Marvel - The Blood God

"Wilson, I can't stay with you anymore!"

The thought echoed in Wesley's mind as he faced his end. Mercury, withdrawing her vibrating gold dagger, cast a contemptuous glance at the nearby Lizardmen before her body slowly vanished.

This disappearance was thanks to optical stealth technology developed by Ivan. While not flawless, it left faint distortions in the air—similar to glass. A careful observer could still detect these traces, but the enraged Lizardmen weren't capable of such focus.

Frantically searching for Mercury, their panicked movements betrayed the effects of the serum cocktail. It had sharply dulled their intelligence and judgment.

"Worthless failures!" growled the bald scientist, his voice heavy with disdain. He turned to Dr. Connors and snapped, "Don't forget my name—it's..."

His words were cut short by a scream. Mercury had reappeared, driving her dagger through the heart of one of the Lizardmen before vanishing again. The remaining creatures huddled together, backs pressed against each other, scanning their surroundings nervously.

"Useless garbage!" the bald doctor barked, trying once more. "Remember my name—it's..."

Before he could finish, another scream echoed—this time two at once. Mercury descended from above, her daggers piercing the skulls of two Lizardmen in perfect synchronization. Their limp bodies fell to the ground.

One of the remaining Lizardmen lunged at her, claws outstretched. Mercury responded with a burst of flame from her hands, propelling herself several feet away and vanishing once more.

The bald doctor paused, no longer attempting to curse. Instead, he resumed his speech. "Remember my name—it's..."

"What?"

The interruption came not from screams but Gwen's excited shout. She pointed to the holographic projection and exclaimed to Dr. Connors, "Doctor! We've synthesized the antidote!"

"Really?"

Ignoring the bald doctor entirely, Dr. Connors rushed to examine the data.

"My name is—"

"I don't care what you call yourself," Dr. Connors interjected impatiently. "Since you've turned into a Lizardman, let's just call you 'Dr. Lizard.'"

"Dr. Lizard? I'm not using that name!" the bald scientist snapped angrily.

At that moment, chaos erupted among the remaining Lizardmen. Overcome with fear, they began attacking at random. A thrown utility knife struck a tablet, instantly blacking out the screen. The bald doctor's rant was silenced yet again.

Frustrated, the scientist yelled, "Fine! Call me Dr. Lizard! I'll own it!"

As Dr. Lizard raged, Mercury seized the opportunity to strike again. Reappearing amidst the confusion, she stabbed her dagger into a Lizardman's chest. The creature fell lifeless as Mercury backed away, a cold smile spreading across her face.

When the others saw her standing in the open, they roared and charged. Mercury turned and darted toward the exit—not to flee, but to lure them away. Fighting in the lab risked destroying critical equipment, and she had no intention of letting that happen.

Blinded by rage, the Lizardmen forgot their orders and pursued her relentlessly. Five minutes later, Mercury had dispatched them all with precision. The remaining invaders were similarly dealt with by the building's security forces.

Mercury returned to the lab, brushing dust from her jacket. "It seems I haven't lost my touch," she said with a smirk. "Did the antidote work?"

Dr. Connors nodded. "Yes, we've successfully synthesized it. But we're not sure if it's a permanent cure or just a temporary suppressant."

"That's good enough for now," Mercury replied, contacting Maverick to relay the good news.

"Excellent work," Maverick said. Unbeknownst to the others, he had been monitoring the lab through his unique blood-based surveillance. While he trusted the team's abilities, he had been prepared to intervene if necessary.

Elsewhere, news of Wesley's death and the antidote's development reached Kingpin, the crime lord. His expression darkened as the weight of the losses sank in. To him, Wesley wasn't just a subordinate—he was the only one who truly understood him.

"I'll make them pay for Wesley," Kingpin snarled. He pulled a gas grenade from his belt and hurled it to the ground. A thick green cloud spread rapidly. The Hulk, caught off guard, inhaled the gas and staggered back, coughing violently.

This gas was a trump card Kingpin had prepared for emergencies. It hadn't been used earlier because Maverick's forces primarily relied on armored suits and drones, rendering toxins ineffective.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Kingpin scaled the Osborn Building with clawed hands, climbing rapidly.

"Let him come," Maverick said to Frank and Ivan, who had been preparing to stop Kingpin. "Frank, get the antidote from Dr. Connors and deliver it to Captain Stacy at the precinct."

Frank nodded, activating his flight systems. "On it."

In his office, Maverick stood calmly, blood and flame coalescing into a glowing spike in his hand. He awaited Kingpin's arrival with serene confidence.

Coulson and Lilith exchanged glances but said nothing. They knew Maverick's power was unparalleled.

Kingpin smashed through the office's glass wall, landing with a heavy thud. Towering at nearly four meters, he glared at Maverick and roared, "Blood God! Finally, we meet face-to-face. Now you'll see what it's like to be beneath me!"

Maverick smirked, elongating his legs to tower over Kingpin. "Are you sure about that?"

Kingpin's rage boiled over. "You're as arrogant as ever! Do you regret underestimating me now?"

"Regret? I don't do regret," Maverick replied dismissively. "But I'll admit, you've been... mildly surprising. Emphasis on 'mildly.'"

"You're finished!" Kingpin roared, lunging forward. "Hand over the Canary tech and destroy the antidote, or this is your end!"

Maverick's smile didn't falter. "You know, killing someone is simple—speed and precision are all it takes."

Kingpin blinked, suddenly feeling lightheaded. His hand rose to his temple, and his reflection in a shard of glass confirmed the truth—a glowing spike had already pierced his skull.

His massive frame wavered. A bitter smile spread across his lips. "So this... is the gap between us. I never stood a chance." His body collapsed, plummeting to the street below.

Coulson swallowed hard. He had known Maverick was powerful, but witnessing such effortless dominance was unsettling.

Maverick waved his hand, and the spike dissolved into blood, flowing back into his palm. Kingpin's body shimmered briefly as it transformed.

"Welcome to my ranks, Kingpin," Maverick said, smirking. "You'll make an excellent addition."