It wasn't until the afternoon that Karl brought Gwen back to the estate.
On the way, Gwen received a call from her mother, Helen Stacy. After a brief hesitation, she admitted that she and Karl were officially together. Helen was silent for several seconds before sighing softly and telling Gwen to bring Karl over for dinner that evening. She would speak with George herself.
The call ended without conflict, but Gwen looked nervous afterward.
When they returned to the manor, May immediately noticed Gwen's slightly stiff movements. She didn't need details to understand what had happened.
She stepped forward and supported Gwen gently, then shot Karl a meaningful look.
Karl said nothing.
He could have used the Horse Talisman to erase any lingering discomfort, but Gwen had quietly refused in the car. Some experiences mattered to her symbolically. Karl respected that.
"Pietro, bring Peter downstairs," Karl called toward the upper floor.
He had already decided to give Peter the Psychic Crystal, but he would not do so without May's approval.
Soon, Wanda, Pietro, and Peter came down. As usual, Wanda leaned against Karl's side comfortably.
Karl looked at Peter calmly.
"I have an item that can awaken telekinetic abilities. Wanda and Pietro's powers were triggered externally, but this crystal can directly stimulate latent psychic potential. Peter — do you want it?"
Peter froze.
Telekinesis.
Real power.
Not borrowed.
Not temporary.
His own.
He glanced at Pietro.
Then Wanda.
Then back at Karl.
"I want it," Peter said firmly.
Karl nodded.
Then he looked toward May.
"It won't endanger his life. But psychic awakening stresses the brain. It will hurt."
May studied Peter's expression carefully.
Peter nodded at her again.
After a moment, she gave a quiet nod of approval.
A faint blue crystal appeared in Karl's palm.
Unlike Wanda's Chaos Magic or Pietro's speed mutation, this was a pure psychic amplifier — similar in nature to latent psionic awakenings seen among mutants in Marvel canon, though artificially triggered.
Karl stepped forward and pressed it gently to Peter's forehead.
The crystal dissolved instantly into streams of blue energy.
Peter's body stiffened.
His breathing became erratic.
His pupils dilated.
Then the pain hit.
He clutched his head and fell to one knee.
Psychic awakening was not physical damage — it was neural expansion. New synaptic pathways forming. Dormant potential being forced active.
Karl immediately released a controlled pulse of freezing energy — not to freeze him, but to stabilize his neural temperature and prevent cerebral overload.
He would not probe Peter's mind.
Telepathy and telekinesis are separate disciplines in Marvel lore. Forcing entry into a forming psychic field could permanently destabilize it.
May's hands tightened nervously.
Pietro looked ready to move, but Karl raised a hand slightly.
"Let him finish."
Ten minutes passed.
Peter trembled violently.
Sweat soaked through his shirt.
Then—
The psychic energy stabilized.
He collapsed backward onto the sofa, breathing heavily.
Silence filled the room.
Peter slowly raised his hand.
An apple on the table trembled.
It lifted.
Unsteady.
Wobbling.
Then dropped.
Peter stared at his hand in disbelief.
Karl nodded slightly.
"Telekinesis is directly tied to mental clarity and emotional control. If your mind wavers, the force collapses. Train daily. Start small."
Peter nodded, exhausted but thrilled.
"Thank you, Karl."
"Pietro, take him upstairs. Shower. Rest."
The two boys headed upstairs together.
Wanda looked thoughtful.
Karl gently brushed her hair back.
"You're still my strongest little witch."
She gave a small smile and went upstairs to continue training. Among them, she was indeed the most disciplined.
Moments later, Yelena's voice came through Karl's bracelet.
"Madam Gao is here again."
Karl exhaled slowly.
"Bring her to the living room."
He comforted Wanda briefly before heading downstairs.
Madam Gao stood the moment Karl entered.
She only sat after he did.
Her posture was respectful but never submissive — consistent with the leader of one branch of The Hand, an ancient ninja cult from Marvel canon known for longevity through mystical resurrection rituals.
Karl leaned back slightly.
"How much this time?"
Madam Gao hesitated briefly.
"One thousand catties."
Karl did the calculation instantly.
One catty ≈ 500 grams.
One thousand catties ≈ 500 kilograms.
At one billion dollars per catty.
One trillion dollars.
"I can provide that amount," Karl said calmly. "But can The Hand?"
Madam Gao's expression did not change.
"Our organization has existed for centuries. We possess assets beyond conventional markets."
She paused.
"We also possess something else."
She gestured.
A long rectangular case was brought forward.
She opened it slowly.
Inside lay a dark metal staff.
Approximately 1.75 meters long.
Four Chinese characters etched in gold:
如意金箍棒
(Ruyi Jingu Bang)
Karl's eyes narrowed slightly.
Even without touching it, he could feel it.
The energy density within the staff was enormous.
Old.
Layered.
Sealed.
In Marvel cosmology, mystical artifacts from ancient civilizations — including those tied to Eastern myth — often contain residual cosmic or dimensional energy. This was not ordinary forged metal.
But that was precisely the problem.
The Hand would never relinquish something so powerful without reason.
Karl looked at Madam Gao steadily.
"There's a condition."
He could feel it.
There was definitely something wrong with this thing.
…
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