Chapter 15: 15

Words : 1032 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 15 of "Beyond the Limit (DC)" kicks off with: Joseph felt like going back to beat the shit out of Karoselle. What kind of interest... Continue reading!

Joseph felt like going back to beat the shit out of Karoselle. What kind of interest rates turn a $15,000 loan into $40,000 in less than two years. The loan shark wanted him to fail. He just didn't know why. The thugs affiliated with Karoselle had caused a commotion at his apartment. Many had witnessed him being dragged away. It wouldn't take a genius to figure out that he would be connected if anything happened to them promptly but if he didn't pay them back, his life as Joseph might be over. Joseph didn't want to steal anything too high profile. That was a quick way to get the police and capes on his ass. So he had to go about another way of earning money. And that's when he got hit with a genius idea. Just rob the criminals. He could rob other scum like Karoselle, play it off like he borrowed from another lender, wait a few months, then take back the money and more as he destroyed them. But then arose another problem. Two baseline humans had handed him his ass, a month ago even if he'd willingly nerfed himself. He wouldn't be capable of storming the bases of criminals, miraculously finding their money, and escaping without risking his life. A bullet to the head would kill him. And the quiet approach would require a long time scouting. Time he didn't have since the deadline was two days. So then he settled for his last feasible option. Steal from villains. Selina would be disappointed in him but oh well. Joseph entered the speed state, stole the police scanner off an officer nearby, and sat back on his bench with the cop none the wiser. The severe headache was worth it in the long run he told himself as he tried to endure the pain. All he really had to do was keep an ear out, stay ready, and eventually something would come up where he'd be able to get one over on a villain. He'd take whatever they'd stolen for himself and let them take the heat for it. It'd have to be something he could make count though, for all the trouble it was going to be. This was Gotham. Something was sure to happen. ** Joseph clenched his fists as he watched Magpie from his perch on the rooftop across the Gotham City Art Museum. The white-haired thief moved like a ghost, her black bodysuit blending seamlessly with the shadows as she scaled the museum's facade. Her funky red glasses caught the faintest sliver of moonlight as she pried open a skylight with razor-sharp claws. He had to admit—she was good. Joseph had been tailing her for hours, waiting for her to make a move. And now she had. As Magpie slipped into the museum, Joseph positioned himself to follow from the rooftops. He moved with precision, landing on the glass roof, staying low as he observed her inside. She was fast, efficient—disarming alarms with an almost playful ease. Within minutes, she had her prize: a small, jewel-encrusted statuette, likely worth a fortune on the black market. Joseph exhaled, shifting his weight. Time to make his move. The moment Magpie reemerged onto the roof, he dropped down behind her, landing without a sound. He darted forward, ready to take her down before she even realized— A gun clicked. "Not so fast, sweetheart." Joseph froze. Magpie had spun around, a sleek pistol aimed at his chest. Her lips curled into a smirk. "You're sneaky. I'll give you that. But not sneaky enough." Joseph lifted his hands slightly, mind racing. He'd never tried dodging a bullet, especially not from this close. "Alright, you got me." His voice was calm, easy. "I'm just a guy who doesn't like seeing shiny things in the wrong hands." Magpie tilted her head, intrigued but not lowering her weapon. "Cute. You got a name, or do I call you Birdwatcher?" Joseph smiled beneath his mask. "Flux." Her smirk widened. "Well, Flux, you picked the wrong bird to mess with." She pulled the trigger. Joseph moved the instant Nova reacted. //Threat detected. Enhancing muscle response.// His body surged forward, nanites reinforcing his muscles. The bullet struck his torso, ripping through his ragged hoodie—but he didn't stop. Pain flared, but Nova was already working. //Detecting bullet wound. Estimated time of healing: 45 minutes.// Magpie's eyes widened as he closed the distance. She slashed at him with her claws, but he dodged, twisting past the swipe. He grabbed her wrist, twisting it just enough to make her yelp and drop the gun. She lashed out with a knee, catching him in the ribs, but he barely felt it. The fight became a blur of strikes and counters—Magpie was fast, fluid, trained. But Flux was relentless. He let Nova guide him, slowly adapting to her style, then overwhelming her with sheer force and precision. A final well-placed strike sent Magpie sprawling. She gasped, clutching her ribs, eyes flicking toward the pistol a few feet away. "Don't," Joseph warned, stepping on her wrist before she could reach for it. She scowled up at him, breathing heavily. "Okay... okay... you got me. What now, Birdwatcher?" Joseph crouched, gripping the stolen statuette. "I think I'll be taking this." Magpie scoffed. "Figures. One thief stealing from another." Joseph's gaze hardened. "Difference is, I'm not stealing for fun." He stood, turning toward the edge of the rooftop. He had what he came for. Now he just had to disappear before GCPD—or worse, Batman—showed up. Magpie coughed, chuckling. "You better watch your back, Flux. You take from me, I'll come for you." Joseph didn't look back. He'd already spared her once even after she'd just shot him. If she tried it again, he might have to make it her last attempt. He vanished into the night, Nova already analyzing the bullet wound. //Healing at 10%. Pain receptors dulled. No critical damage.// Forty grand. That was the goal. And this was just the beginning.

Chapter 15: 15

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