"This isn't a place for kids to play around." Daredevil's voice was sharp, laced with distrust.
His posture was rigid, the red helmet barely catching the glow of the streetlights, and even without seeing his full face, you could feel the tension in every word.
Jewel crossed her arms and stepped forward, unafraid.
"With all due respect, Daredevil, Fury assigned me to this case directly. I'm not here out of whim. And if you think I'm stepping aside just because you say so, you're wrong."
The silence stretched like a wire about to snap. I could see the faint movement of Daredevil's jaw, clenching his teeth before replying.
"That's exactly why I'm worried, Jewel. If Fury handed this to you, it means things are serious. And I'm not going to stand by while you risk your lives. 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're capable of. They faced the Hand's ninjas and came out on top. They're not just rookies. We're all here because we share a purpose—to stop the Hand. So calm your heart, my friend, and let's talk."
The tension in the air loosened slightly thanks to his serenity, though Daredevil didn't fully relax. I could still sense his unease, his mind constantly calculating what could go wrong.
Then Spider-Man, hanging upside down from a web, dropped gently between us.
"Come on, Hornhead. Don't be such a grump. I mean, isn't it nice to have company for a change?And look at us—we're practically a travel group. You bring the seriousness, Iron Fist brings the wisdom, Jewel the strength, I bring the webs, and Legion… well, Legion brings the surprise factor."
Iron Fist offered a faint smile, Jewel rolled her eyes patiently, and though Daredevil's expression didn't change, his body tension eased just a little.
That's when Iron Fist tilted his head toward me, his voice calm and curious.
"There's something that intrigues me"he said. "During my time in K'un-Lun, I heard stories of strange beings and faced many others in my travels, but none quite like you. May I ask exactly what—or who—you are?"
I brought my clawed hand to my shoulder, touching the Omnitrix. In a flash of green light, the monstrous body retracted, plates and muscles rearranging until I stood there in my human form.
"My name is Legion."I extended my hand toward Iron Fist, who shook it calmly—firm but without hostility."A pleasure. I can transform into different aliens."
Then I offered my hand to Daredevil.
His grip was different—strong, almost testing me, as if he wanted to gauge if I was a threat. Matt had history with the Hand; I was sure his nerves were tight from the situation. That explained his aggression.
I couldn't help rubbing my sore hand afterward.
"I see…"Iron Fist murmured, crossing his arms."An interesting name for someone who changes shapes."
"Trust me, it's not the weirdest thing you'll see this week"Spider-Man chimed in, his tone light and teasing."By the way, how are things with Misty? Have you tried yoga together yet?"
"She prefers martial combat over yoga's calmness, but I haven't given up,"Danny replied with a faint smile.
Jewel, who had been quiet until then, let out a short huff.
"Are we going to keep chatting surrounded by dead ninjas, or are we going to move?"
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea—but what do we do with the bodies?"I asked the group.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that" Danny said, stepping toward one of the corpses. He lifted one of its arms—and it tore off effortlessly from the torso."The Hand's fanatics have a ritual engraved into their bodies called Ketsu-no-Suteru. When one of them falls, nothing remains. The ritual consumes both their flesh and anything they carry"He tossed the arm back to the ground, and as it hit, it melted into a red, gelatinous mass that the shadows slowly absorbed.
No one said a word as we watched the arm dissolve.
"That was… ugh!" Peter gagged, covering his mouth, while Jewel and I turned our heads away—it was honestly a horrifying sight.
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Later, on the rooftop, everyone found a spot. Daredevil stood tall, arms crossed, like a statue. Jewel leaned against the ledge, staring at the horizon. Iron Fist crouched nearby, calm as ever. And of course, Spider-Man clung to a wall, playing with his webs as if we were on break instead of investigating disappearances.
Matt was the first to speak.
"Eighty people in three days. They've never done something like this—not this fast."
Iron Fist nodded slowly.
"I agree. Their actions show haste—they're still organized, but they don't seem to care about attention. I tried to reach out to the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, but Wong told me there's an issue with the Negative Zone. They won't be able to intervene."
Spider-Man raised his hand like he was in class.
"Hold up—we've got ghost ninjas and all that. But sorcerers?"He shrugged."I can roll with ninjas. Magic? That's where you lose me."
"You saw them dissolve, Spider"Jewel replied, arching a brow. "They were literally swallowed by shadows."
"Yeah, but I'd rather think it was some really expensive chemical reaction."Spider-Man tilted his head toward me."Or maybe an alien trick? What do you say, Legion? You've got experience with weird stuff."
I couldn't help smirking under the mask. The mystical Spider-Totem himself not believing in magic—ironic.
"Sorry to disappoint, but no—that's not from my 'sector of weirdness"I said, making air quotes."Magic aside, there's still a question. Why leave the dart? They're in a hurry, sure, but no other scene had any evidence left behind. Eighty victims, and only this one had screams and a recording seconds before the disappearance. I doubt they'd make that kind of mistake."
"It's not a mistake" Matt said flatly."It's a message."
Iron Fist frowned.
"A message for someone specific."
"For who?"Jewel asked.
Spider-Man swung lazily from his web, spinning midair.
"Oh, I got it. Like, 'Hey, come find us—signed, the bad guys in pajamas.' Real subtle."
Then, from the shadows, a seductive female voice broke the silence.
"It wasn't for you, kids. It was for him."
From the darkness, a figure materialized.
First, her long legs—clad in tight black leather that fit like a second skin.
Then, the curve of her waist and shoulders, wrapped in scarlet fabric that burned against the gloom. A crimson veil framed her forehead, revealing smooth skin and carmine lips that dripped with danger.
Her eyes, sharp and dark as blades, gleamed in the faint city light—predatory, magnetic, deadly.
Her hair, black as obsidian, flowed like ink, blending into the very shadow she'd emerged from, giving her an otherworldly, almost spectral presence.
When her boots touched the rooftop, they made no sound—graceful and feline, the movement of someone who had killed in silence more times than she could count. Twin sais hung at her hips, glinting faintly—a quiet promise of violence.
Every motion was calculated, lethal, and yet somehow elegant.
Before anyone could react, she leaned into Daredevil, her body pressed against his. I saw her face tilt dangerously close to his, lips nearly brushing. Her whisper was charged with challenge and familiarity.
"Did the devil miss me?"Her hand traced a circle across Matt's chest.
Daredevil froze for a second. I could feel his breath quicken, though he tried to keep his composure.
Then he moved fast—hands on her shoulders, pushing her back to create distance. His voice was firm, sharp.
"What are you doing here?"
Elektra smiled faintly, eyes gleaming with mischief and danger, saying nothing for a moment, letting the silence thicken between them.
I stayed in the corner, watching every detail—the chemistry, the unspoken history, the threat beneath it all.
"No need to be so cold, Red. I missed you too."A small smirk formed on her lips as she turned to Iron Fist, nodding slightly."It's been a while, protector of K'un-Lun. Didn't expect to find you in the city that never sleeps."
"Elektra Natchios" Danny nodded."My stay here is temporary. But I assume you know why I've come."
"Gorgon."Her voice dripped venom as her expression hardened.
Danny nodded again.
"I've tracked his demonic trail from Madripoor, but once he entered the city, I lost it. That's why I contacted Daredevil for help."
Matt took a step forward.
"You still haven't answered my question, Elektra."
Her gaze softened slightly as she looked back at him.
"I'm tracking Gorgon too. He owes me a blood debt—and I intend to collect."
While the three veterans talked, I only caught fragments—names, mystical terms, half-whispered legends.
"Gorgon." "Sectors of Madripoor." "Corrupted chi energy."
Spider-Man leaned closer to me, lowering his voice.
"Is it just me, or does this sound like we wandered into a kung-fu movie with Avengers-level budget?"
"Sounds the same to me," I said, keeping my eyes on them. Elektra moved like a coiled shadow, Daredevil's fists remained tight, and Iron Fist spoke as if every word weighed a ton.
Jewel sighed.
"Great. Three people who know what they're doing, and we're just standing here like tech support."
Spider-Man raised a hand in mock offense.
"Hey, I at least brought pizza. That should count as tactical support."
I couldn't help but smile under the mask.
"If you think about it, 80% of your missions end with either pizza or sarcasm."
"And it's worked so far,"he shot back proudly.
Jewel shook her head but couldn't hide a tired smile.
"At least you understand what they're talking about. I just hear weird names and vague threats."
"Believe me, I understand less than it looks. The Hand's kept themselves hidden for so long that the few clues left make them sound like nothing more than an ancient myth." I lied smoothly.
Truth was, I barely knew anything about the Hand. But Gorgon—I remembered him being a mutant who could turn people to stone with eye contact, wielded a mystical sword, and was a martial arts master.
Damn it. I know more about Daredevil from the show than from the comics. Really should've read a few issues.
Spider-Man snapped his fingers.
"Perfect! We're the Confused Club. Do we get badges, or do we just stand here pretending we understand?"
"Don't talk too loud," Jewel warned, crossing her arms."Daredevil can hear you even if you whisper in another building."
Spider-Man shrugged but lowered his voice anyway.
"Then let him know I still don't get anything. Maybe they'll loop us in when they're done whispering their secret plans."
"All right, kids, listen up,"Elektra turned, hands resting on her hips. "I don't care what you believe, but if you're doing this with us, you'll do it my way."
"Your way isn't how we operate,"Daredevil crossed his arms."If you came to me, it's because you can't do this alone. So if you're in, you'll do it our way. Understood?"
Elektra glanced at him sideways for a few seconds, then nodded.
"Fine. I'll do it your way."She sighed, then turned her gaze toward me. "By the way, I know the two kids—but you're new."
Before I could answer, Peter placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I think proper introductions are in order, don't you think? Because none of us three know who you are."
I couldn't help but raise a brow under the helmet. You've got guts, Peter—talking like that to one of the deadliest assassins on the planet. My respect.
I wondered if he'd still be that bold once he learned who she truly was.
Elektra fell silent for a moment, then stepped forward. Her voice was low but cutting.
"My name is Elektra Natchios. I was trained by Stick, of the Chaste, and for a time… I was part of the Hand."
Her eyes, cold as tempered steel, swept over us before continuing.
"I left that path years ago. But some debts can only be paid in blood."
She paused briefly, the air heavy with meaning.
"Gorgon is one of them."
Jess, Peter, and I exchanged puzzled glances. It wasn't much—but it was an introduction.
"I'm Legion. I can transform into different aliens."I placed a hand on my chest. "You mentioned a clan. Maybe they could help us?"
The Chaste—Stick's group. Their purpose was to oppose the Hand. If we could get their help, we could end this quickly.
The crimson assassin lowered her gaze slightly.
"They were wiped out two years ago,"Matt said, stepping forward."In a war against the Hand when they tried to take control of New York. That's why this is so important." He turned his head toward me. "It took the entire clan to stop them back then. If it weren't for Stick, I wouldn't have survived either. We can't underestimate them. And now, without the help of Kamar-Taj's mages, I need you all to promise me something—if things go wrong," his 'gaze' shifted between the young heroes and me, "you won't risk your lives. You'll fall back and call for reinforcements."
Once again, the three of us exchanged looks—the seriousness of his words hanging heavy between us.
"Look," I said, stepping closer, "I think I speak for all of us when I say this: from the moment we put on these suits and stepped out to protect people, we knew the risks."
"I've heard you're a man of faith, Daredevil. So I'm asking you—have a little faith in us."
I took another step, lowering my tone.
"Don't carry the weight of something that hasn't happened yet," I said quietly, meeting his unseen eyes.
He didn't answer right away, but the slight nod of his head was enough to show he heard me.
"'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me,'" I smiled faintly, recalling an old man's words from a hospital bed."It's not always about faith in God… sometimes, it's faith that the people beside you can walk that valley with you."
Daredevil stood silent for a few seconds, then lowered his head with a quiet sigh. His shoulders, once tense, finally eased.
"Nice quote," he murmured, almost to himself. "I hope you're right."
Spider-Man, not fully catching the weight of that exchange, joked lightly:
"Well, if we're walking through the valley of death, someone better tell me if there's Wi-Fi."
Jewel let out a small laugh, breaking the tension.
Elektra simply arched a brow, while Danny nodded calmly, a serene smile on his face.
"Well said, young man. If we worry about what hasn't happened yet, we've already lost." Danny rested his hands on his hips.
"You're only twenty-six, Danny. You're not that old to be calling people 'young man" Peter teased, giving him a light shove.
"Yeah, unless you want us to start calling you 'sir" Jewel added with a smirk.
The atmosphere lightened quickly—everyone sharing their thoughts on what to do next. The tone was still serious, but that crushing weight of dread had faded.
I silently watched them—Peter, my childhood hero, joking with a tough girl with violet hair, a lawyer dressed like a devil, a woman who could kill a man with a pencil, and a monk so calm he'd make Master Shifu jealous.
And what filled my heart at that moment was...
FEAR.
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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 problems with alcohol, so I haven't really been in the right mindset to write.
The result still doesn't fully satisfy me—I try to make everything make sense and keep the characters true to themselves, but I still feel like I could do better.It 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.
Anyway, sorry for the delay. I really appreciate all your comments and support. I'll be keeping an eye out for your feedback.
Take care, everyone :)