Marvel: Batman x Ironman

Early Chapter

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[Seoul]

Seoul was a busy, pulsating city of life, filled with the sounds and colors of evening neon lights. Ami Han took her bag over her shoulder as she left her last class of the day. Life at the University of Seoul had not yet calmed down, with students milling about on campus, laughing, talking, or rushing to get done by nightfall. Ami looked at her phone and saw that it was now 6:45 PM. She had agreed to meet her friends at a place across the street, but her rumbling stomach disagreed with what was important.

She rushed through the crowded streets. Ami was a master of blending in with the mundane. The world saw her as just another nineteen-year-old balancing lectures and part-time jobs with an aspiring life far beyond the madness called her past. She was one of the last Kumiho, and she shared a secret so old that, at times, it felt more like a curse than a gift. Ami chose to forget the burden of her heritage—it made life easier.

"Ami!"

The familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see her best friend, Mina, waving enthusiastically, her bubblegum pink hair bouncing as she rushed over. Mina had a way of standing out—her fearless fashion sense was always a sharp contrast to Ami's understated look of simple jeans, a hoodie, and sneakers.

"You're late!" Mina teased, falling into step beside her.

"Barely," Ami retorted. "Where's Seojun?"

"Already there. He texted me something about staking out the best table," Mina said, rolling her eyes. "Like anyone's fighting for prime seating in a hole-in-the-wall café."

As they walked, Mina prattled on about her day—a combination of gossip and inflated stories about her disastrous art project. Ami listened with a half-smile, nodding appropriately. She loved these mundane moments, the ones she didn't have to remember to be a Kumiho, with all that came with it.

The Honeycomb Haven café, little and cozy, was between the laundromat and the stationery shop. Ami saw Seojun from across the windowpane, bent over his book, his glasses sliding down his nose as he read.

"Seojun!" Mina called out, making her entrance, the bell above the door jangling softly.

He looked up and waved, a grin spreading across his face. "About time. I was starting to think I'd have to order without you."

"Like you'd dare," Mina shot back as they joined him. Ami slid into the booth, grateful for the cozy atmosphere. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sweet aroma of baked goods, instantly putting her at ease.

The three of them easily fell into their routine rhythm: Mina teasing Seojun and Seojun playing the voice of reason, with Ami chiming in every so often with her dry jokes. They discussed classes, and assignments, and argued over whether Professor Chungda was a misinterpreted visionary or just plain weird. For some time, everything else seemed to go away, leaving only the bubble of their laughter and camaraderie.

But normalcy had a habit of slipping through Ami's fingers.

Later that evening, when the streets had quieted down, Ami felt something odd. Her senses were flaring every now and then, alerting her of something dangerous around her. It was faint, like a whispered word she couldn't make out, but it was enough to stop her in her tracks. She glanced over her shoulder. Her enhanced vision scanned the area. Everything seemed normal—streetlights glowed, pedestrians passed, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Everything okay?" Seojun asked, noticing her hesitation.

"Yeah," Ami said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just thought I heard something."

"You've been jumpy lately," Mina noted, her tone more curious than concerned. "Is it exams? Or are you finally taking my advice to dump your mysterious side gig?"

Ami laughed it off, masking the flicker of unease. "Definitely the exams. And for the record, I'm not dumping anything."

As they parted ways, Mina and Seojun bounded toward their respective apartments, Ami felt that sensation again. She could feel it stronger this time. It wasn't just her imagination. Her instincts screamed at her to be alert. She tightened her grip on her bag and took a detour, heading down a side street.

The alley was quiet—the kind of quiet that felt deliberate. Ami's heart was beating fast and she was sweating buckets. She tried to keep her breathing steady, her senses on high alert. Then she saw it—a shadow, too tall and too still to be just another passerby.

"Who's there?" she demanded.

Silence. Then the shadow shifted, entering the dim light. A man dressed in a dark coat, his face partially covered by a hood. She could tell at first glance that he wasn't a human.

Ami tensed, her mind racing. She hadn't used her powers in years after her mother's death. But now, standing face-to-face with an unknown threat, she knew she didn't have a choice.

"You've been hiding well, Kumiho," the man said, his voice low and raspy. "It took almost ten years to track you down, little fox."

Ami's blood ran cold. How did he know?

"I've no idea what you're talking about." She tried to keep her tone calm, but fear was creeping into her words. She took a step back. Something was seriously wrong here. The energy radiating from that man was too suffocating, almost demonic. She could see a black aura flickering around him.

"Well, if that's the case," The man dashed towards her with lightning speed. "You won't be turning into a fox, right?"

She hardly had a chance to respond when he launched himself at her. Instincts took over. Ami dodged to the side, her movements fluid and precise, and with a flick of her wrist, she released a burst of foxfire, the blue flames crackling as they illuminated the alley. The man recoiled, but he did not retreat. Instead, he laughed—a low, menacing sound that sent chills down her spine.

"Interesting! You can use your power in base form too."

Ami didn't wait for him to make his next move. She dashed forward, her foxfire swirling around her like a protective shield. Years of pent-up power surged to the surface, and for a moment, she felt unstoppable.

But the man was faster. He deflected her attack with a swipe of his hand, sending her flying back into the wall. She flipped in midair and her feet touched the wall. With a burst of speed, she shot herself like a bullet. The wall shattered unable to withstand the force. But he was prepared this time. He grabbed her arm and flung her against the opposite wall with inhuman strength, but once again she managed to flip in midair and land on her feet.

'This man is strong,' She thought. 'I can't use my full power while holding back.' She clenched her fists and took a deep breath. 'But if I don't give my all, I will die here.'

"Enough playing, Kumiho."

The man appeared before her in an instant. His fist was already before her face, but Ami moved faster. She grabbed his wrist and twisted, the sound of bones snapping filling the air. The man stumbled back with a howl of pain.

"You bitch!"

He lunged at her again. His movements were erratic, fueled by rage and pain. Ami saw her opportunity. She ducked under his swing, her hands transformed and sharp claws grew from her fingertips. Her vision sharpened. In the next moment, she slashed his chest.

The man staggered back, his eyes wide with shock. A deep gash ran down his chest, blood oozing from the wound. Ami watched him fall to his knees, clutching at his chest as if trying to stem the bleeding.

Just when she thought it was over, the man transformed. His human form shifted and transformed into a wolf-like being with three legs. Dark fur and sharp teeth. One of his eyes was missing while the other glowed red. It let out a piercing howl.

"Samjokgu!!" Ami gasped, taking a step back. 'I thought they were all extinct!'

Two more appeared from the shadows. They circled her, growing, baring their fangs. Ami felt her blood run cold as she realized what they were planning to do. She knew her limits. Three Samjokgu were beyond her capability. She tried to escape, but they moved faster than she could anticipate. One of them leaped and sank its teeth into her shoulder. Ami cried out in pain and tried to pry the creature off of her. She managed to push it away, but not before its razor-sharp fangs ripped through her flesh. Blood stained her clothes.

"You can't escape, Kumiho," One of the Samjokgu said with a maniacal laugh.

Ami staggered back, clutching her injured shoulder. Blood seeped through her fingers, but she couldn't afford to lose focus now.

She gritted her teeth, her mind racing as she weighed her dwindling options. The Samjokgu were closing in, their glowing red eyes and predatory growls making her instincts scream for survival. Her shoulder throbbed with pain, but she pushed it aside. She couldn't afford to stay in hiding any longer.

Her body trembled, not with fear but with the anticipation of unleashing the power she had suppressed for so long. The time for restraint had passed.

"You wanted the Kumiho," she muttered, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her. "Then you'll get the Kumiho."

The air around her grew heavy with energy as she tapped into the depths of her power. Her black hair lifted, streaks of white beginning to ripple through it like a stream of light consuming darkness. Her once-human eyes glowed a white hue. Her foxfire roared to life, its blue flames crackling fiercely as they encircled her.

Her wounds began to close as if stitched by invisible threads. Her shoulders relaxed, the pain dissolving into nothingness. Behind her, nine glowing tails unfurled, flickering like flames but solid as steel. Her fox ears emerged atop her head, twitching as they picked up the subtle shifts in the enemies' movements.

The transformation was complete.

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[Ultimate Ironman> 13 chs]