The seven-colored Bifrost beamed down into the small Norwegian town of New Asgard.
Stepping off the bridge, Thor and Korg stared blankly at the ruins in front of them. The town looked like it had just been through a war.
"What the... happened here?"
Korg shrugged. "Maybe it was that guy's revenge?"
Just then, Valkyrie walked over, having just pulled a survivor out of the rubble.
"Thor, the people of Asgard need you."
"It was the God Butcher!"
Thor had heard about the God Butcher before returning. What he hadn't expected was that the enemy would strike so quickly, attacking Asgard while he was off fighting Rory.
"Thankfully, a friend helped us last night. You should probably meet her."
At the military base, reconstruction was underway.
First came budget assessments, then authorization from the Pentagon and White House, only after funding was approved could rebuilding begin.
Rory's underground lab had been left intact, but with the upper structure under construction, he wouldn't be able to conduct experiments for a long while.
That night, Rory stood in the backyard of his residence, eyes closed, quietly focusing on the cosmic energy within his body.
When Thor had swung Stormbreaker at him, Rory had instinctively manifested armor using cosmic energy, blocking a fatal blow just in time.
After some meditation, he tried channeling that same energy again. This time, the golden light started at his hands, flowing up his arms, over his shoulders, down his chest and legs, until his entire body was encased in a radiant suit of armor.
From a distance, he looked almost like… a Golden Saint from Saint Seiya?
"I thought cosmic energy had to follow pre-written programming. How come I can change it?"
Rory was truly puzzled. But no one could give him an answer.
He maintained the armor and gathered energy in his hands, attempting to manifest a weapon.
After a few deep breaths, he could only form a short sword, standard length. This was his current limit. Or rather, the limit of the energy.
Frowning, Rory fell into deep thought.
Cosmic energy took physical form through his body, but the amount he could use didn't depend on his willpower, it depended on how quickly he could absorb it.
If he could increase the absorption rate, he could theoretically manifest infinitely long weapons. Slice the Earth in half with a single swing, even.
The problem was… he had no idea how to do that.
…
The next day, Rory rode in a military vehicle to Ingram Street in Queens.
"Sir, we've arrived."
"Wait here."
Rory stepped out, double-checked the address, and walked into the apartment building.
Ding-dong.
Click. The door opened to reveal a graceful, mature woman.
"And you are…?"
Rory smiled politely. "Hello, is this the Parker residence?"
Aunt May nodded, slightly confused.
"You must be Aunt May. I'm Rory, a friend of Peter Parker's. I happened to be passing through the area and thought I'd stop by to see how he's doing, if that's alright."
"Oh, of course. Please, come in." She led him inside. "Would you like coffee or tea?"
"Thanks, just a glass of water would be great."
Aunt May handed him a glass of purified water and sat across from him on the couch.
"So Rory, right? How do you know Peter?"
Clearly, she wasn't letting her guard down, this was a subtle probe right out the gate.
Rory took a sip of water and set the glass down. "We worked together for a while. I handled logistics."
"Oh, I see. Peter doesn't talk much about his friends… typical for his age, you know." She smiled, half joking.
They chatted for about half an hour.
Downstairs, Peter Parker was just getting back from school. The moment he approached his front door, whoosh, his hairs stood on end.
Spider-Sense. Full-blown danger mode.
Snap. He instantly slipped on his web-shooters, cautiously unlocking the door.
"Hey Peter, your friend's here to see you."
Aunt May looked cheerful as she waved him in.
Rory was seated on the sofa, his back to the entrance. When Peter got close enough to see who it was, his whole body stiffened, his heart rate spiking.
So that's why the sense of danger was so intense.
"Hey, Peter Parker. We meet again."
"Uh… h-hi, sir… and you are…?"
Anyone could see how tense Peter was. He even tried to feign ignorance, hoping to bluff his way out.
Aunt May noticed his reaction and her smile faded. Clearly, things weren't as friendly between them as she'd thought.
Rory's smile, in Peter's eyes, looked like the maw of a predator, definitely not comforting.
"We saw each other just yesterday, out by the military base. Don't tell me you forgot already?"
"I'm sorry, sir. I really don't know what you're talking about. If there's nothing else, then please, "
Rory glanced at Aunt May, and Peter immediately stepped in front of her protectively.
"Sir, I think it's time for you to leave."
Rory waved dismissively. "Relax. I just want to talk. If I came here with bad intentions, you wouldn't be standing so comfortably right now."
"Just the two of us."
Peter's greatest fear was Rory using Aunt May as leverage. But hearing Rory agree to let her go, he quickly gave her a look.
Aunt May was clearly worried, but she understood that staying would only make things worse. She grabbed her keys and coat and quietly left the apartment.
"Sit," Rory gestured at the couch across from him.
Peter sat down, stiff as a board, unable to let his guard down even for a second.
That was the weight of overwhelming power.
"Peter, I know you're a good kid. So I don't want you getting caught up in all this chaos. That's my advice to you."
Peter really didn't want to talk, but his mouth was faster than his brain.
"Sir, I think you should be having this conversation with Doctor Strange… not me."
Peter didn't believe a single word Rory said. Not after what he'd seen, Rory killing Captain America and Falcon right in front of him.
Rory chuckled. "Everyone has their own position. It's not about good or evil. You're still young. I don't want you being used and getting killed for nothing. Who'd look after your Aunt May then?"
"But… but Doctor Strange said you're a World-Ender… that you'll destroy everything…"
Peter knew he shouldn't have said that, but he just couldn't help himself. His mouth always got ahead of him.
Rory paused, then laughed. "And you believe that? Only a fool would."
It was something the Ancient One had once said as well. It wasn't that Rory didn't believe in predictions, but he believed the future wasn't set in stone. Otherwise, how did the events of 1970 get altered?
Prophecies only worked if the timeline stayed unchanged. Clearly, Strange had predicted wrong this time.
"Well, that's all I came to say. Those 'superheroes' are now federal fugitives. You'd be wise to keep your distance. Just stay in your neighborhood and be the friendly Spider-Man. But if there's a next time, I won't hold back."
Rory had come here to gather intel on the Avengers' plans, but he didn't even have to try. Peter had spilled everything on his own.
If the Avengers truly believed Rory was destined to destroy the world, then more attacks were inevitable.
Rory left Queens in a military vehicle shortly after.
What came next would be his counterattack.
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