The forest shook with Mammoth's rage. Connor and Zane pressed him harder, fists and strikes driving the behemoth back. Every swing of Mammoth's massive arms tore bark from trees, shook roots from the soil, but for the first time, he was faltering.
Connor slammed a fist into his chest — BOOM! — bones rattling like thunder. Zane blurred past with a streak of violet light, coat snapping, mask glinting as he carved strikes into Mammoth's ribs and throat.
"STAY! DOWN!" Mammoth bellowed, backhand sweeping. Zane ducked low, purple aura flashing, and countered with a rising kick to Mammoth's chin.
The giant staggered, chest heaving, veins glowing crimson. Connor struck, fist smashing into Mammoth's sternum. The titan slammed into a mountain wall with a BANG--rocks crumbling to the floor as he left a huge indentation. His consciousness was beginning to give out at the moment.
"Finally, *pant* we did it. This was was damm tough *pant*..", Connor said as he rested his hands on his knees, panting.
Zane's claws extended as he calmly walked forward, glinting faint purple in the ridge light. "Its not completely done just yet."
Connor froze, starring up in shock. "…Wait....don't—"
Too late.
Zane leapt forward. His claws sank into Mammoth's chest in a single, precise strike. The impact drove through muscle and bone, blood gushing out as his palm sinked into his flesh. A shockwave rippled outward, rattling the ground and sending dust into the air.
Mammoth gasped, blood bubbling at his lips. "Not… like this… I'm not… done…"
Connor stumbled back, stomach twisting. "…Wha....what the hell did you do?!"
Zane tilted his head, voice teasing, casual. "Making sure he doesn't show up in the next episode asking for a Rematch, too cliché."
Mammoth clawed weakly at his chest, face twisted in panic. "…You… monster…"
Connor's fists clenched, knuckles white. "…You can't just—"
Zane's tone sharpened, deadly serious now. "I can. And I will. He made his choice. I'm just applying the consequences." He pulled out his palm with a sickening squelch, he could see the light leaving Mammoths eyes. "Actions have consequences."
The giant trembled, veins sputtering, light fading from his eyes. "…I… I'll… kill you…"
Zane shrugged, shaking the blood off his palm in disgust. "Sure. Tell it to the next guy."
Mammoth went still, body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Silence fell.
Connor's jaw tightened. His voice trembled, half disbelief, half anger. "…You… you killed him."
Zane's mask tilted faintly, voice casual again. "Technically, I ended a problem."
Connor shook his head, conflicted. "You make it sound like a game… like it's nothing."
"I guarantee you he has.....had way more blood on his hands than most prisoners on death row...I'm just skipping the process and delivering the end result.."
"Now, If your done judging me, we should head back. Deathstroke is more difficult to deal with in some ways..."
---
A few minutes ago.....
Deathstroke was a blur of efficiency. He weaved between the young heroes, every strike precise, every shot calculated.
Robin lunged again, fury in his eyes. Deathstroke sidestepped, rifle-butt cracking across his jaw — THUNK! — sending him rolling.
Aqualad surged, blades slashing in twin arcs. Deathstroke parried with his sword, sparks flashing, then flipped him over a shoulder like discarded weight.
Artemis loosed arrow after arrow, each one knocked aside, deflected, or avoided.
Wally blurred in, red lightning tracing the ground. He darted past, striking Deathstroke a dozen times in a second — BAP-BAP-BAP!
Deathstroke turned smoothly, snaring Wally's wrist mid-run. With a wrenching twist, he used the speedster's momentum to hurl him sprawling into a boulder.
M'gann hovered overhead, telekinesis slamming down like invisible fists. Deathstroke crouched, absorbing the pressure, then hurled a flash-bang. The blast rattled her focus, breaking her psychic grip.
"You're strong," Deathstroke said calmly, voice carrying over the chaos. "But strength without discipline is weakness."
He was winning. Badly.
...
Robin staggered to Artemis' side, clutching his ribs. "We can't beat him one-on-one. We need a trap."
The two of them were the only 'humans' left on the field. Speedy was already unconscious.
Artemis glanced at the robo-arm strapped to her shoulder, Zane's discarded weapon now jury-rigged to her harness. Sparks flickered at the joint. "I think I might just have an Idea...."
Robin smirked through the pain. "Well then, lets hear it..."
.....
'Now guys!!' Robing commanded through M'ganns telepathy channel, signaling them.
Wally blurred forward, zig-zagging wildly, drawing Deathstroke's eye. "Over here, Slade! Bet you can't tag me twice!"
Deathstroke tracked him, calm, gun snapping shots that forced Wally into tighter circles.
Above, M'gann dove, telekinesis hurling shattered stone and uprooted logs. Aqualad rose with her, blades forming a whirling shield that penned Deathstroke in.
Artemis crouched low, bowstring pulled tight — but instead of an arrow, the robo-arm hummed in place, the arm had shrunken to a slimmer form to fit onto the bow.
"Now!" Robin barked.
M'gann's telepathy flared, stabbing into Deathstroke's mind with a psychic scream. His enhanced brain resisted, but the brief flicker of distraction was all they needed.
Wally blurred past, clipping his leg and bringing him to one knee. Aqualad surged in from the side, blades forcing Deathstroke in place for a fraction of a second.
Artemis loosed.
THUNK-WHRRR!
The robo-arm shot forward like a harpoon. Thrusters at the back, thanks to Robin, boosted the arms speed.
When it reached Deathstroke, metal fingers clawing around Deathstroke's sword arm. The servos whined, locking tight. Sparks hissed as the arm clamped like a vice, along with the electricity surging through Deathstrokes body.
Deathstroke's eye widened — the first crack in his composure. "What—"
Robin dropped from above, electrified discs slamming into Deathstroke's chest. ZZZT!
The shock from both devices locked his body in place!!
Aqualad's blades crossed at his throat. Wally skidded to a stop behind him, fists ready. M'gann hovered, her telekinesis locking the robo-arm tighter.
For the first time, Deathstroke was caught off guard.
Artemis' breathing was ragged. "How's that for amateur fletching?"
Deathstroke chuckled low, his voice raspy "Impressive work kids. Almost… professional."
Robin's voice was hard. "Its over, Deathstroke!!"
Deathstroke just tilted his head, smoke still rising from his body, calm even in defeat.