The ninja's lifeless body collapsed, but instead of blood or gore, it dissolved into a pile of mud.
Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Is this some secret technique from the Hand? Turning into mud after death?"
He didn't linger on the thought. Without hesitation, he darted forward, instantly closing the distance to the next target. The muzzle of his pistol was now inches away from another ninja's skull.
The ninja panicked. At such close range, there was no time to dodge.
Bang! A bullet tore through the ninja's forehead, and just like the last, the body crumbled into mud.
"Two."
He didn't stop.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Three. Four. Five!"
Each shot was precise, methodical, and devastating. With each trigger pull, a black-clad assassin fell, returning to the earth like clay dolls erasing themselves from existence.
The remaining ninjas faltered.
"W-What is this guy? A monster?"
"He's too fast! We can't touch him!"
"Retreat! Get out of here now! It's suicide to stay!"
Fear overtook them. Abandoning all formation, they scattered, sprinting in every direction, desperate to flee.
Nathan shook his head, a trace of cold amusement flickering in his gaze.
"Turning your back on me… that's even worse," he muttered.
He didn't move. He didn't need to.
He simply raised his arm and aimed.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each escaping figure collapsed into mud, shot down before they could reach cover.
"All done." He calmly lowered the gun, letting the smoke waft from the muzzle.
Standing beside him was Nightcrawler, still frozen in the stance he'd taken when the battle started. He hadn't moved a muscle.
A corner of Nightcrawler's mouth twitched. "I… I didn't even get the chance to help…"
He scratched his head awkwardly. "I said I owed you a favor, but looks like you didn't need it at all."
Nathan simply nodded. "Thank you anyway."
"But I'll need your help soon."
Nightcrawler nodded in return. "Name it."
Nathan glanced at his watch. "Later. I've got something urgent now."
With that, he turned and vanished into the night, leaving Nightcrawler speechless.
"Wait… you don't even know who I am. How are you going to find me again?" Nightcrawler sighed, shaking his head. "This guy…"
---
Elsewhere, in a nondescript vehicle parked in New York, Dr. Lees sat across from the mutant tracker known as Caliban.
"Can you sense the locations of mutants in this city?" Lees asked.
Caliban gave a slight nod. "Yes."
"Then guide us. Now."
Without hesitation, Caliban began directing the vehicle, guiding Lees and his team toward a new objective.
---
Meanwhile, Nathan darted across the rooftops of New York, aided by grappling hooks and modified webline gear. His phone vibrated—on it, a red dot blinked rapidly.
His tracker.
He increased speed, sprinting faster across the buildings. Below, a convoy of military vehicles was speeding north—he had found Luke Cage's transport.
Blending with the night, Nathan tailed them silently. Eventually, the convoy left the city and headed toward a secluded area surrounded by mountains.
A secret military base.
From atop a tall tree, Nathan scanned the base through binoculars. Concrete structures nestled into the hills, reinforced steel bunkers hidden within mountain slopes, cameras and guards everywhere.
He muttered, "So this is it…"
The defense grid was extensive—no obvious weaknesses. Not something he could storm without backup or better equipment.
"I'll need to become stronger first."
He sighed. "No way to get Luke Cage's data tonight."
Instead, he took a small mechanical button camera from his pocket. He attached it to a tree branch, adjusting the lens until the entire base was in view.
Three days—that's how long the camera would last before its battery gave out.
"Better than nothing."
With his temporary surveillance in place, he turned his thoughts to something more immediate.
"Time to replicate super hearing."
---
Nathan dialed a number. "Kurt. I need a lab. Now."
The voice on the other end, Kurt, responded instantly. "Got it, boss. I'll have it prepped right away."
Over the past few weeks, Osborn Biotech's wound plaster line had become a rising sensation.
Under Norman Osborn's meticulous planning, the company had verified the product's effectiveness through accredited medical institutions.
Then came the marketing blitz: endorsements from respected doctors, influencers in the medical field, and timed media leaks that stirred both praise and skepticism—just enough to go viral.
Osborn's PR department took advantage of the heated online debate. Disputes attract attention, and attention drives demand.
Now, the entire medical market was eagerly awaiting the official release.
The result?
Osborn's stock price doubled in days.
And Nathan, having invested deeply, watched his wealth soar.
"Soon, I'll be a true millionaire," he thought with satisfaction.
---
Returning to the city, Nathan tracked down his next target: Matt Murdock, better known to some as Daredevil.
Kurt had already investigated Matt—his workplace, home address, daily patterns.
Late at night, Nathan arrived at Matt's modest apartment.
No one home.
"Out playing vigilante, huh?"
With nothing better to do, Nathan made himself comfortable and waited.
Time passed.
The door creaked open.
Matt stepped in, dressed casually, sunglasses still on.
"I didn't expect you to figure out who I am," he said evenly.
Nathan rose. "I need your help."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Legal advice? I can help with that. But science?"
Nathan shook his head. "No. I want to study your abilities."
Matt's expression stiffened. "You want to… experiment on me?"
Nathan nodded. "Yes."
Matt let out a bitter laugh. "You don't pull punches, do you?"
"It might be uncomfortable," Nathan admitted. "But it won't be unbearable. I promise."
"Easy for you to say."
Nathan leaned forward, voice steady.
"In return, I'll heal your eyes."
That stopped Matt in his tracks. "What…?"
"I have access to regenerative formulas," Nathan continued. "You help me with my research, and I'll restore your vision."
Matt stood frozen, heart racing. He could feel the sincerity behind Nathan's words—his other senses told him as much.
He swallowed hard. "Let me ask one thing."
"Go ahead."
"If I say no… will you force me?"
Nathan didn't even blink. "Yes."
Nightcrawler, listening nearby, nearly choked.
"Uh…"
Nathan's expression was serious, not cruel—just honest. "This is important. Even if you refuse, I'd still take you. But I'd make sure you weren't harmed. I have the tech to restore you."
Matt nodded slowly. Then—he extended his hand.
"Happy cooperation."
Nathan shook it firmly. "Happy cooperation."
---
Despite the late hour, Nathan ushered Matt into the secret lab Kurt had just finished preparing.
Matt hesitated. "It's… really late, you know."
Nathan waved it off. "I'm not tired."
Matt muttered, "Yeah, but I am."
Nathan grinned. "You've got plenty of downtime ahead. I'm moving your recent clients to high-paying firms. You'll be out of work for a while."
Matt sighed, defeated. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
Inside the lab, Nathan motioned to an operating table. "Lie down."
Matt raised an eyebrow. "That sounds ominous."
"Just for scanning and testing today," Nathan assured him.
Matt complied.
Nathan began a full-body diagnostic, using scanning tech, medical tools, and blood tests.
Eventually, Matt was sedated for deeper examinations.
Nathan discovered that Matt's ears had evolved dramatically after his accident. The chemicals that blinded him had also amplified his other senses to superhuman levels.
His eardrums were incredibly sensitive, able to distinguish minute sound variations and ultrasonic frequencies. Essentially, he'd developed a natural sonar system—biological echolocation.
It was precisely the ability Nathan needed to replicate.
This, he thought, was just the beginning.
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