Back Hand

Boom!

The figure landed with a thunderous crash, shattering the surrounding rubble.

Boom!

Scarecrow's heart pounded in his chest. An inexplicable fear rose within him, like the jolt of waking from a nightmare, the chilling realization of a terrible truth.

"You," he gasped.

Bathed in moonlight, Batman extended his hand. The silvery light seemed to gather in his palm, swirling and coalescing.

With a flick of his wrist, half of Batman's body dissolved into pure shadow.

"Impossible!" Scarecrow roared. "Get him, Talons!"

"Still can't synchronize two Batmen simultaneously..." Adam observed his arm, which had partially transformed into a shimmering, silver light before returning to its armored state. The attempt to shift into his Bat-Dragon form had failed, leaving a lingering ache in his arm.

"Well, Broken Bat will have to do," he muttered, nimbly dodging a Talon's lunging attack.

"As long as my core and brain remain intact, I'm fine. Nano-Batman is practically immune to physical attacks."

He raised his hand, commanding a swarm of nanobots to attack.

The Talon instinctively raised its arms, but the nanobots passed through harmlessly.

"They should be able to absorb genetic data from any organism they contact," Adam mused. "Theoretically, they should break down the Talons like tofu."

But the Talons remained unharmed. "So, it's the electrum," he deduced. "It's protecting their cells from being consumed. The nanobots are like ants trying to chew through steel. Troublesome."

"But not insurmountable."

A chilling grin spread across his face. Even the Talons, undead assassins, felt a shiver as his dark yellow eyes met theirs.

"If I can't dismantle you at the cellular level, I'll simply resort to physics."

The black sand swirling around him began to coalesce, transforming into a blade. Like a fluttering flag suddenly morphing into a razor-sharp ribbon, it sliced through the air.

Schlick! Crunch!

...

A grinding sound echoed from the Talon's helmet as he desperately tried to strike the intangible Batman. Fists, blades, even blasts of concussive force—nothing could land a solid hit.

The black ribbons of nanites simply flowed around the attacks, reforming instantly and tightening their grip.

Schlick! Schlick! Schlick!

The Talon's mask was the first to go, splitting in two to reveal the terrified face of an ordinary man with graying hair beneath the fearsome owl visage.

"No! Please! The Court of Owls... They'll—"

Other Talons rushed to their comrade's aid, desperately trying to grasp the floating figure of death. But their hands passed through the nanite ribbons as if trying to catch smoke.

"Attack Batman! He's—"

Adam ascended ten meters into the air, the nanites coalescing into a flowing cape that resembled the outstretched wings of a monstrous bat.

The Talons leaped, but they couldn't reach him. Even those who managed to jump high enough were swatted aside like flies by giant, nanite-formed hands.

"What's happening? Attack him! You're the Court of Owls! You can't lose to him. Damn it, Batman, how could he."

Scarecrow stammered, "This... this isn't the Batman I know."

The Talon's scalp began to crack. Dark, wiry hair separated from the skull, revealing the crimson muscle tissue beneath. The cracks spread, the flesh turning a lighter shade of red.

It was the result of the combined effects of electrum and Titan venom. Scarecrow, the master chemist, had balanced these two substances in a single body, allowing the Talon to rapidly heal and regenerate muscle tissue.

But now, this extraordinary regenerative ability had become a curse.

Muscles desperately trying to knit themselves back together fought a losing battle against the relentless nanobots. The agonizing pain jolted the Talon's centuries-old brain, eliciting inhuman shrieks.

Adam, disturbed by his own cruelty, frowned and waved his hand. The grinding sound intensified as the nanite blade sliced cleanly through the Talon, cleaving it in two. The body collapsed, the impact echoing in Scarecrow's heart.

He whirled on Lincoln March, grabbing his collar. "Why? Why are your Talons falling so easily to this venom? I did as you asked!"

"Find a way! The Court must have a way!"

Lincoln March looked at Scarecrow with disgust. This was the man who worshiped fear, yet was so utterly consumed by it. He was a slave to terror, not its master. That was why he would never be a truly dangerous threat.

"I have no idea," Lincoln March retorted. "You made a deal with the Court behind my back, remember?"

He ignored Scarecrow's protests, addressing the holographic figure on his arm. "So, do you have a contingency plan?"

The Court member turned away from Scarecrow with disdain. "Useless fool." "Of course we do."

"The Court of Owls knows all, and can do all. What is our backup plan?"

"He'll be here soon."

As if on cue, Scarecrow heard the slow clap of hands.

"Brilliant," a voice purred. "Scarecrow, I knew you were capable. I didn't expect the Court to give you my venom sample for research, and yet you've successfully combined it with electrum in such a short time, Incredible."