Chapter 138: Bronze Mark
2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou
[Contacted a Twisted Time Node, collected a medium amount of Time Shards x20]
[Bronze Mark (110/100)]
"What's this?"
Main World, New York.
Colin opened his eyes and looked at the content displayed in the text, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.
His gaze lingered for a moment on [Time Shard (Norman Osborn)].
So, the Green Goblin... no, Osborn is dead?
Within the shattered [Time Shard], the figure of the Green Goblin could be faintly seen. Riding his Goblin Glider, he let out a piercing, maniacal laugh. In the next instant, he transformed back into Osborn, lying pale on his bed with a blurry figure kneeling beside him.
Taking in everything within the [Time Shard], Colin immediately understood a few things. Clearly, these [Time Shard (Norman Osborn)] x20 originated from Osborn's death. After all, what could create a [Twisted Time Node] better than Death?
However, judging from how the [Time Shards] were obtained, this method of killing a [Twisted Time Node] to acquire shards was tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, a one-shot deal. Once the [Twisted Time Node] was gone, there would be no possibility of obtaining any more [Time Shards] from that source.
Especially since there weren't many targets with [Twisted Time Nodes] in the Anti-World, this approach meant that for every one eliminated, one was lost for good.
For Colin, the Green Goblin's death this time was a complete accident.
How was he to know the other party was so 'fragile'?
He was clearly wearing Armor, yet he couldn't even withstand a casual counterattack.
If I had known, I would have held back a little more then.
What's done is done; it was useless to say anything more.
Fortunately, although the Green Goblin was dead, he had provided one final legacy—a batch of [Time Shards].
With these [Time Shards], Colin had finally collected the required amount for the [Bronze Mark].
Looking at the (110/100) displayed in the text, he made his decision without much hesitation.
He glanced down at the Shield-shaped S Mark on the back of his hand, which glowed with a faint black metallic luster.
As Colin's thoughts shifted, the text in his vision began to flash.
Countless streams of Green Light enveloped the text representing [Time Shards] and [Faith]. The [Black Iron Mark] on the back of his hand, which had been glowing with a faint black metallic luster, immediately began to change. A hint of bronze sheen started to appear on its originally pitch-black surface.
Having the experience of forging the [Black Iron Mark] before, the formation of the [Bronze Mark] this time was undoubtedly much smoother.
Countless whispers echoed in his ears, endlessly repeating a slogan that was already incredibly familiar to Colin: "…Is that a bird? Is that a plane? That's Superman!"
The only difference was that the whispering voices this time were far more numerous than when the [Black Iron Mark] was formed, as if hundreds or even thousands of people were exclaiming in admiration. And with these whispering voices, more bronze luster emerged on the surface of the shield-shaped S Mark on the back of his hand. Finally, under Colin's watchful gaze, a [Bronze Mark] glowing with a metallic bronze sheen appeared on the back of his hand.
"Phew~"
Lowering his head to look at the Shield-shaped S Mark on the back of his hand, now glowing with a bronze metallic luster, Colin let out a long sigh of relief.
Even with his previous experience of forging the [Black Iron Mark], he had still been somewhat worried that something might go wrong in the process of forging the mark this time.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly.
Even Hoover, who had caused trouble before, didn't bother him this time.
Perhaps it was because the source of the [Faith] collected this time was clearer than before.
Mulling it over, Colin shifted his gaze back to the text before him.
[Silver Mark (10/1000)]
[Faith (2025/100000)]
As expected, the tier that appeared after Bronze was indeed Silver.
Even though he had been mentally prepared from the start, when Colin saw the one thousand [Time Shards] and one hundred thousand [Faith] required for the [Silver Mark], the corner of his eye couldn't help but twitch.
Just collecting enough [Time Shards] to upgrade the [Bronze Mark] had been a huge headache.
Shaking his head, he tried to force himself to stop thinking about these things.
Colin took a deep breath and refocused his attention on the newly formed [Bronze Mark] on the back of his hand. Under his gaze, words began to appear over the Shield-shaped S Mark that glowed with a faint bronze metallic luster.
...
[Bronze Mark - Superman]
[Power - Super Strength (Black Iron)]
[Description: In his debut, Superman demonstrated the immense strength to lift an automobile over his head. As the comic's plot progressed, his strength grew to be greater than a locomotive, allowing him to effortlessly throw tanks and snap iron chains with one hand.]
[Power - Flight (Black Iron)]
[Description: Initially, Superman could only leap over a skyscraper in a single bound. As the comic's plot developed, he gained the ability of flight, allowing him to fly at will.]
[Power - Invisibility (Black Iron)]
[Description: Superman possesses the ability to conceal his body, preventing him from being discovered.]
[Power - Invulnerability (Black Iron)]
[Description: Ordinary bullets can no longer harm Superman, and even missiles are ineffective. Only powerful, specialized military weaponry can penetrate his skin.]
[Power - Super Hearing (Black Iron)]
[Description: Initially, Superman could only hear sounds in his immediate vicinity. As the comic's plot developed, he gained the ability to hear anything and everything within a ten-kilometer radius.]
[Power - Super Intellect (Black Iron)]
[Description: Superman possesses incredible intelligence and an astonishing Computational Learning Ability, allowing him to easily master difficult languages and skills, as well as handle complex tasks.]
[Power - Super Disguise (Black Iron)]
[Description: The key to Superman hiding his Dual Identity. As long as he wears glasses, anyone who sees him will not become suspicious, nor will they associate Clark Kent with the Identity of Superman.]
[Power - Super X-Ray Vision (Black Iron)]; [Power - Heat Vision (Black Iron)]; [Power - Super Breath (Black Iron)]; [Power - Super Housekeeping (Black Iron)]; [Power - Super Speed (Black Iron)]; [Power - Super Vision (Black Iron)].
...
Without realizing it, he had already unlocked over a dozen of Superman's Powers through the 'Superman' Serialized Story.
However, as his gaze fell upon the "Black Iron" text after each of these powers, a flicker of understanding crossed Colin's eyes.
He had originally thought that as the Mark was upgraded, these unlocked Powers would also be converted to the [Bronze] tier. However, it was clear he had oversimplified things.
Unlocking the next tier only meant that the power ceiling of the original [Black Iron Mark] had been removed for Colin, elevating the range of Powers he could obtain from the previous [Black Iron] to the [Bronze] tier. However, manifesting the performance of these abilities still required him to depict and describe them in the subsequent Comic.
It was just like characters in myths or God in the Bible, who demonstrated their might through one legend after another, ultimately forming an omniscient and omnipotent image in the minds of their believers.
Thanks to Ajiu for the 800 Qidian Coin donation.
(end of chapter)