RoleplayNovel Chapter 140: The Counterattack Begins
Chapter 140: The Counterattack Begins
Chapter 140: The Counterattack Begins
The wind from the top of City Hall, carrying with it the lingering smell of gunpowder and rust in Gotham, slammed into Levi's face.
He leaned against the mottled, dilapidated brick wall, the wound on his left arm still bleeding profusely. The gauze that had been wrapped in advance was already soaked in bright red blood and stuck to his skin.
Every slight breath, every raised hand, every movement of the body aggravated the wound, causing a sharp and continuous pain.
But Li Wei was completely oblivious, his eyes fixed on the core building that Bain had occupied for months, his ear pressed tightly against the modified military communicator.
He dared not miss a single electrical noise, nor a single conversation from the battlefield.
Batman has stormed into City Hall, Catwoman has blocked all air escape routes, and Robin is guarding the only main staircase passage.
This decisive battle, which had been brewing for months and paved with countless acts of forbearance and pain, finally broke out at this moment.
Li Wei took a deep breath of the gunpowder-scented air, suppressing the surging excitement and tension in his chest, and raised his hand to check the intelligence panel in his hand again.
On the panel he carefully wrapped in a waterproof cloth, there were dense markings indicating the distribution of Bane's last close associates, the defensive layout of the top-floor office, and the location of the backup escape routes.
Most importantly, there's the location of the enhancement potion that Bane was so proud of, yet which also led him to his destruction, and its deadly side effects.
These were the core pieces of information he had gathered over the past few months by infiltrating Bain's inner circle, eavesdropping, recording, organizing, and piecing together information, obtained through countless brushes with death.
By day, he is a docile and harmless police consultant, greeting every brutal mercenary with a smile.
At night, he is an intelligence agent walking on the edge of a knife, piecing together every fragment into a sharp blade to pierce the enemy.
He once feigned composure under the guns of mercenaries, and risked being discovered while perusing classified documents in the archives late at night.
He once cowered in a corner, holding his breath, when Bane was furious, and he spent countless sleepless nights worrying about Bruce's health.
And now, this information, obtained at the cost of lives, is becoming the sharpest and most deadly sword piercing Bane's heart.
"Li Wei, the defenses on the first floor of the City Hall have been breached. The enemy has retreated to the second-floor corridor. We request further intelligence support."
Robin's calm voice came through the communicator, with the sounds of short, sharp fighting sounds and the muffled thuds of heavy objects falling to the ground mixed in with the background.
The young vigilante's tone carried the unique sharpness of youth, yet also possessed a calmness and decisiveness beyond his years.
Li Wei responded immediately, his voice steady and strong, without the slightest panic, every word clear and accurate.
"Received. There are three fixed machine guns on the west side of the second floor, providing crossfire coverage. This is a key defensive point. Do not attempt a direct frontal assault."
"The ventilation duct leads directly to the back of the corridor, to the secret door I marked earlier. The password is the year Gotham was founded, 1609."
"The pipe has a limited load-bearing capacity. One person can pass through quickly without carrying heavy equipment. The encirclement can be completed within three minutes."
"clear."
Robin's voice quickly disappeared from the communication channel, replaced by a continuous whooshing sound and the enemy's short cries of pain.
Li Wei clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, his palms already soaked with sweat.
He could picture that agile figure weaving through the narrow pipes, launching a surprise attack in the darkness, and swiftly and cleanly eliminating the enemy.
Those were partners personally trained by Batman, the hope for the next generation of Gotham, and an indispensable weapon in this counterattack.
He cannot make a mistake, not even the slightest one.
The next second, Catwoman's languid yet sharp voice clearly entered the encrypted communication channel.
"Little Bat, I've taken care of the helicopter on the roof. The pilot is strapped to the vent. Bane's trying to escape by air? No way."
"Li Wei, have any unusual movements been made by the remaining mercenaries you've been holding back? Have any squads tried to sneak in and reinforce the city hall?"
Li Wei quickly scanned the end of the street and the entrances to the various alleys.
Several mercenary squads that had previously attempted to secretly reinforce the city hall had already been intercepted and scattered by the police officers and resistance fighters he led, and were in complete disarray.
Mercenaries who have lost their armory supplies, unified command, and morale are like wild beasts with their teeth and claws pulled out, utterly vulnerable.
Some fled in disarray, some laid down their weapons and knelt to surrender, and some resisted stubbornly but were quickly subdued.
"The entire situation has been contained; not a single soldier can get within fifty meters of the city hall."
"The last squad in the alley on the west side has surrendered, and the enemy at the intersection on the east side has been completely eliminated. The rear is absolutely safe."
"You can focus on the final battle. Leave the area around the city hall to me; there won't be any interference."
"Beautiful." Catwoman chuckled, her tone full of admiration and ease. "After we deal with Bane, I'll treat you to the best liquor in Gotham, the kind hidden in the bank cellars."
The communication channel was temporarily quiet, with only a faint electrical hum remaining.
Li Wei looked up at the huge floor-to-ceiling window on the top floor of the city hall, which was lit by a dim yellow light.
The light shone through the glass, standing out prominently in the night, clearly reflecting two opposing figures.
A tall, muscular man, exuding a savage and violent aura, was none other than Bane, the culprit who destroyed Gotham and crushed Bruce.
A tall, aloof figure, draped in a black cape and wearing a menacing bat mask, exuding an aura as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, was none other than the returned Dark Knight, Batman.
One is black, the other is huge; one is still, the other is moving; one is cold, the other is wild.
At this moment, all eyes in Gotham City were focused on what was behind that small window.
Li Wei's heart began to pound uncontrollably, his pulse almost bursting out of his throat.
He knew better than anyone the terrible, heart-wrenching price Bruce had paid for this moment.
His spine was broken, leaving him paralyzed and bedridden. His will completely collapsed, and he attempted suicide several times.
It was a rehabilitation training that was painful to the extreme day after day, a heart-wrenching struggle and self-doubt.
It was Alfred's unwavering care, Catwoman's journey across the darkness, and the silent hope of the people of Gotham.
It was Li Wei's tireless companionship, awakening, perseverance, and encouragement that enabled this Dark Knight to rise again.
From trembling fingertips to raised arms; from bending and stretching legs to slowly standing; from struggling to walk to fighting again.
Every step was built upon pain; every step exhausted all strength; every step carried the hopes of everyone.
Today, he will end it all himself.
He will personally reclaim his city, crush the enemies who destroyed everything in his path, and bring light back to Gotham.
Li Wei closed his eyes, and countless images from the past few days flashed through his mind, as clear as if they had happened yesterday.
In the mountain cabin, Bruce is empty and hopeless, motionless, as if he has lost his soul.
During his rehabilitation training, Bruce broke down, screamed, cried, said he was a burden, and wanted to give up everything.
When Bruce sees the bat symbol and hears Gotham's anticipation, his fingertips tremble slightly, his eyes relax, and the spark in his heart reignites.
Bruce dons his battle suit in the Batcave, his eyes sharp, his presence piercing the darkness.
Every scene is etched in Li Wei's heart, indelible, and has become the sole motivation for his perseverance to this day.
"You can win," Li Wei murmured to himself, his tone firm and unwavering. "This time, you won't fall again, absolutely not."
Inside the top-floor office, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to threaten to crush the entire floor; the air was as solid as a block of hard iron.
Bain crossed his arms, the iconic green enhancement potion on his back gleaming eerily and dangerously in the dim light.
He looked at Batman, who was now back in his battle suit, and let out a deep, manic, and rough laugh.
The laughter was shrill, arrogant, and full of disdain and mockery, as if watching a presumptuous clown.
"Batman—I thought you had long since turned into a pile of rotten flesh, lying paralyzed in bed waiting to die, never to stand up again."
"I never expected you could actually stand up again. You're as tenacious as a cockroach that you can't kill no matter how you step on it."
Bruce didn't speak; his eyes, hidden behind the mask, were as cold as ice that had never melted, showing no emotion whatsoever.
He showed no anger, no roaring, no impulsiveness, only extreme calmness and focus.
Levi wrote very clearly in his intelligence notes that Bane's greatest strength was not physical attack, but psychological destruction.
He excels at crushing the enemy's will, shattering their pride, tearing apart their bottom line, and causing them to collapse completely in despair.
Anger can impair judgment, impulsiveness can expose weaknesses, and emotions can become fatal flaws.
Faced with a monster like Bane, who has pain etched into his very bones and takes pleasure in destroying hope, any superfluous emotions will only lead to certain death.
This time, Bruce will not give him any more chances.
"You think that by putting on this tattered suit again, you can reclaim your beloved Gotham? You think you can defeat me?"
Bain took a step forward, his heavy boots slamming into the floor, making the ground seem to tremble slightly.
"You're still that coward who only knows how to hide in the dark, you're still that piece of trash whose spine I broke and who has no power to resist."
"I will once again crush you under my feet, and make you watch as Gotham sinks into hell, never to see the light of day again."
Bruce finally moved.
He didn't step forward or attack; he simply slowly raised his right hand, his fingertips pointing straight at Bane.
The movements were simple, bland, and lacked any imposing presence, yet they carried an irresistible and undeniable pressure.
"You lost, Bain."
A deep, hoarse voice came through the bat mask, calm yet carrying immense force, each word striking Bane's heart.
"Your arsenal is gone, your mercenaries have scattered, and the side effects of the enhancement drugs will slowly drag you into hell."
"Your collusion with the traitors of the Shadow Alliance has been completely exposed. You have no reinforcements, no way out, and no chance of victory."
.
Every word he uttered precisely struck at the most painful, taboo, and unwanted parts of Bain's life.
All of this information came from Li Wei's intelligence notebook, which he wrote with his life on the line.
Every word was not an empty threat, but a statement of undeniable facts.
Bain's arrogant smile froze instantly, his eyes turned fierce and violent, and the pressure around him plummeted.
He never imagined that Batman would know all his trump cards, all his secrets, all his backup plans, and all his schemes.
And the source of all this was none other than Li Wei, the police consultant whom he had never taken seriously and who was even too lazy to remember his name.
That docile, harmless little guy who only ever kept his head down and organized files.
That ant he thought he could crush with a flick of his wrist.
That guy he never even glanced at.
"It was that kid named Levi, wasn't it?!" Bain gritted his teeth, his voice filled with overwhelming murderous intent. "He betrayed me from the shadows! He stole all my plans!"
"He didn't just betray you; he rekindled the hope you destroyed." Bruce's tone remained unchanged, pressing on relentlessly. "The hope you hated most and wanted to destroy most in your life is now standing before you."
Bain was completely enraged, his reason instantly consumed by rage and fury.
He roared and charged at Bruce like a wild beast out of control.
The fist, carrying immense force, shot through the air with a whistling sound, aiming straight for Bruce's head.
This punch was exactly the same as the one that broke Bruce's spine in the sewers.
Fierce, swift, ruthless, leaving no room for error, all for the sake of a fatal blow.
Below the street, Li Wei clenched his fists tightly, his heart pounding in his chest, and his breath caught in his throat.
He knew all too well the power of that punch and the consequences it would bring.
That one punch nearly destroyed Batman, nearly destroyed all hope in Gotham, and nearly plunged the city into darkness forever.
This time, Bruce absolutely cannot get hit again! Absolutely not!
Time seemed to slow down at that moment, the air seemed to stand still, and all sounds disappeared.
Li Wei stared intently at the cracked French window, not daring to look away for a moment.
Bruce moved to the side, effortlessly dodging the fatal blow like a ghost.
Bain slammed his fist into the wall behind him, instantly creating a deep crater, sending debris flying and dust billowing everywhere.
The solid concrete wall was as fragile as paper under his fist.
Bain missed his first strike and immediately changed tactics, delivering a horizontal elbow strike, a sweeping leg kick, and a direct knee strike, each move potentially fatal.
His fighting style originated from the Shadow League's most elite and brutal training, and was combined with the ruthlessness of life-or-death battles in prison.
There are no fancy moves, no superfluous techniques; every move is for killing, for destruction, for victory.
This time, however, Bruce is no longer the Batman who is physically and mentally exhausted, mentally weakened, and defeated by pain.
He experienced despair and despair, followed by painful recovery and a reshaping and rebirth of his will.
He is more clear-headed, calmer, stronger, and more invincible than ever before.
Bruce moved with steady steps, advancing and retreating with perfect control. Every dodge was precise, and every block was perfectly timed.
He no longer confronted Bane head-on, no longer competed with Bane in pure strength, but instead utilized speed, terrain, and absolute familiarity with Bane's moves.
He kept moving around, constantly wearing down his opponent, and constantly looking for weaknesses, patiently waiting for the best opportunity to counterattack.
Li Wei wrote it very clearly in his intelligence notes.
Bane's attacks are incredibly ferocious and destructive, but they are extremely energy-consuming, making it impossible for him to maintain peak performance for long periods.
Enhancement drugs can temporarily replenish lost physical strength, but they will increase the burden on the nervous system and accelerate the onset of side effects.
Once the effects of the potion wear off, that's when he's at his weakest, most vulnerable, and most easily defeated.
Bruce clearly remembered the intelligence and executed it flawlessly.