**Chapter 23: Into the Trap**
Ethan exhaled slowly, steadying himself as the figures moved closer. The fusion-enhanced night vision scope outlined their silhouettes in eerie green. Armed. Well-coordinated. But there was something else—something beyond the usual mercenaries he'd encountered before.
Their movements were too controlled, too precise.
"Trained operatives," he muttered. "Great."
One of the attackers lunged, but Ethan was ready. He sidestepped, fusing a nearby metal pipe with a discarded handgun to create a makeshift staff with a shock-emitting tip. He twisted, slamming it into the attacker's gut. A burst of electricity sent them sprawling.
The others hesitated only a second before charging in.
Inside the security room, Lorna Kane watched with keen interest, sipping her wine. "Not bad. He adapts fast."
Her assistant, still analyzing the footage, frowned. "Something's wrong. He's handling them, but look at their patterns. They're not aiming to kill. They're testing him."
Lorna narrowed her eyes. "So someone else wants to see what he's capable of… besides me."
She tapped into the warehouse's communication system. "Increase pressure. Let's see just how much he can take."
Ethan felt the shift immediately. The attackers became more aggressive, pressing him from all angles. He spun, his staff deflecting a blade strike, then twisted the weapon into a different shape—a reinforced gauntlet. With his enhanced strength, he drove a fist into the chest of another enemy, sending them crashing into a stack of crates.
But they kept coming.
One of them tossed a canister, and Ethan barely had time to recognize it before thick smoke filled the room. He held his breath, retreating toward the nearest wall, fusing his boots with a rubber grip for better traction. His mind raced—he needed to turn the tide.
Reaching into his pouch, he grabbed two metal shards and fused them into an explosive throwing knife. With a flick, he sent it hurtling into the ground. The impact triggered a shockwave, dispersing the smoke just long enough for him to regain visibility.
"Enough of this," he growled.
Summoning his fusion ability once more, he grabbed a steel beam and merged it with the concrete floor beneath him, forming a massive, reinforced hammer. With a single mighty swing, he shattered the nearest group of attackers, sending them flying.
A slow clap echoed through the warehouse.
From the shadows, a tall figure stepped forward, clad in tactical armor and a skull-like mask. His presence alone sent a ripple of unease through the air.
"That's enough," the masked man said. "I've seen what I needed to see."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "And who the hell are you?"
The man chuckled. "Call me… Taskmaster. And congratulations, kid. You just earned yourself a whole lot of trouble."
The warehouse fell silent as Taskmaster stepped forward, his posture relaxed yet brimming with confidence. Ethan could sense it—this was no ordinary mercenary. Taskmaster exuded the aura of someone who had faced countless battles and walked away victorious every time.
Ethan tightened his grip on his weapon. "I don't know who you are, but if you're looking for a fight—"
Taskmaster raised a hand, cutting him off. "Relax, kid. If I wanted you dead, you'd already be on the floor. No, I'm here because someone is very interested in what you can do."
Ethan didn't lower his guard. "Who?"
Taskmaster tilted his head. "Now, what kind of teacher would I be if I gave away all the answers? Let's just say there's a bigger game at play, and you're one very valuable piece."
Lorna's voice crackled through the warehouse speakers. "That's enough. Taskmaster, stand down. He's still mine to deal with."
The masked man chuckled. "Looks like our fun's cut short. But don't worry, kid. We'll see each other again soon."
Before Ethan could react, Taskmaster tossed a small device onto the ground. A blinding flash filled the room, and when the light faded, he was gone.
Ethan gritted his teeth. "Damn it."
The sound of approaching footsteps snapped him back into action. More enemies? No, something different. He turned toward the warehouse's main entrance just as a new figure stepped through the thick dust—Batman.
The Dark Knight's eyes met Ethan's, a mixture of curiosity and calculation behind the cowl. "You're making a lot of noise."
Ethan exhaled sharply. "Yeah, well, Gotham's been noisy lately."
Batman took another step forward. "We need to talk."
Ethan crossed his arms. "About what?"
Batman's gaze didn't waver. "About what you really are."
**To be continued...**