The Dog Talisman granted immortality and limitless vitality.
Combined with the Horse Talisman's healing ability, Karl could essentially fight without exhaustion.
Together, the two talismans were almost like a permanent, upgraded Senzu Bean from Dragon Ball.
On top of that, he had obtained the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, meaning his freezing power could now incorporate destructive flame properties as well.
Karl then took out the String-String Fruit.
He embedded the Purification Rune into the fruit.
A golden light flashed across it.
Then Karl immediately used the system's detection ability to re-examine the fruit.
[String-String Fruit]
A unique Devil Fruit from the world of One Piece.
After consumption, the user gains the ability to produce nearly invisible, extremely durable threads.
These threads can even connect to clouds, allowing the user to travel through the air.
After purification by the Purification Rune, the curse of the sea has been removed.
The user will no longer lose their powers when exposed to seawater.
Karl nodded in satisfaction.
Originally, he had planned to give this fruit to Gwen when he obtained it earlier.
But because of the Devil Fruit's seawater curse, he had hesitated.
He wanted to study whether the side effects could be removed.
Unexpectedly, the Purification Rune he obtained today solved the problem perfectly.
Not long after, Helen Cho slowly woke up.
But she refused to get out of bed.
Instead, she complained that Karl had bullied her the entire night.
Karl could only smile helplessly.
Then he "taught her another lesson."
At noon, Karl brought Helen Cho back to the manor.
When May and Raven saw them arrive together — especially since Karl hadn't come home the previous night — they immediately understood what had happened.
And when they noticed Helen Cho's slightly awkward walking posture…
They understood even more.
May rolled her eyes at Karl.
Then she pulled Helen Cho to the sofa to sit with her.
Meanwhile, Karl casually pulled Raven into his arms.
Then he picked up the phone and called Gwen, telling her to come over because he had a gift for her.
After that, Karl spent the afternoon relaxing at home with the women.
Gwen arrived quickly after receiving Karl's call.
In fact, Helen Stacy and George Stacy had already figured out that May and Raven were Karl's lovers.
They simply chose not to mention it during the Spring Festival.
Even after Gwen returned home, they didn't confront her about it directly.
Instead, they discussed it privately in their bedroom.
In the end, George and Helen reached a conclusion.
As long as Karl treated Gwen well, that was enough.
Karl was clearly not an ordinary man.
His world would never be the same as that of normal people.
Trying to interfere would only place Gwen in a difficult position.
Since their daughter herself had not objected, there was little they could do.
When Gwen arrived at the manor, Karl handed her the fruit.
"Here. Eat this."
"It's called the String-String Fruit."
"After eating it, you'll be able to create transparent threads."
"You won't need to make spider silk anymore."
"These threads are extremely strong."
"They can even attach to clouds, letting you swing, glide, and move through the air."
Karl paused briefly before adding seriously:
"This is mainly for self-defense."
"If I find out you're secretly going out to fight crime again…"
"I'll punish you until you can't get out of bed."
Gwen laughed.
"Alright, alright! I understand."
"Thank you, Karl!"
She sat beside him and took a bite of the fruit.
Then another.
Soon she finished the entire fruit.
Judging from her expression, it wasn't nearly as disgusting as Devil Fruits were supposed to be.
The Purification Rune likely removed that drawback as well.
Gwen raised her hand.
A thin strand of nearly invisible white thread appeared between her fingers.
She pulled it gently.
The thread stretched effortlessly.
"Wow!"
"This is even better than my spider silk before!"
"Thank you, Karl!"
She immediately jumped into Karl's arms and kissed him.
Karl smiled slightly.
"Alright."
He then took out two vibranium bracelets.
"These are for you."
One was handed to Gwen.
The other to Helen Cho.
Karl grinned.
"Although it's a little strange since Gwen's mother is also named Helen."
He looked at Helen Cho teasingly.
"But from now on…"
"You're my sapphire."
These bracelets had actually been made by Speed.
Speed had already scanned the vibranium suit technology earlier, so it could reproduce simplified versions.
After returning to its warehouse the previous night, it had manufactured the bracelets itself.
"Tch."
"You only know how to bully people."
Helen Cho glared at Karl, though she still accepted the bracelet.
Gwen happily put hers on immediately.
After they wore the bracelets, Karl secretly placed several Shadow Ninjas into their shadows as an extra layer of protection.
Meanwhile…
At a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility.
Nick Fury walked quickly through the corridor with Maria Hill beside him.
He had just received an urgent report.
The Tesseract was behaving abnormally.
The scientist currently studying it was Dr. Erik Selvig, who had previously been involved in the New Mexico incident with Thor and Karl.
As soon as Fury arrived, he immediately questioned Selvig.
"What's happening with the Tesseract?"
Selvig replied quickly.
"It activated on its own."
"We don't know why."
Fury frowned.
"Why not shut off the power?"
Selvig shook his head.
"We already did."
"But the cube itself is a massive energy source."
"Cutting external power doesn't stop it."
Fury remained silent for a moment.
Then he turned and walked toward Clint Barton, who was monitoring the situation from a nearby platform.
"I need to know something."
"Is Selvig responsible for this?"
Barton shook his head.
"No."
"He wasn't even near the cube when it started reacting."
"It activated completely on its own."
Barton then spoke thoughtfully.
"I was thinking…"
"If the Cosmic Cube is a door…"
"Could it open from the other side?"
Fury looked at him.
Because that was exactly what he had been thinking as well.
After a moment of consideration, Fury decided to move the Tesseract.
Suddenly—
SZZZZT!
The Tesseract exploded with intense blue energy.
A beam shot outward across the room.
Moments later—
A portal formed.
Blue energy spiraled violently as a figure slowly stepped through.
He wore a green and gold robe.
A helmet with two long golden horns.
And in his hand was a glowing scepter.
This was—
Loki.
Self-proclaimed greatest sorcerer of the Nine Realms.
Though that title was… questionable.
After all, if Loki were truly the greatest sorcerer of the Nine Realms—
Then what about his mother, Frigga?
And what about the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One?
Nick Fury stared at the scene in shock.
Barton's theory had been correct.
While Loki's attention was elsewhere, Fury quietly slid the Tesseract into its protective case.
No matter what happened next—
The cube had to be secured first.
Loki slowly turned his head.
"Stop."
His voice was calm.
"I need that."
"You cannot take it."
He raised the scepter.
A beam of blue energy shot toward Nick Fury.
BOOM—!
...
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