Luke Cage sat in his cramped room, eyeing the axe in his hand. Though not large, carrying it required some thought. Today, he was set to team up with Daredevil. Truth be told, he envied Daredevil's sleek, dark red suit—not those ridiculous double-Ds, but the idea of a proper hero costume. As a soon-to-be superhero, he needed one too.
"Man, what're you doing?"
Daredevil slipped through the window of Luke's rundown apartment, his question catching Luke off guard.
"Goddamn, it's an hour till dark! Why're you in that getup already?"
Luke hissed, voice low like a movie villain plotting trouble.
"Changed nearby. No one saw."
Daredevil's tone was casual, as if recounting a mundane tale.
"But you're going out like that?"
He tapped his mask, hinting at Luke's lack of one.
"Damn it, those creepy ninjas already saw my face. What's the point of hiding now?"
"I thought you'd want them to remember you as just a bulletproof thug, not a targeted enemy."
Luke froze mid-belt adjustment. A quirky thug versus a deliberate threat—he knew the difference.
"Got a spare mask?"
He regretted asking instantly. Daredevil's skintight suit had no pockets for spares.
"Forget it."
Luke fastened his belt, hooked the axe, and pulled his hoodie up, shadowing half his face.
"Our goal's to take those guys out anyway. Doesn't matter."
His bond with Pops was no secret, but Pops could handle himself—otherwise, he wouldn't have survived Hell's Kitchen this long.
"Your weapon feels… different."
Daredevil tilted his head, sensing a dangerous aura from the axe. Blind but perceptive, he caught its edge.
"Cost me a lot to get this power."
Luke's face screamed sacrifice, wasted on a blind man.
"Let's move. Plan time."
"Wait—what plan?"
Daredevil hadn't shared a thing.
"First, a codename. Make you more superhero-like."
A cheap distraction, but it worked on straightforward Luke.
"Got more of that spring water?"
Wang set his iron bucket aside, studying the worn urn, eyeing the white, mud-like residue at its base. He wondered if tasting it would unlock the cow's uncanny strength.
"Your bodies can't handle it."
Bul-Kathos had more water but only this urn's worth was safe. Had Imperius not fought him over it, he wouldn't have kept it. Crystal vials never provoked such a reaction—just a scowl. Thinking it special, he stored it, its weakened power safe for the cow. Raw spring water would burst a mortal.
"Humans are so fragile."
His "whisper" boomed. The cow, Mike, slept sprawled on the floor.
"We're leaving. One bucket a week's enough for now."
Bul-Kathos tugged Gil, who waved the bucket at Wang with his free hand, bidding farewell.
As the Sanctum's door shut, Wang leaned against Mike's sturdy frame, staring at the urn's base, wrestling with a tough choice. Eating a cow's leftovers was a hurdle, and he wasn't sure what the residue was.
"Wang, this cow…"
Other mages approached, curious. The Ancient One's cow order sparked intrigue, even if unquestioned.
"Take turns caring for it. After their share, split the milk among trainees."
Feeling Mike's power, the mages were eager. What could this supernatural cow's milk do? Wang still pondered tasting the ash.
"Heading home now?"
Gil carried the milk bucket, lost in thought—not boredom, but genuine pondering.
"Back we go. That's your dinner."
Bul-Kathos felt something off but couldn't pinpoint it.
"Haven't seen vegetables in days."
Gil's words clicked. As a Nephalem, Bul-Kathos didn't need balanced nutrition—just food to fill him. Gil did.
"There's a convenience store by the park. Let's grab vegetables—or at least a burger."
He led Gil another way, the trip uneventful.
(End of Chapter)
---------------------------------------------------------
🚀 Want more?
📖 Unlock 10+ early chapters on my Patreon!
💖 Support me here: patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
🔓 Get ahead of the story today!