Chapter 30: Crushing metal

The night air was thick with smoke and the faint smell of oil. Derek crouched on the edge of the warehouse roof, eyes scanning the industrial complex below. Machines clanged and sparks flew from broken panels. Somewhere inside, Iron Maw was tearing through everything.

Derek whispered to himself, adjusting his grip on the katana strapped to his back. “Time to remind him why messing with me is a bad idea.”

He dropped silently to the ground, landing in a crouch behind a stack of crates. From the shadows, he could hear the metallic groan of Iron Maw’s mechanical jaws.

“You think you can hide, Cold Genius?” a booming voice rumbled through the warehouse. Iron Maw emerged from the shadows—tall, heavily muscled, with cybernetic arms ending in jagged claws and a jaw reinforced with metal plating. Sparks flew with every movement, and a low hum of machinery accompanied his every step.

“I don’t hide,” Derek called back, stepping forward. “I hunt.”

Iron Maw laughed, a sound like grinding metal. “Then let’s see if you can survive.”

Before Derek could react, Iron Maw swung his massive arm. Derek rolled, the metal claws missing him by inches, and skidded behind a stack of barrels. Sparks showered from the impact.

“You’re fast,” Iron Maw said, turning his head with that mechanical groan. “But fast isn’t enough.”

Derek smirked. “Good thing I’m more than fast.” He leaped from cover, katana flashing. The blade slashed against Iron Maw’s arm, but the metal barely scratched the surface. Derek hit the ground, somersaulting to create distance.

Iron Maw lunged again, smashing a concrete pillar with one hand, debris flying everywhere. Derek ducked under the arm, kicking the villain in the midsection. Iron Maw staggered, but the cybernetic enhancements absorbed most of the force.

“You’ll need more than that,” Iron Maw growled. “I was built for destruction.”

“I’m built for precision,” Derek replied, scanning the environment. He spotted a hanging crane above, cables strung taut and sparking. A plan formed instantly in his mind.

“Hey, metalhead!” Derek shouted, baiting him. “Catch me if you can!”

Iron Maw roared and charged. Derek sprinted across the warehouse floor, leading him toward the crane. At the last second, Derek slid under a support beam, kicking a control panel. Sparks flew, and the crane’s hook swung down, catching Iron Maw’s massive arm and yanking him off balance.

“Not… possible!” Iron Maw snarled, twisting violently. Derek ducked, using the momentum to leap onto a conveyor belt. He delivered a series of rapid strikes to the joints of Iron Maw’s arms, aiming for the hydraulics. Each hit was precise, each strike calculated.

“You’re... annoying!” Iron Maw shouted, swinging wildly. Derek rolled, narrowly avoiding another crushing blow.

“You’re predictable,” Derek said, flipping backward over a stack of barrels. “And that’s your problem.”

Iron Maw smashed the ground, sending a shockwave that shattered nearby crates. Derek felt the vibrations but stayed focused. “Time to finish this.”

He sprinted toward a set of hanging chains overhead. Using them, he swung around, landing behind Iron Maw. With a swift movement, he cut through the hydraulic lines he had targeted earlier. Sparks flew, and Iron Maw staggered, his mechanical systems failing.

“You… tricked me!” Iron Maw roared, trying to grab Derek. But the villain’s movements were now sluggish, clunky. Derek jumped onto a nearby platform and kicked him off balance, sending Iron Maw crashing into a stack of steel beams.

Derek approached cautiously. “One more step, and this ends.”

Iron Maw struggled to rise, the mechanical arms twitching uncontrollably. “I’ll… destroy you!”

“You’ll try,” Derek said, gripping his katana tighter. “But sometimes trying isn’t enough.”

In one fluid motion, Derek disarmed Iron Maw, twisting his clawed arm and sending him crashing through the warehouse doors into the street outside. The impact shattered the pavement and threw the villain into several parked vehicles. Iron Maw groaned, sparks flickering from his damaged systems.

Derek walked out into the rain, observing the chaos. “Guess you learned the hard way.” He pulled out his communicator. “Analyst, send a remote lock signal. That machine isn’t going anywhere tonight.”

From the rubble, Iron Maw tried to speak. “I… will… come… back!”

Derek smirked. “I’ll be ready.”

As the sirens wailed in the distance, Derek disappeared into the night. One villain down. Many more to go.

He paused at the edge of a building, looking out over the city lights. “This is just the beginning,” he muttered. “And when they realize what they’re up against… it’ll be too late.”

To be continued…