575

The Demise of Kingpin

In an instant, the Punisher's mystical wings fluttered, propelling the dark figure through the wall and back onto the seventieth floor of King's Building.

"Feel the power of the demon!" His voice echoed deeply as he conjured blazing demonic flames, hurtling them towards the two robots.

**BOOM!**

Wild magical flames roared, engulfing and swiftly melting the robots into a pile of scrap metal.

Seeing his strongest weapons neutralized so effortlessly by the Punisher, Kingpin, a veteran of countless battles, couldn't help but feel fear creep over him. He stepped back, trembling. "You... demon..."

"Yes, I am a demon," the Punisher advanced calmly, his voice as cold and low as ever. "But it's you who's about to meet hell."

Back pressed against the wall, Kingpin found himself cornered.

His face pale, he stared at the approaching Punisher and stammered, "Actually, it was Bruno who... who killed your family. We have no direct enmity..."

"Perhaps," the Punisher replied casually. Then, changing the subject, he grabbed Kingpin by the collar, effortlessly lifting the 200-kilogram man as if he were weightless.

It was undeniable that Kingpin's attire was of the finest quality; it showed no signs of tearing despite bearing such an incredible weight.

"No, Frank, let's talk," Kingpin, who had weathered countless storms, managed to speak calmly despite facing death.

Unmoved, the Punisher continued, carrying Kingpin towards the edge of the shattered wall of the building. "I do not negotiate with evil. Your fate is sealed."

"If I recall correctly, you have eight seconds left."

"AAAAHHHHHHHH!" Kingpin plummeted from the top of King's Building, mirroring the fate he had once intended for the Punisher.

Eight seconds later, his scream abruptly ceased upon impact with the ground, the former underworld emperor meeting his end.

Due to Kingpin's large stature, his death was all the more gruesome.

Beneath King's Building, his corpse sprawled, blood staining the ground, a stark contrast against the dark night.

Gazing at the blood pooling beneath him, the Punisher fell silent for a long moment. Then, with a long exhale, he turned and flew away, a fleeting shadow in the moonlit sky.

---

Taking a pause, the Punisher returned to the cemetery. As he landed, his magical wings retracted, and he resumed his human form, sitting down and catching his breath.

"Frank, are you alright?" Karen approached, offering a hand.

"Foggy, is Kingpin dead?" Fergie asked.

Frank nodded solemnly. "Yes, he's dead. His body lies beneath King's Building."

Forseti approached slowly. "The transformation into a demon hunter cannot be sustained for long without risking harm to yourself. Be cautious with this power."

"I understand," Frank replied, then hesitated before asking, "What do you need from me? You brought me back and gave me this power."

"I ask very little of you, only that you continue as the Punisher," Forseti replied. "Occasionally, I may require your strength. When I call upon you, you must not refuse."

Despite bearing Illidan's soul mark, the Punisher knew he was far from the true Illidan in power.

"I understand," the Punisher acknowledged.

Forseti noticed the blade in Frank's hand, then concentrated, hands emptying as radiant holy light surged forth, swiftly coalescing into two war blades.

Though fashioned from holy light, the blades bore a striking resemblance to Azzinoth's, though their hue was a translucent gold.

"Take these for now," Forseti handed the blades to Frank.

While these war blades were swiftly created, they were still crystalline structures of holy light, far superior to the earthly iron shards.

With these blades in hand, the Punisher truly resembled a demon hunter.

Having witnessed Frank's resurrection and the granting of his magical powers, Matt, Fergie, and Karen had no doubt of Forseti's identity.

Gods.

They found no more suitable description than gods.

Karen hesitated before cautiously asking, "You must be a god, right? Frank lost his family tragically, you resurrected Frank, so can you bring his family back to life?"

Frank longed for this, but he felt unworthy to make such a request of Forseti, and thus said nothing.

Now Karen spoke on his behalf, her hopeful eyes conveying his unspoken desire.

"Though you call me a god, I am merely a mortal. I am as bound by the universe's laws as you are," Forseti began. He had seen the Infinite Witch and had this thought reinforced.

Continuing after a pause, he added, "Resurrecting the dead defies the laws of nature... I was able to revive the Punisher because he is the Punisher, not because I wield the power to circumvent the universe."

Silence followed.

Acknowledging that Frank's family could not be resurrected, the Punisher's countenance darkened.

After leaving the battlefield, he had hoped for a peaceful family life.

Now it seemed that he could only be the Punisher, a demon hunter forever, continuing a life of battle, bloodshed, and fire.

Forseti vanished in a beam of light, falling from the heavens, a sight no longer surprising to those present.

"Where are you going, Frank?" Matt inquired as the Punisher silently departed.

"Fate," the Punisher replied quietly. With that, he departed into the night, Holy Light Warblade in hand...

---

Two years later.

In a dim, silent room, the wind howled through an open window, transforming into a pale, frightened figure.

"Master..." His voice trembled.

"Why are you alone, Wind Demon?" A chilling voice emerged, followed by a black-clad youth stepping out of the shadows.

"The Earth Demon... is dead." The long-haired man had clearly endured a harrowing experience, evident from his shock.

"Dead?" The youth in black's expression changed. "What did the Dark Knight do?"

"No." The long-haired man shook his head. "We encountered a fearsome individual named the Punisher on the road. He killed the Earth Demon. I managed to escape, otherwise, I would have perished by his hand."

The black-clad youth drew a deep breath, eyes clouded with fury. "Why did he kill him? What did you provoke?"

"No," the long-haired man hastened to explain. "He claimed to be a demon hunter... Hunting demons is his duty...

Though he seemed to utilize demonic powers as well."