Chapter 58 : Sinister Three… Four ?

Hello everyone ! Hope you're keeping cool ! 'Cause I'm hot as hell !… Okay, let's move on.

As always, I'll ask you to please leave a comment or review, as well as any spare stones you won't be using. Also, you can find advanced chapters and my other stories on my Patréon. Search for Cathbel and please follow, even if you don't donate. I think they'll be news in the coming weeks…

Now, for the minute culture… A TV show I love and have watched several times is Blue Bloods. Have I mentioned it already ? Not sure… anyways, it's about this New York family from Irish descent all working in law enforcement : mostly cops, but also for the District Attorney. Since they're Catholic, religion and tradition is a big part of it. But it's also, I believe, fairly republican. They're all about Law and Order. Anyways, I suggest you watch it if you're curious and tell me what you think !

See you all next week and enjoy !

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« I'm so~ not ready for this shit ! » I shout inwardly while dodging another bolt of lightning. I'm not the most athletic person of our group… In fact, compared to Peter and Doreen, whose powers directly enhance their bodies, I'm the worst. Even despite my dad's martial arts training ! So, dodging just one bolt of lightning can be considered a feat. The fact that it's the third in a few minutes ? A bona fide miracle !

That said, it really smarts, so maybe I'm feeling motivated to be extra limber and quick in order not to get hit again… And the fact that I have magic on my side is plenty helpful too.

Unfortunately, lighting is… pretty much faster than anything I can dish out. Consequently, I am currently on the defensive. Why the hell did the others decide I should deal with this guy ?

« Let's have fried octopus for lunch ! » Electro exclaims with a sadistic and anticipatory tone.

Yeah… It seems the guy is a cannibal. Or he's just not thinking about the fact that what he's talking about eating, is actually a human being. Then again, considering how 'mutants' or, as I prefer to call us, Alterhumans are treated, perhaps he doesn't even consider me human.

Anyways, while I'm sweating my ass off and trying not to be barbecued, let's go back a little in time. Turns out, the reason why four supervillains, not three as I thought at first, are guarding this warehouse wasn't to lie in ambush. They were, as said before, guarding it. For Kingpin and the Hand. Why ? At the moment, we still don't know. But while we were surprised to discover their presence here, they were just as surprised that we came crashing their little get-together. Oh, and the fourth villain ? Shocker ! And no, it's not an exclamation… It's his actual Villain name.

You know… The guy with the vibrational bracers. Spider-Man villain, too. Funny how Peter's got the more colorful rogue gallery in the marvel-verse… At least, I think so. And now, by association, so do we. Yeah~ !

In case, it wasn't clear, this was sarcasm.

Let's get back to the action. Right this moment, I'm hiding behind a large wooden crate to catch my breath. I know it won't last. Wood might not be a good conductor for electricity, but it's not sturdy enough to withstand lightning strikes either… Not that Electro's got that much power. Yet, he's no slouch either.

So, I prepare a spell to insulate myself from his electricity, while wood splinters explode behind and around me. Thank the One Above All he aims for shit ! That said, I'm curious where the others are… We've split up inside the building and now, I can't see any of them. Thankfully, we're still connected through my 'tattoos'.

That's when I idly think that perhaps, I should learn the art of tattooing… Maybe my ink would last longer that way. Perhaps, for a lifetime ?

A blast passing right on my left side brings me out of it. I erect the insulating shield and starts to head back, towards Electro. My shield is a black, rubbery tower shield connected to the ground by a tendril of ink. It's as much a physical shield as it is a magical one. Hopefully, it'll allow me to get closer to the guy and… do what exactly ? The guy's like an electric eel : if I punch him, I'll only get stung. Oh well, guess I'll use another spell. A sleeping one should do… Those almost always work.

I reach until about a little over an arm's length when… with a tremendous noise, the building collapses. When I come to a little later, I realize it's not actually the building but at least part of it near where Electro was blasting me. I get up from the ground, idly wondering when I lied down. Dizzy and confused, I look around…

Doreen's lying, unconscious I think, amid the rubble her body created when she was thrown through the walls. Scorpion is gloating, like a true monologuing villain… He's not even the mastermind type. So, it doesn't look like someone explaining the elaborate plan they put in place to catch their enemy. No, it just sounds like… a moron, or maybe a bully, taunting their victim.

At least, Electro seems to have been taken out of the equation at the same time as Doreen, so we're down to 3vs3… I'm a little worried about my friend, but I can't divert my attention from the massive arachnid-shaped character standing over her prone form.

I see his tail rise, as he speaks about giving the 'coup de grace' and decide that I can't wait anymore. No time for fancy, let's go with quick and dirty ! I spit and shape an ink enhanced eldritch blast. It takes the villain by surprise if his undignified yelp is any indication. Unfortunately, he's a tough bastard. A second or two after his side impacts and then rolls a few times on the ground, he breaks his fall and gets up again.

The upside ? He's focused on me so much, I'm pretty sure he's forgotten about Doreen. The downside ? Yeah. Just… Everything else. I really wish my body was stronger right now… It's crazy, really. All the power I have, I'm pretty much overpowered. If I prepare long enough, anyway. One on one, up close and personal on the other hand ? Not my jam… I don't know why I haven't worked on it before this… I guess because I never really wanted to be one of the heroes.

« Let's not dwell on this… » I mutter to myself.

Scorpion groans and shouts gruffly :

« Think you're a tough guy, squid ? Imma squeeze the ink outta ya ! »

Oh, wow ! So original ! I guess he's not such a moron isn't he ? Now, what to do… I don't want to waste my time here. I'm curious about what Fisk has stashed here that warrants such protection.

A little impatient, my mind zeroes in on the task at hand : taking down the Scorpion !