Daredevil's real name was Matt Murdock.
As a child, he'd been blinded after coming into contact with hazardous chemical waste. However, the accident had also dramatically enhanced his remaining four senses.
After growing up, he became a blind lawyer who spent his days fighting for justice on behalf of the poor.
At night, he transformed into Daredevil, the vigilante who struck fear into the hearts of Hell's Kitchen's criminals, using his fists and billy clubs to combat the darkness and corruption plaguing the neighborhood.
Clearly, he'd also learned about tonight's gang transaction through information obtained from Kingpin's men.
...
At that moment, Daredevil was burning with rage.
Through his enhanced senses, he could perceive more than a dozen horribly mutilated corpses scattered across the dock. The entire area was saturated with the overwhelming stench of blood.
And standing in the middle of it all was a mysterious individual surrounded by the scent of blood.
Worse still, the man was being treated like royalty by a group of Kingpin's thugs, seemingly enjoying their shameless flattery.
Everything Daredevil sensed pointed toward an obvious conclusion.
This dangerous stranger had to be a new enforcer recruited by Kingpin, someone just as terrifying as Bullseye!
"You lapdog of Kingpin!"
With an angry shout, Daredevil launched himself forward.
His body sprang into motion like an arrow released from a fully drawn bow, hurtling straight toward Peter!
He didn't hesitate.
Nor did he give the stranger any opportunity to explain himself.
When dealing with an executioner whose hands were stained with blood, Daredevil believed there was only one acceptable approach.
Subdue him with force, then deliver him to the courts to face justice!
Noticing Daredevil's sudden attack, Kingpin's men were initially stunned.
Then they recognized the familiar crimson costume.
"Oh, shit! It's the Devil of Hell's Kitchen!"
"Run! If we don't get out of here now, we're finished!"
"Wait a minute! What are we afraid of? We've got the boss right here! He can kill that guy in seconds!"
The gangsters had originally intended to flee.
However, after glancing at the masked Peter, their confidence suddenly returned.
Instead of scattering in terror, they began shouting excitedly, eager to watch what they assumed would be another spectacular display of their mysterious protector's strength.
Listening to the gangsters cheering around him, Peter considered his options.
Then he temporarily abandoned his plan to eliminate them first and turned his attention toward the approaching Daredevil.
Of course, that didn't mean Peter had suddenly decided to become a full-fledged villain.
Nor did he have any intention of killing a saintly hero like Daredevil.
It was just that...
He'd taken a liking to the man's costume and billy clubs!
Peter's gaze swept across Daredevil's finely crafted dark-red suit.
'That material looks pretty impressive.'
'Strength, toughness, elasticity... It seems to have everything.'
'It's practically the perfect material for a superhero costume!'
The billy club also appeared to be made from a special alloy.
Peter could take it home and modify it for his own use, or simply sacrifice it to the system.
Besides, Daredevil was already an established superhero.
Surely, he wouldn't miss one set of equipment.
Why not let that equipment help support an aspiring hero who was currently struggling with poverty?
Peter also had no interest in going through some elaborate misunderstanding that would eventually end with the two heroes developing a mutual appreciation for each other.
Having read the original comics, he understood perfectly well that his beliefs and Daredevil's were fundamentally incompatible.
Daredevil believed in due process and refused to kill anyone with his own hands.
Peter, on the other hand, cared only about results.
If someone dared to threaten him, he'd send them straight to hell.
Neither of them would ever convince the other to change his mind.
So why waste time arguing?
If Daredevil had possessed some particularly useful supernatural ability, Peter might have considered trying to recruit him.
But Daredevil...
Although his senses were extraordinary, he didn't possess the kind of special powers Peter was interested in.
Moreover, the man was a committed loner who preferred operating independently.
In the comics, Captain America had invited him to join the Avengers on several occasions, only to be rejected every time.
Peter certainly didn't believe he carried more influence than Captain America.
In that case, he might as well use Daredevil as a whetstone to sharpen his own abilities.
After all, he had just acquired Makoto Kyogoku's karate expertise.
What better opportunity to test how effectively he could apply those techniques in a genuine fight?
And as an added benefit, he could do so while robbing criminals!
In the blink of an eye, Daredevil's fist was already closing in!
Peter narrowed his eyes.
He deliberately suppressed his extraordinary strength and speed, reducing both to the level of an ordinary human.
Then he extended his hand and reached for Daredevil's wrist.
Thud!
Fist met palm with a dull impact.
Peter's body shifted slightly as he redirected the force of the incoming strike.
At the same time, his feet moved.
With an elegant series of steps, he slipped around Daredevil's flank like a butterfly weaving through flowers.
Then he drove his elbow toward the vigilante's ribs!
The entire sequence was fluid and precise, combining graceful movement with a distinctly brutal beauty.
Although Daredevil was blind, his perception was extraordinary, and his motor reflexes were exceptionally sharp.
Without even turning his head, he twisted sideways.
Peter's elbow narrowly missed its target.
In the same movement, Daredevil swung his billy club toward Peter's face!
For a moment, the abandoned dock echoed with the sounds of fists and feet striking against each other.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Two figures darted rapidly between the shipping containers, repeatedly colliding, separating, and launching new attacks.
As the exchange continued, Peter grew increasingly astonished.
According to Marvel's official character ratings, Daredevil possessed a combat skill rating of six, marking him as a master of numerous martial arts disciplines.
And now that Peter was experiencing those abilities firsthand, he had to admit that the reputation was well deserved!
With his strength and speed deliberately restricted to Daredevil's level, Peter discovered that the vigilante could almost completely dictate the rhythm of their battle.
He was even beginning to gain the upper hand!
This wasn't because Makoto Kyogoku's karate techniques were inferior.
The problem was Peter's own lack of practical combat experience.
Although the system had granted him all of Kyogoku's fighting knowledge and memories, Peter hadn't yet fully integrated that information into his personal instincts.
Realizing this, he looked at Daredevil with growing excitement.
'Just as I thought!'
'This guy really is the perfect sparring partner for me right now!'
Peter could clearly feel the difference.
Under the tremendous pressure of Daredevil's relentless attacks, the fighting memories that had previously felt somewhat unfamiliar were rapidly becoming easier to access.
He was absorbing and assimilating them at an astonishing rate.
Technique after technique was transforming from borrowed knowledge into his own natural combat instincts!
Peter pushed his other thoughts aside and began concentrating entirely on the battle.
Gradually, without either fighter consciously noticing, his movements became smoother.
More precise.
And increasingly lethal.
...
Meanwhile, the remaining gangsters led by Scarface exchanged discreet glances.
Their mysterious "boss" appeared to be thoroughly occupied by Daredevil.
And judging by the intensity of their fight, neither side seemed likely to emerge victorious anytime soon.
In that case...
Wouldn't this be the perfect opportunity to sneak away?
Scarface gave his subordinates a subtle signal.
Two gangsters immediately grabbed the briefcases that had fallen to the ground and began tiptoeing away.
But the group had barely taken two steps when—
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Don't even think about escaping!"
Two voices rang out almost simultaneously.
One belonged to Peter.
The other belonged to Daredevil.
The next instant, both fighters broke away from their confrontation with remarkable coordination.
One moved to the left.
The other moved to the right.
Together, they instantly blocked the gangsters' escape routes!
Daredevil launched a sweeping kick that knocked three gangsters off their feet.
Peter's approach was considerably more direct.
He suddenly unleashed his superhuman speed.
With a single kick, he struck one of the gangsters carrying a money-filled briefcase, tearing the man's body apart at the waist!
Then he turned and delivered a punch that destroyed another thug's head.
The sheer brutality of the scene terrified Scarface so badly that he nearly screamed himself hoarse.
'Huh?!'
On the other side, Daredevil suddenly froze.
Through his extraordinary senses, he could perceive the mysterious stranger's movements, along with the intense fear radiating from Kingpin's men.
A troubling thought occurred to him.
'Wait...'
'Did I misunderstand something?'
If this mysterious individual truly worked for Kingpin, why would he prevent his supposed allies from escaping with the money?
And why would he deliberately sabotage the entire transaction?
The situation no longer made sense.
Daredevil quickly subdued the remaining gangsters near him.
Then he turned toward Peter.
"Wait! You—"
He intended to stop fighting long enough for them to have a proper conversation.
But Peter had absolutely no intention of giving him that opportunity.
After destroying Scarface's head with a single punch, Peter rapidly closed the distance between himself and Daredevil.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he raised his fist and launched another vicious attack!
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