kills: seven."
Supernatural forces existed, and the first entry was Squid-Man, whom Batman planned to confront in the sewers that night.
"Possesses strength and speed far beyond human limits, near-immunity to bullets, can breathe underwater, and can cling vertically to glass walls, making capture extremely difficult…"
Batman memorized every detail about Squid-Man from the CIA's files before moving to the next entry.
"The Hulk, real name Bruce Banner…"
This was the scientist Batman had seen in Doctor Octopus's lab, his photo hanging alongside Einstein and others.
"…Last seen in 2003 after a major battle with the military. Current whereabouts unknown."
The CIA's records on supernatural beings currently listed only these two, along with one other confirmed missing person: the world's first Super Soldier Serum recipient, "Captain America," Steve Rogers.
As for non-living supernatural forces, the CIA had documented only one thing: the "Cosmic Cube."
Before Batman could delve into details about the Cosmic Cube, he detected that the CIA had noticed his intrusion and was tracing his location.
Without hesitation, he terminated the hack, erased all traces, and shifted focus to final preparations for confronting Squid-Man that night.
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