Nightwing & Angel - The Legend Untold

Mark's expression darkened, his hands clenching into fists. "Alphonse Capone." His voice carried equal parts anger and disgust.

Alphonse smirked, a cruel glint in his eyes as he surveyed the two vigilantes. "You've caused enough trouble in my domain. You should've stayed out of Chicago."

Chris stepped forward, spinning his knife in his hand, his tone casual but cold. "And let you keep running your sick little experiments? Not a chance."

Mark's fists tightened as he took a step toward Alphonse. "This ends here, Capone. It's just you and us now."

Alphonse laughed, the sound reverberating through the room like a sinister echo. "Do you think you can take me down? Me? The one blessed by Atlas Holtwood himself? You're fools if you think you stand a chance."

Without warning, Alphonse charged forward, his movements shockingly fast for a man of his size. He was on them in an instant, swinging his fist at Mark with the force of a freight train.

Mark dodged at the last second, the blow narrowly missing him and smashing into a steel support beam, bending it like paper. The sheer power left no doubt—this wasn't a normal man.

Chris darted to the side, circling Alphonse with calculated precision. "Careful, Nightwing. This guy's packing some serious heat."

Mark smirked, his eyes narrowing. "I can see that."

The two vigilantes moved in tandem, their distinct styles coming into play. Mark engaged Alphonse head-on, trading punches with the monstrous man. His strikes were strong and precise, aimed at slowing Alphonse's relentless attacks. Meanwhile, Chris danced around the fight, looking for openings to exploit with his knife.

Alphonse roared as Mark's punches landed, but the man didn't falter. His enhanced body absorbed the blows, and he retaliated with devastating swings of his own.

"You think you're heroes?" Alphonse growled, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're nothing but gnats to be crushed!"

Chris seized a moment of distraction and lunged, aiming his blade at Alphonse's side. The knife struck true but barely penetrated, glancing off the dense muscle reinforced by Atlas's dark blessing.

Chris cursed under his breath, rolling away to avoid Alphonse's counterattack. "Well, that's just great. He's built like a damn tank!"

Mark gritted his teeth, his movements becoming more fluid and aggressive. "Then we just hit him harder."

Alphonse, unfazed, grabbed a nearby piece of heavy equipment and hurled it at them like a projectile. Mark dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the crashing metal, while Chris flipped backward, landing gracefully on his feet.

The two vigilantes regrouped, standing shoulder to shoulder as Alphonse loomed over them, his chest heaving but his grin unshaken.

"You boys ready for round two?" he sneered, a twisted grin spreading across his face as he sized up the vigilantes before him.

Before anyone could answer, a commanding voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a knife.

"Alphonse!!"

The voice was firm, familiar, and filled with conviction. Alphonse's grin faltered for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the source. He knew that voice.

He spun around, his gaze falling on the secret door, its concealed mechanisms now exposed. The door had been forced open, and standing there was someone he hadn't expected to see—someone who had managed to slip away from his grasp once before.

It was Vivian, his adopted daughter.

Alphonse's smirk faltered, his expression hardening as he gazed at the group that had assembled before him. His sharp eyes darted from Vivian to Logan, then to Bill, and finally to Gustav, who stood protectively beside his wife, gripping her hand tightly. The air in the room grew heavy with tension.

"Vivian..." Alphonse muttered, his voice low but charged with a mixture of surprise and bitterness. He straightened his posture, his hulking form casting a shadow over the dimly lit lab. "So, you've decided to come back. Brave, or foolish?"

Vivian stepped forward, her jaw set and her eyes unwavering. "I've come to stop you, Alphonse. No more experiments, no more victims. It ends here."

Her words cut through the room, leaving a momentary silence that was quickly broken by Alphonse's bitter chuckle. He gestured to the carnage around them—the shattered glass, the grotesque remnants of his twisted work. "Stop me? You're standing in the heart of my empire, Vivian. You think bringing these... strays will make a difference?"

Logan growled, his claws flexing, the metallic sheen glinting menacingly. "Call us strays again, and I'll show you just how sharp these are."

Bill raised his weapon, his hand steady despite the tension. "Capone. Stand down, or we'll make you."

Alphonse's gaze flicked briefly to Bill, his expression one of utter disdain. He didn't even bother addressing the threat, his focus immediately shifting to Logan. His dark eyes narrowed, and a twisted smirk curled across his lips.

"I misunderstood you, Logan," Alphonse said, his tone eerily calm but laced with menace. He took a step forward, towering over the group like a monolith. "I thought we were the same. Cut from the same cloth. But it seems I was wrong."

Logan's claws extended fully, his stance shifting into a low, predatory crouch. The tension in the air was electric, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. "Trust me, bub, we are not the same." he growled, his voice low and filled with a venomous promise.

Alphonse tilted his head, his expression unreadable for a moment as he studied Logan. His smirk returned, though it was colder now, tinged with arrogance. "But we're both predators, Logan. Don't fool yourself." He stepped forward, the ground seeming to tremble under his massive frame.

Alphonse turned his gaze to Gustav, his eyes narrowing. "And you… the loyal husband, clinging to your fragile wife. Tell me, Gustav, what makes you think you can protect her from me?"

Gustav didn't flinch. Instead, he tightened his grip on Vivian's hand and spoke firmly. "I don't need to think, Alphonse. I know I'll protect her. We're done running."

The exchange was interrupted by Mark, who had been watching the standoff in silence. His voice cut through the tension like a blade. "It's over, Alphonse. You're outnumbered"

Alphonse shifted his gaze to Mark, his eyes burning with defiance. "You think I'm afraid of you lots"

Chris remained silent, his knife gleaming in his hand as he watched for any sudden movement. His calm demeanor was a stark contrast to the storm brewing in the room.

Vivian took another step forward, her voice resolute. "You always thought you were untouchable, Alphonse. But now, You've lost."

Alphonse stood still, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, his lips curled into a dark smile. "Lost? No. The game is just beginning."

Alphonse's twisted grin widened as he punched the large red button on the control panel. The room was filled with the sound of hissing steam as the container housing Beta began to open. Inside, a hulking figure slowly emerged, its body glistening with the remnants of preservation fluids. Its muscles rippled unnaturally, its movements jerky but eerily precise.

The room fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of Beta as he stepped forward, his eyes void of humanity.

"It's not over yet," Alphonse declared triumphantly, his voice dripping with malice.

Mark's fists clenched as he glared at Alphonse. "What are you saying? What is that thing?"

Vivian's face paled as her eyes locked onto Beta. Her voice trembled slightly. "No… no way. He actually did it…"

Alphonse chuckled darkly, spreading his arms theatrically. "Oh, yes. Meet Beta, the culmination of years of work. A blend of speed, strength, and instinct—a perfect weapon. You should be honored to witness this moment."

Beta's blank gaze shifted around the room, scanning his surroundings until it landed on Logan. A guttural growl escaped Beta's throat, his predatory instincts flaring.

Logan's nostrils flared as he sniffed the air. His claws extended, and his voice was low and grim. "I smell something... dangerous. Real dangerous."

Bill turned to Logan, his brow furrowing. "What are you talking about?"

Logan's usual bravado was replaced by a rare hint of unease. "That thing's got instincts sharper than any predator I've faced. This ain't gonna be pretty."

Chris's eyes narrowed as he examined Beta, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "Who the hell is this freak? What kind of monster are you, Alphonse?"

Alphonse smirked, ignoring Chris's question as he gave Beta his command. "Beta, finish them off."

Beta's gaze locked onto Logan, identifying him as the most immediate threat. Without warning, he lunged with lightning speed, the floor cracking beneath his feet. The force of his movement caused everyone to stagger. Logan barely had time to brace himself before Beta collided with him, sending them both crashing through a nearby wall and into an adjacent room.

The sound of the clash echoed through the lab as Logan's claws tore into Beta's flesh, but Beta retaliated with raw strength, throwing Logan across the room.

Back in the main chamber, Alphonse turned his attention to Mark and Chris, his smile now devoid of any warmth.

"Now that Beta's busy, it's time to end you vigilantes!!" Alphonse said, his voice laced with menace.

Mark took a step forward, his fists glowing faintly as his rage surged. "End? No....I'll take you down myself."

Chris stood beside Mark, his knife glinting in the light. "Yeah, well, good luck with that, pal. We're not going anywhere, and you're done playing god."

Gustav tightened his grip on Vivian's hand, standing resolutely by her side. "We've had enough of your madness. You're going down, old man."

Alphonse chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Ah, the courage of youth. So righteous, so predictable. But courage means nothing against power."

Vivian's voice cut through the room like a blade. "Enough talk, Alphonse. You've hurt too many people, ruined too many lives. We're taking you down—here and now."

Alphonse's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, menacing glare. "Then let's finish what we started."

The room seemed to hold its breath as the final confrontation loomed. Mark and Chris braced themselves, their determination etched into their faces. Behind them, Vivian and Gustav stood ready, their resolve just as firm.

....

Meanwhile as Bill tried to make his way to the chaos, his eyes locked onto the beast known as Beta, who was locked in a brutal fight with Logan. The speed and power of Beta were beyond anything Bill had ever witnessed.

"Shit! This motherfucker is strong," Bill muttered under his breath, his mind racing. He gritted his teeth as he raised his gun, aiming for Beta with a precise shot in mind. His experience told him that if he could land a hit, maybe they could take down this beast.

But before Bill could even pull the trigger, Beta's enhanced speed kicked in. In the blink of an eye, Beta closed the distance between them, and Bill barely had time to react. With a brutal, blindingly fast punch to Bill's chest, Beta sent him flying backward. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of him, and Bill's body slammed hard into the wall behind him.

Bill's mouth opened wide, but all that came out was a violent cough, followed by a spray of blood as he slid down the wall. His vision blurred from the impact, the sharp pain radiating through his chest. He could feel the pressure in his lungs and the deep ache in his ribs.

"Ugh… damn…" Bill said weakly, but his body refused to move. He was barely able to stay conscious as his fingers clutched at the cracked floor beneath him.

"Bill!" Logan shouted, his voice filled with fury and concern.

Logan's face twisted in anger, his claws sharpening in an instant. "That's it. This ends now, Beta."

Logan's entire body tensed, ready to leap into action. Without a second thought, he turned toward the secret door where Vivian and Gustav had opened it earlier. The door was still slightly ajar, and Logan knew that if they could get outside, they'd have more room to maneuver and take down Beta once and for all.

"Let's fight, pal. Outside!" Logan growled, his voice a mixture of fury and urgency.

Without waiting for a response, Logan dashed toward the door, his claws extended. He could feel Beta's presence close behind him, the sound of the mutant's footsteps pounding against the floor as he gave chase.

Logan glanced over his shoulder, seeing Beta rapidly closing in, intent on killing him. "Follow me!!" Logan shouted, urging Beta to follow him into the outside world.

Beta, determined to finish off his target, ignored Logan's attempt to lead him away. With a snarl, he lunged forward, a blur of muscle and speed, closing the gap with ease.

The chase was on, and the confrontation between Logan and Beta was about to spill out into the open.

To be continue