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Hello you all, thanks for the support thus far. In this chapter, I made a daring joke, and I believe it is not racist, but please do tell me if you think it is. I want to ensure my heart is in the right place and that no offense is intended.
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It had been a year since Hercule Satan, now known in this world as Hercule Lucifer, had found himself in this strange new reality. This world was equally as wild as his own, though in different ways. Back in his old life, he was the world's idol, the so-called Martial Arts Champion, where every apocalypse—from alien invasions to cyborg rampages—was handled by a group of extraordinary people. Yet, the glory always fell on him. While most people saw it as luck, Hercule had never been entirely comfortable with it. Pretending to save the world in front of cameras was mostly a way to give people hope and, more secretly, to help Goku gather the power of belief. But that was all in the past.
Now, he was near Harlem, tending a barbecue, flipping burgers like a pro. Over the year, Hercule had built up quite a reputation in Hell's Kitchen and Harlem, not just for saving people from small to mid-tier criminals but also, strangely enough, for his skill with a grill. Despite all his heroics, the curse of being "Hamburger Man" haunted him every day, thanks to his decision to take Spongebob's cooking mastery from Nero as his chosen power. Of all the abilities he could have chosen, it had to be this one.
On this particular afternoon, Hercule was manning a grill near the heart of Harlem, flipping burgers with a practiced ease. The smoky scent of sizzling beef filled the air, attracting a small crowd of locals. He was deep in thought, pondering his strange turn of fate, when a group of Harlem residents approached him.
"Yo, my man, Luci here is the best burger G you can find in the whole damn world!" one of the locals called out, grinning wide. The crowd responded with a mix of laughter and cheers, clearly in agreement.
Hercule—now known as Hercule Lucifer or simply "Luci" around these parts—flashed a toothy grin and gave a playful wink as he flipped another burger with a dramatic flair. "Aw, come on now, don't hype me up too much, homes. These burgers ain't nothin' but love and a lil' bit of magic from south of the border, you know?"
The crowd loved it, clapping and whistling as Hercule passed a perfectly grilled burger to one of the kids at the front. The kid's eyes lit up as he took a bite, and his exaggerated "Mmmm!" was met with another round of applause.
"You see that?" another local chimed in, smacking his lips. "That's love in every bite, yo! Luci's burgers hit different!"
One of the older men in the group, clearly a regular at these makeshift cookouts, leaned in closer, giving Hercule a knowing look. "Man, I don't know how you do it, but you got a gift, Luci. You sure you ain't puttin' some kinda special sauce in these joints?"
Hercule chuckled, wiping his hands on his apron. "Just a lil' somethin' my abuela taught me, amigo. You know, gotta keep the tradition alive."
"Damn straight!" the old man laughed, taking a burger for himself. "Whatever it is, you keep doin' it, a'ight?"
Hercule gave a thumbs-up, continuing to grill as the crowd grew larger. The mood was light, and everyone seemed to forget, if only for a moment, the harsh realities of their surroundings. Harlem was a tough place, but today, in this little corner, things felt different.
As Hercule kept the burgers coming, he noticed a group of kids lingering nearby, watching him with wide eyes. One of the boys finally worked up the courage to step forward, looking up at Hercule with a mix of awe and nervousness. "Hey, uh, Luci… could you show us some moves?"
Hercule paused for a moment, his spatula mid-flip, before breaking into a wide grin. "Ah, so you wanna see some real moves, huh? Alright, lemme finish up these last burgers, and I'll give y'all a show."
The kids cheered, their faces lighting up with excitement. Hercule quickly wrapped up his cooking, handing out the last few burgers before stepping away from the grill. He wiped his hands on his apron again and cracked his knuckles, playing up the moment.
"Alright, listen up, chamacos! Y'all better pay attention, 'cause I'm only gonna do this once!" Hercule announced, his voice booming with mock seriousness.
He took a deep breath, then dropped into a low, exaggerated stance, his hands moving in slow, deliberate motions as he mimicked a martial arts sequence. The kids watched in rapt attention, their mouths hanging open as Hercule moved with surprising agility for a man of his size.
Suddenly, with a loud "Hiyah!" he leapt into the air, performing a quick, flashy kick before landing in a dramatic pose, his fists raised triumphantly. The kids erupted into applause, their faces beaming with admiration.
"Damn, Luci! You really got moves!" one of the boys shouted, clapping enthusiastically.
Hercule puffed out his chest, giving the kids a cocky grin. "That's right! Don't forget, I'm not just a burger-flippin' genius—I'm the champ, baby!"
The kids laughed, crowding around Hercule as they bombarded him with questions about his so-called "champion days." Hercule answered them all with the same easygoing charm, spinning tall tales that had the kids hanging on his every word.
"Man, Luci, you ever think about teachin' us some of them moves?" one of the older boys asked, his eyes shining with hope.
Hercule paused, taken aback by the question. Teaching? He hadn't considered that. But as he looked at the eager faces around him, he felt a tug of responsibility. These kids needed something—someone—to look up to, something to keep them off the streets.
"Maybe I could," Hercule said slowly, scratching his chin in thought. "But y'all gotta promise me one thing: if I teach you, you gotta use what I show you for good, no messing around, no pickin' fights. Deal?"
The kids nodded eagerly, their eyes wide with excitement.
"Alright then," Hercule said, his smile returning. "We'll start next week. Same place, same time. And y'all better bring your A-game, 'cause I don't go easy on nobody!"
The kids cheered again, already talking excitedly among themselves about their future training sessions. Hercule watched them with a fond smile, feeling a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe this was what he was meant to do in this world—something more than just flipping burgers and telling tall tales.
As Hercule wrapped up the last of the burgers, preparing to deliver them to the elderly residents of Harlem, a sudden commotion erupted from the north. Shouts and the sound of chaos filled the air, drawing his attention.
"What the hell's goin' on?" Hercule muttered to himself, his brow furrowing in concern. He spotted a local named Darius running towards him, his face pale with fear.
"Dari, what's happenin', homes?" Hercule called out, stepping away from the grill.
Darius skidded to a stop, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "L-Luci, man, it's wild up there!" he stuttered, his voice trembling. "Some fool and his crew, they goin' crazy, attackin' everybody in sight like they possessed or somethin'!"
Hercule's eyes narrowed as he listened, his gut telling him this wasn't just some random street fight. "Who's tryin' to stop 'em?" he asked, his tone serious.
Darius shook his head, still catching his breath. "Some big dude, man. Ain't seen him 'round here before, but he tryin' to hold 'em back. It don't look good, though. They too many."
Hercule didn't hesitate. "You get inside, Dari. Keep your head down," he ordered, already moving towards the source of the commotion. He didn't know who this "big dude" was, but if he was trying to protect the neighborhood, Hercule wasn't about to let him stand alone.
As Hercule made his way through the streets, the sounds of the fight grew louder. He could hear the shouts of the gang members, their voices wild and erratic, like they were out of their minds. It reminded him too much of the old days, when people under the influence of strange powers or forces would wreak havoc on the city.
Turning a corner, Hercule finally saw the chaos firsthand. A group of men, clearly part of some gang, were attacking anyone who crossed their path. Their eyes were wild, their movements erratic, as if they were being controlled by some unseen force.
In the middle of the chaos, Hercule spotted a massive figure standing firm against the gang members. The man was a mountain—close to 2 meters tall (around 6 feet 6 inches) and easily over 200 kilos (about 440 pounds). He was holding his ground, fending off the attackers with powerful, precise strikes. Even with the odds stacked against him, the man moved with the confidence of someone who knew how to handle himself in a fight.
As Hercule moved closer, he saw two familiar faces appear beside him—Sakura and Finn the Human. Both of them were also Nero's summons, just like Hercule. Sakura, with her pink hair and sharp gaze, took in the situation with a quick assessment, while Finn, dressed in his iconic blue shirt and white hat, gripped his sword, ready to jump into action.
Sakura made her way over to Hercule, her expression serious but calm. "What's going on, S—uh, Luci?" she asked, catching herself before slipping up. She was used to addressing him by his real name, but here, she knew to use his new alias.
Hercule shrugged, flipping the spatula he still held from the barbecue earlier. "Some crazy bastards thought it was a good idea to start messin' with the wrong barrio. We gotta show 'em how we handle things 'round here."
Finn's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. "These guys aren't normal, Hercule. They're moving like they're on something, but I can't tell what."
Sakura nodded in agreement. "We need to be careful. Whatever's got them riled up, it's not natural."
Hercule cracked his knuckles, the playful demeanor he'd shown the kids earlier replaced by a steely focus. "Alright, let's give 'em a lesson they won't forget. But keep it clean—no need to go full power on these fools unless they push us."
With that, the three of them moved as a unit, joining the big man who was still holding off the gang members. Hercule took the lead, charging in with a loud battle cry that echoed through the streets.
As Hercule, Sakura, and Finn charged toward the chaos, Hercule caught sight of the big black man in the center of the brawl. The man was completely unfazed by the gang's attacks, his skin seemingly impervious to the knives, chains, spiked bats, and machetes being swung at him. It was as if their weapons were made of cotton, harmless against his steel-like body.
Hercule's eyes widened with excitement as he pointed at the man. "Sakura, look! That dude's using full-body Armament Haki! Amazing, even I can't cover half of my body like that!"
Sakura shot him a side-eye, her tone flat. "What Armament Haki, fool?"
Hercule jabbed his finger toward the man, who was blocking a chain with his forearm like it was nothing. "Look at him, he's all black and impervious. Obviously Full Body Haki!"
Sakura's temper flared, her usual composed demeanor slipping as she snapped at Hercule, "That's not Haki, the imperviousness is just his superpower, you idiot! Other than us summons, who else around here could use Haki?"
Hercule blinked, taken aback by her outburst. "Damn, girl, chill! How was I supposed to know?" he mumbled, his bravado faltering for a second.
Sakura huffed, regaining her composure. "Just focus on the fight, Luci," she said, her tone sharp but controlled. She glanced at Finn, who had already charged ahead, his sword slicing cleanly through the air as he took on the gang members with a mix of skill and raw power.
Hercule shook off the exchange and turned his attention back to the battle. The gang members were relentless, attacking with a chaotic energy that seemed almost unnatural. But the big man in the center, who Hercule now realized wasn't using any kind of Haki, was holding his ground like a tank. His skin, tough as steel, deflected every blow that came his way.
As Hercule dove into the fray, he shouted over his shoulder, "Alright, let's show these fools what happens when they mess with Harlem!"
The group moved with precision. Sakura's fists and kicks were blindingly fast, each strike sending gang members sprawling. Finn's swordplay was a blur of motion, cutting through weapons and defenses alike with ease. Hercule, despite his earlier blunder, used his raw strength and years of martial arts experience to overpower his opponents, his massive fists landing with bone-crunching force.
The big man nodded in acknowledgment as they fought side by side, his deep voice booming as he called out, "You folks got some real moves! Name's Luke Cage, by the way."
"Lucifer," Hercule shouted back, ducking under a wild swing and countering with a powerful uppercut. "These are my friends, Sakura and Finn. Nice to meet ya, homes!"
Luke grinned, a rare sight in the middle of such chaos. "Likewise, Lucifer. But please be more light-handed, these are locals. Probably used something bad."
Hercule nodded in understanding, while Sakura and Finn continued their careful efforts to incapacitate the gang members without causing serious harm. They were efficient, their movements precise as they disarmed and neutralized the attackers with ease.
Once the last of the gang members were down, Sakura crouched down to examine them, her sharp eyes scanning for any signs of what might have caused their erratic behavior. Finn stood nearby, his sword at the ready, just in case.
Meanwhile, Hercule struck up a conversation with Luke Cage, who was still catching his breath from the intense fight. "I ain't never seen you around here before, homes," Hercule said, wiping some sweat off his brow. "You new to the neighborhood?"
Luke's expression tightened for a moment, a shadow passing over his eyes as he remembered Seagate Prison and the nightmare that place had been. He quickly pushed the memory aside, shaking off the chill that ran down his spine. "Yeah, you could say that," Luke replied, keeping his tone casual. "Been laying low, tryin' to keep outta trouble."
Hercule nodded, not pressing for more details. He could tell Luke had been through something rough, but this wasn't the time to dig into a man's past. "Well, you sure know how to handle yourself. We could use more folks like you around here, keepin' the peace."
Luke gave a small smile, appreciating the sentiment. "Thanks, but I'm just doin' what needs to be done. Harlem's my home, and I'm gonna protect it, no matter what."
Hercule clapped a hand on Luke's massive shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "I hear you, man. Same here. We look out for our own."
Sakura, having finished her examination of the downed gang members, stood up and dusted off her hands. "These guys were definitely on something," she said, her voice thoughtful. "Their vitals are all over the place, like they were pumped full of some kind of drug or… something else."
Luke frowned, his concern deepening. "That ain't good. If someone's pushing this stuff in Harlem, we gotta shut it down before more people get hurt."
Hercule nodded in agreement. "No doubt. You know who might be behind this?"
Luke shook his head. "Not yet, but I'm gonna find out. Whoever it is, they're messin' with the wrong neighborhood."
Finn rummaged through the pockets of the fallen gang members, his fingers moving with practiced ease. After a moment, he pulled out a small plastic packet filled with white powder and held it up for the others to see.
"No need to search further," Finn announced, his voice calm but carrying the weight of the discovery. He tossed the packet to Sakura, who caught it with a scowl. "It's pure heroin, the real deal. Red Serpent."
Sakura examined the packet, her frown deepening. "Victims in Hell's Kitchen were never this aggressive. Is this a new variant or something else?" she wondered aloud, her mind racing through the possibilities.
Luke Cage stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the packet. His massive fist clenched tightly at his side, the tension in his body evident. "Who makes this shit?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Sakura glanced at Hercule, who gave her a small nod. With a slight grin tugging at the corners of her mouth, she answered, "The Hand."
Luke's stern expression faltered for a moment as he processed the response. "The Hand?" he echoed, his voice laced with disbelief. He looked at Hercule, hoping for a more serious explanation.
Hercule frowned, his playful demeanor replaced with a serious intensity as he looked Luke Cage squarely in the eye. "Listen, homes, you don't wanna mess with these guys. The Hand ain't your typical gang or some mob you can just beat down and walk away from. You take them on, and they'll keep coming until you're either dead or they're wiped off the map—and trust me, they're damn near impossible to get rid of."
Luke's expression hardened, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "You saying we should just let them run wild? Poison our streets?"
Hercule shook his head firmly. "Nah, man, I'm not saying that. But you gotta be smart about this. The Hand operates in the shadows, and they've been around a long time. You take one of them out, ten more pop up. They're like a damn hydra."
Sakura, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward. "He's right, Luke. The Hand isn't just a gang—they're an ancient organization, with deep ties all over the world. If you're going after them, you need to be prepared for a long fight, and you won't be able to do it alone."
Luke clenched his fists, his frustration evident. "So what do we do? Just sit back and let them destroy our home?"
Finn, still holding the small packet of heroin, spoke up. "We don't back down, but we don't charge in blindly either. We need to find out who's behind this push into Harlem, and why. They wouldn't make a move like this without a reason."
Hercule nodded, agreeing with Finn's assessment. "We start by tracking down their suppliers, the people bringing this poison into our neighborhood. We cut off their source, and we weaken them. Then, when the time's right, we hit them where it hurts."
Luke looked between the three of them, weighing their words. He didn't like the idea of waiting, but he knew they were right. Charging in without a plan would only get more people hurt.
"All right," Luke said, his voice steady. "We do this smart. We find out where this stuff is coming from, and we take it down piece by piece."
Sakura gave a sharp nod. "I'll reach out to some contacts, see if they've heard anything about new suppliers in the area. The Hand usually keeps a low profile, but someone's bound to know something."
"I'll check out the docks," Finn added. "A lot of this stuff comes in through there. Maybe I can find a lead."
Hercule clapped Luke on the back, his usual grin returning. "And I'll keep an eye on the streets, make sure these punks don't try anything else. We'll figure this out, homes. Harlem's our turf, and we ain't lettin' no one take it from us."
Luke's tension eased slightly, his resolve firming as he looked at the team around him. "Appreciate it. We take care of each other around here."
As they started to disperse, each heading in their respective directions, Luke hesitated for a moment. "You know," he began, turning back to Hercule, "you're not what I expected when I first heard about you."
Hercule raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Oh yeah? What were you expectin'?"
Luke shrugged, a faint smile crossing his features. "Not sure. But I like what I see. You're good people, Luci."
Hercule chuckled, shaking his head. "You too, Cage. Now let's get to work. These streets aren't gonna clean themselves up."
Luke nodded, his expression serious once more. "See you around."
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