Stick and Elektra

Hell's Kitchen.

Cemetery.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The biting wind kept blowing, stirring up the fallen leaves on the ground and adding even more chill to this already desolate place.

Amid the cold wind,

an old man in a trench coat, his hair completely gray, stood before a tombstone as coldly as the wind itself.

In the photograph on the tombstone, a sunny young man wore a bright smile.

It was none other than Matt Murdock.

"What an irony, Matt. Every day, you wore a mask and skintight clothes, fighting for this city like some ridiculous clown."

"But what did you get in the end?"

"I told you long ago that useless emotions would make you weak. They would get you killed!"

The old man wore sunglasses and gazed into the distance.

He also held a long cane in his hand, speaking in a familiar tone as he sighed before Matt Murdock's grave.

"You were the most talented student I ever taught, but also the stupidest!"

"You wasted your talent and died without a shred of dignity."

"But then, you were my student."

"I've already found the person who killed you. I'll get your dignity back for you."

"May you rest in peace."

With that, the old man placed a flower before Matt Murdock's tombstone.

Just as he straightened up and prepared to leave, the old man suddenly paused.

Without turning around, he said, "Long time no see, Elektra!"

"Stick!"

With that call, a woman who looked both incredibly capable and utterly cold walked over from behind him.

"I knew you would come. You never got over Matt."

Stick spoke to Elektra with absolute certainty.

"Wasn't that why you drove me away? To keep Matt from being distracted. But in the end, Matt left you too."

Elektra's face was expressionless, revealing no emotion at all.

Only when her gaze fell upon Matt Murdock's photograph on the tombstone did sorrow rise in her eyes.

Although she had not seen Matt Murdock for a long time, Elektra had never forgotten the sunny young man who had once entered her life.

Ignoring Stick, Elektra also placed a bouquet before Matt Murdock's grave and silently mourned him.

Only then did she straighten up again.

"You're going to avenge Matt, aren't you? Don't deny it. I heard what you said just now."

Elektra spoke forcefully to Stick. "I'm joining you, whether you agree or not!"

"If you don't agree, I'll act alone. I can do it without you anyway."

"Elektra, since when have you ever needed my permission?" Stick said calmly.

Meanwhile,

inside Kingpin's base,

a deep, muffled sound rang out. A steel plate fixed to the ground suddenly shook violently, and a large hole was forcibly punched through it.

Not only that, but the fractured edges glowed red. The steel had melted under the intense heat and dripped down the plate.

It was a horrifying sight.

Before the steel plate, Kingpin's right fist was also glowing red, radiating terrifying heat and energy that made it impossible for anyone to approach.

"As expected of a Devil Fruit. It truly is miraculous!"

Kingpin could not have been more pleased as he looked at the result of that punch.

A single punch could blast a hole through a steel plate five centimeters thick. What kind of person could withstand a punch like that?

Wade had been right. If Daredevil had not died, one punch would have sent him to meet the Devil.

"Boss, I never expected you to possess such terrifying power after only three days!"

Wesley adjusted his glasses and exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.

If he had heard someone claim that they could punch through a steel plate before, he would have definitely thought they were insane.

Yet now, he had witnessed this unbelievable scene with his own eyes.

"This is the Devil Fruit!"

Kingpin was equally emotional.

Devil Fruits were simply too miraculous. They could actually grant people power so far beyond common sense.

He was indeed fortunate to have obtained such power.

"But Wesley, I still have a long way to go." Kingpin immediately shook his head.

That punch had looked immensely powerful and exaggerated, but it actually needed time to build up.

Kingpin's mastery of his Fruit ability was still very rudimentary.

Turning his fist into steel was manageable. After constant training, he had become fairly proficient at it. But making his fist intensely hot took nearly ten seconds!

In a real battle, who would possibly give you that much time?

I still need to work harder!

As for freely turning other parts of his body into steel for defense, Kingpin was likewise still somewhat unskilled.

His control over turning his chest, waist, abdomen, and other areas into steel was far less natural than controlling his hands.

That was only to be expected.

It was like how people could easily control the muscles in their arms, such as their biceps, but controlling their abs, chest muscles, and so on was very difficult unless they were trained fitness enthusiasts.

"Wesley, how is the development of your Fruit going?"

Kingpin then looked at Wesley with anticipation and asked.

"Barely satisfactory."

Wesley shrugged.

He handled everything, inside and out, for Kingpin. How could he have so much time to develop his Fruit?

"Still, I've made some progress."

Wesley smiled faintly, then abruptly stretched out a hand and pointed at the steel plate.

A bullet shot straight at it, throwing up a spark.

The bullet was not as powerful as one fired from an actual gun. Reaching that level would still require constant training.

"Not bad."

Kingpin nodded.

Wesley was his secretary and butler, not a fighter. He basically had no need to fight anyone, so Kingpin was quite satisfied with his current state.

"Boss, it's about time. You should go pick up Ms. Vanessa."

Wesley checked the time and reminded Kingpin.

"Go prepare the cars."

Kingpin nodded.

After witnessing the miracle of Devil Fruits, Kingpin had decided to buy one for Vanessa as well.

Unfortunately, Vanessa had been busy these past few days and was only able to make time today.

"Understood, Boss."

Wesley answered, then turned and strode out the door without hesitation.

As for Kingpin, he took a quick shower and changed clothes before heading downstairs.

Wesley had already arranged everything there. Four cars stood in a row, waiting for him.

Wesley immediately opened the car door respectfully. Kingpin got in, and the convoy set off at once, leaving a trail of dust behind.