The moment the young man appeared...
*Bang!*
...the Punisher immediately pulled the trigger.
The Browning pistol erupted with flame, producing a deafening report as the bullet shattered the rear window, sending glass fragments scattering across the floor.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, no bloody scene ensued. The black-masked youth seemed to have anticipated the Punisher's move, and executed precise footwork to evade into the shadows beforehand.
"Is this how you greet an old friend, Mr. Frank?" The young man's mocking voice echoed through the restaurant, "Rather impolite, don't you think?"
The Punisher's expression remained stern, the skull emblem on his black T-shirt standing out starkly under the dim lighting, "If you're siding with the Hand, the next bullet will blow your brains out!"
The young man moved fluidly through the shadows, his upright form blending seamlessly with the darkened environment.
His cold and calm gaze swept over the tense vigilantes like a hunter awaiting the perfect moment to strike.
"Who is he?" Danny Rand turned to ask, "You shouldn't have fired, what if it draws the Hand's attention?"
"A dangerous individual." The Punisher tightened his grip on the Browning, ignoring Danny's complaint as he looked toward Daredevil, "Can you pinpoint his location?"
Daredevil drew two specially crafted batons and nodded toward a direction. Understanding the signal, the Punisher immediately raised his weapon and fired. The powerful rounds reduced an ornamental screen to splinters, sending debris flying in all directions.
The instant the gunfire ceased, Daredevil lunged forward like a coiled spring finally released.
"...No one?" Finding the space behind the screen empty, Daredevil was stunned.
He'd clearly heard a heartbeat, yet following the sound led only to a strange, intricately designed device.
"Sometimes, human ears are just as easily deceived as eyes."
A deep voice suddenly spoke from behind.
Daredevil whirled around, swinging his baton in a vicious arc. His superhuman senses painted a sudden, yet vivid image... a figure materializing like a ghost, its thunderous heartbeat and furnace-like vitality forming a terrifying silhouette no normal person could perceive.
The figure blocked the heavy baton strike effortlessly, then countered with a brutal punch aimed at Daredevil's temple.
Sensing the whistling air current, Matt Murdock tilted his head beneath the devil's mask while simultaneously driving his other baton upward in a strike that could shatter a jawbone.
"Attorney Murdock, you're out." The amused voice carried a hint of laughter.
Daredevil suddenly felt a warning flare through his instincts.
The shadowy figure's hand shot out like lightning and seized the rising baton... An overwhelming force traveled up the weapon into Daredevil's arm... The vigilante, who had never been overpowered before, grunted as his weapon was wrenched away.
Then a crushing impact smashed into his chest like a battering ram.
The sickening crack of breaking ribs was clearly audible as Daredevil was sent flying backward and crashed through a table before collapsing to the floor.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
A rapid series of gunshots chased the darting black shadow.
After emptying his magazine, the Punisher discarded the Browning and drew a Gerber combat knife from his waist. He knew firearms would be ineffective against this opponent's inhuman speed and strength unless he could limit his mobility.
Jessica Jones rushed to Daredevil's side and assessed his serious injuries, "He's unconscious with broken ribs. He needs a hospital immediately!"
"Deal with this bastard first!" Luke Cage shrugged off his jacket as his muscles rippled like a humanoid beast.
The Punisher gripped his combat knife and held his breath as he attuned himself to every subtle disturbance in the dark.
A faint whisper of movement, he spun instantly, the blade flashing out in a deadly arc!
"Huh?" Concealed in the shadows, Sean was genuinely surprised this time.
He barely managed to twist aside as the knife grazed past him. The Punisher's follow-up punch connected solidly with Sean's shoulder, only for Frank to grimace in pain, feeling like he'd struck solid steel. Both men staggered back several steps.
Luke Cage charged forward like an enraged bull, "Let me teach this punk some manners!"
While his fighting skills were crude compared to Daredevil or the Punisher, his sheer physical prowess allowed him to hold his own against Sean.
The Harlem-born powerhouse possessed superhuman strength and bulletproof skin. Even without refined combat techniques, he traded blows evenly with Sean, each thunderous impact sending shockwaves through the restaurant.
Sean's fists pummeled Luke's torso in a relentless barrage, the dull thuds echoing like rapid punches against a heavy bag.
Luke kept retreating as he struggled to land a clean hit since Sean effortlessly weaved around his attacks.
For the first time in countless Harlem street fights, Luke felt utterly outmatched, he was reduced to a punching bag despite his legendary durability.
Even his impenetrable skin couldn't completely nullify the mounting pain from the relentless assault.
"You're the first person I've met who can take hits like this. You interested in being my sparring partner? I'll pay by the hour." Sean drove another vicious punch beneath Luke's ribs.
Energy coursed through his body like electricity, every cell vibrating with power. As he exhaled sharply, that surging force seemed to find an outlet as he channeled it into his whirling fists.
Suddenly, Luke recoiled like a startled animal!
*CRACK!*
A solid wooden support pillar shattered where Sean's fist passed through the space Luke had occupied moments earlier. Sean didn't hesitate, he closed the distance in a flash and seized Luke's massive frame with both hands.
Muscles coiled and released as he hoisted the 400-pound behemoth overhead before hurling him through the window!
*CRASH!*
The sound of shattering glass mixed with the blaring car alarm as Luke's body cratered the roof of a black Chevrolet, collapsing the vehicle's frame completely.
"Three left." Sean stepped calmly from the shadows, "Attacking me together would have saved time."
Having observed the entire battle, Jessica Jones flexed her fingers. This opponent's strength, speed, muscle density and reflexes all far exceeded human norms.
Combined with apparent combat training, he was clearly a formidable threat.
Meanwhile, Danny Rand (who had been largely inactive) struggled to enter a meditative state and channel his 'qi'.
Despite bearing the title of K'un-Lun's "Immortal Iron Fist", he remained unskilled in properly utilizing this energy.
"Danny Rand, I must admit personal curiosity about K'un-Lun," Sean remarked as he rolled his shoulders until the joints popped audibly.
"Scum like you will never deserve to set foot in K'un-Lun!" Danny spat, still focusing on his breathing exercises.
"How righteous."
The mocking words barely faded when Sean became a blur, streaking toward Jessica Jones with terrifying speed!
His right leg whipped through the air like a battleaxe, forcing Jessica to cross her arms defensively. The impact sent her dark hair whipping back as her boots scraped across the floor.
What followed was a breathtaking display of close-quarters combat... two superhuman beings trading blows faster than the eye could follow.
Fists and elbows collided with brutal efficiency, each impact producing dull thuds that shook the remaining furniture. The restaurant's interior was reduced to kindling within moments, wooden shrapnel flew through the air as tables and chairs disintegrated under their devastating exchange.
"How much longer can you last?" Jessica taunted between rapid blocks, "After so much fighting, you must be wearing down."
"A beautiful lady shouldn't question a man's stamina," Sean countered with a suggestive chuckle, never breaking his relentless assault.
Similar to Luke Cage, Jessica Jones existed beyond human norms. Her incredible strength, flight capability, and enhanced durability made her the most physically formidable member of their makeshift team.
"Men who brag about stamina usually underdeliver," she shot back, driving a knee toward his ribs.
"Shall we test that theory? You might find yourself addicted afterward."
Sean's playful retort was cut short as his expression suddenly changed.
A glowing golden fist came streaking toward his face, trailing blazing energy...
Danny Rand had finally unleashed the Iron Fist.
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