Once again, nothing happened immediately after the announcement. I continued along the path, waiting for the next trap to reveal itself.
Before long, I reached a maintenance warehouse. High barricades blocked the surrounding paths, leaving the building as the only way forward.
So this is where they are serving the intermission snacks.
As I approached the building, several red dots appeared at the edge of my minimap.
I stepped through a pair of glass doors into a small reception area with a linoleum floor. A front desk faced several low-backed waiting chairs and a coffee table stacked with safety manuals. Workplace safety posters covered the walls.
I headed for the only interior door, which led to a short corridor. Since I stepped inside, I'd been tracking a red marker behind the reception desk, pretending not to notice him so he wouldn't realize he'd been spotted. As I reached the corridor door, he stood up to ambush me—I turned instantly and put a bullet through his forehead.
I followed the corridor into a locker room. Rows of vented steel lockers and metal benches bolted to the concrete floor lined the room. Two doors led out of the locker room. One led to the main repair bay and workshop; the other to a shower room.
Two red markers waited inside the shower room, so I cleared it first. The gangsters were hidden in separate stalls. I kicked open the first door and dropped the man inside before he could raise his piece. The second burst from the neighboring stall, pistol raised, but I was faster—I pivoted and put a round through his head before he could pull the trigger.
With the showers clear, I returned to the locker room and pushed into the repair bay.
Three roller-coaster cars stood inside, each stripped down to its solid-steel chassis. Two hung suspended from hydraulic lifts, while the third rested on the floor. Massive industrial lathes, CNC milling machines, and heavy-duty welding stations lined the walls.
Red markers peppered the workshop minimap, each one concealed behind heavy machinery. Several attackers had carelessly left a head, arm, or leg exposed beyond cover. Diving behind a massive lathe, I put a round through one exposed head and shot another attacker through the knee.
Just as I was preparing for a John Wick-style shootout, someone else decided to steal the scene.
A high window shattered, and someone came crashing through it, landing perfectly on both feet. For the record, that window was at least two floors up.
The red-and-black, skin-tight leather bodysuit, twin swords, and tactical harness screamed Deadpool. The woman wearing them was another matter entirely.
Name: Wendy Wilson
Rank: C1
Alias: Madampool
Titles:
Merc with a Mouth
The Crimson Comedian
Mind Beyond Repair
Taco Enthusiast
Do Not Leave Unsupervised
Skills:
Martial Arts (Master)
Sword Mastery (Master)
Unarmed Combat (Master)
Firearms (Master)
Powers:
Regeneration (Legendary)
Status:
Severe Psychosis
Delusional Disorder
Persistent Auditory Hallucinations
Severe Cognitive Trauma
Hyperassociative Cognition
Relationship:
Affection: 100
Loyalty: 100
I wasn't sure how to respond to the status screen floating in front of me. The system had all but called her a Certified Lunatic. As for the relationship stats, let's not talk about them for now.
The moment her boots touched the floor, she drew both pistols and shot two thugs. The others forgot about me and turned their weapons on the easier target standing out in the open. Bullets tore into her, but she barely seemed to notice. Instead, she launched into what seemed like a stand-up routine.
"Ew. Two out of ten."
Bang.
Well, that guy was particularly ugly.
"Nice shoes."
Bang.
He was wearing some nice kicks.
She turned toward a man charging her with a shotgun.
"You're trying really hard."
Bang.
"I appreciate it."
A gangster yelled, "Get her!"
Wendy gasped. "Aww!"
Bang.
"He remembered my pronouns."
She shot another one and waved cheerfully. "Thank you for participating!"
Another man rushed her from behind and drove a machete straight through her chest. The blade jutted out the front. He yanked it free, and Wendy turned toward him, completely nonchalant. Wide-eyed and panicking, he stabbed her again in the stomach.
"Do you think penguins can be good accountants?" she asked thoughtfully.
Bang.
"Probably not. Too much fishy bookkeeping."
She was about to shoot another man, but froze. "Shit! I forgot I left a taco in the fridge."
The man stared at her in disbelief, but didn't waste the opportunity. He emptied his SMG into her.
Bang. She shot him in the head.
"Never mind, I ate it two months ago."
"No! Alex!!" A gangster screamed as Wendy shot the man beside him.
"Stop naming the extras!"
Bang.
"You're making me feel bad."
Another thug charged at her with a machete. She pivoted toward him.
"Another machete? Seriously? I wanted a chainsaw scene!"
Bang.
"Fucking budget cuts."
And just like that, she cleared the entire building. I checked the minimap. No red dots remained—only a green one. I didn't slip away because the system had marked her as friendly.
I came out of hiding. She looked at me. Her face was hidden behind a mask, but somehow I knew she was puffing out her cheeks.
She marched toward me and jabbed an accusing finger at my chest. "I've been looking for you for eighty-three fucking chapters! Eighty-fucking-three! Do you have any idea how many tacos I've stress-eaten and immediately regretted?"
She threw both hands into the air.
"This pacing is shit!"
The fuck is she talking about? I get it, she is empty upstairs, but isn't this a little too absurd?
Wendy wasn't finished. "Do you have any idea how long they've been telling me to come meet you?"
"Who are they?" I asked.
"The voices in my head, obviously," Wendy replied matter-of-factly.
"How long have you been hearing them?"
"Since those Weapon Plus creeps fucked my brain trying to make me into some Weapon X thingy," she said dismissively. "On the bright side, I got super regeneration, and it ate my cancer for breakfast."
"It healed your cancer?" I asked, surprised. The original Deadpool hadn't been that lucky.
"Did you just compare me to the Earth-616 Deadpool?" Wendy asked with a pointed stare. I couldn't see her eyes through the mask, but somehow the accusation still got through. "Or the Deadpool from the movies?"
Earth-616?! Movies?!
She planted her hands on her hips, clearly delighted by my baffled expression.
She giggled. "The voices told me about those Deadpools. And let me tell you, I'm better than all of them."
She pulled off her mask, releasing a cascade of long blonde hair. Beneath it was a striking, completely unscarred face framed by bright blue eyes.
"Are you smitten with me already?" She smirked.
I kept my expression neutral. "What else have those voices told you?"
She brightened instantly, like someone who had finally found a willing audience. "Oh, they say all kinds of things."
"One of them keeps saying rats are plotting to take over the world. Obviously, that's idiotic."
I nodded. Her next sentence made me realize I had agreed too soon.
"After all, everyone knows it's the frogs plotting to take over the world."
She tapped a finger against her chin. "One says the Earth is flat. Another insists we're inside a simulation and our sheep overlords are watching us for entertainment."
She shook her head. "They're wrong too. How can we be in a simulation when we're obviously in a fictional world called Marvel? A lot of the voices think the same way. Though the sheep-overlord faction is disturbingly organized."
"You think this world is a Marvel story?" I asked. Was she like some versions of Deadpool—aware that Marvel was fiction?
"Of course. Marvel is a story—comics, movies, cartoons, games, endless reboots, questionable editorial decisions... Everyone here is an NPC." Then she looked at me with a heated gaze. "And you, you are the only real person here. The guy who reincarnated into the Marvel world."
I had no idea whether she actually possessed Medium Awareness or was just a lunatic whose insane ramblings happened to be right. It might have been both. It might have been neither.
"And what did you mean by chapters?" I asked, recalling her earlier outburst.
"Oh, silly Kevin," Wendy said, shaking her head. She looked like a disappointed teacher whose student had just asked an idiotic question. "Since we're in a story, of course there are chapters. I get it—you're a real person, so the script doesn't control you. But we NPCs still have to follow it."
I resisted the urge to flick her forehead. "Why did you want to meet me?"
"Of course, because you're the only real person," Wendy said. "Isn't it better to follow you than some NPC?"
Noticing my suspicious expression, she continued, "Imagine a huge magnet. It has all the power. Then there's a paperclip stuck directly to it. Because it's touching the giant magnet, that little paperclip can now pick up other paperclips! It's still just a cheap piece of wire, but now it has the magic juice. The paperclips left at the bottom of the drawer have no magic at all."
That… was a surprisingly apt analogy.
"So, you want to follow me?" I asked. She nodded so rapidly that her blonde hair bounced around her shoulders.
I looked at her relationship stats again.
Relationship:
Affection: 100
Loyalty: 100
With these stats, I didn't need to worry about betrayal. Her explanation even made the absurd numbers somewhat believable. But there was still a problem. No one could tell what crazy chicks might do next.
"You have a system?" Wendy exclaimed. "The voices were divided on it, but you actually have it."
"What?" I asked.
Can she see that?!
"Your eyes focused on an empty point in front of you like you were reading an invisible screen," Wendy said excitedly. "This has to be a system. I knew it. Reincarnators always get systems. It's practically a cosmic law."
She grabbed me by the shoulders. "What's it called?"
I stared at her, momentarily speechless.
She must have mistaken my silence for reluctance. She grabbed my left arm with both hands and shook it. "Come on, tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone."
Frances and Felicia already had a basic idea, so I didn't mind telling her. Her maxed-out relationship stats were naturally the main reason I decided to do that.
"Fine, fine." I pulled my arm free. "Gamer System."
"Gamer System?!" She shouted it directly beside my ear, forcing me to cover it. "Not only did you get reincarnated, but you also got the best system there is! That's like the ultimate isekai package."
"We need to move on," I said. "We've wasted too much time already."
"Wait, are we on an actual system mission?" Wendy squealed. She pumped a fist into the air. "Let's go raid the demon king's castle."
I smiled and shook my head. My smile vanished as I remembered something. I hurriedly opened the quest interface.
Bonus Objective: No one other than Kara Killgrave or Jessica Jones may participate. (Failed)
NO!!! MY NEN TRAINING MANUAL!
Wendy noticed my expression and hesitated. "What happened?"
When I didn't answer, she continued, "Did we fail the mission?"
"A bonus objective," I said through gritted teeth.
Wendy smiled sheepishly. "Is it related to me?"
I nodded.
Her smile grew more nervous. "How about I make it up to you?"
"And how exactly are you going to do that?" I asked flatly.
She clearly hadn't thought that far ahead. Her expression went blank. Then her eyes lit up. "How about I cosplay for you? Don't gamers like cosplay?"
"What?!"
"I can cosplay as anything you like. Bunny girl, maid, cop—whatever you want," she said. Her eyes widened when I didn't reply. "Don't tell me... hadaka apron?" Her cheeks turned red. "Ecchi."
My lip twitched. I realized that if I listened to her any longer, I might lose more than a few brain cells. So I did what was best. I started walking toward the building's back exit.
"Hey, wait for me! Don't leave me behind!" Wendy yelled, hurrying after me. "I can even be your DLC waifu!"
The moment we stepped outside, Ringmaster's voice returned through the loudspeakers.
"An excellent performance!"
"Unfortunately, that magnificent display came not from our honored guest, but from an uninvited intruder."
"Hey," Wendy protested loudly.
Ringmaster ignored her and continued.
"But every great performer deserves a place in the program."
"In honor of our talented intruder, we have decided to merge our final two acts into one grand conclusion."
"Act Four: The Finale!"
Even though Ringmaster had announced the finale, it didn't begin immediately. The path eventually led us to an amphitheater. I didn't need Danger Sense to guess that this was where the final act would take place.
We passed through a rear entrance and emerged onto the amphitheater stage. Banks of stage lights snapped on, flooding the vast platform with light. A spotlight settled over Wendy and me.
"Welcome, dear guests." Ringmaster's chuckle echoed through the amphitheater. A spotlight shone on him near the seating area.
Additional spotlights flared to life around him. A massive cannon stood to his right. Beside it waited Human Cannonball, clad in armor and a bullet-shaped metal helmet. On Ringmaster's other side stood Bruto the Strongman, a two-meter-tall brute encased in metal armor from head to toe. Only his eyes were visible.
Two final beams swept upward. They settled atop two towering pedestals. A man stood atop each pedestal—the twin acrobats known as the Great Gambonnos.
Each twin gripped a rope hanging from the overhead rigging. In perfect unison, they leaped from their pedestals. They swept across the stage in intersecting arcs, rapidly closing on us. Long knives flashed into their hands. I ducked as they slashed at us while swinging past.
Wendy clapped as she dodged. "I wanna do it too!"
The twins landed on each other's pedestals.
I looked toward Ringmaster. Human Cannonball had already climbed inside the cannon, and Ringmaster was touching a flame to the fuse. The cannon thundered, launching him across the stage like a human projectile.
"Shit."
I twisted aside as he hurtled toward me. Mid-flight, he pulled a hammer from the harness on his back and swung it at me. I avoided the full force of the blow, but the hammer clipped my left hand with a sickening crack. Agony shot through my hand, but I forced my fingers to keep moving.
Before I could put a bullet through Human Cannonball's head, the twins swung back toward us. One twin slashed at me as he passed. The other hooked an arm around Human Cannonball and carried him back toward a pedestal. I glanced toward Wendy. She was already trading blows with Bruto.
More gunmen rose among the audience seats and opened fire from behind the rows of chairs. I was an open target on the stage. With absolutely no shame, I positioned Wendy and Bruto's fight between myself and the gunmen. One was encased in armor, and the other barely considered bullets an inconvenience.
I drew a deep breath and activated Bullet Time. The world slowed around me. I raised both pistols and opened fire on the gunmen. I forced myself to hold it as I picked them off one by one. Twice, the twins swept through my field of fire, their knives flashing toward my throat and ribs. Even in Bullet Time, I couldn't divide my concentration perfectly. Their blades opened fresh cuts across my arms and torso each time they passed.
Come on, just a few more.
I swept both pistols outward and activated Curved Shot, bending the rounds around the rows of seats to strike the gunmen crouched behind them. The instant the final gunman fell, I shifted my aim toward the Gambonno brother swinging in from my right. His eyes widened when our gazes met. I led his swing and fired.
"Luigi!" the surviving twin screamed. His grief lasted less than a second. I turned my other pistol on him and fired.
I released Bullet Time and staggered, gasping for breath. Cold sweat drenched my clothes. Something warm trickled from my nose. I wiped it away with my thumb and found blood smeared across the skin.
"That was so cool!" Wendy squealed as she ducked beneath Bruto's massive axe. "Teach me, Master!"
Human Cannonball came hurtling toward me again, but this time I sidestepped him cleanly. He apparently hadn't noticed the twins' deaths. After landing, he glanced around, waiting for one of them to swing down and retrieve him. Then he spotted the twins' bodies sprawled across the stage. He turned toward me. I shot him through the head.
Wendy finished her fight at nearly the same moment, driving her katana through Bruto's eye slit.
I scanned the stage and the seating area. Ringmaster was nowhere in sight. He had likely bolted. I wouldn't let him escape that easily. He had been such a gracious host. It was time for me to show my gratitude as a guest.
I checked the map. A single red dot remained in the seating area. Ringmaster was crouched behind one of the rows of seats. I walked toward him at an unhurried pace. When he realized I was walking directly toward him, he sprang from cover.
"It was all Zebediah's plan!" he shouted. "He forced us. Please, let me go! I'm only the announcer! Look into my eyes. You'll see that I'm telling the truth." I met his gaze without hesitation. His panic gave way to a knowing smile. "Yes, look into my eyes. Our common enemy is Purple Man. Spare me, and we can kill him together. Then the city's underworld will belong to us."
"Yeah... no."
"How—"
I shot him through the head before he could finish.
"Time for the real finale."
I entered the room, where one red marker sat with two green ones on my minimap. I had left Wendy behind. No matter how thoroughly fucked her mind was, there was no guarantee that Purple Man couldn't control her. If he succeeded, her obscene healing factor and Master-level combat skills would let her kill all three of us, even if her raw physical abilities were barely at the level of an enhanced human.
Zebediah was seated behind a desk, but all the color had drained from his face. His eyes burned with hatred when he saw me. Kara and Jessica immediately rose, their worried gazes sweeping over me for injuries. Their concern gave way to surprise when they found no injuries. I had used Second Wind before entering, erasing every injury from the fight. I smiled and gave them a reassuring nod before approaching Zebediah.
"Hello, Purple Man. I've heard lots about you." I sat in the chair across from him.
"Why?" he ground out. His jaw tightened as his gaze darted around the room, searching for an escape that didn't exist. "I don't even know your name. We have no history. Why are you doing this to me?"
"We don't," I agreed. I glanced at the girls, then looked back at him. "But you have a history with them. That's all the reason I need."
Zebediah looked like a cornered animal. His shoulders tensed, and his gaze began jumping between me, the door, and the girls. System notifications appeared before me.
Note: Zebediah Killgrave used his mind-control pheromones on you. Effect nullified by Gamer's Mind.
Note: Zebediah Killgrave used his mind-control pheromones on you. Effect nullified by Gamer's Mind.
Note: Zebediah Killgrave used his mind-control pheromones on you. Effect nullified by Gamer's Mind.
I burst out laughing. Zebediah's expression twisted further with each failed attempt.
"Hey, Kara," I called. Kara gave me a curious look. "This suddenly reminds me of the day we first met."
Kara looked confused at first, then blushed when she understood what I meant. "Did he?" She giggled.
"Yes," I said, still laughing.
A desperate, ugly laugh forced its way past Zebediah's clenched jaw. "So it doesn't work on you? Fine. But what good will my corpse do them?" He leaned forward. "Seeing my blood on the floor might satisfy them for a moment, but it won't give them anything lasting. I have an offshore account with millions in it. I'm using it to buy my life. Take it. Don't let your pride blind you to what's important."
"Millions, you say?" I murmured, pretending to consider the offer.
"Yes, millions." Hope flickered in his eyes. He struggled to keep desperation out of his voice. "All of it can be yours."
"Fine," I said. Relief spread across his face. "Transfer the money, and I give you my word that I won't kill you."
Neither Kara nor Jessica objected.
Zebediah's relief faded into suspicion. "But how do I know you'll keep your word? Let me leave first. I'll transfer the money once I'm safely away."
I stared at him for a moment, then laughed. "I don't give a flying fuck whether you believe me or not," I said. "I'm either leaving with the money or your life. Those are your choices. You decide."
Conflict twisted across his face. Finally, he ground his teeth. "Fine. I'll transfer the money, provided you keep your promise."
I placed a hand over my heart and adopted a solemn expression. "I swear on my name: transfer the money, and I will not kill you."
Without another word, Zebediah pulled a laptop from the desk drawer. Apparently, he had prepared to buy his way out.
I gave him the details of an offshore account. A few moments later, my phone confirmed that the money had arrived.
I extended my hand. "Pleasure doing business with you."
Zebediah sighed in relief. He looked as though a tremendous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He smiled and shook my hand. "Likewise."
I stood and stretched my arms. Zebediah rose as well, wearing a self-satisfied smirk. His smirk vanished when two handleless throwing knives appeared in my hands.
"W-what are you doing?" He stuttered. "You promised," he yelled desperately.
"I did." I nodded and walked around to his side of the desk. "And I won't."
"You two may want to leave the room for a while," I said, turning to Kara and Jessica. "This is going to get very bloody."
"Thanks, Kevin." Jessica gave me a faint, grateful smile. Her expression turned solemn. "But I want to watch."
I accepted their decision and turned back to Zebediah. Zebediah kept using his powers on me, even though they were useless. I decided to give him the premium treatment I had given to the pirate.
Zebediah's agonized screams echoed through the abandoned amusement park. No one was left to hear them except us. Soon, his screams became hoarse. His smugness disappeared long before the resistance did.
When I was finished, I crouched in front of him and smiled. "Could you please release Jessica from your control?"
"Y-yes," he slurred through broken breaths. I turned to Jessica. Tears streamed down Jessica's cheeks, but a trembling smile spread across her face. Kara threw her arms around her in relief.
They separated when they saw me approaching. Jessica ignored the blood spattered across my clothes and threw her arms around me. Then she began to sob. I held her gently and stroked her hair until the sobs finally subsided.
I retrieved two machetes from my inventory and handed one to each. "Do it yourselves. He tormented both of you for long enough. The choice of how this ends belongs to you."
They looked down at the blades in their hands, then at Zebediah.
Zebediah's eyes widened. "N-no... no," he slurred, dragging himself backward desperately. "You promised," he whispered, over and over, like a broken record.
I smiled. "I promised that I wouldn't kill you." I shook my head in mock sympathy. "Unfortunately, they didn't."
Jessica and Kara exchanged a nod, then stepped toward Zebediah together. I stepped back and leaned against the wall, leaving the decision to them. He offered apology after apology, made desperate promises, and tried to use Kara's longing for a father against her. But they were unmoved. His final scream ended as one blade entered his heart and the other cut through his throat.
They dropped the blades and turned away, leaving Zebediah—and the hold he had over their lives—behind. They walked toward me and pulled me into a shared embrace.
As they held me, I opened the mission notification that had appeared when Zebediah died.
Mission: The Purple Tyrant Must Fall (Completed)
Description: Zebediah Killgrave, the Purple Man, is the living embodiment of torment for both Kara Killgrave and Jessica Jones. As long as he exists, their hearts remain bound in chains of fear and memory. To earn their trust and devotion, they must erase the Purple Tyrant's shadow forever.
Primary Objective: Permanently eliminate Zebediah Killgrave. (Completed)
Reward: Relationship caps for Kara Killgrave and Jessica Jones increased to 100.
Bonus Objective: No one other than Kara Killgrave or Jessica Jones may participate. (Failed)
Reward: Nen Training Manual (Hunter x Hunter)
Hidden Objective 1: Have Kara and Jessica kill Zebediah together. (Completed)
Reward: Inheritance Stone (Zebediah Killgrave)
Hidden Objective 2: Eliminate the Circus of Crime (Completed)
Reward: Zanpakuto (Bleach)
The girls released me and turned towards Zebediah's body as a blinding purple light erupted from it. Once the light faded, I approached his body. A purple stone rested beside him.
Inheritance Stone (Zebediah Killgrave)
Description: Grants the user the complete power inheritance of Zebediah Killgrave.
Note: This inheritance stone was created from Zebediah Killgrave's essence. Even if he is revived, his powers will not return.
I picked up the stone. I already had the perfect recipient in mind. I walked over to Kara and placed the stone in her palm.
"This is a good thing," I said, smiling.
She looked hesitant. "But it came from him."
I smiled gently. "Zebediah was a monster, but he did say one useful thing. 'Don't let your pride blind you to what's important.' This stone is an inheritance. It is an inheritance you deserve far more than he ever did."
Kara looked from Jessica to me. "But..." she began.
Jessica gave her an encouraging nod. She sighed in defeat. "Okay."
Close your eyes. Focus on the stone and accept the inheritance."
Kara nodded and closed her eyes. Purple light poured from the stone. Within seconds, it wrapped around Kara, forming a luminous cocoon.
I monitored Kara's status through the system as she absorbed the inheritance stone. Notifications began scrolling across my vision.
Inheritance Stone absorption in progress…
Existing compatible power detected…
Initiating upgrade instead of new power acquisition…
Upgrading Pheromone Control (Apprentice)…
Pheromone Control (Apprentice) upgrade successful…
Pheromone Control (Apprentice) leveled up to Pheromone Control (Adept)
Upgrading Pheromone Control (Adept)…
Evolving X-Gene (Beta)…
Alpha Evolution successful…
X-Gene (Beta) evolved to X-Gene (Alpha)…
Evolving X-Gene (Alpha)…
Upgrading Pheromone Control (Adept)…
Pheromone Control (Adept) upgrade successful…
Pheromone Control (Adept) leveled up to Pheromone Control (Expert)
Evolving X-Gene (Alpha)…
Evolving X-Gene (Alpha)…
Omega Evolution failed…
Insufficient energy…
Searching for alternatives…
Alternative found…
Initiating secondary mutation…
Secondary mutation successful
Hive Mind (Novice) acquired…
Upgrading Hive Mind (Novice)…
Hive Mind (Novice) upgrade successful…
Hive Mind (Novice) leveled up to Hive Mind (Apprentice)…
Inheritance Stone absorption complete.
As the final notification appeared, the cocoon's glow dimmed and faded.
Kara had changed. She stood at least two inches taller. Her skin appeared healthier and completely unblemished, while her hair had turned a deep, lustrous purple. Her irises matched the deep purple of her hair. Her entire frame looked more mature, and her curves looked more defined. A confidence I had never seen before settled into her gaze.
"Jessica," Kara said with a smile. "May I?"
Understanding immediately, Jessica smiled and nodded.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then Jessica began jumping in place. Jessica burst out laughing, and Kara and I joined her. At Kara's silent command, Jessica stopped bouncing.
Kara turned to me and ran into my arms. "Thanks, Kevin."
I smiled and returned the embrace. She wasn't thanking me only for the power increase. She was thanking me for removing one of the power's greatest drawbacks. With the upgrade, neither Kara nor anyone under her control would turn purple any longer. Whereas Zebediah's entire body had been permanently purple, Kara's transformation affected only her hair and irises. It looked exotic, but she could easily live with that.
"It's finally over," Jessica said, relief washing over her.
"It is," Kara agreed, nodding.
"It's not," I said solemnly.
Jessica and Kara looked at me, their expressions shifting from relief to worry. I pulled two more machetes from my inventory and handed one to each. Before either of them understood what I intended, I seized their wrists and pressed the machete blades against opposite sides of my neck.
They froze.
They tried to pull away, but I tightened my grip on their wrists. Jessica could have easily wrenched her hand away, but she stopped herself, paralyzed by the fear that a sudden movement might lop off my head.
"W-what are you doing, Kevin?" Kara choked out, on the verge of tears.
"Kevin, please don't do this," Jessica begged, her voice cracking. "Please, if something is wrong, tell us. We can help you."
I gave them a small, sad smile. "It's not something you can help me with." I shook my head, my expression flattening. "You've killed one demon that tormented you. Now it's time to kill the one standing in front of you."
I pulled their hands a fraction of an inch closer, letting the sharp steel bite into my skin until a thin line of blood welled up.
"KEVIN, HAVE YOU GONE INSANE?" Jessica screamed, fury masking her panic. "Why are you doing this?!"
"Because I care about you both, and I don't want to be the cause of your grief," I said, closing my eyes.
Even Kara screamed this time. "What bullshit are you spouting?!" Tears streamed down her cheeks, but fury blazed in her eyes.
I opened my eyes and smiled gently. "Both of you are good people. You've broken the chains that were holding you back. Now, you can be the heroes you were always meant to be. You'll be celebrated just like the Fantastic Four or the Avengers."
My smile faded into something hollow. "But I'm not like you. I am cruel, greedy, and selfish. Dealing with people like Tombstone taught me a lesson: to live freely in this world, you need power. With power, no one can touch you. If you're powerless, they grind your face into the dirt. I refuse to live like that. I want power. I want the freedom that comes with it, and I'm willing to do anything to get it."
Jessica and Kara stopped struggling—not because they agreed, but because the confession had stunned them into silence. They stared at me, pale with horror and grief.
"Eventually, you will be the heroes, and I will be the villain," I continued quietly. "And I won't just be a minor nuisance. I'll become a demon more heinous than the Purple Man. A clash between us is inevitable. When you eventually discover what I've done, it will break your hearts. You'll feel betrayed. I don't want that. So I found a way to spare you the worst of it."
Understanding dawned on them, stealing the remaining color from their faces.
"N-no, K-Kevin..." Jessica stammered.
"The least painful path is for you to kill me now. Rid the world of a future monster. You'll mourn me, yes, but you'll be able to move on."
A suffocating silence settled over the room. I slowly let go of their hands, leaving the weapons—and the final choice—entirely in their grip. For several seconds, no one moved. The cold steel remained pressed against my neck.
"What did you think would happen, Kevin?" Jessica asked. Her expression had gone eerily blank. "That we would just nod and kill you?"
"You really are a selfish jerk," Kara choked out as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "You don't want to fight us in the future because you know it will hurt you. You're putting the entire burden on us just to spare yourself the pain of facing us later!"
"I don't care about being a hero! I don't care about being celebrated! But you decided all by yourself that dying by our hands would be better?!" Jessica's blank facade shattered, her voice rising into a raw scream. "You're right. You are cruel. You're a cruel bastard who never gave a damn about our feelings!"
"Yes, you are greedy," Kara said, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You're so greedy for control that you want to decide how we live, how we feel, and even how your own story ends—all without giving us any choice!"
The blades clattered to the floor in unison. A split second later, they both slapped me together.
Pain exploded across both sides of my face, and I staggered backward. My jaw felt as though it had nearly been dislocated.
Before I could recover, Jessica stepped in and grabbed a fistful of my collar. "Listen carefully, Kevin Kolt," she growled, her face inches from mine. "Hero or villain, saint or demon—it doesn't matter."
Kara grabbed the other side of my shirt, her grip just as tight. "Don't you dare talk about dying ever again," she said fiercely.
Ignoring the pain in my jaw, I met their gazes with absolute seriousness. "But I won't change my path. Not for you. Not for anyone."
Jessica and Kara held my gaze for several seconds. Then they exchanged a brief glance and nodded. They turned back to me and spoke together. "Then we'll change for you."
I kept my expression solemn, but satisfaction stirred inside me as system notifications appeared.
Kara Killgrave
Affection: 100
Loyalty: 100
Jessica Jones
Affection: 100
Loyalty: 100
Feat Achieved!
Absolute Allegiance
Cause a morally good superhuman to place their allegiance to you above their moral principles.
Reward: Occlumency Magic Tome
Note: Two morally good superhumans fulfilled the feat's requirements simultaneously.
Reward Upgraded!
Reward: Occlumency and Legilimency Magic Tomes