Chapter 44: The Final Showdown

The streets of the Bronx were a mess. Cars flipped over, storefronts shattered, and people ran screaming in every direction.

At the center of it all stood Blockbuster, a massive brute with arms thicker than lamp posts. He roared, tossing a crushed taxi like it was a soda can.

"Where's the tough guy?!" he bellowed. "Where's that Iron Punch or whatever?"

A voice came from behind. Calm and confident.

"It's Iron Fist, actually."

Blockbuster turned, cracking his knuckles as he spotted the man standing at the end of the street.

Danny Rand. The Immortal Iron Fist.

Dressed in his classic green and gold, Danny stood with his arms crossed, studying the chaos around him. He sighed, shaking his head.

"You know, some people solve problems by talking. Maybe taking a deep breath. You? You just..." He gestured at the wreckage. "Throw cars around?"

Blockbuster grinned. "It's fun."

Danny clenched his fist. A faint golden glow flickered around it.

"Alright," he said. "Let's see how much fun you're having in five minutes."

Blockbuster snarled and charged.

•Round 1•

Blockbuster came at him like a runaway train, fists swinging wildly.

Danny ducked the first punch. Slipped under the second. Sidestepped the third.

"Wow," he said, weaving between attacks. "For a guy called Blockbuster, you sure do a lot of missing."

Blockbuster growled and swung with everything he had. Danny bent backward, just barely avoiding a punch that would've turned his ribs into dust.

Then he struck. A precise kick to the ribs. A jab to the throat. A spinning heel kick to the temple.

Blockbuster stumbled back, dazed. Danny exhaled and took his stance again. "You're big, you're strong… But you lack training and a whole lot of discipline."

Blockbuster's eyes darkened. He grabbed a nearby street sign, ripped it out of the pavement, and swung it like a baseball bat.

Danny had just enough time to mutter, "Oh, come on."

The metal slammed into him, sending him flying into a parked car.

Pain exploded across his back. Danny groaned, rolling off the crushed hood. He wiped a trickle of blood from his lip and winced.

"Okay," he muttered. "That was rude."

Blockbuster smirked. "Still think I don't know how to fight?"

Danny cracked his knuckles. "No," he admitted. "But I do think you just made me mad."

•Round 2•

Blockbuster swung the street sign again.

Danny ducked. He didn't just dodge this time, he countered.

A palm strike to the elbow. The sign went flying. A spinning kick to the knee. Blockbuster staggered. Danny pressed forward, unleashing a flurry of precise strikes, each one aimed at a pressure point.

One hit to the side of the head. Another to the solar plexus.

Then BAM!

Danny's glowing fist slammed into Blockbuster's jaw. The brute stumbled back, blinking in shock. Danny rolled his shoulders. "Ever heard of chi?"

Blockbuster spat blood. "Ever heard of shutting up?"

He charged again. This time, Danny was ready. He sidestepped, grabbed Blockbuster's wrist, and used his momentum against him, flipping the giant over his shoulder.

Blockbuster crashed into the pavement, leaving a small crater. Danny exhaled, shaking his head. "Y'know, you'd be terrifying if you weren't so predictable."

Blockbuster groaned, trying to push himself up. Danny sighed. "Stay down, big guy. No shame in knowing when to quit."

Blockbuster's eyes burned with rage. "I… don't… quit!"

And he lunged.

•Round 3•

Blockbuster attacked with everything he had. Danny blocked, countered and dodged. But Blockbuster was fast. Faster than Danny expected.

A wild swing connected, BOOM!

Danny crashed through a store window. Glass rained down as he struggled to his feet, coughing.

Blockbuster stomped toward him. "No more tricks. No more fancy kung fu." He cracked his knuckles. "Just my fist… and your face."

Danny closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. Then he opened them and his right hand blazed like a golden sun.

"The thing is," Danny said, stepping forward, "you're strong. But I'm stronger."

Blockbuster roared and threw a punch. Danny met it with his own. Fist met fist.

A shockwave tore through the street, glass shattered, car alarms screamed, and the ground cracked.

Blockbuster froze. His entire body trembled. His knees buckled. Then, with a groan, he collapsed face-first onto the pavement.

Out cold.

Danny exhaled. The golden glow faded from his fist. He shook his hand out. "Man, I'm gonna feel that tomorrow."

He pulled out his phone. "Hey, Luke? This Blockbuster guy sucked. Big as fuck, bad attitude and bad breath."

Luke Cage chuckled. "He strong?"

"Yeah."

"You win?"

Danny smirked. "C'mon, man. What do you think?"

"Ha. Cops should be there soon. Keep moving, there are more guys left to take down."

Danny sighed, slipping his phone away.

He looked down at Blockbuster and sighed. "Next time, try a hobby that doesn't involve wrecking half the Bronx."

With that, he turned and walked away.

An incoming fist. WHAM!

That was the last thing Riptide saw before his body went limp. He crumpled onto the pavement, out cold.

Spider-Man flexed his hand. "Man, I hope you have dental insurance, 'cause I just remodeled your whole face for free."

The police officers peeked from behind their cars, stunned. One of them, a burly cop with a thick mustache, finally lowered his gun.

"Uh... Thanks?"

"Don't mention it." Spider-Man said, webbing up Riptide. "If word gets out that I helped, the criminals will think I'm soft. Gotta keep my bad boy image, you know?"

The mustached officer shook his head, then waved to his men. "Alright, get this guy loaded up before he wakes up!"

As the police were finally containing the villains, Spider-Man went back to get his upper body suit back.

"CELESTE, How's the rest of the mess looking?"

["Sir, the remaining Marauders have been neutralized by a separate faction. Identified group: X-Men."]

Peter crossed his arms, tapping his foot. "Well, well, if it isn't the coolest kids at the mutant school. Alright, CELESTE, patch me through. Let's see if they're in a chatty mood."

["Connecting…"]

The scent of cigars and expensive whiskey hung heavy in the air. At the center of the room, was Wilson Fisk.

His fingers drummed against his desk. His patience, a rare and dangerous thing, was wearing thin.

"This was supposed to be a message," Fisk growled. "Spider-Man was meant to suffer. What do I get instead? Another waste of my resources."

His voice, though calm, was extremely heavy.

Across from him sat Damien Heller, his expression calm, his suit pristine. Sabretooth stood nearby, arms crossed, muscles tense, ready for violence.

"Patience, my friend," Damien said, his voice smooth, but with a trace of something... unnatural beneath it. "The plan is still in motion. Even if the pieces don't always fall perfectly, the end result remains unchanged."

Kingpin exhaled sharply. "You talk like a man who doesn't know what it feels like to lose."

Damien chuckled, the sound low and eerie. "On the contrary, I know loss intimately. I know the taste of it, the weight of it, the way it reshapes a soul into something... more." He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "Spider-Man will soon have a choice to make. He will either spend his days clinging to what he has left or paying the price for his arrogance."

Fisk studied him, his fingers curling into a fist. "Tell me, Heller, what is your problem with Spider-Man?"

Damien smiled, a slow, creeping thing. "Let's just say... I wish to protect something I hold dear from Spider-Man ."

Before Fisk could respond, the door opened. James Wesley, Kingpin's right-hand man, stepped inside, leading a new guest.

Felicia Hardy. The Black Cat.

She moved like an elegant cat, her platinum hair bouncing as she stepped forward.

"Ms. Hardy," Fisk greeted, gesturing to a chair. "Please, sit."

She didn't. "You called me here. What do you want?" she asked, arms crossed.

Fisk gave a small, knowing smile. "Always straight to the point. I respect that." His voice was calm, almost friendly. He leaned forward slightly, his presence filling the room.

"I'm not here to waste your time, Felicia. I'm here to offer you something.. 'Power'." His tone was smooth, persuasive, like a businessman making a deal too good to refuse. "Not just strength, but freedom. The kind of power that makes doors open before you even knock. The kind that ensures no one can stand in your way."

He watched her closely, his expression unreadable. "Tell me… doesn't that sound tempting?"

Felicia raised an eyebrow. "I already have power."

"Enough to never fear anyone again? Enough to break into any safe effortlessly?"

Felicia's stance didn't change. "I don't need anything from you. I gave up burglary. No more breaking the law." She turned to leave.

Then Damien Heller spoke. "Are you sure you want to walk away from this?"

His voice was different this time. Slower. Each word dripping with something... wrong.

Felicia stopped.

"This isn't just power to steal, Felicia. It's power to protect." His eyes darkened. "To protect the ones you care about. Like... Peter Parker, for example."

The air in the room changed. Felicia spun, eyes wide. "How do you know that name?"

Damien tilted his head. "Oh, dear. Did I say something I shouldn't have?"

Felicia lunged.

Sabretooth was faster. His massive clawed hand swiped.

Felicia twisted in mid-air, dodging. But Sabretooth accelerated, his monstrous strength turning him into a blur. His claws caught her, wrapping around her throat.

CRASH!

She slammed into the wall. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as pain shot through her spine.

Damien walked toward her, his polished shoes clicking against the floor. "Look at you," he whispered. "Pathetic."

Felicia gritted her teeth.

"How can you protect Peter when you can't even protect yourself?" His laugh sent chills down her spine.

Sabretooth held her there, waiting.

Damien leaned in. "Think carefully, Ms. Hardy. You have one day to decide." With a snap of his fingers, Sabretooth let go.

Felicia stumbled, coughing. She glared at them, fury burning behind her eyes. Then, without another word, she turned and walked out.

The moment the door closed, Kingpin turned to Damien. "You just made an enemy of her," he warned.

Damien simply smiled. "We'll see."

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Sorry for the missed and late update. Will try to upload one more if possible. Came back home... Long 10 hours of driving.. anyways, don't forget to keep the stones coming..

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