Haze's form wavered as he spoke, "Boss, we had Widow cornered in the east wing. Had to leave twenty of our guys to keep her busy but mostly they are strung up in her webs."
Diamondback's crystalline surface refracted the moonlight into prismatic shards as he flexed his gem-encrusted fingers, "Don't sweat it," he rumbled, "These Hero wannabes won't last five minutes."
Don milky eye rolled unnaturally as he chuckled, "Haze. Diamondback." The explosions dancing around his fingertips cast hellish shadows across his scarred face, "Once we're done mopping up these children, I'll personally show Widow what happens to thieves."
Unseen by the villains, Annie's psychic tendrils had already slithered into Haze's mind.
She rifled through recent memories: Widow's was looking for the vault. And she also found the location of the cores.
"Guys," Annie's voice whispered through their minds, "The cores are in the north vault. Widow mostly cutting through the last of security now."
Arthur didn't hesitate, "Go. Me and Duke will handle these three."
Bruce's hand found Annie's forearm just as Diamondback lunged but Duke stood in his path.
The teleportation activated sending the two away.
---
1. *Galahad's Opening Gambit*
Galahad sword ignited in a blue fire as he charged towards Don.
Each footfall left burning sigils in the concrete that flared brighter with every explosion he absorbed.
Don responded with a fusillade of micro-detonations - each blast precisely timed to create overlapping shockwaves.
Galahad's armor blackened but held, his sword tracing a flaming arc that forced Don into retreat.
2. *Duke's Rhythm Battle*
Duke's breathing settled as he circled Diamondback. His first testing jab barely damage against the gemstone jaw, "Cute," Diamondback sneered
Duke's grin widened as he adjusted his stance, his next strike landing in the exact same spot with 20% more force. The third hit came with an extra 40% harder, the fourth 60%.
Despite his hands bleeding from the rapid punches, he knew eventually that he will break through the armour.
3. *Arthur's dance*
Arthur's trench coat fluttered to the ground.
Haze's dagger gleamed with a suspicious green sheen - likely poisoned.
Arthur walked forward, "Let me give you some advice, you will survive prison if you stick to your master." Arthur said, rolling his shoulders before entering his fighting stance.
Haze teleport in front of him swung a low swing, dagger tracing a shimmering arc through the smoke.
Arthur pivoted, letting the blade whisper past his ribs, and delivered a crushing elbow to the kidney.
Haze gasped, his assassin's poise breaking for just an instant and he accidentally lock eyes with Arthur.
Completely disabling his trigger.
"You rely too much on your Trigger," Arthur murmured, driving a knee into Haze's solar plexus.
Haze folded, his dagger clattering to the ground.
Arthur caught it mid-fall, testing the balance with a professional flick before tossing it away, "In prison, guys like you will become a target if you can't fight with nothing other than yours hands."
Across the battlefield, Duke's combo reached critical mass.
His 44th consecutive strike - now hitting with 980% of his base strength - finally cracked Diamondback's jaw.
The crystalline villain staggered, his perfect defense compromised for the first time in his career, "That's it," Duke panted, shaking out his bruised hands. "What happened to your confidence, your diamond skin may be the perfect defence but makes you unbelievable slow. Meaning I break my record of 67 punches on a villain."
Meanwhile, Galahad's blade found its mark, carving a burning line across Don's chest.
The crime lord looked down in disbelief at his ruined suit, at the blood that shouldn't have been possible to draw.
The spectral knight raised his sword in challenge, blue flames casting eerie reflections in Don's one good eye.
---
Receiving spinning side kick to his head, Haze drop to ground.
As Haze struggled to rise, Arthur delivered a piston-like kick to his sternum that sent him skidding through the rubble.
Haze gasped for breath, blood dripping from his nose.
Arthur loomed over him, his shadow stretching long underneath the moonlight, "Should I return your powers, just so I can humiliate you even more?" He said as he cracked his knuckles.
Diamondback's crystalline form slowly cracked under Duke's relentless assault.
Each impact sent hairline fractures racing across his surface.
And Don? For the first time in his criminal empire, he took a step back being overwhelmed by Galahad.
No matter how powerful he was, how would he be able to defeat something that couldn't be destroyed.