One with all

enjoy the chapter

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Location: Gotham – Alleyway

POV: MC

After knocking the two thugs out, I picked one up and slung him over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes, then pulled them both deeper into the alleyway. I wanted to test the infection part of my power and see if I had perfect control over them or not.

Once I had them hidden in the shadows, I crouched down and placed my hand on the head of the one who had shot me. A small needle extended from my fingertip, piercing the skin of his neck. Immediately, I could feel the virus spreading through his body, starting from his head and quickly taking over every cell from head to toe. The entire process took five seconds. I could have done it in one or two, but I deliberately slowed it down—I wanted to learn as much about my power as possible.

There was nothing special in his DNA, at least nothing that interested me. I focused on his brain, slowly digging deeper… and then—I saw it. His memories.

Hahaha. I can actually fucking see them. Haa.

After calming myself down, I delved further, bypassing his personal memories and focusing on his job-related ones. From what I saw, he was a terrible person—but not the worst. He worked for a gang under Black Mask, running the neighborhood I lived in. These guys did everything—drug dealing, robbery, extortion. And they made a lot of money.

After all, this was Gotham. In a normal city, a gang might scrape by on minimum wage, maybe less. But here? In just one month, this particular gang pulled in $450,000. That was a massive sum, though it made sense—they operated in one of the most crime-ridden parts of the city.

Satisfied, I began messing with his mind, altering his memories to ensure his loyalty to me. It was surprisingly easy. The knowledge of how to create false memories came to me instinctively.

After finishing with him, I healed his injuries but didn't wake him up yet. I moved on to the second thug and did the same, but this time…

Oh?

There was something in his DNA. Something weak, but I could feel it. No—I could see it.

I slowly reached toward it, and the moment I touched it, a pulse rippled through his entire being. Not just his body, not just his DNA—his brain, too.

Was this…?

Was this the brainwave mutants release when their X-Gene awakens?

As I watched, his skin turned blue, and his body became slightly stronger—not by much, but the most drastic change was in his immune system.

Interesting. Very interesting.

Now, I had a chance to study the X-Gene up close. However, I couldn't have him walking around looking like this. So, I focused and manipulated his body, reverting him back to his human form.

It worked.

With that settled, I woke them both up.

They slowly rose to their feet and looked at me before lowering their heads.

"Sir… sir…" both of them muttered.

"Take me to your gang's location."

"Yes, sir… sir…"

We moved from alleyway to alleyway until we arrived at their gang's hideout. According to their memories, at least 50 people, including their leader, were inside. Of course, I could have just come here alone, since I knew the location from their minds—but I brought them with me simply because I wanted to.

The place was a warehouse. I already knew how many people were inside, but I decided to double-check anyway. Activating my thermal vision, I scanned the building.

Yeah. At least 50 people.

Stealth wasn't really my style.

Guess I'll just go in Hulk-style—punch everything that moves, infect them, and bring them under my control.

I turned to my new subordinates. "You two, stay here."

"Yes, sir."

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POV: Victim

"Haa—who the fuck is that?"

"What are you talking about? Oh… I see him."

"...Hey, this is private property! Get the hell out of here!"

No response. The bastard just kept walking toward us.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" I shouted, raising my gun and aiming it at him.

"Didn't you hear what he said? Get the fuck out of here!"

And then—he disappeared.

Everything went dark.

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POV: MC

After knocking out the first guy with a punch to the face, the second one raised his gun to shoot me—but I was faster. I kicked him, the bottom of my shoe slamming him straight into the wall.

…Huh. That was way easier than my first fight. Not really a fight—more of a beatdown.

I turned toward the warehouse door and kicked it with all my strength.

Mistake.

In movies, the door always flies off the hinges.

In reality?

My foot went straight through the door, leaving me awkwardly balancing on one leg.

Well… guess you can't always be as cool as in the movies.

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POV: Inside the Warehouse

"Come on, come on! We gotta finish moving this shit to the boss unless you wanna experience… the Black Mark."

Everyone shuddered.

The Black Mark.

A cruel punishment for Black Mask's henchmen who disappointed him. A metal skull mask, heated by fire, was placed onto the face of the offender. They experienced excruciating pain. If they survived, they were forever marked by the Black Mark.

The workers immediately picked up the pace, rushing to move boxes of cash, guns, drugs—everything.

Then—

BOOM.

A loud sound echoed through the warehouse.

Every henchman immediately grabbed a gun and aimed toward the noise.

They expected anything.

A rival gang. The police.

Hell, even Batman. Maybe Batwoman. Or Robin. Or some other crazy psycho villain.

What they weren't expecting?

To be under attack by a fucking leg.

"Well… that's new," one of them muttered.

BOOM.

It happened again—except this time, the entire door flew off its hinges, crashing into two unlucky bastards.

And then… they saw him.

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POV: MC

BOOM.

As the old saying goes—"If violence isn't working, you're just not using enough of it."

Truly, wise words.

BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.

Oh? Impatient, are we?

I rushed toward them, tanking a few bullets as I went. The first one? Punched in the face— hard enough to knock him out. But I didn't want to waste time infecting them all separately.

So—I adapted.

A needle extended from my knuckle as I struck, infecting them on impact.

One down.

The second? I grabbed him by the throat, punched him in the stomach, and threw him into the third.

And so it continued.

One by one, they fell.

Until the last one.

"P-please! Please, leave me alone! I have a family!"

"Oh, don't worry—you'll see them again."

"But for now—"

"Go to fucking Dreamland."

BAM.

I knocked him out with the sole of my foot.

That was… exciting. Kind of.

After that, I rewrote their loyalty—not just in their minds, but in their very DNA.

Once they were fully under my control, I healed them and woke them up.

The other four from outside entered.

Fifty-two people in total.

All of them knelt before me.

I hadn't told them to—but I wasn't complaining.

I kind of liked it.

"Boss." ×52

Oh.

This is going to be fun.

I have special plans for them.

And by extension…

A plan for Black Mask.

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Please leave your thoughts in the comment and tell me what do I have to change to make the story better