Chapter 6: First Real Fight
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The industrial district was too quiet.
I crouched on a rooftop, staring down at the warehouse marked by the system.
[Target inside: high risk.]
But I already knew who it was.
The moment I saw him
—orange and black armor, sword gleaming under the dull lights—
I froze.
Slade Wilson.
Deathstroke.
My heart thudded.
In my old life, I'd read comics, played the games, watched the shows. I knew exactly how dangerous this man was.
But now? He wasn't fiction.
He was flesh, blood, and death.
And I was about to fight him.
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Backing out wasn't an option.
I slipped in through a broken window, moving through the rafters like a shadow.
Then his voice cut through the dark.
"So you're the pest crawling around my city."
Calm. Too calm.
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He stepped into view, sword drawn, posture relaxed—but every part of him was ready to kill.
"Pest?" I replied, crouching above him. "Wow. Didn't even get a chance to hand out business cards yet."
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He studied me with that single, cold eye.
"Word spreads fast," he said. "Some masked freak swinging around, crawling walls, scaring thugs. You've been leaving a trail."
He shifted his grip on his sword.
"I don't care about your gimmick. You get in my way, you die."
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Before I could respond, he struck.
Fast.
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I dodged by instinct as his blade ripped through the beam I'd been perched on.
Sparks flew as metal snapped.
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"Whoa, ever heard of knocking?!" I quipped, flipping backward.
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He didn't answer.
Gunfire erupted.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
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Spider-Sense flared—I twisted through the air, bullets snapping past.
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The system pinged.
[Target Identified: Slade Wilson — Alias: Deathstroke]
Available Traits:
— Enhanced Tactical Mind (Combat Prediction & Genius Strategy)
— Superhuman Physique (Enhanced Strength, Agility, Durability)
— Weapon Mastery (Expertise with Blades, Firearms, and Improvised Weapons)
— Regenerative Healing Factor (Rapid Recovery from Non-Fatal Injuries)
Trait Token Available: 1
Do you wish to select a trait to copy?
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I had no time to hesitate.
"Copy Trait," I muttered.
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[Confirming Trait Copy: Enhanced Tactical Mind…]
Trait Copy In Progress…
Estimated Completion Time: 10 Seconds (Sustained Visual Contact Required)
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Ten seconds.
Terrible timing.
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Slade was already moving, charging fast.
I dodged another sword strike, flipping onto a higher platform to keep my eyes locked on him.
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"You're stalling," he said.
"Stalling? Nah. I'm doing cardio," I shot back, ducking a swipe and webbing a crate at him.
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He sliced through the crate midair and kept coming.
8 seconds.
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More gunfire.
I barely dodged, weaving through rafters and beams.
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"You're worse than my high school gym teacher," I taunted, webbing the floor beneath him to slow him.
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He lunged through it with brute force, slashing upward.
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6 seconds.
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His knife came flying—I caught it mid-spin and flung it back with web-assisted force.
He sidestepped, already closing the gap.
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4 seconds.
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"You've been busy," he growled, swinging again.
"You know me," I replied, dodging, "local pest control."
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I shot webs rapidly, creating barriers as I retreated—staying in sight.
2 seconds.
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He smashed through my webs, relentless.
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1 second.
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[Trait Copy Successful: Enhanced Tactical Mind Acquired.]
[Trait Effect: Instantly enhances tactical thinking, combat prediction, and real-time strategy.]
[Trait Permanently Stored.]
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Everything changed.
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Suddenly, I could see every move before he made it.
The angle of his feet. The shift of his weight.
He attacked—blade swinging—but I moved before he even struck.
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I ducked, countering with a swift elbow to his ribs.
My strike hit right between his armor plates.
He stumbled.
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"What…?" Slade muttered, steadying himself.
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I grinned behind my mask.
"Fast learner," I said, webbing his sword and yanking it away.
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He went for a pistol.
I was already on him, slamming it from his hand and twisting his wrist.
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I swept his legs, flipping him over and sending him crashing into a metal pillar.
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I could've ended it right there.
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But Slade didn't go down that easy.
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He rolled to his feet, drawing twin knives.
His movements were more cautious now, but still deadly.
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"You're smarter than you look," he muttered.
"Thanks. It's the diet," I replied, lunging at him.
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Our blades clashed—well, his blades, my webs and fists.
But now I wasn't just dodging.
I was predicting.
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I blocked his strikes with perfectly timed web shields, slipping through gaps and slamming punches into his unarmored spots.
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Still, every hit took a toll.
His knives sliced through my suit more than once.
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A deep gash opened along my ribs as I twisted away from a knife.
Pain flared—but I stayed calm, my mind razor-sharp.
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I kept attacking, weaving high-speed web lines around us mid-fight.
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He lunged for me—but I sidestepped and yanked a hidden tripline tight.
He tripped, stumbling just long enough for me to slam both feet into his chest with a powerful web-assisted kick.
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He crashed back again, armor dented—but he was far from done.
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"You think you've won?" Slade growled, rising again.
"I think I'm not dead yet. So… yeah, kinda," I replied, breathing hard.
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He charged again—this time using a smoke bomb mid-charge to obscure himself.
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But my mind was clear.
Even through the smoke, I tracked him by sound, weight shifts, everything.
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I ducked under his strike, countering with a heavy web punch to his faceplate, cracking it.
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He snarled, slashing wildly.
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I took a glancing cut across my shoulder—painful, but manageable.
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I retaliated fast—webbing his legs and slamming him down again.
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My fists rained down—punches, elbows, web strikes—hitting every weak point my tactical mind highlighted.
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He coughed, but instead of surrendering, he grinned.
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Then he did what I feared.
He pulled a hidden grenade from his belt.
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A flashbang.
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"Crap—"
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BOOM!
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Even with my tactical mind and Spider-Sense, the sudden flash blinded me for half a second.
It was enough.
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When my vision cleared, he was gone—vanished into the night, leaving nothing but wreckage.
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I stumbled to my knees, catching my breath.
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Pain burned across my ribs, arms, and legs—but I was alive.
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The system chimed softly.
Optional Mission Complete: Target Engaged & Trait Copied.
Reward: +1 Trait Token.
Total Trait Tokens: 1.
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I stood slowly, pulling my torn mask tighter.
Deathstroke escaped.
But I didn't walk away empty-handed.
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I glanced at my trait window, a small grin curling beneath the mask.
Trait: Enhanced Tactical Mind (Deathstroke)
Status: Active
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I was sharper now.
Smarter.
And the city wasn't ready for what came next.
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[To Be Continued]
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