The Ten Rings headquarters was far more expansive than Erik remembered from the movies.
The upper section sprawled across level ground, but the real marvel lay in the mountain itself.
Tunnels carved into the rock hinted at a labyrinth of passageways stretching deep within the mountain.
Erik couldn't help but imagine what secrets might be buried within, concealed from the world..
Likely a network of tunnels, storerooms, and training areas.
The upper part was different from what he had expected, even from the memories he carried.
In the future, by 2024 the upper part of the compound would be divided into two distinct areas.
The first section, a large courtyard enclosed by thick stone walls would serve among other things, as the landing site for helicopters.
Beyond that, small stairs and a steel doors would lead to the heart of the complex. A more traditional Chinese-inspired area that housed Xu Wenwu's throne room, office, and courtyard where the Ten Rings warriors trained.
But now...
Erik observed his surroundings with sharp eyes. The stone-walled section stood before him, but without the enclosing walls he remembered.
It felt strange, almost unsettling to see it like this, incomplete.. As if a vital part of the place was missing.
That's why, when he arrived, he went straight to the only door available — the one leading to the heart of the complex.
Creaaaak... click... thunk.
The doors slowly creaked open and Erik staggered inside, his legs heavy with exhaustion.
Each step felt like a challenge as he made his way forward. His gaze locked onto Xu Wenwu, seated with a calm, authoritative air on his throne.
With stiff fingers, Erik unwound the woolen scarf from around his head, never once breaking eye contact with the man who seemed to be waiting for him.
"Master Khan" Erik called out, his voice hoarse. Addressing Xu Wenwu by the name he'd given during their last meeting.
His gaze remained steady, despite the fatigue weighing him down as he stood before the man.
Suddenly, the sound of the heavy doors slamming shut behind Erik echoed through the chamber, startling him.
His gaze flicked back to see several figures closing in from all sides.
Some were armed with guns others carried swords, their presence intimidating and hostile.
Erik's mind raced, instinctively preparing to react.
"Wait.." Xu Wenwu commanded with a calm but authoritative tone, rising from his throne.
His voice cut through the tension like a blade, immediately halting the men in their tracks.
He approached the boy slowly, his eyes fixed on him with a piercing gaze.
"I wasn't expecting you so soon.. You are full of surprises, little Erik."
The boy looked nothing like the fresh-faced child who had first been freed from the labor camp.
His clothes hung in tatters, stiff and crusted with dry blood from head to toe.
The stains dark and cracked like old paint. It covered his skin, matted his hair and clung to him in a grotesque tableau that spoke of violence, desperation and endurance.
Wenwu's eyes narrowed in thought.
By all reasoning, the boy should have taken the road—passed through the nomad settlements at the mountain's foot.
There, they would have warned him of the coming weather. He would have found shelter, fire and food to sustain him until the skies cleared.
Under normal circumstances, the climb would still have been demanding for a child of ten… But hardly impossible.
With favorable weather, he could have reached the gates within a week.
Yet here he stood, ahead of schedule.
That could only mean one thing.. He had not waited.
He had climbed through the bad weather, through the storm.
Wenwu's gaze swept over the boy again, taking in every detail. He looked as though he had walked through hell itself—and returned unbroken.
The cold had not claimed him, nor hunger, nor exhaustion.
A faint smile touched his lips, the kind that was more thought than expression.
How did he survive? The question lingered in his mind, tinged with a note of admiration.
Whatever the answer, the boy had endured where many grown men would have fallen.
"Tell me child, what driven's you ?" He asked, his voice low and probing.
"I... huff" Erik's voice trembled, partly from the change in temperature, partly from the exhaustion that weighed down his every breath.
Xu Wenwu's calm but deliberate steps toward him didn't falter, his gaze sharp and calculating.
"... Anger!" Erik continued, steadying his voice his teeths clenched. "An endless amount of anger!" He spoke the word with a sense of finality, as if it was the only thing that mattered.
"Good" His gaze then fixed on Erik, hardening as he stepped forward.
"Are you ready to begin then?" Xu Wenwu asked, his tone serious, with an edge of menace.
Erik replied with a smirk, his voice thick with exhaustion "Yeah.. 'Can do this all day!" He responded barely holding himself upright, his body tired.
Thud!
Without warning, Xu Wenwu's foot connected sharply with Erik's gut, sending him flying to the ground.
"Good! Death will not wait for you to be ready!" Xu Wenwu's voice rang out, cutting through the air with cold precision.
Thud!
His boot found Erik's side again, forcing a fake groan from the boy as he rolled over.
"When I look at you, Boy… I see so much turmoil. Your heart is full of rage… Xu Wenwu emphasized his words with another kick, each blow calculated and measured.
The boy's body curled from the impact, but this time..
BAAM!
His arm shot up, blocking the kick. He could tell that Xu Wenwu wasn't going all out, even whitout using the rings.
"What is it that you seek ? Vengeance ? I can give it to you." The man said calmly
Erik pushed the man leg aside and rose to his feet, his movements sharp and focused. He slipped into a fighting stance his body coiled and ready.
"Kickboxing" Xu Wenwu said, recognizing the style with a nod. "But that won't be enough."
Erik lunged forward with a fake left jab followed by a right low kick. Using his superhuman-strenght to balance his exhausted body to a normal level.
Xu Wenwu however was swift, sidestepping effortlessly. Erik's kick connected with empty space and Xu Wenwu responded with a precise kick of his own aimed at his midsection.
Whip-crack!
The sound of Xu Wenwu's kick slicing through the air was sharp and unforgiving. Erik reacted, blocking it with his forearm, the force pushing him back a few steps.
Xu Wenwu eyes narrowed as he watched Erik regain his footing.
"Judo now ? Interesting.." He noted, seeing the boy attempts to close the distance.
Erik darted in with agility, aiming to grab Xu Wenwu and throw him.
But Xu Wenwu, recognizing the move, twisted and countered with an effortless sweep of his leg, sending Erik sprawling.
Thud!
Erik hit the ground hard, but his spider-like reflexes allowed him to roll and spring back to his feet. He launched himself back into the fray, moving with fluidity.
"Skilled, but this is not gymnastics." Xu Wenwu said, his voice cold as he seamlessly transitioned into a series of Kung Fu strikes.
Erik felt his spider-sense warn him but decided to ignore it not wanting to arouse suspicions.
The Warlord fists and feet moved with the precision of a master, each strike connecting with controlled power.
Thud! Thud Thud Thud! Bamm!
Another powerful kick sent Erik crashing to the floor.
He tried to push himself up.. But the moment he moved, his body betrayed him.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"My… arm? Legs?" He muttered, his voice hoarse. Curiosity edged into the confusion as he strained, willing his muscles to obey.
Nothing happened. His limbs felt like dead weight. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move.
"How… Did you do this?" He asked, lifting his gaze to the man standing over him.
Xu Wenwu looked down at him with calm, unhurried composure. "Pressure points" He said evenly. Then, as if speaking of something far removed from the present moment, he continued, "I have knowledge alien to you, for I have tasted food fresh from dark, fertile soil… And I have filled my lungs with untainted air. Such things do not exist in this world any longer."
His words hung in the air with heaviness.
I wonder… Erik thought, watching Wenwu with narrowed eyes. If we both went all out… Could I beat him?
The question lingered in his mind as a faint tingling crawled through his fingers and toes.
Slowly, sensation began to seep back into his limbs.
First a prickling discomfort, then the weight of his own body returning.
His muscles twitched, testing their strength as his gaze stayed locked on the man before him.
Despite the Spider-Man powers he had inherited, he was still just a nine-year-old boy. His physical abilities, while impressive were nowhere near their peak potential.
Against normal humans, he could handle himself effortlessly. But Xu Wenwu was different.
With the Ten Rings, he was essentially in the superhuman category. On top of that he had centuries of experience, honing his skills on countless battlefields.
The man mastery of martial arts was excellent. His prowess was likely at the pinnacle of what Earth had to offer.
Xu Wenwu, adjusting the lapels of his suit with a measured grace turned to Erik. "You know how to fight three or four people. We will teach you how to engage six hundred."
Erik looked up at him with a mix of determination and exhaustion.
Xu Wenwu eyes were unwavering a mixture of approval and calculation.
"Show him around!" He commanded, his voice carrying an authoritative edge.
With a subtle gesture, he beckoned two servants clad in yellow cloths to step forward.
The servants, bowing slightly in respect approached him. One of them, a tall figure with an expressionless face motioned for Erik to follow. "Please, come with us." The servant said in a soft, polite tone.
Unbeknownst to them, a young boy of about eleven years old peeked from a concealed corner. His eyes sparkled with a blend of curiosity and excitement as he watched the scene unfold.
His excitement was palpable, his gaze following every movement with keen interest.
Erik's steps echoed through the grand hall as he was led away.