Chapter 198: Vampire Bat
Drip. Drip.
Blood pooled into rivulets, streaming down Batman's heavy armor. The flows converged, accumulating greater volume before spattering onto the floor.
Even with Peter Parker's extraordinarily enhanced physiology, Batman now gasped for breath, rapidly stabilizing his condition to face subsequent threats.
One hundred fourteen gamma creatures. Batman's engagement had lasted precisely forty minutes, maintaining approximately three eliminations per minute.
Though individually weaker than the Hulk, excluding the six combat-ineffective specimens lacking heads or bodies, virtually every remaining creature could have dismantled Stane's fully armed Iron Monger within moments.
"Finished?"
Throughout the entire forty-minute engagement, The Leader—beyond initially donning his headband device and recording some notes during the opening minutes—had reclined comfortably in his chair observing Batman's combat performance.
Since both armor layers prioritized high-intensity combat capability over electronic systems—omitting most equipment including power regulation—Batman couldn't determine Norman Osborn's current status.
To avoid damaging Norman's containment chamber, Batman had controlled the trajectories of airborne gamma creatures, ensuring none struck The Leader and Ross's position.
This resulted in most plaza zones becoming thoroughly blood-soaked, with only The Leader and General Ross's immediate area remaining relatively clean.
Now observing Batman's labored breathing, The Leader smiled with satisfaction, raising one finger to tap the headband device:
"Your performance pleases me greatly. You qualify as the second human test subject after Norman Osborn."
"What did you do to Norman?" Despite having formed preliminary conclusions, Batman's voice turned increasingly cold.
"You care about him deeply?" The Leader deflected with his own question. "According to my intelligence, you've appeared at Oscorp Tower twice, Hell's Kitchen three times, Queens five times, Manhattan's abandoned shipyards once, and Metro-General Hospital once."
He enumerated virtually every location where Batman had operated throughout New York, then continued:
"Tombstone. Kingpin. Green Goblin. Shocker. Scorpion. Vulture... and that mysterious black organism."
Batman remained motionless, ears processing The Leader's words while eyes focused primarily on Norman Osborn's glass chamber.
Outwardly, Batman appeared to completely ignore The Leader. But internally, his mental alertness remained maximally heightened, vigilance never wavering.
He maintained watchfulness toward the headband device The Leader wore.
"I learned of your existence from General Ross. After discovering you'd sabotaged his Oscorp Tower operation, I continuously analyzed your behavioral patterns, Batman."
The Leader spoke as though making casual conversation, even crossing one leg over the other. One hand rested on his chair's armrest while the other propped his chin:
"You've consistently operated within New York. Only this once have you departed—for Norman Osborn."
"Let's continue analysis. Beyond those named individuals, you've delivered over three hundred criminals to various police precincts. Incidentally, there's a woman called Black Cat. After you imprisoned Kingpin, she immediately absorbed his remaining forces before similarly ending up in custody."
"You know her, correct? Similarly, you know Silver Sable—the security company executive who testified on your behalf. Now a rescue company, of course."
"Speaking of rescue companies, I traced Silver's equipment supplier... Parker Industries."
"Through Harry Osborn, whoever backs you selected Peter Parker—that impoverished student—establishing a front company for misdirection."
"Additionally, I paid someone named Schultz considerable money. He provided a name: Bruce."
The Leader's lips slowly curved upward, eyes narrowing as though attempting to penetrate Batman's heavy armor and discern his features:
"Let's continue analysis. You possess Parker Industries backing. You're extraordinarily invested in the Osborn family's gamma experimentation—even pursuing them here. You relentlessly combat criminals. You demonstrate superhuman strength plus advanced intellect and technology."
"Who else could you possibly be... except Bruce Banner?"
Batman's expression remained impassive.
The Leader continued:
"According to my intelligence, during SHIELD's Dharavi operation, not a single on-site witness observed or heard the Hulk's voice or form."
"Being attacked and arrested yet showing no reaction indicates that wasn't the genuine Banner."
"The real Bruce Banner has already merged Hulk and Banner into unified existence. He wears this suit executing SHIELD missions throughout New York."
"Am I correct, Doctor Banner?"
---
Oscorp Tower, twentieth floor. Professor Warren's laboratory.
BZZT!
Electrical current transmitted through circuitry into Professor Morbius seated on an insulated chair.
Beside Morbius, Professor Warren and Harry Osborn watched tensely, eyelids jumping with each electrical discharge.
Even though he wasn't personally enduring the agony, Miles Warren felt visceral unease.
Fortunately, current levels remained within safe parameters. Beyond bodily numbness and brief spasms, the treatment posed no lethal threat.
Following one electroshock session, Morbius hurried to the electron microscope examining his blood samples, then returned to the chair with familiar disappointment mirroring previous attempts.
"Morbius, stop this. You cannot continue using yourself as test subject. You're not a mindless animal. We need alternative approaches..." Warren spoke with obvious concern.
"Lab rats? Animals?" Morbius's eyes suddenly brightened at that terminology. "Humans are already fusion products of different species. Various viral nucleic acids have infiltrated human DNA..."
Harry Osborn couldn't comprehend the scientists' technical discussion. But he recognized Morbius had potentially identified a new treatment direction:
"Professor, what are you thinking?"
Morbius nodded toward Harry before addressing Warren:
"Warren, there exists a mammalian species feeding exclusively on blood. A type of bat..."
"Called vampire bats. Three species exist." Warren confirmed.
"Exactly." Morbius's melancholic demeanor evaporated completely. He'd discovered an entirely novel approach to treating blood disease. "Those bats produce saliva containing unique anticoagulant serum to facilitate blood consumption."
"If vampire genes were implanted in your body, you'd produce identical anticoagulants..." Warren murmured, completing the thought.
Morbius turned toward the laboratory shelves packed with specimen jars containing various biological organs preserved in fluid:
"Warren, you have vampire bat samples here, correct?"
Warren nodded affirmatively.