As a "friendly" native of New York City, Mikey had always believed he understood the world above—at least as much as someone who grew up in the sewers could. He spent his days reading comics, napping in odd corners, and skating through tunnels that most people didn't even know existed. Aside from his unusual appearance, he genuinely felt no different from any other teenager in the city.
But what he had just witnessed shattered that illusion completely.
The carnage above had been merciless. Heads severed cleanly, bodies torn apart like they were nothing more than paper, and that monstrous creature moving through it all with unrestrained brutality. The sheer savagery of it made his instincts scream, filling him with a fear he had never known before.
If it had been him up there…
He would've died instantly.
Even the thought of facing that thing made his spine go cold. Could Master Splinter handle it? Could any of them? The question lingered in his mind, unanswered and deeply unsettling.
By the time Mikey snapped out of it, only a few seconds had passed—but the trading area was already silent. The gang members were gone, reduced to lifeless remains, and the creature—Carnage—had crouched down, methodically cleaning up what was left. Its maw stretched wide, grotesque and alien, as it devoured the aftermath without hesitation, turning the entire scene into something out of a nightmare.
That was the moment Mikey broke.
His mental defenses collapsed instantly, and he didn't hesitate for even a second. He turned and sprinted toward the sewers, his usually clumsy movements replaced by explosive speed fueled purely by fear. Within moments, he disappeared into the darkness, vanishing beneath the moonlit streets.
Behind him, Carnage lifted its head slightly, its thoughts still crude and forming.
"Strange turtle…" it muttered, voice uneven and childlike. "I wonder… if it tastes good…"
It paused, tilting its head as if seriously considering the idea. Then, as if recalling something more important, it shook itself and dismissed the thought entirely.
"No… must finish task… adult's task… first…"
With that, it returned to its work.
——
"Splash!"
Mikey raced through the narrow sewer tunnels, splashing through shallow water as he pushed deeper and deeper into the underground network. The winding pipes eventually led to a hidden chamber—a space large enough to serve as a home, carefully maintained despite its surroundings.
But tonight, that home was anything but peaceful.
The moment Mikey approached, he could already hear the commotion echoing through the corridors. All three of his brothers had snuck out earlier, and now they were facing the consequences.
Standing in the doorway was Master Splinter, his imposing figure silhouetted by the dim light. The large rat held a ninja staff firmly in his hands, his posture rigid as he began scolding them.
"The human world is dangerous," Splinter said sternly. "How many times must I warn you before you understand? Leonardo—kneel. As your leader, how could you allow this recklessness?"
Without hesitation, Leonardo dropped to his knees. The blue-masked turtle, twin swords strapped to his back, lowered his head in silence, accepting the punishment without protest.
Behind him, Raphael—gripping his twin sai—was still wearing a defiant smirk, clearly unimpressed by the situation. But that expression didn't last long.
"Clang."
Splinter's staff struck without warning, forcing Raphael down to his knees beside his brother. The impact echoed sharply, leaving no room for argument.
Raphael gritted his teeth, clearly unhappy, but before he could say anything, he glanced across the corridor and suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"You little rat," he muttered, glaring at Donnie. "I knew it. No electronics for a while and suddenly Master finds out everything? You snitched."
"I did not," Donatello replied immediately, adjusting his glasses with a calm expression. "Master figured it out himself. You're not nearly as subtle as you think."
"How many times has this happened?" Splinter's voice cut in again, sharper this time. "Have you learned nothing from your mistakes?"
Raphael opened his mouth to argue, but another strike from the staff silenced him instantly. This time, he lowered his head, choosing obedience—at least for now.
Splinter's gaze swept over them before settling on the empty space among the group.
"Where is Michelangelo?"
Leonardo hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure. He said he was going out to… get comics."
Splinter's face darkened immediately.
"Stealing?" he repeated, his tone dropping dangerously. "You have grown strong, and this is how you use that strength? To take from others?"
Donatello quickly stepped in, sensing the tension rising. "Actually, he mentioned skateboarding too. It wasn't just—"
Splinter raised his staff slightly, cutting him off with a cold smile that made all three turtles stiffen.
Donatello winced internally. That look never meant anything good.
"Looks like Mikey's in trouble," he muttered under his breath.
"Clang!!!"
Before the tension could escalate further, a loud noise echoed through the tunnels as Mikey burst into the room, landing awkwardly in front of Splinter. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his usual carefree demeanor completely gone.
Splinter didn't hold back.
"You neglect your training, and now you steal as well?" he said, swinging his staff down without hesitation. "Tell me, are those comics truly worth this behavior?"
The staff struck him repeatedly, the sharp sounds echoing through the chamber.
In the past, Mikey would have yelped, jumped around, and begged for mercy. But this time, he barely reacted. His body absorbed the hits, his mind still trapped in what he had seen.
"It's over…" he muttered weakly. "It's all over… something terrible is coming…"
Raphael immediately jumped up, rushing forward to shield him. "Hey, hey—cut it out! You're gonna knock the idiot's brain loose!"
Splinter paused, lowering his staff as he studied Mikey's expression. The fear there wasn't fake. It wasn't an act.
"Speak," Splinter said quietly. "What did you see?"
Mikey stared blankly ahead for a moment before finally managing to form words.
"Blood… everywhere… a killer… there's a serial killer in New York…"
"Explain properly!" Raphael snapped, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him slightly.
Slowly, Mikey began to calm down, his breathing evening out as he recounted everything he had witnessed—the deal, the sudden attack, the creature, the slaughter.
By the time he finished, the room had fallen completely silent.
Even Splinter said nothing.
A few seconds passed before Raphael finally spoke, his voice carrying his usual blunt confidence.
"This city's already a mess," he said. "People die every day. One more psycho doesn't scare me."
Leonardo nodded in agreement, his expression firm. "Whoever it is, we'll handle it. I'll protect all of you."
Splinter stepped forward, placing his staff behind his back as he gently rested a hand on Mikey's head.
"The world above is indeed dangerous," he said calmly. "But fear will not protect you. We are a team, and together, we can overcome any obstacle."
His words carried their usual calm wisdom, a mixture of reassurance and quiet authority. By the time he finished, the tension in the room had eased slightly, replaced by a fragile sense of confidence.
For a moment, things felt normal again.
But Donatello wasn't convinced.
Later that night, he retreated to his room, immediately getting to work on a damaged monitor. Splinter's words were comforting, but they didn't solve the problem. If something like that creature was roaming the city, they needed more than confidence—they needed information.
If he could connect to nearby surveillance systems, they could monitor the area in real time.
That way, if danger approached, they wouldn't be caught off guard.
His hands moved quickly, adjusting wires, reconnecting circuits, breathing new life into the old device. Sparks flickered occasionally, but he ignored them, fully focused on the task.
"Yes… yes, this should work," he muttered, tightening the final connection. "We'll be able to see everything around us."
He pumped his fist slightly in satisfaction.
Then—
Smoke rose from behind the screen.
"No… no, no, no—"
Grabbing a pair of pliers, Donnie immediately got back to work, ignoring the occasional electric shock as he forced the system back into operation. After several tense moments, the screen flickered back to life.
"Okay… okay, we're good," he said, letting out a breath as he leaned back in his chair.
But as he adjusted the angle of the monitor, his eyes froze.
Across twenty surveillance feeds, something impossible unfolded.
A factory—collapsing in an instant.
Lightning—gathering unnaturally in the sky.
A massive, roaring Thunder Kirin—tearing through the darkness.
And at the center of it all—
A man standing between heaven and earth like a god.
Donnie's voice came out barely above a whisper.
"This… this isn't possible."
.....
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