Vincent tossed his phone aside, feigning disappointment.
Did she really think I just wanted her body?
Well, yes. But it's also about survival. We all do what we must.
It was late. The streets of New York were still buzzing.
Vincent had enjoyed Mrs. Stacy's Lemon Branzino—it was delicious. But Gwen had sneaked out shortly after dinner.
Vincent suited up. Black tactical gear, hood up, ice mask on.
He leaped from his terrace.
Ice Phoenix Wings.
Water vapor condensed on his back, forming crystalline wings. He soared into the night sky.
Unlike Aokiji (Kuzan) from One Piece, whose attacks were often massive AOE nukes that could level islands, Vincent had to refine his skills for urban combat. The Ice Wings were his own invention—a blend of Devil Fruit power and Hydro-Kinesis flight.
Below him, the NYPD was in chaos. Helicopters circled. Sirens wailed.
Vincent heard the screams.
He saw the Lizard rampaging through traffic, flipping cars like toys.
Connors had completely lost control.
"He's trying to reach Oscorp Tower," Vincent realized. "He wants to use the Ganali Device to disperse the serum across the city."
If you turn New York into a reptile zoo, my stock portfolio becomes worthless.
Vincent shook his head.
If New York fell, Stark Industries stock would crash. His wealth would evaporate. He wasn't about to let a overgrown gecko ruin his retirement plan.
"Oscorp Tower."
Vincent banked hard, flying toward the skyscraper.
He saw a familiar figure swinging through the concrete canyons.
Gwen.
She had lied to him. She wasn't just "protecting her father." She was hunting the Lizard. She clearly knew about the dispersal plan.
Vincent didn't mind the lie.
Even though Gwen was his girlfriend, he maintained a certain emotional distance. Two years in Hell's Kitchen had taught him to guard his heart. Relationships were nice, but survival was paramount.
Besides, he liked his secrets kept, so he respected hers.
Below, the Lizard was sprinting on all fours, faster than any vehicle.
"Found you."
Vincent folded his wings and dove.
BOOM.
He landed directly in the Lizard's path, cracking the asphalt. A wave of frost exploded outward, instantly dropping the street temperature by thirty degrees.
The Lizard skidded to a halt. His amber, reptilian eyes fixed on the hooded figure.
Instinct screamed DANGER.
But the cold-blooded rage overrode his survival instinct.
"Dr. Connors," Vincent's voice was distorted and deep, amplified by his internal energy. "Don't make me kill you. I promised someone I'd bring you in alive."
The crowd on the street stopped running. They stared at the Ice Demon.
The Lizard hissed, his tail thrashing. He charged.
Vincent shook his head.
"Ice Age."
Mist rolled off Vincent's body. It wasn't just cold air. It was a domain of stillness.
The Lizard slowed down. The water inside his muscles turned sluggish. His movements became jerky.
Then, the frost overtook him.
SNAP.
In a split second, the Lizard was encased in a block of ice ten feet high. He was frozen mid-stride, a statue of rage.
Vincent pulled out his phone and dialed Natasha.
"Manhattan. 3rd Avenue. Your package is on ice."
He hung up without waiting for a reply.
Sirens wailed. Dozens of police cars surrounded the intersection.
Vincent frowned. His element-form (Logia body) made his face a blur of blue mist, unrecognizable.
"Unless you want to become ice sculptures, leave," Vincent warned.
His voice carried a chill that made the officers' teeth chatter.
Commissioner George Stacy stepped forward with a megaphone.
"This is the NYPD! Surrender immediately or we will open fire!"
Inside, George was terrified. He saw the frozen Lizard. He remembered the reports of the Kingpin massacre. This was the Ice Demon.
Vincent looked at his future father-in-law indifferently.
George felt a chill seep into his bones. He wanted to run, but duty held him in place.
"FIRE!"
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Hundreds of bullets filled the air.
Vincent didn't move.
He shifted his body into Mist Form. Unlike Aokiji's solid ice form, Vincent preferred the intangibility of mist.
The bullets hit the mist and stopped.
Around him, the temperature plummeted toward Absolute Zero.
At Absolute Zero, molecular motion stops. Kinetic energy vanishes.
The bullets simply... ceased to be projectiles. They hung in the air for a fraction of a second, frosted over, then tinkled to the ground like hail.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
A pile of frozen lead formed at Vincent's feet.
"Monster..."
"It's the Ice Demon!"
"He killed Kingpin!"
"He's invincible!"
Terror rippled through the crowd. The cameras were rolling. The world watched as the NYPD's firepower was rendered useless by a single man standing in a cloud of blue mist.
[System Notification]
[Desire Points (Terror/Awe) Skyrocketing...]
[+50,000... +80,000... +150,000...]
Vincent smiled behind his mask.
So this is the power of a Public Event. The System loves a show.
Suddenly, a black-and-white blur dropped from the sky.
THWACK.
A powerful kick sent Vincent flying backward into a storefront.
Ghost Spider landed in a crouch between the police and the Ice Demon.
The cameras zoomed in on the new hero.
Vincent sat up in the rubble of a clothing store, dusting off his shoulder.
She kicked me?
My own girlfriend just kicked me through a window?
He looked at Gwen, who was striking a heroic pose.
"Huh. She hits hard."
Vincent smirked.
Fine. I'll let you have the spotlight. But tonight... you're getting spanked.
He dissolved into mist and vanished.
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