Chapter Seventy-Seven: Nick Fury Raises a Forest of Flags

“Director, I don’t think this is the right place for a meeting.”

Coulson pressed down the hairline threatening to recede past his forehead. He’d been running around all day—between the Captain, Matt, and the others—he felt more exhausted than anyone else.

“All right, though this place isn’t bad, we do need somewhere more suitable to talk. And I could use a cup of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s finest coffee. There are some things I need to ask you.”

Having failed to obtain any information about the Punisher, Nick Fury finished speaking and walked alongside Rogers at the front of the group, still with questions for Barton. Coulson meanwhile led the Defenders team toward the conference room.

Thirty minutes later.

After performing an EEG on Barton and understanding the situation, Nick Fury’s face darkened considerably. It turned out Natasha had stolen the Cosmic Cube, and on top of that, she possessed a form of mind control capable of temporarily influencing others. Fury shuddered; he couldn’t imagine the consequences of being controlled by Natasha. His already paranoid state worsened.

Seated in his chair, Fury clasped his hands tightly, his expression grim. Recent events had wildly exceeded his expectations, disrupting all his strategies. Natasha knew countless critical secrets and intelligence; Fury dreaded the thought of Hydra learning any of it.

His mind spun further, connecting the monster that destroyed half of Manhattan to Natasha and the stolen Cosmic Cube. Since Stark’s incident, first there was the eight-legged spider, then Apocalypse, then Natasha’s theft of the Cube, and finally the monster’s appearance. Fury couldn’t help but suspect a connection.

After all, Thor and Wiccan had previously warned that the Cosmic Cube might attract other extraterrestrial beings. The more Fury thought, the more his mental map clarified; many doubts suddenly made sense.

But now, as S.H.I.E.L.D.’s director, he found himself powerless.

Hill had the capability but wasn’t guaranteed to help. Alexander was of S.H.I.E.L.D., but not the sort Fury wanted. Natasha was talented but had betrayed them. Coulson was capable and loyal, but unable to handle certain matters. Rogers was an ideal candidate, but not necessarily someone who would listen to Fury; they were bound to disagree at some point.

Fury grew increasingly frustrated.

Was he still a director? He was nearly alone.

With Fury’s arrival, Matt and his group sat up straight in the conference room, curious about what this grim-faced, brooding old web was planning.

“According to Coulson’s report, I’ve learned some things—especially concerning the monster incident. I doubt you appeared at the underground site by coincidence. I’m also curious about Mr. Danny’s identity. He’ll receive the best treatment here, but before that, I hope someone with knowledge can tell me what’s going on.”

Fury scrutinized Matt and the others, finally voicing his purpose.

“What was that fluorescent skeletal monster? What about that underground space, and the ‘Iron Fist’ you mentioned?”

Fury’s curiosity was mounting; he felt utterly clueless. He might only be missing one eye, but it was as if he were blind in both.

Matt understood Fury’s implication: Danny’s treatment here was essentially a threat.

“Director, we can share some information, but certain things must come from Danny himself—the heir of ‘Iron Fist.’ If you’re willing, it’s best to let Danny speak for himself.”

Matt had his reasons for saying this.

“Fine,” Fury agreed after some thought.

He had just reviewed Danny’s files, only to find precious little, with a mysteriously missing period as if someone had erased it. Clearly something was wrong.

The ‘Iron Fist’ codename signified something, but S.H.I.E.L.D. had no detailed information on Danny’s identity.

The group headed once more to where Danny lay.

After Danny’s explanation, Fury’s face was filled with disbelief.

He felt as if he were hearing an epic legend.

“You’re telling me that beneath New York—beneath this cute little patch we’re standing on—there’s been a dragon skeleton here for a thousand years?”

“Yes, Director. Judging by the seal on the dragon bones, when it fell in battle, this was likely still primeval forest.”

“Fell in battle?”

Fury sensed the secret he was uncovering grew ever larger, the world more dangerous.

“Yes, it died in battle—perhaps against other guardians or beasts from the Seven Heavenly Cities. Only magic can defeat magic; monsters combat monsters, and guardians clash with guardians.”

“The Seven Heavenly Cities—what are those?”

Fury had caught onto crucial information.

“According to Kunlun’s tradition, I only know the basics,” Danny answered.

He leaned back in the hospital bed, his face ashen, skin wrinkled, looking as though he’d aged ten years in an instant. Too much of his energy had been drained by Zazaila, then his soul manipulated by Erica; now he was like a puppet, speaking only when pulled.

Beside him, the molecular therapy device worked to heal him.

“The Heavenly Capitals—each one worships a divine beast as its energy source or protector. The entrances to these capitals are scattered across the globe. The main entrance opens every ten years, the others every fifty. I am the Iron Fist of Kunlun Dragon City.”

“In addition to the dragon representing Kunlun, there are other divine beast guardians: spider, monkey, crane, turtle, dog, tiger, each guarding a city.”

“Wait, did you just mention a spider?”

Fury and Coulson instinctively exchanged glances. Coulson’s eyes lit up with excitement, feeling the mystery of the original spider was about to be solved. He quickly handed Fury the smart tablet, displaying the spider-like Zazaila and the subsequent floating image.

“Is it this kind of spider?” Fury asked.

Danny took the tablet, pretended to look it over, and handed it back nonchalantly.

“The City of Spiders is located in Nepal’s Dark Kingdom, guarded by Lady Nine Spiders. I haven’t met the city’s guardian, but judging from these two images, I’d say they fit the Dark Kingdom’s aesthetic quite well.”

Danny offered a piece of information that was neither wholly true nor false.

Colleen, nearby, wanted to say something, but Matt’s glance stopped her.

“So this is another scheme by Hydra?” Fury looked to Rogers.

“I’m not so sure, Fury.”

“But Rogers, don’t you sense a significant connection here?” Fury’s thoughts began to spiral.

“From Hydra, to the eight-legged spider, now to the Seven Heavenly Cities—it seems the fewer the letters, the greater the mystery. Imagine, will we see the Six Hells someday...”

“You’re too fond of speculation, Fury,” Rogers said, puzzled, watching Fury enter this strange reverie.

“But how do you explain the flaming skull you and Coulson saw?” Fury countered.

The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment.