On the seventh floor of the Financial Building, the massive conference room was filled with tension thick enough to choke on. Wilson Fisk stood alongside the Snakeroot Priests, their attention locked on the chaos unfolding far below. The only absence was the Five Fingers themselves, and that absence hung in the air like an unspoken warning.
From the large windows, they watched as Daredevil tore through enemies with relentless precision. One man against a swarm, yet somehow still standing. The priests exchanged satisfied glances, their confidence swelling with every body that hit the ground.
The white-haired elder of the Snakeroot Priests let out a dry, rasping laugh. His lips curled into something that barely resembled human warmth as he leaned forward, eyes gleaming with fanatic devotion. "The Shadow Realm is almost upon us. These fools think they can resist the will of the Demon Lord? They'll all become slaves to my god soon enough."
Another priest, older and more cautious, shifted uneasily. His gaze flicked toward Kingpin before lowering his voice. "Alexandra and the others didn't follow through. They're missing. That alone tells us something's wrong. They're planning something behind our backs."
The white-haired priest narrowed his eyes, considering that for a brief moment before dismissing it with a shake of his head. "Of course they are. I expected as much. But it doesn't matter. Our duty is to serve the Beast. Once its power spreads across Manhattan, everything else becomes irrelevant. The Five Fingers may hold titles, but in the end, even they will kneel to the Snakeroot."
The others nodded, their faith unshaken. They didn't notice the moment Kingpin quietly stepped away, slipping out of the room like a shadow peeling off the wall.
He moved down the hallway and entered a smaller side room where a man in a sharp blue suit waited. The moment their eyes met, Kingpin's expression hardened into something cold and calculating.
"Chiriqui," he said evenly. "Where are the Five Fingers?"
The man shook his head, his voice steady but cautious. "I don't know. I've spent years embedded within their ranks, and the most I've uncovered is that there's a hidden chamber somewhere inside this building. But the entrance… I've never been able to find it."
Kingpin frowned, his thick fingers tapping slowly against his arm. "So they're hiding."
"It's more than that," Chiriqui replied, shaking his head. "That place isn't just a hiding spot. It's important—critical, even. It seems connected to their resurrection process. But the specifics… they've kept that buried."
Kingpin absorbed that in silence, his mind already turning over possibilities. Chiriqui had been planted inside the Hand years ago. Every piece of intelligence he provided had been accurate so far, and that made this information far too significant to ignore.
"I take it the alliance between the Five Fingers and the Snakeroot Priests isn't as stable as it appears," Kingpin said.
"Not even close," Chiriqui answered. "Snakeroot holds many of the Hand's deepest secrets. That's why the Five Fingers tolerate them, even revere them in some ways. But they don't trust them. And they definitely don't give them real authority."
He paused briefly before continuing. "Snakeroot wants power. The Five Fingers think they're too ambitious, too dangerous. For years, they refused to fully commit to summoning the Beast because of that. But about a year ago, Alexandra managed to access a sealed vault belonging to the priests. Whatever she saw in there changed everything. After that, preparations for the Beast's descent began in earnest."
A cold smile spread across Kingpin's face. "So Madam Gao's story about heavy losses and revenge… was nothing but a lie."
Chiriqui nodded once.
Kingpin let out a quiet breath, then waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it. We'll deal with them later. Tell me—this information about controlling the Beast. Is it reliable?"
"It is," Chiriqui said without hesitation. "During the summoning rituals, they refer to the Beast as a supreme ruler. But that's not the truth. They've found a way to control its vessel. The key is the red ghost mask. With it, they can dominate the one chosen to carry the Beast's power."
Kingpin's eyes narrowed slightly.
"In this case," Chiriqui continued, "that vessel is Daredevil."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
"So the priests don't intend to serve the Beast at all," Kingpin said slowly. "They intend to control it."
"Exactly," Chiriqui replied. "That's why they've turned against the Five Fingers."
Kingpin gave a low chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "What a tangled mess. Every side plotting against the other. It's almost impressive."
He straightened slightly, his tone turning colder. "The Five Fingers must already suspect this. Inviting me into their plan was probably just a way to introduce another variable—someone to keep the priests in check while they move behind the scenes."
Chiriqui inclined his head. "But they may not realize the priests can control the Beast's host."
Kingpin's lips curled faintly. "Then this becomes a matter of who moves first… and who moves smarter."
Chiriqui smiled, a hint of contempt slipping through. "No matter how it ends, the priests won't last. They've spent too long buried in books and rituals. They don't understand how real power works."
Kingpin nodded once, decisive. "Then go. Teach them that lesson. Take the red ghost mask. After that, we'll see what the Five Fingers are really hiding."
"Yes."
…
Far beneath the building, buried deep underground, a vast chamber stretched into darkness. The air was heavy, ancient, carrying a weight that felt older than the city above.
At the center stood a colossal stone door, its surface etched with symbols worn down by time. In front of it, the Five Fingers stood shoulder to shoulder, their usual composure replaced by visible tension.
Behind them, Elektra Natchios stood with her head lowered, silent and obedient.
The stone door trembled violently. A golden force clashed against a surging tide of black energy, the two powers grinding against each other like opposing worlds colliding.
"Will it work?" one of them muttered, unable to hide the strain in his voice.
"It has to," another replied. "The Beast's power corrodes everything. Even this seal won't hold forever."
"The first Iron Fist's seal has resisted us for years," someone else added. "We've tried everything. This is our only chance."
"And if it fails?" another snapped. "This entire operation could collapse. We're exposed."
"Calm down," a voice cut through sharply. "We already prepared an escape route. If the elevator shaft is compromised, we destroy it. It's expendable."
"Enough."
Alexandra raised her hand, silencing them instantly. Her eyes remained fixed on the door as she spoke, her tone steady but edged with urgency. "If this doesn't work, we withdraw. We wait for the current Iron Fist to descend from K'un-Lun. But remember this—our dragon bone reserves are limited. And if we revive Murakami and Sowanda again, we may not survive long enough to see that day."
Murakami and Sowanda exchanged uncomfortable looks.
"That's not on us," one of them muttered. "We didn't expect that devil-faced bastard to be that strong."
"And Kingpin?" the other added bitterly. "Letting two traitors slip into a nine-man team. Useless."
Their argument was cut short as the balance of power shifted.
The black energy surged forward, overwhelming the golden light. The stone door trembled violently before a sharp crack echoed through the chamber.
A fracture appeared.
"It's opening!"
Excitement erupted instantly.
"Finally!"
"There's an entire dragon skeleton behind that door! Enough to sustain us for centuries!"
They rushed forward, unleashing their power. Within moments, the massive door shattered under the assault.
Beyond it, illuminated by faint, eerie light, lay the remains of a colossal dragon skeleton.
Before anyone could react further, a heavy, dull impact echoed from behind.
All heads turned.
From the elevator shaft, the doors exploded outward as if struck by overwhelming force. Two figures stepped through the smoke—a man and a woman.
Rex Viper.
He looked around, taking in the scene with an easy smile, as though he had just walked into a casual gathering instead of the heart of their operation. "Well, well. So this is where you've all been hiding."
His gaze landed on two familiar faces, and his grin widened slightly. "Murakami. Sowanda. Didn't expect to see you crawling back from hell. What's wrong? Not enjoying the afterlife?"
He tilted his head, voice light but edged with mockery. "Why not run? You know how this ends if we meet again."
Then his eyes shifted past them, locking onto the massive skeleton beyond. His expression sharpened with interest. "And that… must be the legendary dragon bone."
"Who are you?" one of them demanded.
He wasn't wearing a mask this time. For a brief moment, confusion flickered across their faces—until a faint arc of electricity danced across his fingertips.
Recognition hit like a hammer.
"Iron Man… you're alive?!"
Their shock was obvious. "How did you even find this place?"
Rex let out a low chuckle, glancing toward Alexandra. "Simple. My dear Nine Spiders led me right to your front door."
Only then did Madam Gao notice the figure partially hidden behind him. Her expression twisted instantly, fury flashing in her eyes.
"Nine Spiders… you dare betray me?!"
Rex's smile vanished, replaced by something cold and sharp. His voice dropped, carrying a quiet threat that cut deeper than any shout. "Say that again, and I'll rip your tongue out."
"Bastard!" Alexandra's expression darkened further. "How did you escape the Black Wolf Spider?"
Rex shrugged casually. "Escape? Don't flatter him. He's dead."
As if on cue, a system notification echoed faintly in his mind, confirming the kill and awarding a high-tier reward.
Madam Gao's face twisted with rage as she snapped, "Elektra… kill them!"
....
Join my P@treon FOR FREE and get 5 advanced chapters.
Paid members can get upto 60+ chapters ahead of the public release.
Link : [email protected]/thebookaddict