Batman: Knight of the Hunt

Issue 12

Batman vs. Predator: The Final Showdown

The impact feels like a semi-truck.

Batman reels back as the Predator plows into him, his torso folded around her shoulder, his feet lifted completely off the ground. He feels weightless for a moment, then he crashes down to the floor.

He senses the next attack even before he sees it. His head jerks to the side, a split second before the Predator's wrist-blade stabs the floor. He rolls out of the way as the blade crashes down again. He knows he has to get to his feet if he wants to stand a chance. A foot connects with his ribcage, sending him crashing into the control console. That's a cracked rib.

He looks up, catches Green Arrow's eye. The archer nods, tossing him the Yamashiro katana. Soultaker slices through the air, coming to rest in Batman's grip just as the Predator swings.

The two blades clash against each other. Sparks fly in the dim light of the cabin. With a flick of the wrist, the Predator breaks the grapple, spinning to throw a punch with her other hand. Batman dodges with only a hairbreadth to spare, landing in a kenjitsu stance behind the Predator. She spins to meet him with equal speed, slashing with her blade. Batman deflects, but the force of the blow still pushes him back toward the door. The fading light outside the window makes it difficult to see, but Batman still notices the battle-lust in the Predator's eyes.

Bane makes an effort to get up. Spotting him from the corner of his eye, Batman grits his teeth. "Stay down, Bane. I've got this."

Sword at the ready in front of him, the Dark Knight faces the Predator. She actually seems to smile through her snarl, as if looking forward to a challenge. Batman exhales slowly, forcing himself to focus. He knows how dangerous this Predator is; after all, she killed David Cain, and he was arguably a better swordsman than his one-time student. As if to reinforce his concerns, the Predator laughs like she did before. Once again, it's the harsh, slightly mocking laugh of Cain.

The sound sets Batman's nerves on edge. "That's enough of that!"

He swings his sword. The Predator meets his attack, and there's a flurry of blows which do little damage to either side. The cramped control room hinders both combatants from getting a full swing with their long blades. Recognizing this, Batman allows the Predator's relentless attacks to push him back into the hallway. The last things he sees of the control room is Bane still trying to stand, and Green Arrow studying the controls. Then the walls close in on either side of him and he's alone, in a narrow space with the universe's most dangerous hunter.

There's even less space to wield their blades here. Unable to get the full effect from her weapon, the Predator closes the gap between them. Batman parries a chop, keeping his sword close to his body and his guard low. With no room to swing, the combatants rely on short, pivoting motions in an attempt to inflict close-range cuts on each other. Yet each attack is met, every strike parried. The Predator has only one advantage in these conditions, and that is her superior strength. But that advantage she exploits to its full potential.

Though the choice to fall back was a tactical one, Batman soon finds himself pushed back in earnest. Against the massive Yautja, its all he can do to hold his own as he's driven back the length of the hallway.

With a sudden shift in tactics, the Predator draws her blade back and thrusts forward. There's no room to dodge in the narrow hallway. Batman sidesteps as well as he can, turning his sword in an attempt to deflect the sharp point shooting toward him.