The anomalous search records of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Wolverine were quickly intercepted by the agency's systems and forwarded to Director Nick Fury. Fury immediately arrived at Kang's mothership to report the situation.
"What did he search for?"
"Peter Parker, an intern at the Baxter Building. Reed Richards thinks highly of him and has left him in charge of managing the building in his absence."
Peter Parker?
Kang strained to recall his list of threats. The gods had been exiled by him; the Hulk had never been born; Captain America had not crashed into the Arctic but had lived through the years, remaining now as nothing more than a frail old man.
Among the survivors, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers had become his subordinates, and the world had been carved up under his rule. Aside from a missing Doctor Strange, there shouldn't be any threats left.
He had no impression of this Peter Parker either. Upon retrieving the data, he discovered that this person was not any kind of superhero in the original timeline.
If that was the case, there was no need to worry.
"He likely has some personal business involving the Baxter Building. This person is not a threat," Kang said nonchalantly. After praising Nick Fury's competence with a few brief words, he sat back down in his seat.
He was waiting for his grand army, which was constantly pushing toward the limit of the year 2015. Now, with a Cosmic Cube possessing the exact same power as the rift that caused the multiversal incursion crisis, he believed he could get closer to that point in time.
He wanted to know exactly what had happened there.
Meanwhile, Peter Parker had no idea he had almost been placed under surveillance. He was currently working on a brand-new experiment, using nanobots to create a suit to replace the original Fantastic Four polymer suits. This suit was more powerful and advanced, capable of granting the user a wide variety of abilities.
Though, with the Fantastic Four gone, he wasn't quite sure who would actually wear this nanotech suit.
"Alright, let me check your homework, Franklin. Whoo, all correct. You're much sharper than I was at your age."
"By the time humans climbed down from the trees, they should have learned calculus, Benjamin." For some reason, Franklin loved calling Peter by his middle name. "This isn't really a difficult problem."
"Then you'll have to apologize to every human who lived before Leibniz, Franklin. There are quite a few ancients around these days," Peter quipped before laughing. "Alright, I trust H.E.R.B.I.E. to take care of you. If you need anything, have him contact me, okay?"
"Okay. Goodbye, Benjamin."
After saying goodbye to Franklin, Peter went downstairs and saw Gwen waiting for him. He took a nervous deep breath before walking over, asking with a smile, "Why did you come straight here? I was planning to come pick you up."
"Pick me up how? Did you get your driver's license?"
"...No, I'm planning to get a license for a 2099 flying car later." Peter smiled somewhat sheepishly and then asked, "So, um, where are we going today?"
"You asked me out, and you don't know where to go?"
"I respect your opinion."
"My opinion is that I have no opinion, smart guy," Gwen laughed. "Let's find a place for lunch first. I'm a bit hungry."
Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy were neighbors and childhood friends. They used to be best friends and were now trying their hand at dating. After all, Peter didn't know many girls.
Wasn't that true? Who else could an ordinary guy like Peter Parker know?
The two of them chatted while they ate.
"I want to check out the 19th-century Western Town this afternoon. I've never ridden a horse before."
The Western Town wasn't in the American West, but in the western part of Manhattan, where Hell's Kitchen used to be. To demonstrate his absolute power, Kang the Conqueror had stitched seven anomalies from different timelines into the current Manhattan. Downtown remained in the style of the 21st century; Hell's Kitchen was a mid-to-late 19th-century Western Town; Midtown was the year 2099; the Upper West Side was Renaissance-style; the Upper East Side was from the Roman Empire; and Harlem was the Roaring Twenties after WWI.
There was also Central Era Park, which had become a dinosaur-infested Jurassic Park (though technically it should have been Cretaceous Park).
These locations from different eras were pieced together to form the current New York, creating a brand-new, powerful metropolis that served as a symbol of Kang the Conqueror's grand residence.
Of course, it was also a great place for a date.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea... isn't Uncle George working as a sheriff in the West?"
Gwen froze for a second upon hearing this, then couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Wait, you're not afraid of being caught by my dad while on a date with me, are you?"
"No, I'm not," Peter flatly denied. "Absolutely not."
Gwen rolled her eyes. Her dad would be more than happy to see this; what was there to be afraid of?
"Don't worry, there's an NYPD meeting today. He won't be in Western Town."
Peter finally breathed a sigh of relief, then asked with a hint of concern, "Won't riding a horse be a bit too dangerous?"
"Is it? Don't worry. If I fall, you'll catch me, right?"
Peter mumbled a few words to himself. He was just a scientist, without the power of a superhero—how could he possibly do that?
The news in the restaurant broadcasted the latest current events. Border conflicts had broken out again between the Atlantean Empire of the Atlantic and the Wakandan Empire of Africa. Initially, Kang the Conqueror hadn't even realized that an Atlantis existed in the world; they only emerged after he had conquered the globe. However, Kang had been very generous, granting the entire Atlantic Ocean to Namor, the King of Atlantis.
Yet, these rulers never seemed satisfied with their territories. Hydra clashed with Doom daily, Atlantis and Wakanda were in conflict, and Mr. Sinister—who controlled all of India—was constantly in the news for allegedly kidnapping mutant citizens from Australia.
The television soon switched to the next news item.
"Breaking news: The mutant House of M royalty from Australia will soon be visiting our beautiful New York."
"Let's go," Peter said to Gwen after paying the bill. He stood up, and suddenly, his head seemed to give a sharp jolt. He looked around and cautiously held Gwen back.
"Wait, something's happening."
Peter spotted several robbers appearing outside a convenience store across the street, guns in hand as they entered the shop. As a 16-year-old high school student with a strong sense of justice, having seen so many examples of superheroes—especially the Avengers—fighting bad guys, his blood began to boil, and he—
Pulled out his phone and dialed 911.
"Hello, NYPD? There's a robbery in progress. The location is..."