Hello, you all ! Hope you had a nice holiday. I also hope you haven't celebrated too hard ! Personally, it was quiet, mostly with family. Which is good since I've seen too many people at my job…
As you can see, I'm back. Not in Black, but we can't all be perfect. I'll promote my Patréon page as always. You can find advanced chapters and other stories. Speaking of other stories, I've started re-writing the self-insert into Lex Luthor. I still don't plan to make him a villain. Maybe an anti-hero at best. But his powers will be re-worked into something more… thought out and cherry-picked.
Now, let's talk about the new DC universe that just birthed at the end of 2024. Alpha earth, with the series Absolute Superman, Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman (for now) is a kind of reboot of the franchise, with new stories for the beloved characters. For instance, Wonder Woman was raised in hell, Batman doesn't have billions in his bank account, and Superman lived his youth on Krypton. Personally, I love what they're doing even though people will probably see it as a belated attempt at an « Ultimate Marvel » DC sauce. I suggest you check it out !
Now enjoy !
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Darkness falls on the lobby as Fisk's men prepare to empty their magazines in the direction of the elevator. A bit of panic ensues, a few shots fired blindly followed by an order to cease. No one knows what's happening and while shooting blindly could potentially kill the intruder, they'll still be unable to confirm whether the target dies without their sight. So, the 'lieutenant' has decided to hold off on shooting. Besides, he also knows that his men, while knowledgeable in the use of firearms, aren't exactly experts marksmen. He'd rather not be shot in the ass because his men start deviating from their original direction…
Silence comes back, with a few mutters asking what's happening, if anyone can see, etc… All they can see, right now, is pitch black. Nothing else. Which is unsettling since even at night, there's usually at least enough light to perceive shapes and silhouettes. Now though, it's as if they've been robbed of their sights. It might be worse even since they can't even picture the room around them in their minds.
And then, slowly, the sound of voice dwindle. At first, the 'lieutenant' doesn't notice. People are speaking all around before someone's voice suddenly disappear. Then another. And another… He only notices about one or two minutes after he lost his sight. But by then, it's already too late : all his men are already incapacitated. And his weapon ? Yeah, something was wrong with that as well. Its weight has changed, as has the feel of it. Like it melted or the metal turned to rubber.
Like suddenly becoming blind out of nowhere, what's happening to him and his men is impossible. Or should be, anyway ! Ever since mutants and weirdos in costumes started popping up, the world has been getting increasingly crazier. It's made his job as a criminal that much harder, especially since most of these costumed crazies behaves much like they did : not caring about the law. At least, with cops, they know the rules… Vigilantes and heroes ? You never know…
In any case, while those thoughts run through his mind, I pick his people one by one, my vision unimpaired. I'm not sure why I'm not just putting them to sleep. Maybe because I want to play it like Batman ? Playing on their fears while picking them off. Or perhaps, I'm just playing it safe since I don't know any of them. For all I know, one of them is an Alter-human.
While I know magic works just as efficiently on Alters as it does on regular humans, I prefer to play it safe. Yeah, that's probably the reason. Not because I want to play around. Definitely not ! I mean… They have my friends, you know ?
Another reason why I'm taking my time is that I'm waiting for some kind of signal from my parents. I assumed that, by now, they'd have already saved them. I certainly wasn't expecting to take on the entire Kingpin's organization all on my lonesome. Except that it seems like it's exactly where the situation's headed…
As the 'leader' starts to sag to the ground, I heave a sigh of relief. A sigh soon followed by an annoyed grunt.
« Let's check for surprises ! » I say to myself.
I don't know what to expect but given the means at the white whale's disposal, I'm half-expecting him to cut his losses by blowing up the entire building. I remember a version of him burning parts of New York to the ground in DareDevil's TV shows so torching his own crib ? I won't put it past him.
As long as the guy's got money, he can build himself another nest. So I cast a series of detection spells : one to detect dangerous objects, another to spot living people and a more general to detect potential danger. The last one is much less precise, but gives me a sense of where danger can come from… And yeah, I don't like how it feels.
The truth is that danger can come from anywhere and take on any form. Not just from people wanting me harm. But from accidents : tools lying around, a loaded firearms which are basically lying all over the floor… But the most powerful sense I get ? It comes from the door to an office at the end of the hallway.
After this, I cast a spell to try and find Peter, Doreen and Cory's location. They're not at this level, but I am picking up their presence down in the building. Way~ down ! I'm a little relieved actually. Since it means I don't have to protect them, while they're probably not a 100% and trying to escape the building. That'd be the moment where another ambush is waiting for me in the lobby.
Now, what to do ? I've basically accomplished my objective : creating a distraction for my parents. And even though I created this much mayhem in Fisk's place, I doubt I can get him to jail… No, in fact, I'm the one more likely to risk prison time since I'm the one who broke into the place and assaulted his security team. Even though I haven't laid a finger on them… Still, that's what his lawyers would argue and with the money he can throw around, it'll probably stick too.
So… Do I face the dungeon's boss in his office ? I'm not exactly an adventurer, or much of a hero, really. My main and only mission is to cause a distraction, not face the boss. Only there doesn't seem to be any more people to distract. And obviously, the whale's probably got security monitors he's currently looking at to keep an eye on the situation of his base. Which means…
« I have to go and see him… » I utter despondently. « Let's fucking go, then ! »
The second sentence, I try to say it in a upbeat tone. It comes out rather deadpan however.