Marvel Zodiac knight

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Power💎 stones 💎

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The two fought for more than ten minutes, exchanging blows and grappling for control. Ultimately, James found himself outmatched. Shang-Chi unleashed a flurry of six rapid kicks, each one landing with precision until the last one sent James crashing through the window of a side room. The glass shattered, scattering fragments across the floor.

James fell into the dusty room, coughing up dirt and debris. He had to admit defeat. In the realm of combat skills, Shang-Chi's prowess was almost unparalleled, rated at a combat skill level of 7—the highest echelon of martial arts in the Marvel universe. Even as a Zodiac Knight, James recognized the gap in their abilities.

"Are you okay, James?" Shang-Chi asked, jumping through the window to offer a hand.

James stood, brushing himself off with a sheepish grin. "I'm fine. It seems I'm just not as skilled. Thank you for being merciful."

Shang-Chi chuckled lightly. "I was just a bit better in technique. I noticed you weren't going all out; otherwise, I might have been the one on the floor."

James looked around the dimly lit room, curiosity piqued. "Shang-Chi, is this a warehouse? It looks like no one's been here in ages."

Shang-Chi shook his head, glancing over the clutter. "I'm not sure. The door's been locked up for days. It seems like it's a storeroom for props."

On a nearby table, several lion heads and a long dragon costume leaned against the wall, remnants of performances past—perhaps for a lion dance during the New Year festivities.

"It's a bit grimy here. Let's get out," Shang-Chi suggested.

James followed him through the window, catching a glimpse of a flag and two crossed long knives hanging in the shadows before they left.

***

A week rolled by quietly, and Spider-Man had become a ubiquitous figure throughout New York City, seen darting between buildings and swinging through the streets, both day and night. Criminals now had to create two escape plans: one for the police and another for Spider-Man lurking nearby.

What puzzled the police was the conspicuous absence of the Zodiac , known for his yellow and white attire, from these recent incidents. Officers speculated about his motives in his sudden appearances and disappearances, even creating a whiteboard in Sheriff Stacy's office to track the key players in the Spider-Man cases. Photos of Spider-Man and the Zodiac were pinned up, though they had to make do with sketches since no clear images of them existed.

Unbeknownst to them, James's focus was entirely on Clarice.

After school, he would visit the orphanage to encourage her to practice fighting skills. To his surprise, Clarice made rapid progress, learning faster than he had expected, significantly more so than Thompson had. Was it possible that her Chinese heritage provided her with some latent advantage in martial arts?

James considered introducing Clarice to Shang-Chi for formal training. He realized that soon, he might have nothing left to teach her.

On weekends, James took Clarice to the amusement park. Mother Hana had recovered quickly from her illness, thanks to Shang-Chi's acupuncture and James's care, allowing Clarice to enjoy her time without the burden of responsibility.

As they sat on the bus, gazing out at the cityscape, the vehicle came to a sudden halt. The driver pounded the steering wheel in frustration; the road ahead was blocked, and the traffic jam stretched less than a kilometer.

"What happened?" someone asked, and after a moment of uncertainty, a passenger shared the news: a military vehicle had collided with a private car, reportedly carrying hazardous materials.

The police had cordoned off several nearby streets to prevent any chemical exposure to pedestrians or other vehicles. It seemed the road would be closed for some time.

The passengers began to murmur anxiously, and the driver reluctantly opened the doors, letting them disembark.

James found it ironic that just as they set out for a day of fun, they encountered a classic Marvel crisis—a chemical spill that might birth a new superhero, just like Daredevil's origin story.

At that moment, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen to see it was Peter. "Hey, Peter, what's up?"

"James! I'm at Dr. Connors' lab. He's got a new location for the experiments. Do you want to come check it out?" Peter's voice crackled through the line.

"I can't. I promised Clarice I'd take her to the amusement park today," James replied, glancing at Clarice, who was eagerly looking around.

"Okay, enjoy! By the way, Jessica and the others might be there too. You could run into them."

"The park's huge; it's a long shot," James laughed.

"True! Anyway, I gotta go—equipment issues here. Have fun!" Peter hung up.

James leaned down to Clarice. "Hold on tight," he said, scooping her up into his arms.

With a burst of energy, he sprinted down the sidewalk, careful not to draw too much attention. The amusement park was nearly ten kilometers away—a long trek. Walking would take over two hours, but he could cover the distance in about twenty minutes if he pushed himself.

After a short run, they approached the blockade where the military vehicle and private car lay in disarray. The glass from the private car was shattered, and a pool of blood marred the asphalt. Emergency crews were already on the scene, whisking away the occupants.

James felt a knot in his stomach as he pressed on, instinctively knowing he should do something, but he didn't stop; Clarice was in his arms, and he wanted her to enjoy their day. They reached the amusement park's entrance just twenty minutes later.

Breathless but smiling, James felt no different than if he had just walked a short distance. Clarice, wide-eyed and ecstatic, regarded him as if he were a superhero.

Inside the park, her laughter rang out like music, blending with the shouts of joy and screams of thrill-seekers. James joined in, cheering alongside her, relishing her happiness even if the rides held little thrill for him.

As the day wore on, Clarice finally slowed, exhausted yet elated—the amusement park had become a transformative experience for her.

Just as they prepared to leave, James's phone buzzed again. It was Peter, his voice urgent.

"James! Something's happened."

The words sent a jolt through James. "What's wrong?"

"Jessica was in a car accident on her way to the park. She's at the hospital now. We're heading over."

Jessica had a car accident? James's heart sank, understanding now why he felt an unsettling premonition earlier.

"I'll come," he replied, determination fueling his voice.

After hanging up, he punched the wall beside him in frustration, instantly regretting it as the concrete cracked like fragile glass. He could have prevented this.

"Sir!" a staff member approached, eyes wide with shock. "You can't damage property like that. We have the right to pursue compensation. Please cooperate."

James barely heard the man's words, his mind racing with worry for Jessica. The weight of possibility hung heavy in the air; he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change drastically.