A few days had passed since Arthur eliminated Kingpin.
The news, though smothered by fear and corruption, rippled quietly through New York's underworld — a silent yet devastating wave.
Crime lords, arms dealers, and even the boldest mercenaries learned a lesson they would never forget:
no one — absolutely no one — was safe from the Ripper.
It hadn't been difficult for them to connect the dots and figure out his name.
To prevent chaos from engulfing the underworld — wars, turf disputes, or any of the usual stupidity from clueless criminals — Arthur had to make a few calls.
Just those few calls were enough to silence an entire empire of armed men.
It was almost funny how all he had to do was ask a few "friends" to take over everything.
---
In the days that followed, Gwen began acting… a little suspiciously.
She asked questions — too innocent.
It was obvious she was trying to hide something, and Arthur had noticed it from miles away.
"Arthur, let's say a friend of mine wants to practice a sport that's a bit more... dangerous.
What kind of material do you think would be best for her uniform?"
"Oh, and if that 'sport' involved falls, do you think a lighter fabric would be better… or something more resistant?"
Arthur, of course, didn't need much to figure out what she was implying.
With every disguised question, he simply raised an eyebrow and offered a faint, knowing smile.
But inside, he was laughing.
Gwen thought she was being subtle — but Arthur was a man used to dealing with liars, killers, and politicians.
No expression escaped his radar.
--
Even amid this peculiar daily routine, he hadn't forgotten about his system.
Over the past few days, he had continued logging in — and, to his surprise, the rewards were… questionable, to say the least.
[Black Whip That Hurts Less]
[Magic Rope That Gradually Tightens Without Causing Fatal Harm]
[Satin Blindfold That Partially Blocks Vision but Increases Tactile Sensitivity]
Arthur sighed as he read those descriptions.
"System, are you kidding me? As far as I know, I'm not in Fifty Shades of Grey…" he muttered.
These were utterly useless items — at least in any practical sense.
He decided to store everything inside the Gate of Babylon.
You never knew when the universe might turn nonsense into something useful.
Still, not everything was a waste of time.
Among the rewards, some were genuinely valuable.
[Photographic Memory]
[Mental Fortress]
[Greater Strength]
[Senzu Beans x10]
Arthur examined each ability carefully.
Among them, one stood out above the rest — [Mental Fortress].
In a world infested with psychic entities, mutants capable of mind control, and aliens who could twist one's thoughts with a whim, this ability was practically an impenetrable shield.
With it, Arthur became immune to illusions, manipulation, brainwashing, and even emotional control.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"Perfect. This'll come in handy… Jean's going to be surprised when she realizes she can't read my mind anymore."
---
After another long day of training and system testing, Arthur decided to relax.
He took a hot shower, put on a simple T-shirt, and collapsed onto the living room couch.
The room was bathed in soft light, and the TV flickered with images of New York's night skyline.
He opened the freezer, grabbed a tub of vanilla ice cream, and began eating with almost childlike delight.
With every spoonful, he sighed, savoring the peace — a rare moment of calm for someone so used to blood.
What Arthur didn't know… was that while he enjoyed that tranquility, somewhere else in the city, someone was far from peaceful.
---
On the outskirts of New York, surrounded by woods and green fields, stood the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters.
Founded by Charles Xavier, the institute was a haven for mutants — offering education, shelter, and, above all, acceptance.
That afternoon, a classroom session had just ended.
Jean Grey, wearing a blue blouse and tight pants, erased the whiteboard as the bell rang through the halls.
"Class, that's all for today," she said with a gentle smile.
"Remember to finish your assignments. I want them all done by tomorrow, understood?"
"Yes, Miss Jean!" answered about thirty young mutants in unison.
Jean looked at their bright faces — full of energy, hope, and potential.
She felt a quiet pride well up inside her, though behind that serene smile, an unease stirred within her mind.
When she left the classroom, she walked absentmindedly through the corridors, waving mechanically at students playing outside.
For a moment, she seemed… disconnected.
As if something within her was no longer in harmony.
She knew she had been delaying it for too long — she needed to speak to Charles.
But every time she tried, something happened to stop her.
That scene did not go unnoticed.
From the upper floor of the main office, Professor X watched everything through a panoramic window.
Behind him, a man with a rugged expression and a brown leather jacket stood with arms crossed, silent.
"Charles, why'd you call me here so suddenly?"
The gravelly, rough voice betrayed the weariness of someone who had seen far too many wars.
Professor X slowly turned his wheelchair, facing Logan with a grave expression.
"Sit down, Logan. We have a problem."
Logan obeyed, sinking into the couch with the casual air of a man who wasn't expecting good news.
"You've had that look for hours. What's going on?"
Charles sighed.
"It's about Jean. I've been sensing… something different in her. A disturbance in her mind that I can't quite identify."
Logan frowned.
"You think someone's messing with her head?"
"Maybe. Or perhaps it's something… deeper."
Xavier paused, glancing back toward the window.
"I've been sensing the disruption for a while now, but it became more pronounced after that party. I asked her to represent the Institute… but ever since, something's changed."
Logan clenched his fists.
"You think she met someone there."
Charles nodded slowly.
"I can't prove it yet… but I have a strong suspicion about who it might be."
A heavy silence fell.
Logan stared at the professor for a few seconds before exhaling in resignation.
"You want me to follow Jean — find out who she's seeing."
"Exactly."
"Charles, is this really that important?" Logan asked, visibly uncomfortable.
Spying on Jean was the last thing he wanted to do. She was like a sister to him.
But Xavier's gaze remained firm.
"You know our situation, Logan. There are forces moving in the shadows that we cannot afford to ignore."
The telepath's calm voice carried an unmistakable weight.
Logan ran a hand through his hair, grumbling.
"Fine… I'll do it. If I find out who this mysterious guy is, I'll let you know right away."
"Thank you, Logan. And be careful. I have a feeling it might be that man."
Logan simply grunted and left the office, instantly realizing who Charles meant, closing the door behind him.
Charles remained motionless, watching the children play on the lawn.
For a moment, the reflection on the window revealed his tired expression — and in his mind, one name echoed like a foreboding whisper:
The Ripper.
---
(End of Chapter)
---
A/N: I already have the draft for Chapter 22 — or rather, it's practically finished. Only a few tweaks left. Honestly, it ended up being pure spoiler juice for the fic's future. It wasn't intentional, but by the time I realized it, it was too late.
Inspiration hit hard while I was writing it. I considered deleting it and starting over, but I decided to keep it — it serves as a nice glimpse of what's to come.
To put it simply: the daughter from the future won't be Aurora.
Another key point — the NieR: Automata arc begins in Chapter 26.
That arc will be relatively short.
The interdimensional arcs I've planned for this fic are:
NieR: Automata
Spider-Verse
DC
Fairy Tail
High School DxD
Fate/Grand Order – Absolute Demonic Front
There might be more in the future.
Additionally, I've planned a few crossovers that will occur within this same universe:
Sword Art Online (most likely the final arc)
Demon Slayer (definitely a time-travel arc to the past)
And finally, a small disclaimer: everything is still in development.
Ideas may change, some characters might gain more spotlight than intended, and new worlds may be added along the way.