The next morning.
"Morning, Aunt May. Morning, Uncle Ben."
Peter Parker came clattering down the stairs.
"I'm going to Dr. Octavius's experiment today, so I won't be having breakfast with you."
Because he had gotten up in such a rush, his clothes were still not properly straightened. He casually grabbed a piece of breakfast from the table with his mouth, then hurried toward the door.
"Slow down. You're always so clumsy."
Aunt May looked fondly at Peter's back and shook her head with a smile. "That boy really is exactly like you when you were young."
"I was much steadier than him when I was young."
Ben Parker leisurely stuffed a piece of bacon into his mouth, his eyes fixed on the Daily Bugle in his hands.
"May, I'm starting to understand this world less and less."
"A few days ago, a playboy in a tin can suddenly popped up. The Spider-Man near our home still hasn't gone out of the headlines, and last night, a humanoid monster over ten feet tall appeared in Manhattan."
Ben pushed his glasses up with interest and read today's front-page headline word by word. "Mysterious Monster Appears in New York. After Defeating the Military, It Kneels Before a Mystery Man. Absurd Stage Play, or an Unspeakable Conspiracy Hidden Behind the Scenes?"
"That headline..."
"There aren't that many monsters in the world. It's just the newspapers chasing a gimmick."
Aunt May was busy in the kitchen, but she still leaned out to chat with Ben now and then, the two of them casually trading remarks.
"What mystery man?"
The door suddenly opened, and Peter, who had already left, actually came back.
"The Daily Bugle?"
He snatched the newspaper from Ben's hands and frowned as he began reading.
On the front page, a clear color photograph was exceptionally eye-catching.
On a broad street, a massive creature covered in blood was kneeling before a young man under everyone's eyes.
The photograph's tones had deliberately been darkened. From that angle, the enormous difference in size between the two figures was intentionally emphasized, making the whole image extremely striking.
The only flaw was that the young man seemed to be wrapped in some strange halo. In the photograph, this made him appear both clear and indistinct. At first glance, it seemed possible to see him clearly, but on closer inspection, nothing definite could be made out.
"Fenris?"
Peter's brow furrowed, then quickly smoothed out again.
This kind of effect was definitely not something post-processing could achieve. The only explanation was that the person did not want to be seen.
If that person was Fenris, then there was nothing strange about it.
"Peter, do you know this person?"
Ben leaned over and asked curiously when he saw Peter staring at the photograph without blinking.
"Ah, no. No, I don't."
Peter came back to himself and hurriedly shook his head.
He stuffed the newspaper back into Ben's hands. "I'm leaving first. I'll have dinner with a friend tonight, so you don't need to save any for me!"
"It's dangerous outside. Be careful!"
Aunt May called out loudly.
"I know!"
...
Inside a massive laboratory under the Oscorp Group.
Once word spread that Dr. Octavius would publicly conduct an experiment in magnetically confined controlled thermonuclear fusion, countless scientists had flocked over, all eager to witness this historic moment.
"All right, Peter, Gwen, you two can rest off to the side now."
After completing the final round of equipment adjustments, Octavius confidently patted Peter on the shoulder. "I'm glad you weren't late today."
"The kid finally learned, didn't he?"
Seeing that Octavius was free, Connors walked out from the crowd and warmly embraced his old friend. "Otto, long time no see."
"Hi, Connors."
Octavius greeted him with a smile and immediately noticed Connors's fully restored arms. "Your arm recovered?"
"Yes. Thanks to Fenris, I was able to achieve what I have now."
Connors was in high spirits. He proudly showed off his right hand, then pointed toward the young man not far away who was speaking quietly with Tony Stark about something.
"Doctor."
Sensing Octavius's gaze, Fenris nodded to him from afar.
"Truly an outstanding young man. That kind of spirit is rare among young people these days."
Octavius did not hold back his praise. "Unlike Peter Parker. He's always dozing off in class, and he especially likes being late."
"Peter is a smart kid. Maybe he has his reasons."
Connors glanced at Peter, who was frantically making faces at him from a distance, then smiled and gave his old friend his blessing. "I hope your experiment goes smoothly."
"I'll take that good wish."
On the other side.
"You already have the arc reactor. What are you doing here?"
Looking at Tony, who was dressed in a sharp suit and could barely hide the pride on his face, Fenris seriously suspected this guy had not come here for a pure reason.
"Science is about mutual learning and mutual progress."
Tony glanced at Fenris with affected arrogance. "This is genius business. I can't explain it to someone whose brain is made entirely of muscle."
"By the way, did you really take that big guy back to the academy?"
His cool act did not last even a second before Tony's expression immediately collapsed. He winked at Fenris with a sly look. "Look, can you give me a tube of his blood...?"
"Impossible."
Fenris refused without the slightest courtesy.
When he had returned last night, Abomination had already occupied the small den Connors had previously built very close to Fenris and fallen asleep there on his own.
If this continued, it probably would not be long before he underwent the same kind of mutation as Connors, White Queen, and Sabretooth. How could Fenris let someone casually study him?
Besides, this world was already chaotic enough. Add Tony, who was never content to sit still, and who knew what kind of trouble he would create?
"Stingy."
Tony curled his lip.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
Just as Tony was about to say something else, Octavius's voice suddenly rang out.
"Welcome, everyone. Today, you will witness the birth of a new form of energy."
"A safe, sustainable source of energy that will provide cheap and inexhaustible electricity to everyone in the world."
"Of course, in this field, Mr. Stark may have gone farther than I have. And in terms of miniaturization, his accomplishments are far beyond mine."
Octavius did not forget to mention Tony Stark.
As soon as those words fell, everyone's eyes immediately focused on Tony.
Obviously, recognition from another top scientist pleased Tony greatly. He nodded with feigned restraint, his gaze casually sweeping over Fenris. "Having a genius call me a genius. Fenris, do you understand how much weight that carries?"
"But I believe the alternate path I have taken will also provide humanity with another possibility."
"Now, allow me to introduce my assistants."
"All right!"
Amid warm applause, Octavius removed a piece of covered fabric under everyone's gaze, revealing four enormous mechanical tentacles.
"So it really is Doctor Octopus..."
Fenris looked at the iconic four mechanical arms and skillfully ignored Tony's words, making the latter's face darken again.
"Connors, you really are here."
Amid the low discussions around them, a hate-filled mutter suddenly reached Fenris's ears with absolute clarity. "Leaving me to die... I'll make you pay..."
"Who?"
Fenris turned his head.
A tall, thin, handsome young man had appeared at some point in the very center of the crowd.
"Where did this one come from?"
Fenris frowned.
From the young man, he smelled an unpleasant supernatural aura.
(End of Chapter)
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