3.1 The Gravity Chamber of Queens
By the time Aarav was fifteen and entering his sophomore year of high school, his physical capabilities were so far beyond human that maintaining the facade of "talented athlete" was becoming difficult. He could outrun the fastest track stars, bench-press weights that would snap his bones if he wasn't Saiyan-dense, and his control over his body was absolute.
However, the Super Saiyan wall remained. He had the strength, but he lacked the Ki control and the sheer, raw anger necessary for the initial transformation. He needed a breakthrough, and the internalized knowledge of Goku provided the answer: Gravity Training.
He couldn't build a hyperbaric chamber in his backyard, but the Gate of Babylon had reached Level 3, opening up Basic Magical Tools and Rare Historical Artifacts.
One quiet night, Aarav descended into the basement, now his sanctuary and gym. He reached into the Gate with a specific intent: something to increase gravity that is small and easily concealed.
Gate of Babylon: Searching Level 3... Match Found: Artifact of Pseudo-Gravitational Displacement.
In a shimmer of faint, gold dust and ozone, a small, fist-sized metallic orb materialized in his hand. It wasn't flashy or powerful; it was likely a reject artifact from a minor mage's failed experiment in a fictional past. It was, essentially, a Gravitational Regulator.
It hummed softly. Aarav could feel the latent energy. It wasn't infinite—it could only sustain a 2x Earth Gravity field within the basement walls for two hours before requiring a six-hour recharge. But that was all he needed.
He positioned the orb in the corner, concealed behind a stack of unused board games, and activated it.
The familiar weight intensified instantly. His body sagged momentarily, his muscles protesting. This wasn't merely heavier weight training; this was 2G—twice the pull of Earth. It was agonizing, forcing his latent Ki to flare up just to move.
"This is going to hurt," Aarav muttered, forcing his legs into a deep squat. "But pain is the quickest path to power."
His routine drastically changed. For two brutal hours every morning, he trained in 2G: thousands of bodyweight exercises, sparring with invisible opponents using Goku's complex katas, and the agonizing, slow practice of meditation to control the internal Ki flow that the Saiyan gene demanded.
The results were immediate and explosive. His body adapted at a dizzying pace. Within six months, 2G felt like walking in mud, and he was ready for the next challenge.
The Saiyan potential was awakening. The fusion of Saiyan physiology and human tenacity was beginning to create something truly dangerous.
3.2 The Two Poles of Affection
Aarav's personal life was now a complicated balancing act between two magnetic opposites: the thrilling, dangerous pull of Felicia Hardy and the gentle, brilliant connection with Gwen Stacy.
Felicia: The Shared Secret
Felicia was now seventeen, embracing her "Black Cat" destiny with increasing confidence. She hadn't stolen anything major, but she was a master of infiltration and subterfuge, skills she frequently tested on Aarav.
One Friday night, she showed up on his fire escape, not to steal, but to chat.
"Your skills are improving, Ronin," she observed, perched casually on the railing like her namesake. "I can barely hear your heartbeat when you move now. You're like a professional operative."
"You're watching me?" Aarav asked, genuinely surprised.
She smirked. "I watch everyone. Especially the people who are better than me. You move like a phantom. What are you training for? The Olympics?"
Aarav shrugged, but this time, he let her in on a sliver of the truth, knowing she would guard it like her own loot. "I'm training to be ready. For when the world stops making sense. And that's coming sooner than people think."
Felicia's eyes narrowed, intrigued rather than dismissive. "I like that. A purpose. You're not just strong, you're smart, Ronin. You see the shadows coming."
Their relationship deepened into a clandestine, high-stakes friendship that skirted the edge of romance. Their first "date" wasn't dinner and a movie; it was a midnight rooftop climb across Queens, ending in a shared, perfectly executed two-story jump, followed by a street vendor hot dog.
As they stood overlooking the silent city, Felicia suddenly turned, her eyes holding that familiar, captivating spark.
"You're a mystery, Ronin Sharma. And I hate mysteries. I'm going to figure you out," she whispered, leaning in and giving him a quick, firm kiss—the kind that promises danger and excitement. "See you later, genius."
And just like that, she was gone, leaving Aarav slightly breathless and more determined than ever to keep his secrets.
Gwen: The Comfortable Confidence
Gwen Stacy, meanwhile, was the bedrock of his academic and emotional life. They were inseparable in school, their mutual genius creating a powerful, intellectual synergy.
"Ronin, look at this," Gwen said one afternoon, excitedly pointing at a complex molecular diagram in her advanced biology textbook. "I think the key to stable human gene editing isn't in retroviruses, but in pulsed electromagnetic fields. It's radical, but it makes sense."
Aarav, drawing upon his Ki knowledge, agreed. "You're right. It's about regulating the inherent energy of the cell. External energy stimulus could be the key to triggering internal change."
Their first real date was entirely different from Felicia's chaotic adventure. It was a visit to the Museum of Natural History, followed by coffee and an hours-long debate on theoretical physics versus practical engineering.
As they walked home, Gwen stopped beneath a quiet streetlamp, her usually nervous demeanor replaced by a calm, confident warmth.
"Ronin," she started, adjusting her glasses. "I know you're... different. You always know the answer, you can out-think the teachers, and you move like you're defying physics. But you're honest, and you're good. And you're the only person who can keep up with me."
She took his hand, her touch surprisingly steady. "I like you, Ronin Sharma. A lot. But you have to tell me: are you just going to be my smart study partner, or are you ready for something more?"
Aarav squeezed her hand, meeting her gaze with all the honesty he could muster. "Gwen Stacy, I'm ready for anything with you. You're brilliant, you're kind, and you're the most grounded person I know. Yes, I want more."
She smiled, a beautiful, genuine expression that lit up the dimly lit street. Her kiss was soft, deliberate, and full of quiet promise. The glow of their connection was far less explosive than Felicia's, but infinitely deeper and more soothing.
Aarav walked home that night, feeling the unique dichotomy of his existence: the thrilling chaos of Felicia and the quiet brilliance of Gwen. Both were essential, and both drove him to become stronger.
He had two missions now: unlock his Saiyan power and successfully navigate a budding polyamorous relationship in the heart of the future Marvel Universe. He knew which one was harder.