the shadow Archer in Marvel

After days of searching, I finally found the perfect place. It wasn't easy—balancing location, security, and discretion took time—but now I had a new home. A fresh start.

The new apartment was a massive improvement over my old one—spacious, modern, and discreet. A large bedroom, a fully equipped kitchen, and even a dedicated training area made it the perfect place to operate from. Best of all, it was close to Stark Tower, giving me easy access to the heart of the city.

With my new base secured, I turned my attention to the next major event on the timeline: Iron Man 2. Unlike the Hulk's rampage, I didn't see a need to interfere too much. Tony Stark could handle himself. However, when the final battle happened, I'd be there. Ivan Vanko—Whiplash—would make a valuable addition to my shadow army.

But for now, I needed to keep myself busy. Hell's Kitchen was still a breeding ground for crime, and I wanted to stir up enough chaos to draw out The Hand. If I could force them into the open, I could start picking them off and adding their ninjas to my shadow army. Skilled fighters with years of training under their belt would be a valuable asset.

Still, my shadows couldn't do everything. I needed a team—real people I could rely on. A group that could handle missions my shadow constructs couldn't. But finding the right people wouldn't be easy.

I'd spent hours researching online, digging through obscure forums and classified leaks. That's when I stumbled onto something unexpected—mutants exist in this world. The public didn't seem to know, but somehow, S.H.I.E.L.D. had kept it a secret. The only reason I found out was because of an old, buried article written by Charles Xavier. It wasn't anything definitive, but it was enough to confirm my suspicions.

There was more going on in this world than just superheroes and secret organizations. And if mutants were real, then the power struggle in this world was even bigger than I'd thought.

The Brotherhood, Hellfire Club, Apocalypse, and Mister Sinister—all potential threats I'd have to deal with eventually. But the real question was why Magneto hadn't made any moves against humanity. With everything happening in this world, someone like him should've already caused a major incident. Either he was lying low for a reason, or… he was dead.

I hoped it was the former. Magneto could be a dangerous enemy, but also a powerful ally if played right. Still, that was a problem for later.

Right now, my focus was on The Hand. They were lurking in the shadows, and I needed to flush them out. Kingpin had ties to them—he had connections everywhere—but if I started there, I'd have a better chance of tracking them down.

Time to make Hell's Kitchen a nightmare for anyone wearing red.

A month had passed, and I had been keeping myself busy.

I had taken down multiple drug houses and shut down sex trafficking rings, leaving a trail of broken bones and fear behind me. But I had been careful—never killing, just leaving gang members battered and broken. Enough people had seen me by now to know I was real, and if I wanted to avoid unnecessary heat, I had to manage my image.

Kingpin had remained elusive. Every crime boss I interrogated either knew nothing or was too terrified to speak. He was careful, methodical, and always five steps ahead. But with the amount of damage I had done to his operations, I knew he would be forced to act soon. If my suspicions were correct, he would turn to the Hand for help. That was exactly what I wanted.

Lately, I had also been hearing whispers about Daredevil. It looked like he had just started his crusade. For now, I would leave him alone. He wasn't my enemy, and I wasn't his. But when I got home, I had another task—tracking down Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson's office. Once I found it, I would leave a shadow mouse behind to keep tabs on them. Information was power, and I needed as much of it as possible. 

For now, I decided to take a break.

After a month of non-stop work, a walk seemed like a good way to clear my mind. I made my way toward Central Park—somewhere I had never visited in my first life. Might as well take the chance to see it in this one.

The park was peaceful. Families were having picnics, couples were strolling hand in hand, and joggers moved along the paths. It was a rare moment of normalcy in a world filled with chaos.

Then, I saw them—a family that caught my eye for some reason. A husband, a wife, and two kids—a boy and a girl. There was something strangely familiar about the man. It took me a moment, but then it clicked.

Frank Castle. The Punisher.

I had only ever known him as the ruthless vigilante, but here, he was just a father spending time with his family. A man who still had everything to lose.

I wasn't going to let him lose everything.

Making sure no one was watching, I moved in closer. The family didn't seem to notice me, too caught up in their moment of peace. That was good. I wasn't here to disturb them—just to make sure that peace lasted.

With a thought, I ordered one of my shadow mice to slip into Frank's shadow. Now, if trouble ever found him, I'd know about it. I'd be ready.

If I could save his family, I might just earn a powerful ally.

For now, everything seemed fine. No threats, no lurking dangers. I turned away and continued my walk, blending back into the city.

As I was walking back home, something caught my eye—Spider-Man.

He was mid-swing, moving fast, likely in the middle of saving someone. Typical. Even from a distance, I could see how fluid his movements were, how effortlessly he weaved between buildings.

I wondered—was he still in high school, or had he already made it to college? A mystery for another time. Right now, he was just another piece of the bigger picture, another player in the game I was steadily getting more involved in.

With that thought, I kept walking.

Kingpin's POV

This vigilante is dismantling everything I've built, piece by piece. If I don't put a stop to him soon, my entire empire will collapse. From the reports I've gathered, he's no ordinary man—his abilities suggest he might be a mutant or something even more dangerous.

I called Wesley into my office, my most trusted confidant and advisor. He entered without hesitation, always composed, always efficient.

"Wesley, any updates on the vigilante? Do we know who he is?" I asked, my voice calm but firm.

Wesley adjusted his glasses before responding. "No, Fisk. We still don't have an identity. I've even put a bounty on him, but so far, nothing substantial has come up."

I exhaled slowly, irritation simmering beneath my composed exterior. "What do you suggest?"

Wesley didn't hesitate. "I think it's time to call the Hand. Their operatives are highly trained—far beyond the street-level thugs he's been tearing through."

I clenched my jaw. The thought of owing Madame Gao anything unsettled me. I preferred to operate independently, without unnecessary debts to powerful players. But this situation was becoming dire.

"I'd rather not be in Gao's debt," I admitted, then let out a slow breath. "But desperate times call for desperate measures."

Wesley gave a small nod. "I'll make the arrangements."

As he left the office, I turned my chair toward the skyline, watching the city I ruled. This so-called Umbra Archer thought he could weaken me. But soon, he would learn—New York belongs to me.

Fury's POV

This vigilante has been giving me a headache.

All we know is that he operates exclusively in Hell's Kitchen, wields a bow, and possesses some kind of shadow-based abilities capable of creating constructs. That alone puts him in a category of enhanced individuals we don't fully understand.

Coulson and his team have been embedded in Hell's Kitchen for a month, and yet, we still have nothing solid on him. No name, no origin, not even a traceable pattern. He's careful—too careful. He knows how to stay out of sight, how to cover his tracks, and that makes him even more dangerous.

And then there's the Abomination situation. Still no sign of him. No sightings, no body, nothing. A monster like that doesn't just disappear, but here we are. That kind of power, unaccounted for, is a problem I don't have time for right now.

One unknown is bad enough. Two? That's a damn disaster waiting to happen.

I considered reaching out to Charles Xavier for help. The vigilante might be a mutant, and Xavier has a way of finding people like him. But I hesitated. If Charles got to him first, he might convince him to join his school, and I'd rather not let that happen. I need this vigilante on my side, not playing hero under Xavier's influence.

For now, I had another priority. I pressed a button on my desk. "Send in Romanoff."

A moment later, Natasha walked in, standing at attention, waiting for her orders.

"Natasha, your new mission is to infiltrate Stark Industries and get close to Tony Stark. He could be a valuable asset to S.H.I.E.L.D.," I said.

She nodded. "Yes, sir." Without another word, she turned and walked out.

As she left, I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. This world was getting crazier by the day. Super soldiers, monsters, enhanced vigilantes—it was only a matter of time before things escalated even further.

I needed to move fast. The Avengers Initiative couldn't wait much longer. The world needed heroes, whether it was ready for them or not.