Chapter 138: Fear Takedown
"Listen carefully. Rules are stated once. Violate any rule and the operation terminates immediately. You return to the Batcave."
"This isn't punishment. It's protection."
Not counting the part on Hoffman Island where Batman needed Venom to remotely lure Anti-Venom into the trap, tonight was the first mission Batman and his Venom Robin would execute together.
Batman drove the Batmobile. Venom perched on the much smaller passenger seat beside him, head raised with high enthusiasm.
Following Batman's side, Venom's current intelligence was purely childlike—possessing all the emotions of human children, including curiosity vigorous to the point of terror.
Human children might do things adults found intolerable out of curiosity and undeveloped morality. Venom carried the same risk.
But Venom had always stayed with Batman, receiving education from carefully selected children's programming and Batman's personal instruction.
Other aspects might be slightly weak, but Venom's obedience was beyond doubt. This was why Batman hadn't refused bringing Venom out tonight.
Even so, Batman still needed to give Venom final instructions before acting:
"Our primary principle is no killing. Your role tonight is using your strength and shape-shifting to restrain, disarm, and interfere. Unless absolutely necessary, you cannot even injure others."
Venom raised its head, wanting to see the scenery outside the Batmobile. But currently the Batmobile traveled through sewers—nothing interesting to see outside.
Compared to outside, Venom preferred staring at Batman without blinking.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you directly acting too early." Batman's voice rumbled low.
He didn't want Venom becoming a second Jason Todd.
"TV says this is called caring," Venom looked at Batman innocently. "Dad, you're caring about me, right?"
Batman didn't answer that question. Instead, he continued:
"In non-combat situations, you must stay bonded to me. You cannot casually reveal your form. Without my explicit permission, you're forbidden from separating from my body or attempting to bond with any other person."
Venom nodded repeatedly. In its eyes, Batman was the world's best host. It had zero thoughts of bonding with anyone else.
"In combat, my commands have highest priority. When I say stop, you must immediately cease all actions and await my arrangements."
The moment Batman finished speaking, Venom immediately voiced agreement:
"Of course, Dad. I'll be very obedient."
Batman suddenly wrenched the steering wheel. The entire Batmobile executed a nearly 180-degree drift before stopping steadily in the sewer. Batman extended his hand toward Venom:
"And the most important point: everything we see, hear, and experience is top secret."
"You're forbidden from revealing my identity to anyone, the Batcave's location, or our tactical details."
"Remember, we walk in darkness to serve the light. You possess tremendous potential, but that potential must be governed by will."
"From today, you're not only my student but a reliable companion I hope to have. Don't disappoint me."
Batman's voice was exceptionally serious. His face showed no expression, his eyes staring fixedly at Venom.
Venom was frightened by Batman's demeanor. It instinctively shrank back, not immediately grasping Batman's hand.
"If there are no other questions, tonight's operation begins now." Batman watched Venom, waiting for the symbiote to make its decision.
After hesitating barely half a second, Venom whooshed onto Batman's hand. Its voice simultaneously rang out:
"No problem, Dad!"
---
"As Schultz said, Batman truly is a nocturnal creature. During daylight at Rikers Island, despite our commotion, he never came to stop us."
"This indicates he'll very likely come looking tonight. After all, night is his domain."
Vulture Toomes crouched on his sofa wearing his dark green flight suit, addressing Shocker Schultz and Scorpion Mac sitting across from him.
"How are preparations?"
Schultz hadn't removed his Shocker gauntlets either:
"Around this house, we've set up fifteen high-powered lamps simulating sunlight. Crosses are mounted on all of them."
"We'd better pray these actually work on Batman."
Vulture Toomes shook his head:
"I can't guarantee it. But you both have encountered Batman. Based on what you've described, he's virtually identical to legendary vampires."
"Even if he completely doesn't fear crosses, holy water from churches, or garlic, we still might have strength to fight him."
Shocker Schultz clenched his fists. The gauntlets on his hands gave him extremely high security, adding considerable confidence to his words:
"One-on-one, none of us have winning odds. But three-on-one, advantage is on our side."
After speaking, Schultz looked at Scorpion Mac, inquiring:
"Mac, how's your compatibility with the suit?"
Scorpion Mac had barely participated in Schultz and Toomes' conversation. He was exceptionally focused on experiencing the green suit on his body.
This was a sleeveless suit Schultz and Toomes had constructed from remaining materials after manufacturing their respective weapons and equipment.
The suit also appeared green, covering everything except Scorpion Mac's arms.
Unlike Vulture Toomes' conspicuous wings on his back, Scorpion Mac had no wings. Instead, at his lower back was a three-meter-long retractable tail with barbed hooks.
True to his name, the suit Scorpion Mac wore was Scorpion armor.
He looked quite excited currently. The scorpion tail behind him raised high in the air, swaying left and right.
Hearing Shocker Schultz's question, Scorpion Mac chuckled. The scorpion tail behind him suddenly shot forward.
TING!
Quick as lightning—one second swaying like a leaf in wind, the next already embedded in Toomes' doorknob, precisely destroying the lock mechanism.
"If I'm not compatible with this suit, I'm afraid no one in this world deserves it," Scorpion Mac grinned. "This is practically custom-made for me. The perfect weapon."
Simultaneously, outside Vulture Toomes' two-story American house, Batman studied the concealed but easily discovered sunlamps and crosses atop them in silence.
His straight-line distance from the three men inside didn't exceed twenty meters. At this range, Batman could hear their conversation exceptionally clearly.
"Toomes, Schultz, and Mac."
"Though Toomes participated in the Rikers Island prison break plan, I can't rule out he was influenced by Schultz."
"Schultz's weapons appear upgraded. I don't yet know how much force Scorpion Mac's suit can withstand. Toomes' flight suit carries no attached weapons."
Batman silently analyzed the situation inside, slowly shifting position to approach the window.
Curtains blocked Batman's line of sight from inside. But he didn't even need to activate the Arkham suit's reconnaissance functions. Peter Parker's body provided super-strong senses that already let Batman precisely lock onto all three positions.
CRASH!
The window shattered as Batman burst through. His wide cape spread the instant he landed. The Fear Takedown—carved almost into Batman's instincts—simultaneously attacked all three men.