Jason opened the bronze gift package.
[Congratulations on receiving the reward: Wilderness Survival Proficiency, Free Attribute Value: 14 points]
His 100-kill streak had also granted him an additional 100 attribute points.
Opening the Silver Gift Package, the system announced:
[Congratulations on receiving the reward: Breath-concealing technique]
The breath-concealing technique would allow him to mask his heartbeat, body temperature, and other biological signatures to a significant degree, making him far more difficult to detect! Not bad, though it would have been even better if he'd received something like spider-sense to help him dodge incoming attacks.
Finally, it was time for the grand prize—the gold-level gift package.
[Congratulations on receiving the reward: Soul Defense]
Well, I guess I'm prepared to face another psychic now? Jason thought wryly.
Though it wasn't an ability that directly enhanced his combat prowess, Soul Defense was an invaluable asset in the strange and complex Marvel universe where mental manipulation was all too common.
As Jason contemplated how to distribute his remaining 114 attribute points, he felt a sudden tremor beneath his feet.
Alexandra's eyes widened in alarm. "The power in the dragon bones is being depleted, and the surrounding geological structure is becoming unstable. Manhattan will likely experience a major earthquake!"
Jason immediately snapped to attention. "Let's move!"
Far from the Midtown Financial Building, in a towering skyscraper with a distant view of the square where Daredevil battled the Avengers, Nick Fury had established his temporary headquarters.
On the surveillance feeds, Daredevil maintained an overwhelming advantage in the conflict. Shrouded in a layer of dark energy, he exhibited enhanced strength and speed, while his Radar capability had been similarly amplified. He moved through the battle with unsettling ease, seemingly anticipating his opponents' movements before they even executed them.
Even sniper rounds fired from considerable distances were effortlessly evaded.
It was only thanks to these distant marksmen that Black Widow and her team had managed to hold out this long.
Fury had already contacted the state government. The National Guard was en route with tanks and artillery. He'd also authorized the deployment of classified high-tech weaponry that hadn't been intended for public knowledge—these too would arrive shortly.
This allowed him to sit somewhat calmly at his command station, sipping coffee to settle his nerves.
Watching the monitor as Wade was knocked backward yet again, Fury frowned.
Something felt off. Why did this demonically-enhanced Daredevil seem weaker than anticipated? Was he holding back, concealing some greater power?
Fury shook his head. Although the question nagged at him, he had committed all available resources to Daredevil's defeat. The truth would eventually come to light.
So focused was he on the square that he initially missed the tiny ripple that appeared on the surface of his coffee.
But soon, it became impossible to ignore.
The monitor in front of him suddenly shuddered, and he felt his body being pushed slightly.
"What the—"
His expression turning grave, Fury glanced at Agent Hill beside him. "Did you feel that?"
Disbelief registered on Hill's face. "Is that... an earthquake?"
After confirming they'd both experienced the same sensation, Fury immediately barked, "Goddammit! Why is New York having an earthquake now, of all times? Is it minor or are we looking at something serious?"
"I'll contact the U.S. Geological Survey immediately," Hill responded, already reaching for her comm unit.
The tremors intensified with each passing second. Everyone in the command center could feel the building swaying beneath them.
Yet bizarrely, the Geological Survey reported that all seismic monitoring systems showed normal activity.
Fury wanted to curse them out. I'm standing in a building that's shaking like a damn leaf, and you're telling me everything's normal? Incompetent bureaucrats!
With no other option, he ordered an immediate evacuation of the command center.
But his primary concern remained the confrontation in the square, where long-range snipers were now severely compromised by the tremors. The National Guard and specialized weapons he'd mobilized would likely be unable to reach their designated positions!
"Dammit!"
At that precise moment, Hill approached him with an even more disturbing report, her expression grave.
"Director, we have multiple reports of seemingly unrelated conflicts breaking out between agents and police officers along the first and second defensive perimeters."
Fury's blood ran cold—this was exactly what he'd feared might happen.
Taking a deep breath to center himself, he asked, "What exactly are we dealing with?"
Hill hesitated. "We've identified over a dozen similar incidents occurring throughout the surrounding blocks. It's as if some invisible force is slowly spreading outward."
She checked her earpiece. "Based on our observations, May, Ward, Rumlow, and others in the Avengers team..." She suddenly fell silent, pressing her hand against her comm unit, her face draining of color.
"What is it?" Fury asked, a sense of dread rising in his chest.
"Agent Barton just breached the first defensive line and opened fire on his own team. He's already taken down seven or eight officers!"
"GODDAMMIT!"
Fury's shout echoed through the command center.
This time, his dizziness had nothing to do with the trembling building.
Where's my pager? I need to make an emergency call!
In the meeting room on the seventh floor of the Financial Building, the Snakeroot priests who had been smugly plotting world domination now lay sprawled across the floor, unmoving.
Kingpin calmly picked up the red ghost mask from the ground, not bothering to spare a glance at the fallen conspirators.
What kind of amateur operation is this? he thought contemptuously. These fools actually believed they could rule the world?
I wouldn't even dare entertain such a grandiose fantasy!
Idiots, all of them, intoxicated by their own delusions of grandeur!
Beside him, Izanami grinned wickedly. "These guys, I served them a 'celebratory' drink, and they actually gulped it down without hesitation. How naive!"
Kingpin chuckled, then let out a sudden sigh.
Izanami startled at the unexpected sound. "Boss... is something wrong?"
Kingpin shook his head. "If only all my adversaries were this gullible."
Izanami silently lamented, Sure, because life hands out miracles like that every day.
Kingpin twirled the red ghost mask in his massive hands. "So if I put this on, I can control Daredevil?"
"Yes, boss!"
He raised the mask toward his face but paused midway, a half-smile playing across his features. "You aren't lying to me, are you?"
Izanami shuddered involuntarily. "Of course not, boss!"
Kingpin held his gaze for a long, uncomfortable moment before nodding. "Good."
At first, nothing unusual happened when he donned the red mask.
Both men exhaled in relief.
Then suddenly, dark demonic energy erupted from the mask's surface. It burrowed into Kingpin's flesh, slithering beneath his skin like shadowy serpents.
"Aaaghh!"
He released a guttural roar of agony. Izanami's eyes widened in horror. What was happening?
Kingpin's enormous frame dropped to his knees.
Inky blackness began to seep into his eyes.
But soon, his struggles ceased. He rose to his feet with an unsettling calm.
"Boss, are you okay?"
"Shh!"
Without answering, Kingpin lashed out with devastating force.
Izanami's head exploded like an overripe melon, his lifeless body collapsing to the floor.
"Idiot! You neglected to mention how excruciating the bonding process would be!"
The building continued to shake violently. Tables and chairs scraped against the floor, creating a cacophony of harsh, discordant sounds.
Kingpin methodically wiped the blood and brain matter from his hands.
In the distance, sporadic gunfire and explosions shattered the night's silence.
Chaos was spreading.
Through the windows, beneath the night sky, pinpoints of fire radiated outward from the Financial Building at its epicenter.
If one listened carefully, the night wind carried the sounds of curses, bestial roars, helpless cries, and agonized groans...
A twisted, maniacal smile distorted Kingpin's features. "Hahaha! Great Beast, your power has finally manifested! Soon, we shall rule this world!"
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