By the time Jason reached what David had identified as the most critical location, the situation had deteriorated beyond recognition.
The firefighters who had initially rushed to combat the blaze had transformed the scene into something resembling a deranged water festival.
A group of burly men laughed hysterically, shouted obscenities, and stripped down to progressively less clothing, putting on an impromptu nude exhibition.
The spectacle grew increasingly disturbing as their inhibitions completely dissolved under the influence of the airborne narcotics.
Several newly arrived police officers stared at the scene, jaws hanging open in disbelief.
Damn, I should've joined the fire department, one muttered. Who knew they had these kinds of parties?
From nearby windows, camera flashes continuously illuminated the chaotic scene.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Jason fired several precise shots, shattering the most conspicuous cameras aimed from surrounding windows. He then rushed into the crowd of delirious firefighters, methodically rendering them unconscious one by one.
Before anyone could react to his presence, he vanished into the night.
He needed to reach the next site urgently. According to David's intelligence, several intoxicated gang members had initiated an orgy in the street—a scene even more outrageous than what he'd just witnessed.
"David, what's the status of the other locations? Can Daredevil handle this alone? Goddammit, if I hadn't started these fires, I wouldn't be responsible for cleaning up this mess!"
His frustrated complaints through the headset distracted him momentarily. He failed to notice several shadowy figures positioned around the corner ahead until he ran headlong into a police tactical unit.
Both parties reacted with lightning speed, hands instinctively moving to their weapons.
In the distance, the night sky blazed orange with flames as sirens wailed incessantly.
Here in this side street, however, an eerie silence prevailed beneath the cold moonlight.
Jason opened his mouth to speak, but the lead officer pre-empted him with a sharp command: "Open fire!"
Before Jason could even register his disbelief, he dove behind a nearby van for cover.
Just as he attempted to catch his breath, he glimpsed several gun barrels protruding from a darkened alley across the street—all trained directly on his position.
You've got to be kidding me!
He scrambled sideways as a barrage of bullets impacted near his heels, striking sparks from the pavement.
The air filled with the staccato rhythm of automatic weapons as rounds poured toward him like metallic hail.
Amidst the chaos, his enhanced Spirit attribute of 30 triggered a preternatural survival instinct—a sense of imminent danger beyond what he could see.
Roll. Roll. ROLL AGAIN!
"CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!"
Several high-caliber sniper rounds struck the ground beside him, sending stone fragments flying into his face.
Yet his sense of peril remained undiminished.
His Compound Eyes ability activated instantaneously, slowing his perception of time. He detected a distinctive trajectory through the air—not a straight line, but an arc.
It wasn't just one projectile but seven or eight, converging on his position from multiple angles, eliminating all possible escape routes.
Someone with unnatural accuracy.
A master marksman.
This realization flashed through Jason's mind as he focused his mental energies to their absolute limit.
He propelled himself forward in a desperate gambit, deliberately exposing his chest to two incoming projectiles!
"THUD!"
"Ungh!"
His body shuddered from the impact, but he maintained his momentum, taking several rapid strides before diving into a shadowed alleyway.
Once the shooters lost their angle, he pressed his back against the wall, struggling to regulate his breathing.
His hand instinctively went to his chest, where two scorching bullet holes had penetrated his outer layer.
Thank God for double-layered kevlar. Otherwise, I'd be bleeding out right now.
He immediately resumed his frustrated tirade through the headset: "What the hell, David? Why is everyone gunning for me? I'm completely surrounded! Have they all lost their minds?"
"Uh..." David's voice crackled with static. "I was countering a cyberattack while monitoring police communications. Just managed to restore our connection."
"Knight, you're in serious trouble."
"What?"
"The NYPD Commissioner himself has mobilized nearly half the city's police force to apprehend you."
"How could they possibly know I'm responsible? I left no evidence!"
"Well," David's tone carried a hint of dark amusement, "Commissioner George Stacy explicitly stated that no one else in New York could orchestrate something like this. He'd rather risk killing the wrong person than let you escape."
Jason gritted his teeth. "Fine. George Stacy, is it? He'd better keep a close eye on his daughter, or I might pay her a visit she won't forget."
"The mercenary who opened fire earlier are bounty hunters and street thugs hoping to cash in on the reward. There are more of them than actual police officers at this point."
"But they're not your biggest concern. The real threat is the professional hunting team that's converged on your location. They were behind the sniper fire and those perfectly aimed shots that hit your vest."
"Who are they?"
"Hold on... a security camera caught one of them. Got it! Maya Lopez, codename Echo—Wilson Fisk's adopted daughter!"
David chuckled. "I told you nothing good comes from competing with a crime boss over a woman."
Jason rolled his eyes. "Just wait until I exact my revenge on Kingpin through Vanessa for all the trouble he's caused me."
"There's more," David continued. "Another operative with a bow and arrow had you in his sights multiple times but hasn't fired yet. He's accompanied by that agent that came to the Sanctuary—Coulson—who also appears to have unfriendly intentions."
"Knight, maybe we should cut our losses. I'm getting worried about your survival odds with this many enemies."
"What are you afraid of? You're already dead, remember?"
"I faked my death!" David protested. "Do you want me to die for real this time? Do you understand what you're facing? One man against an army thousands strong!"
Shit.
For the first time, Jason genuinely questioned his mortality. He'd only wanted to complete his system tasks while simultaneously doing some good in the world. How had everything spiraled so catastrophically out of control?
God, I'm your faithful shepherd. Is this some kind of cruel joke?
Outside the alley, gunfire continued unabated, coming not only from the entrance but also from the far end. Jason knew with absolute certainty that revealing himself now would result in his body being shredded by bullets—not to mention the two expert marksmen lurking in the shadows, awaiting their opportunity.
I need an escape plan.
After a moment's consideration, he instructed David: "Make an anonymous call to the police immediately. Tell them the six explosion sites were all Kingpin's drug distribution centers. That should divert some officers toward rescue operations."
He glanced upward at the distinctive sound of helicopter rotors—news choppers he'd spotted earlier.
"Simultaneously, leak this information to the media. And haven't you compiled substantial evidence of Kingpin's criminal empire? Send everything to reporters. Tell them tonight's explosions were Kingpin's desperate ploy to addict all of New York to his product."
"Release whatever dirt we have on the other crime families too. Mix in some shocking conspiracy theories. We need to create a media firestorm!"
David hesitated. "Are you certain about this? These revelations will certainly create significant problems for Kingpin and the other syndicates, diverting their attention from you."
"But our evidence isn't comprehensive enough to destroy them permanently. Once they weather this storm, they'll retreat deeper into the shadows, making them even harder to eliminate."
"You're absolutely right," Jason laughed darkly. "But you're forgetting one crucial detail—only the police need evidence. I only need to know who to kill."
"If they escape legal justice this time, I'll deliver my own brand of punishment!"
"Understood!"
At that moment, Jason detected movement among his attackers. Several figures crept toward the alley entrance, clutching spherical objects in their hands.
Grenades!
The surrounding police and bounty hunters tacitly ceased fire. For this brief moment, they shared a common objective—Jason's elimination.
The instant the grenade-wielders exposed themselves at the alley entrance, several bullets curved through the air with impossible precision, penetrating their foreheads.
The grenades tumbled to the ground. Seconds later, searing heat erupted as they detonated.
Jason huddled in the alley's deepest recess, teeth clenched against the concussive blast. Is this really happening?
Before he could complete his thought, he glimpsed a blurred figure bracing something tubular against their shoulder beyond the partially collapsed wall.
A blazing red projectile streaked toward him.
"BOOM!"
The violent explosion pulverized the brick wall before him, sending deadly shrapnel in all directions.
An RPG? Is this New York City or a war zone?