Martin turned around and showed his back to Shiva.
As a true martial artist, Shiva believed in facing her enemies head-on. She took great pride in her abilities, so much so that she thought she could defeat any opponent without resorting to trickery. Naturally, she disdained such tactics.
However, some of the black-clad warriors around her raised their compound crossbows, ready to launch a fatal attack on Martin.
Shiva frowned. In an instant, she kicked out her long, powerful leg—like a compressed spring rebounding with immense force—and sent the warrior who attempted to fire the arrow flying.
Da!
Her black boots landed heavily on the ground, sending a chill through the hearts of the surrounding warriors.
"Madam, we came to Gotham this time to—"
One of the warriors, less cold than the others, attempted to speak but was swiftly interrupted by Shiva.
"Who is 'we'? I belong only to myself. No one commands me. If you have complaints, take them to your master. Don't loiter in front of me."
None of the warriors dared to leave, but they all lowered their weapons.
Martin, unaware of what had transpired outside, wouldn't have cared even if he knew. He returned to his house, opened the closet, and glanced at the ordinary clothes hanging inside. He muttered to himself:
"These clothes are too basic and won't withstand the strain of intense combat. If I had known, I would've stolen a Batman combat suit yesterday."
Shaking his head, he changed into lighter attire, walked out, and jammed a wooden stick into the kicked-in door. Then, he turned to Shiva.
"Mrs. Shiva, where do you want to fight? Quiet or lively?" Martin stretched his body, preparing himself.
"Right here!" Shiva locked eyes with him.
Though the boy looked young—perhaps even immature—her instincts, honed from years of fighting the world's top martial artists, told her that he was no ordinary opponent.
Martin glanced at his watch and said casually, "Alright, let's make it quick. I have other things to do."
The moment he finished speaking, Shiva sprang into action. Like a leopard, she surged forward, closing several meters in an instant. As she moved, she tossed her coat into the air, creating a dark blur that momentarily obstructed Martin's vision.
Bang!
Shiva's concealed, sprinting straight punch was suddenly halted. It was as if a high-speed car had slammed on the brakes.
Martin had caught her fist with his left hand, seized her arm with his right, and yanked her forward while driving his right knee toward her stomach.
Thrown off balance, Shiva stumbled slightly but quickly adapted. She grabbed Martin's right leg and, using her weight, forced him to the ground.
Boom!
The fight was too fast for the black-clad warriors to follow. All they saw were blurs before the two combatants crashed to the ground.
Shiva pinned Martin down, her legs pressing against his, preventing him from using his lower body. Without hesitation, she swung her fists toward his head with relentless force.
Martin shielded his face, grimacing as her blows rained down like a relentless storm.
"Is Shiva even a woman?" he thought wryly. "Her fighting style is crazier than any man's."
He endured the assault, biding his time. Even if Shiva's physical strength exceeded that of most men, she couldn't maintain such a relentless attack indefinitely.
The moment her punches slowed, Martin wrapped his legs around her waist, twisting sharply to the right in an attempt to reverse their positions.
Shiva, unwilling to let herself be overpowered, exerted her strength and lifted Martin—who was still wrapped around her—off the ground. With a powerful spin, she slammed him into a parked car.
Martin had no choice but to release her. He grabbed the car's hood and rolled over it to create distance.
"Both forearms are bruised!" he noted grimly. He swung them slightly to shake off the pain while keeping his eyes locked on Shiva, ready for another attack.
She had no intention of letting him breathe. Using the car's hood as a pivot, she spun and launched a devastating double kick, her legs striking like iron whips.
Boom!
Martin raised his arms in defense, absorbing the impact but staggering back two steps. Gritting his teeth, he stabilized himself, grabbed Shiva's leg, and twisted his waist to slam her against the car door.
The window shattered instantly. Shiva, quick to react, shielded her head with her arms, avoiding serious injury. However, the force of the impact reverberated through her body, and for a moment, she struggled to recover. She collapsed to the ground, letting out a rare cry of pain.
The sight of Shiva groaning on the ground might have evoked pity in some men.
But Martin showed no mercy.
He lifted his right leg high, preparing to stomp down on her chest.
He had no intention of killing her—otherwise, the surrounding warriors would have swarmed him—but he did want to disable her, at least temporarily, to end the fight.
Seeing the incoming strike, Shiva instinctively blocked it with both hands. Then, in one fluid motion, she grabbed his calf, thrust hard, and locked her legs around his waist, toppling him to the ground.
"What an incredible woman," Martin thought as he looked at Shiva, her hair disheveled, her eyes still burning with fierce determination.
She was truly a warrior dedicated to the pursuit of martial arts excellence.
For the first time, Martin felt a strange admiration for her unwavering spirit. Perhaps, just this once, he would indulge in a real contest.
Bang!
Martin kicked Shiva in the stomach, breaking free from her grasp.
She didn't chase him this time. Both fighters quickly scrambled to their feet, standing opposite each other, carefully analyzing every movement.
But just as they reached their peak concentration, a gunshot shattered the tense silence of the street.
Martin reacted instantly, dodging to the side. Still, a bullet grazed his left cheek, leaving a bleeding wound.
"Mrs. Shiva, it seems our match will have to wait," Martin said, rolling behind a flower bed. He caught a glimpse of a large man in black armor wielding two guns.
Shiva, enraged that their battle had been interrupted, stepped protectively in front of Martin.
"Martin, I owe you for this. Leave now—I'll make it up to you another time."
"Master Shiva, don't be reckless!" the armored man shouted, attempting to reason with her.
Shiva responded by launching a brutal kick to his head.
"You're not qualified to lecture me. Go back to your master."
With her bare hands, Shiva overwhelmed the armored man, rendering his firearms useless.
Martin shook his head, and under the cover of Shiva's ferocious assault, he slipped into a nearby car and sped off, leaving the battlefield behind.