Spider-Man: Shadows of The Beast

Chapter I: Touchdown

An MCON universe story, set in March of 2015.

The moon hung high over Gotham's skyline, casting long, eerie shadows across the city's rooftops. Spider-Man, his lithe form silhouetted against the glowing orb, swung effortlessly from building to building, his thoughts racing as fast as his web-slinging.

"Another one," Peter Parker murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper against the wind. The city had been plagued by a series of brutal assassinations, each victim more high-profile than the last. Wealthy businessmen, influential politicians, and even a few key players in the criminal underworld—all had fallen prey to a phantom killer who left no trace but a trail of bodies.

As Spider-Man soared above the darkened streets, his mind flashed back to the newsroom at the Daily Bugle. His connections as a journalist had proven invaluable in piecing together the fragments of this gruesome puzzle. Each lead, however tenuous, pointed towards a single, terrifying conclusion: a Russian assassin, methodical and ruthless, was at work.

Unbeknownst to Peter, deep in the labyrinthine alleys of Gotham, a figure moved with the precision of a machine. Anatoli Knyazev, known in the shadowy corridors of the underworld as The Beast, was on the hunt. His face, a grim mask of resolve, bore the infamous "666" symbol—a mark of his dark legacy. The cybernetic enhancements that augmented his aging body were a testament to his deadly efficiency, turning him into a monstrous fusion of man and machine.

From 2008 to 2015, The Beast had carved a bloody path through the criminal underworld. After escaping Gotham's sewers, he vanished, resurfacing only to enhance his cybernetic implants. His career as a contract killer saw him taking on high-profile assassinations for clients like Wilson Fisk and Ra's al Ghul. He clashed with Daredevil during a mission in 2010 and engaged in power struggles between Kingpin and Black Mask in 2011. By 2013, his reach extended into espionage and sabotage, targeting Oscorp and Wayne Enterprises. In 2014, he collaborated with international terrorists, establishing a secret island base where he trained and operated with impunity.

Spider-Man's investigation led him through a labyrinth of clues and connections. From a hastily scribbled note in a dead informant's pocket to coded messages intercepted between criminal syndicates, each piece of the puzzle hinted at the same shadowy figure. His informant had given the first, chilling clue: 

"The Beast. Russian. High-end nightclub. Tonight."