Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Sorry it took a while. But, I recently got married (yay!), and that has taken up most of my time. But, I'm back with another chapter, and will try to keep updating more often.
Let's go.
warlocktongue: You're about to see.
SpeedyJesus354: No beta writer. I do it all myself. People say I'm a natural born writer, but since I have a lot of writers in my family, I grew up loving writing and got very good at it. Plus, I read a lot, so I have a lot of reference to draw from when writing dialogue or certain types of scenes.
MarvelDC528: I don't currently have plans for a story like that, unfortunately, and because of how busy my life is getting, I'm going to try and avoid adding any more stories to my plan (both in and out of this series), just so I can make sure I write all the plans I currently have.
Chapter 5- Golden Daggers Club
"So, your real name is Shang-chi, and your father is the Mandarin?" Oliver asks.
"Yes, but he doesn't really go by that title," Shang-chi responds to Oliver's question.
"What does your father want with you now?" Natasha asks Shang-chi. She's very interested in Shang-chi's involvement with the Ten Rings and what info he might have on the Mandarin, intelligence that SHIELD could've never hoped to gain.
"Not sure. But he sent his men to take a pendant my mother gave me before her death. He's gonna be coming after my sister and her same pendant now. I need to warn her," Shang-chi responds.
"What would the Ten Rings want with me?" Yelena asks, genuinely curious how she got on the Ten Rings' radar.
"Because. My father has one of the most highly trained fighting forces in the world. Aside from the Avengers, the Black Widows are the only force who could match my father's forces. I assume he wants you out especially because you could rally the Widows against my father if you wished," Shang-chi explained. Yelena nods once, a slightly arrogant smirk on her face as she thinks about how the leader of the Ten Rings considers her a threat.
The car that Oliver had hired pulls up to a massive skyscraper that looks like it's still under some construction, with scaffolding around most of the building. As the driver parks, Shang-chi says, "This is the address my sister gave me. Let's go."
Everyone piles out and into the building. They quickly see an elevator, with an operator in it. Everyone piles into the elevator, and the somewhat rickety feeling elevator starts up the side of the building.
As the elevator continues up, the operator holds out a tablet to Shang-chi with a signature spot pulled up. Shang-chi looks at the man then takes the pen and signs. The man, to everyone's surprise, then holds it out to Oliver. Oliver looks at him curiously, but the man just holds out the tablet. Thinking maybe it's like a terms and conditions for entry into the building, Oliver signs it.
Speaking in Mandarin, Shang-chi asks the man, "I'm looking for my sister, Xu Xialing. Have you heard of her?" The operator just stares at him stonily for a moment before looking away. Everyone else looks around and shrugs.
Katy smiles a bit, trying to break the tension. "Seems like a nice fella. And this elevator is definitely up to code," she says in a joking tone.
The elevator finally reaches the top of the shaft and stops, the door opening a second later. On the other side is a middle aged CHinese man in a very colorful outfit.
"Bus Boy!" the guy exclaims at the sight of Shang-chi in English before switching to Mandarin to say, "Three million views in two days, bro!" He holds out his phone, showing the video of Shang-chi's fight on the bus.
"Oh, no," Shang-chi says, worried at how much exposure he's getting, knowing it could draw further unwanted attention.
The guy glances at Katy, and also recognizes her from the video. "And you're the driver!" he exclaims in Mandarin.
"Oh, my Chinese sucks," Katy responds.
"Oh, no worries. I speak ABC," the man responds in English. He then looks at Oliver and Natasha and gasps, saying, "You're Green Arrow and Black Widow! We got Avengers in here!" Oliver manages a slight awkward smile in response.
"I'm Jon Jon," the man says, putting his arms around Katy and Shang-chi before saying dramatically, "Welcome to the Golden Daggers Club!" He pauses again, then says, "Alright, let's get you ready to fight!" He pats Shang-chi, and also points directly at Oliver, both of whom feel a bit alarmed.
"We're a multi-platform global operation. Every fight livestreamed on the dark web. Thousands of viewers placing bets as we speak. This is gonna take your platform to a whole new level," Jon Jon explains the place, leading them into a hallway with a number of glassed in chambers where people are fighting.
"I think there's been some confusion," Shang-chi says.
"Yeah, we didn't come here to fight," Oliver says, trying to get himself out of this situation.
"Usually, you gotta fight your way to the center ring, but for a viral star and an Avenger like you two? Front of line, buddy," Jon Jon says.
Shang-chi puls out of Jon Jon's arms and faces him. "I'm not here to fight anyone, okay. I'm looking for my sister, Xu Xialing," he explains.
Right then, in a fight chamber behind them, a sumo wrestler slams a guy up against the glass. A second later, Jon Jon says, "Never heard of her. We lost two fighters last minute, you two get their slots."
Right then, they pass another chamber. To their surprise, they see a Black Widow in the chamber, fighting someone who looks like an EXTREMIS user. Yelena's eyes widen, and she says aloud, "Helen?", recognizing the Widow.
The Widow, Helen, is thrown across the chamber by the EXTREMIS guy. However, she draws a knife and throws it at the guy, halting him. She then leaps up and slashes at him with another knife, sending him stumbling back.
"Nice one, Helen," Jon Jon says encouragingly.
"Are these two gonna be fighting in these?" Katy asks.
"Oh, no, these are like low level fights," Jon Jon says before he directs their attention up ahead as he says, "YOu're gonna be fighting up there."
Everyone looks up at the massive ring up ahead. To their surprise, Wong is in the ring fighting. To their even bigger surprise, the Abomination is fighting against Wong. None of them realized that Abomination was free after the Harlem incident years ago. As they watch, Abomination tries punching or kicking at Wong, but Wong either blocks the blows with Tao Mandalas or ducks aside.
Abomination lunges forward, trying to pin Wong, but Wong does a combat roll between his legs. However, Abomination turns and swings his massive arm Wong, but isn't able to block it in time and is thrown against the cage lining of the ring. He gets back up and says something to Abomination, but they can't make it out over all the noise.
Abomination roars in response and lunges for Wong again. However, as he tries to throw a punch, Wong uses his Sling Ring to open a portal in the path of the Abomination's fist. Wong then opens the other side of the portal next to ABomination's head, so that Abomination punches himself in the side of the head, knocking him out cold. Wong then raises his fists in victory as everyone cheers for him.
"Go, Wong!" Jon Jon cheers before telling the gang, "I always bet an Asian."
"Yeah, look, I'm not going up there," Shang-chi protests.
"Neither am I," Oliver says.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. It's too late to back out now. You already committed, bros," Jon Jon says to the two.
"What?" Shang-chi and Oliver both ask in confusion.
"You signed the contract, remember?" Jon Jon asks them before adding, "Your names are on the roster. The bets are piling in."
"Really, what's our cut?" Katy asks.
"Oh, it's huge," Jon Jon reassures her.
"That doesn't matter!" Shang-chi protests.
"It matters," Katy responds.
"At least we can get some money out of it," Yelena adds, shrugging her shoulders when everyone looks at her.
"Dude, I saw you fight five guys and a huge Romanian with a blade for an arm on a moving bus," Jon Jon says to Shang-chi before looking at Oliver and saying, "And you're the leader of the Avengers, dude! This is just one guy for each of you. Just do it, and then we all get paid. And then I'll help you find whoever you're looking for."
Oliver and Shang-chi sigh as they look at each other, then look up at the ring, where several men are dragging Abomination out of the ring. The two sigh, feeling they might as well do this is Jon Jon can help them find Xu Xialing.
Everyone gathers excitedly around the ring. It's been a little while since the fight between Abomination and Wong ended, and now it's time for the next one.
Jon Jon, serving as announcer, walks up to the balcony overlooking the ring. "Ladies and gentlemen, the first of the fights we've been waiting for! The one we all know, the leader of the Avengers, welcome: Green Arrow!"
Everyone cheers as Oliver moves into the ring. He is holding his bow, but, at the request of Jon Jon, he does not have his armor on. He's also not allowed to use any of his bow's special powers. Oliver looks towards Natasha and Yelena, who are in the space below the ring, and shrugs a bit.
"And now, his opponent!" Jon Jon calls out, as a figure appears on the other side, "The master with a sword! The beast! Everyone, please welcome…Blade!"
As Jon Jon announces the fighter's name, he steps into the light. A tall, very strong black man with a series of tattoos running down his arms. He's wearing a tight fitting combat vest and black leather pants. Two knives hang from his belt, and a long sword rests on his back. He's also wearing a pair of dark sunglasses.
The man, apparently called Blade, looks at Oliver and says simply, "Your move."
Oliver stands there for a second, then whips out an arrow, draws it back, and fires it. However, to his surprise, Blade whips out the sword on his back and, to the surprise/enjoyment of everyone, cuts the arrow in two lengthwise along his blade. He then whirls the sword a bit before charging at Oliver.
Oliver fires another arrow, but Blade again blocks it. Blade then slashes at Oliver, but Oliver easily blocks it with his bow. Blade then tries to kick Oliver's legs out from under him, but Oliver jumps over the kick, grabbing Blade around the head and throwing Blade across the cage.
However, Blade manages to land upright and charges back at Oliver. Oliver jumps and does a butterfly twist up over Blade's slash, but Blade does a backflip and kicks Oliver in the chin, knocking him back. Blade then throws a dagger a Oliver, but Oliver is just able to deflect it before it hits him in the shoulder.
Blade whirls his sword around a bit as Oliver gets back on his feet and faces him down. "Good start, Green Arrow. Show me some more," he says before he charges back at Oliver.
Oliver stands his ground. Blade slashes his sword at him, but Oliver easily blocks it with his bow. Blade slashes at Oliver several times, but Oliver easily blocks the sword with his bow. He also tries a few strikes with his bow, but Blade easily blocks his blows with his sword.
After a flurry of blows, Oliver blocks a blow from Blade and his bow locks with Blade's sword. The two struggle against each other, trying to push the other back. As they do, Blade grins a bit and says, "Well, my friend, you certainly live up to your reputation."
"Glad you find me a good opponent," Oliver says before he kicks Blade in the knee. Blade stumbles back and Oliver punches him in the face. He then tries to strike Blade with his bow, but Blade has already recovered and blocks it with his sword.
Oliver then gets his foot under Blade's guard and kicks him in the chest, knocking him on his back. Blade immediately does a kip up and blocks an incoming blow from Oliver's bow with his sword. He then swings his leg and takes Oliver's right leg out from under him. As Oliver stumbles back, Blade tackles him to the ground.
Oliver raises his hands to block a pair of punches from Blade, who has now sheathed his sword. Oliver succeeds in blocking the punches, but Blade gets his fists in between Oliver's arms, forces them apart, and then punches him in the face. He goes for a second punch, but Oliver grabs his fist, then manages to reach up, grab Blade around the head, and pull Blade to the side, pulling Blade off of him.
Blade tries to punch at Oliver, but Oliver deflects it, forces Blade's arm up, and then knees him in the hip. Oliver then does a kip up, grabbing his bow in the process. Blade does a combat roll, to avoid a kick from Oliver, and starts to draw out his sword. However, Oliver lunges down, pinning Blade's wrist beneath his bow, then drawing one of Blade's own daggers from his belt and holding it to his throat.
Oliver and and Blade stare intently at each other before Blade smiles a bit and lets go of his sword. "I yield," he says.
"And we have a winner! Green Arrow!" Jon Jon shouts over the microphone. Everyone watching begins to cheer as Oliver stands up. He looks around, then grins a bit and thrusts his bow into the air, drawing even more cheering.
Oliver then turns back to Blade and reaches out an arm. Blade smirks a bit and takes the offered hand. Oliver then pulls him to his feet.
"You're a good fighter," Oliver says. After another second, he asks, "What's your name?"
"I don't give out my real name to just anybody. Just call me Blade," Blade responds. He pauses, grinning a bit at Oliver, before he says, "Nice fight, Queen. I'll see you around." He then turns and walks out of the cage.
Oliver watches Blade for a second before he turns to leave the cage himself. As he does, he sees Natasha smiling at him, and Yelena behind her happily collecting the money she's just won in bets. He rolls his eyes at this.
However, his thoughts linger on the man he just fought. Yes, he'll be looking out for Blade again.
And, there we go! I hoped you liked this chapter, and the introduction of Blade into the MACU. For those wondering, I'm sticking with Kevin Feige's announcement and choosing Mahershala Ali as the man portraying Blade.
I hope you liked that I had Oliver fight too, and how the fight went. I didn't start out choosing Blade as his opponent. I also considered using Namor, Nick Fury, Beast, Guillotine, Tigra, Squirrel Girl, or even Alexei Shosatkoff, as his opponent, but stuck with Blade in the end. I somewhat regretted not saving the fight with Taskmaster for this part of the story, but overall I think it worked out well to have Taskmaster at the start and Blade here.
For those wondering why I introduced him here, I plan on featuring Blade heavily in my next story (the fight with Mephisto that's kind of my version of Multiverse of Madness), but I decided I didn't want that to be his debut (partly because I have plans to introduce quite a few more heroes in that story), so I decided to introduce him here in a fun way. Sadly, this will be Blade's only involvement in this story.
Next chapter should be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!