Chereads / Marvel: The Villain Code / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: More!

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: More!

The moment the last thug's lifeless body hit the ground, I stood still for a second, just taking it all in. The rush of the fight, the crackle of energy still dancing in the air, and the distant hum of the city. But something else caught my attention—a soft, quivering breath from behind me.

The woman.

I almost forgot about her.

Slowly, I turned toward her. Her back was pressed up against the grimy wall, eyes wide with terror, her body trembling as if her legs would give out any second.

"Hey," I said casually, wiping my blood-stained hand on my jacket. "You alright?"

But instead of relief washing over her, her eyes widened even more, pupils dilating like a cornered animal. Her lips parted, and before I could say another word—

"Mutant!" she screamed, her voice filled with sheer panic, cutting through the night air like a siren.

I blinked. 'Mutant?'

Without a second thought, she bolted—her feet scrambling on the concrete as she ran down the alley, barely keeping her balance, her screams echoing in the distance.

I stood there, watching her vanish into the city's maze of streets, my eyebrow twitching in annoyance.

'That's why I don't bother playing the hero,' I thought bitterly. 'Ungrateful little—'

I shook my head, letting out a low chuckle. Not like I cared about her or anyone else. This was all just part of the game.

[System Notification: Sasuke Uchiha Template Synchronization +2%]

I felt a surge of energy course through me, a warmth spreading across my muscles, making me feel… stronger. I clenched my fist, testing it. No new skills popped up, but I knew—my chakra had definitely increased.

'Guess it's not a total waste,' I mused.

The system blinked into view.

[Status Update]

[

Name: Damian

Title(s): Variable, The True Villain, Villain Code Wielder, Reincarnator

Race: Human

Tier: 8-C (Building Level)

Skills:

Sharingan (Three Tomoe, Level 1)

Chidori (Level 1)

Taijutsu (Mastered)

Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu (Level 1)

Lightning Style: Chidori (Level 1)

Genjutsu (Basic Level)

]

The jump from 9-A to 8-C was a nice little boost. I could feel it in my bones, in my chakra pathways. The energy flowing through me was more intense, more refined. I wasn't at full strength yet, but I was getting there.

"Time to test this out."

I leaped into the air, landing gracefully on the rooftop above. The city sprawled below me, alive and pulsating with activity. I pulled up the mental map from the thug's confession—East side, near the docks. The gang's base. I grinned to myself, already anticipating the chaos I was about to cause.

I moved across the rooftops like a shadow, my chakra-infused body carrying me with speed and grace. The wind whipped past me, the city lights flashing in my peripheral vision as I neared my destination.

The docks were quieter than the bustling parts of the city. Warehouses lined up in neat rows, dim lights flickering on rusty poles, casting long shadows across the asphalt. But it wasn't the silence that intrigued me—it was the presence of the gang.

From my vantage point, I could see them—rough-looking men patrolling the area, some carrying guns, others leaning against crates, smoking, and chatting. The air was thick with their arrogance. They didn't expect anyone to challenge them, least of all someone like me.

'This should be fun,' I thought, landing softly on a rooftop overlooking their base.

I could've gone in stealthily, picked them off one by one—but where's the fun in that?

Instead, I dropped down right in the middle of their little gathering, landing in a crouch. The moment my feet hit the ground, all eyes turned toward me.

There was a brief moment of stunned silence before one of the thugs—probably the leader of this small group—burst into laughter.

"You've got to be kidding me," he said, swaggering toward me with a sneer on his face. "You must be the stupidest guy in the world, walking in here like that. You know you ain't leaving, right?"

The others laughed, clearly feeding off their boss's confidence. Some of them were already pulling out guns, though they weren't aiming them at me yet.

I stood up straight, meeting the leader's gaze. A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. "I was hoping for more of a challenge."

That wiped the smirk off his face. He scowled, raising his hand in a signal to his men.

"Get him," he growled.

They rushed at me, guns raised, but I didn't flinch. In fact, I didn't move an inch. Not until the first gunshot rang out.

BANG!

In an instant, I vanished, leaving behind only a blur.

The leader blinked, looking around in confusion, his gun still smoking from the shot. "What the—"

He didn't get to finish.

I reappeared behind him, my hand crackling with blue lightning. "Chidori."

CRACKLE!

The sound of my hand tearing through his chest was like music to my ears. His body went limp as his eyes bulged in shock, blood spurting from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The rest of the gang stared in stunned silence for a moment, their eyes wide in horror.

"Y-you're a freak!" one of them stammered, backing away. "What the hell are you?!"

I turned my gaze on him, my Sharingan glowing in the dim light. "Me? I'm just a guy having some fun."

And then the bullets started flying.

RATATATATAT!

They emptied their clips at me, but I was already moving, dancing through the hail of gunfire like it was nothing. Every step I took brought me closer to them, and before they knew it, I was among them, my hands moving faster than their eyes could follow.

One by one, they fell. A kunai to the throat here, a lightning-infused punch there. Blood splattered across the ground as their bodies dropped like flies, each one more helpless than the last.

"Stop him! Kill him!" one of the thugs shouted, his voice breaking with panic.

I caught his wrist mid-swing, snapping it with a casual flick of my wrist. He screamed in agony as I slammed my fist into his face, sending him crashing into a stack of crates.

The others didn't fare any better.

Within minutes, the ground was littered with corpses, the air thick with the stench of blood and gunpowder. Only one man remained—the boss.

He stood there, trembling, his hands shaking as he raised his gun. His face was pale, his eyes wide with terror.

"Y-you're making a big mistake," he stammered, desperation clear in his voice. "You don't know who you're messing with!"

I cocked my head, amused by his defiance. "Oh? Enlighten me."

"Kingpin!" the boss blurted out, his voice shaking but trying to sound threatening. "You kill me, and he'll come after you! He owns this whole city—hell, the whole East Coast! You're a dead man walking, you hear me?!"

I blinked, then burst into laughter. "Kingpin? That's your ace in the hole? A crime lord who probably doesn't even know you exist?"

The boss's eyes narrowed, his confidence slipping further as I stepped closer. "He—he'll come for you. You kill one of his men, and he'll wipe you off the face of the Earth."

I smirked, crossing my arms. "Kingpin doesn't care about you. You're a small-time thug running errands for his underlings. You think your life actually matters to someone like him?"

The boss swallowed, fear creeping into his expression. He took a step back. "He—he'll find out. You'll see. I'm important. I matter."

"You?" I laughed, shaking my head. "You're nothing. Kingpin wouldn't even waste the effort to send a cleanup crew after you. Honestly, I'm doing him a favor."

The boss's lip trembled, his bravado completely shattered. "No, please. You don't understand. I can make it worth your while. Money, connections—just let me go. I swear I won't say anything!"

I stared at him for a moment, letting his desperation sink in. Then I sighed. "You're really pathetic, you know that?"

His face twisted in fear as he realized there was no way out. "No... please—"

CHIDORI!

ZZZZZZZZT!

His body convulsed as my hand pierced through his chest, the crackle of electricity echoing in the empty warehouse. He gasped, blood spilling from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground.

I stood there for a moment, looking down at his lifeless body, then turned and walked out of the warehouse.

Once I was outside, I looked back at the building, a smirk playing on my lips. I raised my hand, forming the familiar hand seals.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."

FWOOSH!

The massive ball of flame erupted from my mouth, engulfing the warehouse in a blaze of fire. The flames roared to life, consuming everything in their path. In minutes, the entire building was nothing but a raging inferno, leaving no evidence behind.

[System Notification: Sasuke Uchiha Template Synchronization +5%]

[System Notification: Chidori (Level 2) – Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu (Level 2)]

I felt another surge of power as my skills leveled up. My chakra reserves expanded, the energy flowing through me more potent than before.

I glanced at my updated status.

[Status Update]

[

Name: Damian

Title(s): Variable, The True Villain, Villain Code Wielder, Reincarnator

Race: Human

Tier: High 8-C ( Large Building Level)

Skills:

Sharingan (Three Tomoe, Level 1)

Taijutsu (Mastered)

Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu (Level 2)

Lightning Style: Chidori (Level 2)

Genjutsu (Basic Level)

]