Chapter 26: Chapter 26 : Don't bark at me, I was scared by dogs when I was a kid.
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"I- I don't want to die! I want revenge! Hammerhead- Maggia Gang- Experiment- I want them all to die!!!"
Li Martin's voice came in ragged bursts, his whole personality suddenly transforming, filled with palpable negative energy and evil intent.
It was as if another personality had taken over.
"I want you to die!" Li Martin glared at Johnny Blaze with hatred.
Johnny raised an eyebrow in disdain. He focused his heat vision on Li Martin's shoulder, the air sizzling with the smell of burning flesh.
"Don't snarl at me. I was scared by dogs when I was a kid," Johnny said mockingly.
Li Martin gritted his teeth, desperately trying to use his Negative Energy powers to affect Johnny. But Johnny wasn't impressed. He smirked and drove his fist into Martin's abdomen.
Even without using his full strength, Johnny's punch was powerful enough to paralyze Martin. His expression froze, eyes wide as blood welled up at the corners of his mouth. The punch had knocked the wind out of him, leaving him choking as the blood and bile lodged in his throat.
The searing pain in his abdomen, coupled with the lack of oxygen, left his face red and swollen. Although Li Martin possessed enhanced strength far beyond a normal human, it paled in comparison to Johnny's power.
Super strength varied widely, and Johnny's was in a league of its own, amplified by the combined might of Jessica Jones, Queen Maeve, Crocodile Loki, and Thor. Not to mention his near-invulnerable defenses, second only to Superman.
Li Martin's desperate attempts to break free were futile. His strength waned with each passing second, and his eyes began to roll back as unconsciousness approached.
"Thud."
Just as Li Martin was on the verge of passing out, Johnny released him.
Martin collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, no longer filled with hatred and anger, just thankful to still be alive.
"Now, tell me why you applied for the job." Johnny's method of "persuasion" had proven highly effective.
Sometimes, if you asked a question directly, people would lie. But if you asked after beating them to a pulp, they almost always told the truth.
And if they didn't? You could always beat them again.
Li Martin took a deep breath before speaking. He explained that he had been part of a small, unknown smuggling group that specialized in transporting people illegally across borders. One day, while his group was at sea, the smugglers they were supposed to meet onshore never showed up. Fearing arrest, Martin forced the captain to bring the boat ashore.
But as they neared the shore, the boat started to take on water. The crew and passengers alike panicked, jumping overboard into the freezing sea. When Martin made it ashore and reached the rendezvous hut, he found all of his group members dead.
Returning to their headquarters in Eastern City, Martin was ambushed by the Maggia Gang. It was only then that he learned the Maggia had taken control of Eastern City during his absence, wiping out his entire crew.
Martin was captured and used as a guinea pig in the Maggia's underground experiments. He endured days of hellish pain, feeling as if his body was being torn apart, until he finally escaped.
It was during these experiments that two distinct personalities emerged within him: the kind-hearted Martin Li, and the ruthless, evil Mr. Negative. From that moment on, both identities were trapped in the same body, fighting for control.
As for why he applied for the job at Johnny's company, the reason was simple. He needed work to survive, and he saw the job posting.
People rarely reveal their true intentions unless their actions are carefully scrutinized. Without a sharp appearance or telling motives, no one could truly know where Martin stood.
If Johnny hadn't been concerned about Martin potentially using his abilities to manipulate the other employees, he would have already gone to Kamar-Taj by now.
Martin was a double-edged sword. Used correctly, his Negative Energy powers could be instrumental in the early stages of Johnny's operations.
Jessica Jones and the others were fine as muscle, but when it came to business development? They were entirely clueless.
"I swear, I had no ill intentions! I just needed a job!" Li Martin pleaded, still shaken from the beating.
Johnny smirked. Strength and resolve were paramount. When people knew you had power, they respected your principles and boundaries.
Without power, others might mistake your kindness for weakness, thinking they could exploit you. It was human nature.
"Alright," Johnny said. "I'll let you stay. But know this- if you step out of line, if you do something you shouldn't- I will kill you."
"Control yourself. You live because I allow it."
"I swear, I will!" Li Martin quickly agreed, trembling as he spoke.
"Let's head back."
"Yes."
Li Martin staggered out of the alley, clutching his abdomen.
Johnny didn't return to the company right away. Instead, he turned invisible and headed toward Nepal.
Kamar-Taj was located near Kathmandu.
Martin Li had mentioned the Maggia Gang- specifically their boss, Hammerhead, a Spider-Man villain. Hammerhead had sustained such severe head injuries that doctors had implanted an iron plate into his skull, making it as tough as steel.
Aunt May had likely fled to Manhattan and sought employment there because of Hammerhead's ruthless rule in Queens, fearing the chaos after his rise to power.
Speaking of work, there was a connection in the comics between Martin Li and Aunt May- she had once volunteered at a charitable shelter founded by him, and they had developed a close relationship.
Martin's captivity in the underground labs also led to the creation of two superheroes- Cloak and Dagger.
In the MCU, however, Cloak and Dagger's origins were tied to an explosion at an oil rig owned by Roxxon Corporation.
Roxxon wasn't as prominent as Stark Industries, Hammer Industries, Pym Technologies, or Alchemax, but its presence could be seen throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In Iron Man, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, and Daredevil, the Roxxon logo and various Easter eggs related to the company appear frequently.
In the comics, Roxxon was responsible for the assassination of Tony Stark's parents, as they had obstructed one of the company's takeover plans. This might even explain why Howard Stark never trusted Roxxon's CEO.
Roxxon was so powerful that it once sued Thor, the Avengers, and even S.H.I.E.L.D., leading to a massive court case.
In the end, Thor was ordered to shut down all of Roxxon's oil rigs and equipment.
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