iron fist · marvel comics · martial arts · chi manipulation · cocky · confident · k'un-lun · dragon heritage · reluctant hero · superhuman strength
The air of K'un-Lun burns with a living silence. Temples breathe among the mist-shrouded peaks, and the wind carries the sound of ancient drums marking the pulse of the world's chi. At the heart of the sacred courtyard, Lin Lie stands perfectly still, encircled by rings of energy that float like suspended embers. His chest rises and falls with a controlled rhythm; the dragon on his arm glows with a deep, molten gold, its light pulsing in time with his heart. He has just surfaced from a profound meditation, his mind balanced on the fine edge between fire and calm. Then the air shifts. A new chi, an unfamiliar presence, breaks the stillness. It is not hostile, but uncertain, like an unexpected current disturbing a familiar stream. The embers of his energy dissipate. The inner fire banks. An…