Marvel: I Trade Devil Fruits for Power

Hell's Kitchen.

Kingpin stood atop his tower, a true king surveying his domain. On the streets below, his subordinates—and even members of rival gangs—were scavenging through the wreckage of the Chitauri invasion. They were hunting for alien tech. The massive Leviathans were too conspicuous to move, so specialized crews were already swarming them to strip them for parts.

Wilson Fisk stood silent, his hand resting on his cane. He appeared calm, but inside, he was a tempest of emotion. The Devil Fruit had changed him in ways he never imagined. He had always known he was strong, but after the day's battle, he realized he had crossed a threshold he had been stuck at for years.

His control over his fruit had reached the point where he could output the destructive power of tactical missiles. A single focused blast had decimated a Leviathan. His ambition, once confined to the underworld of New York, was beginning to expand.

"Kingpin. I see your mastery over that fruit has grown significantly."

Fisk spun around, muscles coiled like steel cables, ready for violence. He relaxed the moment he saw the visitor.

Qin Xiao. The Devil's Envoy.

A golden portal shimmered behind him.

"Envoy," Fisk said, his voice deep and steady. "It's been a while. What brings you to my doorstep?"

"I saw the power you displayed during the invasion," Qin Xiao said, getting straight to the point. "You've been noticed. To save you the trouble of constant surveillance and potential conflict, I'm going to secure some 'official' certification for you. You're coming with me to meet the others."

Fisk's eyes narrowed. "Official certification? I am the Kingpin of the underworld. The authorities have spent years trying to put me away. You think they'll just sign a paper for me?"

"There's only one way to find out," Qin Xiao replied, stepping into the portal.

Fisk hesitated, then followed. As a master of the underworld, he was curious to see how many others like him existed. He knew of Frank Castle, whose "swamp" powers had decimated several of his rival gangs, but he knew there were more.

Stepping through the portal, Fisk was greeted by a surreal sight. He was in a pocket dimension where a massive Mammoth and a golden-yellow monster were tearing the terrain apart.

"Hah! You're getting tougher to break!" the golden monster—Abomination—roared.

Qin Xiao didn't linger. "Moving on to the next stop," he announced, pulling Fisk and the others into another rift.

...

Magneto stood over the ruins of a city, his brow furrowed. He knew he had been exposed, but he wasn't particularly worried—few men could catch him, and Sabretooth's evolution was breathtaking. Having developed the ability to absorb both physical and energy-based attacks, and now possessing a massive, ten-meter-tall form, Sabretooth had become a nightmare to handle.

As long as he kept the beast restrained with metal, Magneto felt safe. But the world was changing.

ZZZT.

A sound crackled behind the trio. Magneto, Mystique, and Sabretooth whirled around.

"Gentlemen, it's been a while," Qin Xiao said with a faint smile.

Magneto's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You! You were the one who destroyed our alliance."

He was still bitter about the loss of Wolverine. Qin Xiao had snatched the man away just before Magneto could secure him for his plans.

"I didn't destroy anything. Your secrets were going to leak eventually," Qin Xiao countered. "And if you want someone to blame, take it up with Tony or the Professor. Actually, I'm here to take Sabretooth to get official recognition. With government-sanctioned protection, he won't have to live on the run."

Magneto scoffed. "Protection? Recognition? You think we need that from them?"

"Have it your way," Qin Xiao said, turning to leave. "But the invasion put all of you on the map. The authorities aren't going to leave such volatile power unchecked. Even the 'Big Green Guy' is under watch. If you don't want the safety net, that's your call. Good luck."

"Wait," Magneto called out, his mind racing. "I won't go, but Sabretooth can."

Qin Xiao paused. "A change of heart?"

"I want to see if your government keeps its word," Magneto said coldly. "If they do, Sabretooth is safe. If not, you've betrayed your follower, and I'll know exactly how much your promises are worth. I'm betting on your integrity, Envoy."

Qin Xiao chuckled at the cold-bloodedness of it. Magneto was willing to sacrifice his own to test a theory. "Fair enough. Sabretooth, come with me."

After a brief, questioning look at Magneto, Sabretooth followed Qin Xiao into the portal.

...

Stark Tower.

S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were swarming the site, clearing debris. Nick Fury was watching from the Helicarrier, leaving Agent Hill in command on the ground.

Suddenly, a circular portal opened in the middle of the tower's landing pad.

A group of battle-hardened veterans stopped what they were doing and looked up. Out stepped Qin Xiao, followed by Kingpin, Sabretooth, and the others.

"Right on time," Qin Xiao said, addressing the room as if he were walking into his own living room.

"You!"

"How are you here?"

"Qin! Long time no see!"

The reactions were mixed. Natasha Romanoff's eyes lit up; she had been experimenting with the Soul-Soul Fruit to turn alien scrap into autonomous "living" weapons and was eager to share her progress. Tony Stark looked stunned—he had been trying to track Qin Xiao for months with no success.

"Good to see you all," Qin Xiao said casually. "I'm here to handle some paperwork. We're getting these Fruit Users some guarantees."