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  Hello you all, thanks for the support thus far. In this chapter, I made a daring joke, and I believe it is not racist, but please do tell me if you think it is. I want to ensure my heart is in the right pd that no offense is intended.

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  It had been a year since Hercule Satan, now known in this world as Hercule Lucifer, had found himself in this strange new reality. This world was equally as wild as his own, though in different ways. Ba his old life, he was the world’s idol, the so-called Martial Arts Champion, where every apocalypse—from alien invasions to cyb rampages—was handled by a group of extraordinary people. Yet, the glory always fell on him. While most people saw it as luck, Hercule had never beeirely fortable with it. Pretending to save the world in front of cameras was mostly a way to give people hope and, more secretly, to help Goku gather the power of belief. But that was all in the past.

  Now, he was near Harlem, tending a barbecue, flipping burgers like a pro. Over the year, Hercule had built up quite a reputation in Hell's Kit and Harlem, not just for saving people from small to mid-tier criminals but also, strangely enough, for his skill with a grill. Despite all his heroics, the curse of being "Hamburger Man" haunted him every day, thanks to his decision to take Spongebob’s cooking mastery from Nero as his chosen power. Of all the abilities he could have chosen, it had to be this one.

  On this particur afternoon, Hercule was manning a grill he heart of Harlem, flipping burgers with a practiced ease. The smoky st of sizzling beef filled the air, attrag a small crowd of locals. He was deep in thought, p his straurn of fate, when a group of Harlem residents approached him.

  "Yo, my man, Luci here is the best burger G you find in the whole damn world!" one of the locals called out, grinning wide. The crowd responded with a mix of ughter and cheers, clearly in agreement.

  Hercule—now known as Hercule Lucifer or simply "Luci" around these parts—fshed a toothy grin and gave a pyful wink as he flipped another burger with a dramatic fir. “Aw, e on now, don’t hype me up too much, homes. These burgers ain't nothin' but love and a lil' bit of magi south of the border, you know?”

  The crowd loved it, g and whistling as Hercule passed a perfectly grilled burger to one of the kids at the front. The kid’s eyes lit up as he took a bite, and his exaggerated "Mmmm!" was met with another round of appuse.

  “You see that?” another local chimed in, smag his lips. “That’s love in every bite, yo! Luci’s burgers hit different!”

  One of the older men in the group, clearly a regur at these makeshift cookouts, leaned in cliving Hercule a knowing look. “Man, I don’t know how you do it, but you got a gift, Luci. You sure you ain’t puttin’ some kinda special sau these joints?”

  Hercule chuckled, wiping his hands on his apron. “Just a lil’ somethin’ my abue taught me, amigo. You know, gotta keep the tradition alive.”

  “Damn straight!” the old man ughed, taking a burger for himself. “Whatever it is, you keep doin’ it, a’ight?”

  Hercule gave a thumbs-up, tinuing to grill as the crowd grew rger. The mood was light, and everyone seemed tet, if only for a moment, the harsh realities of their surroundings. Harlem was a tough pce, but today, in this little er, things felt different.

  As Hercule kept the burgers ing, he noticed a group of kids lingering nearby, watg him with wide eyes. One of the boys finally worked up the ce to step forward, looking up at Hercule with a mix of awe and nervousness. “Hey, uh, Luci… could you show us some moves?”

  Hercule paused for a moment, his spatu mid-flip, before breaking into a wide grin. “Ah, so you wanna see some real moves, huh? Alright, lemme finish up these st burgers, and I’ll give y’all a show.”

  The kids cheered, their faces lighting up with excitement. Hercule quickly ed up his cooking, handing out the st few burgers before stepping away from the grill. He wiped his hands on his apron again and cracked his knuckles, pying up the moment.

  “Alright, listen up, chamacos! Y’all better pay attention, ‘cause I’m only gonna do this once!” Hercule announced, his voiing with mock seriousness.

  He took a deep breath, then dropped into a low, exaggerated stance, his hands moving in slow, deliberate motions as he mimicked a martial arts sequehe kids watched in rapt attention, their mouths hanging open as Hercule moved with surprising agility for a man of his size.

  Suddenly, with a loud “Hiyah!” he leapt into the air, perf a quick, fshy kick before nding in a dramatic pose, his fists raised triumphantly. The kids erupted into appuse, their faces beaming with admiration.

  “Damn, Luci! You really got moves!” one of the boys shouted, g enthusiastically.

  Hercule puffed out his chest, giving the kids a cocky grin. “That’s right! Don’t fet, I’m not just a burger-flippin’ genius—I’m the champ, baby!”

  The kids ughed, crowding around Hercule as they bombarded him with questions about his so-called "champion days." Hercule answered them all with the same easygoing charm, spinning tall tales that had the kids hanging on his every word.

  “Man, Luci, you ever think about tea’ us some of them moves?” one of the older boys asked, his eyes shining with hope.

  Hercule paused, taken aback by the question. Teag? He hadn’t sidered that. But as he looked at the eager faces around him, he felt a tug of responsibility. These kids needed something—someoo look up to, something to keep them off the streets.

  “Maybe I could,” Hercule said slowly, scratg his in thought. “But y’all gotta promise me ohing: if I teach you, you gotta use what I show you food, no messing around, no pi’ fights. Deal?”

  The kids nodded eagerly, their eyes wide with excitement.

  “Alright then,” Hercule said, his smile returning. “We’ll start week. Same pce, same time. And y’all better bring yame, ‘cause I don’t go easy on nobody!”

  The kids cheered again, already talkiedly among themselves about their future training sessions. Hercule watched them with a fond smile, feeling a sense of purpose he hadn’t felt in a long time. Maybe this was what he was meant to do in this world—something more than just flipping burgers and telling tall tales.

  As Hercule ed up the st of the burgers, preparing to deliver them to the elderly residents of Harlem, a sudden otioed from the north. Shouts and the sound of chaos filled the air, drawing his attention.

  “What the hell’s goin’ on?” Hercule muttered to himself, his brow furrowing in . He spotted a loamed Darius running towards him, his face pale with fear.

  “Dari, what’s happenin’, homes?” Hercule called out, stepping away from the grill.

  Darius skidded to a stop, his breath ing in short, panicked gasps. “L-Luci, man, it’s wild up there!” he stuttered, his voice trembling. “Some fool and his crew, they goin’ crazy, atta’ everybody in sight like they possessed or somethin’!”

  Hercule’s eyes narrowed as he listened, his gut telling him this wasn’t just some random street fight. “Who’s tryin’ to stop ‘em?” he asked, his tone serious.

  Darius shook his head, still catg his breath. “Some big dude, man. Ain’t seen him ‘round here before, but he tryin’ to hold ‘em back. It don’t look good, though. They too many.”

  Hercule didn’t hesitate. “You get inside, Dari. Keep your head down,” he ordered, already moving towards the source of the otion. He didn’t know who this “big dude” was, but if he was trying to protect the neighborhood, Hercule wasn’t about to let him stand alone.

  As Hercule made his way through the streets, the sounds of the fight grew louder. He could hear the shouts of the gang members, their voices wild aic, like they were out of their minds. It reminded him too much of the old days, when people uhe influence of strange powers or forces would wreak havo the city.

  Turning a er, Hercule finally saw the chaos firsthand. A group of men, clearly part of some gang, were attag anyone who crossed their path. Their eyes were wild, their movemeic, as if they were being trolled by some unseen force.

  In the middle of the chaos, Hercule spotted a massive figure standing firm against the gang members. The man was a mountain—close to 2 meters tall (around 6 feet 6 inches) and easily over 200 kilos (about 440 pounds). He was holding his ground, fending off the attackers with powerful, precise strikes. Even with the odds stacked against him, the man moved with the fidence of someone who knew how to handle himself in a fight.

  As Hercule moved closer, he saw two familiar faces appear beside him—Sakura and Finn the Human. Both of them were also Nero’s summons, just like Hercule. Sakura, with her pink hair and sharp gaze, took iuation with a quick assessment, while Finn, dressed in his iic blue shirt and white hat, gripped his sword, ready to jump into a.

  Sakura made her way over to Hercule, her expression serious but calm. "What’s going on, S—uh, Luci?" she asked, catg herself before slipping up. She was used to addressing him by his real name, but here, she ko use his new alias.

  Hercule shrugged, flipping the spatu he still held from the barbecue earlier. "Some crazy bastards thought it was a good idea to start messin’ with the wrong barrio. We gotta show ‘em how we hahings ‘round here."

  Finn’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the se. "These guys aren't normal, Hercule. They’re moving like they’re on something, but I ’t tell what."

  Sakura nodded in agreement. "We o be careful. Whatever’s got them riled up, it’s not natural."

  Hercule cracked his knuckles, the pyful demeanor he’d shown the kids earlier repced by a steely focus. "Alright, let's give ‘em a lesson they won’t fet. But keep it —o go full power on these fools uhey push us."

  With that, the three of them moved as a unit, joining the big man who was still holding off the gang members. Hercule took the lead, charging in with a loud battle cry that echoed through the streets.

  As Hercule, Sakura, and Finn charged toward the chaos, Hercule caught sight of the big bck man in the ter of the brawl. The man was pletely unfazed by the gang’s attacks, his skin seemingly impervious to the knives, s, spiked bats, and machetes being swung at him. It was as if their ons were made of cotton, harmless against his steel-like body.

  Hercule’s eyes widened with excitement as he poi the man. "Sakura, look! That dude’s using full-body Armament Haki! Amazing, even I ’t cover half of my body like that!"

  Sakura shot him a side-eye, her to. "What Armament Haki, fool?"

  Hercule jabbed his fioward the man, who was blog a with his forearm like it was nothing. "Look at him, he’s all bd impervious. Obviously Full Body Haki!"

  Sakura’s temper fred, her usual posed demeanor slipping as she s Hercule, “That’s not Haki, the imperviousness is just his superpower, you idiot! Other than us summons, who else around here could use Haki?”

  Hercule bliaken aback by her outburst. “Damn, girl, chill! How was I supposed to know?” he mumbled, his bravado faltering for a sed.

  Sakura huffed, regaining her posure. “Just focus on the fight, Luci,” she said, her tone sharp but trolled. She g Finn, who had already charged ahead, his sword slig ly through the air as he took on the gang members with a mix of skill and raw power.

  Hercule shook off the exge and turned his attention back to the battle. The gang members were relentless, attag with a chaotiergy that seemed almost unnatural. But the big man in the ter, who Hercule now realized wasn’t using any kind of Haki, was holding his ground like a tank. His skin, tough as steel, deflected every blow that came his way.

  As Hercule dove into the fray, he shouted over his shoulder, “Alright, let’s show these fools what happens when they mess with Harlem!”

  The group moved with precision. Sakura’s fists and kicks were blindingly fast, each strike sending gang members sprawling. Finn’s swordpy was a blur of motion, cutting through ons and defenses alike with ease. Hercule, despite his earlier blunder, used his raw strength and years of martial arts experieo overpower his oppos, his massive fists nding with bone-g force.

  The big man nodded in aowledgment as they fought side by side, his deep voiing as he called out, “You folks got some real moves! Name’s Luke Cage, by the way.”

  “Lucifer,” Hercule shouted back, dug under a wild swing and tering with a powerful uppercut. “These are my friends, Sakura and Finn. o meet ya, homes!”

  Luke grinned, a rare sight in the middle of such chaos. “Likewise, Lucifer. But please be more light-hahese are locals. Probably used something bad."

  Hercule nodded in uanding, while Sakura and Finn tiheir careful efforts to incapacitate the gang members without causing serious harm. They were effit, their movements precise as they disarmed aralized the attackers with ease.

  Ohe st of the gang members were down, Sakura crouched down to examihem, her sharp eyes sing for any signs of what might have caused their erratic behavior. Finn stood nearby, his sword at the ready, just in case.

  Meanwhile, Hercule struck up a versation with Luke Cage, who was still catg his breath from the intense fight. “I ain’t never seen you around here before, homes,” Hercule said, wiping some sweat off his brow. “You o the neighborhood?”

  Luke’s expression tightened for a moment, a shadow passing over his eyes as he remembered Seagate Prison and the nightmare that pce had been. He quickly pushed the memory aside, shaking off the chill that ran down his spine. “Yeah, you could say that,” Luke replied, keeping his tone casual. “Been ying low, tryin’ to keep outta trouble.”

  Hercule nodded, not pressing for more details. He could tell Luke had been through something rough, but this wasn’t the time to dig into a man’s past. “Well, you sure know how to handle yourself. We could use more folks like you around here, keepin’ the peace.”

  Luke gave a small smile, appreciating the se. “Thanks, but I’m just doin’ what o be done. Harlem’s my home, and I’m gonna protect it, no matter what.”

  Hercule cpped a hand on Luke’s massive shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. “I hear you, man. Same here. We look out for our own.”

  Sakura, having finished her examination of the downed gang members, stood up and dusted off her hands. “These guys were definitely on something,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “Their vitals are all over the pce, like they were pumped full of some kind or… something else.”

  Luke frowned, his deepening. “That ain’t good. If someone’s pushing this stuff in Harlem, we gotta shut it down before more people get hurt.”

  Hercule nodded in agreement. “No doubt. You know who might be behind this?”

  Luke shook his head. “Not yet, but I’m gonna find out. Whoever it is, they’re messin’ with the wrong neighborhood.”

  Finn rummaged through the pockets of the fallen gang members, his fingers moving with practiced ease. After a moment, he pulled out a small pstic packet filled with white powder and held it up for the others to see.

  “o search further,” Finn announced, his voice calm but carrying the weight of the discovery. He tossed the packet to Sakura, who caught it with a scowl. “It’s pure heroin, the real deal. Red Serpent.”

  Sakura examihe packet, her frown deepening. “Victims in Hell's Kit were his aggressive. Is this a new variant or something else?” she wondered aloud, her mind rag through the possibilities.

  Luke Cage stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the packet. His massive fist ched tightly at his side, the tension in his body evident. “Who makes this shit?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

  Sakura g Hercule, who gave her a small nod. With a slight grin tugging at the ers of her mouth, she answered, “The Hand.”

  Luke’s stern expression faltered for a moment as he processed the respohe Hand?” he echoed, his voice ced with disbelief. He looked at Hercule, hoping for a more serious expnation.

  Hercule frowned, his pyful demeanor repced with a serious iy as he looked Luke Cage squarely in the eye. “Listen, homes, you don’t wanna mess with these guys. The Hand ain’t your typical gang or some mob you just beat down and walk away from. You take them on, and they’ll keep ing until you’re either dead or they’re wiped off the map—and trust me, they’re damn near impossible to get rid of.”

  Luke’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “You saying we should just let them run wild? Poison our streets?”

  Hercule shook his head firmly. “Nah, man, I’m not saying that. But you gotta be smart about this. The Hand operates in the shadows, and they’ve been around a long time. You take one of them out, ten more pop up. They’re like a damn hydra.”

  Sakura, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward. “He’s right, Luke. The Hand isn’t just a gang—they’re an a anization, with deep ties all over the world. If yoing after them, you o be prepared for a long fight, and you won’t be able to do it alone.”

  Luke ched his fists, his frustration evident. “So what do we do? Just sit bad let them destroy our home?”

  Finn, still holding the small packet of heroin, spoke up. “We don’t back down, but we don’t charge in blindly either. We o find out who’s behind this push into Harlem, and why. They wouldn’t make a move like this without a reason.”

  Hercule nodded, agreeing with Finn’s assessment. “We start by trag down their suppliers, the people bringing this poison into our neighborhood. We cut off their source, and we weakehen, wheime’s right, we hit them where it hurts.”

  Luke looked betweehree of them, weighing their words. He didn’t like the idea of waiting, but he khey were right. Charging in without a pn would only get more people hurt.

  “All right,” Luke said, his voice steady. “We do this smart. We find out where this stuff is ing from, aake it down piece by piece.”

  Sakura gave a sharp nod. “I’ll reach out to some tacts, see if they’ve heard anything about new suppliers in the area. The Hand usually keeps a low profile, but someone’s bound to know something.”

  “I’ll check out the docks,” Finn added. “A lot of this stuff es in through there. Maybe I find a lead.”

  Hercule cpped Luke on the back, his usual griurning. “And I’ll keep an eye oreets, make sure these punks don’t try anything else. We’ll figure this out, homes. Harlem’s our turf, and we ain’t lettin’ no oake it from us.”

  Luke’s tension eased slightly, his resolve firming as he looked at the team around him. “Appreciate it. We take care of each other around here.”

  As they started to disperse, each heading in their respective dires, Luke hesitated for a moment. “You know,” he began, turning back to Hercule, “you’re not what I expected when I first heard about you.”

  Hercule raised an eyebrow, a smirk pying at the ers of his lips. “Oh yeah? What were you expe’?”

  Luke shrugged, a faint smile crossing his features. “Not sure. But I like what I see. Yood people, Luci.”

  Hercule chuckled, shaking his head. “You too, Cage. Now let’s get to work. These streets aren’t gonna themselves up.”

  Luke nodded, his expression serious once more. “See you around.”

  --

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