AM I SUPERMAN?

Bane stood tall, his imposing figure illuminated by the flickering lights of the crumbling Gotham slums. His voice was deep and menacing, reverberating across the devastated streets.

"Batman, you will experience true despair—"

Before Bane could finish, a bat dart flew from the shadows, exploding in a burst of acrid smoke. The caustic fumes engulfed Bane's face, stinging his eyes and forcing him to stumble back, momentarily blinded.

By the time Bane regained his vision, the police officers and Batman had vanished into the darkness.

"Coward! Coward!" Bane roared, his voice echoing through the ruins. "The great Night Knight of Gotham, reduced to a sniveling dog!"

He clenched his fists, his frustration palpable. Yet his anger quickly shifted to calculated indifference. In the distance, a truck approached, its headlights cutting through the gloom.

Bane surveyed the scene. The slums, now a mass of rubble, were littered with the injured and the dead. Many police officers were either trapped beneath the debris or struggling to survive amidst the chaos. The National Guard, decimated by Bane's mercenaries, was nowhere to be seen.

The destruction was absolute, and Bane felt no further need to engage in games with Gotham's authorities. He turned his attention to the growing crowd of journalists cautiously gathering beyond the police cordon.

Among the reporters was a young man clutching a microphone tightly, his hands trembling as Bane approached.

"Should we run?" whispered his cameraman, barely able to hold the camera steady.

The reporter hesitated, then shook his head. "No. This could be the scoop of a lifetime. Besides… he doesn't seem interested in killing us."

Bane's massive frame loomed over them. Without a word, he grabbed the microphone from the reporter, tossing him aside effortlessly. Turning to the camera, Bane's expression shifted to a disconcerting grin.

"Camera on me," he growled. "Yes, aim it here. That's good."

The cameraman adjusted his focus, broadcasting the scene live to millions of viewers.

"Good evening, Gotham," Bane said, his voice almost cheerful. He waved at the camera like a host greeting his audience, his tone laced with mockery. "Tonight, I bring you a story unlike any other. A story of power, chaos, and… consequence."

Bane gestured toward the approaching truck. As it came to a halt, two mercenaries jumped out, their movements brisk and efficient. They opened the rear doors of the vehicle, revealing a cylindrical device glowing faintly. Alongside it was a trembling man, his hair disheveled and his academic robes rumpled.

"Come, come," Bane beckoned, dragging the man forward. "This, Gotham, is your guest of honor: Dr. Pavol, a distinguished physicist from Gotham University."

The camera zoomed in on Dr. Pavol, his pale face glistening with sweat. Bane thrust the microphone toward him.

"Tell them, Doctor," Bane demanded. "What is this… magnificent device we've brought for Gotham?"

Dr. Pavol stammered, his voice quivering. "This… this is a super-energy reactor. A… a device designed to generate clean energy. But… but in its current state, it's highly unstable. The material inside is decaying rapidly. If we don't stop it, it will—"

Bane interrupted, his voice calm yet menacing. "When will it explode, Doctor?"

"Twenty-four hours," Dr. Pavol choked out. "It will detonate in twenty-four hours."

Bane smiled, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "And tell the good people of Gotham—what happens when it explodes?"

Dr. Pavol hesitated, his voice breaking as he answered. "The explosion… the explosion will have a radius of six miles. The blast will be equivalent to a 4-million-ton nuclear bomb. The shockwaves, the radiation—it will kill… it will kill everyone in Gotham."

After Dr. Pavol finished his explanation, Bane's laughter echoed ominously through the Gotham night.

"Ha ha ha… thank you, Dr. Pavol, for enlightening us all," Bane said, his voice dripping with mockery.

Before anyone could react, Bane's hand shot out, wrapping tightly around Dr. Pavol's neck. With a brutal twist, he snapped the doctor's spine, the sickening crack reverberating through the tense air. Dr. Pavol's lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

Turning back to the camera, Bane addressed Gotham with chilling conviction. "Do you know who's responsible for this reactor—or, as I prefer to call it, this four-million-ton nuclear bomb? That's right. Batman, your so-called Dark Knight, the guardian of Gotham!"

Bane gestured to the truck behind him, where the reactor glowed ominously.

"The remote control to this device? It's in my possession," he continued, his tone taunting. "And there's only one way to stop it from detonating. Batman must face me in a fair duel. If he wins, I'll spare Gotham and disarm the bomb. But if he loses—or worse, if he doesn't show up—then Gotham will burn. Boom! Boom! Boom! Hahaha!"

Bane's grin widened as he laid out the final terms. "Before our duel, any outside intervention—whether it be the military, police, or even one of Gotham's cowards trying to flee—and I'll detonate the bomb immediately. Martial law begins now. Let all citizens return to their homes, hold your loved ones tight, and wait. Will your Dark Knight save Gotham, or will this city become a smoldering ruin?"

In a high-tech control room, Amanda Waller watched the live broadcast on Gotham City Channel. Her stern expression hardened as the scene unfolded. The sight of Bane killing Dr. Pavol and using the lives of millions as leverage enraged her.

"Use satellite imaging to confirm if it's a real nuclear bomb," Amanda barked, turning to her team of technicians.

"Yes, ma'am," one of the technicians replied, her fingers flying over the keyboard. A live satellite feed of Gotham City appeared on the central monitor. Data streamed rapidly as the system analyzed the energy readings.

"Report!" Amanda demanded.

The technician's voice was steady but tense. "Confirmed fusion reaction in Gotham's West Side. Energy readings indicate... the device's destructive potential exceeds standard nuclear weaponry. Threat level: critical."

Amanda slammed her fist on the console. "Damn it!"

She took a deep breath to steady herself. "Issue a first-level alert to the military district near Gotham. Order them not to engage without explicit instructions. Send an immediate update to President Abraham."

"Understood, ma'am," the technician said, her fingers moving to execute the orders.

Minutes later, the technician turned back to Amanda. "Ma'am, we've received a response from the President."

"What did he say?" Amanda asked sharply.

The technician hesitated, her tone almost incredulous. "He said… 'Contact the Justice League.'"

Amanda's jaw tightened, her frustration evident. "Justice League…" she muttered under her breath. If there was anyone she despised dealing with, it was Kaius and his team of self-appointed heroes.

But the situation was dire. A nuclear threat hung over Gotham, and Bane had tied the city's fate to his twisted game. The police were powerless, the military couldn't intervene, and panic was already brewing among the populace. The stakes couldn't be higher.

Sighing deeply, Amanda picked up her secure phone. Dialing a number, she muttered to herself, "Justice League it is…"

The line connected after a few rings. On the other end, a familiar voice answered—Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow.

"Amanda? What do you want?" Oliver asked, his voice slightly winded, the sounds of a skirmish in the background.

"Are you not watching the news, Oliver? Gotham is on the brink of annihilation!" Amanda snapped, her frustration spilling into her tone.

Oliver grunted, likely dodging an attack. "I've been a bit busy saving Star City. What's going on?"

Amanda's voice rose. "Bane has a four-million-ton nuclear bomb and is holding Gotham hostage. I need you to contact Kaius and the rest of the Justice League—now."

There was a pause on Oliver's end before he replied, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You? Asking for help from the Justice League? Hell must've frozen over."

"Cut the jokes, Queen!" Amanda shot back. "We don't have time for your quips. Get in touch with Kaius and tell him Gotham needs his team. Now!"

Oliver sighed, clearly amused despite the gravity of the situation. "Alright, Amanda. I'll see what I can do."

Amanda hung up, exhaling heavily. She glanced back at the monitor, where Bane's twisted grin filled the screen. Her jaw tightened. This time, the Justice League better deliver.

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