C88: Combined Attack
So it was said.
However, Li Ran had no intention of letting the confrontation conclude so simply.
Before long, Matt Murdock—better known in Hell's Kitchen as Daredevil heard an unusual noise amid the debris piled atop the Chinatown rooftops. His acute senses picked up the shifting of rubble near a collapsed neon sign once belonging to Golden Tiger Imports.
Frowning, Matt turned to Li Ran and the other two, his tone grave. "Master Ye, this battle may not be over just yet."
"What? That's impossible!"
Li Ran's eyes widened in shock, though beneath the surface he was composed, secretly directing the **Fire Cloud Evil God**—his summoned entity forged from corrupted chi and hellfire—to rise again.
**BOOM—**
As his words fell, the Fire Cloud Evil God erupted from the debris, stones cascading from his shoulders. The last blow from Matt and the rubble had left his appearance battered—his crimson Tang suit shredded into tatters but his internal chakra network remained intact. Though marred by \[Fengfeng Bei]'s impact, the C-level card projection hadn't taken critical damage. Surprisingly, the summoned avatar's defense was sturdier than even Iron Man's Mk III armor when faced with blunt trauma.
> \[Reputation from Daredevil +785]
> \[Fame from Jessica Jones +952]
> \[Recognition from Danny Rand +1025]
"What a shame... such a shame."
The Fire Cloud Evil God, now standing tall amid crumbling masonry, staggered to find balance before raising his head. His mouth curled into a dust-smeared grin, dark and deranged: "You nearly got me there."
Shaking loose a rain of pebbles, he stepped forward—each stride sending rubble flying into nearby storefronts like an Asgardian thunderclap. Ignoring the damage, he launched himself toward the Chinese restaurant with the velocity of a Green Goblin dive bomb.
Matt exhaled deeply and positioned himself protectively in front of Li Ran, gripping his baton like a katana. "I'll stop him. I've faced worse than the Fire Cloud Evil God."
"You?" Jessica Jones raised an eyebrow. Her tone was biting, yet laced with concern. "With the way you're swaying, he won't need to touch you—you'll collapse on your own."
Despite her harsh words, Jessica stepped ahead, her lean frame shielding Matt. "So just stand back."
Danny Rand, the Iron Fist and sworn protector of K'un-Lun, supported Li Ran. Seeing his comrades brace themselves against the monstrous force before them, Danny clenched his fists. Chi surged through his arm but doubt lingered. The Fire Cloud Evil God's power had eclipsed even that of Davos, the Steel Serpent. Could his fist alone stop this?
The evil god's charge didn't falter in the face of Danny's hesitation. In seconds, he had closed half the distance to the restaurant.
Then—he stopped, clutching his left rib and coughing.
"He's not unscathed."
Li Ran, controlling the avatar through spiritual tethering, narrowed his eyes. "That last hit caused internal trauma. He's concealing injuries... lingering ones."
"Even so, Master Ye," Jessica murmured, not taking her eyes off the fire-wreathed specter below, "With that kind of strength, we're still far from dealing with him effectively."
A heavy breath interrupted her.
"What about me?"
All eyes turned. With labored steps and wheezing breath, **Luke Cage** emerged on the second floor, dust clinging to his hoodie like ash.
"You're alive?!"
Jessica's voice trembled, relief overriding her sarcasm.
"Barely," Luke rasped, a weak grin on his face. "I almost suffocated under all that brickwork—"
"—Luckily, I found him in time."
A rasping voice followed. Stepping from the shadows behind Luke, **Madame Gao** appeared, cane in hand.
"Madame Gao."
Hearing her, Matt instinctively moved his baton behind his back, defensive.
"Relax," she said coldly. "If I wanted you dead, I could've let the Fire Cloud Evil God finish the job hours ago."
"Then why show yourself now?" Matt asked, voice taut.
Gao didn't answer directly. Instead, her gaze drifted to the Fire Cloud Evil God. "He killed the other four Fingers of the Hand. Left me alive because I was obedient… or so he thought. But even obedience has limits."
Her stare slid across the group, stopping on Danny Rand. Her wrinkled lips curled slightly.
"I intend to kill the Fire Cloud Evil God and make him pay."
**BANG—**
With a resounding crash, the Fire Cloud Evil God landed on the restaurant's second floor. His legs sank slightly into the wood, sending splinters flying. He cast his gaze over the group.
"Well, well. All gathered. But a bunch of worn-out heroes think they can stop me?"
"We're not just stopping you," Jessica snapped, crossing her arms. "We're going to beat you so bad, your ancestors will feel it. Don't cry when that happens."
"The mouth on you..." the Evil God sneered.
He cast a mocking look at Li Ran, who was still weak and crouching behind the others. Raising his flaming hand, he barked, "Your only trump card is useless. I'd love to see what tricks you have left."
"It's now—attack!"
Li Ran shouted. In perfect sync, Danny burst forward, chi enveloping his fist like Thor's lightning, and struck at the Fire Cloud Evil God.
"Foolish."
With a scoff, the demon caught Danny's wrist mid-punch and twisted.
"AAAH!" Danny screamed, dropping to his knees, his Iron Fist dimmed.
"This was your last hope?" the Evil God jeered. Just as he prepared to finish Danny, Madame Gao moved—her cane striking with a precision honed through centuries.
"I've protected you long enough."
He pivoted swiftly, dodging the attack and catching her cane beneath his arm.
"You thought I wouldn't notice your treach—AGH!"
He didn't finish.
From the shadows behind the Evil God, a bullet curved in midair guided by a telekinetic arc and struck him hard in the wounded rib.
It was a perfect shot. Xavier-level precision. And the war had just begun.
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