Ding! You have obtained an F-rank puppet fragment!
Ding! You have obtained a C-rank puppet fragment!
Ding! You have obtained an E-rank puppet fragment!
Ding! You have obtained a B-rank puppet fragment!
...
...
The beginning was still a series of puppet fragments. Quinn had long grown used to it and calmly smoked his cigarette.
Ding! You have obtained an F-rank puppet fragment!
Ding! You have obtained a C-rank puppet fragment!
Ding! You have obtained an E-rank puppet fragment!
Ding! You got the C-rank puppet "Kaioh Retsu"!
"Hm?"
Hearing the notification that suddenly came from the system, Quinn glanced over to see a centenarian wearing a purple Tang suit, with a skinny figure and a wrinkled face.
And his information panel also appeared.
[Name: Kaioh Retsu]
[Race: Human]
[Occupation: Martial Artist]
[Skills: Master Martial Arts, Stamina, Turtle Breathing]
[Special Ability: None]
[Level: C-rank Seven Stars]
"It turned out to be him!"
After seeing the newly summoned puppet, Quinn was a little surprised.
This Chinese martial artist from the world of "Baki" represented the pinnacle of the world's skills. With an ordinary centenarian's body, relying on ultimate martial arts techniques, he could blast reinforced concrete walls with spider web cracks five meters in diameter with a gentle wave of his hand. His martial arts far exceeded Captain America who represented Marvel's peak...
This wasn't to belittle the Marvel Universe, but fact.
Because in the concept of Marvel's supreme beings and the One Above All above all things, power and development were inseparable, and development was closely related to science, so all natural and unnatural things in Marvel had science's shadow.
For example, the magic of Kamar-Taj... You couldn't directly use magical energy to achieve the effect you wanted, but you used magical energy to construct various tools, then used the tools to achieve effects.
So you'd see the Sorcerer Supreme conjure up weapons to hit people, instead of blasting people away with energy. You'd see mages build space portals to traverse, but couldn't use magical energy to physically traverse. You'd see Doctor Strange conjuring up something like a rope for binding, but couldn't directly imprison.
Not only the mages, but also the gods.
The gods of the Nine Realms were all born extraordinary, but whether it was magic or divine power, technology's shadow was indispensable.
Uncle Galactus, the cosmic entity, could easily create a weapon to destroy a planet with one blow using his own power, but couldn't do it directly himself.
The legendary Celestials were robots the size of planets.
Under this setting's premise, it was impossible for melee combat skill development to have things like martial arts will from fantasy worlds, punching through mountains and rivers—everything conformed to mechanical laws.
When mortals fought and rolled up their sleeves, the same was true for Skyfather-level beings, gods, multiversal gods, omniversal gods... No matter what level of strength you possessed, as long as it was close combat, you all fought like mortals, rolling up your sleeves and swinging fists.
The difference was that mortals fought and grabbed bricks, Skyfathers fought and grabbed planets, gods fought and threw galaxies, and multiversal gods grabbed universes. Just the power level differed. In terms of skills, there was no difference.
That's why Captain America, an extraordinary warrior injected with super soldier serum, was the pinnacle of Marvel's combat skills.
Because in this world, skill had nothing to do with power.
However, Kaioh Retsu's power application completely exceeded common sense skills, and wasn't an exaggeration to explain using superpowers.
If the two fought in melee, Captain America would be beaten even with a shield that could absorb shock and reflect it.
Of course, Captain America was the pinnacle of fighting skills, including the pinnacle of all fighting styles, not limited to melee combat. If it weren't a ring match but a life-and-death encounter outside, it was hard to say who'd win.
But the reason Quinn was surprised wasn't because of the old man's strength, but because of his martial arts philosophy: martial arts wasn't power, but a weapon for the weak to protect themselves.
In the original Sea King battle, which concerned China's martial arts power reputation over four thousand years, the so-called living collection of Chinese martial arts, when faced with being beaten to death, used the turtle breathing technique to play dead and escaped.
But after the match, he said he'd won.
Some thought he was shameless—playing dead, losing the match but claiming victory. Some thought he would have died, but ultimately survived unharmed, so he'd won.
But no matter what outsiders said, he believed this was martial arts' victory.
Because he'd faced a natural predator, while he was just a weak centenarian struggling to even handle eating.
From beginning to end, he'd defined himself as a weak man holding a weapon called "martial arts," always implementing the belief that martial arts was a weapon for the weak to protect themselves.
This was a true martial arts master, not a fanatic who learned martial arts for the sake of being brave.
For such an old man, Quinn didn't know what to do for a while.
Although this old man only got married and had children around age 100, and was still fighting "aliens" at 130, he was really just an old man.
His muscles were atrophied, his bones shrunken, and he even felt heavy carrying a rice bowl—who knew how long he could live.
"...Let him open a martial arts school to teach disciples!"
After thinking for a while, Quinn made a decision.
Kaioh Retsu was proficient in all Chinese martial arts techniques from four thousand years—a living martial arts manual. And these weren't like breathing techniques with strict learning requirements.
It was just right to open a martial arts school and recruit disciples.
After that, Quinn continued focusing on the system lottery.
But unfortunately, this time, Kaioh Retsu was the only one selected from the hundred draws.
This also made Quinn realize how extraordinarily lucky drawing the Vongola Family last time had been.
However...
"Anyway, prayer value comes fast now. As long as you draw enough, you won't be afraid of not getting results!" Quinn's face was full of optimism.
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Triskelion Building.
As soon as he returned, Fury gave an order. "Hill, contact energy research professors. We need to develop new weapons!"
Hill realized something and looked at him seriously. "Do you want to study that?"
"Yes, Earth needs weapons that can defend itself now."
"Understood."
Hill took the order and went to make preparations.
And Fury began giving orders to Barton. "Go wake up Talbot. Try to understand what happened to them. I need to know what means the Vongola Family used to silently defeat two heavily armed U.S. Marine battalions. Get it done before the White House demands him!"
"...Yes, sir!"
Barton hesitated and took the order.
He knew it was the result of illusion, but he hadn't stayed in the illusion until the end.
Therefore, he wasn't sure what the specific situation was.
After Barton left, Fury returned to the office.
A woman with dark red hair walked in with a document. "Natasha just sent a message that Tony and his driver followed Quinn to Hell's Kitchen to meet someone."
Character Notes:
Kaioh Retsu (Guo Haihuang) - From Baki the Grappler. A 146-year-old Chinese martial arts master who represents 4,000 years of Chinese martial arts. Despite his frail, elderly body, his technique allows him to perform superhuman feats. Believes martial arts is a weapon for the weak to protect themselves.
Galactus/Uncle Galactus - From Marvel Comics. One of the cosmic entities, the Devourer of Worlds. Mentioned as an example of Marvel's power hierarchy.
The Celestials - From Marvel Comics. Ancient, massive robot-like cosmic beings who experimented on early life forms and judge civilizations.