Continuing from Wtr-Lab
Marvel: I Became an Ancestor by Sacrificing Offerings
Chapter 231: The Times Square Oolong Incident
Gwen headed back first to notify Peter's family and friends of the news.
Peter, however, did not take action immediately.
Instead, he waited quietly for about half an hour before slightly adjusting the coordinates of the Spider Portal.
He precisely targeted the landing point at the most densely populated area in all of New York—Times Square.
New York, Times Square.
The midday sun poured over the center of this city that never sleeps. Giant electronic billboards played bizarre images, and tourists from all over the World mingled with hurried New York residents, forming a bustling and noisy urban tapestry.
People were either taking photos for memories or stopping to enjoy street performers; everything seemed so ordinary yet full of vitality.
However, at that moment, a sudden change occurred!
"Look! What is that!"
A cry of surprise drew everyone's attention.
Right above Times Square, a ghostly blue circular portal abruptly opened, like a weird wound torn into the azure sky.
The appearance of the spatial gate instantly plunged the noisy square below into an eerie silence.
Everyone looked up, holding their phones, staring at this supernatural scene in utter bewilderment.
Before they could react from the shock, a figure covered in blood with a tattered Battle Suit fell miserably from the portal like a bird with broken wings!
Looking at the figure falling from the rift, the crowd was startled at first, but then gradually approached after realizing there was no danger.
"This person... why does he look so familiar?"
"Is it... The Arbiter?"
The Arbiter!
The city Guardian who saved all of Brooklyn and had been mysteriously missing for a long time had actually returned to the public eye in such a tragic manner!
This discovery, while shocking, completely piqued everyone's curiosity.
"The Arbiter? Hasn't he been gone for a long time?"
"Yeah, he hasn't appeared since the Battle of Brooklyn. I thought he'd already retired from being a superhero."
"Shit, haven't you guys realized the main point? Just what kind of person could inflict such heavy injuries on The Arbiter!"
"Ambulance, call an ambulance!"
While the surrounding onlookers were discussing animatedly,
Peter "weakly" lifted his head. From beneath the dark-gold skull mask, his weak and hurried voice emerged:
"Run... run fast!"
"The real danger... is coming soon!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it made the chattering crowd freeze on the spot.
And then... panic spread instantly like a virus.
Times Square turned into complete chaos!
Everyone was terrified by The Arbiter's wretched appearance and the doomsday prophecy from his mouth.
Screams, cries, and sirens mixed together, and the once-bustling intersection was instantly paralyzed.
People fled in all directions like headless flies. If the streets hadn't been built wide enough, a stampede would have occurred in minutes.
In just a few short minutes, the once-crowded Times Square became dead silent, as if the end of the World had arrived.
However...
After the panic, the expected scenes of earth-shattering destruction, alien invasions, or monster descents... none of them happened!
One hour passed.
Two hours passed.
Until night fell, except for the mess the public had made themselves, Times Square remained calm; not even a single alien hair appeared.
Now, everyone was dumbfounded.
What the hell was going on?
What happened to the danger? What about the end of the World?
Could it be that this was just a prank?
But today wasn't April Fool's Day!
People's hearts were filled with curiosity, and the internet was in an uproar over today's Times Square Oolong Incident.
Although people were full of doubts, given The Arbiter's illustrious record of saving Brooklyn in the past, most of the public chose to believe Peter's words.
However, while the majority of the public chose to believe, certain existences hidden in the shadows smelled a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
...
White House, President's Office.
The Mr. President, who had previously behaved so humbly before Peter, was now sitting with several Military bigwigs and a few grim-faced politicians.
On the television in front of them, reports about the "Times Square Oolong Incident" were currently playing.
"Gentlemen, our opportunity has come."
A four-star general named Mike, who was closely associated with General Ross, was the first to break the silence, his lips curling into an uncontrollable cold sneer.
His words triggered strong agreement from those around him:
"This is a great opportunity for us to weaken the reputation of this damn Punisher!"
"It's time to make this damn Little Brat lose his reputation!"
"Exactly. The reason we couldn't move against him and his family before was because of public opinion, wasn't it?"
"Now, since he chose to court death himself, don't blame us for being ruthless!"
Seeing the crowd's excitement,
Mr. President, after wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, couldn't help but speak up:
"Everyone, calm down. Don't forget that even without a reputation, that guy is enough to easily take our lives!"
"Also, do you think I need to contact him and ask what exactly the great crisis he mentioned is?"
Hearing this, the scene fell silent for a while. A moment later, Mike, the four-star general who had spoken first, said:
"I don't think that's necessary. If a danger truly arrives that even that kid can't handle, then it wouldn't matter even if we wanted to resist, would it?"
This immediately drew agreement from the surroundings:
"Mike is right. Small dangers don't need to be managed, and big dangers can't be managed!"
"Compared to that far-off danger, I just want to deal with this damn kid right now!"
"Exactly. Since this power is already completely beyond our control, I'd rather destroy him than let him continue to maintain his autonomy or fall into the hands of others!"
Seeing that everyone's opinions had reached a consensus, the President could only helplessly ask:
"Then tell me, what exactly do you plan to do!"
As soon as he said this, a fellow in the corner who had remained silent all along spoke up:
"Gentlemen, regarding Peter Parker, I have thought of a good way to give him a taste of his own medicine."
"Didn't he try to manipulate us with public opinion before? Then why don't we do the opposite? We'll use public opinion to destroy him first, and then push through a law to eliminate the problem once and for all!"
Hearing this, the spirits of the others present were instantly lifted, and they hurriedly looked at the minister and asked:
"Tell us quickly, what good way do you have to solve the problem once and for all?"
The minister pushed his glasses, revealing a calculating smile before speaking:
"We'll first put on a show of wanting to cooperate with that kid to resist the crisis. Then, we'll cry poverty to him, saying our funds aren't enough to face such a crisis. Through this method, we'll get him to take the initiative to go on a program and call for the public to pay taxes!"
Hiss~
Just as he said this, the people around him couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath. What a brilliant move to kill with a borrowed knife!
"And then!" Mike hurriedly pressed.
"Next is the real killing move." The bespectacled minister took a deep breath and dropped a bombshell:
"While his reputation is at rock bottom, I plan to take the opportunity to introduce an act I've been planning for a long time. I call it... the superhuman registration act!"
Chapter 232: A Sinister Plot
"The superhuman registration act?"
Mr. President couldn't help but frown.
"What's the rationale behind it?"
"To put it simply..." the Attorney General said sinisterly after pushing up his glasses.
"It calls for a real-name registration of all superheroes! From now on, they can no longer be masked heroes. Instead, they must let the public know their true identities and names, and the public has the right to know their location whenever a crisis occurs!"
Who among those attending this meeting wasn't a shrewd fox? They quickly realized the sheer malice of this plan.
First, the superheroes' secret identities would be forcibly exposed, and their lives would inevitably be affected.
Secondly, what would those criminals who had been suppressed by the superheroes do once they learned their true identities?
If I can't deal with you, can't I at least take revenge on your family?
Finally, and most ruthlessly, was the mandatory publication of their locations!
When a crisis occurred, the public would know immediately where the superheroes were.
Under such circumstances, if there were still casualties, it would naturally be blamed on the superheroes' incompetence.
In the future, no one would complain about the government anymore; instead, all the blame would be shifted onto the superheroes for failing to do their jobs.
This was equivalent to forcibly splitting the superheroes and civilians, who were originally in the same camp against the government.
Let the two sides fight like dogs, while the high-ranking government officials could stay hidden and safe.
Not only would they stop being criticized, but they could also play the game of balance. By simply balancing the public opinion or conflicts between the two sides, they could control both forces in their own hands!
After understanding these key points, the Military bigwigs and politicians present all showed a mixture of excitement and cruel smiles.
Brilliant!
This plan was practically killing three birds with one stone!
It could destroy The Arbiter's reputation using public opinion, take the opportunity to push through the superhuman registration act they had long dreamed of, and even... use this pretext to ruthlessly fleece the people!
"Let's do it!" General Mike slapped the table, greed flashing in his eyes. "Mr. President, contact that kid immediately and use the rhetoric we discussed!"
"This... alright."
Mr. President hesitated for a moment, but under the oppressive gazes of everyone, he finally tremblingly picked up the special phone on the desk.
...
"Peter, it's me. We take your warning at Times Squaretoday very seriously! Can you tell us in detail what the crisis you mentioned is all about?"
"Of course."
Peter cleared his throat and told the President on the other end of the line the set of rhetoric he had prepared long ago.
In his description, the Inheritor Family became a group of lunatics who enjoyed slaughtering superheroes and would destroy the Universe at any time.
At the same time, he suggested with utmost seriousness that Mr. President must build new large-scale protection and shelter facilities at all costs.
After hearing Peter's account, there was a long silence on the other end of the line.
A moment later, the President's "troubled" voice rang out again:
"Peter, on behalf of all citizens, I would like to express my highest respect for your heroic dedication! You are a true hero!"
"It's just... you know, to build an energy protection system that covers all of New York, and even the entire United States, the cost is... too enormous. With our current financial situation... we are truly powerless."
Peter had already anticipated this answer.
He sneered inwardly, but said with an anxious face:
"Mr. President, this isn't a matter of money! This is a crisis concerning the survival of all mankind! Once they arrive, the entire Earth will be devastated!"
"I understand, of course I understand!" The President's tone sounded like he was about to cry from anxiety.
"But the problem is, we really can't come up with that much money! More importantly, the taxpayers won't understand!"
"If they knew we were using money to build those illusory safety facilities, they would only think we were throwing their money away!"
"Then what should we do?"
Peter showed an anxious attitude that perfectly matched his age.
"Those monsters could come at any time. If we delay any longer, it will be too late, and many people will die because of it! I'm definitely not being alarmist!"
"I know, Peter, I can understand how you feel!"
Mr. President comforted Peter, then exchanged a look with the high-ranking officials around him who were stifling their laughter before speaking:
"Let me think... I've got it! Perhaps we can use your reputation and the power of the media."
"I'll contact the TV stations immediately to broadcast emergency news, and you, as The Arbiter, will explain all this to the public! Let them understand how severe the crisis we face is. How about that?"
"This might be the only way... Only then can we convince Congress and the public to agree to this emergency appropriation!"
Listening to the President's "sincere" performance on the other end of the line, Peter almost laughed out loud on the spot.
These politicians really couldn't wait to ruin his reputation!
However, this was exactly the effect he wanted!
Therefore, Peter also suppressed his laughter and said in a "righteous" tone:
"I understand. For New York, for our home, I am willing to step forward and take responsibility for all of this!"
"That's great! Mr. Punisher, rest assured, we will fully cooperate with you!"
After hanging up the phone, the "weakness" and "solemnity" on Peter's face vanished instantly, replaced by a playful smile.
Beside him, Tony and Captain America were completely dumbfounded.
Tony stared at Peter in shock, as if looking at an alien.
"Peter, are you crazy? You're putting yourself on the chopping block!"
Even Tony, who was usually known for being outrageous in the public eye, felt that Peter was courting death.
Even Steve, who had always trusted Peter unconditionally, couldn't help but frown now.
"Peter, this is too risky. The public's trust is hard-earned; once lost, it's very difficult to regain."
However, facing their concerns, Peter just smiled dismissively.
He turned around and looked at these two core members of the Avengers, his eyes flashing with wisdom.
"Don't worry, this is all part of my plan."
"Besides... for this show to have the greatest impact, I can't do it alone."
Peter's gaze swept across Tony and Steve's faces one by one, a mysterious curve forming at the corners of his mouth.
"The next part of the script still needs your heartfelt performances."
"Us? Performances?"
Tony and Steve looked at each other, both seeing deep confusion in each other's eyes.
Perform what?
Facing their bewildered gazes, Peter smiled and uttered a word that made Tony and Captain America gasp in horror:
"Civil War!"
Chapter 233: Either Give Your Money, or Your Life
Captain America and Tony almost thought Peter had gone mad.
But as Peter laid out the complete plan and his speculations regarding the high-level government officials, they gradually began to calm down.
"Based on my understanding of those politicians, it's indeed possible they'd pull such a ridiculous stunt," Tonysaid, rubbing his chin, clearly convinced of and validating Peter's claims and plan.
Captain America, on the other hand, had his brow tightly furrowed; this Old Popsicle's mindset was quite simple.
At this moment, only one thought occupied his mind—can people really be wicked to such an extent?
"I'll maintain a wait-and-see attitude on this."
After a long silence, Captain America spoke with difficulty:
"I don't believe those people could be stupid to that degree... Of course, if all of this unfortunately does happen, then I am willing to unconditionally accept the tasks you assign to me."
Hearing this, Peter didn't press him, merely offering Captain America an enigmatic smile:
"In that case, let's just wait and see."
...
The following afternoon, the White House, TV Broadcasting Hall.
The studio was brightly lit, but the atmosphere felt somewhat eerie.
The host wore a professional smile, but deep in his eyes lurked a trace of contempt and mockery that was hard to hide.
The audience below was the same; rather than attending an interview, it felt more like they were there to watch a circus performance.
And the sole protagonist of this performance was none other than 'The Arbiter' in his dark gold skull Battle Suit—Peter Parker.
The production team had clearly 'put in effort'; they hadn't made this episode a serious news interview, but instead arranged it like a midnight variety show.
Multicolored lights swept across Peter's Battle Suitrepeatedly, making The Arbiter, who should have been full of mystery and majesty, look like a cheap cosplayer.
To ruin Peter's reputation, the politicians simply manipulated all official and unofficial TV stations to force the broadcast of this live stream.
"We interrupt with an emergency news flash. New York's famous masked hero, 'The Arbiter,' will make an official statement regarding the commotion that occurred at Times Square yesterday."
The host opened with an exaggerated tone,
and the on-site cameras immediately focused on Peter, causing viewers across the country watching their TVs to be momentarily stunned.
The Arbiter was actually accepting an official interview!
"Mr. Punisher," after some brief pleasantries, the host leaned forward, putting on a concerned facade,
"We've all heard the warning you spread at Times Squareabout a 'future crisis.' Could you tell us why you did that?"
Hearing this, Peter looked up and, through the skull mask, spoke in an incredibly solemn tone:
"Because I have seen a future where the New York of another Universe was destroyed!"
Over the next while, Peter began to earnestly recount how he traveled through time and space, how he saw the Spider-Man of that Universe die a tragic death at the hands of the Inheritors, and how he saw that Universedestroyed by the terrifying power of those Inheritors.
Finally, Peter concluded:
"Everything that happened yesterday was indeed a misunderstanding. I don't know why those damned Inheritors didn't follow immediately.
Perhaps they haven't discovered our Universe yet, or perhaps we are protected by some kind of rules.
But I can say with certainty that danger could descend at any moment—maybe tomorrow, maybe in a week, or a month... This is a grueling war, and all of us must be prepared."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was full of power, as if he were recounting a nightmare he had personally experienced.
The entire studio gradually fell silent.
The mockery and disdain on people's faces unconsciously softened significantly under Peter's infectious narrative.
However, just as the atmosphere was becoming heavy, the host suddenly laughed and interjected:
"Wow, that sounds... absolutely thrilling! I mean... you know, even a James Cameron Hollywood blockbuster wouldn't have something so exaggerated!"
His words instantly shattered the serious atmosphere Peter had just built.
The 'audience' members in the studio also burst into fits of laughter.
The atmosphere on-site and in front of the televisions instantly became lighthearted and humorous. Some viewers watching at home couldn't help but roast him:
"Parallel Universes? A Spider Army? Is this guy high?"
"I seriously suspect this guy touched some illegal substances during the half-month he disappeared, otherwise how could he say such ridiculous things?"
"Time travel + Vampire family war against the Spider Army, this is just too far-fetched!"
It had been too long since the Hulk and Abominationincident, so long that many people had forgotten the terror of that battle.
They had forgotten how dangerous this World truly was.
Now, with the host setting the pace, many people subconsciously rejected Peter in their hearts.
In the time that followed, similar situations repeated over and over.
Peter warned the public to be careful with a serious face, but no matter what he said, it would be deconstructed by the host's humorous remarks, twisting the World-ending crisis he spoke of into an unrealistic joke.
To avoid suspicion and to help those politicians fall better into the trap he had set, Peter didn't act entirely like an idiot.
Instead, after being repeatedly interrupted by the host, he suddenly stood up in a rage and roared at him:
"Damn it, I've had enough! Do you fucking think I'm joking with you?"
As he spoke, he casually formed a Rasengan and slammed it into the long table in front of him, instantly grinding it to pieces:
"Do I need to use actual actions to tell you what kind of battle I experienced, and to show you how those civilians were crushed by those monsters as easily as squashing a bug!"
His sudden outburst startled everyone present.
The viewers in front of their TVs also subconsciously shuddered, their expressions varying.
Some fans who believed in The Arbiter became more firm in their beliefs, thinking Peter wasn't lying and that danger really was coming.
But more people subconsciously frowned, merely feeling that Peter's sudden outburst made him look like a patient with intermittent explosive disorder.
This 'I have power so I can make you listen to me' posture triggered resentment in many people.
It even led to a bit of worry and ill-will toward the community of superheroes as a whole.
If these egomaniacs with super-strength suddenly snapped one day like The Arbiter on TV, what would happen?
Once they went on a rampage, who could stop them?
While people were pondering this question, the host's trembling voice came from the television:
"Don't be angry, Mr. Punisher. I certainly believe what you're saying is true, but I do have a question. If, as you say, we need to establish high-tech energy defense measures sufficient to protect all of New York, or even the entire United States..."
"...This would undoubtedly require an astronomical sum of money. May I ask, where should this money come from?"
This question was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing straight at the vital point.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Peter's answer.
Amidst such widespread expectation, Peter slowly raised his head and, in an unquestionable tone, gave the answer that was destined to ignite public opinion.
"Levy taxes on society."
"This is a crisis that concerns every single one of us, even the survival of all humanity. In the face of this catastrophe, no one can remain unaffected.
Either you pay with money, or you'll have to pay with your life!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire place erupted in an uproar!
Chapter 234: registration act? I Predicted Your Prediction!
As soon as he finished speaking, the whole place was in an uproar!
No, it wasn't just the scene.
Through the television signals, Peter's statement—which could be described as an extreme theory—shot through the screens like a bullet, piercing the hearts of every American watching TV.
In an instant, the entire country's public opinion exploded.
"Is he crazy? He actually expects us to take money out of our own pockets to build defense measures so that those trash can survive?"
In a luxury penthouse in Manhattan, New York, a financial tycoon who had just made a fortune through short-selling smashed his wine glass against the massive floor-to-ceiling window in a fit of rage:
"Is this guy an idiot? I'd rather spend tens of millions of dollars building an all-alloy safe room than spend a cent to help those poor bastards stay alive!"
In an ordinary household in Queens, the head of the family slammed the remote onto the coffee table with a loud thud, knocking the family portrait frame on the low table askew.
"Fuck! Does that son of a bitch really know what he's saying? We work ourselves to death every day, and the money we earn is barely enough to make ends meet.
And now he wants to raise taxes with just one sentence? On what grounds! Has he ever saved me? He's the God of Brooklyn! What does that have to do with me in Queens!"
His wife hesitated to speak; she had once been saved by Ghost-Spider, so she had a very favorable impression of superheroes.
But... a tax hike was indeed a lethal noose for a family like theirs, which was living right on the edge.
Similar scenes were playing out in countless households.
The public was full of complaints about the tax hike suggestion, and the capitalists wished these masked monsters who wanted to squeeze them for money would just drop dead.
As a result, social media was completely ignited, and for a time, the entire online World was flooded with the following hashtags:
"#The Arbiter Get Out of New York#"
"#Say No to Tax Hikes#"
"#Superheroes? Money-Making Tools!#"
One inflammatory headline after another, paired with screenshots of Peter saying "Either pay up, or lose your life" on TV, frantically provoked the sensitive nerves of the masses.
The American 'happy education' system ensured that the lower classes lacked the ability to think critically, let alone learn how to prepare for a rainy day.
They only knew that if aliens came, they *might* die, but if the government raised taxes to establish a defense organization, they would *definitely* die next month!
Thus, this group of people—who could be convinced that drinking disinfectant could cure diseases with just one word from the President—could easily change their inner convictions because of the overwhelming rhetoric on the internet.
In just over ten minutes, the government petition platform was overwhelmed and crashed.
Following that, angry crowds spontaneously took to the streets, forming large-scale protests, chanting in unison to boycott the tax hike and boycott The Arbiter!
Except for Brooklyn, which remained relatively calm, the rest of the United States was almost completely swallowed by such waves of sound.
...
The White House, the Oval Office.
Looking at the overwhelming negative comments on the screen and the angry crowds spontaneously protesting in the streets on the television programs.
Four-star General Mike laughed so hard his mouth almost reached his ears. He slapped his thigh and nearly fell to the floor from leaning back too far:
"Did that fool really think he could do whatever he wanted just because he has a little power?"
"He really walked right into the crosshairs this time," an official from the Department of Defense echoed, a reserved smile on his lips. "Just a kid who doesn't understand politics, actually thinking everyone would obey his every command?"
After the brief excitement, everyone turned their gaze toward the President.
The meaning was more than obvious: it was time to propose the "registration act"!
...
The White House, which had often appeared incredibly sluggish when facing turbulent public opinion in the past, acted with unprecedented speed this time.
While the angry crowds were loudly protesting against the tax hike and against The Arbiter in the streets,
The giant screens in Times Square lit up, and the President's face appeared before the public, beginning to recite the relevant rhetoric that had long been prepared.
The general content of the entire speech was very simple.
The money for the defense facilities would be funded by the government; the government would not impose mandatory taxes.
But the prerequisite was that superheroes must pass the registration act, becoming registered heroes under 24-hour government supervision and responsible for disclosing all their information to the public.
This speech was like pouring a ladle of ice water into a boiling pot of oil.
The angry masses instantly found an outlet for their frustration, feeling they had finally found a perfect solution to "solve the problem" without having to pay a cent or bear any cost.
"Yes! That's how it should be!"
"Support the registration act! Why should those superpowered individuals be allowed to do whatever they want while hiding their faces?"
"Want us to believe in the crisis you mentioned? Fine, take off your mask first! Let us see who you really are!"
"If they don't register, I won't pay a single cent more in taxes! Anyway, if the sky falls, those tall guys will be the ones to hold it up!"
Out of fear of tax hikes and an irrepressible curiosity about the true identities of superheroes, almost over ninety percent of the public clearly expressed their support for the superhuman registration act.
A massive storm, ignited by Peter himself and fueled by the high-level government officials, had already taken shape.
As the one who actively provoked this storm, Peter looked at the protesting crowds outside the floor-to-ceiling window. Not only did he lack any sense of worry, but he leisurely began drinking an Ice Cola.
There was even a relaxed smile on his face.
It wasn't a bitter smile, nor was it a cold sneer.
Rather, it was a confident smile of "I predicted your prediction."
Watching various experts on TV eloquently analyzing how the "registration act" had a hundred benefits and not a single harm for the public, Peter even felt like sending them a commemorative banner—'The Best Assist, Who Else but You'.
...
While Peter was leisurely drinking his Ice Cola and marveling at how "obedient and useful" these tools were, Tony and Captain America once again couldn't sit still.
"Damn it, Peter, you were right. Those politicians would actually go to such lengths!"
The expression on Captain America's face was complex to the extreme.
He never imagined that after dedicating almost everything he had to this country, he would end up facing such a conclusion.
They worked themselves to the bone to protect the public, only to have to endure the public feeling entitled to trample on their right to privacy?
Compared to Captain America's disappointment with the high-level government,
Tony, who had long seen through the faces of those politicians, was only curious about what Peter's next step would be.
"Buddy, this powder keg you've ignited this time won't be so easy to extinguish."
"Once things develop to a point that none of us can control... what do you plan to do then?"
"Are we really going to split into two teams and have a real fight with real weapons in front of the cameras like the Joker said?"
"It certainly won't develop to that extent."
Peter's voice was still relaxed, his tone full of the confidence of having everything under control:
"Remember 'Inheritors' I told you to prepare to resist from the very beginning? They will help us settle all the opposing voices!"
Chapter 235 Captain America: Peter will make this country great again!
This was because Gwen had only told Tony and the others to watch out for the arrival of Inheritors.
And Peter had only told Tony and the others that he wanted to use a method of self-defamation to take the initiative in exposing the government's ugly face.
At first, Tony and Captain America really didn't connect these two things.
They simply thought Peter wanted to use the arrival of Inheritors as a way to stir things up step-by-step.
But now, hearing Peter say it like this, Tony gradually caught on:
"Shit, don't tell me you actually knew from the very beginning when those Vampires would descend upon New York."
Peter glanced at him and then spoke with a smile:
"If that weren't the case, why do you think I chose this moment to stir all of this up?"
At this point, Peter finally chose to reveal his entire plan.
He raised his hand and snapped his fingers, and a 3D projection of a New York map immediately appeared in the office.
Peter's finger pointed in the direction of Hells Kitchen as he spoke:
"If nothing goes wrong, the Inheritor Family will descend on New York in three to five days at most. At that time, I intend for this place to become the main battlefield where we engage them!"
"Hells Kitchen hasn't been very peaceful since I killed Kingpin."
"Although Daredevil fights crime every day, he can't stop the ambitions of those gang members who want to swallow Kingpin's legacy."
"If we were to govern Hells Kitchen bit by bit through normal means, it would take at least several years to make it as normal as an ordinary neighborhood."
"But now, if all goes well, after our battle with Inheritors is over, this place will become the new headquarters for the Avengers, and it will also serve as the energy hub for a large-scale defense system covering all of New York."
By this time, Captain America's brain had completely disconnected.
As a veteran who only knew the thrill of battle decades ago, he was now completely unable to keep up with the rhythm of a scheming mastermind like Peter.
Compared to him, Tony, who was standing beside them, was much better.
He looked at the map of Hells Kitchen and then at the dense crowd of protesting citizens outside the window, his eyes gradually growing brighter.
"Hiss~ you guy... don't tell me you planned all of this from the very beginning!"
Peter didn't answer the question directly. Instead, he took another sip of Cola before speaking:
"As long as I don't show up and don't respond to my actions, and as long as you all maintain this tense attitude, the protests outside will not stop."
"But people who truly need to support their families won't participate in protests for several days in a row. So, can you guess who will be left in the protest ranks by then?"
Captain America finally found an opportunity to show off, so he quickly responded:
"Either vagrants who have nothing left and don't plan to live a good life, or lackeys shouting on behalf of those politicians and capitalists!"
Tony added an extra point from the side:
"Furthermore, they are extreme anti-superhero lunatics!"
"Exactly!" Peter gave him a satisfied look and then spoke meaningfully:
"If someone is destined to be harmed because of the arrival of Inheritors, then I would rather it be these people."
"At that time, in front of the World's cameras, right above the heads of these crowds shouting'Superheroes get out'—"
Peter held up the finished Cola bottle and tossed it from mid-air onto the coffee table:
"The Inheritor Family will descend from the sky!"
"I will let them see with their own eyes how the 'masked thugs' they talk about stand in front of them when they are most desperate."
"Let them witness firsthand how we superheroes, who were supposedly on the verge of a 'civil war,' set aside all 'conflicts,' unite, and fight bloody battles in the face of a foreign enemy!"
"When the time comes..." Peter spread his hands, a smile like a successful prankster appearing on his face,
"Do you think those survivors among the protesters will still have the face to continue holding up signs telling us to get out of New York?"
"Once even this toughest group of hardliners is dealt with, who else will stand against us in the future and continue to help those old foxes on Capitol Hill promote that ridiculous registration act?"
"More importantly, when we personally prove that we were all right, then... who will be the one who was wrong? Who will step forward to take the blame for all the losses?"
"Hiss~"
After Peter finished speaking, Tony and Steve couldn't help but suck in another breath of cold air.
He had made an outstanding contribution to global warming.
Connected!
Everything, every single part of it, was now connected!
It turned out that Peter wasn't just reacting to moves as they came, nor was he being led by the nose by those politicians.
On the contrary, it could be said that he, by himself, had intentionally allowed the situation to develop to its current state.
All for the sake of solving all the problems in one fell swoop!
When the time comes, Hells Kitchen will be purified.
Those haters who targeted them as superheroes at every turn will weep with regret for their previous actions.
The lords on Capitol Hill will witness what it means to 'dig a big pit only to end up burying yourself'!
Finally, and most crucially, from now on, they will have the final say in this country!
When they want to implement any plans in the future that can truly benefit the common people, they will no longer face any obstacles!
"You kid are really a freak!" Tony couldn't help but shake his head and sigh:
"It's one thing to be strong, but how can you be even more devious with these schemes than those scheming bastards on Capitol Hill!"
Compared to Tony's sigh, Captain America's response was more direct and sincere:
"Peter, I sincerely suggest you become the President of this country in the future. I'm serious. I'm certain now that only you will make this country great again!"
Hearing this, Peter's mouth couldn't help but twitch, and the figure of a certain 'Tax King' involuntarily appeared in his mind:
"Forget it, let George or Norman sit in that position! I still prefer this free and easy life."
"Besides, since you are all clear on my plan, it's time for you to do your part. Stir this water up as much as possible for me!"
Thus, on the day after the White House proposed the 'registration act,' Tony and Captain America were 'accidentally' encountered by the media one after another.
Facing the cameras and microphones of the media, the two did not hesitate and directly gave completely different answers.
Tony opened his Battle Suit faceplate and spoke with a serious expression:
"I support the superhuman registration act."
"Additionally, I believe that while The Arbiter's proposal was radical in its methods, his concerns were correct. We are indeed facing unknown threats."
"Therefore, I announce that Stark Industries will fully support the government. Not only will we provide the most advanced technology to assist in establishing a global defense system, but I will also personally donate ten billion dollars as startup capital."
On the other side, Captain America, wearing his iconic Battle Suit, accepted an interview at Punisher Square in Brooklyn:
"I cannot agree with the registration act. When a hero's identity is made public, his family and his friends will immediately become targets for retaliation by all criminals."
"This is not only a serious violation of our right to privacy, but it is also a grave irresponsibility toward the safety of our families' lives and property."
"If this truly is a free nation, we cannot allow such things to happen!"
"This is a bottom line we can never sell out. Once we bow to fear and compromise with power, everything we protect will lose its meaning!"
The two most famous superheroes below The Arbiterspoke out with two completely different stances.
Instantly, the discussion regarding the registration act was pushed to a brand-new climax.
Almost everyone had already smelled the coming storm... and countless people were secretly looking forward to the arrival of a 'Civil War' belonging to the superheroes!
Chapter 236: Best Friends Breaking Up? The Restless Skrulls
Tony and Captain America's public stances officially raised the curtain on the drama Peter had planned.
Thus, under Peter's direction, more and more "actors" began to take the stage.
About an hour later, a headline from a gossip tabloid exploded across social networks:
Secret organization S.H.I.E.L.D. superheroes "Black Widow" Natasha Romanoff and "Hawkeye" Clint Bartonmet secretly with high-ranking Military officials late at night, suspected of reaching a consensus on the registration act!
The report devoted a massive amount of space to recounting the origins of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the past resumes of Black Widow and Hawkeye.
Netizens were blown away by what they read, and Black Widow's divine beauty gained her countless fans.
But this report had only just begun to ferment when another bombshell was dropped immediately afterward.
New York City's Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, "Ghost-Spider," publicly released a video on her social media account.
In the video, she wore her Battle Suit, swinging through the streets of New York, her voice tired but firm:
"I will never accept the registration act. I can face danger to protect the citizens of New York, but I will never allow my family and loved ones to be troubled because of my identity."
Below this video, countless supporters and opponents instantly flooded in, and the comment section turned directly into a battlefield.
And the one who pushed this drama to its climax was Ghost-Spider's best friend, who had been fighting alongside her for a long time and was known by many as one of the "Superhero Sisters," "Nightingale."
She accepted an interview with the media and stated:
"If the registration act can accelerate the construction of defense facilities, then I am willing to sacrifice my right to privacy to protect more people.
If Ghost-Spider is unwilling to accept the registration act, then our friendship perhaps... should end here."
Oh my goodness~
The moment they saw this news, the nationwide audience was as excited as badgers in a melon patch, jumping up and down.
The hashtag #SpiderNightingaleBestFriendsBreakUp shot straight to third on the trending list, second only to the videos of Tony and Captain America's statements.
First, two superhero giants were in public opposition, and then the new generation of best friend heroes turned against each other. This plot development was far more exciting than those Hollywood blockbusters!
In an instant, the public was completely divided into three factions.
The "Registration Faction" who supported the act, the "Libertarians" who opposed it, and the "Chaos Faction" who just wanted to see blood flow.
The three parties didn't just engage in fierce discussions online; they didn't stop in reality either.
Looking across the U.S., believers of the three factions could be seen tearing into each other almost everywhere, and some with plenty of martial virtue had even begun to let their fists do the talking.
In the White House, the President and a group of politicians watched the news popping up one after another, each of them grinning from ear to ear.
Caught up in the moment, they didn't find the speed of events unusual at all, assuming the various vocal channels they had signaled to exert pressure were simply working.
As a result, they were all smiles, even starting to pop the champagne at the halfway mark.
They not only organized a grand scale party, but also shouted crazily during the banquet:
"A bunch of rabble, they can't even take a single hit!"
"Add more fuel to the fire! Organize larger-scale marches! Go to Punisher Square! Go to Stark Tower! Go to everywhere related to them! We must make sure they end up in a total civil war!"
...
Mar-Vell's Near-Earth Orbit Laboratory.
In a dim underground space, a group of green-skinned, pointy-eared aliens were staring intently at the Earth news being broadcast on the screen.
These people were precisely the Skrulls who had been lurking on Earth for years.
Watching the various images on the television, the Skrullswere all incredibly excited.
A few young Skrulls couldn't help but speak to the leader:
"General Talos! Our chance has come!"
"The Earthlings are in internal strife! Their Guardians are fighting among themselves, and no one will notice us! Now is the best time for us to replace those politicians and take control of this country!"
"Exactly! As long as we take this opportunity to secretly control their high-level politicians, we can gradually make the Earthlings accept our existence in the future, and even make them our slaves!"
In the underground space, more than half of the Skrulls felt this was a god-given opportunity.
However, the one they called General, Talos, remained unmoved.
It wasn't just being unmoved; Talos's brow was completely furrowed into a deep frown.
As a bystander, he keenly sensed the abnormality in the direction of events.
It was too smooth, or rather, too chaotic.
The speed was so fast it was as if an invisible hand was silently manipulating everything from behind the scenes.
Realizing something was amiss, Talos frowned and pondered for a moment before speaking:
"Bring that Earthling here."
The Skrulls looked at each other, but ultimately chose to obey the General's command, bringing up a tightly bound Nick Fury—the man who hadn't shown his face for a long time.
"Nick, what do you think of the current situation on Earth?"
Talos narrowed his eyes at Nick Fury, seemingly trying to see through to his truest inner thoughts.
As for Nick Fury, after looking at the chaos on the television screen for a moment, an ambiguous curve suddenly formed at the corner of his mouth:
"Respected General Talos, please believe me, this is absolutely that fellow Peter Parker playing tricks behind the scenes!"
Why is it said that your opponent often knows you better than your lover?
As the unlucky guy who was used by Peter throughout and eventually lost his position as Director entirely.
Nick Fury was one million percent certain that Peter was definitely the mastermind behind all of this.
Based on his understanding of Peter, that kid was a pure schemer; it was absolutely impossible for him to do something so stupid.
He then took a deep breath and warned Talos with a serious face:
"If you choose to take action at this time, not only will you not get the results you want, but you will more likely alert the enemy and lead Peter to discover your existence.
That guy is not a Pacifista like me. When the time comes, everyone present here will, at best, be expelled from Earth, and at worst..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Talos understood his meaning.
So, without any hesitation, he ordered:
"Until things are clear, no one is allowed to act rashly! We will just be the audience and quietly watch the show."
"But Leader..."
"That is an order!"
The Skrulls then left dejectedly, and Nick Fury was once again escorted back to his cell by the Skrulls beside him.
Back in his cell, Nick Fury closed his eyes, recalling everything he had seen on the computer screen.
He couldn't help but murmur to himself in his heart:
"Peter Parker, I don't believe that after seeing the data I left at S.H.I.E.L.D., you still know nothing about this place.
I've done you a big favor this time... you kid should at least give me a chance to turn over a new leaf."
But what Nick Fury didn't know was that after he left, a strange light flashed in Talos's eyes.
His thoughts were consistent with Nick Fury's, believing that the situation this time was not simple.
However, what was happening now served as a reminder to him; perhaps in the future, they could also stir up a similar dispute, thereby winning the right for their Skrullsto live freely on this Planet without having to hide anymore.
Almost at the same time the Skrulls decided to stay put,
above Times Square in New York,
the sky there, without any warning, cracked open with countless crimson fissures like a piece of shattered glass!
Chapter 237: Inheritors Descend, There Is No Medicine for Regret in This World
Times Square, New York.
It had long been submerged by an angry crowd of protesters.
Tens of thousands of people held up various slogans, merging into an ocean of humanity.
On a high platform, a fat man held a banner that read "Registration Act Petition Group," shouting crazily:
"The Arbiter, get out of New York!"
"Refuse tax hikes! Give me back my hard-earned money!"
"Support the registration act! Superheroes are not outlaws!"
"Take off the masks! Accept supervision!"
With every shout, the marching crowd responded in kind.
The atmosphere reached a fever pitch with each slogan; fanatical emotions spread through the crowd like a grand religious ceremony.
They firmly believed they were the embodiment of justice, representatives of public opinion, conducting a great revolution.
However, none of them noticed the eerie changes occurring in the sky above.
The first to notice something wrong was a TV station photographer conducting a live broadcast.
Through the lens, he accidentally scanned the sky and instantly froze.
"What... what is that?"
Amidst his exclamation, the people belatedly looked up, only then seeing that terrifying red rift and the six figures slowly walking out from it.
They wore classical and magnificent clothing, their expressions arrogant, like gods inspecting their territory. But what they emanated was a pure killing intent that could freeze one's soul.
The Inheritor Family, descends!
Morlun, the leader, sniffed the air, a look of intoxication and a cruel smile appearing on his face:
"Should I say it's expected of a Universe where the otherexists? The aura of life here is so vibrant it's simply intoxicating."
The female Inheritor, Bora, looked down at the fanatically clamoring crowd, her gaze like looking at a flock of lambs to be slaughtered:
"What are they shouting?"
"It doesn't matter." Deimos revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "Based on the experience I've gathered from destroying over a hundred Universes, as long as we carry out indiscriminate attacks on these fragile creatures, our delicacy will surely jump out."
As soon as he finished speaking, Morlun dove toward the most densely populated area below.
"Family, I declare the appetizer phase has begun!"
The moment the words fell, Morlun had already flashed into the crowd.
His thrusting right hand seemed to turn into the sharpest spear in the world; with just one strike, he pierced the hearts of more than ten people, skewering them like human skewers.
"BOOM!!!"
Deimos wasn't willing to let Morlun take all the glory, so he followed closely behind, diving down.
He landed right on the high platform in the center of the procession.
The fat man who had been holding forth on the platform just moments ago had his head blown apart by a single punch from Deimos.
Red and white matter sprayed wildly.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
The slogans that sounded like mountain tsunamis came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone stared blankly at the six god-like figures in the sky and at the leader of the petition group, whose head was gone and whose neck was still spurting blood; they felt their minds go blank.
In front of their TVs, viewers watching the live broadcast at home were also stunned.
"Is... is this... special effects?" a girl asked tremblingly.
In the next second, the screams at the scene answered her question.
"AAAAAAHHHH!!!"
The silence was instantly shattered, replaced by a terror that spread like a plague!
"Monsters! Dammit, everything The Arbiter said was true!"
"Run! Run!"
"Help! Someone save me!"
The crowd instantly exploded into chaos; everyone was desperately pushing and trampling those around them just to escape this land of death.
The so-called "public opinion" and "justice" were fragile and vulnerable in the face of the fear of death.
The placards in their hands were scattered all over the ground, crushed by panicked footprints; the words "The Arbiter, get out of New York" on them seemed so ironic and ridiculous.
Carnage began.
Inheritors enjoyed this game of slaughter; every time they struck, they took over a dozen lives.
And their actions were being faithfully transmitted to every corner of the U.S. through the scene's cameras and drone footage.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Those who had been mocking The Arbiter online for "alarmism" just a few days ago now felt cold all over, as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.
The crisis... has really come!
And it was faster and more cruel than anyone had imagined!
A middle-aged white man, originally dressed in fine clothes, was now slumped miserably on the ground. His designer suit was covered in countless footprints, and fragments of internal organs were faintly visible at the corner of his mouth.
Now, only one emotion remained in his heart: regret.
If time could be turned back, he would be willing to offer his entire fortune to let The Arbiter build defense facilities that could protect all of New York.
Unfortunately... there is no medicine for regret in this world.
A mother holding her child fell to the ground in despair. Seeing a female Inheritor walking towards her with a sneer, her eyes were filled with endless remorse.
She remembered how she was still posting online yesterday, cursing The Arbiter, supporting the registration act, and calling his warnings mere alarmism.
Now, she knew she was wrong, truly wrong!
"I was wrong... I was really wrong..."
She sat paralyzed on the spot, terrified, with only one thought left in her mind.
Someone save us...
The Arbiter... superheroes, where are you all?
Opposite this mother and child, the Inheritor Verna had already raised her energy whip.
She was finally tired of the cat-and-mouse game; it was time to finish off these two weak humans!
Crack~
The whip tore through the air with a loud crack, and the mother and child sitting on the ground closed their eyes in despair.
But at this critical moment!
Whoosh~
A streak of dark-gold light seemed to tear through space, arriving in an instant at a speed exceeding the limits of visual capture!
Verna's expression changed drastically. Her hunter's instinct made her sense a fatal threat. Without a second thought, she immediately diverted her attack, swinging the energy whip toward the approaching figure.
Ping~
The whip struck the black-gold armor, creating ripples of eerie undulations, but the masked man who was hit head-on remained unmoved.
Instead, he raised his hand and punched Verna, sending her less-than-sturdy frame flying over a dozen meters away.
The mother, who had closed her eyes to wait for death, waited for who knows how long, but never felt the pain arrive.
She then cautiously opened her eyes a crack.
Through this crack, she saw a tall and magnificent figure standing before her and her child.
A soft white light was currently glowing from this person's hand.
Under the effect of this light, the wound on her son's knee healed instantly.
The iconic black-gold skull mask was clearly quite sinister, but in the eyes of this mother at this moment, it appeared incredibly holy.
It's The Arbiter!
He really came!
Even though they had once clearly opposed him and even hysterically insulted him, when they were in despair, he had put aside past grievances to save them...
Slap!
Without any hesitation, the mother suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself hard.
I actually doubted The Arbiter's intentions before?
Am I even a fucking human being!
Chapter 238: I Really Deserve to Die!
At this moment, it wasn't just this mother who thought she "deserved to die."
When the camera captured the moment Peter appeared, the audience across the country felt an inexplicable shock.
In the past few days, what kind of life had The Arbiter been living?
Cyberbullied by the whole nation, mocked as a clown, and backstabbed by countless New York citizens he worked so hard to protect!
If they were in The Arbiter's shoes, they would have probably turned dark long ago.
But now, when the lives of New York citizens were threatened and they fell into despair, that man didn't choose to stand by. Instead, he took the initiative to step forward and protect those who opposed him!
What a noble spirit this is!
At this moment, watching The Arbiter fight the Inheritor Family all alone...
Countless people felt as if something was blocking their throats, an uncomfortable sensation.
"I know your target is me. In that case, follow me. Let's settle this somewhere else."
Peter, wearing his black-gold Battle Suit, looked calmly at the Inheritor Family, who were staring at him with greedy eyes.
There wasn't a hint of trembling in his voice.
Seeing that "the other" had finally appeared, the members of the Inheritor Family all showed the sadistic gazes of predators watching a prey fall into a trap.
You must know, every single one of them was a being who had once destroyed countless Universes!
Therefore, although they had confirmed through Deimosthat the other's strength was quite impressive, they still had absolute confidence in their collective combat power.
This was the first time in hundreds of years that the Inheritor Family had fought together.
The last opponent that required their entire family to assemble for battle was the Master Weaver!
Even the Master Weaver, a low-level deity, had fallen at their hands and become their slave.
How many rounds could a mere other last under the combined assault of their whole family?
Thus, Morlun and the others had no intention of refusing Peter's proposal, even treating it as Peter's "last wish."
"Even though your current attempt to reduce casualties is nothing but a futile effort—once you die, this Universe will collapse along with your death.
But since you want to pick a suitable place to bury your bones, we don't mind giving you some end-of-life care."
As Morlun spoke, he made a casual "after you" gesture, looking completely confident and in control.
The scene was broadcast live to the TV screens of the national audience through the cameras.
When they saw Peter leading Inheritors to Hells Kitchen...
And Inheritors silently following behind like jackals waiting for their prey to die, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of tragic heroism.
Mr. Punisher... he would actually rather sacrifice himself to save these protesters who opposed him.
Even knowing he is going to die, does he hope to completely clear out Hells Kitchen, this scar of New York, before he passes?
What a noble spirit.
He really... I'm crying my eyes out.
The audience watched in silence as Peter led the Inheritor Family away from Times Square; it felt just like... watching Tiga turn into a stone statue right before their eyes.
At this moment, even the haters who had previously resented The Arbiter let it go.
One by one, they truly wished they could lend their light to The Arbiter.
...
"Is this the place?"
After Peter arrived at Hells Kitchen, he stopped moving forward.
Morlun and the others, whose patience was also nearing its end, couldn't help but comment on Hells Kitchen:
"I thought you'd pick a place with beautiful scenery as your burial ground, but you chose a place full of trash? Your taste is truly hard to describe."
He was unscrupulously mocking Peter.
And while the audience across America clenched their fists in hatred but were powerless...
In the sky, a piercing sonic boom rang out!
A gold and red streak of light burst into the battlefield, arms spread wide. The repulsors in his palms blasted away an Inheritor who was still trying to slaughter the nearby marchers:
"Hey, Punisher, you're being a bit unfair. Stealing the spotlight all by yourself without calling me, huh?"
Behind him, a quinjet slowly landed, and Nightingale, Natasha, Hawkeye, and others stepped out.
Almost at the same moment they appeared, the figure of Steve Rogers leaped down from a nearby building:
"And us!"
Behind him stood Ghost-Spider, Daredevil, Iron Fist, White Tiger, and other street-level heroes who had publicly expressed their opposition to the registration act in the media.
Seeing these people appear, the national audience was stunned for a moment, then one by one, they showed incredibly complex expressions.
Superheroes!
It was those superheroes who, not long ago, were publicly opposed in the media—one side supporting registration, the other firmly against it.
While the entire internet was looking forward to these superheroes starting a civil war to satisfy their dark "bored, I want to see a bloodbath" mentality...
They chose without hesitation to put aside their internal conflicts and rush to the battlefield together to help The Arbiter resist the foreign enemy.
At this moment, the actions of Tony and Captain Americawere like a mirror, completely exposing the ugliness within the audience's hearts.
In the distant White House in Washington...
The high-level politicians were now like ducks being choked by their necks, the smiles on their faces as stiff as low-quality plaster statues.
Seeing the appearance of the superheroes, their moods were complex to the extreme.
On one hand, hope couldn't help but rise in their hearts, thinking that the combination of superheroes might repel these damn Inheritors.
But on the other hand, they realized a terrifying future that belonged uniquely to them.
That was that the superheroes they regarded as "pawns" and "consumables" were now united once again like a solid block of iron.
In this situation, if these Inheritors were really driven back by these superheroes...
Then after Inheritors were dealt with, who would be the second group to be liquidated?
The answer to this question is so hard to guess...
At this thought, the politicians' faces turned pale. For a moment, they didn't even know which side they should support to win.
While their thoughts were complex to the extreme...
Another change actually occurred on the scene.
"How can such a big scene be missing us 'Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Men'!"
A slightly punk-style raspy voice rang out.
Following that, under the uncertain gazes of the national audience, one Spider-Man after another with different looks swung out from the shadows!
Punk Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker, Spider-Ham... a dense Spider Army composed of dozens of Spider-Men descended from the sky!
At this moment, the entire American audience fell into a collective silence.
Everyone stared blankly at the screen.
Crossing time and space... the Spider Army...
These things that were treated as jokes not long ago, which they were certain were just The Arbiter's nonsensical ramblings after getting high, were now being presented before their eyes in the most shocking and indisputable way!
Every word The Arbiter said... was all true.
From beginning to end, he never told a single lie.
He was truly fighting alone to protect everyone.
And we not only failed to help him but instead stabbed him in the back!
"Damn it, we really deserve to die!"
Chapter 239: Avengers, Assemble!
Just as everyone was feeling overwhelmed with guilt due to the appearance of the Spider Army, the ground of Hells Kitchen suddenly began to vibrate violently!
Rumble!
Amidst this intense shaking, a manhole cover in Hells Kitchen was mysteriously sent flying by an unknown force.
Billowing yellow sand erupted following it, forming a terrifying sandstorm that filled the sky.
Within this surging sandstorm, a behemoth composed entirely of sand and soil slowly took shape.
It was none other than "Sandman" William Baker!
At the same time, a sharp, scalp-numbing whistle echoed from high above. A figure stepping on a green flying skateboard descended from the sky like a ghost—it was the old friend of the Midtown High School students, the Green Goblin!
"Roar!"
On a distant skyscraper, the massive figure of Dr. Lizard let out a roar. Alongside Alexei, a burly man wearing a thick, rhino-like Radiation Battle Suit, he leapt from a height of a hundred meters and crashed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a ring of dust.
Shocker, The Prowler, Doctor Octopus...
One after another, supervillains who had once caused significant turmoil on the streets of New York surrounded them from all directions, as if by appointment.
The moment these supervillains appeared, viewers from other states in front of their televisions were still somewhat confused.
However, for the local New York audience, the hearts they had just let down were now hanging in their throats once again.
They had no idea that these villains had long ago been secretly recruited by Peter as members of the Shadow Fist.
They thought these villains had simply chosen this moment to make a collective comeback after being driven back by Peter.
It's over!
Every single one is a villain!
And these villains didn't show up earlier or later; they appeared exactly at this moment!
Could it be they want to play the fisherman and profit while the heroes are in a fierce battle with these Vampiremonsters!
If that's the case, New York is completely finished!
Just as countless viewers were breaking into a cold sweat for The Arbiter and the others.
The Green Goblin, leading the group, made a move that caused everyone's eyes to nearly pop out of their heads.
He slowly lowered his flying skateboard and bowed slightly toward the direction of The Arbiter.
"Mr. Punisher."
Harry's voice rang out clearly across the entire square through the amplifier on his Battle Suit.
"I admit, in the past, we really wanted you to die sooner. But now, after seeing everything you've done for this country and this city, I must say, you have successfully moved us!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding "companions" who were also former criminals, his voice carrying a hint of sarcasm:
"Compared to those useless people in Times Square, we are much more useful than them, wouldn't you say?"
Peter, wearing the Vibranium version of The Arbiter Battle Suit, met the gaze of the Green Goblin—Harry—through his mask.
Behind the seemingly stern mask, both of their expressions were hard to maintain.
'Harry, this kid really knows how to add drama for himself!'
Peter complained wildly in his heart while his peripheral vision unconsciously flickered toward the drone cameras broadcasting the event in the sky.
But it had to be said, those words were spoken beautifully.
Presumably, countless viewers in front of their TVs have already begun to frantically torment their former selves in their hearts, right?
Peter's guess was not wrong at all.
As soon as Harry finished speaking, the entire country fell into a dead silence.
If the previous gathering of heroes made the public feel guilty,
Then at this moment, the words spoken by this group of "scum" and "criminals" in their eyes were like a red-hot iron, searing deep into everyone's soul.
Even... even these wicked villains know to stand up and protect their home at this time...
Even they know who the true heroes are...
And what about us?
What were we, who call ourselves "good citizens," doing before?
We were parading, protesting, insulting, and forcing the true heroes to take off their masks, all just to pay a little less tax, all just to satisfy our pathetic curiosity.
Again... damn it, I really deserve to die!
...
On the other side, seeing the unprecedented grand assembly of superheroes and supervillains joining forces, even the members of the Inheritor Family couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.
They had traveled through countless Universes and destroyed countless Universes, but they had never seen a resistance of this scale organized in any single Universe.
"To actually achieve a unified front where all superheroes and all supervillains work together against us? I must say, the power you possess, 'the other', is indeed formidable."
Morlun looked at Peter opposite him, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.
But in the next second, that admiration turned into complete contempt.
"But that's all it is."
"Perhaps even the heavens have secretly decided to make us the victors of this battle. In your Universe, there isn't even a single superhero who can truly make us feel fear."
As he said this, several uniquely styled figures flashed through Morlun's mind.
Some held silver war hammers, some wore strange red and blue tights, and some were entirely silver as if made completely of mercury...
Morlun had witnessed those powers in other Universes; the strength of those people was indeed terrifying, making them difficult even for Inheritors to handle.
Even they had to choose to avoid their sharp edges and let go of the spider totems of those Universes.
But unfortunately... those figures that made him feel so wary are nowhere to be found in this Universe.
Beside him, Deimos, the second son of the family, shouted with a face full of disdain:
"the other, oh the other, you don't think you can deal with us with just these pieces of trash, do you?"
His finger swept over the superheroes he recognized, and he spoke contemptuously:
"Iron Man Tony Stark, the you from Earth-3490 had his neck snapped by me."
"Captain America Steve Rogers, the you from Earth-8801 was beaten to death by me with your own shield."
"As for Spider-Man... heh, you are my favorite snacks."
His tone was filled with high-and-mighty arrogance.
It was as if this "grand assembly of heroes and villains" was nothing more than a ridiculous farce.
However.
The moment he finished speaking, Peter, standing opposite him, spoke up.
From under that black-gold skull mask came a light chuckle.
The laughter wasn't loud, but it somehow made Inheritorsfeel a trace of pressure:
"Are you finished?"
"If you're finished, then it's my turn."
As he spoke, Peter raised his right arm high. His firm voice transmitted through the armor, echoing in the ears of everyone present and every viewer across the United States:
"Avengers——"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Tony, Captain America, Gwen, Harry, and all the heroes present who had appeared at his call.
This was the grand play he was using to completely take control of the United States, and it was also the final curtain call he had prepared for Inheritors:
"Assemble!"
Chapter 240: Perfect Cooperation, Peter's Methods
With Peter's shout of "Assemble!", the great battle officially began!
"Ura~!"
A roar filled with Russian fighting spirit echoed through the sky.
In the crowd, an out-of-shape middle-aged man wearing a red suit with a striking five-pointed star on his chest took the lead, charging toward the Inheritor Family like a cannonball.
It was none other than the Red Guardian, Alexei Shostakov, who had just arrived in New York and hadn't even had time to get over his jet lag.
He felt that as the elder brother, he had to set an example for these youngsters!
Of course, more importantly, he wanted to prove to the audience worldwide that he, the Red Guardian, was far more heroic than Captain America.
However, while the ideal was grand, the reality was heartbreakingly harsh.
He had only just rushed in front of the Inheritor Family and hadn't even had time to see their faces clearly.
Morlun, the leader, waved his hand impatiently and casually.
Slap~
In the next second, the Red Guardian flew backward several times faster than he had come, like a baseball hit for a home run, screaming all the way.
The terrifying strength of the Inheritor Family was fully revealed at this moment.
The hearts of the entire American audience instantly leaped into their throats as they watched the Red Guardianabout to smash into a distant skyscraper like a pile of mud, turning into a meat paste.
At the critical moment, a lithe, snow-white figure suddenly appeared.
Natasha Romanoff, wearing her symbiote suit, caught this troublesome "fake dad" in mid-air.
Her slender arms now erupted with a terrifying power completely inconsistent with her build. Her feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground before she finally managed to dissipate that immense force.
"Idiot! Do you want to die?" Natasha looked at the Red Guardian in her arms, whose chest had caved in significantly and was on the verge of death, and couldn't help but scold him with a mix of helplessness and anger.
She then brought him to Peter with an apologetic expression.
Peter used the power of the Horse Talisman to instantly restore the Red Guardian to full health.
Although this was just a minor interlude, it made all the superheroes clearly recognize the enemy's strength.
Everyone completely cast aside any thoughts of underestimating their opponents, and the battle officially commenced!
Under Peter's direction, the heroes on the scene showed no confusion, spontaneously dividing into three teams, each with its own responsibilities.
Led by Captain America, the rescue team composed of street-level heroes like Iron Fist, Daredevil, and the Spider Army took action first.
Their task was not to fight, but to use their familiarity with the terrain to evacuate the innocent civilians still trapped in Hells Kitchen as quickly as possible.
On the other side, led by Tony Stark, the frontline combat unit was formed by heroes and "villains" with heavy firepower or extraordinary strength, such as Ghost-Spider, Green Goblin, and Alexei.
"Jarvis, full power! Give these Vampire monsters a bath!"
Tony's armor sprayed scorching energy, and dozens of micro-missiles whistled toward Inheritors, exploding into brilliant bursts of sparks in mid-air.
Harry, the little Green Goblin, followed closely behind on his flying skateboard. Peter had lent him his own flying skateboard, which was possessed by the Wheel of Fortune, to allow him to output damage more freely.
Their only task was to keep all members of the Inheritor Family firmly pinned down on this battlefield at all costs!
The third team consisted of Peter, Felicia, Natasha, and Sandman.
"William! Now!" Natasha shouted to Sandman William Baker nearby.
"Leave it to me!" Sandman growled, his body of yellow sand expanding rapidly until it blotted out the sky.
Simultaneously, Natasha pressed her hands to the ground. Bone-chilling cold air also spread frantically from her as the center, causing the ground to instantly freeze into a thick layer of ice!
"Rise!"
Accompanied by their simultaneous roars, two defensive lines forged from yellow sand and solid ice rose from the ground, perfectly intersecting and merging in the air!
The ice and sand formed a massive, airtight dome that completely shrouded Hells Kitchen, creating a coliseum entirely isolated from the World!
They wanted to ensure that not a single ripple of this battle would leak out or cause even a tiny bit of damage to other areas of New York.
Seeing this scene, the audience across America went wild.
"My god! What powerful strength!"
"I knew The Arbiter had been keeping a low profile just to accumulate incredible power in secret!"
However, just as everyone was marveling at this perfect cooperation, an even more shocking image appeared.
It was Felicia, wearing Tide, who after popping a fire hydrant, began to sing passionately.
The familiar "Heart of New York" once again echoed across the battlefield.
In rhythm with Felicia's singing, water flowed toward the surrounding ice and sand walls. On one hand, it made the ice thicker, and on the other, it made the gaps in the sand walls tighter, granting them stronger buffering capacity.
Furthermore, influenced by Felicia's singing, the superheroes present all felt their spirits lifted and their bodies lightened.
On the opposite side, Inheritors couldn't help but frown, feeling as though the singing made their scalps tingle; it was so noisy they couldn't concentrate.
Almost the instant Felicia's singing began, Peter also made his move.
He turned the seemingly ordinary Omnitrix on his wrist.
In the next second, an invisible yet vast and majestic energy erupted from within his body!
Hum~
Telekinesis invisible to the naked eye instantly spread, forming a translucent energy shield even larger than the Ice-Sand Dome.
This was the Telekinesis he had previously obtained from the Invisible Woman Susan in the Universe where Otto Parker resided.
This shield not only enveloped all of Hells Kitchen but also covered every hero—including the members of Captain America's squad who were evacuating civilians—with a faint, almost imperceptible film of energy.
Peter, by his own effort, provided an ultimate defense buff covering the entire map for all allies present!
With the telekinetic shield provided by Peter, the battle situation underwent a subtle yet crucial change.
"Boom!"
A member of the Inheritor Family flashed behind Iron FistDanny Rand at a speed difficult for the naked eye to catch, throwing a punch packed with terrifying power into his back.
Ordinarily, this blow would have been enough to shatter Danny's spine and organs into powder.
But at this moment, that thin layer of telekinetic shield flickered at the critical second, completely negating ninety-nine percent of the force.
Danny was sent flying as if hit by a high-speed truck, rolling clumsily on the ground several times.
But a second later, he performed a kip-up and stood right back up. Aside from some dust on his clothes, not a single wound could be seen on his body.
"I... I'm not dead?" Danny looked at his hands in disbelief, his face full of relief after a narrow escape.
Similar scenes were constantly playing out in every corner of the battlefield.
Rhino, Alexei, wearing a Radiation suit and possessing immense strength, collided with Deimos, and both flew backward.
Deimos gasped in pain while clutching his bloody right fist, while Alexei was completely unharmed after his body smashed heavily into the sand wall!
Terrifying attacks that would have normally injured the heroes on contact or killed them with a direct hit now felt like mere scratches.
The difficulty of the battle had instantly dropped several levels because of the existence of this protective shield!