C49: The First Appearance of the Hand
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The man bathed in golden chi struck his opponent with a devastating punch infused with the Iron Fist.
He turned toward the bleeding figure on the ground and crouched beside him. "My name is Danny Rand. I'm looking for someone tied to the Hand. I think you're the contact I was meant to find."
"Iron Fist… go home."
Clutching Danny's arm with a trembling grip, the injured man whispered hoarsely.
Danny's expression tensed. "How do you know who I am? That title's only known to those who've been to K'un-Lun."
"Your fight… isn't here." Blood seeped from a deep chest wound, soaking the man's shirt. Gasping, he added, "New York… that's where the trail leads. That's where your answers lie." With that, his strength faded. His head lolled to the side, lifeless.
"New York…"
Staring silently at the corpse, Danny stood up slowly, repeating the name with a strange mix of dread and recognition.
---
Nighttime in New York.
Click—
Claire Temple flicked the light switch as she entered her apartment. The sight of Daredevil slumped on her living room sofa startled her, even more so when she saw the fresh bruises and cuts all over his body.
"You're bleeding again, Matt."
As she shrugged off her jacket, Claire moved to the cabinet and pulled out her well-worn first aid kit. "You've been hurt a lot more lately. What's going on?"
Matt Murdock, his red suit partially torn, shook his head grimly. "It's not safe for you to know too much, Claire. This time… I'm dealing with something different. They're not just criminals. They're an ancient, highly-organized group. Relentless. Fanatical."
Claire knelt down and dabbed at a wound with antiseptic. "I've been at risk since the day I found you bleeding in a dumpster. Don't insult me by pretending I'm not already involved. What am I helping you fight, Matt?"
"…The Hand," Matt finally said, voice low. "A secret society of mystic assassins. They've returned, and they're stronger than ever. Each time they rise, they bring chaos. I'm afraid I might not be able to stop them alone this time. If I fall… Hell's Kitchen could fall with me."
Claire paused. It was rare to see Matt this shaken. "Isn't there any way to get help? Why not go to the police?"
"They work in shadows. The NYPD wouldn't even scratch their surface. If they get involved, they'll only end up as pawns or worse."
Claire wrapped gauze around a gash on his side. "Then don't do this alone. You mentioned that guy before Axing, from Penglai? If what you said about him is true, he could be exactly who you need."
"Axing…"
Matt's mind flashed back to the confrontation at Madam Gao's chi-draining facility, where the man from Penglai had intervened like a phantom, fighting as if he belonged to another world.
---
[Reputation with Sidis +5]
[Reputation with Captain George Stacy +20]
In a modest Manhattan antique shop, Li Ran glanced at the translucent data panel before him and smirked.
The second avatar he deployed using his system's fusion ability was a familiar one—the first D-rank character card he'd drawn fame from: [Phantom Thief Kid].
While Phantom Thief Kid lacked the direct combat prowess of [Axing], his flair for spectacle made him perfect for generating public attention.
Remaining active in New York through the avatar without lifting a finger himself was proving to be an efficient way to gain renown. Previously, Li Ran was cautious not to draw too much attention to himself for fear of being discovered. But now, thanks to his use of [Three Body Technique], which fused character cards into avatars, his risks were drastically reduced.
Unlike the fragile shadow clones from traditional ninjutsu-like techniques, these avatars, once fused with system cards, were durable and more autonomous. They could act on his orders, behaving just like their original personas.
The level of control he now had was a game-changer.
If an avatar ran into trouble, he could simply deactivate the card and vanish without a trace. As long as he avoided recklessness, his true identity would remain secure.
[Reputation with Tony Stark +65]
The alert from the system made Li Ran's grin widen.
A big name had taken notice.
---
Manhattan – Fisk Tower.
An aged voice drifted into the luxurious office atop the skyscraper. "Wilson Fisk, it's been a while."
The figure that stepped in was stooped with age but held a presence that chilled the air—Madame Gao, once the liaison of the Hand in New York.
"I thought you had vanished for good, Madame Gao," Wilson Fisk said from behind his mahogany desk, his massive form rising to its full height.
"I've been… reconsidering my path."
"Should I congratulate you on this epiphany?" he asked dryly.
Gao's eyes flicked to him with cold amusement. "Even in seclusion, news finds me. Word is, things haven't gone smoothly for you lately. Perhaps… you could use an ally."
"I don't need help," Fisk replied flatly, stepping forward. His looming form cast a shadow that engulfed the diminutive woman. "I will deal with my enemies myself like I always have."
"Then I wish you luck, Mr. Fisk."
Unfazed by his intimidation, Gao turned and walked away, vanishing into thin air before the elevator even opened.
---