Bullseye stared at the monitor in stunned disbelief, an unsettling sense of fear rising within him. Even under such heavy firepower, the man remained unharmed. What could possibly stop him now?
The relentless barrage of bullets finally ceased, giving Garus a moment to breathe. In the cramped confines of the corridor, he had been nothing more than a sitting duck. Though the damage was negligible, the constant assault was frustrating.
It seemed the earlier lesson for Bullseye hadn't been sufficient.
"Bullseye, who is that man?" Wesker, one of Kingpin's lieutenants, turned to him with a mix of confusion and urgency. He had initially been perplexed when Bullseye activated the corridor's defensive systems.
This was no ordinary trap—it was one of the contingencies Kingpin had painstakingly prepared for dealing with formidable foes. Only three individuals had access to its controls. Now, as Wesker stared at the monitor, tension crept into his voice.
Bullseye, sweating profusely, stood frozen, unable to muster a response.
Garus took a deep breath. With a focused thought, he summoned his rune-forged armor, which enveloped his body in a protective glow. A massive runeblade materialized in his hands. In a few swift strokes, he reduced the wall-mounted weapons to scrap, then drove the sword into the iron door, eliciting an ear-piercing screech.
"Damn it!" Wesker growled as he watched Garus carving through the door. He seized Bullseye by the shoulder, demanding, "Who is this guy, and why did you bring him here?"
"Take your hands off me," Bullseye snapped irritably. Nevertheless, he explained, "He's the one Kingpin ordered me to capture. But as you can see, I'm not his match."
Wesker didn't waste time berating him. As the door threatened to give way, he barked at the other henchmen, "What are you waiting for? Arm yourselves and hold the line! If Kingpin returns to find this place compromised, you'd better prepare for his wrath."
The mere mention of Kingpin's punishment sent shivers through the room. Even Bullseye doubted they could hold the line.
Sure enough, moments later, the iron door gave way, revealing a man-shaped opening. Garus stepped through, his towering form now facing dozens of gangsters armed to the teeth. Their fear was palpable.
"Open fire!" Wesker roared. But it was a futile command.
Garus didn't even need his weapon. Bullets ricocheted harmlessly off his runic armor. He charged into the throng, fists flying. These were men he could put to use later; a beating would suffice for now.
Each punch from the death knight carried the weight of his blood-based aura, spreading plagues and sickness. Some of the weaker men collapsed without even being touched, overcome by the oppressive energy.
Even Bullseye and Wesker were reduced to groaning wrecks, their faces swollen and bruised. Garus had shown restraint; otherwise, the floor would have been littered with corpses.
Grabbing Bullseye by the neck, Garus snarled, "Don't play games with me. You can't afford it. Now, take me to Kingpin."
"Yes… yes," Bullseye stammered through bloodied lips, his front teeth missing. He had no choice but to comply. Within Kingpin's organization, none were equipped to challenge a force like Garus.
Wesker, still sprawled on the ground, muttered weakly, "Sir, Kingpin isn't here. He left earlier."
"What?" Garus frowned. "Where is he?"
"He's set a trap for Daredevil," Wesker replied, his voice trembling. "He took a team to deal with him. They're probably finishing the job by now."
Garus sifted through his memory. Daredevil—Matt Murdock. Kingpin's eternal rival. Their battles in Hell's Kitchen were the stuff of legend.
"Do you know where I can find him?" Garus asked impatiently. He cared little for Murdock's fate. All he wanted was to eliminate Kingpin and claim his organization. Having a band of followers would make his plans much easier.
"I can make a call," Wesker offered, struggling to retrieve his phone.
Meanwhile, in a dilapidated factory across town, Daredevil stood surrounded. Gangsters banged on steel pipes, the chaotic din overwhelming his heightened senses. Kingpin had discovered his weakness, and now Matt could barely tell which direction to run.
From the sidelines, Kingpin watched his longtime nemesis struggle, a smug grin spreading across his face. He hefted a steel pipe the width of an arm and casually bent it into a U-shape.
This was a trap long in the making. A phony tip about a drug deal had lured Daredevil into their clutches. Learning that his foe was blind had infuriated Kingpin, but it also gave him the key to victory. By bombarding Daredevil with disorienting noise, they had rendered him helpless.
Surrounded and exhausted, Matt finally collapsed. His body had reached its limit.
Kingpin had ordered his men to keep Daredevil alive. Otherwise, the blind vigilante would have been riddled with bullets by now. "Tie him up!" Kingpin barked.
The gangsters swarmed Daredevil, binding him tightly. Kingpin approached, yanking off the red cowl that concealed Matt's identity. He had always wanted to know who dared to stand against him.
"It's you!" one of Kingpin's henchmen exclaimed in shock.
Kingpin turned sharply. "Jerry, you know him?"
"Yes, boss. He's Matt Murdock, a lawyer. His father, Jack Murdock, was a boxer who worked for us… until he disobeyed orders. You had him killed."
Kingpin barely remembered. A nobody like Jack Murdock hadn't warranted a second thought.
Holding his prize, Kingpin prepared to leave. But as he reached the door, headlights flared in the distance. A car screeched to a halt, and out stepped Bullseye and Wesker—along with someone Kingpin had never seen before.
"Bullseye," Kingpin growled, "why are you here? And what about the task I assigned you?"
Bullseye glanced nervously at Garus, unsure how to respond. He was the one being dragged along.
Garus stepped forward, his tone calm but menacing. "I'd say he's done exactly what you asked."
Kingpin's gaze darkened. "And who might you be?"
Facing the crime lord's imposing figure, Garus replied, "The man you've been looking for. I'm standing right here. Do you have anything you'd like to say to me?"
Author's Note:I haven't watched the Daredevil series—just the movie, and I barely remember it. The plot follows my imagination, so if there are discrepancies, please take the novel as the definitive version.
The items in the system's exchange shop will gradually appear and play a significant role later.
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