"It's not the first time, haven't you gotten used to it yet?"
Bullseye didn't usually talk much, but when he did, one wished he hadn't.
His words instantly ignited Matt's fury, reminding him of a girl named Karen Page—reminding him that back then, it had been exactly like this.
Consequently, before Bullseye could even react, the tip of Daredevil's thrown billy club pierced his shoulder. Matt then violently hauled him forward and, in a single motion, shattered his goddamn hands.
Yet, Bullseye still found an opening to resist. He swung his arm, using the back of his hand to whip his broken-boned limb across Daredevil's face. This only incited Daredevil's rage further. He slammed punch after punch into Bullseye's face before dragging him up and shoving him toward the edge of the rooftop.
He heard the sound of Bullseye's tongue swirling around his broken teeth, so he followed up with a punch that sent the remaining shards flying out. Spitting out teeth and blood, Bullseye began to chuckle, a raspy "hehehe" escaping his throat.
"Just like last time, right? Last time you thought gravity would kill me, but it didn't. I survived. Maybe it'll be the same this time? The Hand guys were right—you're a coward. You don't have the guts to kill."
Then, Bullseye heard exactly the words he wanted.
"This time is different."
Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and the others, having rushed to the scene, arrived just in time to see Daredevil snap Bullseye's neck. He let out a roar toward the heavens and collapsed to his knees, as if all strength had left his body. His friends gathered around him, yet they remained silent.
Matt's mind was unnervingly calm.
Aside from himself, Spider-Man, Logan—who had brought the intel on Daken—and Gwen, who was using Mysterio's helmet to smooth over the inconsistencies, no one else present knew the truth. They all believed Elektra was truly dead at this moment, and Matt's grief was genuine.
Or rather, everything that had transpired up to this point was so unexpectedly brutal that the others could not imagine it was a pre-arranged performance.
Matt felt his unnaturally steady heartbeat, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
However, while he was pummeling Bullseye, that sensation hadn't been an act. He truly felt an unprecedented rage coupled with an unprecedented sense of release. Although similar feelings had surfaced while fighting crime before, this was the first time it was so vivid and distinct.
Matt realized once again that he wasn't just fighting crime; he was enjoying it. He was enjoying the raw violence itself.
Is this why the Hand chose me...
Matt stood up in the silence, walked to "Elektra's" body, and picked her up. He then left with her in his arms. The others intended to follow, but Logan blocked their path. "Let him be alone. Don't disturb him right now. I'll give the wall-crawler a call."
Matt silently carried Elektra away. Since the law office had been blown up, he took her back to his apartment. However, at the door, he stopped. He set Elektra's body down, listening to someone inside speaking in Japanese.
Matt pushed the door open and hurled the billy club in his hand.
Standing by the wall, Gorgon reached out and caught it effortlessly.
"You have proven to us that you are no coward, Devil."
After catching the weapon, Gorgon set it aside. "I did not bring a weapon. I am here to negotiate."
"I'm not in the mood."
Sensing that Gorgon was not lying, Matt placed Elektra's body on the sofa. Gorgon, completely indifferent to the macabre scene, continued.
"You should know by now that so-called principles are fragile when faced with reality. If you had killed that assassin sooner, perhaps none of today's events would have happened. If you had dealt with the Kingpin long ago and taken control of Hell's Kitchen, you wouldn't have been searching for us for so long."
"I killed him long ago! I killed him once!"
"You only thought you killed him. You didn't bother to confirm it."
Listening to Matt's heartbeat, Gorgon pressed on. "And now you know what must be done to your enemies so that your friends and loved ones remain safe. But you cannot purge all of Hell's Kitchen alone, let alone..."
"How ironic. A few minutes ago, we were at each other's throats, and now you're inviting me to join the Hand?"
Gorgon went silent for a moment at the question but quickly recovered and spoke again.
"Not to join the Hand, but to lead it. If you are willing, I can relinquish leadership. I can even bring my people to surrender to S.H.I.E.L.D., leaving the Hand entirely to you."
Hearing this, Matt "looked" toward Gorgon in disbelief. "Why?"
"Hydra is a sinking ship; anyone can see that now. Everyone wants to jump ship. The problem is, the Hand has neither intelligence nor resources. We are merely thugs. We aren't even high enough on the list to get a lifebelt. So, naturally, we had to find another way."
"A hero becoming your leader. That's your 'way'?"
"Yes. And you stand to gain much. You could be like the Kingpin, shaping a Hell's Kitchen of your own. You could build your kingdom according to your own moral standards."
Gorgon continued his pitch, but Matt simply sat by Elektra's body and shook his head.
He chose to refuse.
"I haven't finished yet, Devil. How can a kingdom have a King but no Queen?"
Gorgon walked to Matt's side. Matt's nerves tensed instantly, but Gorgon continued nonchalantly. "The Hand can save her, Devil. Only the Hand can bring her back. Your so-called heroes would never approve of the methods required to resurrect the dead."
"You are tempted. I can hear it. Just as you can hear that I have not told a single lie from the very beginning."
Midtown, Manhattan.
"Right, I got it. I've caught Prowler. The problem is, there's no evidence against the guy. There's almost no criminal record linked to him, and then there's the mess with Matt..."
Peter sighed and hung up the phone, looking at the Prowler he had hanging upside down against a wall. "Bullseye is dead. He suddenly killed Elektra... then Daredevil killed him."
A look of disbelief flashed in Prowler's eyes, a reaction Peter caught immediately.
"Looks like you're definitely going to jail."
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