The Hand (1/2)

"It's funny isn't it Marcel?" Joel exhaled. "We used to spend every waking hour playing and running around. We used to spend at least ten hours a day with each other and yet… we only get to see each other on weekends now."

"Back then… We were kids. But now we are adults… grown men. In the past, we had all the time in the world— but now we don't. We need to work to maintain our position and to move forward." I said, a bit of sadness squeezing my heart.

"Do you miss those days?" He asked.

"Everyday."

Living below the poverty line was never good but being able to play around in the mud had its own charm. No matter how poor, childhood is always the best part of a person's life.

A child doesn't have to worry about worldly problems. 

"Joel… tell me." I sighed. "What have you been up to?" 

None of us can keep running away from this topic. And it was time for us to finally talk. He was involving himself in dangerous situations… and I cannot let him get hurt.

"What do you mean?" He asked, yet he didn't have any intention to hide the truth. I knew his expressions pretty well.

"None of us can keep hiding things from each other forever, Joel." I had many things that I cannot reveal to anyone… ever. But there are also a few things that I can reveal. "I know what you have been doing. I won't ask you to stop… it's something that you would do even if I did." A sad smile appeared on my face. "I know you quite well, my friend. But I would be the worst friend if I tried to stop you." 

I groaned. "I won't stop you. But I cannot let you jump into this alone… I will be there to help you."

He tried to stop me… but I had no intention of backing out. 

"You have grown stronger, Joel. Both politically and economically." I said with a smile. "And I have noticed how your physical strength doesn't seem normal either… I have seen you fight over ten trained professionals and coming out unharmed."

I frowned. "I won't ask how you did that. But let me tell you something… even with your current strength, you are nowhere near strong enough to face Hydra."

He seemed disheartened... but looking at his sad face— I put on a kind smile.

"But you have forgotten that I have grown strong as well, Joel. I have control over most of the political and economical world." I said with a sigh. "And I believe I can locate the Hydra bases."

He paused and looked at me with wide eyes.

"How?" He asked.

"Being part of the business world has allowed me to build connections with many organisations… legal and illegal. I can access things that others can't and finding the Hydra bases is not impossible for me."

We had already established that we will face Hydra, but he had moved on alone… And that is what makes me worried.

Contemplating the future, he looked at me. 

"This is dangerous, Marcel… Hydra is dangerous." He warned. "They…. They…"

He grinned his teeth as his face was covered in rage.

"They killed my parents." 

I know, Joel. And I blame myself for not looking into the matter back then. But then I was weak… Now, I am not.

I placed an arm over his shoulder.

"Two months… two months and we will strike, my friend."

Two months is more than enough for me to sort out everything. 

.

.

.

[[Later that night]]

Hand is infamous for being one of the hardest associations to find. But I have a few people that can even find Lupin.

"Five and thirty-seven…" Deadpool mumbled. "Oh, shit! I am short by one bullet."

"Shut it, red buffon." Sable hissed at the loud red mercenary.

"Don't be such a spoilsport, snow-white. This is going to be fun, trust me." 

Deadpool's declaration made Sable roll her eyes while Moonknight scanned the area.

"Three of the five members are on the fifth floor, one is in the underground and the other one is at a distance of two hundred meters from that guy." He said as the rest of us nodded. "There are around seven guards in the underground location and the rest are scattered around the building."

They operated from an old abandoned building to the far east of the central. Not many people visited the area which made it perfect for them.

"Get ready, everyone." Ulysses said. "We will initiate the attack now."

Domino looked at me. "What are you going to do, Mr. Jester?"

I smiled at the Lady Luck incarnate. 

"Leave the two in the underground basement to me. You guys get rid of the rest… And by getting rid—" I smiled. "I mean Kill!"

.

.

.

"This place stinks." 

The underground had a sewage system running right through it, so to reach the underground floor— one had to cross this disgusting place. 

Hand was a notorious group known for killing and resurrecting people. The resurrected ones were bound to them and had to follow every command given by the hand.

Even Wolverine was turned by them… before he broke free and ripped them apart. 

I did say that the Hand never learns, didn't I?

The secret to resurrection is the reason I am here. The other being… Stick. 

Daredevil's master, Stick is the sworn nemesis of hand and getting rid of Hand will ensure a good relationship with Stick.

And it's always good to have an expert martial artist on your side.

Taking out my claws, I ripped whoever came in my way. 

They most likely never expected anyone to come knocking so their security was quite lacking. But despite that, I made sure to make the kills as silent as possible.

Their weapons were useless against my anti-metal claws and any armour they were wearing— vapourised with a mere touch from my claws.

*Swish!*

That should be the last one. 

Ripping the last guard in half, I walked in front of a massive door. But it was made of metal so…

*Slash!*

With a single slash, the door vanished. 

Walking in, I noticed the massive test tubes and charts placed all over the room. It was a lab… but a messy one. 

As I walked further inside, I noticed some movement towards the right and thanks to my senses that I received from the Wolverine serum— I could sense that it was a man.

"I don't know how you got here, but you will not be going out alive." The voice of a man came from the same spot.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that… I did manage to get inside without much trouble after all." I taunted as the man walked towards me, revealing himself.

He was a middle aged man clad in golden armour. He looked like a typical Japanese man but his samurai armour made him look domineering.

"Speak. What made you invade the Hand." He ordered, taking out a samurai sword.

That's not that one I am looking for….

I felt disappointed as the man took out a normal looking sword.

"I am looking for something." I said. "Specifically… a sword."

He scowled as he realised what I was talking about.

"How do you know about Sakki?" He asked in confusion and anger. "Who told you about it?"

Sakki… a semi-sentient ancient sword that is said to host all of humanity's brutality. It is a less known but uncontrollably powerful weapon of this world. It can chop through everything with ease and as far as I remember… it is connected with the Beast— an evil being that existed since the beginning of time. That connection allows it to resurrect anyone upon their deaths… granted their soul has not been destroyed.

So, it goes without saying that the sword is quite dangerous. But I want it despite all that.

"Since you do not wish to speak, I will make your corpse reveal the truth."

Saying that, he rushed towards me with his sword. 

But he froze as the sword melted upon making contact with my claws.

"Should have used the better sword, old man." 

That's what he heard before being thrown ten feet away.

"Now… bring out the Sakki!"

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[[A/N: 10k collections, Lesssgooo!!!

Don't expect some super long fight. These guys are pathetic as the better warriors have not joined them yet. And yes, this is Daito of the Snakeroot. 

I decided to get rid of these guys before they could grow strong and become annoying.

Same for Hydra. Currently, they do not have any strong/genius leader. They are more like the remaining members of Team Rocket in Pokemon Gold/Silver after Red defeated Giovanni in Red/Blue/Green/Yellow.

And tbh… I might have underestimated the powers of Sentry a little. The current chaps that I am writing… MC is slaughtering people with a sneeze. (Not a spoiler since everyone knew he was going to receive the Golden Sentry Serum.)

Marvel Facts: (1) No Marvel comic fan can deny that Ultimatum was one fucking weird series. 40% of the creepy marvel facts come from it. One of them is… When Blob (the mutant of Brotherhood) found Wasp's dead body left behind by a Tsunami. He started eating her and said that she tasted like Chicken…

(2) Whenever Kitty Pride orgasms… She activates her powers… which means she phases through things once she cums.