Forged in Chaos: A Transmigrator’s Tale in the DC Universe

**Chapter 19: The Challenger**

Ethan barely had time to steady himself before the armored figure lunged. The air cracked as the stranger moved with blinding speed, closing the distance between them in an instant. Ethan dodged just in time, feeling the force of the attack pass so close that it rattled his bones.

Whoever this was, they were on an entirely different level.

Ethan rolled to his feet, his mind already scanning the environment. He couldn't afford to fight recklessly—he had to use everything around him. His eyes landed on a half-destroyed fire hydrant, spewing water onto the pavement. He sprinted toward it, his hand glowing as he activated his fusion ability.

The moment his fingers touched the hydrant and a discarded length of rebar, the metal shifted, melting into his grip. Within seconds, he held a reinforced water cannon, the pressure inside surging with barely contained energy. He turned and fired.

A high-pressure blast of water slammed into the armored figure, sending him skidding backward. The crimson visor flickered as the stranger recalibrated, planting his feet firmly on the wet pavement.

"You're clever," the stranger admitted, his voice distorted through his helmet. "But let's see how you handle this."

He raised his arm, and a pulse of energy erupted from his palm. Ethan barely managed to throw himself to the side as the blast vaporized the spot where he had stood. Heat radiated from the impact zone, melting nearby streetlights and warping metal.

Ethan clenched his jaw. This guy wasn't just strong—he was packing some serious tech. If he wanted to win, he'd have to get creative.

Batman's voice echoed in his head from their earlier training sessions: *Every enemy has a weakness. Find it, exploit it.*

Ethan focused, his fusion ability flaring as he grabbed a shattered street sign and a broken drone lying in the wreckage. Energy surged through him as the two objects combined, transforming into a high-speed bladed boomerang. With a practiced throw, he sent it hurtling toward the stranger's helmet.

The figure moved to dodge, but Ethan was already anticipating it. He sprinted forward, closing the distance while his opponent was momentarily distracted. With all his strength, he drove his knee into the stranger's side, sending a shockwave through the armor.

The stranger grunted, stumbling back. "Not bad."

Ethan didn't let up. He grabbed a loose power cable from the wreckage and fused it with his gauntlets. Electricity crackled around his fists as he swung a charged punch, aiming for the weak points in the armor.

The impact sent another surge of energy through the stranger's suit, causing sparks to fly. For the first time, Ethan saw hesitation in his movements.

"Who *are* you?" Ethan demanded, breathing heavily. "Why are you after me?"

The figure steadied himself, his visor flickering before revealing a pair of piercing blue eyes beneath. "Because you're not the only one who can change the rules."

With a sudden burst of speed, he launched himself at Ethan, their battle escalating into an all-out war of power, intelligence, and sheer will.

**To be continued...**