Marvel Comics: The Sentinel(Sentry)

At midnight, the main laboratory building of Umbrella Corporation remained brightly lit...

For true scientists, there was no distinction between day and night. Gwen Stacy, clad in a white lab coat, stepped through the doors with a stack of documents in her arms.

After verifying her ID badge, she took the elevator to the 24th floor, a restricted zone.

This was the biogenetic storage area, which guarded by an airtight intelligent security system. Entry required both iris and fingerprint verification.

Accessing the specially designated gene bank demanded direct authorization from Sean himself, otherwise, alarms would trigger immediately.

After stepping onto the 24th floor, Gwen paused before the glass doors and placed her palm on the security scanner. Instantly, the holographic projection of the Red Queen materialized.

The doll-like little girl appeared out of thin air, her gaze cold despite her childlike voice:

"Welcome, Miss Stacy."

The bulletproof glass doors slid open automatically. The AI, acting as a guide, walked ahead, her form shimmering like rippling water. Gwen followed silently whilst clutching her files.

"Miss Stacy, as you possess Umbrella's A-level clearance, you currently have access to the monitoring zone, archives, storage area, and data room."

Gwen hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Requesting entry to Gene Bank No. 2."

The Red Queen's projection froze for a second before replying, "Insufficient clearance. Please obtain permission from Mr. Sean Cyphers first."

The blonde girl's eyes flickered, a faint yellow glint flashing across them. She hadn't expected Umbrella's security to be this meticulous.

The facility was divided with precision: public zones for researchers, and three labs requiring clearance, all marked by four colors; white for free movement, yellow for staff only, red for authorized personnel.

And then there was the rumored Black Zone, Sean Cyphers' private domain. Without his direct approval, infiltration was impossible.

Gwen's eyes darted briefly before she said, "Access the data room."

Perhaps she could find something useful there. With Sean away, this was her best opportunity. Missing it would mean facing insurmountable obstacles later.

After verifying her credentials, the Red Queen confirmed her eligibility. The mechanical doors to the data room hissed open, lights flickering on one by one to reveal rows of neatly organized shelves filled with paper records.

The moment Gwen stepped inside, the hydraulic doors sealed shut behind her. Before she could react, a massive, fur-covered hand seized her, and slammed her against the wall with brutal force.

"Intruder!" A deep, thunderous voice boomed.

The enormous, dark-furred hand pinned 'Gwen' against the unyielding surface. Under the sudden pressure, the blonde girl's form melted away, revealing a blue-skinned, red-haired woman.

"Who. Are. You?"

The speaker was a near-ten-foot-tall black ape, its eyes gleamed with startlingly human intelligence as it removed a specialized headset.

Mystique's face paled with panic...

Against such overwhelming strength, struggling was futile. This beast wasn't some mindless jungle animal driven by instinct... its gaze held calculation and understanding.

"Caesar, detain her in Cell No. 1 in the basement. Await Mr. Cyphers' return for disposition," the Red Queen's hologram instructed, her childlike voice dripping with disdain.

"Did you really think a mere physical disguise would suffice? Your genetic data doesn't match Gwen Stacy's. The moment you stepped onto this floor, hidden alarms were triggered..."

"...Pray you haven't harmed Miss Stacy. Otherwise, when Mr. Cyphers returns… your fate will be most unpleasant."

Under the AI's cold stare, Mystique shuddered. Thankfully, she'd only borrowed Gwen's ID badge, leaving the real girl asleep at home.

"Okay." Caesar rumbled, enunciating each syllable with deliberate care.

Replacing his headset, the ape resumed listening to Billboard pop hits, occasionally humming along... each booming note tortured Mystique's eardrums.

"I. Hate. Bananas... Burgers. Caesar wants burgers. And pizza." Before the Red Queen vanished, the ape voiced his demands like a petulant child, despite the effort it took to form the words.

...

~Hell's Kitchen~

Once a breeding ground for crime and gang warfare, this neighborhood had undergone a dramatic transformation...

City Hall's latest report celebrated record-low crime rates. Dark alleys and crumbling streets no longer hosted drug dealers or streetwalkers.

Every resident knew: no gangster or rookie thug dared operate here. Those who ignored warnings ended up as concrete pillars at construction sites, or spare parts in industrial mixers.

The architect of this order? James Wesley, the man in Star Tower. Recently, the mayor had publicly praised this "philanthropic real estate mogul" for his "invaluable contributions" to Hell's Kitchen's revitalization...

Matt Murdock navigated the bustling sidewalks with his cane, his once-pristine lawyer's demeanor replaced by unshaven scruff and a cloud of defeat.

He had abandoned his vigilante crusade long ago. After Danny Rand's death, Daredevil had topped NYPD's most-wanted list.

The Punisher vanished... Luke Cage retired to family life... Jessica Jones stuck to private investigations...

Overnight, Hell's Kitchen's defenders had scattered like leaves in the wind.

Matt had tried reaching Elektra again, only to find his ex-lover (now the Hand's cold new leader) even more distant.

It wasn't just the Black Sky's influence. Perhaps she has always craved the darkness, and he had foolishly tried dragging her into the light.

Back in his dingy apartment, Matt collapsed onto the sofa, kicking over empty beer bottles. Dust-covered tables, a barren fridge, and liquor-strewn floors testified to his downward spiral.

"Why do you people never knock?"

Even dulled by alcohol, Matt sensed the intruder... They had a slow heartbeat, and an unsteady gait. It was an elderly figure.

"Mr. Murdock. Long time no see." Madame Gao emerged from the shadows, leaning on her cane, "I've brought you an employer. A great being in need of a capable lieutenant."

"I don't work with criminals," Matt spat.

Even at his lowest, he wouldn't ally with the Hand. If he couldn't fight evil as Daredevil, he'd still wield the law to defend those who couldn't afford lawyers.

"Mr. Murdock, I am no thug."

A silver-haired old man stepped forward, his silver skull-topped cane tapping softly. Matt's heightened senses hadn't detected him at all.

"I am Mephisto. And I seek a worthy knight."