Heroes' Trail [The Bronx]

There was some truth to what Mettle had said. Even if there were police what were they going to do, stop him? Walk into METTLE's bar and send the shiny savant to the slammer? Big name heroes were busy with big name threats and so nobody felt the need to turn their attention towards New York as long as the two of them were behaving.

He chuckled at the thought of a mass murderer like Gawain talking to college students. The Frenchman explaining economics to a room full of business majors was a sight he'd pay to see even if it did serve as a kind of ill Omen. Villains gaining more freedom to move as they please was even more reason to bolster his forces.

"I'm here because I respect you enough to hold out an olive branch before I expand my domain to corner yours." He stood up from his seat and slipped his hands into his pockets. "There is no mysterious outside force controlling me METTLE so you can cut that thought out of your bedazzled brain. I am the physical embodiment of the idea of control. So long as that idea exists in the collective consciousness of humanity than I exist. You could cut me to pieces right now and I'd still make my 8 a.m. train tomorrow."

Their previous conversation had been weighing on him for awhile. Was he in control of his powers or were they in control of him? It ate away at him...the idea that he could lose control over himself. The thought that maybe his power came from a malevolent force given the inherently malevolent nature of necromancy. He spent his days trying to fight against it and the more he worried the more erratic things became. That was when he realized exactly what his powers were. An extension of every human beings desire to be in control and their fear of losing control. The more threatened he felt the more his powers would reflect that and vice versa.

"There is a problem I need to handle and if I want to handle it I need to grow my strength. That's all there is to it."

He would've rubbed his temple in frustration if he wasn't attempting to negotiate. He got ready to interrupt but there was a name he knew in there.

Spider-Bite.

That was the little shit who had interfered with his army. If the creepy crawler found himself in Daniel's path again than there was no way he would let him leave unharmed. With a willpower that strong he would no doubt have a soul capable of being a General and what a fitting end. Going from stopping him to helping him.

"Fine. I'll be doing them a favor anyway. Ridding Queens of its biggest criminal operations and replacing them with something far less destructive doesn't sound like it warrants opposition."

He slipped his hands into his pockets and turned his attention to the sky.

"If they get in my way...and I have a sinking feeling that Spider will...than I'll make sure to-"

A large black blade erupted from his chest. Shock took hold of his face as he looked down at the weapon; it was the sword belonging to his General Lancelot.

When the sword was removed though he dropped the act.

"If your friends than I suggest you warn the Crawler about what awaits him if he interferes with me again."

He returned David's smile as blood began to stain his white shirt.

"Damn shame to ruin such a nice suit to prove a point."

At this point the constant disbelief went from understandable to annoying. Rather than dwell on it any longer he opted to take METTLE's hand and shake.

"One day you'll realize that people stronger than you exist. Until you force my hand though, you can consider us at something close to peace."

With a thought the darkness rose up around him and engulfed his form. For a moment Mettle would be face to face with a shadow knight who, despite having no true face, expressed confusion before melting into the ground. With those arrangements made it was time to begin work on establishing the next portion of his empire.