In one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s countless bases, Nick Fury was in his office. Behind the desk, he wore the same unshakable, pretentious expression as always.
In front of him stood Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. Fury had summoned them to discuss recent developments in the investigation into the mysterious group that had fought The Hand.
Tony was the first to break the silence.
"We don't have all day, Fury. If you called us here, it must be for something."
Steve, at his side, interrupted calmly.
"Tony, let him speak."
Fury didn't lose his cold demeanor. With his usual tone, he tossed a folder filled with documents and photographs onto the desk.
"I have a reason for calling you. Read this."
Tony flipped through a few pages and immediately widened his eyes.
"Is this real?"
"Completely," Fury replied, clearly enjoying the incredulous look on Stark's face.
And Tony had every reason to be surprised. Despite being a man of science, in recent years he had been forced to accept the impossible: gods, magic, alien invasions. Yet he always found some logic, some pattern. The extraordinary had emerged step by step. First the super-soldier, still within the realm of science. Then Iron Man, a technological feat. After that, increasingly irrational phenomena: gods, sorcery, cosmic forces. But all of them, in one way or another, came from external factors beyond humanity.
The folder in his hands broke that pattern. The report spoke of a human who had not only survived a massacre but had single-handedly defeated hundreds of Hand ninjas… even one of their immortal leaders. And most disturbing of all: records of his existence stretched back centuries.
The story was simple, yet terrifying. The Hand had wiped out an isolated village in the mountains of Asia, exterminating every inhabitant, or so they thought. But one man resisted. He not only survived but struck back, annihilating all the invaders. From then on, he dedicated his life to destroying The Hand. Wherever they appeared, he hunted them. He never retreated, never surrendered. That was why he was called The Chaste.
But one man alone could not defeat a worldwide organization. The Chaste could either surrender… or create others like him. Thus The Chaste Order was born, warriors who inherited the founder's mission. Centuries later, the order still stood, faithful to its purpose.
Tony lifted his gaze toward Fury.
"So… you want us to contact this Chaste Order?"
Fury stood up, fixing his eye on them.
"Being chaste means living for a mission. Fulfilling an objective without straying, no matter the consequences. The Chaste share those principles. They would do anything to destroy The Hand… even if it exposes them to the world."
He paused, then said with chilling calm:
"Contact them? No. They're already here."
A shiver ran down Steve's spine, and he instinctively ducked.
At that moment, an old man appeared behind him, moving silently, wielding two staffs. His attack was so fast and precise that Tony barely had time to react, raising his arm with the emergency repulsor built into his wrist. But the old man deflected the blast with a simple twist of his staff, used the momentum, and knocked Tony down with a clean sweep.
Steve tried to catch him from behind, but the man blocked every strike with impossible precision. The exchange was short but intense: sweeps, quick thrusts, every move aimed at vital points. Rogers resisted with strength and speed, but it was clear he was being controlled.
When Tony tried another shot, the old man redirected it effortlessly with his staff, sending the energy blast toward Steve. The Captain twisted his body to dodge, losing his balance. The old man seized the opening, striking Tony with a sharp blow to the jaw that left him staggering before collapsing.
Steve regained his footing and tried to attack again, but froze as he felt the staff pressed firmly against his neck. The old man's voice was as cold as it was calm:
"If this had been real… you'd both be dead."
Then he lowered his weapon and, almost solemnly, helped Rogers back to his feet.
"Even so, you are an honorable warrior, Steve Rogers. You never used your full strength."
Tony, still in pain, muttered with sarcasm.
"And who is this supposed to be? The kung-fu master from an old Asian movie?"
"Stick," Fury answered firmly. "Blind. A veteran of a war almost no one knows about. Martial arts master. And the de facto leader of The Chaste."
Tony raised an eyebrow.
"Blind? Seriously?"
"Silence, Stark." Fury turned his attention to the old man. "If you want cooperation, tell me exactly what you want and what you know about this group of heroes."
"Defenders," Stick said without hesitation. "That's their name. One of my disciples, you know him as Daredevil, leads them. They came together because all of them have unfinished business with The Hand."
Steve nodded.
"I know the kid. I tried talking to him, but he's not exactly chatty."
"He's changed lately, he's been acting strange," Stick replied. Then he added, "But leave him to me. I can convince him to make his team cooperate."
Tony narrowed his eyes.
"And what do you get out of this? Don't tell me it's just altruism."
"The destruction of The Hand," Stick answered with a coldness that left no doubt.
Tony clicked his tongue.
"Convenient. Why now? You could have worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers at any other time."
Stick smirked faintly. "I thought you were just a self-absorbed playboy, but it seems I underestimated you."
Then he added seriously:
"Daniel Rand. A member of my disciple's team. His true identity is Iron Fist, an expert in the use of chi taught in K'un-Lun. If K'un-Lun has sent a warrior of his caliber, it means they're preparing to eliminate The Hand once and for all.
With K'un-Lun, S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and the Defenders all moving, The Hand has no chance. It would be an insult to the founder if The Chaste did not join."
Steve stepped forward.
"We won't refuse extra help. Besides, we need a bridge to Daredevil."
Stick nodded.
"If we know The Hand's methods, they'll likely split up. Their five leaders rarely trust each other. They'll disperse into five different locations."
"We reached the same conclusion," Fury intervened. "We were organizing who would go where."
The old man tightened his grip on his staffs, then added after a pause:
"Then I ask only one thing in exchange for our help."
Tony and Fury eyed him warily, until Stick spoke firmly:
"Let us take care of Murakami."
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80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)