Chapter 21: Kingpin's Diamond-Tier Upgrade
Ryan paid no attention to Wilson Fisk, who lay sprawled on the laboratory floor like a beached whale.
Instead, he prepared to draw another blood sample for analysis, but his standard needle couldn't penetrate Fisk's enhanced skin. He switched to a vibranium-tipped syringe—one of the few materials capable of piercing enhanced tissue.
He drew a full vial, enough blood loss that an ordinary person might have required medical attention.
Ryan immediately began examining Fisk's post-enhancement blood sample under his high-powered microscope.
Wilson Fisk took several minutes to recover from the procedure. He slowly pulled himself upright, wrapped a towel around his massive frame, and asked anxiously, "Well? Did it work?"
"The genetic enhancement was successful," Ryan replied without looking up from his microscope. "I'll need complete physical assessments when you get back—strength, speed, endurance, the works. Then we'll schedule your second-tier enhancement."
Kingpin clenched his fist experimentally. Whether it was psychological or genuine enhancement, he definitely felt stronger than before.
Despite the lingering discomfort from the procedure, his spirits were high.
Looking at Ryan's back, he pressed for more details. "What can I expect from the next enhancement level?"
"Significant improvement. You'll probably end up a bit stronger than Captain America. Without his shield, he'd be no match for you in hand-to-hand combat."
Ryan didn't turn around, instead removing the blood sample and moving directly to his next set of experiments.
Wilson Fisk paused, confused. "You've actually met Captain America?"
"Of course. He's an extreme idealist and a stubborn fossil from the 1940s. Trust me, you two wouldn't get along."
Ryan entered Wilson Fisk's experimental data into his computer system and began running simulations for Thanos-level enhancement.
Despite Thanos's intimidating appearance, his genetic structure remained fundamentally humanoid. The Celestials had used human DNA as the template for creating both the Eternals and the Deviants. When the Eternals eventually scattered across the cosmos, some settled on Titan, giving rise to Thanos's lineage. Since they shared the same genetic foundation, Ryan had been able to successfully integrate Thanos's genetic material.
Ryan dismissed Wilson Fisk with a wave, already absorbed in his calculations.
Feeling somewhat ignored but satisfied with the results, Fisk dressed and departed the laboratory.
After exiting the apartment building, he slid into his waiting limousine where Wesley sat with his usual professional demeanor.
"Boss," Wesley said, barely concealing his shock, "what happened to your eyebrows?"
Wilson Fisk waved dismissively. "Drive. Take me to the gym."
The luxury vehicle headed south along Eighth Avenue toward Hell's Kitchen. Near the church on 42nd Street stood a weathered underground boxing facility—one of Wilson Fisk's original strongholds and the place where he'd first built his criminal empire.
Upon entering, he removed his suit jacket and handed it to Wesley, his tone casual but focused. "What's the status on our vigilante problem?"
Wesley followed behind, consulting his tablet. "We've coordinated with our contacts in the NYPD. If Daredevil shows up, he'll walk straight into our trap."
"Good. Don't let him gather any more evidence. And that journalist—Karen Page—we'll eliminate both problems simultaneously."
Wilson Fisk briefly stretched his enhanced muscles before approaching a heavy punching bag.
Thud!
Thud!
After a few tentative strikes to gauge his new strength, he gradually increased the power behind each blow.
Wesley's phone rang. After a brief, tense conversation, he looked up at his boss with concern.
"Sir, the Torrino family was just hit. Don and his entire crew are dead in their basement stronghold."
Wilson Fisk paused mid-swing, then channeled all his enhanced strength into his fist.
BOOM!
The punch tore completely through the heavy bag, sending sand and stuffing exploding across the gym floor.
"Holy shit!" Wesley's jaw dropped as he stared at his boss in amazement, as if seeing him for the first time.
Wilson Fisk examined his raised fist, flexed his fingers, then smiled with dark satisfaction.
"Go investigate. I want to know who's making moves on my territory."
Fisk maintained partnerships with every major criminal organization in New York. He'd just eliminated the Russian bratva, and now the Italian mafia had been wiped out. Someone was clearly targeting his network systematically.
"Right away, boss."
Hell's Kitchen was a war zone where violence was commonplace, but Wilson Fisk wouldn't tolerate anyone operating on his turf without permission.
Washington D.C., Triskelion Building
Maria Hill rushed into the director's office with urgent intelligence.
"Director Carter, you need to see this immediately."
"What is it?" Peggy Carter saved her work and accepted the classified file with interest.
Maria Hill explained, "Following your standing orders, we've been monitoring unusual power consumption patterns. Eight hours ago, we detected a massive electrical surge in Upper Manhattan. Another spike occurred one hour ago. Our analysis confirms both events originated from the same location."
Hill indicated the marked address on the surveillance report.
Peggy Carter's expression immediately hardened.
"No direct surveillance. I don't want to spook our target."
Maria Hill didn't understand why Director Carter seemed so concerned about a simple power anomaly, but she knew better than to question orders.
Peggy stared at the report for a long moment before making her decision. "Contact Nick Fury immediately. I need Captain America's revival status—now."
After Hill departed to execute her orders, Peggy walked to the window overlooking the Potomac River, gently stroking the small white mouse perched on her shoulder.
"Steve, I've found him. Where are you?"
Captain America's frozen body had actually been recovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. months ago under Peggy's direct supervision. The reason she hadn't authorized his revival was strategic—and personal.
She knew Steve Rogers. If Ryan had appeared in this timeline, the future version of Steve would inevitably follow.
But what would happen if both versions of Steve existed simultaneously? How could she face them both?
She loved Steve Rogers, but she couldn't love two different versions of the same man.
Peggy sighed deeply, her heart heavy with impossible choices.
Ryan had surfaced, but the future Steve hadn't appeared. She had no alternative but to wake the Steve Rogers of this timeline.
Ten minutes later, Nick Fury entered with Captain America's revival documentation.
"Director Carter, all preparations are complete. We can begin the thawing process immediately."
Peggy signed the authorization and handed it back to the future director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Proceed with revival. Once he's conscious and stable, run a complete psychological evaluation. If he passes all assessments, bring him to me personally."
"Understood, Director."
Captain America might not be powerful enough to stop Ryan alone, but he was currently S.H.I.E.L.D.'s only available enhanced asset.
Meanwhile, Ryan remained unaware that he'd been located by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Eight hours after completing Wilson Fisk's first enhancement, Ryan had analyzed all the experimental data and prepared a second-tier genetic enhancement for himself.
He sat shirtless at his laboratory workstation, wrapped in a towel, examining his own blood sample following the latest round of self-experimentation.
End of Chapter 21
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