NFBE Chapter 127 Turning Point
Chapter 127 Turning Point
Chapter 127 Turning Point
The greenhouse was already dilapidated, with shattered glass and vines climbing all over the walls, obscuring the metal cover of the entrance.
Li Wei lifted the weeds beside the cover, revealing a narrow passage that could only accommodate one person at a time. A damp, musty smell mixed with the metallic rust wafted out.
Instead of going down immediately, he chose the ventilation duct opening above the passage—a place with a wide view, where he could see the movements at the entrance of the secret room and was not easily discovered.
He took off his backpack and took out a modified, simple communicator.
This was modified from listening equipment discarded by the police station. The signal range was not large, but it was clear enough. When he was repairing the surveillance in the Bat Cave, he had already secretly placed miniature listening probes around the secret room, and now they came in handy.
After debugging the communicator, a slight electrical hum could be heard, indicating that everything was normal.
Li Wei huddled behind the ventilation duct, his body pressed against the cold wall, his eyes fixed on the metal door of the secret room.
Time ticked by, the fog grew thicker and thicker, and visibility decreased.
Just as Li Wei was about to think he had misjudged the situation, a black figure appeared on the path outside the greenhouse.
It was Bruce Wayne, dressed in his full Batsuit, his cape swaying slightly in the night breeze.
Li Wei's gaze instantly focused on him, and his heart sank.
Bruce's physique was much thicker than before, and the muscle lines of his shoulders and back were clearly visible under his suit, indicating that he was much stronger than before.
But this strength was tinged with an incongruous stiffness—his steps were heavy, unlike his usual light and swift movements, and his eyes, though still sharp, were filled with an undisguised weariness, as if he were forcing himself to stay strong.
Li Wei immediately understood that this was the effect of the muscle-maintaining drug.
That drug can enhance muscle strength in a short time, but it greatly depletes mental energy and may also cause sluggishness in movement.
An increased heart rate is a desperate measure to quench thirst.
Bruce has gone to great lengths to prepare for this showdown, even resorting to methods that could harm his body.
Li Wei's fingertips felt slightly cold, and his hand gripping the communicator tightened unconsciously.
Just then, another slender figure ran out from behind the tree, her red battle suit standing out conspicuously in the night – it was Robin.
"Batman, wait for me!" Robin's voice was urgent as she quickly caught up. "The secret chamber is too dangerous; I'll go with you!"
Bruce stopped in his tracks, slowly turned around, and said in a hoarse voice, like sandpaper scraping: "Go back."
"No!" Robin stubbornly raised her head, gripping the short stick in her hand tightly. "It's too risky for you to go in alone. You know Bane's strength; we only have a chance of winning if we join forces!"
"I said, go back." Bruce's tone became more forceful, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Why?" Robin's voice was filled with grievance. "Last time at the amusement park you wouldn't let me help you, and this time you have to carry it all by yourself again. Do you think this is protecting me? I'm not a child anymore!"
Bruce looked at him, his eyes filled with complex emotions, yet his expression remained resolute: "This is my battle, and it has nothing to do with you."
"How can it be unrelated? Gotham is my home too!" Robin stepped forward, wanting to get closer.
Bruce suddenly reached out and shoved Robin hard.
Caught off guard, Robin staggered back a few steps, his back slamming heavily against the tree trunk with a dull thud.
He clutched his shoulder, raised his head, his eyes filled with stubbornness and resentment, his eyes slightly red, but he didn't cry, he just stared intently at Bruce.
"Let's go." Bruce's voice was completely calm as he turned and walked back towards the greenhouse.
Robin stood there, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. After a few seconds of this standoff, he finally gritted his teeth, turned and ran into the depths of the fog. His red figure quickly disappeared from sight.
Li Wei, hiding behind the ventilation duct, witnessed everything and felt a mix of emotions.
He understood Bruce's resolve—he didn't want Robin to experience danger, didn't want the child to be tainted by darkness, and even less did he want him to be like himself, bound by obsession and bearing everything alone.
He could understand Robin's resentment—that desire to grow, to fight alongside others, and the hurt he felt after being rejected; it was real and intense.
Bruce walked to the center of the greenhouse, bent down and lifted the metal cover of the underground chamber, and an even heavier, darker aura surged up.
Without the slightest hesitation, he jumped down.
Li Wei immediately picked up the communicator, pressed the listen button, and heard clear footsteps and the clanging sound of a metal door closing.
The room was silent except for Bruce's heavy breathing, which came through the listening probe, carrying a hint of the muscle-relaxing side effects that were beginning to appear.
Li Wei's palms were covered in cold sweat, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.
He could picture the scene inside the secret chamber: a dark, damp passageway, walls possibly covered with Bane's traps, and Bane, lurking in some corner like a lurking beast, waiting for his prey to enter his attack range.
He subtly adjusted his posture, scanned the area around the manor with his own light, and whispered to Marlowe through the communicator: "Be vigilant. Report any suspicious individuals approaching the main building immediately. Do not make any rash moves."
"Received, everything is normal at the moment," Marlowe's voice came through.
Li Wei breathed a sigh of relief and refocused his attention on listening.
The footsteps in the secret room stopped, indicating that Bruce had reached the core area of the secret room.
"Looks like you really did come, Batman." A deep, cold voice suddenly came from the communicator, carrying undisguised sarcasm—it was Bane.
Li Wei's nerves tensed instantly, and his body instinctively leaned forward.
"What you want is me, there's no need for all this fuss." Bruce's voice came through, slightly out of breath, clearly indicating that maintaining his muscular physique had taken a toll on him.
"A fancy gesture? No, this is a farewell gift." Bain's laughter was dull and suppressed. "I want you to come to a complete understanding of reality on your father's turf."
"My reality is to defeat you," Bruce's voice remained firm.
"Defeat me?" Bane scoffed. "Look at yourself, Batman. Your muscles are just from performance-enhancing drugs, your mental strength is completely drained, and you're even trembling when you breathe. You think you can beat me like this?"
A slight movement came through the communicator; Bain was clearly approaching.
"You think I revealed my hiding place so you could kill me?" Bane's voice grew closer. "No, I did it so you could see for yourself just how fragile everything you're protecting is."
"What exactly do you want?" Bruce's voice carried a hint of wariness.
"What am I going to do?" Bane's tone turned fierce. "I'm going to make you fall in despair, to let the people of Gotham know that their 'hero' is nothing but a pathetic wretch who relies on drugs to keep up appearances!"
Li Wei's heart was in his throat. He could hear Bruce's breathing becoming more and more rapid, and the sound of clothes rubbing together. Clearly, he was putting on a brave face and not letting himself give himself away.
"Do you remember what it felt like at the amusement park?" Bane's voice was filled with torturous malice. "Being pinned to the ground, unable to move, forced to watch helplessly as your pride was crushed."
Did you cry that day, Batman?
A brief silence fell over the communicator, broken only by the sound of their breathing, one heavy, the other rapid.
Levi knew that Bane was deliberately provoking Bruce to lose his composure and expose his weakness.
He understood Bruce; pride was both his armor and his Achilles' heel. Every word Bane uttered felt like a knife stabbing into his heart.
"You think you can provoke me like this?" Bruce's voice came through, tinged with suppressed anger. "Bane, you'll never understand. What I'm upholding isn't pride, it's responsibility."
"Responsibility? What a ridiculous word." Bain's voice was full of disdain. "Your so-called responsibility is to live like a prisoner, to make those around you worry, and to make this city depend on a hero who could fall at any moment?"
"Gotham doesn't need your kind of responsibility; it needs order—my order."
A muffled "bang" came from the communicator, like the sound of a heavy object hitting something.
Li Wei's heart clenched, and he instinctively gripped the military knife beside him.
"Looks like the side effects of the drug are starting?" Bane's laughter rang out. "You're moving slower, Batman. Your body can't take it anymore."
"Shut up!" Bruce's voice was tinged with anger, followed by the sound of fists hitting flesh and the ear-piercing sound of metal clashing.
The fight began.
Li Wei's breathing became rapid instantly. He stared intently at the entrance to the secret room, wanting to rush in, but he forcibly restrained himself.
He knew Bruce wouldn't allow anyone to interfere in this duel. This was his personal feud with Bane, his last chance to prove himself, and his only way out of despair.
Rushing in rashly would not only disrupt Bruce's rhythm but also hurt his pride, rendering all his previous efforts meaningless.
But the sounds of fighting in the monitor grew more intense, Bruce's breathing became heavier, and occasionally a muffled groan could be heard, clearly indicating that he was injured.
Li Wei's palms were sweaty, soaking the hilt of his military knife, and his knuckles were white.
He could imagine the scene inside the secret room: Bane, empowered by the enhancement potion, was unleashing devastating force with every punch.
Bruce relied on muscle-building drugs to barely keep going, his movements became increasingly stiff, and his wounds continued to multiply, yet he still refused to back down.
"Advisor Levi, three suspicious individuals have been spotted in the northwest, wearing black combat uniforms, and are approaching the manor!" Marlowe's voice suddenly came through the communicator, breaking Levi's anxiety.
"It's Bain's men, responsible for perimeter security to prevent anyone from meeting me." Levi reacted immediately, lowering his voice, "Don't alert them, stay hidden. As long as they don't get close to the main building, we don't need to worry about them."
"receive."
Li Wei hung up the communication with Marlowe and refocused his attention on the sounds of fighting in the secret room.
"You won't last much longer, Batman." Bane's voice was panting, clearly the fight had taken its toll on him, but he still held the advantage. "Your muscle-building serum will only last for a while; the side effects will make you weaker and weaker."
"I don't need to hold out for long, just defeating you is enough." Bruce's voice was hoarse, but still carried a sense of determination.
"Defeat me?" Bane laughed maniacally. "You can barely stand, and you think you can defeat me?"
A crisp "crack" came from the communicator, like the sound of bones colliding, followed by a muffled groan from Bruce.
Li Wei's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
"Can you feel it? This is the taste of despair." Bane's voice was filled with cruel pleasure. "I'm going to break your bones, just like you tried to protect Gotham back then, so you'll never be able to stand up again."
"No..." Bruce's voice carried a hint of pain, yet he still did not give in.
"Still struggling?" Bain's voice was full of sarcasm. "Then let me see how long your obsession can last."
The sounds of fighting resumed, even more intense than before, interspersed with Bruce's muffled groans, Bane's roars, and the sounds of objects collapsing.
Li Wei's body trembled slightly. He could no longer hold back and quietly moved his body, wanting to get closer to the entrance of the secret room. As soon as he heard that Bruce was in danger, he would rush in immediately.
Just then, Bruce roared through the communicator, followed by Bane's scream.
Li Wei's heart leaped, and he held his breath.
"You...you cheated?" Bain's voice was filled with disbelief and anger.
"There's no need to be fair and square when dealing with you." Bruce's voice was still hoarse, but it had a hint of calm after he had breathed a sigh of relief.
The communicator crackled with the sound of something heavy falling to the ground, followed by Bruce's heavy footsteps.
Li Wei breathed a sigh of relief, his tense body instantly relaxing, his back already soaked with cold sweat.
But he did not let his guard down; Bane was powerful and would not be defeated so easily.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, Bane's maniacal laughter came through the communicator: "Very good, Batman, you've impressed me."
"But do you think you can beat me like this?"
"I planted explosives in the walls of the secret room. Once I press the switch, this place will become your grave."
Li Wei's heart leaped into his throat again, his pupils contracted—he had actually forgotten that Bain's specialty was setting traps that left no way out.
"You want to die together with me?" Bruce's voice carried a hint of wariness.
"To die together? No, I'll make you die here, and I'll get out of here alive and take over Gotham." Bane's voice was filled with madness. "The explosives are powerful enough to destroy the entire underground chamber. You won't be able to escape."
"You think I wasn't prepared?" Bruce's voice came through, carrying a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.
A soft "beep" sound came from the communicator, like the sound of a timer.
"This is a jammer I set up beforehand. Your remote control for the explosives is now disabled," Bruce said.
"What?" Bain's voice was filled with shock and anger.
Levi's lips curled up slightly; he knew Bruce wouldn't walk into the trap unprepared.
Despite his poor condition and reliance on muscle-building drugs, his caution and strategic thinking never disappeared.
"Now, it's time to end this." Bruce's voice came, and footsteps walked towards Bane.
The sounds of fighting came through the communicator again. This time, Bruce's attacks were clearly more ferocious. Although he was still panting, he had the rhythm under his control.
"No! I won't lose!" Bane roared, his voice tinged with despair.
"You've lost, Bane." Bruce's voice was calm and firm. "Your order, built on fear and destruction, will never last."
"The people of Gotham will not accept a tyrant."
A final, heavy thud came through the communicator, and then silence fell.
Only Bruce's heavy breathing could be heard clearly.