On the seventh floor of the Financial Building, inside a spacious conference room, Kingpin and the Snakeroot Priests had gathered to monitor the unfolding chaos.
The Five Fingers were conspicuously absent.
All eyes remained fixed on the battle below. As they witnessed Daredevil single-handedly decimating his opponents, satisfied smiles spread across their faces.
The white-haired elder of the Snakeroot Priests sneered triumphantly. "The Shadow Realm approaches, and these mortals cannot resist the Beast Lord's will! They shall all become slaves to my God!"
One of the older priests glanced cautiously toward Kingpin and lowered his voice. "Alexandra and the others haven't returned. I wonder what they're planning."
The white-haired elder continued watching Daredevil's rampage thoughtfully before shaking his head. "I've long suspected their conspiracy. But it matters not—we serve the Beast God faithfully. Soon, his power will engulf all of Manhattan, and absolute authority shall be ours! Though the Five Fingers nominally lead the Hand, they must ultimately bow to Snakeroot's command!"
The others nodded in agreement.
None noticed that during their clandestine conversation, Kingpin had quietly slipped away.
He entered an adjacent room where a man in an immaculate blue suit awaited him.
"Izanami," Kingpin immediately inquired, "where are the Five Fingers?"
The suited man shook his head. "Unknown. In all my years of infiltration, I've only discovered vague references to some hidden chamber within this building. But its entrance eludes me."
Kingpin's brow furrowed. "You're suggesting they're concealing something?"
Izanami shook his head. "Not 'concealing'—this place holds tremendous importance. It appears directly connected to their resurrection techniques, though specifics remain unclear."
Kingpin nodded thoughtfully. Izanami had been his embedded operative within the Hand for years, providing invaluable intelligence about the Five Fingers. Without such inside information, he would never have risked collaboration with them.
"The relationship between the Five Fingers and Snakeroot is more adversarial than they portray?"
"Indeed. Snakeroot safeguards many Hand secrets, earning reverence from the Five Fingers despite lacking direct authority. Snakeroot has long coveted leadership, but the Five Fingers deemed them too ambitious, withholding support for the Beast's summoning. Everything changed a year ago when Alexandra somehow accessed Snakeroot's secret vault. Whatever she discovered inside prompted immediate preparations for the Beast's arrival ceremony."
Kingpin's lips curled into a contemptuous sneer. "So Madam Gao's tale about avenging the Hand's losses against Hell's Butcher was pure fabrication!"
Izanami nodded silently.
After a moment's reflection, Kingpin said, "We'll deal with that later. Is your intelligence about controlling the Beast reliable?"
"Absolutely! When Snakeroot performed the ritual, they declared 'the beast is the supreme ruler,' but they've implemented means to control the possessed vessel! It's the red ghost mask they carry! With it, one commands the demonized Daredevil! The Snakeroot Priests aspire not to serve the Beast, but to master it! That's the true source of their conflict with the Five Fingers!"
Kingpin nodded thoughtfully. "If I can discern Snakeroot's machinations, surely the Five Fingers have as well. They invited me into this scheme merely as a counterweight against Snakeroot—checks and balances that facilitate their own agenda."
Izanami agreed. "But the Five Fingers may remain unaware that the priests can control the demonized Daredevil!"
Kingpin smiled, cold calculation flashing behind his eyes. "What a delightful quagmire! Victory, it seems, shall belong to whoever demonstrates superior cunning."
Izanami returned the smile. "The ultimate victor remains uncertain, but Snakeroot shall certainly fall first! Those pompous scholars have spent too many years in luxury studying ancient texts—their schemes are embarrassingly transparent!"
Kingpin chuckled appreciatively. "Very well, Izanami. Go teach them a lesson. Once you've secured the red ghost mask, we'll uncover whatever conspiracy the Five Fingers have set in motion!"
"As you wish."
...
Deep beneath the city lay a vast subterranean chamber.
An enormous stone door stood imposingly upright.
The Five Fingers assembled before this ancient barrier. Behind them, Elektra maintained a posture of respectful submission. The stone surface now rippled with energy—golden power and black force locked in violent opposition.
The Five Fingers watched intently, their wide eyes, clenched fists, and rigid postures betraying profound tension.
"Will it succeed?"
"Yes! The Beast's power is incredibly corrosive—it will breach this stone door!"
"The first Iron Fist's seal is remarkably potent. We've exhausted every method over the years without success. The Beast God's power represents our final hope!"
"And if it fails? This operation's might be discovered at any moment!"
"Why the panic? Haven't we excavated a secondary escape route? If the elevator shaft is compromised, demolish it! It's already served its purpose!"
"Enough bickering!"
Alexandra silenced them with an authoritative gesture. "If the Beast's power proves insufficient, we'll temporarily withdraw and await the current Iron Fist's departure from K'un-Lun. But remember—few dragon bones remain outside Kunlun Mountain. Considering the resources expended resurrecting Murakami and Sowande, the five of us may not endure until then!"
Murakami and Sowande shifted uncomfortably at this reference.
"Our demise was hardly our fault. None anticipated Hell's Butcher's extraordinary power."
"And that incompetent Kingpin—allowing two traitors among his team! Utterly worthless!"
As they argued, the energies battling at the stone door shifted dramatically.
Black demonic power began overwhelming the golden barrier.
With a resonant "CRACK," a fissure appeared in the ancient stone.
"It's opening!"
"Magnificent!"
"A complete dragon skeleton lies within! Enough to sustain us for millennia!"
The five advanced and shattered the weakened door with several focused strikes. A colossal dragon skeleton materialized before them.
At that precise moment, a dull impact echoed from the elevator shaft behind them.
The elevator doors exploded outward from a single devastating punch as two figures—one male, one female—emerged from the smoke.
Jason.
Surveying the scene, he smiled cheerfully. "Greetings, everyone! So this is where you've been hiding! Well, hello there, Murakami-san and Sowande-san! Finding hell too uncomfortable, so you've returned to the mortal realm? Why not flee while you can? But here you are meeting me again, and I'll happily arrange your return journey!"
His gaze shifted past them. "This must be the legendary dragon bone!"
"Who are you?"
Without his mask, they failed to recognize him immediately.
An arc of electricity danced at Jason's fingertips, and recognition dawned in their eyes. "Iron Man! You're still alive! How did you locate this chamber?"
Jason glanced toward Alexandra, who had posed the question. "My lovely Alessa provided directions, of course."
Only then did Madam Gao notice the figure half-concealed behind him.
She immediately erupted in rage. "Alessa! How dare you betray me!"
Jason's expression hardened instantly. "Old witch, address her in that tone again, and I'll tear out your tongue!"
Alexandra's face darkened with fury.
"How did you evade the Black Wolf Spider?"
He met her glare without flinching.
"I didn't evade him. I ended him. There's a difference."
As if on cue, a system notification chimed:
[Black Wolf Spider eliminated. Five-star gold-level package acquired.]
Before Jason could examine the reward, Madam Gao barked her command: "Elektra, kill them!"
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