"Hey. Whoever's hiding behind the door listening in—why not come inside and talk?"
Noah Vale rolled his shoulder casually as he spoke, his tone calm.
Peter immediately looked toward the door.
When he focused, he realized something surprising.
There really was someone there.
A heartbeat—steady, controlled—was coming from the other side of the door.
When did he get there? Peter wondered.
The door slowly opened.
A tall man stepped inside.
He wore a long coat, and on his black T-shirt was a stark white skull emblem.
His eyes fixed on Noah with open interest.
"Daredevil wasn't exaggerating," the man said in a low voice. "You've got real potential."
Noah frowned slightly.
"Daredevil sent you?"
His expression immediately turned annoyed.
"I'm trying to live a quiet life," Noah said flatly. "Why do you people keep showing up? Can you superheroes stop haunting me for five minutes?"
He rubbed his temples.
The thought of Matt Murdock—lying in a hospital bed with broken limbs yet still somehow dragging more trouble his way—made Noah want to visit the hospital again and finish the job.
Peter, meanwhile, stared at the newcomer with excitement.
"Wait—he's a superhero?" Peter whispered. "And you know Daredevil?"
Noah sighed.
"Peter, let me introduce you."
He gestured lazily toward the newcomer.
"This guy is The Punisher. Another one of New York's local street heroes. Same category as Daredevil—self-appointed crime fighter."
Then Noah added dryly,
"Though after four or five years of 'fighting crime,' the Kingpin is still running the city's underworld like a corporation. Makes you wonder what they've actually been doing this whole time."
The Punisher's expression darkened.
Peter blinked awkwardly.
Noah suddenly realized something ironic.
Come to think of it… Peter ends up like that too.
"Kid," The Punisher said coldly, stepping forward. "Don't you think you're being a little arrogant?"
Standing nearly six-foot-three, he looked down at Noah.
"With power comes responsibility."
His voice carried a hardened certainty.
"If you want peace, you earn it by fighting the people who destroy it. As long as criminals run free, nobody gets a quiet life."
Noah rolled his eyes.
"Here we go again."
"Do all superheroes get issued the same speech when they sign up?"
His voice hardened slightly.
"Three years ago I became an orphan. That kind of motivational speech stopped working on me a long time ago."
He shrugged.
"I'm not interested in debating philosophy with you. If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, get out."
The Punisher narrowed his eyes.
"Before I explain why I'm here, I need to test you first."
"If your strength isn't good enough—"
He never finished the sentence.
Because Noah moved.
A blur of motion.
Noah's fist tore through the air toward The Punisher's stomach.
The speed was so sudden that The Punisher barely managed to cross his arms in front of his body.
Too fast—
The impact landed.
A thunderous shock ran through his arms.
The force blasted through his defensive stance and lifted his entire body off the ground.
How is he this fast?!
Before he could even finish the thought—
Noah's fist opened into a palm.
The hand pressed lightly against The Punisher's head.
Then Noah drove him straight into the floor.
The entire exchange lasted less than a second.
By the time Peter processed what happened, The Punisher was already pinned flat against the ground.
Only then did Noah finish his sentence calmly.
"…you talk too much."
The Punisher's mind reeled.
What the hell?
Matt told me this kid was only slightly stronger than me. Said he didn't have much technique and could be handled if I stayed careful.
THIS is slightly stronger?
Meanwhile, Noah quietly glanced at the system analysis that appeared in his vision.
The system had already evaluated the opponent.
Frank Castle's physical capabilities were impressive—roughly on par with Daredevil. A human pushed to the peak of physical conditioning through years of combat.
But compared to Noah's current strength, the gap was clear.
Only a few days earlier, Noah would have needed surprise and careful strategy to defeat fighters like this.
Now?
It wasn't even a contest.
Interesting, Noah thought.
Turns out a half-point difference in overall physical ability is already enough to completely overwhelm someone at this level.
Against street-level fighters like this, even thousands working together wouldn't change the outcome.
Noah withdrew his palm.
Then, almost lazily, he pressed a single finger against the back of The Punisher's head.
The Punisher tried to push himself up.
He couldn't move.
It felt like a steel spike had been driven through his skull and into the floor.
If he forced it, his own skull would crack before Noah's finger budged.
For someone with Noah's current strength, suppressing a normal human—even an elite one—was effortless.
Noah looked down at him calmly.
"So," he said. "Now can you explain why you're here?"
Peter stepped forward awkwardly.
"Uh… Noah? Maybe you should let him up first."
Peter looked down at the immobilized vigilante.
Moments earlier, this man had seemed like an intimidating superhero.
Now he looked more like a turtle flipped onto its shell.
Peter's internal image of superheroes cracked slightly.
Wow… they're not actually that strong.
If I had jumped in instead of Noah, he probably would've gone down even faster.
Noah considered it.
Peter had a point.
Heroes like this were famously stubborn. Threatening them usually just made them more determined.
He lifted his finger.
The Punisher immediately pushed himself upright.
After standing, he looked at Noah again—this time with a very different expression.
Then he spoke.
"Vampires."
The word immediately shifted the room's mood.
"They've been getting more aggressive lately," The Punisher continued. "Seven drained corpses this month alone."
"I think something bigger is happening."
"I originally planned to bring Daredevil with me, but he's still recovering. Instead… he recommended you."
He paused.
"After seeing your strength, I'd say he wasn't exaggerating."
"I want you to help investigate."
Noah listened quietly.
In his mind, the request translated into something very simple.
A side quest invitation.
Vampire activity detected.Do you want to investigate?
Noah didn't hesitate.
"I refuse."
He pointed toward the door.
"You can leave now."