When the rookie aimed at Thea, the pressure on her increased suddenly, but with her perception fully heightened, every movement of her opponent was clear. There was no problem hitting blindly, and she could also make full use of everything she had learned.
At that moment, Detective Lance's voice echoed from a distance:
— Quickly connect the backup power source! Groups one and two, retrieve the heavy weapons! The rest of you, follow me!
Hearing the approaching footsteps of the police, the intruder became irritated. No matter how skilled he was, he couldn't withstand an assault from over a thousand officers armed with rifles. Not even Deathstroke could hold out!
He had assumed this would be a simple mission—a chance to relax and have some fun. But now, he was trapped, unable to take a single step outside. Even if he wanted to escape, he couldn't. The opponent before him was agile and skilled. Normally, he should have heard of or seen someone with such abilities before.
Thea was equally furious. Not only had the police lost face, but the event she had worked so hard to organize was completely ruined. How could she not be angry? Although her opponent was talented, he was no match for her. As soon as the lights came on, fighting skills would be meaningless.
Both gradually showed real frustration. They were swift, engaging in a fast-paced fight, keeping the battle at a deadlock for some time.
Then, with a "click," the lights started turning on slowly. Thea withdrew her hands half a second before they lit up, blending into the crowd, trying to appear as nothing more than a graceful spectator.
She didn't want to expose her skills. After all, to kidnappers, a knife was enough to capture a seemingly weak young woman. But if they knew they were dealing with someone highly trained, they'd bring a submachine gun.
Call it playing dumb or being strategic—Thea was determined to maintain her image as an innocent, harmless "white flower."
In the dim light, Thea examined the figure before her. Huh? Black stockings, high-heeled boots, a butterfly mask, and seductive red lips beneath a delicate nose. Catwoman? Wasn't she supposed to be in Gotham? What was she doing in their town?
As the lights around them brightened, Catwoman realized that tonight's entertainment had turned into a life-or-death escape.
She shot a fierce glare at Thea. Even though the young woman had blended into the crowd, there were clear signs of a fight on her body. For someone like Catwoman, who had sharp eyes trained for breaking into houses and picking locks, those details were far too obvious.
As the footsteps drew closer and the area grew brighter, Catwoman's situation became increasingly unfavorable. Thea had cunningly repositioned herself away from the fight, and now there were people everywhere. The nearest window was ten meters away.
While the police weren't as skilled in combat as heroes, they weren't useless either. Several of the more agile and sharp-minded officers rushed toward Catwoman at high speed, drawing their weapons as they ran. There was no alternative—her outfit stood out too much amidst the crowd dressed in suits and evening gowns. Unless someone was completely oblivious, anyone could tell something was off.
Just as Thea whistled, ready to see how Catwoman would fight her way out, a cylinder was thrown from the window. With a "bang," as it hit the ground, thick white smoke engulfed the conference hall.
A smoke bomb?!
The once-stable situation turned chaotic again. Fortunately, Detective Lance quickly restored order, shouting instructions for his men to open the windows and turn on the high-powered fans.
When Thea's vision gradually cleared, Catwoman—who had previously been surrounded—had vanished.
If she were allowed to escape so easily, Thea would be utterly humiliated. Seeing several bodyguards moving toward her mother, Thea felt reassured and turned to Felicity, whispering:
— Check the city's surveillance footage and see where she ran. I'm going after her.
— She's on the street ahead, about 600 meters away, — Felicity responded quickly.
How does someone run that far in high heels? Thea put on an earpiece and said:
— Find me the most likely route she'll take. I'll cut her off.
With that, she didn't take the main door but instead jumped out the window and took off swiftly.
It was already past nine at night, and darkness covered everything. Thea wasn't afraid of being spotted by pedestrians. As for the cameras along the way, Felicity could disable them in under a minute.
— Turn left.
— Go straight for 100 meters.
— Now turn right, under the billboard.
This was Thea and Felicity's first time working together, and their coordination was surprisingly flawless.
After sprinting at full speed for three minutes, Thea finally blocked Catwoman's path.
— Hey, are you really Catwoman? What are you doing in Star City? Are you sightseeing, or did you hear Gotham's criminals were opening a branch here? — Thea questioned, still catching her breath.
Catwoman glanced at her, her face dark with irritation. She carefully searched her memory and confirmed the young woman's identity.
— Thea Queen? I never expected a rich girl to have such skills. I'll never understand you wealthy types.
There was a hint of resentment in her words. Was she talking about me? Why does it feel like she's not? Thea was slightly confused. Catwoman wasn't exactly a heroine, but she wasn't a villain either. Her facial features bore some resemblance to Anne Hathaway's. That resemblance softened Thea's initial anger. Looks really did matter...
Even so, it was rare to find someone with skills similar to hers, and Thea wasn't going to let her go so easily.
— What's your real reason for being in Star City? — Thea pressed.
Catwoman replied calmly:
— I was just passing through. You're way too paranoid, little girl.
By now, the night had fully settled in. While Thea relied on her heightened senses, the earlier chaotic fight had hindered her performance. Now, without distractions, she wanted a proper match.
Catwoman, on the other hand, felt humiliated. After years of roaming the underworld, she was now being cornered by a rookie. Her pride was wounded.
The two clashed once again. This time, Thea was able to unleash her full strength. Meanwhile, Catwoman no longer felt the immediate urgency to escape and used her street-fighting experience to fend off attacks.
For a while, they remained evenly matched. Thea had the advantage of heightened perception, while Catwoman expertly used obstacles—such as barricades and trees—to block strikes.
As their endurance waned, Thea began gaining the upper hand. The main reason? Catwoman was fighting in high-heeled boots. Her balance was exceptional, allowing her to execute high kicks, side flips, and acrobatics, but even that had its limits.
"Thea almost wanted to write a big 'RESPECT' sign for her."
Yet, Catwoman's breathing was becoming increasingly uneven, and her steps were no longer as steady. Thea knew her victory was close.
After all, Catwoman was still human. If she managed to defeat Thea while wearing high heels, then Thea's years of training under the Old Man and Lady Shiva would have been in vain—and that was simply unacceptable.