AM I SUPERMAN?

Bane's harsh laughter echoed across the rooftop. His voice was deep, mocking, and full of disdain. "Bruce Wayne," he sneered, "do you really think you're a hero? In my eyes, you're nothing but a clown pretending to be a knight."

The mention of his identity did not faze Batman. His glare sharpened as he took a step forward. "What do you want, Bane?"

Bane spread his arms wide, his tone dripping with arrogance. "You and I were both shaped by the League of Assassins. You know the will of our teacher, Ra's al Ghul. I'm here to fulfill the mission he left behind!"

Batman's jaw tightened. "Ra's al Ghul is dead, and you were cast out of the League for your recklessness."

With that, Batman closed the distance, delivering a powerful punch aimed squarely at Bane's face. But Bane barely reacted, tilting his head slightly to absorb the blow. Slowly, he twisted his neck with a deliberate crack, his eyes gleaming with menace.

"Oh, Bruce," Bane taunted. "Ra's al Ghul's will is eternal. Through me, the world will witness the strength of the League!"

Before Batman could respond, Bane struck. His booted foot slammed into Batman's midsection with brutal force.

"Boom!"

The impact sent Batman flying backward, crashing through the rooftop wall. His cape flared open, slowing his descent like a parachute. He landed heavily but managed to stay on his feet.

Batman barely had time to recover when Bane followed. Using a grappling cable, Bane descended with terrifying speed, driving his knee into Batman's back.

"Thud!"

The force sent Batman crashing forward, slamming into a nearby wall. The impact sent debris flying, but the Kryptonian-alloy armor he wore absorbed most of the damage.

Groaning, Batman emerged from the rubble, his movements sharp and deliberate. With renewed determination, he charged at Bane, unleashing a flurry of attacks. Punches, kicks, elbows, and knees—every move was calculated, precise, and relentless. Each strike pushed Bane back, momentarily giving Batman the upper hand.

Bane grinned through the onslaught, his voice calm and taunting. "You fight well, Bruce. Even Ra's praised your skills."

Then, with almost casual ease, Bane caught Batman's fist in his massive hand.

"What?" Batman's eyes narrowed as he tried to pull free, but Bane's grip was unyielding. The more Batman struggled, the more he realized the raw power he was up against. Bane felt less like a man and more like an immovable mountain.

Bane smirked. "Your skills are impressive, but your strength… it's lacking."

Before Batman could react, Bane delivered a devastating uppercut.

"Boom!"

The punch connected with Batman's jaw, sending shockwaves through his skull. The world spun violently as Batman stumbled backward, his vision blurred. He struggled to regain his footing, but his body betrayed him, and he collapsed to the ground.

Standing over the fallen Dark Knight, Bane's laughter rang out, cold and victorious. "Look at you now, Bruce," he jeered. "The mighty Batman, broken and helpless. You can't stop me."

Bane took a step closer, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Batman. But before he could deliver the final blow, Commissioner Gordon arrived with a squad of armed officers, having subdued most of Bane's mercenaries.

The sight before them was almost surreal. Batman—the indomitable protector of Gotham—lay battered and barely conscious. The officers froze, their disbelief palpable.

"Is that… Batman?" one officer whispered.

"He's down," another muttered, his voice tinged with shock. "That masked brute—he beat him."

Gordon, ever the professional, snapped his men out of their daze. "Raise your weapons! Stop him now!" he barked.

The officers trained their guns on Bane, their fingers hovering over the triggers. But Gordon knew this was no ordinary foe. Bane had overpowered Batman himself—taking him down wouldn't be easy.

"Hands in the air!" Gordon demanded. "Or we'll open fire!"

Bane turned slowly, his eyes narrowing beneath the mask. His voice was calm, almost mocking. "You think your little squad can stop me?"

Bane loomed over Batman, ignoring the officers aiming their weapons at him. With a sneer, he grabbed Batman by the torso and hoisted him above his head like a trophy. Turning to face Commissioner Gordon, Bane's voice echoed with disdain.

"Sergeant Gordon," he mocked, "is this your hero? The so-called protector of Gotham?" Bane chuckled darkly. "Look at him now. Who is he protecting? No one."

With a sudden, brutal motion, Bane drove his knee into Batman's back.

"Thud!"

The sickening sound of the impact reverberated through the air. Batman cried out in pain as he crumpled to the ground, his body spasming from the force of the blow.

Bane kicked Batman's limp form aside and turned his attention to the surrounding slum. The National Guard had subdued the remaining mercenaries, but Bane's confidence remained unshaken. His eyes scanned the chaos before pulling a small remote control from his belt.

"Do you know why I chose this place?" Bane asked, his voice dripping with malice. He gestured to the slums around him. "Because here, I could bury surprises in every corner, in places you'd never think to look."

Bane's thumb hovered over the remote's button. "And now… goodbye, Gotham's finest!"

Before Gordon or anyone else could react, Bane pressed the button. Instantly, a series of bombs hidden throughout the slums activated. Stashed in cabinets, garbage bins, and broken walls, the explosives detonated almost simultaneously.

Boom! Boom! BOOM!

The ground shook as the slums erupted in flames. Buildings crumbled, sending debris and rubble flying. Dust filled the air, choking the screams of those caught in the chaos. Outside the police cordon, reporters scrambled to document the carnage, their cameras capturing the fiery collapse of the slums.

"What's happening?" one reporter shouted in panic.

"Oh my God," another exclaimed. "He's blowing up the entire slum!"

The sheer scale of the destruction left bystanders and officers alike in stunned disbelief. For Bane, it was a calculated act of terror—chaos that served to further his twisted agenda.

Amid the explosions, Batman gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain coursing through his body. The Kryptonian-alloy armor had absorbed much of Bane's devastating knee strike, sparing him a crippling injury, but the damage was still severe. Every breath was a struggle, and his body screamed for rest. Yet he forced himself to move.

With a roar, Batman unfurled his cape, activating its glider function. He leapt toward Gordon and his team, shielding them with his own body as the firestorm engulfed the area. The blast wave slammed into them, but Batman's armor and cape absorbed the worst of it.

When the dust settled, Gordon knelt beside Batman, who lay twitching on the ground, his breaths shallow and labored.

"Batman," Gordon said urgently, lifting him slightly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm… fine," Batman rasped, forcing himself to stand despite the searing pain. His face was pale, and blood threatened to spill from his lips, but he refused to show weakness. He steadied himself, reaching into his utility belt.

From the belt, he retrieved a handful of batarangs, which he hurled at Bane with precision.

Bane stood amidst the chaos, his hulking frame illuminated by the flickering flames. As the batarangs whizzed toward him, he raised his metal-clad hands, effortlessly deflecting the projectiles.

"Really, Batman?" Bane said with a mocking laugh. "Batarangs? They're tools for amateurs. I am no amateur."

The final batarang soared toward him, and with calculated ease, Bane caught it mid-air. Holding it up for Batman to see, his expression turned cold and derisive. "You'll need more than toys to stop me."

Despite his injuries, Batman's mind raced. Bane was no ordinary opponent—he was a tactical genius with the strength of a monster, enhanced by the Venom serum coursing through his veins. But Batman was determined. The fight wasn't over, and Gotham's protector would not back down.

As Bane advanced, the flames around them cast long shadows. Batman tightened his fists, ready to face the formidable foe once more. The battle for Gotham's future raged on.

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