Overdrive

Stark was visibly frustrated, his pride dented by the unexpected challenge. He wanted to dive back into the fight immediately, but Batman had already stepped forward, signaling Stark to stand down for now. 

It wasn't that Batman doubted Stark's ability—far from it. He knew Stark's armor was more than capable of handling most threats, and even this opponent's best attacks had barely scratched its surface. But Batman had observed something different. The opponent was not just strong but also skilled, and their reflexes were sharp enough to counter Stark's calculated strikes. 

For Batman, this was an opportunity. He hadn't faced a truly challenging opponent since upgrading to A-level status. 

In his early days, testing new skills was easy. A rookie C-level hero could take on a gang or low-level criminals to practice. By the time he reached B-level, opponents became tougher, like infected individuals or hidden bases of weapon smugglers. But A-level heroes operated on a completely different scale. At this level, heroes were caught in a gray zone between mortal and god. Opponents strong enough to challenge and survive a fight against an A-level hero were exceedingly rare. 

Batman wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. 

Pulling his cloak tightly around him, Batman stepped into the fray. His dark silhouette melded with the shadows, and his cloak obscured his movements, making him unpredictable. 

The armored opponent let out a sharp cry, their energy-charged arm glowing brighter before firing a concentrated blue beam. Batman moved swiftly, sidestepping the attack with precision. The beam tore through the air, briefly illuminating the warehouse with a harsh, unnatural light. The shockwave rippled through the room, causing Batman's cloak to rise dramatically. 

The moment the attack passed, Batman activated the thrusters hidden beneath his cape. With a faint hum, they propelled him forward like a black arrow. His cloak spread wide like wings, adding to his menacing appearance as he closed the distance. He threw a solid punch aimed directly at the opponent's head.

But the opponent was ready. They deflected Batman's fist with a sharp swing of their armored arm. The enhanced gauntlet carried immense power, and the energy coating it radiated intense heat. Batman pivoted to avoid the next strike, the gauntlet narrowly missing him and smashing into a nearby wall. The impact sent fragments of brick and metal scattering across the warehouse floor.

The opponent retaliated with a barrage of strikes, their movements quick and relentless. Though their technique was rough, the armor enhanced their speed and strength to terrifying levels. Each punch was accompanied by a high-temperature energy blast, leaving glowing blue streaks in the air. The wide arcs of their punches forced Batman into evasive maneuvers, his HUD lighting up with red warnings for every incoming attack. 

For a moment, it seemed like Batman was on the defensive, constantly dodging and retreating. But his movements were deliberate—he was analyzing his opponent's patterns, waiting for the right opening. 

Then, he acted. Batman flicked his cloak outward, activating his thrusters once more to launch himself into the air. He feinted left, causing the opponent to swing wide, and then twisted midair, landing a spinning kick to the opponent's chest. 

The force of the kick was immense, amplified by Batman's thrusters. It was powerful enough to dent even tank-grade armor. The opponent was knocked off their feet, tumbling backward. But they recovered quickly, rolling twice before springing back up, the blue glow around their body intensifying. 

Batman wasted no time. Combat was all about maintaining momentum. Like a skilled fighter in a game, once he broke through the opponent's defense, he needed to follow up with a relentless combo. 

The Bat-symbol on Batman's chest and in his eyes suddenly lit up with a vibrant green glow. His armor's AI announced: 

"Green light mode activated." 

Stretching out his right hand, Batman curled his fingers into a claw. In an instant, a massive green construct in the shape of a claw materialized in front of him. It reached out and grabbed the armored opponent, yanking them forward with surprising force. 

This was one of the advanced abilities of Batman's "Insider Armor," a suit designed to mimic the powers of his Justice League allies. The suit could replicate Superman's heat vision, Wonder Woman's lasso, Flash's speed, and even Green Lantern's constructs. While the suit's theoretical power was unmatched, its limitations were severe. Each ability drained enormous amounts of energy and triggered a long cooldown period, preventing continuous use. 

As the green claw pulled the opponent toward him, Batman spun and delivered another devastating kick. This time, the green energy formed a massive spectral leg, striking the opponent with the force of a battering ram. The armored figure let out a muffled grunt as they were flung across the room, crashing into a pile of debris. 

Without hesitation, Batman extended his fist, firing a concentrated green energy beam. The blast roared toward the opponent, its destructive force undeniable. 

But then, something strange happened. Just as the blast was about to hit, the opponent raised their arms. The energy coating their gauntlets expanded, forming an eerie, shimmering force field. The green beam hit the field and, to Batman's surprise, bounced back toward him. 

Batman reacted instantly, grabbing his cloak and using it as a shield. The green light from his armor formed a protective barrier in front of him, absorbing the reflected blast. Though the impact forced him to stagger slightly, he emerged unharmed. 

"Green light mode off," his AI announced. 

"Green light mode cooling down." 

The opponent had already regained their footing. With a roar, they charged forward, their energy glowing brighter than ever. 

"They've got some kind of energy reflection system," Batman's AI noted. 

"I noticed," Batman replied calmly, switching modes. "Let's see how they handle this." 

The glow in Batman's eyes shifted from green to gold, and electricity began to crackle across his armor. Powerful arcs of golden lightning danced along his suit, illuminating the dark warehouse. 

"Overdrive mode activated," the AI announced.