The vast, dim underground space echoed with the sounds of fierce combat as Elektra led the Hand's forces downward in an elevator...
The wiring of the lights installed along the rock walls seemed to have been cut, causing the mining lamps to flicker uncertainly before finally extinguishing.
When the elevator reached the bottom, Elektra stepped forward gripping a razor-sharp dagger.
Murakami, who had gone ahead, was already engaged in battle with the street-level heroes of Hell's Kitchen... Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage. The three intruders were surrounded by masked ninjas wielding long blades.
Sowande frowned, "Seems like we're missing someone..."
He remembered there was another large man among this group, the one Hell's Kitchen's gangs called "the Punisher". His methods were brutal, far different from the usual street-level vigilantes.
A group of ninjas lunged forward, their blades flashing in the dim light. Luke Cage stood firm in front of his teammates, his unbreakable skin clanging against the swords like metal.
With Luke acting as a human shield, Daredevil drew his batons and charged straight toward Murakami, the leader of the ninjas...
Meanwhile, Jessica plowed through the enemy ranks with her superhuman strength, her long legs and cold beauty belying the fury in her strikes. She seemed determined to vent all her pent-up anger on the Hand as she sent ninjas flying with every punch.
Elektra stood still, watching Daredevil (Matt Murdock) locked in combat with Murakami.
The image of the idealistic blind lawyer who believed in justice and the law had grown faint in her mind, like an old photograph washed out by time... no longer capable of stirring any emotion within her.
They had walked two completely different paths. Feeling the power of the Black Sky within her, the last traces of nostalgia in Elektra's eyes faded, and was replaced by icy detachment:
"Leave him to me."
At her command, Murakami immediately disengaged from Daredevil and retreated.
Hearing that familiar voice, Daredevil halted mid-pursuit, "Elektra?"
Even though the Punisher had warned him that the Hand had resurrected Elektra, 'seeing' his former lover again sent his emotions into turmoil.
"Matthew… long time no see." Elektra called him by his nickname as her graceful figure stepped closer.
But before Daredevil could savor this reunion, his expression twisted in alarm as he barely dodged a vicious slash of her dagger.
"Elektra, what are you doing?" Matt's voice was pained beneath the red devil mask.
Elektra merely smiled, as if her lethal strike had been nothing more than a casual greeting.
Twirling her dagger with practiced ease, she said, "Matthew, you're just as naïve as when I first met you. Still dreaming of being a righteous hero..."
"...Did Stick not tell you? I'm no longer the weak-hearted Elektra you knew. The Hand gave me new life. The Black Sky granted me new power. I've chosen a different path, one without those outdated rules and hypocritical morals. I've never felt more alive."
"Elektra, please… I don't want to hurt you." Daredevil's voice was thick with anguish.
"How touching, Matthew. But I very much want to hurt you." Elektra lunged forward and her blade carved a deadly arc through the air.
She had made her choice. Having died once, she had no desire to return to her old life. Just as Sean had said, a new future awaited her... why cling to a past full of regrets?
The dagger sliced through the air, forcing Daredevil into desperate evasion.
He tried to reach her, "They took you from me! They turned you into a weapon! You're not the Black Sky, you're Elektra Natchios!"
"Thank you for the sentiment, Matthew. But I know exactly who I am. The Hand didn't make me this way. I've always been this person."
With a flick of her wrist, Elektra's dagger slashed across Daredevil's torso, splitting his red suit and drawing blood. Matt clutched the wound, but before he could speak, a spinning kick sent him crashing into the rock wall.
"You were right about one thing," Elektra said coldly as she pressed her boot against his chest, "I'm not the Black Sky. I am Elektra Natchios reborn... You always searched for light in me. Sorry to disappoint."
Her dagger plunged straight through Daredevil's abdomen. Blood gushed from the wound as she yanked the blade free without hesitation, turning away as if he were already dead...
...
On the other side of the battlefield, Madame Gao, Sowande, Murakami, and Bakuto were locked in combat with Jessica and Luke Cage.
The sheer force of their combined strength and invulnerability had momentarily turned the tide against the Hand. More reinforcements streamed down from the elevators, filling the cavernous space.
A squad of black-clad bodyguards wielding submachine guns joined the fray, they were Sowande's contingency.
Muzzle flashes lit up the darkness as bullets tore through the air. Luke Cage flung aside two ninjas, crumpling their blades like paper, and charged through the hail of gunfire.
Though the bullets couldn't penetrate his skin, their impact still sent waves of pain through his body. Just as the situation grew dire, a black canister (tear gas) rolled into the battlefield...
Thick smoke erupted, followed by gunshots as the Punisher descended from the elevator with a Browning pistol in hand, he was methodically picking off enemies.
When the smoke cleared, the battle had reached a stalemate. The Hand's forces were reduced to their four leaders and a handful of expendable foot soldiers, while the Punisher's arrival had tipped the scales back toward equilibrium.
"Black Sky, kill them! The dragon bones must not be compromised!" Murakami shouted as Elektra approached.
In response, the red-clad assassin swung her dagger and Murakami's head tumbled from his shoulders, followed by blood spraying in an arc.
She didn't even glance at his collapsing body, as if she had merely crushed an annoying insect.
"You wanted the dragon bones so badly? Then you can be buried with them."
Silence fell over the cavern...
No one had expected the Hand's supposed ally to suddenly decapitate one of their leaders. The remaining three (Madame Gao, Sowande, and Bakuto) exchanged wary glances before instinctively backing toward each other.
"The game ends now." Elektra's voice was sharp with finality.
Her gaze shifted toward the open stone gate. A tall figure emerged from the darkness dragging the unconscious Danny Rand behind him.
His face was obscured by a black tactical mask, and his eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the man said, "It's time to bring this to a close. Tonight's performance… is over..."