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*****
In the end, Feny chalked it up to a manifestation of idealistic power. After all, the Super Soldier Serum was known to amplify one's nature—as the late Dr. Erskine put it: "Good becomes great, bad becomes worse."
But from Feny's perspective, it seemed more like a "rising to the occasion" mechanic. The stronger the opponent, the more resilient Cap became.
As for why Red Skull hadn't displayed this level of tenacity, Feny figured it was either due to the loss of his physical body, the influence of the Soul Stone, or simply a failure to tap into the serum's true potential.
While Cap was famous for claiming he could "do this all day," he fortunately didn't use the line on Feny tonight. After twenty minutes of combat, Steve took the initiative to concede.
Steve wasn't the type to obsess over winning or losing. He knew Feny was holding back; while he might have been able to keep standing through sheer willpower, the odds of him actually winning were non-existent.
With the mission to arrest Loki looming at any moment, he needed to preserve his strength.
"Honestly, you're much tougher than I imagined," Feny remarked after the fight, watching Steve sit on the ground to catch his breath.
"I had my moments back in the day," Steve replied with a faint smile. A look of nostalgic melancholy crossed his face as he thought of the comrades who had fought and died by his side. He had always preferred teamwork to solo heroics.
It was this very trait that made him clash with Stark's independent, spotlight-seeking personality.
Because he had underestimated Steve's performance, the experience Feny gained from the fight exceeded his expectations. He was now so close to the goal that a little more skill practice would likely trigger the seventh extraction.
This surge of progress made Feny feel a sudden wave of goodwill toward the Captain. He reached out and summoned two Violet Karaage Rolls, handing them over.
"Want a taste?"
Steve stared at the rolls that had appeared out of thin air. "What is this?"
"The one-and-only 'Violet's Special Karaage Roll' in the entire universe," Feny introduced with a look of pride. "Delicious, mood-lifting, and features minor healing effects. It's my go-to travel essential!"
"Uh..." Steve listened to the grand introduction with a bewildered expression before simplifying it: "Food?"
"..."
While it was a massive oversimplification, it wasn't wrong. Feny nodded.
Taking the rolls, Steve hesitated. He wasn't entirely comfortable with such "novel" things, but the aroma wafting from them was far too tempting to resist.
"I never imagined a world where you don't even have to cook your own meals," Steve sighed, marveled by the "progress" of the modern age.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Feny rolled his eyes. "This is a special case—one of a kind in the universe. Everyone else still has to cook the old-fashioned way!"
Steve froze just as he was about to take a bite, but the scent was so intoxicating that he couldn't help himself. He bit down.
The moment the food hit his tongue, any doubts about its safety vanished. He was completely floored by the flavor.
"This is incredible!"
Feny took the praise in stride. If Steve had called it "bad," that would have been the surprise.
"How do you make these?" Steve asked, finishing the rolls in a few bites and looking like he wanted more.
Seeing this, Feny summoned two more and handed them over. "You've got no hope of doing it my way, but I can give you the recipe. It won't have the magical effects, but it'll still taste great."
"Really? Thank you," Steve said, looking a bit embarrassed but quickly accepting the food. His opinion of Feny climbed several notches in an instant.
Watching Steve eat, Feny couldn't help but think of the mages at Kamar-Taj. He had been gone for half a year; their stockpile of Karaage Rolls must be long gone. He wondered how they were holding up.
This was part of the reason Feny hadn't gone back immediately—he was genuinely afraid of being tackled by a mob of hungry mages and forced into a non-stop cooking marathon.
Thanks to "Karaage Diplomacy," by the time Feny and Steve returned to the common areas, they were laughing and chatting about cooking techniques.
A passing Tony Stark was visibly stunned.
"How did you end up hanging out with the senior citizen?" Tony cornered Feny after Steve left, recipe in hand.
"What do you mean 'hanging out'?" Feny retorted with a glare. "I was just teaching him how to make karaage rolls."
"Now that you mention it, I haven't had one in ages. Give me one!" Tony said, his mouth watering. He knew Feny could produce them infinitely, so he didn't hold back.
"..."
Feny wordlessly summoned two for him. "Is your suit fixed?"
"Just some minor scuffs." Tony was still a bit sore about the earlier fight. Between bites, he grumbled, "Even if you hadn't stepped in, I had a plan to handle the Point Break lead!"
Feny didn't comment. Even he wasn't certain he could beat Thor in a fair fight, which was why he had resorted to threatening the hammer.
Watching Tony devour the rolls, Feny suddenly remembered Blue-Eyes White Dragon's "kibble."
"By the way, if you have time, can you give me a few more of your Arc Reactors?"
"For your little pet?" Tony asked, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"Yeah," Feny nodded.
"What exactly are you raising?" Tony had tried not to pry, but after six months, his scientific curiosity had reached its breaking point.
"You want to see?" Feny looked at Tony. He had planned to just grind out the last bit of XP by practicing skills, but seeing Tony's eagerness, he figured a final sparring session (or a "reveal") might be the perfect way to top off the tank.
"If it's a secret, never mind," Tony said, trying to play it cool.
"It's fine. But this place is too small. Put on your suit and I'll take you to meet it."
Tony didn't need to be told twice. He rushed back to his room to suit up, eager to finally see the mysterious creature.
But just as Feny was about to open a portal, Nick Fury's voice echoed through the PA system:
"Everyone, assemble!"
The two exchanged a look. The "pet reveal" was put on hold as they hurried toward the briefing room.
Feny frowned. He was so close—just a tiny bit of experience away from the seventh extraction. He had really hoped to have that new skill locked in before the mission started.
He didn't know the reason for the sudden summons yet, but he decided to play it by ear and see what Fury had to say.
Soon, everyone was present in the meeting room. Aside from Feny, every face was etched with gravity. Feny, meanwhile, used "Sky-Dancing" to hover just inches off the floor, grinding skill experience while he waited for Fury to speak.
(End of Chapter)