Erica and Daredevil

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Manhattan, Pier 36. This place is a far cry from Pier 26 on the west side of Manhattan, which boasts the Hudson River Park Trust, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, and Citibank's sponsorship due to its visibility from their offices.

 Unlike Pier 26, bustling with restaurants and cruise companies, Pier 36 appeared shabby. Built by the Maggia gang and various subordinate organizations, it primarily hosted transactions that couldn't see the light of day, becoming a crucial financial pillar for the gang.

 Lately, the Maggia gang inexplicably blocked the entire dock, ceasing all external cargo transportation activities and using it solely for their purposes. The dock was now filled with huge containers, stacked densely, emitting a faint bloody smell mixed with an undeniable stench of decay.

 In the darkness of a container corner, a young woman stood, her deep blue eyes gazing quietly at the dock. Her tight red battle suit accentuated her figure, marking her as Erica Natchez, a skilled mercenary killer.

 Erica's fighting abilities were at the peak of human potential, proficient in various martial arts and weapon techniques. After long-term training, she even possessed minor superpowers like hypnosis, tracking, telepathy, and high physical resistance. She was a true genius in combat.

 "It seems that what the boss said is right. The Maggia Gang has been doing a lot of things behind the scenes," Erica murmured, playing with her favorite weapon, the iron ruler, also called the ten-handed one.

 Erica's eyes flashed with coldness. Her current situation was dire; she was being chased by persistent troubles, particularly from the Hand-in-Hand Society. However, working for Kingpin, the king of New York's dark world, provided her some protection. The Hand-in-Hand Society trying to bypass Kingpin and target her was breaking the rules.

 "They are all a bunch of idiots!" Erica muttered.

 Kingpin had sent her to the Maggia Gang to "ask" Hammerhead about their recent actions. Erica had her plan: kill her way in, go straight to Hammerhead's office, teach him a lesson, and take the Golden Rooster King's treasure—killing two birds with one stone.

 At that moment, she noticed a red figure swinging between tall buildings towards the dock. This figure was familiar, reminding her of her complex past with Daredevil.

 Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil, was heading towards Pier 36, his mind troubled by the chaos in Hell's Kitchen and new, mysterious players causing unrest. He had never heard of these organizations before; they seemed to appear out of nowhere. Despite their conflicts, they maintained a strange balance.

 Matt worried that if this balance broke, Hell's Kitchen would face unprecedented violent conflict. The underworld's brazen actions, like claiming souls, were a constant headache.

 Kikyo, his ally, was busy looking for Jessica, who had been traumatized and needed help. Matt, however, was focused on Pier 36, suspecting the Maggia Gang's involvement in recent chaos. He couldn't wait any longer to investigate.

 While moving forward with his grappling hook, Matt sensed a rapidly approaching figure, recognizing her weapon's touch immediately. This was Erica, his "nightmare" from Columbia University.

 "Erica, when did you come back?" Matt asked without thinking.

 "I just came back a few days ago," Erica replied, feigning nonchalance. "Got harassed by some scoundrels outside, so I came back to avoid the limelight."

 Matt frowned, sensing there was more to her story. "Are you still a killer?"

 "What else can I do?" Erica twirled her ruler indifferently. "But you, and this red dress, have no taste!"

 "What are you doing here?" Matt asked urgently.

 "My new boss said Hammerhead had overstepped his bounds, so he asked me to come and say hello."

 Matt realized she was working for Kingpin. His heart sank, knowing that Hammerhead's actions had significant implications. The Maggia Gang's plans were likely to cause major trouble.

 Erica, seemingly enjoying the tension, clapped her hands. "You're still so smart, you guessed it right again!"

 Matt's mind raced. With Kingpin involved, Hell's Kitchen was in more danger than ever.

Hell's Kitchen, Kana Detective Agency.

A "Temporarily Closed" sign hung outside the office. Inside, Jessica Jones slumped over a cluttered table, periodically chugging from a beer can.

"Gudong, gudong!"

"What a fucking life!"

The documents once neatly organized were now scattered haphazardly, and empty beer cans littered the office.

"Beep…"

A phone message lit up on the desk. Jessica, head in her hands, glanced at it, mumbling incoherently.

"Oh, a message, a damn message."

"Maybe I won the lottery, maybe I got invited to a late night talk show."

"But it's more likely that God called and wanted to make up for the extremely bad mistakes he made about me..."

Jessica couldn't muster the energy to deal with her mundane job. Stalking mistresses, taking secret photos of cheating spouses—she longed for something more meaningful.

Oh God, if you really exist, please make these bad guys explode where they are.

Jessica grabbed an unopened can of beer, pulled the ring, and continued to pour it into her mouth. Suddenly, she saw a long worm emitting a faint white light crawling through the tightly closed door.

Hmm? What is this? Is she drunk and seeing things?

Jessica narrowed her eyes, staring intently at the worm, trying to focus.

Outside the office, Kikyo, clad in a shrine maiden costume, stood quietly before the door.

Finally found it.

Despite Matt's directions to the Kana Agency, Hell's Kitchen's labyrinthine streets had led Kikyo astray. After half a day and sending out dead soul bugs to track Jessica's lingering aura, she finally arrived.

…

"Boom boom boom~"

The light knock on the door was piercing in the quiet office. Jessica, forced to break her eye contact with the worm, staggered to the door, swinging it open angrily.

"Where are your eyes? Can't you see the sign at the door saying 'Closed for Business'? Why are you knocking..."

Her voice trailed off as she saw who was at the door.

Jessica didn't like the witch who controlled people's bodies.

"What are you doing here?"

Jessica's voice turned stiff. She felt embarrassed by her earlier outburst.

Kikyo's eyes reflected genuine remorse.

"I'm sorry for what happened before. I apologize to you."

Jessica was about to slam the door when she hesitated.

She hadn't expected an apology. If she shut the door now, wouldn't it seem rude? Jessica, in her drunken haze, wavered.

"In fact, I can understand your feelings. I also have a past I cannot bear to look back on. Who doesn't have some regrets in life?"

Kikyo's words seemed to counsel Jessica, but also herself.

For some reason, Jessica felt a kinship with Kikyo.

The two of them...

They seemed alike.

Kikyo appeared to have moved past her unbearable history, while Jessica remained trapped in a nightmare of control and pain.

"Come in."

With a softened expression, Jessica stepped aside, allowing Kikyo to enter.

Watching the long worm circle Kikyo affectionately, Jessica couldn't help but ask curiously.

"What's this?"

"Dead soul bug," Kikyo explained simply. "Resurrected servants that can collect dead souls to fill my body."

"Oh!"

Jessica nodded vaguely. She was too drunk to grasp Kikyo's words fully.

Yet, her senses were changing.

The alcohol made Jessica more susceptible to Kikyo's calming presence and soothing words, gradually bringing her peace.

Sleepiness overwhelmed her, and her eyelids drooped.

"Phew~ I want to sleep."

Jessica staggered back, collapsing onto the table. She mumbled nonsensically, fighting to keep her eyes open.

"Go to sleep; everything will be fine when you wake up."

Kikyo raised her hand, gently tapping Jessica's forehead. Instantly, Jessica fell into a deep sleep, her brows furrowed, her expression fearful, her body emitting a slight chill—a sign of nightmares.

This was Kikyo's hypnosis.

Layered with suggestions, once the subject agreed with Kikyo's point of view, they lost consciousness and fell asleep.

…

In the darkness, Jessica saw herself, once controlled by the Purple Man, forced to commit acts against her will.

"No, no, I don't want to do that."

She closed her eyes in anguish.

The memories of the Purple Man's control flooded back, each scene Jessica had tried to forget replaying like a horror movie.

Anger, helplessness, struggle...

A flood of emotions threatened to drown Jessica. She felt suffocated.

Then, a faint white light illuminated the darkness around her. The dead soul worm appeared, circling her.

As the light spread, the coldness within Jessica dissipated, warmth returning to her limbs.

The darkness receded in the light, bringing calm.

…

Seeing Jessica's face regain warmth, Kikyo sighed with relief.

Mind purification.

A unique technique for shrine maidens with powerful spiritual abilities.

It could soothe and purify collapsed souls, giving them strength.

"Now, you can have a good night's sleep."

Suddenly, Kikyo's expression shifted. She turned sharply, frowning in a specific direction.

The dead soul bugs she had left outside sensed something was wrong with Matt.

Through the dead soul worm, she felt the gathering of death and resentment.

A sign that the dead were being manipulated, turned into abominations. Were those weird zombies appearing again?

"It seems..."

"Matt is in a tough fight over there. Let's check it out."

With one last glance at the sleeping Jessica, Kikyo was lifted by the dead soul worm and flew out the window, heading into the distance.

End of this chapter