49 The Real World
The ground was hard!
Luke Cage's head was also hard!
But relatively speaking, the ground was even harder.
Because the ground wouldn't bleed!
Luke Cage had originally been just a street thug. Due to aging and various other reasons, he had decided to leave behind his life as a street thug.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.
Shortly after his transformation, his past good friend framed him, landing him in prison.
In order to get out of prison early, he volunteered for the experimental Super-Soldier program that had recreated the experiences of Captain America.
During the experiment, a fellow inmate who held a grudge against him broke into the lab while the experiment was ongoing, aiming to kill him.
Unexpectedly, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The encounter led to a genetic mutation that greatly enhanced his physique and strength. He acquired extraordinary physical capabilities, becoming virtually impervious to conventional weapons.
His muscle tissue and bone density were enhanced, allowing him to lift 25 tons and punch through 10 cm thick steel plates.
His skin was abnormally tough, able to withstand collisions with 1 ton of weight, resist attacks from blades and knives, and even endure point-blank gunshots and TNT explosions.
His regenerative abilities were three times faster than that of an ordinary person.
As Russell attacked Luke Cage, memories of this information he had seen before his transmigration flashed through his mind.
However, reality proved that there were certain things that couldn't be known without a real test.
Russell didn't know if Luke Cage could lift 25 tons or withstand point-blank gunshots and TNT explosions. But now he knew that when he smashed Luke Cage's head onto the ground with all his strength, Luke Cage's head would indeed bleed.
Although Luke Cage's head didn't shatter like a watermelon dropped from a great height, seeing Luke Cage's head create a deep pit upon impact and start bleeding, Russell still wore a satisfied smile.
Impenetrable?
He dares to claim that he's impervious?
Russell's attack was too sudden.
Not only had Daredevil and his team of three not expected it, even Luke Cage himself hadn't anticipated it.
After Luke Cage's head had an intimate encounter with the ground, Daredevil's group finally reacted.
Without hesitation, Daredevil's team simultaneously attacked Russell.
When adults fight, children shouldn't interfere!
Seeing Daredevil's group rush toward him like lightning, Russell not only didn't release his grip on Luke Cage's head, but he also lifted it again and smashed it forcefully into the ground.
Boom!
A massive impact resounded once more. The small stones created from the shattered ground flew like bullets.
At the same time, four fox-like black tendrils surged from Russell's lower back, akin to sharp spears stabbing toward Daredevil's group.
Facing the current three enemies, he commanded his Venom Symbiote to release four sharp, tail-like tendrils, even though there were only three assailants.
This wasn't due to any math error or control mistake, but rather his intentional choice.
He was currently imitating the appearance of Ken Kaneki's kagune in "Tokyo Ghoul."
Ken Kaneki's initial kagune form was four tail-like protrusions that emerged from his lower back. This was inherited from Rize Kamishiro, a ghoul whose kagune Ken Kaneki had transplanted.
Three of the sharp black tendrils were under his control, attacking Daredevil's group.
The remaining tendril moved toward Luke Cage.
Luke Cage, who had been beaten and battered, didn't even have a chance to resist Russell. At this moment, he wasn't dead yet thanks to his extraordinary physique.
The black tendril that approached him coiled around his neck like a serpent, lifting him entirely off the ground.
Meanwhile, Daredevil's group was still defending against the attacking tendrils.
When they had decided to eliminate Russell, a merciless and brutal killer, they had investigated his information and learned about his extraordinary physical abilities.
Unfortunately, their information was somewhat outdated.
In their investigation, Russell was someone who could lift a small car with his bare hands and jump more than ten to twenty meters high—much like the superheroes in their world.
Though Russell's display might seem exaggerated, it wasn't anything significant to Daredevil and the others. They also had members with extraordinary physical abilities, like Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, who could also lift cars and jump great heights.
However, they hadn't expected that Russell's abilities were no longer just limited to extraordinary physical prowess.
But it was understandable. Those who had witnessed his use of the Venom Symbiote ability, apart from Diana and Tony Stark, had all met Mephisto in Hell.
The textile factory employees were thoroughly exterminated!
Punisher was also dead!
Terrorists in Afghanistan suffered the same fate!
Anyone who had seen him use the Venom Symbiote ability, especially those who were his enemies, had without exception died.
This led to the perception that Russell's abilities were still limited to his ordinary extraordinary physique.
However, in reality, what he possessed was far more than that.
Russell had shed light on this bleak situation!
Now that only three enemies were approaching him, he was controlling the Venom Symbiote to release four sharp tendrils to fend them off.
"Did you know? I'm beginning to understand why villains in movies like to taunt the protagonists of justice during battles."
"It's because those so-called protagonists of justice are really overestimating their abilities!"
With four sharp tendrils protruding from his lower back like a monster's tail, Russell tilted his head toward Daredevil's group and spoke.
Just as Daredevil's group was about to retort, he raised his finger and placed it to his lips, signaling them not to interrupt his performance.
"Villains die from talking too much, it's a trope that both writers and audiences never tire of!"
"I used to enjoy this trope too. Playing along with it shows that you're a humorous person when taunting the villain. It's a win-win situation, nothing wrong with that."
At this point, Russell paused for a moment, glanced up at Luke Cage, who was being lifted by the black tendrils, then continued, "But have you ever thought why seemingly intelligent villains in movies fall victim to this talking-too-much trope?"
"Could there really be a rule in the world that says evil can't suppress good, forcing ambitious villains to be defeated by righteous protagonists?"
"No, no, no. The world doesn't care about the righteousness and evil defined by human standards."
"Villains dying from talking too much has no connection to good suppressing evil or justice prevailing."
"In movies, villains are always defeated, but justice doesn't always prevail fairly in reality. The only reason for this is political correctness!"
"Because only politically correct movies get released, as for reality... haha, who cares about that damn reality!"
"By the way, since we're on the topic of political correctness, let's talk about something you love, discrimination!"
"Speaking of which, you might not believe it, but even a newly minted assassin like me encountered discrimination in this so-called fair and just nation of yours."
"Even though I'm risking my life for money, just because of my half heritage, I receive slightly less pay than other assassins."
"Even if my jobs are executed perfectly, it doesn't matter."
"So, later on, I learned some important lessons from you people."
"Justice?"
"Winner equals justice!"
"Whose fist is bigger, that person gets to dictate!"
"Like right now, you all probably want to kill me right away, but you're standing there listening to this monologue of mine, the villain's."
"By the way, do you think I'm just an arrogant and ignorant villain now?"
"No, you're wrong!"
"Sharing these words with you is simply because they've been pent up inside me for so long. I never had the chance to express my true thoughts to you supposed representatives of justice."
"Now I finally have the chance, so I won't hold back!"
"Lastly, to strengthen your resolve to eliminate me, the villain, let me tell you something."
"I despise two types of people the most!"
"The first type is those who discriminate other people just for self-gratification, and the second is cowards!"
After finishing his speech, Russell controlled the other three black tendrils to wrap around Luke Cage's hands and right leg.
Then, with a forceful pull, he tore Luke Cage apart mid-air.
"Welcome to the real world where villains can also achieve victory!"
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