Chapter 39: The Showdown in Hell's Kitchen
Daredevil didn't want to kill, so he aimed his shot for the enemy's thigh—a non-lethal strike meant only to stop the man from escaping.
But he never would have anticipated that Tommy Vercetti, who moved after him, would fire his weapon with such astonishing, lightning speed. Before Daredevil could even pull his own trigger, a bullet flew out, striking his pistol with impossible accuracy and knocking the weapon violently from his grip.
"How is this possible?" Daredevil was completely rattled.
He had faced many expert gunmen and fought some of the best in the world. But no one he knew—not the precision of Bullseye, the combat experience of the Punisher, or the impossible angles of Hawkeye—could necessarily compare to the sheer speed and accuracy of the man in front of him.
There was another reason that forced Daredevil into deep contemplation. With this killer's marksmanship, he could have simply said nothing and instantly shot him in the head. Alright, even if the mask offered slight protection against a round, at such a close range, the opponent could have shot him in the mouth. He would still be dead.
But the killer hadn't done that; he chose the much more complex path of disarming the vigilante. What did this indicate? It suggested the killer had no intention of a lethal outcome; the action was merely a warning.
Daredevil was correct. Tommy Vercetti indeed didn't want to kill him.
He knew that these superheroes were often like a complex network: break one bone, and the sinews still held the rest together. Just like Daredevil. Though he was a relentless lone wolf, he had an array of powerful contacts: Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Moon Knight, Misty Knight, Elektra... Oh, and there was also the Punisher, who was both a rival and a grim ally. And around these street-level heroes, even more powerful heroes lurked.
Tommy Vercetti's current strength was not yet sufficient; he didn't want to actively provoke that hornet's nest. Becoming an active enemy of the superhero community this early in the game would be extremely detrimental to his future plans. It was precisely for this reason that he didn't shoot to kill immediately but chose another path.
Daredevil had practiced martial arts since childhood, trained by the formidable master Stick, achieving an extraordinary proficiency in integrating different fighting techniques. Furthermore, Daredevil possessed a unique advantage ordinary people did not: his hyper-enhanced senses. Though blind, his smell, touch, and hearing were so acute that they acted as a natural radar, enabling him to "see" more clearly than the sighted world. Relying on this ability, Daredevil could often predict the future flow of a fight. Before an enemy even committed to a move, he would react and anticipate, seizing the initiative.
Possessing these two major advantages—mastery of martial arts and super-senses—Daredevil's personal combat ability was extraordinary. If only hand-to-hand combat were considered, without external factors, he would absolutely rank among the top tiers of the entire superhero community, perhaps even within the top ten.
It was also in consideration of this that Tommy Vercetti chose to spare Daredevil's life. Because deep down, he was intensely curious: whose combat skills were superior? Was it Daredevil, with his super senses and years of battle experience, or him, who had the innate martial arts talent of Tai Lung and had rigorously trained for three years in prison?
Tommy Vercetti's thoughts shifted quickly. The M500 revolver he had just fired vanished back into his system space, and the short stick he held was casually tossed to the side. He reached out and smoothly took off his tailored suit jacket, untied his necktie, and after shedding all burdens, he fully stretched his powerful body.
"Let's drop the polite act, Daredevil. Come on, let me see what you've truly got."
Daredevil clenched the hand hidden behind his back; the sheer impact of the bullet striking his pistol had left his palm numb. However, he had no intention of retreating. He knew instinctively that his close friend Foggy was likely being held by this opponent, or the killer wouldn't have known his secret identity. What's more, the opponent had already issued a challenge. No superfluous words were needed now; let the battle begin!
Adjusting his mask, Daredevil immediately leaped forward, throwing a powerful, straight punch aimed directly at Tommy Vercetti's face. Tommy bent his arm to block, instantly countering with a fierce right hook. Facing Tommy's powerful counterattack, Daredevil dealt with it calmly, easily deflecting the blow. Both were elite talents in combat, and their physical specifications were nearly identical; the fight had just begun and was already an intense stalemate.
But as the brutal exchange progressed, Tommy Vercetti gradually became familiar with Daredevil's predictable-yet-unpredictable fighting style. He suddenly felt that Daredevil's moves were not as difficult to deal with as he first thought, and even seemed to reveal several unnecessary openings.
"Is it my illusion, or is Daredevil deliberately luring me into a trap?" Tommy frowned slightly. He couldn't be sure if this was a genuine flaw or a psychological trick. However, he had faith in his own strength; with three years of dedicated, grueling work, even if he made a misstep, he wouldn't be defeated instantly. Therefore, when Daredevil once again left his center wide open, Tommy decisively chose to strike!
"Acupuncture Divine Skill!"
With fingers like a swift wind and momentum like lightning, Tommy Vercetti stretched out his right hand and rapidly tapped several critical points on Daredevil's body. In an instant, Daredevil felt a sudden, horrifying paralysis; he had lost control of his own body, his hands and feet refusing to obey his commands. By the time he regained a flicker of consciousness, he had already been seized by Tommy and was thrown violently into a huge, industrial metal dumpster.
Tommy Vercetti's move was truly ruthless. No matter how miraculous Daredevil's abilities were, he was still a mortal man; no matter how tough his skull was, it couldn't be harder than cold steel. Severely injured, he immediately saw a blinding constellation of stars and felt blood warm on his head.
Tommy Vercetti's offensive was swift and relentless, giving his opponent no time to breathe. Daredevil, struggling to get up, hadn't even fully reacted before Tommy punched him squarely in the face—a solid, sickening hit. After a merciless series of blows, Daredevil was unable to mount any retaliation.
After enduring an unknown number of Tommy Vercetti's iron-like fists, the vigilante finally collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.
"It seems this acupuncture technique is quite useful," Tommy muttered, shaking out his hand.
Tommy Vercetti's Acupuncture Divine Skill, of course, was not the mystical original version from the animated series. Combining the core concept of the skill with modern anatomy and neurological principles, Tommy had engineered a practical technique that could effectively paralyze an enemy by rapidly striking critical human nerve points. While this move had obvious limitations—it couldn't deal with armored enemies or aliens—when encountering superheroes who favored tight, exposed suits, it proved to be remarkably and brutally effective.
At that moment, the severely injured Daredevil, leaning heavily on the remaining half of his crutch, barely managed to prop his battered body up against the cold steel of the dumpster. From his condition, it was clear he couldn't fight anymore, but his tenacious, unyielding willpower moved Tommy somewhat. It was a pity that their paths diverged; they could not work together. Their identities, statuses, and ambitions were vastly different. Even if Tommy admired Daredevil's resilience, he wouldn't show unnecessary mercy.
"Oh, by the way, Daredevil, there's something I've always wanted to know," Tommy Vercetti asked, his voice low and dangerous, "Which will break first? Your body, or your spirit?"
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