c27: An Inconvenient Reward, Karl Who Was Driven Away
Karl and Skye had dinner and then took a walk home through the dimly lit streets of New York, a city that never truly slept, even under the constant shadow of threats like HYDRA and the remnants of Wilson Fisk's underground empire.
They arrived at Skye's home.
Karl experienced the excellence of the Superwoman suit once again. The material, clearly not of ordinary Earth origin, felt closer to Kryptonian battle fabric similar in resilience to what Kara Zor-El would wear under a yellow sun lightweight yet incredibly durable, capable of withstanding immense pressure without tearing.
However, it seemed the Superwoman suit needed a wash.
Because, well...
But if he washed it, would it lose its adaptive properties? After all, Kryptonian-derived materials were known to react unpredictably to Earth chemicals, much like how certain alien alloys in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s archives resisted standard cleaning agents.
...
Twelve o'clock.
Skye didn't even wash up before falling into a deep sleep. After all, she was truly exhausted. Even with her Inhuman physiology awakened by Terrigenesis, Skye also known as Daisy Johnson was still adapting to her powers, and her physical endurance had limits.
Since he was young, Karl had been exercising and practicing combat skills. After all, this was the Marvel Universe.
Although there were many superheroes like Spider-Man and the Avengers, there were also countless supervillains lurking in the shadows figures like Wilson Fisk, whose influence stretched across the city.
Even if he had been an ordinary person before, practicing a few moves might just save his life at a critical moment.
Unexpectedly, over the past twenty-five years, Karl hadn't really fought anyone. Not like the street-level battles that Matt Murdock faced nightly in Hell's Kitchen.
The body he had trained had instead found use in other places.
Even though Karl had a few girlfriends, Skye had previously only just managed to hold her own.
Now that Karl had obtained the Silver Superman Template, a power set clearly modeled after a high-tier Kryptonian under full solar radiation, rivaling even the upper limits of Clark Kent in certain continuities Skye was completely defeated.
...
At this moment, the system's notification sound rang out.
[Ding! Host, you can check in today. Do you want to check in immediately?]
Karl did not hesitate and nodded, saying, "Check in."
[Ding! Check-in successful.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Catwoman suit.]
"Catwoman?"
Karl was slightly surprised.
For a moment, he couldn't recall who this Catwoman was.
A superhero?
As the system's sound faded, some clothing appeared in front of Karl.
He subconsciously took it into his hands.
This time, the clothing looked quite simple.
It was just a one-piece outfit and an eye mask.
Both were black and seemed to be made of high-grade leather, similar to the stealth suits used by Gotham's elite vigilantes.
"So it's this Catwoman."
Looking at the suit in his hands, Karl finally remembered Selina Kyle the master thief of Gotham City, known for her agility, stealth, and complicated relationship with Bruce Wayne.
The design clearly resembled the version seen in The Dark Knight Rises, emphasizing flexibility and concealment over brute defense.
Hmm... It seemed quite nice, didn't it?
Karl put on an innocent smile.
This way, the Superwoman suit could also be washed without worry.
Placing the Catwoman suit aside, Karl went to wash up in a pleasant mood. After washing up, he went straight to rest.
...
The next day.
Karl experienced the excellence of the Catwoman suit.
Honestly, this suit was truly beautiful.
Moreover, it had a completely different aesthetic compared to the Superwoman suit less about overwhelming power, more about precision and agility, much like the difference between Kryptonian warriors and Gotham's street-level operatives.
However, there was one point where it didn't compare to the Superwoman suit.
It wasn't very convenient.
It still needed some manual improvements, especially in terms of flexibility and quick removal mechanisms features that someone like Black Widow would consider essential in combat gear.
Hmm.
After the modifications, it was also quite good.
...
On the third day, Karl checked in and received the Wonder Woman suit, clearly inspired by the armor of Diana Prince, complete with Amazonian design elements and symbolic craftsmanship tied to Themyscira.
On the fourth day, it was the Flash suit.
Karl didn't give this item to Skye because the design was clearly not suitable for women to wear, especially considering its structure was tailored to match the physiology of speedsters like Barry Allen, with aerodynamic lines meant to reduce friction during high-velocity movement.
Karl didn't want to wear it either, so he just put it aside.
The Flash suit truly didn't suit his taste.
It was on this day that Skye pushed Karl out the door and said somewhat helplessly, "Hey, Karl."
"You should hurry home. Don't you have many relatives and friends waiting for you?"
"Go find them."
She finally couldn't take it anymore and kicked Karl out of the house.
There was no other way; she was simply no match for him. Having to battle several times a day even for an Inhuman was too exhausting.
"Alright..."
Karl looked at the closed door and shrugged with a smile.
If he wanted to, Skye, even with her seismic abilities, certainly couldn't push him. It was just that Karl hadn't resisted.
He smiled and said, "Then I'll head back, and I'll come to see you again in a while."
From behind the door came Skye's weak voice, "Okay, just let me rest properly for a while."
Karl looked through the door and, using his enhanced perception similar to Kryptonian sensory abilities saw Skye return to bed to continue resting.
Karl smiled, and his figure disappeared instantly, his speed rivaling low-tier speedsters, though still far from the Speed Force domain.
At the same time, he returned to his own home and began to wash up.
Skye had kicked Karl out as soon as she woke up in the morning.
He hadn't even washed his face.
Honestly, Karl felt that she was going a bit too far.
If you want me to go home, fine, I'll go home. But not even letting me wash up and eat breakfast?
It would have been better to leave after eating.
Karl decided he would properly educate Skye in the future.
...
In a café in Hell's Kitchen, Matt Murdock was drinking coffee with a colleague.
"Listen, Matthew, I hope you can try to take cases for those rich people."
"It's not important whether they are guilty or not; what matters is that you make money."
"Impossible."
Matthew refused very decisively. As Daredevil, he naturally upheld a strict moral code, acting as a guardian of the innocent rather than a tool for the wealthy elite.
The colleague just sighed and didn't say anything more.
Daredevil drank his coffee, but in his mind, he was thinking about what happened a few days ago.
The mysterious You-Know-Who someone powerful enough to instantly eliminate Kingpin's subordinates and even extort Wilson Fisk himself had left a deep impression on him.
Even though Daredevil couldn't see, his miraculous sensory abilities still allowed him to clearly perceive that this person was extremely dangerous.
Through his enhanced hearing, bioelectric awareness, and radar sense abilities that functioned almost like a living sonar similar to the echolocation of a bat, he could "see" the outline of Karl's body and feel the abnormal energy radiating from him.
Whether it was the terrifying heat vision, reminiscent of Kryptonian abilities, or the overwhelming physical strength. After all, Daredevil had experienced it personally.
After being casually struck by Karl, Matt Murdock had been sent flying like he was hit by a speeding truck. His body had smashed through obstacles and ultimately fallen into the cold waters of the harbor.
He had struggled just to crawl out of the sea, his muscles trembling and his bones screaming in pain. At that time, he couldn't move at all, his nervous system overwhelmed by the sheer force of the impact.
It was only after a few hours, relying on sheer willpower, that he managed to get himself to a hospital. Even then, his injuries fractured ribs, internal bleeding, and severe trauma were comparable to the aftermath of one of his battles against Wilson Fisk at his most brutal.
Afterwards, he rested at home for several days before he was mostly recovered.
You have to know, Daredevil could not only hear sounds within several kilometers and possessed radar senses, but his physical condition had also been honed to peak human levels through constant training and combat, rivaling elite fighters like Shang-Chi in technique, if not discipline.
Whether it was speed, strength, or stamina, none of it could be compared to an ordinary person.
But even so, Daredevil was beaten so badly by Karl that he couldn't move for a long time.
This was the most serious injury he had ever suffered. There was no exception not even his encounters with assassins like Bullseye had left him this incapacitated.
Fortunately, his recovery ability was very strong. Now he could finally work normally.
However, high-intensity combat was still not possible, as his body had yet to fully return to peak condition.
Actually, Daredevil didn't know that Karl hadn't intended to kill at that time.
Otherwise, Daredevil would have ended up no differently from the monsters Karl had obliterated in previous missions completely erased without resistance.
At this moment, Matthew suddenly picked up a faint but distinct fragrance.
His heightened sense of smell immediately analyzed it light floral notes mixed with a subtle trace of expensive perfume, something commonly associated with high-end individuals in Manhattan's upper class.
A beautiful woman with brown hair entered the café.
Her footsteps were steady, confident, and precise. To Daredevil's radar sense, her silhouette appeared perfectly proportioned, with a posture that suggested training graceful, yet ready to react at any moment, much like operatives he had encountered before, such as Natasha Romanoff.
This woman had a good figure and exquisite features. After entering the café, she found a seat and sat down. She ordered food and waited, her movements calm and composed, carrying an air of noble elegance.
Daredevil hesitated briefly, then made a decision.
He picked up his blind cane and walked toward the location where the lady was.
The woman didn't pay much attention to Daredevil at first, but after noticing that the other person was visually impaired, her demeanor softened slightly.
The two exchanged a few simple words.
Matthew kept his tone gentle and composed, masking his probing questions behind casual conversation, while quietly analyzing her breathing, heartbeat, and muscle tension.
The woman, however, remained guarded beneath her polite exterior.
After a short while, she glanced at her watch and said, "I have something to do, I'll be going now."
Then, she stood up and left the café.
During the brief conversation, Matthew found himself unexpectedly relaxed. It had been a long time since he had spoken to someone without the weight of crime and justice hanging over the interaction.
"Damn, I forgot to ask for her name..."
Matthew reacted immediately and chased after her outside the café.
However, the moment the woman noticed him following, her perception shifted instantly.
Her muscles tensed, her breathing stabilized, and her stance subtly changed. In that instant, her presence transformed from a refined civilian into something far more dangerous.
She mistook Daredevil for a pursuer or potential threat.
Without hesitation, she turned and launched a precise strike, her movements sharp and efficient, clearly trained in combat more akin to an intelligence agent or assassin than an ordinary civilian.
The fight began in an instant.
...
After washing up and finishing breakfast, Karl sat on the sofa drinking something casually, his posture relaxed as if nothing in the world could threaten him.
Even the chaos of New York home to heroes like Tony Stark and vigilantes like Daredevil felt insignificant to him now.
"A bit boring..."
Karl stretched lazily.
Skye wasn't around, so he couldn't experience the excellence of those specialized suits again, whether it was the Kryptonian-style Superwoman suit or the stealth-focused Catwoman suit.
Should he go check on his own bar?
It was still morning, and the bar hadn't opened yet. The nightlife scene of New York wouldn't come alive until much later.
Hmm... Maybe he should check on his other girlfriends instead.
Thinking this, Karl activated his Super Vision.
His eyes glowed faintly as his vision pierced through walls, buildings, and distance itself, an ability nearly identical to the x-ray and telescopic vision possessed by Clark Kent.
A moment later, he locked onto a familiar figure.
A beautiful woman with brown hair.
At this moment, that very woman was outside, engaged in combat.
And her opponent was a man wearing sunglasses, holding a cane.
Karl narrowed his eyes slightly.
That figure…
Was unmistakably Matt Murdock.