When Su Zhan returned to the base, Blink and the others were surprised to see him arrive with a shirtless, disheveled middle-aged man by his side. Blink's eyes widened. "Boss? Weren't you supposed to be at S.H.I.E.L.D.? Why are you back so soon, and who's this?"
Su Zhan smiled and waved a hand. "This is Elliott Randolph. Just think of him as our resident blacksmith from Asgard. He's a master at forging weapons. If you need anything in the future, feel free to ask him for help. From now on, he's one of us. As for the details, you'll figure them out soon enough. Oh, and Fitz finished the new battle suits for our team. Come and pick one that fits you. These will be our War League's standard gear."
The moment Su Zhan unveiled the suits Fitz had made, everyone's attention was instantly drawn. The design was sleek, practical, and clearly crafted with care. Fitz's pride was obvious, and the team eagerly began trying them on.
"I won't bore you with the technical details. You can test them out yourselves," Su Zhan said with a grin. Then he turned to Blink. "By the way, where's Donnie? Take me to see him."
Blink nodded, quickly helping Elliott Randolph get settled and find some clothes, then led Su Zhan to the special holding room where Donnie Gill-now known as Blizzard-was being kept. The room had been designed for dangerous prisoners, constructed with special materials and a suppression magnetic field that made escape impossible.
Inside, Donnie sat slumped on the edge of the bed, looking pale and exhausted. When he heard the door open, he looked up, his eyes lighting up with a mix of anxiety and hope. "Why did you bring me here? When can I leave?"
Su Zhan motioned for him to calm down, then spoke gently but firmly. "I'm sure you've realized by now that you've changed. No matter how it happened, you have an ability now—and I think it's a gift. I went to a lot of trouble to bring you here because I believe in your potential. Now, you have two choices. First, you can join me and the War League and use your power to help yourself and the world. Or, if you refuse, I'll remove your ability, let you go back to being an ordinary person, and send you back to S.H.I.E.L.D. to live under their watch. The choice is yours."
Donnie hesitated, his mind racing. "War League? I thought you were with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Su Zhan shook his head. "I'm only a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D.—and only for the team you've seen. The War League is my own organization. Everyone here is part of it."
Donnie looked around, realizing for the first time that the people he'd met since arriving were all loyal to Su Zhan. He weighed his options carefully. Su Zhan's offer was tempting, but he was still wary. "If I join, will you let me go if I want to quit later? Will you really not kill me?"
Su Zhan smiled confidently. "You can leave whenever you want. I promise not to kill you. But you should understand—if you quit, I'll remove your ability. You'll go back to being an ordinary person. That's the deal."
Donnie thought for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'll join."
Su Zhan's smile widened. "Smart choice. Come on, let's get you fitted for a battle suit. Fitz made them for the team, and you should have one too. Oh, and your codename will be Blizzard from now on. If you want to tweak the suit, feel free—it shouldn't be hard for you."
After Donnie left to join the others, Su Zhan went to find Elliott Randolph, who was examining the new base with interest. Su Zhan wanted to ask him more about the Twin Blades of Fear.
"The silver blade absorbs, the black blade releases, right? When I held both at the same time, I felt my strength increase. But when I only used the black blade, I didn't notice anything special," Su Zhan recalled.
Randolph nodded. "That's correct, but there's more to it. During the forging process, I realized the blades could be improved further if we found the right materials. To keep their current effect, I had to make some modifications. The true berserker effect only activates when both blades are wielded together. The silver blade absorbs fear energy and channels it into the black blade, which stores and releases it. In most fights, the black blade alone is enough, unless you need the full power of both."
Su Zhan considered this, frowning slightly. "I still prefer using both Twin Blades at once. Not only does it trigger the berserker effect, but I just like the feel of dual-wielding in combat."
Randolph smiled. "As long as you don't actively channel the blades to absorb fear, they won't do it on their own. You're immune to their mental influence, so you can control them. But for anyone else, even me, the blades would take control. They use the wielder, not the other way around."
"That's good to know," Su Zhan replied, relieved. "If they absorbed fear energy every time I used them, it would be a hassle. I like having the option to control it—maybe even use it as a trump card."
He asked a few more questions about the Twin Blades' functions and methods of use, then left Randolph to get settled. Before leaving the ship, Su Zhan checked on the island's construction. The work was progressing rapidly, with Damage Control's team making impressive headway.
Afterward, Su Zhan decided not to visit Skye immediately. Instead, he flew to Seaside City. He wanted to pick up some Chinese food for the team—after so much time on the ship, he missed the flavors of home, and he figured the others would appreciate a treat as well.
Strolling down the street, Su Zhan searched for a nearby Chinese restaurant on his phone. Suddenly, he heard a gasp of excitement nearby—the kind of sound fans make when spotting a celebrity.
He glanced over and saw a crowd gathering, people snapping photos with their phones. Even from a distance, Su Zhan could see who was causing the commotion.
It was none other than the Thing from the Fantastic Four.