[Dungeon Origin: Batman]
[Dungeon Modifiers: Neutral Zone. Killing other players is permitted. Defeated players drop a Neutral Heritage Treasure Box containing one random item from their equipment or inventory. No additional penalties apply, though actions may trigger faction conflicts.
DC World: A near modern setting enhanced by futuristic technology, superpowers, and magic. All forms of combat are permitted without restriction.
City of Talents: The boundary between ordinary citizens and criminals in Gotham is incredibly thin. Under the right conditions, anyone can transform into a villain. Beware everyone around you.
Extreme Vigilante: Any excessive actions within Gotham may draw the attention of the city's resident vigilante. Note: This version of the Dark Knight is distinct from his counterparts in other dimensions. He is an extremist who bypasses the judicial system to execute villains.]
[Difficulty: E+]
[Bounty Mission: Solo Mission. Obtain detailed information on at least four different types of Moth Gang units currently operating in the area through combat, theft, interrogation, persuasion, or control. Time limit: 72 hours.
Reward: 3,000 Points, 2 pieces of custom Wayne Enterprises gear or 1 random vehicle.]
[Achievement List Unlocked. You may view it at any time.]
Chris was randomly deposited into a narrow, dark alleyway. Thankfully one without a pair of Waynes. Looking toward the end of the alley, he could see a bustling street shrouded in night, a mix of 1980s Americana and oppressive Gothic architecture.
If he had to describe his first impression in two words, they would be "dark" and "smoggy." The city looked decent enough, but he felt a persistent, subtle difficulty in breathing.
"What? Where'd this yellow skin come from? I didn't see him earlier."
Before Chris could appreciate the scenery further, a raspy voice that sounded like glass shards against a throat rang out.
"Who cares? Just rob him!"
Another voice replied in a thick, urban drawl.
Dressed in the suit and overcoat provided by the Space, Chris looked toward the source of the voices. To his lack of surprise, two men dressed like ragged vagrants were standing up from the shadows against the wall, approaching with formulaic, malicious grins.
One reached into his coat as if reaching for a weapon, while the other let out a flick of his wrist, revealing the glint of a switchblade.
Then, they saw something that defied all their expectations.
"Oh? Muggers! This is my first time seeing a live mugger!"
Chris's eyes practically lit up as he stared at the two men.
Having lived in one of the safest countries on Earth, Chris had never personally encountered a violent crime. He was the type of person who might glance at a commotion from a distance before moving on, so he'd never actually seen a real, living robber or murderer up close.
He'd been in Gotham for less than ten seconds, and already he'd found a classic duo of muggers.
"Who the hell are you calling a mugger? We're core members of the Moth Gang! Shut your mouth and hand over everything valuable!"
The man with the knife, a man named Bob, was clearly losing his patience. Chris's comment had been particularly grating.
Technically, they were members of a gang affiliated with a supervillain. Okay, they were low level hangers on who used the gang's name to intimidate others.
While they looked and acted like common street thugs, they were fiercely protective of their "gang member" identities. Chris's casual dismissal had struck a nerve.
In a city that was a breeding ground for organized crime, there were countless lowlifes like them using a gang as a front. A soft looking target like Chris was a rare find.
If they had any connections, they would have considered selling Chris whole. Either as a "set" or for "parts." They could have made a fortune either way.
"Take your clothes off too."
The other man began, only for a strange wooden cane to appear in Chris's hand. An instant later, a glowing hexagram shot from the end of it.
The man, who had been high on something just minutes ago, had the reflexes of a sloth. He stayed pinned to the spot as the hexagram slammed into him. He felt his body go light, and his partner, Bob, suddenly seemed to grow into a giant whose face he had to tilt his head back to see.
'Wait, why does Bob look so terrified?'
Instinctively opening his mouth to speak, the man let out a sound that only increased Bob's terror.
"Quack!"
The man's raspy voice had been replaced by the high pitched sound of a duck.
Polymorph.
As Bob turned in horror toward his duck partner, Chris's leg muscles tightened beneath his slacks. A split second later, he launched himself forward like a pouncing leopard!
Bob barely had time to raise his hands before a massive force slammed into him.
It was no exaggeration to say that Bob felt as if he'd been hit by a van going forty miles per hour.
On the other side, Chris snatched the white feathered duck by its wings and slammed it against the wall, knocking it unconscious instantly.
By the time the man reverted to his human form and woke up, his entire body was in agony and he couldn't move. Turning his head with great effort, he saw his companion in misery.
He and Bob were tied back to back against a filthy utility pole in the alley, bound by their own discarded clothes. They were already beginning to shiver in the cold night air.
Then, he heard that incredibly annoying voice again.
"What was that you said? The Moth Gang? You call yourselves gang members when you look like this?"
"Bro, I'm telling you, untie these ropes right now or the Moth Gang will never let you. Ack!"
The final syllable rose into a muffled, desperate scream, as if his head had been shoved into a bucket.
Chris didn't have a bucket, but he did have the Head of the Cyclops. He had placed the severed trophy over Bob's head like a grotesque hat, shoving the man's entire face into the giant's gaping, open mouth!
The sensation of warm, wet slime, reminiscent of being licked by something alive, coupled with the overwhelming stench that filled his nostrils and throat, caused Bob's eyes to roll back in his head as he let out a single, stifled scream.
"You local gangs really have no manners," Chris said, poking the unconscious Bob in the ribs with his Vampire's Gentleman Cane before stepping over to the other man.
"Now then. Tell me. Who's your boss?"
Chris's smile became increasingly "kind."
"K. Killer Moth."
Finally realizing they had picked a fight with the wrong person, the man's trembling lips spat out the name of a supervillain.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]