As the underground chamber was littered with the broken corpses of the defeated ninjas, the five leaders of the Shouhehui, known as the Five Fingers, stared in grim silence. Blood pooled on the ground, a stark testament to the violence that had unfolded. Mrs. Gao, with her cold eyes, finally spoke, her tone dripping with disdain, "It's a bunch of trash. Let me handle this."
Although the Five Fingers were unsure of Xu Mo's full capabilities, they underestimated him, believing his speed and blade work to be ordinary. They considered their own powers, honed over centuries with Kunlun's secret "Qigong" and mastery in various martial arts and assassination techniques, to be superior.
The ninjas, visibly ashamed, parted to let Mrs. Gao through. She advanced with a grace and speed that spoke to her advanced skills. Channeling her "qi," she propelled herself towards Xu Mo with the swiftness of a striking arrow, her hands glowing faintly as she aimed a slap at his face.
"Snapped!"
The sound of Mrs. Gao's slap was sharp and reverberated through the chamber. Yet, in an astonishing turn of events, Mrs. Gao found herself spinning uncontrollably, her body whirling like a top as she collided with several ninjas before she could regain her balance.
"Vomit."
Dizzy and disoriented, Mrs. Gao spat out several teeth, her face flushed with the aftereffects of the powerful blow. The sight of Xu Mo, unscathed and unruffled, caused the other Four Fingers' eyes to widen in shock. They noticed, with growing apprehension, that not a single drop of blood had sullied Xu Mo's attire.
The Four Fingers, realizing their grave miscalculation, understood that Xu Mo's prowess far exceeded their initial assumptions. The quick, decisive action of Xu Mo had rendered their previous efforts futile.
Daredevil and his allies, observing the rapid and brutal efficiency of Xu Mo, felt a mix of relief and astonishment. The Punisher had indeed brought an unexpected but powerful reinforcement.
Alexandra's voice cut through the chaos, "Let's go together. He's only one person."
The remaining Four Fingers nodded in agreement and encircled Xu Mo. Mrs. Gao, now regaining her composure, understood that the fight was more challenging than anticipated. Despite their strategic positioning, Xu Mo remained calm and measured.
"Why keep your distance?" Xu Mo queried, his tone almost mocking. "If you want to hit me reliably, you should come closer. Or perhaps you fear that my figure might vanish from your sight?"
The Five Fingers sneered at what they perceived as Xu Mo's arrogance. They believed that fighting distance was only relevant when opponents were evenly matched. To them, the distance did not matter.
In an instant, Xu Mo closed the gap. His speed was so extraordinary that it seemed as though multiple afterimages of him had appeared simultaneously. With a series of lightning-fast strikes, he decimated the Five Fingers. The powerful force of his attacks split them in half, their bodies falling to the ground in a grotesque display.
"Uh..."
The Five Fingers' eyes widened in disbelief. They tried to scream, but the sensation of cold steel and the ensuing pain rendered them silent. Their lifeless bodies hit the ground one after another, each fall marked by a muted thud.
Xu Mo remained unperturbed, indifferent to the spectacle of his victory. His primary concern was preventing any further disruption to his plans, particularly ensuring the safety of Manhattan from the destructive ambitions of the Shouhehui.
The ninja army, witnessing the defeat of their leaders, fell into a stunned silence before erupting into a frenzied assault. They were determined to avenge their fallen masters, believing that their lives had become meaningless without their leaders.
At that moment, ropes descended from the underground ceiling, and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, led by Natasha Romanoff, landed swiftly. Natasha, her wavy red hair contrasting sharply against the dark surroundings, commanded, "Don't move!"
But the ninjas, driven by revenge, ignored her order and continued their charge towards Xu Mo. Their desperation rendered them heedless of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
"Fire!" Natasha ordered.
Gunshots rang out, the agents' bullets tearing through the air. Despite being hit, the red-clad ninjas continued their relentless advance, their bodies crawling towards Xu Mo even as they fell to the ground.
Hawkeye, stationed behind, frowned as he observed the scene. "This man is untouchable."
The agents' bullets, although accurate, could not penetrate Xu Mo's defenses. The stray shots, intended for the ninjas, seemed to have no effect on him. Xu Mo stood calmly amidst the chaos, his demeanor serene and unshaken.
With a slight smile, Xu Mo raised his hands, and with a metallic clang, the bullets fell harmlessly to the ground, bouncing slightly. The sound was startling and echoed ominously through the chamber.
"Since it's the enemy, let's have some fun," Xu Mo said, his brown eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.
As he spoke, a roar, echoing like a beast's cry, reverberated through the underground space. Though no visible creatures emerged, the sensation of an impending monstrous threat was palpable. The atmosphere thickened with dread as everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D. and the remaining ninjas felt the chilling presence of an unseen force.
The clash below Manhattan had reached a new, unsettling phase, and the outcome remained uncertain as the battle intensified.