-"This isn't a place for kids to play around," Daredevil's voice sounded sharp, loaded with distrust.
His posture was rigid, the red helmet barely reflecting the streetlight, and even without seeing his full face, you could feel the tension in every word.
Jewel crossed her arms and took a step forward, unafraid.
-"With all due respect, Daredevil, Fury assigned this case to me directly. I'm not here on a whim. And if you think I'm going to step aside just because you say so, you're mistaken."
The silence stretched like a rope about to snap. I could see Daredevil's jaw move slightly, his teeth clenched before replying.
-"That's exactly why I'm concerned, Jewel. If Fury put it in your hands, it's because the situation is serious. And I'm not going to stand by while they put their lives at risk. I—"
Before the argument could escalate, Iron Fist raised his voice, firm but calm, like a master stopping two students before an unnecessary fight.
-"We've already seen what they can do. They faced the ninjas and came out on top. They're not simple rookies. If we're here, it's because we all have a common purpose: stop The Hand. So calm your heart, friend, and let's talk."
The atmosphere eased a little with his serenity, although Daredevil didn't fully relent. I could tell he was tense and worried.
Then Spider-Man, hanging upside down from a web, dropped smoothly among us.
-"Come on, hornheads. Don't be so grumpy. I mean, isn't it great to have company for a change? And besides… look at us. We're practically a travel group: you bring seriousness, Iron Fist brings wisdom, Jewel brings strength, I bring the webs, and Legion… well, Legion brings the surprise factor."
Iron Fist gave a slight smile, Jewel rolled her eyes with patience, and though Daredevil didn't change his expression, the tension in his body softened just a bit.
Then Iron Fist tilted his head toward me, observing me with serene calm.
-"Something intrigues me," he said. "During my time in K'un-Lun, I heard stories of strange creatures and fought many others on my travels, but nothing compares to you. May I ask exactly what or who you are?"
I brought my claw to my shoulder, touching the Omnitrix. In a flash of green light, the monstrous body shrank, plates and muscles rearranged, and I stood in my human form.
-"My name is Legion," I said, extending my hand toward Iron Fist, which he took calmly. "A pleasure. And I can transform into various aliens."
Then I offered it to Daredevil as well.
His handshake was different: strong, as if he wanted to test me, measure if I was a risk. Matt has history with The Hand; I'm sure he's very nervous about the whole situation. When he has the suit on, he can be more aggressive, but he's not someone who acts like this without reason, and I haven't given him one.
I couldn't help but rub my sore hand.
-"I see…" murmured Iron Fist, crossing his arms. "An interesting name for someone who changes forms."
-"Believe me, it's not the strangest thing you'll see this week," interjected Spider-Man, his voice loaded with light sarcasm. "By the way, how's it going with Misty? Have you guys done yoga yet?"
-"She prefers martial combat over the calm of yoga, but I haven't given up on trying, Spider-Man. Thanks for asking," Danny nodded with a slight smile.
Jewel, who had remained serious, let out a brief snort.
-"Are we going to keep talking here surrounded by dead ninjas, or are we moving?"
-"Yes, I think it would be best, but what do we do with the bodies?" I asked the group.
-"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Danny (Iron Fist) approached one of the bodies, lifting one of its arms. It detached from the torso with ease. "The Hand's fanatics have inscribed in their bodies a decomposition ritual called Ketsu-no-Suteru. That way, if one of them falls, nothing remains of them, as the ritual will take their flesh and everything they carry." He finished, tossing the limb back to the ground, which upon impact expanded into a red gelatinous mass slowly absorbed by the shadows.
Witnessing this, no one said a word; we could only watch as the arm melted away.
-"That was… gluuugh!" Peter covered his mouth, while Jewel and I looked away; honestly, it was a horrifying sight.
==============================================================
On the rooftop, everyone took a position. Daredevil stood firm, arms crossed, like a statue. Jewel leaned against a ledge, watching the horizon. Iron Fist squatted serenely. And of course, Spider-Man was glued to the wall, playing with his webs in his hands, as if we were in the middle of recess instead of investigating disappearances.
Matt was the first to break the silence.
-"Eighty people in three days. They've never done something like this, at least not this fast."
Iron Fist nodded slowly.
-"I agree. Their actions show urgency. They still maintain their form but don't seem to care about drawing attention. I tried to request help from the Kamar-Taj wizards, but Wong informed me that a situation arose with the Negative Zone and it would be impossible for them to intervene."
Spider-Man raised his hand like he was in class.
-"One second, we already know they're ghost ninjas and all that. But 'wizards'—" he shrugged, "ninjas, I get it. Magic? Now you've lost me."
-"You saw them dissolve, Spider. They were literally absorbed by the shadows," Jewel replied, raising an eyebrow.
-"Yes, but I'd rather think it was a very, very expensive chemical combination," Spider-Man turned his head toward me. "Or maybe an alien trick. What do you think, Legion? You have experience with oddities."
I couldn't help but smile sideways. The man who is the mystical Spider Totem not believing in magic—ironic.
-"I hate to disappoint, but no, it's not in my 'oddities sector,'" I said, making quotation marks with my fingers. "Setting aside the existence of magic, there's still one question: why did they leave the dart? They might be in a hurry, but in none of the other cases was anything found, and that's eighty people. Only in the case we investigated were screams reported and a video captured seconds before the victim disappeared. I don't think they'd make an error of that magnitude."
-"They didn't," Matt spoke. "It's a message."
Iron Fist frowned.
-"A message for someone in particular."
-"For whom?" asked Jewel.
Spider-Man swung on his web, spinning around himself.
-"Oh, I got it… like 'Hey, come find us, signed: the bad guys in pajamas.' Very subtle."
Then, from the shadows, a seductive female voice broke the silence.
-"It wasn't for you kids. It was for him."
From the shadows, a figure materialized.
First, her long legs appeared, clad in black leather that fit like a second skin.Then, the defined line of her waist and the firm curve of her shoulders, wrapped in a scarlet outfit that violently contrasted with the darkness. A red veil covered her forehead, leaving her smooth skin and crimson lips visible.
Her eyes, dark and sharp as blades, shone under the city's dim light.Her black hair fell in waves that blended with the very shadow from which she had emerged.
When her boots finally touched the rooftop, they did so silently.
Two sais rested on her hip.
Every movement had a strange grace.
Before anyone could react, she leaned completely onto Daredevil, her body pressed against his.
I could see how her face tilted dangerously close to his, their lips barely brushing.
-"Did the devil miss me?" she said, her hand on Matt's chest drawing a circle.
Daredevil froze for a moment, his jaw tensing in surprise.
Then he reacted quickly. His hands pressed against her shoulders, pushing her back, creating distance. His voice, dry and harsh, cut through the air.
-"What are you doing here?"
Elektra smiled faintly, a mischievous and dangerous glint in her eyes.
I stayed to the side. Something I've noticed: leaving aside Hulk, all supers are strangely attractive. Not always in obvious ways, but enough to not think of them as unpleasant to look at.
And Elektra? Damn, I pity Matt.
-"You don't have to be so cold with me, red. I missed you too," a slight smile formed on her lips. She turned her head toward Iron Fist, nodding slightly. "It's been a while, protector of K'un-Lun. I didn't expect to find you in the city that never sleeps."
-"Elektra Natchios," Danny nodded as well. "My stay here is temporary, but I assume you know why I'm here."
-"Gorgon," the assassin said venomously, her gaze turning dangerous.
Danny nodded.
-"I've been tracking his demonic trail from Madripoor, but since he entered the city, I unfortunately lost his trail, so I contacted Daredevil for help."
Matt stepped forward.
-"You still haven't answered my question, Elektra."
The assassin's eyes softened as she returned her gaze to the vigilante.
-"I'm following Gorgon too. He has a blood debt with me that I intend to collect."
While the three veterans caught up, I could barely make out fragments of words: names and mystical terms tossed around as if we had all taken a prior course.
"Gorgon," "Madripoor sectors," "corrupted chi energies."
I have metaknowledge, but things like Chi, secret techniques, and hidden routes escape my understanding… Should I become Grey Matter?
Spider-Man leaned toward me, lowering his voice, interrupting my thoughts.
-"Is it just me or does this sound like we're in a kung-fu movie with an Avengers-level budget?"
-"Sounds the same to me," I said, not taking my eyes off the trio.
-"Great. Three people who know what they're doing, and us standing here like technical support."
Spider-Man raised a hand with feigned offense.
-"Hey, at least I brought pizza. That should count as strategic contribution."
I couldn't help but smile under my helmet.
-"If you think about it, 80% of your missions are solved with pizza or sarcasm."
-"And look how well it's worked," he replied, pointing at himself proudly
Jewel shook her head, but a tired smile escaped her.
-"Well, at least you understand what they're talking about. I just hear weird names and places I don't know."
-"Believe me, I understand less than it seems. The Hand has hidden its existence for so long that the few clues available make them seem like nothing more than a legend from centuries ago," I assured.
I'm not lying, I don't know much about The Hand; I've researched them extensively, but what I found could be just the tip of the iceberg. Gorgon, if I recall correctly, was a mutant who could petrify you if you looked into his eyes. He also carried a mystical sword and was highly skilled in martial arts.
Damn it, I know more about Daredevil from the series than from the comics. Now I regret not reading at least a few issues.
Spider-Man snapped his fingers.
-"Perfect, then we're the confused club. Is there a membership, or do we just stand here with a 'uh-huh, sure, Gorgon, yeah, obvious' face?"
-"Don't speak too loud," Jewel said, crossing her arms. "Daredevil can hear you even if you whisper from another building."
Spider-Man shrugged, lowering his voice slightly.
-"So, I still don't understand anything. Maybe they'll recap the 'who the hell is Gorgon' part when they finish whispering secrets."
-"Alright kids, listen," Natchios turned around, her hands resting on her hips. "I don't know what you think, but if you're going to do this with us, you'll do it my way."
-"Your way isn't how we operate," Daredevil crossed his arms. "If you came looking for me, it's because you can't do this alone. So if you want to be part of this, you'll do it OUR way. Understood?"
Elektra looked sideways for a few seconds, then nodded.
-"Fine, I'll do it your way," she sighed, then focused her gaze on me. "By the way, I know the two kids, but this one is new."
Peter put a hand on my shoulder before I could speak.
-"I think it's proper to introduce yourself first, isn't it? Because none of the three of us know you."
I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow under my helmet. Brave Peter, talking like that to one of the deadliest assassins in the world. My respect.
I wonder if he'll still be brave once he knows who she really is.
Elektra stayed silent for a moment. Then she stepped forward.
-"My name is Elektra Natchios. I was trained by Stick, of the Chaste Clan, and for a time… I was part of The Hand."
Her eyes, cold as steel, scanned us before continuing.
-"I left that path years ago. But there are debts that can only be paid with blood."
She paused briefly, the air thick between her words.
-"Gorgon is one of them… I was also a childhood playmate of the Devil."
Jess, Peter, and I exchanged confused glances. It wasn't much, but it was a proper introduction.
-"I'm Legion. I have the ability to transform into different aliens," I said, placing a hand on my chest. "You mentioned a Clan—perhaps they could help us?"
Stick's Chaste Clan, their purpose is to oppose The Hand. They are essentially sworn enemies. If we can count on their help, we could finish this quickly.
The crimson assassin remained silent for a moment, lowering her gaze slightly.
-"They were annihilated two years ago," Matt stepped forward. "In a war against The Hand, which tried to take New York under their control. That's why this matter is so important." He turned his head toward me. "It took the whole clan to stop The Hand's plans back then. Without Stick, I wouldn't have survived either. We cannot underestimate them. And now, we don't even have the support of the Kamar-Taj wizards, so I need, if you're going to participate in this, that you promise—if something goes wrong"—his gaze swept over the two young heroes and me—"you won't risk your lives. You'll fall back and seek reinforcements."
Once again, the three of us could only exchange looks. Daredevil's sudden seriousness and the "promise" he asks for seems to unsettle all of us equally.
-"Look," I took a few steps toward him, "I think I speak for everyone when I say this: from the moment we put on our uniforms and went out to help people, putting our bodies in front of danger to try to keep anyone from getting hurt, we knew the consequences."
-"I heard you are a man of Faith, Daredevil. I ask you to have faith in us," I took another step closer, keeping my voice low and calm.
-"Don't burden yourself with something that hasn't happened yet," I said, looking at him with some empathy.
-"Because even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me."
-"It's not always about faith in a god… sometimes, it's faith that those around you can walk that valley with you."
Daredevil remained still for a few seconds. Then he lowered his chin, letting out a barely audible sigh. His shoulders, previously tense, visibly relaxed.
-"Nice quote," he murmured, almost to himself. "I hope you're right. But that doesn't change my point. No foolishness, and we'll work as a team. Understood?"
Spider-Man stood firm and performed a military salute.
-"Yes sir, yes sir!"
Jewel let out a light laugh, breaking the tension.
Elektra, on the other hand, only raised an eyebrow. Danny, beside her, nodded slightly with a serene smile.
-"Well said, young one. If we worry about what hasn't happened yet, then we've already lost." Danny placed his hands on his hips.
-"You're only 26, Danny. You're not old enough to call someone 'young'." Peter playfully tapped his shoulder.
-"Yes, don't tell me now you want to be called 'Sir'." Jewel joined the joke.
The atmosphere lightened quickly, each contributing their perspective about what we should do, of course with due seriousness, but no longer with the heavy tension that someone might die at any moment.
I silently observed the heroes—Peter… Spider-Man was always my favorite superhero. I always thought that when I met him, the first thing I'd say would be for him to leave MJ and go with that kind and pleasant lady at the door of his old apartment.
But now, in front of someone who was a role model all my childhood, joking with a violet-haired girl trying to act tough, a lawyer dressed like the devil, a woman who could kill someone with a pencil, and a man so serene he would make Master Shifu envious.
The feeling filling my heart was…
FEAR
…Fear?
No, I meant motivation. Why would I feel fear?
What the hell is—
-"Hey, you okay?" Jessica waved her hand in front of my helmet. "You stayed frozen back there like a statue. Don't tell me you're nervous?"
-"Yes, yes, I'm fine. I was just… thinking about something." I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away.
-"Relax, Spider had my back when I was just getting started. Now it's my turn—I'll watch your back."
She patted my back reassuringly.
-"Thanks. It's good to know a veteran superheroine has my back." I moved with her toward the others.
She puffed her chest slightly with pride, guiding me like a hen guiding her chick.
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Hey everyone!I know it's been a while, but when one weight lifts off your shoulders, another anchor tends to drop on your back. My dad moved in with me after some issues with alcohol, so I haven't really been in the right headspace to write.
The result still isn't completely satisfying—I try to make everything make sense and keep the characters true to themselves, but I still feel like I could do better. This happened before with the Chitauri invasion chapter: I wrapped it all up in one go because I wasn't feeling well and just wanted to post it quickly. Then I reread it the next day with a clear head and realized it was crap. Maybe when things calm down, I'll read this one too and see my mistakes more clearly… I hope so.
Also, sometimes the AI adds its own interpretations or misunderstands certain dialogues when translating. I try to correct them, but a few might slip through. If you notice any, please point them out so I can fix them.
Anyway, sorry for the delay. I really appreciate all your comments and support. I'll be keeping an eye on your feedback.
Take care, everyone :)