Alex Ray didn't know that Loki had already set his sights on the Space Stone in his possession and was preparing to send operatives to seize it.
At the moment, Alex was hosting unexpected guests.
"It's like this—I'd like to entrust these four wayward kids to you," said Master Splinter in a gentle, composed tone.
Alex turned toward the four figures standing behind the humanoid rat and raised an eyebrow. His lips twitched slightly. That's right—those four were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a franchise he'd loved growing up.
And the rat in a martial arts robe before him? Splinter himself.
Ever since awakening his Observation Haki, Alex had sensed the presence of these mutated animals lurking in the sewers of Hell's Kitchen. But he hadn't made a move to chase them out—or recruit them, either.
They'd occasionally committed acts of heroism around the area, which often left a mess. More than once, Alex had sent people to clean up after them.
To Alex, the Ninja Turtles were dispensable. In a Marvel world overflowing with superhumans, gods, and cosmic beings, their combat abilities were unremarkable—barely above street-level at best.
But Alex had never looked down on them for not being human.
What did catch his curiosity was why Splinter had chosen this moment to bring the Turtles out into the open. Normally, they stayed hidden and only ventured out at night.
"Why bring them into Hell's Kitchen now? You were surviving just fine in the shadows. Are you planning to let them live out in the open?" Alex asked, genuinely intrigued.
Splinter let out a long sigh. "If we had a choice, who wouldn't want to live under the sun? After all these years in the sewers, my boys are beginning to forget what daylight even looks like."
There was a deep sadness in his tone, one that tugged at something inside Alex.
He understood. The world was rarely kind to beings who didn't fit the mold.
If Splinter appeared on a public street, he'd be hunted by opportunistic scientists and locked away in some secret lab for experimentation.
What awaited them above ground was torture, dissection, and degradation. And Splinter knew all too well that neither he nor his sons could survive that fate.
So they remained underground.
"But now that you've appeared, I have hope," Splinter said, gazing at the four Turtles with the tenderness of a father. "We can't let them live in the sewers forever."
After observing Alex for over six months, Splinter had come to admire him—not just for his overwhelming strength, but for his fairness and inclusive spirit.
Alex treated all beings equally. No bias. No fear.
As for those who slandered Alex by saying he hated mutants? In Splinter's eyes, those people weren't even as worthy as a rat like him.
Under Alex's leadership, the residents of Hell's Kitchen had gradually shed their prejudices. Mutants, outcasts, even androids and hybrids were starting to live together in tentative harmony.
The recent racing event was proof of this change. Splinter had arranged for the Turtles to participate as a test—just to see how the people would react.
To his surprise, instead of fear or rejection, the residents greeted the Turtles with enthusiasm and warmth.
That gave Splinter the courage to approach Alex and seek his protection. As long as Alex gave his blessing, his children could finally live under the sky.
For Alex, this was a simple matter. He only had to nod.
Still, something didn't feel right. He could sense the rat was holding something back.
He wasn't opposed to the idea of the Turtles joining Hell's Kitchen—in fact, he held a particular fondness for the one wearing the purple mask. Donatello, if he remembered correctly. In every iteration of the Ninja Turtles he knew, Donatello was the brains—an inventor, a tech genius.
Exactly the kind of skillset Alex could use right now.
But before he gave the green light, he needed the full story.
"Master, I've always respected you," Alex began, his voice calm but firm. "But I need you to be honest with me. I believe there's more to this than just your sons. Something deeper."
Splinter visibly froze. Clearly, he hadn't expected Alex to see through him so easily.
A bitter smile crept onto his face. He shook his head and said, "I really can't hide anything from you, can I? The truth is... I'm not originally from this planet. As for where I came from, I couldn't tell you if I tried."
His voice grew low and rough, weighted by sorrow. He paused, as if dredging up fragments of some distant nightmare.
"I only remember being part of a lab experiment. A normal animal, transformed against my will. They turned me into a monster—for war, for profit, for their twisted curiosity. I don't even know how I got here. It all feels like some dreamlike escape."
His eyes darkened with pain and confusion. His claws curled into fists, trying in vain to hold onto vanishing memories.
"I keep having dreams... Dreams of a time before the transformation. I remember freedom—running wild, without chains or fear. And I remember others... other animals in that lab, twisted into weapons like me."
He clenched his fists tighter, veins bulging beneath the fur.
"I hate them. The ones who did that. They destroyed my life. They destroyed so many innocent lives. I want revenge. I want to burn that place to the ground!"
His voice rose, thick with rage and long-buried anguish.
"Lately, something new's been showing up in those dreams," Splinter continued, narrowing his eyes. "I see... another animal. Escaping. Blurry... but I think it was a civet. Or maybe... a raccoon?"
At that, Alex's eyes widened.
A chill of recognition swept through him.
"Why does this sound so familiar?" he murmured. "Genetic experiments... alien tech... raccoons..."
Then it clicked.
"Wait—isn't that Rocket Raccoon? From the Guardians of the Galaxy?"
He snapped his gaze back to Splinter, utterly floored.
This world was wild enough already, but now the Ninja Turtles were somehow tied to Rocket Raccoon's backstory?
Behind Splinter, the four Turtles were just as stunned. They had never heard this part of their master's past. Their expressions darkened with a mixture of shock and anger.
Splinter glanced at Alex, clearly nervous.
He was afraid this revelation might cause Alex to reject them.
So he looked at him with cautious, pleading eyes. "Mr. Alex Ray... would you still be willing to take these four kids in? So that I might begin my journey for revenge?"
---------
🎇🎇 Check out new Fanfiction 🎇🎇
🎊 Naruto : Tsunade You're Really Drunk 🎊
---------
Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
---------------
📚 Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chapters—read ahead of everyone else! 🔥
👉 https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your support means the world to me—thank you so much! 💖
-------------