Nightwing was taken aback. He examined the underground vault's structural diagram and noticed that the other end of the tunnel led into Gotham's labyrinthine sewer system. The soil layer between them had already been breached.
"What is Penguin up to?"
"Whatever it is, it's none of your business."
A voice from behind startled Nightwing. He spun around just in time to see a shadow rushing toward him. Instinctively, he snapped his escrima sticks together to shield his chest, but the impact still sent him flying into the wall.
"Ugh!"
His armor absorbed most of the force, but as Nightwing pushed himself up, he felt a dull ache in his ribs.
"Nightwing, Batman's little sidekick," the Arkham Knight sneered. "You're a poor substitute for him."
"Damn it, I'm my own person. I have nothing to do with Batman!" Nightwing shot back, scanning the room for an escape route.
Arkham Knight chuckled knowingly. "Don't bother looking. All exits are blocked. If you want to get out of here, you have only one choice—kill me."
"You talk too much."
Without hesitation, Nightwing split his staff into two escrima sticks and struck from both sides, aiming for Arkham Knight's head.
Clang!
Arkham Knight raised his armored forearms, effortlessly blocking the attack. He grabbed one of the sticks and delivered a powerful kick to Nightwing's chest. Nightwing relinquished his right stick, reached for a wing-ding, and twisted to stab at Arkham Knight's side.
But Arkham Knight countered swiftly, smashing Nightwing's arm with the stolen stick, forcing him to let go of the other. Another vicious sidekick sent Nightwing sprawling again.
"This guy's strong," Nightwing thought, quickly assessing for weaknesses.
Arkham Knight tossed the escrima sticks back at him. "You're too weak. Always hiding in Batman's shadow." He took a step forward, his voice turning grim. "But me? I crawled out of hell, wreathed in vengeance. And I will turn Gotham to ashes."
With a roar, Arkham Knight charged like a raging beast, aiming to crush Nightwing.
Eyes widening, Nightwing rolled aside, slamming a stick into the joints of Arkham Knight's armor. The strike forced him to his knees. Wasting no time, Nightwing bolted for the door.
But as soon as he peeked out, bullets rained toward him, forcing him back.
"Damn," he muttered, touching his hair, singed from the near miss. "That was way too close."
Arkham Knight stood, his voice venomous. "You have two choices: die by my fists or get riddled with bullets by Penguin's men outside."
"Or," Nightwing smirked, twirling his sticks, "I take you hostage and walk right out."
Arkham Knight chuckled darkly. "Good. That's what I wanted. It'll make killing you much more satisfying."
He drew his pistol and fired.
But Nightwing was ready. Before Arkham Knight could pull the trigger, Nightwing lunged forward, closing the distance. The two clashed again, exchanging brutal blows amidst the storm of bullets tearing through the room.
Meanwhile, in the vault, Penguin was seething.
"What the hell is that lunatic doing?" he growled, watching the battle unfold through surveillance footage. "He's botched the ambush and locked my men out. If Batman shows up, we're finished!"
"No ally is reliable, Mr. Cobblepot," Martin, one of Penguin's men, said slyly. "If you want things done right, you have to do them yourself."
Penguin tapped his umbrella against the floor, torn between self-preservation and securing his operations.
Sensing his hesitation, Martin pressed on. "We're wasting time. If you're hesitant, I'll go kill Nightwing myself."
"No!"
Penguin eyed Martin suspiciously. "I don't doubt your skills, but I'm no pushover. I'll handle that damn bird myself."
With that, Penguin made his decision. Fueled by a need for control, he unlocked the vault door and led a squad of heavily armed men toward the battle.
Martin followed, a smirk on his face, as if the entire situation was a game.
Upon arriving, Penguin's patience snapped. "Are you all idiots? Why are you just standing there? Get in there and finish the job!"
"But Arkham Knight—"
The protesting thug was cut off as Penguin's umbrella cracked against his skull.
"Listen up! I'm the boss here! Not that damn Knight. Now get in there and kill Nightwing!"
Spurred into action, the armed thugs stormed the room, flashbangs in hand.
Inside, Arkham Knight held the upper hand, his firearm keeping Nightwing pinned down. But he wasn't in a hurry to finish him.
"Is this what Batman's so-called protégés amount to? Running?" He relished the hunt, savoring the moment.
Then the flashbang exploded.
A searing white light and deafening blast disoriented Arkham Knight. His helmet dampened the impact, but his vision blurred and his ears rang.
Nightwing, however, had been waiting for this.
Before Penguin's men could rush in, he struck Arkham Knight with an electrified escrima stick, shocking him into paralysis.
Nightwing turned to face the intruders, pressing the electrified stick to Arkham Knight's exposed skin. "Back off, or your knight gets fried."
But the goons didn't move. Their guns stayed trained on him.
"Don't bother bluffing, Nightwing," one of them sneered. "We all know you don't kill."
Nightwing clenched his jaw.
Damn it.