Bruce continues his 'trials'. He is flung into evermore dangerous scenarios that take a physical and mental toll as the days pass by. The need in him to survive outweighs any objections to the game being played in which he is the key figure, and he fights through any pain as was taught to him well, all those years ago by Ra's Al Ghul.
He is put up against a pair of the League of Assassin's finest warriors, alone. Always, Ra's Al Ghul and a baying crowd watches on: the crowd, growing more and more to the American and his heroics as the challenges come and go. The cheer him with every dodge and warn him of every incoming attack. His opponents are strong and fight with incredible discipline, the kind only found in those indoctrinated by the League of Shadows. But even two of them do not have what Bruce Wayne has; years of battle-tested experience of every kind, where there is no discipline, only instinct and desire to live and win. This is his advantage, and this is what Ra's wishes to see. For this is Bruce's show. He is by Ra's Al Ghul's prophecy, the rightful heir and future of the League of Shadows. This is his audience and his followers to come. Let them all see what he can do, and when the time comes, will follow him without question into the wars and battles to come.
He takes every shot and gives it back twofold with increased aggression. Their skill can only take them so far in the long run and Bruce beats the two into forfeit as expected of him, much to Ra's' delight.
The halls begin to whisper of Bruce's greatness. As Ra's envisioned, the people, slaves and soldiers alike, look to him with the respect and adoration of every bit their champion. They begin to talk of him as the 'heir'.
His greatest challenge soon arrives only days later. He shows himself superior in combat to the best the League can feed to him, so the next trial shall be a decisive one.
Bruce is led before the crowd and Ra's Al Ghul, as is the order things. He and the crowd wait for his next challenge, like a gladiator at his height in the centre of the great Coliseum. He knows he must inevitably strike against the system built within the confines of these stone walls, but the timing is of issue and patience must be adhered. So he must fight on, whatever the challenge.
So then it arrives. Four men carrying a large crate enter. The box rumbles as they carefully set it down. The crowd steps back as much as the space allows them until they press against the walls. One of the men uses a crowbar to pry open the end of the box. He reaches inside slowly and takes a heavy chain in his hand. Hushes of excitement turned to fear begin around the gathering. The chain is then tossed forward. It clangs on the concrete floor at Bruce's feet. He looks up at Ra's, sitting comfortably up high and sees Talia arrive at his back.
The crate then shifts.
A low roar emits from within the box. Bruce takes the chance to grab the chain and wrap it round his fist. Then, as the men quickly rush aside, from the box attached to the other end of the chain emerges an adult tiger, with a thick steel collar around it's neck. A large gasp of the crowd bellows.
Bruce looks up at the pair above. Talia nods back at him in confidence.
The beast roars, already highly irritated upon its boxing, facing the crowd of horrified onlookers. He jolts toward them until Bruce quickly pulls back on the chain, holding the tiger to the circle. The animal is angered further and turns to the man holding his chain. Bruce races quickly in a circle, keeping at distance enough to keep the chain slack. The tiger continues to growl at the people, their shrieks unwittingly furthering the animal's agitation.
Bruce continues to tug on the lead, hoping to keep the tiger's concentration on him. It turns and roars in his direction, now fully committed to Bruce in its stare. The tiger crouches low and slowly approaches Bruce, who continues on the move, doing everything to avoid sudden movements. The tiger, in such a short space, senses its victim lacking the ability to escape on the other end of the chain and makes its initial attack. It lunges with a heavy swipe first which Bruce rolls sideways of sharply. The crowd is stunned. The tiger growls further. It steps up its speed with the next strike, leaping both front paws off the ground to enclose Bruce. Bruce, lacking space to dodge this time, swings the thick chain at the tiger, smashing against the thick, strong legs of the ferocious animal which retreats it momentarily. Bruce continues shaking the chain on the floor, hoping the tiger will fear the strike and cease its intentions. It works briefly. Every clang of the chain against the concrete ground makes the animal wince and shy away. But it attacks with the precision of a natural hunter. It dives over the chain at the next clang and swipes at Bruce, pushing him off balance to the floor. It immediately keeps up the pressure, pouncing forwards and pinning Bruce down with it's giant paws on Bruce's shoulders. Bruce holds the chain in front pushing it into the Tiger's mouth to stop the animal from clamping down with giant, killing teeth. Bruce frantically keeps his arms out straight, using every ounce of strength to hold the bite back under a shower of saliva pouring from the animal's hungry mouth. The tiger tries to shake the chain free of its mouth but weaving aside, Bruce manages to wrap the chain around its head and creates a noose of sorts of thick steel around the animal's throat. He manages to roll aside from the tiger's grip and pulls on the chain until it becomes tense under the pressure around the tiger's wide neck. But the animal merely angers and lunges for Bruce again, forcing him to release the chain. It swipes and Bruce desperately struggles to back away, getting caught across the back with the vicious claws. This knocks him to the ground. The tiger shakes loose the chain from around it's throat and the audience panics at the loose beast. Bruce sees the animal, untethered and wild, treading closer for his kill. But before the beast can deliver, it lets out a wild growl to the skies and spins, before dropping to the ground and rolling to its side. A collection of tranquillisers patterned in its back. Bruce, in shock, looks ahead to see Talia holding the gun. She smiles back at him and then orders a group of men to retrieve the felled animal who lays peacefully to the side, unconscious.
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Batman II: King of Pain
FanficTHE BATMAN TRILOGY PART 2: Bruce Wayne is forced to confront his demons through a series of trials and tribulations brought upon by his most dangerous foe and decide the fate of his future as the Batman.
