Becoming the Strongest as a Game Dev

Sam leans back in his chair, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he watches Scarlet overcome the Scarecrow challenge. Her quick thinking with the Bat-Signal impressed him - most streamers took much longer to figure out that solution.

"Only one death," he mutters, scrolling through the analytics. "Not bad at all."

The data shows other streamers averaging two to three attempts before beating Scarecrow. Some even rage quit after multiple failures. But Scarlet adapted quickly, learning from her first encounter to triumph on the second try.

Sam takes a sip of water, feeling proud of how the level turned out. The fear toxin sequence struck just the right balance - challenging enough to create tension, but not impossible to overcome. Scarlet's genuine reactions and the engagement of her chat proved the psychological horror elements worked exactly as intended.

Sam watches intently as Scarlet, embodying the role of Batman, swiftly rescues Commissioner Gordon from his captors. With remarkable stealth, she silently takes down the inmates one by one, her movements fluid and precise. As Harley Quinn appears, Scarlet doesn't hesitate, delivering a well-timed knockout blow that sends the Joker's unhinged accomplice tumbling to the ground.

The upcoming boss fight is next. Sam wonders how Scarlet will defeat Bane. He leans forward, anticipation building as the iconic villain appears on the screen. Scarlet's skills will truly be put to the test against the Venom-enhanced powerhouse.

…

Ruby watches in awe as Batman bursts through the glass, knocking out Harley Quinn in a single, fluid motion. The Caped Crusader's precision and power are mesmerizing, and Ruby can't help but be impressed.

Commissioner Gordon's voice snaps her attention away. "You took longer than I thought," he says, his tone laced with relief and concern.

Ruby, still inhabiting Batman's body, moves swiftly to free Gordon from his restraints. "He's out of control," Batman replies, his voice deep and gravelly. "He's trying to prove something. I'm not sure I can stop him this time."

Gordon's expression turns grave. "You'll do it. Batman, listen. We're not alone. He's got something else down there. I don't know what it is." He gestures toward a glass room, the contents obscured from view.

Ruby feels a chill run down her spine. Whatever lies behind that glass, it can't be good. She steels her nerves, knowing that as Batman, she must be ready to face whatever challenges await.

Batman and Gordon enter the room, and Ruby's eyes widen at the sight before them. A thin, bony man with a black mask is suspended in the air, connected by many red tubes to his back.

"Bane..." Batman exclaims, his voice tinged with recognition and concern.

[TechnoGeek]: "Whoa, who's this guy?"

[GamerGirl42]: "He looks pretty scary, chat."

Ruby watches intently as Bane speaks, his voice strained and desperate.

"Cut me down..."

Batman's jaw tightens, and Ruby can sense the gravity of the situation. "Who did this to you, Bane?" he asks, his voice unwavering.

She drained the Venom from my blood. The 'bruja'... Dr. Young. I must stop her..."

[TechnoGeek]: "Venom? Dr. Young? What is the connection between the two?"

[GamerGirl42]: "Didn't we meet Dr. Young a while ago? She sounds like trouble."

Ruby watches in horror as Joker takes control of the camera, his twisted grin sending a chill down her spine.

"Sorry. Has-Bane. The good Doctor won't be a problem much longer. How do you like my puppet? What say we cut him down?"

Suddenly, red lights begin to flash, and the tubes attached to the bony figure, Bane, start pumping a green liquid into his body. Ruby's eyes widen as Bane's slender frame swells and transforms, his muscles rippling and expanding to a towering 6'8" height.

[GamerGirl42]: "Oh my god, look at the size of that guy!"

[TechnoGeek]: "This is getting seriously messed up. The Joker is one sick dude."

Ruby watches, transfixed, as Bane's appearance shifts from a frail, weakened man to a hulking, Venom-enhanced monster. His features become distorted, with visible veins pulsing across his pale skin. Ruby can feel the raw power emanating from this transformed being.

[GamerGirl42]: "I do not want to be on the receiving end of that guy's fist!"

[TechnoGeek]: "Whoa, Scarlet's in for a fight. This is gonna be intense!"

Ruby shouts to Gordon, "Get back!" as Bane's hulking frame towers over them. The Venom-fueled behemoth seizes Ruby, still in Batman's body, and with a mighty heave, flings her towards the nearby brick wall.

Ruby tenses, bracing for impact, and crashes through the wall in a shower of debris. She hits the ground hard, dazed but unharmed. As the dust settles, Ruby peers up to see Bane standing over her, his monstrous form casting an ominous shadow.

"You'll have to do better than that," Ruby growls, her voice tinged with Batman's signature gravel as she pushes herself up off the ground. Her eyes narrow, studying Bane's towering physique, searching for any weaknesses she can exploit.

"You are not my true enemy, Batman," Bane rumbles, his voice distorted by the Venom coursing through his veins. "But you will not stop me from my revenge."

Ruby feels the weight of Batman's mantle as she stares up at the towering villain. She knows she must be ready to face Bane's onslaught. Steeling her nerves, Ruby clenches her fists, prepared to meet the challenge head-on.

Ruby watches with trepidation as Bane's hulking form towers over her. The Venom-fueled villain raises his massive arm, his muscles rippling, and slams it down towards her. Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, Ruby darts to the side, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow.

Seizing the opportunity, Ruby lashes out, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks aimed at Bane's head and chest. Her strikes land with solid impact, but the towering villain barely seems fazed.

"Is that all you got, Batman?!" Bane growls, his voice dripping with contempt.

Before Ruby can react, Bane's massive hand snakes out and grabs her, his grip like a vice. With a powerful swing, he hurls Ruby to the ground, slamming her against the debris-strewn floor. The impact knocks the wind from her lungs, but Ruby refuses to stay down.

Scrambling to her feet, Ruby reaches for her Batarangs, hurling them at Bane's hulking frame. The razor-sharp projectiles ricochet off his Venom-enhanced skin, barely leaving a scratch.

Bane's lips curl into a menacing sneer as he stalks towards Ruby, each thunderous step shaking the ground. "Your toys cannot stop me, Batman," he rumbles, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

Ruby's heart races as Bane's massive form stalks towards her, each thunderous step shaking the ground. Thinking quickly, she raises her grapnel gun and fires, the hook latching onto a sturdy railing above. With a tug, Ruby launches herself into the air, narrowly avoiding Bane's grasp.

Landing gracefully on the catwalk, Ruby crouches low, her eyes narrowed as she tracks Bane's movements. The hulking villain glares up at her, his lips curling into a menacing grin.

"Running away, are we, Batman?" Bane taunts, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "You cannot escape me!"

With a powerful leap, Bane propels himself towards the catwalk, his massive frame hurtling through the air. Ruby braces herself, her fingers tightening around the Batarangs in her hands.

As Bane's feet hit the metal grating, Ruby springs into action, hurling the Batarangs with precision. The sharp projectiles slice through the air, but Bane swats them away with a dismissive swipe of his hand.

Undeterred, Ruby darts forward, her movements agile and calculated. She ducks beneath Bane's swinging fists, landing a series of rapid strikes to his torso and sides. Each blow reverberates with a dull thud, but the Venom-enhanced villain barely seems to register the pain.

Bane roars in frustration, his massive hands lashing out to grab Ruby. She twists and turns, narrowly evading his grasp, but the catwalk offers little room for maneuver. Desperate, Ruby leaps backwards, her cape billowing behind her as she gains distance.

Bane charges forward, his footsteps thundering on the metal grating. He reaches down, scooping up a large piece of debris and hurling it towards Ruby with bone-crushing force. Ruby reacts instinctively, raising her arms to shield herself, but the impact sends her tumbling backwards, her grip on the catwalk slipping.

Ruby grits her teeth as she tumbles backwards, barely maintaining her grip on the catwalk. Bane's massive frame looms over her, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

Thinking quickly, Ruby reaches for her utility belt, her fingers wrapping around a pair of electrified Batarangs. With a flick of her wrist, she hurls the charged projectiles at Bane, the electricity crackling through the air.

The Batarangs strike Bane's chest, eliciting a roar of pain from the hulking villain. Ruby's chat erupts in cheers, their excitement palpable.

[GamerGirl42]: "Nice one, Scarlet! Keep those attacks coming!"

[TechnoGeek]: "Wait, look at those tubes on his back! Could those be his weakness?"

Ruby's eyes narrow as she focuses on the tubes feeding Venom directly into Bane's body. An idea forms in her mind.

Renewed determination surging through her, Ruby leaps forward. She fires a series of explosive Batarangs at the tubes on Bane's back. The projectiles detonate with thunderous booms, causing Bane to stagger and roar in pain.

The massive villain swings wildly, his massive fists barely missing Ruby as she dances around him, dodging and weaving. She lands another volley of Batarangs, this time targeting the tubes more precisely, severing them one by one.

Bane's movements grow sluggish, the Venom flow disrupted. Ruby seizes the opportunity, delivering a flurry of punches and kicks, her strikes landing with devastating precision. Bane's towering frame begins to sway, his strength visibly waning.

[TechnoGeek]: "You've got him, Scarlet! Keep it up!"

[GamerGirl42]: "Finish him off, girl! Show that oversized roid-rage monster who's boss!"

Ruby's chat cheers her on, fueling her determination as she prepares to deliver the final blow.

Bane's massive hand clamps around Ruby's torso, the villain's Venom-enhanced strength threatening to crush her. "I will break you, Batman!" he roars, his eyes wild with rage. "Then the 'bruja'!"

Panic flashes in Ruby's mind, but she refuses to give in. "Not today, Bane!" she growls, her fingers scrambling to find a sharp Batarang.

With a swift motion, Ruby slices through the last tube attached to Bane's back, disrupting the flow of Venom. Electricity crackles from her gauntlet, and she jams it against Bane's thick neck. The villain's grip loosens as he convulses, the powerful shocks overwhelming his system.

Bane's hulking frame sways, and he lets out a guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

Ruby lands on her feet, her chest heaving. She glances at her chat, seeing their messages of triumph.

[GamerGirl42]: "Hell yeah, Scarlet! You showed that overgrown steroid freak who's boss!"

[TechnoGeek]: "Nice thinking with the Venom tubes! And that electric shock - brilliant!"

Ruby allows herself a small smile, but she knows the battle is far from over. She turns her attention back to the catwalk, scanning for any signs of movement.

Suddenly, Bane's body twitches, and Ruby readies herself for another assault. The massive villain groans, his eyes fluttering open, and he glares at Ruby with unbridled fury.

"You... will pay for this, Batman," Bane growls, his voice dripping with menace.

Ruby braces herself, her muscles tensing as Bane slowly rises to his feet. The villain's movements are sluggish, the disruption to his Venom supply taking a toll, but Ruby knows he is still a formidable opponent.

Bane charges forward, his massive fists swinging wildly. Ruby darts to the side, evading his attacks with agility. She retaliates with a series of sharp jabs and kicks, targeting the weakened areas where she had severed the Venom tubes.

The two combatants engage in a furious dance, Ruby's speed and precision countering Bane's raw power. Each blow lands with a resounding impact, echoing through the cavernous space of Arkham Asylum.

[TechnoGeek]: "Look at that, Scarlet! You're wearing him down!"

[GamerGirl42]: "Don't let up now, girl! You've got this!"

Ruby's chat cheers her on, fueling her determination as she continues her relentless assault on Bane. She can see the strain on the villain's face, his movements growing more erratic with each passing moment.

With a final, desperate lunge, Bane reaches for Ruby, his massive hands closing around her throat. But Ruby is ready, and she delivers a powerful kick to Bane's midsection, causing him to stagger and release his grip.

Seizing the opportunity, Ruby unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks, her attacks landing with precision and force. Bane's knees buckle, and he collapses to the ground, defeated.

Ruby paused the simulation, her mana reserves nearly depleted from the long hours she had spent in it. She leaned back in her chair, her heart still racing from the thrill of the encounter.

[TechnoGeek]: "That was insane, Scarlet! I can't believe you took down Bane like that."

[GamerGirl42]: "Yeah, girl! Your combat skills are off the charts. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time."

Ruby smiles, basking in the praise from her chat. "Thanks, you guys. I gotta say, this simulation is really something special."

She grins, feeling a sense of accomplishment after her intense battle with Bane. "Alright, chat, I think that's enough for today. I'm gonna need to recharge my mana reserves after that epic showdown." Ruby chuckles, running a hand through her vibrant hair.

"But this sim is seriously next-level. Can't wait to see what other challenges the developer's got in store. Stay tuned, 'cause I'll be diving back in soon!"

Ruby waved to her viewers and ended the stream, leaning back in her chair with a content sigh. She couldn't help but feel impressed by the Arkham Asylum simulation. The level of detail and immersion was unlike anything she had experienced before.

Curious, Ruby checked the simulation's page and was pleasantly surprised to see that it had already amassed over 20,000 downloads, despite it only being the first day. She scrolled through the comments, reading the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

"Looks like I'm not the only one who's been sucked into this world," Ruby mused, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She was eager to dive back in and uncover more of the developer's creative vision.

As Ruby browsed, she noticed that other popular streamers were also playing the Arkham Asylum simulation, further fueling its growing popularity. She couldn't help but wonder what other surprises and challenges awaited her.

…

In another part of the city. A woman named Gail Foster is also playing Batman Arkham Asylum. She is a manager of SimQuest, a medium-sized company that develops Simulations. She is familiar with all kinds of simulation, but this was the first kind of simulation she encountered.

The simulation had over 20,000 downloads, impressing Gail. Leaning forward, she reviewed the creator's data, intrigued by the name "Genesis" - a talented individual who had crafted an industry-rivaling experience.

Gail pulled up additional information about the creator of the simulation. The name "Genesis" caught her eye, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity. This was clearly a talented individual,

Gail Foster walked briskly through the bustling corridors of SimQuest, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She had just come from reviewing the latest simulation release, and her mind was brimming with excitement. Approaching the office of her supervisor, Mr. Weston, she knocked firmly and waited for his response.

"Come in," his deep voice called out.

Gail entered the spacious office, her expression calm and professional. "Mr. Weston, I'd like to discuss a potential new hire with you," she began, taking a seat across from him.

The older man leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowing slightly. "A new hire? I thought we were doing well with the current team."

"We are," Gail acknowledged, "but I believe we've come across an exceptional talent that could greatly benefit SimQuest." She proceeded to share details about the Batman: Arkham Asylum simulation, emphasizing its impressive reception and the developer's clear expertise.

Mr. Weston listened intently, his fingers steepled in front of him. "This 'Genesis' you speak of has only completed one simulation, correct?" he questioned, his tone skeptical.

Gail nodded. "That's true, but the quality of their work is undeniable."

The supervisor leaned forward, his brow furrowing. "One successful simulation doesn't guarantee they can replicate that success. We've had promising developers before who couldn't maintain that level of quality."

Gail, on the other hand, believes otherwise; her instincts tell her that Genesis is a valuable asset. The manager's keen eye for talent and unwavering intuition have served SimQuest well in the past, and she is confident that this new developer has the potential to elevate the company's offerings to new heights.

Leaning forward, Gail addressed her supervisor with a calm, yet persuasive tone. "Mr. Weston, I understand your hesitation, but I truly believe Genesis is someone we cannot afford to overlook. Their work on the Batman simulation has demonstrated a level of creativity and technical prowess that is rare to find, even among our most seasoned developers."

Gail's supervisor considered her words carefully, recognizing the weight of her recommendations. Over the years, he had come to trust Gail's judgment, as her instincts had rarely failed the company. With a slight nod, he conceded, "Very well, Gail. If you believe this Genesis is worth pursuing, then I'll leave the decision in your hands. Just be sure to thoroughly vet them and their capabilities before making any formal offers."

Gail's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."