Chapter 31: Help Me Contact Hammer Industries
Natasha quickly pulled up the police's crime scene photos.
In the photos, the empty slaughterhouse was littered with clothes and weapons, but there was no one in sight.
This scene instantly reminded her of the time Lukedevoured Electro's energy in Times Square.
And the office where Kingpin disappeared that night.
"Director, I think I know where Luke went."
Natasha looked at the screen and took a deep breath.
"He went out for a midnight snack."
"And he has a huge appetite."
On the other end of the communication, Fury remained silent for a long time.
"Keep monitoring, Natasha. Remember, do not provoke him."
"Before he is full, we had better not become that plate of dessert."
Natasha cut off the communication and turned to look out the window in the direction of Fisk Tower.
The black giant tower stood tall in the night, resembling a silent throne.
"Luke..."
Natasha muttered to herself, her eyes complex.
"What kind of monster are you, anyway?"
...
The next day.
Fisk Tower, top-floor office.
Luke sat spiritedly in the boss chair, still holding a cup of 45-degree hot milk in his hand.
The office door was knocked on.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Natasha walked in carrying a stack of documents.
Today she had changed into a dark blue suit skirt, and her hair was tied into a ponytail, making her look even more capable.
But Luke sensed that her breathing was slightly more hurried than yesterday.
She was afraid.
Or rather, she was on guard.
"Morning, Natalie."
Luke flashed a brilliant smile, just like a truly sunny big boy.
"Did you sleep well last night? New York's nightlife is quite rich."
"Morning, boss."
Natasha walked up to the desk, put down the documents, and wore a smile on her face.
"I went to sleep very early last night. But I heard Hells Kitchen was very lively last night, and it seemed like a few gangs disappeared?"
She was probing.
Luke took a sip of milk, a ring of milk stain staining his lips.
He stretched out his tongue and licked it away, his movement casual and wild.
"Is that so? That really is good news."
Luke leaned back against the chair, looking at Natashawith a half-smile.
"Perhaps they felt the pressure of life in New York was too great and collectively went back to the farm."
"After all, this world is full of accidents; who knows if someone will be eaten up in the next second?"
He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word eaten up.
Natasha's fingers tightened slightly.
"Alright, let's not talk about these boring things."
Luke stood up, walked around the desk, and came to stand in front of Natasha.
The distance between the two of them was less than ten centimeters, and an aggressive aura washed over her face.
"Today there is a more important task assigned to you."
Luke lowered his head to look into her eyes.
"Help me contact Hammer Industries."
"Hammer Industries?" Natasha was slightly stunned, which was somewhat beyond her expectations.
"Justin Hammer? Stark's competitor?"
"That's right, that clown."
Luke snapped his fingers.
"Ivan Vanko should have already been fished out of prison by him by now."
"I want you to go tell Hammer that I want to talk business with him."
"Business about how to make those pieces of junk of his move."
A flash of sharp light crossed Luke's eyes.
Since the plot had already begun, how could a grand fireworks show be missing?
Furthermore, Ivan Vanko's Whiplash technology, along with Hammer Industries' impending legion of iron soldiers...
Those were all top-notch snacks.
"Tell him I can help him defeat Stark."
The smile on the corners of Luke's mouth grew increasingly evil.
"I think he will be very willing to kneel down and lick the soles of my shoes."
Natasha looked at Luke.
Sunlight poured in from the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, casting a gold-rimmed glow upon his silhouette.
This made him look like a college student who had just finished playing ball and come home, rather than a new underworld noble who had just taken over New York's underground world.
"I will convey your goodwill."
Natasha maintained a smile and slightly bowed.
"Mr. Hammer should be very honored to receive your help."
When she turned and walked toward the door, the smile on Natasha's face vanished instantly.
This madman.
Although Justin Hammer was a fool, he held a large number of Department of Defense orders in his hands, along with that dangerous Russian, Ivan Vanko.
Luke not only wanted to meddle, but even wanted to swallow them directly!
What on earth did he want? Money? Power? Or simple chaos?
Furthermore, the look he gave me just now...
Natasha thought of Luke's look.
He knew who she was. He was toying with her, just like a cat would tease a mouse before eating it.
This kind of confidence was either foolish to the extreme or truly certain that even if S.H.I.E.L.D. pulled out all its nests, it couldn't do anything to him.
"Oh, right, Natalie."
Just as Natasha's hand touched the doorknob, Luke's lazy voice sounded again.
"Tell Hammer not to think about playing tricks with me. Since I can make Kingpin disappear, I can turn his pile of junk into real scrap iron. Also, have him prepare the best champagne; I don't drink inferior wine."
"Understood, boss."
The door closed.
Luke chuckled softly.
He sat back down in the spacious boss chair and casually fished a bottle of milk out of the ice bucket beside him.
This was specially prepared for him by Wesley: whole milk, high protein, constant 45 degrees.
"Gulp."
Chugging half a bottle in one breath, Luke let out a long sigh of relief.
The law of conservation of energy in this world was truly a headache.
Luke muttered inwardly.
The fusion of the Symbiote and Blacklight Virus indeed gave him near-infinite potential, but this fuel consumption was no joke either.
Just maintaining the body's daily operation required a large amount of calories, let alone fighting.
He stretched out his right hand, a thought moving in his mind.
"Sizzle!"
Black fluid seeped out from under his skin, instantly covering his entire arm.
It was no longer the ferocious flesh sensation from before, but instead presented a texture similar to nanomaterials.
This was a new form he evolved by eliminating the nauseating flesh-proliferation traits in the Blacklight Virusand combining it with the Symbiote's mimetic abilities.
Cleaner, more efficient, and even more deadly.
"Ivan Vanko..."
Luke looked at his pitch-black palm and suddenly clenched his five fingers.
Although it was only a crude arc reactor application, if the energy output pattern could be copied and combined with bioelectricity, perhaps more interesting moves could be developed.
Furthermore, how much high-quality metal and circuit boards would those iron soldiers be!
For the current Luke, he didn't just eat meat; he also ate technology.
Through the connection of his tendrils, he could directly read the structural drawings of machinery, and even assimilate certain metal properties into his own armor.
This was also why he wasn't afraid of Tony Stark or S.H.I.E.L.D.
In this Marvel world with a crooked tech tree, he was the biggest bug.
Luke closed his eyes, feeling the surging power within his body.
What else was he lacking?
He had strength, speed, defense, and preliminary energy attack methods.
But he still lacked one thing.
Mobility.
Although he forced himself to fly for a bit that night, that wasn't true flying.
In this world full of Iron Man, Thor, and Vision, not being able to fly meant he could only act as a live target on the ground.
He needed wings or an anti-gravity engine.
Since the Blacklight Virus could devour Hunters to gain claws and devour birds to glide, why couldn't it directly devour a flying guy?
A few names flashed through Luke's mind.
Falcon? That was just a veteran with a flight pack on his back, boring.
Captain Marvel? Too far away, and his current self couldn't beat her.
Or...
His gaze cast outward, looking toward the distant direction of New Mexico.
It was still that hammer.
If he could analyze the flight principle of Mjolnir, or simply copy Thor's divine power...
Luke licked his lips, the red light in his eyes flashing and fading away.
"No rush; a meal must be eaten bite by bite."
"Now, let my little helpers go warm up first."
Chapter 32 Peter Parker
Queens, Forest Hills High School.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and spilled onto the wall.
For most students, this was an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.
But for Pietro Maximoff, this was simply more boring than sitting in prison at the Hydra base.
"Oh god, is this the life of American students?"
Pietro sat on the branch of a large tree opposite the school, holding a half-eaten bag of chips in his hand, biting a straw in his mouth, with a look of existential despair.
He was wearing Nike sportswear bought for him by Luke, with his silver hair pressed down by a duckbill cap, looking like a delinquent skipping class.
His gaze was locked tightly on a brown-haired boy carrying a schoolbag and walking out with a down-and-out look at the school gate.
Peter Parker.
Spider-Man, the current delivery guy.
"Why does the boss want me to watch this nerd?"
Pietro boredly threw a piece of chip into his mouth and chewed it into pieces with a crunch.
Could this kid have some potential that I can't see?
Although Luke said he was a vigilante, no matter how I look at him, he looks like an unlucky guy who would be stuffed into a locker by a school bully.
Just then, several tall members of the school football team blocked Peter Parker's way.
"Hey, insignificant Parker!"
The leading blonde big guy fiercely patted Peter Parker's shoulder, almost patting the thin Peter Parker into the ground.
"Where is today's chemistry homework? I remember I said it should be placed on my desk before lunch."
"I... I put it..." Peter Parker hugged his schoolbag tightly, his voice as small as a mosquito's buzzing.
"Maybe it was blown away by the wind?"
"Blown away by the wind?" The blonde man laughed exaggeratedly, and the surrounding flunkies also joined in the commotion.
"Then let the wind blow you away too!"
As he spoke, Flesher gave a fierce push, and Peter Parkerstaggered backward, about to fall into the flowerbed on the side of the road.
"Tsk."
Pietro on the tree couldn't watch anymore.
Is this the Spider-Man who dared to go head-to-head with Electro?
Is his acting skills too good? Or does he really enjoy this feeling of being bullied?
Luke said to make him owe me a favor...
Although helping him fight is a bit degrading, it's better than watching him being kicked around like a ball.
Pietro's figure flickered slightly.
"Whoosh!!"
A strange wind suddenly blew up at the school gate.
The school bully and others who were originally preparing to watch a joke only felt a blur in front of their eyes, and before they realized what happened, they felt their belt loosen.
"Clatter!"
Several pairs of pants dropped neatly to their ankles.
Revealing the colorful spongebob squarepants, Superman, and even pink heart-patterned underwear inside.
"Whoa!"
The girls passing by instantly let out screams, some covering their eyes, although the gaps between their fingers were very large, and some directly took out their mobile phones to start taking pictures.
"Fuck! My pants!"
"Who?! Who did this?!"
The school bully blushed, pulling up his pants in a flurry, jumping around wildly in place like a madman.
Peter Parker was stunned in place and blinked.
The Spider-Sense did ring just now, but only for a second.
This speed...
Peter Parker turned his head and looked at the large tree across the road.
It was empty there, with only a few leaves floating down slowly.
No, that's not right.
In the shadow under the tree, a silver-haired teenager wearing a duckbill cap was leaning against the tree trunk, tossing a set of keys in his hand.
That was the car key of the school bully's sports car.
Pietro raised an eyebrow at Peter Parker, showing a mischievous smile of successful prank, and then made a hush gesture.
Peter Parker:...
Who is this?
Speedster?
Why is he here?
To monitor me? Or protect me?
Peter Parker's mood was very complicated.
On the one hand, having someone stand up for him was really satisfying.
But on the other hand, the feeling of being targeted by some powerful force made him very uneasy.
The school bully was still having a fit of impotent rage over there, and Peter Parker slipped across the road taking advantage of the chaos.
"Hey."
Peter Parker walked up to Pietro and lowered his voice.
"Did you do this, right?"
"What?"
Pietro spread his hands with an innocent face, spinning the keys fast on his fingertips.
"I'm just a passing international student, appreciating the unique scenery of American schools. I have to say, the spongebob squarepants underwear has great taste."
"Listen, I don't want you guys to meddle in my life."
Peter Parker looked around somewhat nervously, for fear that some monster was also hiding behind a certain tree.
"I can handle my own affairs."
"Come on."
Pietro sneered and threw the keys back to Peter Parker.
"If you can handle Electro, maybe I'll believe it. But you can handle that big guy? Stop kidding."
"The boss said you're a good person. Good people shouldn't be bullied. By the way, my boss is Luke."
Pietro leaned closer, a cunning light flashing in his eyes.
"And don't you think the scene just now was very relieving?"
Peter Parker was stunned for a moment.
Luke's people?!
But thinking of the school bully jumping around holding his pants just now, the corners of Peter Parker's mouth couldn't help twitching.
"Pfft... Well, indeed a little bit."
"That's right!"
Pietro put his arm around Peter Parker's shoulder like an old friend who makes himself at home.
"Don't be so tense, Spider-Man. Life is bitter enough, you gotta learn to find fun for yourself."
"Also, the boss asked me to tell you that those guys from S.H.I.E.L.D. have been eyeing you recently. If you don't want to be invited by them for tea, or forcibly drafted to be some agent, you'd better stay away from those guys wearing sunglasses."
"S.H.I.E.L.D...." Peter Parker frowned.
"They did look for me this morning."
"See! I knew it!"
Pietro wore an expression of 'not listening to the old man's advice brings immediate regret'.
"Those guys are best at moral kidnapping. They'll tell you the world needs you, then throw you into a dangerous battlefield, and in the end not even give a pension."
"We are different."
Pietro patted his chest.
"Our Fisk Industries not only provides a full set of logistical support, but also five insurances and one housing fund, and the boss is very protective of his people."
"Really, consider changing jobs. Delivering takeouts has no future."
Peter Parker was somewhat dumbfounded.
What is this? A gang recruitment scene?
But for some reason, looking at Pietro's cynical yet sincere appearance, his guard lessened a bit.
"I'll consider it," Peter Parker said vaguely.
"Alright, then I'll take it that you agreed."
Pietro let go of his hand and took a step back.
"Oh right, that chemistry homework of yours just now..."
"What's wrong?"
"I mean, since you're so smart, can you write one for me too? I'm almost forced by the boss to go to night school, those formulas are even harder to understand than S.H.I.E.L.D.'s passwords!"
Peter Parker couldn't help laughing out loud.
"No problem. As long as you can help me let the air out of this car's tires."
Peter Parker pointed to the school bully's sports car.
"Deal!"
"Wesley, prepare the car!"
"We're going to Flushing to watch fireworks!"
Chapter 33 Gwen Stacy
Midtown Science High School, Library.
Compared to the chaos over at Pietro's side, the vibe on Wanda's side was much quieter, or rather, a bit eerie.
Wanda Maximoff was wearing a dark red trench coat, standing in front of a row of bookshelves with a book titled "Advanced Physics" in her hand.
But her eyes peered through the gap of the bookshelf, staring at a table not far away.
Sitting there was a blonde girl.
Gwen Stacy.
She was wearing headphones, swaying her body gently to the music while writing something rapidly in a notebook.
Sunlight spilled across her profile, making her look exceptionally beautiful.
Wanda was somewhat troubled.
Making friends? How to make friends?
Walk right up and say "Hi, I am also a freak, let us be friends"?
No, that is too stupid.
Or like what Luke said, use magic to conjure a flower?
No, that would scare her.
Wanda's fingers flipped the pages as a fierce mental battle raged in her heart.
She had learned how to control magic and how to endure pain in the Hydra base, but she had never learned how to socialize like a normal girl.
Just as she was hesitating, Gwen suddenly took off her headphones, turned her head, and her eyes accurately locked onto Wanda's position.
"If you keep staring at me for another five minutes, I am going to think you are an agent sent by S.H.I.E.L.D., or a junior who has a crush on me."
Gwen's tone carried teasing, but there was no malice.
Wanda was startled, and the book in her hand almost dropped to the ground.
"I am not an agent."
Wanda walked out from behind the bookshelf in some panic, her face flushed red.
"I am also not... uh, a junior. I am just..."
"You are Luke's person, right?"
Gwen closed her notebook, stood up, leaned against the edge of the table, and looked Wanda up and down.
"Right?"
"How did you know... No, I am not..."
Wanda paused, remembering Luke's words.
"Fine, I am Wanda. Luke's... family."
"Family?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"The guy who calls himself a problem-solving expert?"
"Yes." Wanda took a deep breath, trying hard to make herself look a bit calmer.
"He asked me to come find you."
"What are you looking for me for? Also here to sell that twenty percent off discount thing?"
Gwen smiled. Although her mouth was unforgiving, her Spider-Sense told her that the girl in front of her was not a threat, but was instead filled with unease and longing.
"No."
Wanda shook her head, took a few steps closer, took out a business card from her pocket, and placed it on the table.
"He asked me to come make friends with you."
The air suddenly fell silent for a few seconds.
Gwen was stunned.
She had imagined countless opening lines, such as threats, recruitment, or some kind of conspiracy warning.
But make friends?
What is this? A soft-approach policy from a major villain boss?
"Are you serious?"
Gwen looked at Wanda's eyes, which were sincere enough to make one unable to doubt, and couldn't help laughing out loud.
"He sent you here, just for this?"
"He said, we need our own kind."
Wanda's voice was very low, but very clear.
"He said, this world is not very friendly to people like us. We need best friends."
When mentioning the word best friends, Wanda felt even more embarrassed.
Seeing Wanda, who was flustered and uneasy, Gwen also sighed.
She remembered her loneliness after gaining her abilities.
She could not tell her police captain dad, could not tell her friends, and could only put on a mask at night, facing the darkness of this city alone.
Our own kind, huh?
"Fine."
Gwen sighed, picked up the business card on the table, and spun it around in her hand.
"Although this sounds like a terrible pickup excuse, I accept."
She reached out her hand, a bright smile appearing on her face.
"I am Gwen Stacy. Nice to meet you, Wanda."
Wanda looked at the extended hand, a flash of pleasantly surprised light crossing her eyes.
"Hehe, Luke! I did it! I did it!"
She cautiously reached out her hand and shook Gwen's.
Is this what friends feel like?
"Nice to meet you, Gwen."
"So..." Gwen blinked.
"Since we are best friends, do you know which milk tea around here tastes the best? I am about to be stumped by this physics problem, and urgently need a sugar boost."
"Milk tea?" Wanda's eyes lit up.
"Luke said that tastes great! But I have never drunk it!"
"What? You have never had milk tea?!"
Gwen wore a look of shock, as if she had heard something unbelievable.
"Oh god, this is basically a crime! Come on, big sis will show you what true happy water is!"
Gwen grabbed Wanda's hand, slung her school bag over her shoulder, and strode outward.
Seeing this scene, Wanda couldn't help smiling.
Luke was right.
This world, perhaps, is not that bad.
...
...
Fisk Tower, underground laboratory.
Luke did not know that his two little helpers had already achieved staged victories on their respective battlefields.
At this moment, he stayed alone in the secret laboratory prepared for him by Wesley.
This place was originally used by Kingpin to store illegal smuggled goods, and now it had been converted into Luke's private evolution room.
In the center of the room, a huge metal table was placed.
On the table was an eagle locked in a special cage.
This was bought by Wesley from the black market at a high price, rumored to be some kind of endangered raptor with extremely fast flight speed.
"Sorry, buddy."
Luke looked at the sharp hawk's eyes in the cage, with no pity on his face, only rationality.
"In this world where the strong prey upon the weak, your genes can exert greater value in me."
He reached out his right hand.
"Zila!"
Black tentacles surged out like a tide, instantly submerging the cage.
The eagle didn't even have time to emit a miserable scream before it was wrapped, decomposed, and assimilated by the black biomass.
[Flight creature gene detected...]
[Analyzing muscle structure and bone density...]
[Constructing aerodynamic layout...]
[Ability acquired: Biological Wing Membrane (Enhanced Version)]
Luke closed his eyes, feeling the tearing and reorganization of the muscles on his back.
"Crack! Crack!"
Two huge black fleshy wings suddenly unfolded from his shoulder blades!
This was no longer the crude gliding membrane from before, but wings possessing a skeleton and muscles!
The wingspan exceeded four meters, the surface was covered with black fluid feathers, and the edges were as sharp as knives.
"Whoosh!!"
Luke gently flapped his wings.
A violent wind suddenly rose, and the documents in the laboratory were blown flying all over the sky.
His body began to hover slowly upwards!
"This is the feeling of flying..."
Luke opened his eyes, his red pupils filled with wild joy.
"Although it still cannot compare to Superman's anti-gravity flight, this is just the beginning."
He put away his wings, and the huge wings instantly liquefied, retracted back into his body, turning into two handsome tattoos on his back.
"With this, next time I go knock on Tony's window, I won't need to climb the stairs."
Luke smiled and walked down from the experimental table.
He glanced at the time.
"Almost time."
"Natasha should have already passed the news to S.H.I.E.L.D., and Peter and Gwen should have also planted the seeds over there."
"Next, it is time to go meet the arms dealer who wants to do business with me."
Luke picked up a document on the table.
That was the invitation letter from Hammer Industries.
Justin Hammer, the clown who was eager to prove himself stronger than Stark, couldn't wait to meet the new overlord of Hells Kitchen.
"Ivan Vanko..."
Luke smiled slightly.
"Your whips, I have also reserved them."
He straightened his collar, his black trench coat rustling behind him.
"Wesley, get the car ready!"
"We are going to Flushing to watch fireworks!"
Chapter 34 S.H.I.E.L.D. Comes Knocking
A black stretched Lincoln, like a ghost in the dark night, smoothly slid into the VIP lane near Flushing Meadows Park.
Inside the car, Luke was swirling a glass of champagne in his hand.
Although he didn't drink much, he felt that this stuff could dress up a facade better than milk on certain occasions.
Especially when going to see a buffoon like Justin Hammerwho fancied himself an elite of high society.
"Boss, the exhibition area of Hammer Industries is in Zone D, which is the most remote corner of the entire expo."
Wesley reported while driving.
"Mr. Stark seems very happy to see his competitor eating dust over there."
"As expected."
Looking at the fleeting neon lights outside the window, Luke smiled slightly.
"Tony Stark is just this kind of person; even when he's dying, he has to take full advantage with his mouth. However, this is precisely the meaning of the existence of people like Hammer. As the green leaves beside the flowers, or rather, as a stepping stone under the feet of a genius."
He put down his glass and gently tapped his fingers on the armrest of the seat.
Justin Hammer, a second-rate arms dealer longing for recognition.
He had money and ambition, but lacked only talent.
This kind of person was the easiest to control, and also the easiest to ruin things.
But it didn't matter; what he needed wasn't the other guy's brain, but the resources in his hands, as well as the Russian madman hidden by him.
Ivan Vanko... Whiplash.
Luke smiled faintly.
The crude yet violent arc reactor technology, if it could be assimilated by his bio-electrical energy, coupled with the morphological changes of the Blacklight Virus...
Tsk tsk, he thought it might develop a completely new way.
"We're here, Boss."
The car stopped steadily.
Luke tidied his collar and pushed open the door to get out of the car.
The cold night wind blew past, but he only felt a feverish heat all over his body; this was the cells inside his body craving evolution roaring.
"Let's go, Wesley. Let's go bring some warmth to Mr. Hammer."
...
The exhibition area of Hammer Industries was indeed very deserted.
Except for a few listless security guards and some passing oblivious tourists, almost no one was willing to stop.
Justin Hammer was standing in front of a pile of unpainted iron soldiers, flying into a rage at a few technicians.
"What I want is like Stark's! Something that can fly! Something that can open fire! Not tin cans that can only salute!"
Hammer pushed his glasses, spittle flying everywhere.
"The main display day is the day after tomorrow! If these things can't move by then, I'll stuff all of you into the reactor as fuel!"
"Mr. Hammer, your temper seems a bit big."
A lazy voice interrupted Hammer's roar.
Hammer turned around abruptly and saw a tall Asian man wearing a black trench coat walking over with a suave bespectacled man.
"Who are you? This is a private area, no appointment..."
Before Hammer could finish his words, he was blocked back by a business card handed over by Wesley.
"Mr. Luke, the new chairman of Fisk Enterprises. That is to say, the new master of Hells Kitchen." Wesley introduced with a smile.
Hammer's pupils shrank slightly.
As an arms dealer with some connections in both the underworld and the upper world, he had naturally heard the news of Kingpin's disappearance, and also heard of the mysterious person who took over all of Kingpin's industries overnight.
"So it's Mr. Luke."
A hypocritical smile instantly piled up on Hammer's face, and the speed of his facial expression change was breathtaking.
"I really didn't expect you to be so young. Please come in, please come in!"
He extended his hand enthusiastically, trying to cover up his recent loss of composure.
The new overlord of Hells Kitchen? Sounds like a ruthless character.
However, what is he coming to find me for? To buy weapons? Or to launder money?
Luke did not reach out his hand, but just casually glanced around at the foolish iron soldiers.
"Mr. Hammer, is this the secret weapon you prepared to defeat Stark?"
Luke walked up to an army-type iron soldier and reached out to knock on the heavy armor.
"Using solid iron lumps? Are you sure you're not sending scrap metal recycling to Stark?"
Hammer's smile froze on his face, and the veins on his temples twitched.
"This... this is just a prototype! And the software is still being debugged! As long as that damned Russian gets the program sorted out..."
Hammer suddenly realized he had let slip something, and quickly shut his mouth.
"Ivan Vanko."
Luke completed the name for him.
"The madman who almost cut Stark in half at the Monaco racetrack. I guess you got him out of prison just for these big guys, right?"
Cold sweat poured down Hammer's back.
This was top secret! How did this guy know?
"What do you want to do?" Hammer stepped back vigilantly, his hand quietly feeling for the alarm in his pocket.
"Don't be nervous, Hammer."
Luke smiled, his smile looking exceptionally creepy under the dim light.
"I'm here to help you."
"Help me?"
"That's right. You want to defeat Stark, you want the Department of Defense's orders, and you want to prove yourself better than that playboy. And I..."
Luke leaned close to Hammer and lowered his voice.
"I want the Russian's technology. Also, a wonderful fireworks show."
"A fireworks show?" Hammer looked blank.
"Take me to see Vanko."
Luke didn't explain, just said in an unquestionable tone.
"Now."
...
...
Queens, the alley near Parker's house.
"Achoo!"
Pietro sneezed heavily, rubbing his nose which had turned somewhat red from the cold wind.
"Damn it, why is New York's night so cold? It's not even winter yet!"
He squatted on a rooftop opposite an old apartment building, holding a pair of binoculars in his hand, staring listlessly at a window on the second floor.
Inside the window, Peter Parker was writing furiously at his desk, seemingly struggling with a pile of never-ending homework.
"What kind of bad taste is this of the boss."
Pietro threw the binoculars aside, took an energy bar out of his pocket, and took a fierce bite.
"Make me, a speedster who can run hundreds of laps around the playground in One Second, come here to be a babysitter? Staring at a nerd who is useless except for talking too much?"
He muttered with dissatisfaction.
What else could Peter do besides being bullied by the school bully?
Vigilante? Just relying on red and blue spandex and those sticky spider webs?
Although the boss said he was a good person, can a good person be eaten as a meal?
In this world of the jungle law, good people usually die the fastest.
Just like my parents.
Thinking of this, Pietro's eyes dimmed for a moment.
But he quickly shook his head, throwing the unpleasant memories behind him.
"Forget it, since it's the boss's mission, it has to be done well. Who made me owe him... well, owe him a lot of meals."
Just at this moment, a black SUV slowly drove into this quiet street.
The headlights went out, the car doors opened, and two men wearing black suits and sunglasses stepped down.
Even at night, they still wore sunglasses.
This iconic attire, apart from that bunch of S.H.I.E.L.D.agents, there was no one else.
"Ha! Work is here!"
Pietro's spirits perked up, and he patted the crumbs on his hands.
"Let me see, which unlucky bastard wants to come and court bad luck."
He stood up, his silver hair fluttering slightly in the wind, and a bad smile hooked at the corner of his mouth.
Chapter 35: You Like Wearing Sunglasses, Huh?
Peter Parker scratched his head in perplexity over a complex physics problem.
"If an object moves at..., its mass will..."
"Knock, knock, knock."
The knocking interrupted his train of thought.
"Aunt May? Is that you? I remember turning off the lights..."
Peter said as he opened the door to his room.
However, standing at the doorway was not the kind Aunt May, but two expressionless men in black.
"Mr. Peter Parker?"
The leading man in black asked, his tone icy.
"Uh, that's me. Who are you?"
Peter instinctively sensed a hint of danger.
Although his Spider-Sense did not scream warnings frantically like it did when he encountered Electro, it still throbbed faintly.
These people? Were they coming for Spider-Man?
"We're with the FBI. We need your cooperation with an investigation."
The man in black flashed his badge, moving too fast for anyone to clearly see the words on it.
"FBI?" Peter was momentarily stunned.
"I didn't break the law! I just occasionally delivered food a little bit overtime?"
"You'll know once you come with us. There are some national security issues that require your expertise."
The man in black deliberately emphasized the word 'expertise,' obviously implying something.
One of them even reached for his waist, which was bulging, clearly concealing a weapon.
Peter's heartbeat began to quicken.
They know who I am!
What should he do? Run? Or go with them? If he made a move here, Aunt May was still downstairs...
Just as Peter was caught in a dilemma,
"Hey! You two sunglasses freaks over there!"
A teasing voice suddenly came from the top of the stairs.
The two agents abruptly turned around.
They saw a teenager in a silver-gray sportswear leaning against the stair railing, twirling a water gun in his hand?
"This is a private residence, do you have a search warrant? Or is it now trendy for the FBI to break into high schoolers' homes in the middle of the night to check the water meter?"
Pietro looked at them with a grin, pointing the water gun at one of the agent's heads.
"Who are you? This is none of your business, the FBI is conducting an operation."
The agent shouted sternly.
"Tsk tsk tsk, how rude."
Pietro shook his head.
"I'm just a helpful passing neighbor. By the way, wearing your sunglasses at night is really stupid, aren't you afraid of tripping?"
"Deal with him."
The lead agent gave his companion a look.
The companion immediately drew his pistol, attached a silencer, and aimed at Pietro.
"Don't move! Hands up!"
"Whoa! A real gun?!"
Pietro widened his mouth in feigned surprise.
"Are all modern FBI agents so hot-tempered? But..."
His eyes instantly turned sharp.
"You guys are too slow."
"Whoosh!!"
A gust of wind rose out of nowhere!
Peter only felt a blur before his eyes, and the two agents looked as if the pause button had been pressed on them.
And from Pietro's perspective, the world instantly slowed down.
Falling dust hung suspended in the air, the agent's finger pulling the trigger was moving at a snail's pace, and he could even see the faint muzzle flash coming out of the gun barrel.
"Since you guys like wearing sunglasses so much, I'll let you wear them to your heart's content."
Pietro chuckled, his figure leaving a silver afterimage in the narrow corridor.
First, he rushed in front of the armed agent, reached out and gently flicked it, and the gun flew out of his hand, landing accurately into the open trash can nearby.
Then, he pulled out a black marker from goodness knows where, and drew a large turtle on each of the two agents' clean foreheads.
Finally, he untied their shoelaces, tied them together, and tied a secure double knot.
After doing all this, he returned to the top of the stairs and deactivated his superspeed state.
"Bang!"
Time resumed its flow.
The two agents only felt a blur before their eyes, a lightness in their hands, and then a trip at their feet.
"Ouch!"
"Fuck!"
The two of them were pushed by an invisible large hand, tumbling forward face-first onto the ground in a classic face-plant.
"Hahaha!"
Pietro couldn't help but burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
Peter Parker stared at this scene in dumbfounded astonishment.
His dynamic vision caught a trace of an afterimage, but he completely failed to see what Pietro had actually done.
This is a speedster?
This is the person sent by Luke?
Too strong!
And...
Peter looked at the turtles on the two agents' foreheads, the corners of his mouth unable to stop turning up.
That's so savage!
"How is it, Spider-Man?"
Pietro raised his eyebrows at Peter.
"This is Fisk Industries' after-sales service. Not only does it help you solve your trouble, but it also comes with a complimentary comedy show."
The two agents scrambled up in embarrassment, finding their guns missing and their foreheads burning with pain from being poked hard by the marker, instantly realizing they had encountered a tough nut to crack.
"Fall back!"
The lead agent glared fiercely at Pietro; although he didn't know who this guy was, the mission had clearly failed.
Supporting each other, they limped out of the apartment building.
"Thank you."
Peter walked over to Pietro and said sincerely.
"If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know what to do."
"Don't mention it, this is all the boss's mission."
Pietro waved his hand, toying with the water gun in his hand.
"But seriously, the soundproofing of your room is too poor. Next time remember to have Aunt May change to a security door."
"And..."
Pietro leaned close to Peter and lowered his voice.
"Did you finish your chemistry homework? I need to hand it in tomorrow morning!"
Peter:...
"On the desk, get it yourself."
"Good! You are my savior!"
Pietro cheered, rushed into the room, grabbed the homework notebook, and then rushed out like a gust of wind again.
"I'm off! Call me if anything happens! I'm nearby!"
The voice was still echoing in the corridor, but he was already gone.
Peter looked at the empty doorway, then at the receding taillights of the car downstairs, and a warm current surged in his heart.
Luke... Fisk Industries...
Maybe they really were different from S.H.I.E.L.D.
...
...
Manhattan, a trendy milk tea shop.
"So, you really are a witch?"
Gwen Stacy bit down on her straw, looking curiously at the red-haired girl opposite her.
"Mhm... sort of."
Wanda sat somewhat nervously on a high stool, holding a cup of full-sugar bubble milk tea with both hands, as if holding some rare and precious treasure.
"Actually, I don't quite know myself either. Luke said it was Chaos Magic, but sometimes I feel like it's more like an emotion."
"An emotion?"
Gwen blinked, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"Just like when I get very angry, or very sad, it goes out of control?"
"Pretty much."
Wanda nodded, carefully taking a sip of the milk tea.
The sweet and rich milk tea slid down her throat; this was a flavor she had never experienced before.
Sweet, fragrant, and those chewy pearls.
Wanda's eyes lit up instantly, as if she had discovered a new world.
"Delicious!"
"Right! I told you this is happy water!"
Gwen smiled proudly, revealing a small canine tooth.
"Have a cup when you're in a bad mood, and all your worries are gone. If one cup isn't enough, then have two!"
Looking at Gwen's bright smile, Wanda also unconsciously began to smile along.
This was the first time she had sat together like this with a girl her own age, chatting about trivial topics and drinking sweet beverages.
No experimental data, no cold needles, no Hydrasurveillance.
Only the afternoon sunlight, and the sweet scent drifting in the air.
Chapter 36: There's a Home Here
"What about you?"
Wanda gathered her courage and asked.
"Why do you want to be Ghost-Spider?"
"Hmm..."
Gwen Stacy used a straw to stir the ice cubes in her cup, her gaze drifting slightly.
"Actually, I didn't think that much at the beginning. Just like that red-and-blue spandex freak, I got bitten, got powers, and then felt I should do something."
"But..."
Gwen sighed.
"Sometimes I feel very tired. You have to switch between being an ordinary person and a vigilante, lie to your family, and face all that incomprehension."
"My dad is the police chief. What he hates most is what I'm doing. Every night when I go home, I have to carefully hide my suit and listen to him complain about how much public property that damned spider-woman has destroyed again."
Gwen gave a bitter smile.
"Sometimes I wonder, if one day he finds out the person under the mask is me, what expression will he have? Will he arrest me?"
Wanda fell silent.
She could feel the loneliness and entanglement in Gwen's heart.
Although their experiences were different, the sense of alienation of being outcasts was connected.
"Luke said..."
Wanda spoke softly.
"We need our own kind."
"He established Fisk Industries not just to make money, or to fight S.H.I.E.L.D.. He wanted to give us a home."
"A place where we don't have to lie, don't have to hide, and can freely use our powers."
Wanda raised her head, a firm light flashing in her eyes.
"Gwen, if you are tired, or if your dad really... you can come find us."
"Although we are not the Justice League, we are very protective of our own."
Gwen was stunned.
She looked at the girl in front of her who looked fragile, but appeared reliable at this moment.
"Home..."
Gwen murmured in a low voice.
"Sounds not bad."
She broke into a smile and raised the milk tea cup in her hand.
"To our own kind?"
Wanda also raised her cup, clumsy yet very earnest.
"To milk tea."
"Pfft! Hhahahaha!"
The laughter of the two girls echoed in the milk tea shop, attracting sideways glances from people around.
But they didn't care.
In the bustling city, they finally found a corner where they could let down their guard a little.
...
...
Hammer Industries, underground secret workshop.
"Is this what you want to show me?"
Luke stood in the dim workshop, looking at the burly man in front of him who was biting a toothpick, covered in grease, and welding a dilapidated mecha.
Ivan Vanko.
An Avenger from Russia.
He was shirtless, revealing rough tattoos all over his body, holding a welding torch in his hand as sparks flew everywhere.
Hearing the sound, Ivan turned around, his gloomy eyes staring fixedly at Luke.
"Who are you? Hammer's new lackey?"
Ivan's English carried a heavy Russian accent, sounding as if he had vodka in his mouth.
"Lackey? No, no, no."
Luke shook his finger, a playful smile hanging on his face.
"I'm the person here to deliver a bird to you."
"Bird?" Ivan frowned.
"I mean, I'm the person here to help you realize your dream."
Luke pointed at the mecha behind Ivan that looked like a semi-finished product.
"Just with this pile of junk? You want to defeat Tony Stark? Stop kidding."
"Your Whiplash technology is indeed somewhat interesting, but your energy system is too backward. The rotational speed is not enough, and the output power is not enough either."
"What do you know?!"
Ivan was enraged; he dropped the welding torch and strode up to Luke.
"This is art! This is power!"
"No, this is just garbage."
Luke showed no fear, and was even half a head taller than Ivan.
He reached out and gently pressed on the crude Ark Reactor on Ivan's chest.
"Sizzle!!"
Black fluid instantly surged out from his palm, like countless tiny poisonous snakes, drilling into the gaps of the reactor.
"What are you doing?!"
Ivan was greatly alarmed, wanting to push Luke away, only to find that the other party's strength was shockingly large.
"Don't move, I am upgrading you."
Luke closed his eyes.
[Miniature arc reactor technology detected...]
[Analyzing energy circuits...]
[Assimilating metal structures...]
In just a few seconds.
The reactor that originally emitted a dim white light suddenly burst into brilliant light!
This was not ordinary white light, but a high-energy beam mixed with a trace of eerie purple!
"Hum!!"
The reactor emitted a crisp buzz, and its rotational speed instantly increased by several times over!
Ivan felt a heat in his chest, and an unprecedented powerful energy flowed through his whole body.
"This... this is..."
Ivan looked at the reactor on his chest in shock.
The rough welding marks on it disappeared, replaced by a kind of living black metal texture, breathing along with the rhythm of the energy.
"This is biometallic Symbiote technology."
Luke withdrew his hand, looked at his own masterpiece, and nodded with satisfaction.
"I slightly modified your energy output formula, and by the way, added some seasoning to your reactor."
"Now, its output power is five times what it was before. Moreover, it can self-heal."
Luke looked at the dumbfounded Ivan and smiled slightly.
"How is it? Russian."
"Is a bird like this enough for you to knock Stark down?"
Ivan trembled as he stroked the reactor on his chest, the shock in his eyes gradually turning into fanaticism.
As a genius scientist, he of course knew what this meant.
This meant his whip would be indestructible!
"What do you want?"
Ivan raised his head, and the way he looked at Lukechanged.
"Very simple."
Luke turned and walked toward the door, his black trench coat swaying behind him.
"At the expo the day after tomorrow, I want you to make the scene a bit bigger."
"The bigger, the better."
"Let the whole world see that the so-called Iron Man is nothing much."
"And I..."
Luke stopped his steps and glanced back at Ivan.
"I will go help you wrap up."
"By the way, receive your technological achievements."
"This is a transaction."
Ivan grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, smiling ferociously.
"Deal."
...
...
Two days later. Stark Expo main venue.
Night fell, and Flushing Park was illuminated by lights as bright as day.
Tens of thousands of spectators gathered around the main stage, waving the glow sticks in their hands, waiting for tonight's climax.
Backstage, Tony Stark was wearing his new combat suit.
That is, the one built with the new element.
The triangular reactor on his chest emitted a dazzling light.
"Sir, system check complete. Status perfect." Jarvis's voice sounded in the helmet.
"Very good."
Tony took a deep breath, looking through the mask at the cheering crowd outside.
"Luke didn't lie to me. The new element really succeeded."
"However..."
Tony remembered that day in the donut shop, those pitch-black eyes of Luke.
"Jarvis, scan the whole venue. See if our special consultant has arrived."
"Scanning, sir, he is in the VIP grandstand. And..."
"And what?"
"He seems to be drinking milk."
Tony:...
In the VIP grandstand.
Luke sat in the best view position, indeed holding a bottle of milk in his hand.
He wore a well-fitted black suit, sitting beside Natashawho was dressed up for the occasion, though she looked a bit reluctant.
Standing behind him was Pietro, who was dressed in formal wear but kept shaking his legs, and Wanda, who was wearing a red evening gown and looking somewhat nervous.
"Relax, everyone."
Luke took a sip of milk, looking at the stage below, a glint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
"The good show is about to start."
Right at this moment, Justin Hammer on the stage started his clumsy speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen! This is the future of the US military! This is..."
"Rumble!!"
A burst of mechanical roaring interrupted his words.
Dozens of huge iron soldiers slowly rose from the elevator.
And right in the middle, a mecha with a more rugged shape and wrapped with two whips flashing with purple electric light was particularly eye-catching.
This was Ivan Vanko's Whiplash II.
Or rather, the Symbiote Whiplash heavily modified by Luke.
"That is..." Tony narrowed his eyes backstage.
"The light of that reactor is not right."
"Sir, high-energy reaction detected! That energy waveform is very similar to the bioelectricity previously demonstrated by Mr. Luke!" Jarvis issued a warning.
"Damn it."
Tony cursed.
"I knew this guy harbored no good intentions!"
"But he did give us a good show, didn't he?"
Right at this moment, all the iron soldiers suddenly raised their heads at the same time, their red eyes instantly locking onto Tony on the side, or rather, Tony on the big screen.
"Stark."
Ivan Vanko's voice spread across the whole venue through the loudspeaker.
"Your doomsday has arrived."
"Sizzle!!"
The purple electric whip lashed out fiercely, directly cutting the stage into two halves!
The crowd instantly screamed and fled in all directions.
And in the VIP grandstand, Luke put down the milk bottle in his hand and slowly stood up.
He tidied his tie and showed a brilliant smile to the three people behind him.
"Look, the fireworks have started."
"Pietro, go evacuate the Ran-running audience, don't let them block my way."
"Wanda, protect Natasha Miss well. After all, she is our important asset."
Luke looked at Natasha, blinking meaningfully.
Then, he walked to the edge of the grandstand.
"As for me..."
"Bzzzzz!!"
Black fluid instantly covered his whole body, and the ferocious combat armor reflected a cold light under the lights.
Huge black wings suddenly spread out behind his back, obscuring the light of half the grandstand.
"I'm going to grab a midnight snack."
"Boom!"
The black demon soared into the sky, rushing straight into the chaotic battlefield!
Tonight, the hunting time officially begins!
Chapter 37: Do you like spongebob squarepants?
The night sky over Flushing was torn apart by two forces.
On one side was Tony Stark's armor, like a meteor piercing the night sky.
On the other side was Ivan Vanko, who was controlling the second-generation Whiplash, which had been heavily modified by the Symbiote.
And between the two of them, or rather, directly above the battlefield, a huge dark shadow swooped down like a predatory giant eagle.
"Boom!"
Luke landed heavily on one of the iron soldiers that was strafing the crowd.
Without the slightest suspense, the huge impact directly stomped this multi-million-dollar war machine into scrap iron.
"Sorry, road's closed."
Luke straightened up, and a low chuckle came from beneath his faceplate.
The wings behind him suddenly unfolded, with a wingspan of more than four meters and edges as sharp as knives.
Several surrounding iron soldiers immediately turned their muzzles, their eyes locking onto this suddenly appearing monster.
"Da-da-da-da-da!"
The dense tongues of fire instantly engulfed Luke.
Large-caliber bullets hit his bio-armor like raindrops, but apart from splashing a series of sparks and making crisp clanging sounds, they had no effect at all.
Luke couldn't even be bothered to dodge.
He stretched out his right hand, and the black fluid instantly surged, turning into a biological shield that easily blocked all attacks.
"Is this Hammer's firepower?"
Luke shook his head, his tone full of disappointment.
"It's not even enough to tickle me. That fellow Justin really is a fool with only money and no brains."
He waved his hand violently, and the shield instantly disintegrated, turning into countless black tentacles that instantly wrapped around the joints of the surrounding iron soldiers.
"Come over here, little toys!"
Luke gave a hard tug.
"Riiip!!"
Several iron soldiers were torn to pieces by the huge force, and parts were scattered all over the ground.
And the black tentacles were not retracted, but instead burrowed into the wreckage like living creatures.
[High-strength alloy material detected...]
[Parsing weapon system...]
[Absorbing...]
Luke closed his eyes, feeling a weak but clear current of energy surge into his body along the tentacles.
Although these mass-produced items weren't very technologically advanced, they had the advantage of being plentiful and satisfying.
"Hmm, it tastes a bit like expired canned food, but it's better than nothing."
Luke curled his lips.
His gaze pierced through the chaotic battlefield and looked at Ivan Vanko, who was fiercely battling Tony not far away.
This was the main course of tonight.
...
"Stark! Is this what you call the future?"
Ivan Vanko laughed wildly, his two thick electric whips dancing wildly, cutting everything around them into pieces.
"Look at you, scurrying around like a rat!"
Tony Stark rolled flexibly in the air, dodging the fatal whip shadows.
"Jarvis, analyze the energy output mode of the two whips!"
"Sir, the opponent's energy output is extremely unstable, and the peak even exceeds our reactor. And..." Jarvis's voice was a bit hesitant.
"And the opponent's energy waveform has certain biological activity characteristics. It's like it's alive."
"Alive?"
Tony's heart sank.
"Damn it, I knew that guy didn't have good intentions!"
Tony gritted his teeth, his palm repulsors firing continuously in an attempt to suppress Ivan's offensive.
However, those energy blasts hit Ivan's armor and were actually directly absorbed by the layer of black patterns on the surface!
"What?!"
Tony widened his eyes.
"Hahaha! It's useless, Stark!"
Ivan laughed loudly, the reactor on his chest glowing brightly, and the purple electric arcs became even more violent.
"This is the power bestowed upon me! I am an invincible god!"
He swung his double whips violently, two electric pythons crossing and entangling towards Tony in the air.
The speed of this strike was too fast, and Tony had nowhere left to dodge.
"Jarvis! Concentrate all energy on the shield!"
At this critical moment.
"Whoosh!!"
A black figure suddenly descended from the sky, blocking in front of Tony.
"A god?"
Luke's voice rang out across the battlefield.
"In this world, apart from me, no one else is qualified to call themselves a god."
He reached out both hands and directly grabbed the two electric whips!
"Zzzzt!!!"
The terrifying current instantly erupted, wrapping Luke in purple thunder.
But he wasn't electrocuted into charred charcoal as Ivanexpected.
Instead, the black armor on his body began to crawl frantically, greedily devouring the violent energy.
"This taste..."
Luke's eyes lit up with red light.
"More kick than Electro last time. It seems the seasoning I added for you really works."
"You?!"
Ivan was stunned.
He recognized this voice, and he also recognized this figure.
This was the mysterious man in the underground workshop who casually upgraded his equipment and gave him his current power.
"Why block me? Aren't we on the same side?" Ivan roared.
"The same side?"
Luke chuckled softly, his hands suddenly exerting force.
"No no no, you misunderstood, Ivan."
"You are just a lab mouse testing a new toy. Now the test is over, and I am very satisfied with the data."
"So..."
Luke gave a violent tug!
"Snap!"
Ivan's second-generation Whiplash was forcibly torn open a gap from the middle by Luke!
"It's time to recycle."
...
Meanwhile. The outskirts of Flushing Meadows Park.
"Hey! You over there! Don't run around! Walk this way!"
Pietro transformed into a silver lightning bolt, shuttling through the chaotic crowd.
He did not directly participate in the battle, but instead, according to Luke's instructions, was responsible for evacuating the panicked civilians.
Although he complained verbally that this job was too tiring and boring, his body was very honest.
Whenever he saw a child squeezed down or an old person unable to walk, he would rush over at the first moment and take them to a safe zone.
"Hoo... How can these people run better than zombies?"
Pietro stopped, took a breath, and casually grabbed a bottle of water from a roadside stall to chug down.
"Boss is right, being a superhero is really not a job for humans. Not only is there no salary, but you also have to suffer."
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
Peter Parker.
This guy was hiding behind a hot dog stand, sneakily changing into his Spider-Suit.
But he was obviously not very skilled at it, with one leg stuck in his pants, sweating profusely with anxiety.
"Pfft!"
Pietro almost spat out the water in his mouth.
"Is this the so-called New York vigilante? This is too pathetic, right?"
His eyes rolled, and he gave a bad smile.
Whoosh!
Next second.
He appeared behind Peter, reaching out a finger to poke Peter's back.
"Hey, buddy. Need any help? It looks like you're fighting with your pants."
"Waah!"
Peter was startled, flipping directly out from behind the hot dog stand and falling flat on his back.
Panickedly pulling up his pants, looking up and seeing Pietro with a wicked grin, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but his face turned beet red.
"It's you! Why are you here?"
"I'm working."
Pietro pointed to the evacuating crowd in the distance.
"Fisk Industries Security Department, at your service."
"By the way, are your underwear spongebob squarepantsagain? Are you a loyal fan of spongebob squarepants?"
Peter:...
Chapter 38 Hey, Wanda
"That was bought by Aunt May! And it's an old one! I just forgot to change it!"
Peter was so mortified he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore."
Pietro put away his smile and pointed to the battlefield in the distance.
"Things are getting quite lively over there. Are you going to help?"
"Of course!"
Peter put on his suit and donned his mask, his voice turning firm.
"There are a lot of innocent people there, and it's Iron Man! I can't just watch and do nothing."
"Admirable courage."
Pietro patted Peter on the shoulder.
"Though I advise you to be careful. That guy playing with whips isn't quite right right now; his energy signature is very strong. And..."
Pietro glanced at the black figure in the sky.
"The boss is there too. If you don't want to be caught in the crossfire, you'd better stay away."
"The boss? You mean Luke?"
Peter looked up and happened to see the scene of Luketearing open Ivan's armor with his bare hands.
Even from this far away, he could feel a suffocating sense of oppression.
"What on earth is he doing? Is he helping Iron Man? Or..."
"Who knows."
Pietro shrugged.
"Don't try to guess the boss's thoughts. Anyway, as long as you don't block his path, you'll generally be fine."
"Alright, I've got work to do too. Looks like a beauty fell down over there, I'm going to go help her up."
With that, Pietro turned into a streak of silver light and vanished once more.
Peter looked at his retreating figure and shook his head helplessly.
Just as he wanted to shoot a web and swing toward the battlefield, he heard a crisp cry from above his head.
"Hi, Spider-Man! Need a hand?"
Peter looked up and saw a white figure landing on a street lamp.
A white, black, and pink suit, with the signature hood.
Ghost-Spider!
"Ghost-Spider?"
Peter was somewhat surprised.
"You came too?"
"How could a fireworks show this big be missing me?"
Gwen crouched on the street lamp, her eyes beneath the mask curving into crescent moons.
"Besides, I heard my new friend is here too."
Her gaze turned toward the direction of the VIP viewing platform.
There, Wanda stood by the railing; although she looked a bit nervous, red energy was already faintly flickering in her hands.
"Wanda..."
Gwen murmured softly.
"Looks like tonight is a big party."
"Let's go, Spider-Man."
Gwen shot out a web and swung into the air.
"Let's go clean up those escaped tin cans and don't let them hurt anyone."
"Right!"
Peter also shot a web, and the two figures, one red and one white, rushed toward the edge of the battlefield.
On the VIP viewing platform.
Natasha stood by the railing, looking at the battlefield below with a solemn expression.
Nick Fury's voice came through her earpiece.
"How's the situation?"
"It's bad, Director."
Natasha reported in a low voice.
"Luke has intervened in the battle. But he isn't helping; he's feeding."
"Feeding?"
"That's right. He is absorbing that Russian's energy, and even dismantling his armor. His methods are far too practiced."
Natasha looked at Luke below, a flash of apprehension passing through her eyes.
"Furthermore, his power is even stronger than it was back at Times Square. He even grew wings! Not a glider, but actual biological wings!"
The other end of the communication fell silent for a moment.
"Keep monitoring."
Fury's voice sounded a bit exhausted.
"Don't act rashly. Tony Stark is still there, and Colonel Rhodes is too. Let's see what Luke does next."
"If he really loses control..."
"Then initiate the contingency plan."
Natasha turned off her communicator and glanced at Wanda beside her.
The red-haired girl was gripping the railing tightly, her eyes locked onto Luke in the middle of the battlefield.
Is she worried?
Or is she scared?
"You look very nervous, Wanda."
Natasha walked over to her and handed her a tissue.
"Are you worried about your boss?"
Wanda took the tissue and glanced at Natasha.
Her gaze was very strange, as if she saw through everything, yet also carried a sort of sympathy.
"No, Natalie Miss."
Wanda said softly.
"I'm not worried about Luke. He is invincible."
"I'm just worried that..."
Wanda pointed at the approaching police and S.H.I.E.L.D.agents at the edge of the battlefield.
"If they anger Luke, the consequences will be severe."
"Luke doesn't like others interrupting his meal."
Natasha was startled inwardly.
Right at that moment.
Several runaway iron soldiers suddenly broke through the blockade line and flew toward the viewing platform, their gun barrels already beginning to warm up.
"Careful!"
Natasha wanted to draw her gun, but she suddenly remembered that her current identity was a frail female assistant.
Before she could react, Wanda beside her moved.
"Stay away from us!"
Wanda extended both hands, and crimson Chaos Magicerupted instantly!
Boom!
Several iron soldiers seemed to crash into an invisible wall, instantly getting bounced away and crushed into scrap metal by the red energy in mid-air.
Meanwhile.
A white web suddenly shot from the side, sticking to an iron soldier trying to launch a sneak attack, and fiercely slamming it onto the ground.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here!"
Gwen swung over, landing steadily on the railing, and waved at Wanda.
"Hi, Wanda! I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon!"
"It's you!"
Wanda's eyes lit up, and the sense of oppression instantly dissipated quite a bit.
"Did you come to help too?"
"Of course, when a friend is in trouble, how can I not come?"
Gwen blinked playfully.
"Looks like the scenery on your side is nice, but these iron lumps are really ruining the view. Leave them to me!"
As she spoke, Gwen leaped up again, firing web after web, tightly binding several approaching iron soldiers.
Natasha watched this scene, her gaze turning even more profound.
Ghost-Spider... Wanda...
It seems Luke's arrangement is even deeper than I imagined.
...
Center of the battlefield.
"Ahhhhh!"
Ivan Vanko let out a despairing roar.
His armor had been torn to pieces, and the reactor on his chest had also been forcibly dug out by Luke, playing with it in his hand.
Having lost his energy source, Ivan collapsed limply in the ruins.
"Why, why..."
Ivan panted heavily, his gaze vacant.
"You gave me power, why take it away again?"
"Because you don't deserve it."
Luke looked at him coldly, the reactor in his hand already wrapped in black tentacles, the energy inside being rapidly extracted.
"You are too stupid, Ivan."
"You have good talent, but you only think about revenge. Your perspective is too small."
"Power in your hands is just a waste. Better hand it over to me and let it play a greater value."
Luke clenched his palm.
Snap!
The heavily modified reactor instantly shattered, turning into specks of purple light that merged into Luke's body.
[Absorbing high-energy arc reactor core...]
[Energy reserve: 85%...]
[Obtained new technology blueprint: Bio-energy whip-snare, advanced version]
[Optimizing bio-electricity transmission efficiency...]
Luke closed his eyes, feeling the qualitative change of power within his body.
The sense of overflowing power made him unable to resist wanting to roar up to the sky.
"This is the feeling of evolution."