The Gate

The loud clang of metal echoed in the empty underground space as Sean descended in the elevator, with Elektra walking beside him, occasionally sizing up the masked man.

"They won't truly obey me. Whether it's Murakami or Sowande, these leaders of The Hand have their own agendas."

Elektra slipped on a long black coat, a short knife held in her hand. Her beautiful eyes no longer flickered with the cruel, savage glint of the Beast, but instead held the clarity of human thought.

"How can you expect them to submit through force alone? These are old men who have lived for centuries; they won't easily pledge loyalty," the young man chuckled in the dimly lit metal cage. "Killing Alexandra was merely to instill fear. You are The Hand's only Black Sky, a symbol of faith for hundreds of years. Those ninjas have fanatical devotion to you, and that's your opportunity to control this vast organization."

"Then what about Murakami and the others? Kill them all?" A murderous intent flashed through her eyes. Perhaps it was because he was the first person she saw upon regaining consciousness, but Elektra felt a strange, inexplicable trust towards this unfamiliar man.

Sean turned to look at Elektra. Her exquisite, mixed-race face, while now possessing a touch more human vitality, still maintained an icy indifference. As a vessel that had once carried Black Sky, even with her consciousness restored, the missing human emotions would be difficult to immediately recover.

"Killing won't solve the problem. The Hand is a vast organization with a tightly knit internal structure, its reach spanning the globe. It secretly controls numerous multinational trading companies and wields significant power in politics. Take Sowande, the African warlord, for instance; he's manipulated coups in countless countries. Murakami also has close ties with the Japanese giant, Yashida Pharmaceuticals. These are The Hand's true sources of power."

Sean spoke eloquently. He had previously had Wesley investigate The Hand, and combined with the information in his own mind, he could at least sketch out the general outline of this massive organization.

"Then why did you..." Elektra's eyes were full of confusion. If that was the case, why had Sean just pushed her into the leadership position of The Hand?

"The situation will change," the young man in the black mask said calmly. "The other leaders of The Hand currently need Black Sky to deal with the street heroes of Hell's Kitchen. That's why, even though you killed Alexandra, they haven't acted rashly. For now, their most important task is to excavate the Dragon Bone underground to extend their lifespans; everything else can wait."

"This is your chance! When Madame Gao, Murakami, Sowande, and Bokuto are locked in a life-or-death struggle with the street heroes of Hell's Kitchen, you can slowly consolidate the power in your hands."

Elektra gazed at the man beside her. His casual tone carried a terrifying aura of darkness. Perhaps it was the influence of Black Sky, but she found herself strangely captivated by this feeling.

Like a moth drawn to a candle flame in the night, Elektra, having been possessed by Black Sky, felt admiration and recognition for Sean's seemingly casual yet ultimately ruthless schemes and calculations, as if she had found a kindred spirit.

"Of course, all of this depends on your will," Sean paused, then continued. "You have regained your freedom, Elektra. You now have the right to choose your own life... You can leave The Hand and return to Matt Murdock's side, or you can join Stick and destroy this evil organization, The Hand. Life offers countless choices; pursue the life you desire."

Sensing Elektra's astonished gaze, Sean guessed her thoughts and said calmly, "What The Hand values is precisely what I value the least. Extending life by relying on the so-called 'Dragon Bone' – what's the difference between that and those frail old people lying in hospital beds, surviving on oxygen tubes and life support?"

"The meaning of life has never been its length, at least not for me," the young man's voice echoed in the underground space, each word carrying a soul-shattering weight. "Even without your help, I could still hold The Hand in my palm; it would just require a few more steps. Elektra, we are not superficial allies using each other. I don't want anything from you, and you don't need to do anything for me."

Elektra remained silent. In her childhood, she had been adopted by Stick and subjected to harsh, brutal training. Later, she was sent to live with a Greek diplomat's family, becoming a wealthy young lady in high society. For most of her life, she had acted with purpose or a plan. Very few people had ever told her that she had the right to choose freely!

Her black hair obscured Elektra's face as she mumbled, looking as if she had something to say but couldn't. With a "thump," the elevator reached the bottom, and Sean stepped out first.

The dim underground space was filled with a musty, decaying smell. The Hand, using a construction company as a front, had purchased this building and then continuously excavated downwards, attempting to locate the burial site of the Dragon Bone.

They eventually succeeded. After expending immense manpower and resources, The Hand discovered the burial place of the Dragon Bone. Alexandra, upon confirmation, was overjoyed and prepared to commence the excavation work immediately. However, a bucket of cold water was poured over her head, and a sealed door blocked their path.

"Haven't you tried other methods?" Sean ventured deeper into the underground space, spotting the door inscribed with ancient characters.

"Alexandra tried many methods, like explosives and drills. Forceful means were ineffective. This door is a seal set by K'un-Lun. If you don't enter through the correct path, the mechanism behind the door will activate immediately, and the entire space will collapse," Elektra explained.

Sean ran his hand over the obscure characters carved on the door, which seemed to be an ancient language. Only when activated by a certain special power would this door automatically open.

"This seal was set by the Iron Fist of K'un-Lun, so you need another Iron Fist," Sean understood the cause and effect. This door, buried deep underground, could only be activated by K'un-Lun's unique inherited power, "Chi."

"So, Danny Rand is incredibly important to The Hand," Elektra stood before the ancient stone door. Behind this door lay the remains of a Dragon Bone, containing a vast amount of life energy that could bring the dead back to life and extend one's lifespan.

The Hand's ability to have political allies in multiple countries was precisely due to the miraculous properties of the Dragon Bone. Even the wealthy, sitting on mountains of gold, and politicians holding immense power, always had an insatiable desire for life.

Everyone feared the arrival of death. As they aged, they clung more desperately to the beauty of this world. The Hand, possessing a secret medicine that could restore life, naturally attracted and rallied a large number of loyal allies.

"Greed often blinds people," Sean uttered a maxim, his eyes holding profound meaning.

For the leaders of The Hand, this door represented the continuation of life, but perhaps it was also their burial ground.

ps: Bonus chapter task completed, hooray~