Axel stood over Yuri Dimitrov's lifeless body, his arms stretched wide.
"Inhale… Exhale…"
He closed his eyes and, in that long, meditative breath, saw another version of himself. Just like in last night's dream, the version of him sitting on a sofa smiled in relief. Slowly, that image dissolved into points of light, merging with the Axel who was standing.
A surge of instinct coursed through him. He could now harness the power that Death had offered.
Since arriving in Gotham, the war between the Dimitrov Family and the Sabatino Family had triggered the awakening of his talent. By chasing them to their end, Axel had completed the conditions necessary for his full potential. Each death, each conflict, sharpened him.
His talent had three facets:
1. Losing freedom, consciousness, or life triggers an unavoidable rebirth and teleportation.
2. Each death makes him stronger.
3. He records and reconstructs each death for training and strategy.
Yesterday, he had only experienced the first point. Eliminating Sabatino granted him the first enhancement—he could simulate deaths in his dreams and draw strength from them. Now, with Dimitrov gone, Axel's talent reached its full form. He no longer needed dreams to grow stronger; every death now made him stronger instantly.
He could reconstruct death scenes in his mind, identify enemies' weaknesses, and develop precise countermeasures. This was mastery.
"Phew," Axel exhaled, slowly opening his eyes. Clenching his fist, he felt the surge of improvement and smiled.
Zas scoffed beside him, unimpressed.
"Heh, overreacting, aren't you? It's just Dimitrov."
"You don't understand, Zas," Axel cut him off, putting his firearm back in his backpack. He settled casually on Dimitrov's corpse, surveying the distant, hesitant police and the contemplative Zas.
"Zas, at this moment, I've lost my final hatred for this world. Can you understand what that means?"
"Don't ask me. I don't," Zas shrugged.
Axel nodded nonchalantly, puffed on a cigarette, and let a quiet moment pass. Then, tapping the sole of his shoe, he stood.
"It's good that you don't understand, Buddy. You just need to know this—my last hatred for Gotham is gone. What comes next is destiny, mine with this city!" He laughed, flashing a peace sign.
"Buddy, make me look good in the picture!"
"Oh?" Zas's eyes widened. "Someone's taking pictures?"
A man in a sharp suit stood on a street corner, snapping a photo. Zas barked at the police.
"Are you all useless? Can this really be leaked?"
"Holy shit!" The officers scrambled, confiscating the phone in groups.
"Always taking pictures, don't you value your life?"
"Phone confiscated!"
A female officer, trembling, approached Axel, offering the seized device.
"Boss, this is… evidence."
"Thanks. But I actually wanted him to take pictures. Could promote your PD's inaction—and my handsome face, haha!" Axel crushed the phone effortlessly in his hand.
Zas stared, dumbfounded.
"You really can keep getting stronger? Without training?"
"Infinitely stronger? Yes, infinitely stronger!"
Gordon, irritated, interjected, "What do you mean, infinitely stronger? Explain it!"
"Explain later," Axel cut him off. "I still want to meet your daughter first."
Then, with a casual grin, Axel delivered a face-to-face flying kick at Zas, who dodged in a flash. Axel drew his pistol mid-motion, aiming it at Zas.
"You can't keep your mouth shut, Victor Zsasz! I get infinitely stronger without training, soon could blow up the moon, and you dare say it in front of the cops? Do you want the President running here to kneel?"
"Damn it, you're showing off, aren't you? More than me!" Zas muttered, grumbling as Axel hurled the pistol at him. Bracing with both hands, Zas caught it, wincing at the impact.
"Give it back!" Axel demanded coldly.
"Here, take it! Take all my guns too!" Zas snapped, tossing the pistol back and raising his twin pistols. Pressing one to Axel's forehead, he growled:
"Don't forget your promise. You said I could kill you once. Now's the time! I could have chosen a clever way, but you're too annoying!"
Bang! The bullet struck Axel's head—but did not pierce it. His body ignited in flames and dissipated instantly, leaving Zas in stunned awe.
"Awesome," Zas breathed, grinning.
Across the street, screams erupted from a fried chicken shop. Axel appeared, casually holding a box of fried chicken, arm slung around a female officer, biting into a drumstick perched on her shoulder.
"How was that? Wasn't my recent death cool as f*ck, haha!"