Watching from the Shadows

"This is awful, Ashley. Are you really planning to leave us behind and go looking for that magic-wielding lunatic?"

Outside Hammerfall City, inside a long-abandoned warehouse, two boys who had only just come of age stared at Ashley in disbelief. Neither of them had recovered from what she had just said.

"He’s not a lunatic," Ashley replied flatly. "He’s my prey. I can sense his strength—it’s power greater than anyone else’s. If I can kill him or obtain his abilities, then I can overthrow Kingpin the Second’s rule and give everyone a better life."

Ever since encountering Zhang Ye, Ashley had been restless. She could not sleep at night, and even when she went out with her companions to fight other gangs, she kept losing focus. No matter what she did, she could not get that figure in the Bird-Beak Mask out of her mind.

No one could hurt her so easily. Not even her so-called father.

Since childhood, anyone who hurt her had eventually been defeated by her. That was beyond doubt, and it was what Ashley had always believed. She knew how great her potential was; after all, the blood of the strong flowed through her veins.

But things had changed after that person appeared.

She would make that bastard pay!

Ashley did not know why, but every time she thought of the way he had looked at her, rage flared within her in an instant. It was an inexplicable fury that made her want to destroy everything around her just to vent it.

Ashley would never forget those eyes for the rest of her life.

That gaze had been so indifferent, so revolting, as if he had never considered her someone worth speaking to as an equal.

If she had not spoken first, he might have simply ignored her existence altogether.

Even Ultron Eight had received his acknowledgment and courtesy.

But not her. Only her!

Ashley felt utterly humiliated. The most infuriating thing in this world was not being insulted or beaten—it was that feeling of being ignored, of being treated as though one did not exist.

From the very beginning, that bastard had never taken her seriously. No one should look at her that way, as though she were just some wild grass or roadside flower, as though she were merely an insignificant nobody.

Most importantly, he knew her secret. He knew who she was. He knew how much power she possessed!

Yet even so, he still ignored her. He still did not care. He still treated her like some stray dog by the roadside!

Whenever Ashley thought of that, her hands began trembling uncontrollably.

"I’ll make him look me in the eye before he dies," Ashley said through gritted teeth. Then she forcibly suppressed the anger in her heart and continued, "But before that, Harry, Raine, you two stay here and wait for me to come back."

"To be honest, Ashley, if that guy is really as powerful as you say—powerful enough that your father couldn’t put up even the slightest resistance—then I don’t think you’re a match for him either." The young man called Harry spread his hands.

Although both boys were older than Ashley, Ashley was clearly stronger and more ambitious.

"He’s not my father!" Ashley retorted.

"But you said he was an Avenger when he was younger, didn’t you? If even he couldn’t withstand a single move from that guy, then challenging him would be no different from throwing your life away." Raine chimed in as well.

Listening to the words of the two people she considered her closest companions, Ashley did not immediately respond. She simply sprang upward, flipped through the air, and landed atop a roof beam.

"I’m not like that old man, understand? My grandfather was Spider-Man. He once defeated six super-criminals by himself, and one of those six super-criminals wiped out the X-Men. Do you understand what that means?"

Raine and Harry exchanged a glance, then both looked up at Ashley.

"To be honest, Ashley, I don’t know exactly what happened in that battle back then, but your calculation is wrong. I admit your grandfather was powerful—he could fight six super-criminals—but I don’t think he could have wiped out the X-Men."

"That was because he was merciful, understand? He had that ability!" Ashley leaped down and landed lightly before Harry and Raine, arguing her case.

"You can’t imagine what kind of power this is. I haven’t fully awakened this superpower yet, but I can still hear the buzzing of mosquitoes a hundred meters away. I can even dodge bullets at close range!"

As she said this, Ashley extended a hand and pointed at the enormous skull emblazoned on Raine’s clothes. "Tell me, Raine. What does that symbol mean? Who did it come from?"

Raine froze for a moment. Then he carefully considered his words before speaking slowly.

"This is the Punisher’s outfit—or rather, it barely counts as an outfit. It’s just a T-shirt you can buy for sixty cents. It carries the Punisher’s legacy. It represents the courage of ordinary humans to challenge those with extraordinary powers, and the resolve to take revenge on evil. If you’re guilty, you die."

"Very good." Ashley nodded, then turned her gaze toward Harry. "Your two horns aren’t Halloween decorations. Say it, Harry."

"Ashley, this is—"

"I want you to say it." Ashley stared at Harry, speaking each word distinctly.

"Ah." Harry sighed, then said, "This is Daredevil’s outfit. It represents the rule of law—using laws and rules to restrain people’s behavior, so that people can live better lives."

"That’s right!"

Ashley cried out. "Not just anyone is worthy of following in my footsteps. Do you know why I chose you two? Because of the qualities you possess. The Punisher, Daredevil, and my grandfather—they were once the best of comrades and the perfect team. I need you to believe in me."

Raine and Harry fell silent. They wanted to say something, but they knew Ashley would not listen.

"I’ll kill that person. Wait for me to come back."

Ashley spoke slowly. Her voice was soft, but it allowed no doubt.

What the three youths did not know was that, just outside the warehouse at that very moment, a pair of bloodless, pale eyes was staring fixedly at them.

"Ugh… ah."

Pitch-black living slime surged wildly.

"I sense a familiar presence."

Jagged fangs slowly parted.

"…A spider. I… I remember him. I remember his scent…"

A rustling sound spread through the darkness.

"…She has great potential. She is the one I’m looking for."