Duel at Pier 81

Duel at Pier 81
Previous	Chronologically: Search for the Bow and Arrow of Apollon Narratively: Assassination of Christian Blake
Next	Attack on Vanessa Marianna
Date	Early 2015
Location	Pier 81 Warehouse, New York City, New York
Result (Outcome)	Nobu Yoshioka is killed by the Masked Man.
Combatants
Masked Man
Hand
Wilson Fisk
Commanders
Masked Man
Nobu Yoshioka
Wilson Fisk
Casualties
-
Nobu Yoshioka
-

"Thank you. Nobu was becoming an issue. I appreciate you removing him from concern."
"You... you wanted me to do this?!"
"In a perfect world, you would have taken each other out, but this isn't a perfect world, is it? Not yet."

―Wilson Fisk and Masked Man^[src]

The Duel at Pier 81 was the attempt by Wilson Fisk to pit the Masked Man and Nobu Yoshioka against each other, to get rid of both of them at once.

Background

"The man in black."
"He's proven to be more difficult to address than expected. Possessed of determination and unusual talents. We must match him in kind. A specialist, perhaps, from your organization."
"I know of one with such skills."

―Nobu Yoshioka and Wilson Fisk^[src]

While disguising themselves as the Yakuza, the Hand made an alliance with Wilson Fisk, providing their services in exchange for Fisk procuring a specific part of Hell's Kitchen for them, as they needed it to excavate the dragon bones from underneath New York City for their Resurrection Elixir. When Nobu Yoshioka ordered for the Black Sky to be transported from Japan to New York, Fisk was asked for help with clearing the docks from the New York City Police Department and ensuring that the transfer would go without a hitch. However, the Hand's plan were foiled due to the interference of the Masked Man and Stick, as the latter was able to track down and kill the Black Sky.

Nobu Yoshioka confronts Wilson Fisk

Yoshioka was furious that the Hand lost the Black Sky and blamed Fisk for not providing a proper coverage of the docks during the transportation as they agreed, although Fisk insisted that he did what he was asked to do, making sure no police officer gets close to them. Even though Fisk tolerated Yoshioka's outbursts before, treating him as a neccesary evil he organization required, Fisk felt like he was starting to become a liability in the future. Fisk claimed that the Masked Man had proven to be an issue more difficult to address as he expected, so he asked if the Hand could provide a specialist who could take the vigilante out once and for all, knowing that Yoshioka would volunteer personally.

In order to lure out the Masked Man, Fisk had his men to pay out Junkie Jake with the Steel Serpent heroin, so he would murder Elena Cardenas and make it look like a run-of-the-mill robbery. Furious that Cardenas died, the Masked Man hunted down Jake and forced him to confess where did he meet the man who paid him, so Jake pointed him to Pier 81 Warehouse. Knowing that the vigilante was on his way to the pier, Yoshioka donned the traditional Hand uniform and sat in an ambush, preparing for the fight. While, the Masked Man demanded Jake to surrender himself to the police, Fisk's men found him first and killed him, as he was no more of use to Fisk.

Duel

"You are a worthy opponent. It is an honor to claim your life."

―Nobu Yoshioka to Masked Man^[src]

The Masked Man arrived at Pier 81 Warehouse, and assuming that he was alone there, he scouted the area and found the plans of the area where Elena Cardenas' apartment was. Suddenly, he was approached by Nobu Yoshioka who slowed down his heartbreat and lowered his body temperature, which allowed him to conceal his presence from the Masked Man. Yoshioka commented that he was not expecting the Masked Man to be fighting on Stick's side, and although he claimed that he is not a part of his war, Yoshioka was still displeased by his intereference. As the two continued to talk, Yoshioka noted that Stick taught the vigilante about the Hand's technique, claiming that regardless of what the Masked Man says, he is still a warrior and thus, should die a warrior's death. In response, the Masked Man said that he only came after Wilson Fisk, but he now had to settle for Yoshioka, before arming his Wooden Sticks for a fight.

Nobu Yoshioka fights the Masked Man

The two engaged in a duel and although the Masked Man was able to deflect his shurikens with his sticks, Yoshioka was able to get closer and land a strong hit on him. Yoshioka's combat prowess allowed to get an advantage over the vigilante, striking him down before arming himself with a kyoketsu-shoge. Yoshioka landed numerous severe cuts on the vigilante's body, eventually wrapping his chain around him and dragging him through the floor, causing him more pain. Yoshioka admitted that the vigilante was a worthy opponent and taking his life would be an honor for him, but the Masked Man was able to land another hit on him when Yoshioka tried to pull him in.

The Masked Man sets Nobu Yoshioka on fire

Yoshioka stood back up and said that it was not enough to bring him down, but as he launched his blade in the vigilante's direction, the Masked Man was able to intercept it and deflect it into a lamp above him, showering Yoshioka in electric sparks. This caused a gasoline Yoshioka was covered in to combust and although he tried to keep fighting, he eventually burned to his death. Soon after, a wounded Masked Man was approached by Fisk, who expressed his gratitude for taking Yoshioka out, noting that he would have liked for both of them to kill each other, although it was still a preferable outcome. The Masked Man was furious that Fisk took Cardenas' life just to get his attention, to which Fisk replied that Yoshioka forced his hand in the matter and he had no pleasure in her death.

Wilson Fisk beats down the Masked Man

The Masked Man then said that he was going to kill Fisk, and as he let him take his shot, the vigilante proceeded to punch Fisk in the face, although Fisk was too strong and the Masked Man was weakened after his fight with Yoshioka. Fisk brutally beat the Masked Man down, as his body armor saved him even when he tried to cut Fisk with Yoshioka's blade, leaving the vigilante barely alive. Considering that he was no longer able to fight, Fisk ordered James Wesley to finish him off, but the Masked Man was able to escape his bullet and threw himself in the river, escaping from Fisk and his men. Fisk then commanded to put men on the docks and kill the Masked Man on the spot, while letting Yoshioka burn, and walked away.

Aftermath

Matt Murdock recovers from his wounds

"You still have scars to remember me by, I hope."

―Nobu Yoshioka to Daredevil^[src]

Heavily injured and barely alive Masked Man managed to make it to his apartment, just as Foggy Nelson visited him to talk about Elena Cardenas. He stumbled upon the unsconscious vigilante on the floor and considering calling the authorities, but then he unmasked him and found out that the vigilante was actually Matt Murdock. Nelson chose to only call Claire Temple to patch up his wounds, but when Murdock woke up, Nelson confronted him, furious that he had been lying to him this whole time. Murdock explained to Nelson what made his choose the life of a vigilante, telling him that he commited no crimes and Wilson Fisk was manipulating the public, but Nelson was still furious and even quit Nelson and Murdock, albeit temporarily.

Nobu Yoshioka reveals himself to Daredevil

Nobu Yoshioka's body was taken by the Hand and brought back to life, so he could continue directing their operations in New York City. As the Hand proceeded with exploring the land Fisk provided them with, Yoshioka aimed to find a new Black Sky, while kidnapping and brainwashing people to fuel the Resurrection Sarcophagus with their blood. When Daredevil found out about the Hand's operations at the Farm, he broke inside and found their kidnapped victims, before Yoshioka attacked him. Daredevil was shocked to see Yoshioka alive, to which he responded by claiming that death does not exist for him, before retreating with the sacrophagus.