New York City had become a battlefield. Since Hong Fei's ingenious diversionary tactic, The Hand had taken a devastating hit. The NYPD was raiding their scattered hideouts with relentless efficiency, making daily arrests. Even more troublesome were those mysterious Agents who kept appearing out of thin air, creating endless headaches for the criminal underworld.
The sudden upheaval forced The Hand to retreat. At an emergency meeting of their leadership, they decided to consolidate their remaining forces and go underground. In different circumstances, the local Russian Mafia might have celebrated their rival's misfortune. But this sweeping crackdown hit them just as hard.
In fact, the Russians fared worse than The Hand. Their losses were catastrophic. Even with The Hand temporarily out of the picture, they lacked the strength to reclaim their former territories. As night fell over the city, a bar in Harlem buzzed with its usual evening crowd.
Luke Cage owned the place, though you'd never guess it from his demeanor. He maintained such a low profile that he might as well have been just another patron, always seated in the same inconspicuous corner. Tonight was no different.
Matt Murdock sat across from him. Ever since their shared ordeal—that brutal beating they'd endured together—their friendship had deepened remarkably. "You've heard about what's been happening, haven't you?" Matt swirled his drink casually.
Luke's expression remained impassive. "Hard to miss with all the commotion."
Matt sighed, his voice tinged with hope. "If only it could stay this way. Those gangs should've been cleaned out years ago. Maybe now the city can finally breathe."
Luke offered a faint smile but said nothing. He'd long since recognized Matt as an idealist, though some of his notions struck Luke as naive at best. Still, the world needed its dreamers, and Luke respected that.
As they spoke, Luke's gaze swept the room, landing on the entrance. His expression shifted subtly. "Matt," he said quietly, "He's back."
Matt tilted his head, his heightened senses focusing. "What's he doing here again? Does he know something?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Luke kept his voice low, though his body tensed, ready to move. As a fugitive, he couldn't afford to be careless.
Agent Coulson spotted them immediately and made his way over. "Gentlemen," he greeted warmly, "Mind if I join you?"
Matt gestured inward. "Please, have a seat."
Coulson settled in and poured himself a drink. Raising his glass, he studied them with a knowing smile. "You seem... tense."
Both men shook their heads quickly. "Not at all," Matt said smoothly.
"Good." Coulson leaned forward. "We only met briefly last time, but you made quite an impression. Before I extend a formal invitation, let me ask—are you aware of recent events?"
Luke stayed silent while Matt responded cautiously. "Which events are you referring to?"
"The mafia crackdown," Coulson clarified.
Matt nodded. "I've heard about it. Seems like a positive development."
"Indeed," Coulson agreed. "Frankly, I hadn't realized the depth of corruption hidden in this city. The crimes we've uncovered are truly appalling."
Luke's eyes narrowed. "You said you were FBI. Were you involved in this operation?"
Coulson shook his head, "Not just involved; in fact, we led this clean-up." Both men looked startled. Coulson continued calmly, "Which brings me to my purpose here today. I'd like to invite you to join my task force."
The backyard of the manor echoed with the sharp crack of impact after impact.
Hong Fei moved with fluid precision, his bare hands weaving intricate patterns as he launched strike after strike at Abomination. Though Abomination had dialed back his strength, his full attention remained fixed on Hong Fei's movements, adjusting his posture with each attack. This wasn't just a lesson in brute force—it was a revelation of what technique could achieve.
Once a military colonel, Abomination was no stranger to combat. But after his mutation granted him overwhelming strength, he'd abandoned finesse. Why bother with technique when raw power could crush most foes? Yet here was Hong Fei, demonstrating a different path—one where technique wasn't obsolete but essential.
Hong Fei's fists clenched, his feet planted firmly as he moved with mountain-like stability. Every step, every motion, was deliberate, his muscles working in perfect harmony like a finely tuned machine. Power flowed seamlessly from his body to his strikes.
He executed the Xingyi Five Elements Fist: Split, Drill, Crush, Cannon, Cross. But this wasn't the same rote sequence he'd practiced before. There was something new—an invisible force seemed to ripple around him. The grass beneath his feet swayed uniformly, and dust scattered as if pushed by an unseen hand.
Abomination threw a straight punch. Hong Fei tilted his head, dodging effortlessly, and countered with a sharp strike to Abomination's exposed sternum. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
Without pause, Hong Fei followed through, driving his elbow forward. A surge of Qi energy penetrated Abomination's tough exterior, forcing him to double over despite his immense strength.
Hong Fei's arms pulled and pushed, his fists exploding like cannon fire—wild, ferocious, and unstoppable. Inside him, Qi surged like water breaking through a dam, rushing outward in a torrent.
His fist stopped mere centimeters from Abomination's face, but the sheer force of the Qi caused Abomination's skin to ripple and tremble. It was as if a cannonball had detonated in midair. Then, just as suddenly, Hong Fei withdrew.
Abomination straightened, rubbing the spot where the elbow had struck. "What kind of power was that?"
"Qi," Hong Fei replied.
"Like that arc of light yesterday?"
"Yes. That was Sword Qi."
Abomination pondered this. "Does power always need to be combined with moves?"
"No," Hong Fei corrected. "It's the moves that enhance your power. Technique exists to amplify what you can unleash. Without it, you might struggle against even a street fighter."
"What about me? Do I need it?" Abomination asked.
Hong Fei studied him—his towering frame, his protruding bones, his sheer bulk. A smile tugged at his lips. "You could. The principles are the same. In an unaltered state, it would boost your explosive power. But honestly, there's a more effective approach for you."
"What is it?"
"A weapon," Hong Fei said. "Something fierce, combined with your strength, would multiply your destructive potential. The return on effort would far outweigh trying to master technique right now."
Abomination thought for a moment and nodded. "Boss, what weapon do you think suits me?"
"A mace," Hong Fei replied without hesitation.
Abomination's eyes lit up. "Good weapon. It sounds fierce."