Axel's words echoed only to Selina's ears, but the gathered bikers saw something far more terrifying — the mangled neck Axel had smashed into pulp with one hand. It was their friend's neck.
"He's a monster!" one yelled.
"Fuck! How is that even possible? His neck's like fucking clay!"
"This ain't a man we can fight!"
"Monster, he's Gotham's fucking monster! A Talon from the horror fucking stories!"
"Talon your mother's ass!" another sneered, weary but defiant.
Axel, already impatient, pulled out his pistol and shot two of them in the head without hesitation. The bikers dropped like rotten branches under a chainsaw.
As the surviving bastards scrambled in every direction, Axel tucked his gun away without interest, strolled over to the scattered motorcycles, and picked one that looked decent. He kicked it alive and revved the engine.
Selina, standing nearby, paused, then crouched down and checked the wrist of the biker she'd knocked over. She raised her head, eyes serious.
"Axel, these aren't just street thugs," she said. "They're gunmen from the Sabatino Family. I'm pretty sure they didn't just come for a race. They're watching Falcone's territory. Sabatino saw his family fall, and this gang war is giving every mob a reason to rethink Gotham's balance of power. This city's rainstorm is about to get a fucking hurricane."
Axel grinned, barely listening as he revved the throttle hard.
"More violence, less bullshit drama. But how does any of that stop me from going for a ride?"
He teased her with a smile.
"Don't waste your time standing here, Hello Kitty. Grab a car and don't lag too far behind!"
With that, Axel let go of the motorcycle controls, and it shot forward straight at Selina like a missile.
Pfft!
The bike's front wheel slammed into the face of the gang member Selina had just scanned, spraying crimson in a sick, violent arc. Rain and blood foam splattered over Selina's cheek.
She wiped her face with the pounding rain, then mounted a nearby motorcycle without missing a beat, roaring after Axel.
As the duo vanished into the storm, a shadow slipped from nearby darkness.
Bruce, still dressed in ragged clothes, crouched beside the motionless bikers. He studied the corpse whose neck had been crushed, breathing slowly but evenly.
"In pure raw strength, he's beyond anything I've faced," Bruce murmured. "Ra's al Ghul's downfall makes sense now. Ra's thought he was holy, but Axel's closer to the image of a devil."
Just then, the thug Selina had knocked down but not killed coughed painfully and reached out toward Bruce.
"Save… me…" he whimpered.
Bruce's expression darkened. His gaze fell on the man's tattooed wrist, and something in his eyes sharpened.
He took a slow step closer, then delivered a calculated kick to the thug's arm.
Thump!
Snap!
The bone shattered audibly.
Amid the thug's screams, Bruce turned away and found the best motorcycle in sight. As he kick‑started it, he called Gotham General Hospital and gave them the location of the wounded before focusing entirely on tracking Axel and Selina through the storm.
---
Meanwhile, at the Iceberg Lounge, Sophia was in a full meltdown the moment she learned she had to leave Gotham immediately.
"Why?" Her voice cracked, desperation leaking through every syllable. "Why do I have to leave? I've only been back one day, just one damn day!"
She clutched at her father's arm, tears mingling with rain on her cheeks.
"I know Axel's just playing with me… but I'm good with him! I can handle him! I can conquer him over time! I can be underestimated, I can be played, but you're my father — you shouldn't treat me like some tool to be tossed aside! Trust me! I won't leave!"
"Shut up," Falcone barked, his voice ice cold. Any other time, he would've tolerated his daughter's tantrums. But right now, he was too busy moving assets and preparing an exit from Gotham to waste time.
He waved a dismissive hand at Victor Zsasz.
"Take her to the plane and wait."
Victor grinned like a predator.
"I understand."
Sophia stepped back in fear.
"Don't come near me! Why are you all so obedient to dad? He's old! He wants to abandon Gatsby, leave everything he built over thirty years! Is he fucking insane? None of you stop him, but you act like puppets!"
"Shut up," Victor snarled as he grabbed her by the neck and choked her until her body went limp.
Then he nodded to Falcone, lifted Sophia up, and walked out without remorse.
Falcone sighed softly.
But then… another sigh came from somewhere nearby.
He turned, lips curling into a sneer.
"It seems our cooperation is about to end, Liv."
From a hidden doorway in the wardrobe, Liv stepped forward, head bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Mr. Falcone. Thank you for your help all these years."
She paused, then looked up with genuine solemnity.
"Only I know it was you who made me who I am. Without you… I wouldn't be here today. But reality is cruel, Boss. No true Gothamite leaves Gotham without paying for it."
With that, she raised her right hand, revealing a small pink Glock pointed at Falcone's chest.
Bang!
The shot cracked through the room. Falcone didn't flinch, but Liv spun around, astonished.
Click.
Thump.
Another set of footsteps sounded from behind her.
Oswald, resplendent in a sharp tuxedo, emerged through the fireplace as smoke clung to his umbrella.
He stepped forward, the umbrella aimed straight at Liv's back.
Bang!
Liv collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Falcone smiled as he watched her fall.
"Oswald," he said with approval, "a club has no secrets. You already control my club and heard everything. You didn't hit a vital spot, so you're surrendering her to Axel as a gift, right?"
Oswald looked unstable, voice trembling.
"Boss Falcone, I'm just a useless Penguin. Maroni and Fish always called me that. You were the only one who didn't. But you can make them respect me, so why didn't you? Why let them humiliate me? Is it because you've set my role? To enjoy humiliation backed by you?"
His eyes flickered, umbrella tip twitching toward Falcone's head.
But after a moment, he restrained himself and instead pressed the umbrella against Liv's body.
"If I give too many gifts to Axel at once, he'll just get greedy," Oswald murmured.
"Liv, a living Court of Owls member is a rare trophy. It took effort to find her. Even more to learn you discovered her identity, and that she was groomed into them because she's tied to your enemy. Tools like her are precious. She will please him more alive than dead."
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