13.

Kai walked around his apartment, casually strolling as he picked up his ringing cell phone.

"A tracker? That'll do," Kai said nonchalantly, his voice calm and measured. He looked through the window, his senses alert to an unusual aura. A sharp, threatening cursed energy emanated from a particular building not too far from his own.

With his enhanced physique came not only strength but heightened senses. Kai could feel the intensity of the energy, its malevolence palpable even from a distance. He narrowed his eyes, contemplating the source of this disturbance.

"Che!" Kai clicked his tongue as he stretched his arms forward.

The sniper across from Kai's building was looking through his scope, his finger hovering over the trigger. The sniper was well-trained, his focus unbroken as he aimed directly at Kai. The cursed energy Kai sensed wasn't just from the building—it was from this very assassin.

With his hands steadily placed on the trigger, he was ready to take his shot when he suddenly noticed Kai who was previously casually walking around stop in his tracks as he stared directly at him.

"Shit! Did he make me out..." The sniper was taken aback by Kai's sudden awareness. He adjusted his aim, trying to get a clear shot before the monster in front of him could make a move.

But before he could, he noticed Kai stretching his arm forward with a menacing smile, as with a flick of his finger the gun he was holding snapped clearly in half.

"Fuck!" The sniper stood up ready to flee, his eyes wide open as he barely managed to take a couple of steps when his vision started to blur. A feeling of light-headedness engulfed his senses as he desperately tried to flee only to realize he couldn't feel his leg.

"What... the... fuck..." The man barely murmured as he found himself on the ground glancing around within his fading vision he saw his legs that had long been detached from his body by a precise, clean cut.

Blood pooled around him, and the sniper's mind raced, trying to comprehend how Kai had managed to figure him out so quickly as he breathed his last breath.

As soon as Kai had taken down the sniper, a barrage of gunfire rang through the apartment as men heavily armed and well-prepared stormed into the building. 

The men looked around after minutes of gunfire trying to find Kai's body but found only the eerie silence of the room. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the faint scent of blood. They cautiously moved forward, their weapons at the ready, scanning every corner for any sign of life.

"Where did he go!" One of the men shouted as he felt an arm wrapped around his shoulders, "Don't fuck around and look for him idiots!"

"Nah! I'd rather not..." 

"The fuck do you-"

The man turned his head with a fury only to find the four-eyed devil giving him the million-dollar smile and before he could say a single word he felt his body being lifted as Kai threw him across the room with effortless strength.

The man crashed into the wall with a sickening thud, slumping to the floor and leaving a trail of brain matter on the wall. Chaos erupted as the remaining attackers spun around, their guns trained on Kai who was mockingly looking at them.

A series of gunshots, screams, and eerie laughter sounded through the entire apartment complex.

---------------------------------

Nathan hurriedly rushed through the already broken-in apartment door, his breath coming in ragged gasps. As he stepped inside, his heart sank at the gruesome scene that awaited him. The entire place was drenched in blood, the metallic scent hanging heavy in the air. The dim light from a flickering overhead bulb cast eerie shadows on the crimson-streaked walls.

Nathan's eyes darted around, taking in the horrific details. Furniture was destroyed, and the floor was littered with broken glass and splintered wood. The sheer brutality of the scene reminded him of the slaughter of last night.

Hence, despite the situation in front of him, he couldn't help but relax a little.

"You came in just at the right time." Kai walked in buttoning his shirt, "It seems our bald friend has decided to go all out against me."

"You say that sir... but you look too relaxed by what just happened." Nathan shook his head, "How did they-"

"I believe Fisk plans on using the girl against me, hence why he is so confident at the moment, going all out so immediately after what happened just 2 days ago." Kai stepped over the pool of blood, "She either becomes a shield as he thinks I desperately want her or she becomes a weapon against me. Or worse... he has found a backing that he believes can take me on."

"I bet on the latter, as although her powers are great, it's not great enough to kill me at least not yet."

"Did you already know this will happen?" Nathan couldn't help but ask, "I mean, sir... you seem to already be aware of the girl's power so I don't think you would so recklessly endanger yourself by handling the responsibility of finding her to Fisk, knowing what kind of man he is."

"I sort of expected it," Kai said fixing his hair as they began walking out of the apartment, "I just didn't want to bother myself with the task of finding her."

"Was that it?"

"Yup!" Kai frankly said with a grin, "But now I can use this as an excuse to force Fisk into submission whether he likes it or not. Since he gave me a reason, it would be a shame to not take it to its fullest extent."

"Sir, if I may ask... why don't you just kill him?"

"Would you take over his job if I do?" Kai asked with a hint of seriousness in his tone before he began chuckling at Nathan's surprised experience, "Fisk is a necessary evil. He is careful and ruthless, a good leader perhaps. With him, almost all the major gangs and organizations in NewYork remain under control but if he were to die, the whole city would likely be in chaos."

Nathan nodded thoughtfully, absorbing Kai's rationale. "So, it's about maintaining a delicate balance."

"Correct!" Kai nodded as he dialed Fisk's number on his phone, "And with him on the reign, it serves a better purpose as I can enjoy all the benefits without having to deal with the annoying part that comes with it."

Nathan nodded along, unsure of Kai's intention but he didn't mind whatever Kai had in his head, as long as he could escape this place with his family.

"Hello there my dear bald friend!" Kai enthusiastically spoke on the phone despite the other side not speaking, "I received your gift and I have to say it was quite pleasant."

"Now, what kind of 'friend' would I be, if I just accept gifts without giving anything in return?"

Fisk's voice crackled through the phone, his tone measured but with a hint of caution. "Kai, we both know how this game is played. Gifts exchanged, debts owed."

Kai chuckled lightly, the sound echoing in the quiet apartment. "Indeed, Fisk. But you've raised the stakes now, haven't you? Sending your best men to do what? Test my resolve? Provoke a reaction?"

There was a brief silence on the other end, Fisk clearly weighing his words. "Consider it a reminder of our mutual interests, I believe for this business relation to work you and I have to be on equal footing," he finally replied, his voice steady. "I trust you understand the implications."

"Equal footing? Know your place, you fool!" Kai's tone changed abruptly, his voice now sharp and commanding. Nathan, standing nearby, felt the tension in the air escalate with Kai's sudden change in demeanor.