Batman came in again. This time with a combination. Jab, cross, low kick. The strikes were textbook perfect. Each one flowing into the next.
James blocked the jab. Caught the cross. But the low kick connected with his thigh.
Thump!
First point to Batman.
"One," the Dark Knight said.
James reset. 'He's probing my defenses,' he thought. 'Learning my patterns.'
AEGIS confirmed it. "Opponent is analyzing your response patterns. Recommendation: vary defensive techniques to prevent prediction."
James nodded internally. Time to change his approach.
He went on offense. Used a Muay Thai combination. Teep kick to create distance. Then rushed in with elbow strikes. High. Low. Spinning.
Batman defended perfectly. Blocked the elbows. But James was physically stronger. Each blocked strike drove Batman back slightly.
James pressed. Used his superior strength to pressure Batman's defense. Added wrestling techniques. Went for a clinch. Got it. Threw a knee toward Batman's ribs.
Batman turned his body. The knee glanced off. He broke the clinch with a judo technique and threw James.
James flipped mid-air and landed on his feet. His enhanced agility made the recovery automatic.
"Impressive," Batman said. There was a note of genuine respect in his voice.
They engaged again. This time the exchanges were faster. More intense.
James threw a Savate kick. Batman dodged and countered with a Krav Maga strike. James blocked and riposted with Silat blade-hand techniques. Batman slipped them and attempted a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu takedown.
They grappled. James's strength advantage showed. He reversed Batman's takedown attempt and got top position.
But Batman was too skilled to control. He immediately worked for escape. Used leverage instead of strength. Created space. Scrambled away.
Both fighters stood. Both breathing slightly harder now.
"You've had serious training," Batman observed. "Multiple styles. Integrated well."
"So have you."
They circled again. James noticed Batman was adjusting his approach. Using more technique and less direct force. Attacking from angles that minimized James's strength advantage.
'He's adapting,' James realized. 'Learning my patterns already.'
AEGIS provided continuous analysis. "Opponent has identified your tendency to favor strikes over grappling. Probability of takedown attempt: seventy-eight percent."
James adjusted his stance. Prepared for a wrestling attack.
Batman feinted high. James bit on it. Raised his guard.
Batman shot low. Lightning-fast double-leg takedown.
James sprawled. His enhanced speed barely saved him. He managed to get his hips back and defend.
They grappled for position. James used his strength to try to overpower Batman. But the Dark Knight was using pure technique. Every movement was efficient. Wasting no energy.
Batman transitioned to James's back. Threatening a choke.
James exploded forward. Used his enhanced strength to break Batman's control through sheer power. Rolled away and came to his feet.
Close. That was very close.
"Two styles of Judo," Batman said, circling again. "At least three types of Kung Fu. Muay Thai. Silat. Wrestling. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Savate. How many have you mastered?"
"Enough."
"Not more than forty, I'd guess. Your integration is good but there are gaps. Spots where one style doesn't quite connect to another."
James felt a chill. Batman had analyzed his entire martial arts foundation in three minutes of fighting.
"You're right," James admitted just cause he's trying to build trust. "Thirty-seven styles. How many do you have?"
"More."
They engaged again. This time Batman controlled the pace. He'd figured out James's patterns. Knew which techniques would follow which openings.
Batman struck with a combination that James had never seen before. Some hybrid of six different martial arts blended so seamlessly they looked like one style. The strikes came from impossible angles. Flowed like water.
James defended desperately. Blocked. Dodged. Used his enhanced speed to stay ahead of the attacks.
But one got through. Batman's fist connected with James's shoulder.
Thump!
Not full power. Just a touch. But it counted.
"Two," Batman said.
James reset. He was breathing hard now. Batman looked barely winded.
'He's better,' James admitted to himself. 'Significantly better. I have physical advantages but he has skill and experience I can't match yet.'
AEGIS confirmed it. "Opponent has superior tactical acuity and pattern recognition. Current probability of victory: fourteen percent and declining. Recommendation: utilize physical advantages more aggressively."
James decided to change the game. Stopped fighting defensively. Went all-in on offense.
He rushed Batman. Used his enhanced speed to close distance before the Dark Knight could set up. Threw a flurry of strikes. Twenty punches and kicks in five seconds. Each one powered by his superhuman strength.
Batman defended. But the sheer volume and power forced him back. His blocks weren't quite clean. Some of the strikes were getting through his guard partially.
James saw an opening. Batman's left side was exposed for a fraction of a second.
He committed. Threw a powerful side kick aimed at Batman's ribs.
It was a trap.
Batman had deliberately created that opening. As James's kick came in, Batman trapped the leg. Twisted. Used James's own momentum against him.
James went airborne. Batman controlled his fall. Slammed him into the concrete floor.
Boom!
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