Chapter 39 S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Invitation
He opened his eyes and looked at Tony Stark not far away.
At this moment, Tony was hovering in mid-air, his repulsors aimed at Luke, the expression under his mask extremely complicated.
The scene just now was too shocking.
Tearing the armor apart with bare hands and absorbing the reactor's energy—this was simply even more terrifying than last time they met.
"Hey, Tin Man."
Luke waved at Tony, a punchable smile hanging on his face again.
"Don't thank me. This is just part of the after-sales service."
"Thank you?"
Tony opened his mask with a vigilant look.
"You almost tore me apart with it just now! Also, that's my technology! Did you know about this all along?"
"That's not the point, Tony."
Luke spread his hands.
"Things like technology only have meaning when used in the hands of the strong. Look, didn't I just take it back now?"
"And..."
Luke pointed at the mess all around.
"Don't you think this fireworks show is wonderful? Although it's a bit noisy, as your celebration banquet, it qualifies."
Tony was angered into laughing.
"Celebration banquet? You mean a celebration banquet that turns my expo into ruins?"
"Out with the old, in with the new."
Luke said indifferently.
"Alright, now that the trouble is resolved, I should be leaving too. Remember to wire the final payment to me, you know the account."
With that, the wings on Luke's back spread out again, preparing to take off.
"Wait!"
Just at this moment, a white web suddenly shot over, trying to stick to Luke's leg.
"Hmm?"
Luke dodged slightly, and the web missed.
He looked down and saw Peter Parker crouching on an overturned car, striking a classic Spider-Man pose.
"What do you want to do? Little Spider?"
Luke looked at him and smiled.
"Are you taking him away?"
Peter pointed at Ivan on the ground.
"Although he is a bad guy, he should accept trial by law, instead of being dealt with by you privately."
Although Peter's voice was a bit trembling, it was very firm.
This was Spider-Man's principle.
Luke looked at Peter, the red light in his eyes flickering slightly.
This naive child.
In this world, law?
Trial?
They are merely the rules of the game set by the strong for the weak.
However...
Luke didn't hate this naivety.
On the contrary, he found it very interesting.
"Rest assured, Little Spider."
Luke put away his wings, his body hovering in mid-air.
"I have no interest in this pile of rotten meat. His value has been squeezed dry by me."
"As for the law..."
Luke looked toward the police cars and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents rushing over in the distance.
"Then leave that to those people who like writing reports to get a headache over."
"However, as a reward for your daring to make a move against me..."
Luke raised his hand and waved.
A stream of black fluid flew toward Peter, turning into a compact black bracelet in the air and snapping onto Peter's wrist.
"This is?"
Peter looked at the bracelet in surprise.
"A little gift. Inside is a locator and an emergency distress button."
Luke blinked.
"If one day you are bullied by S.H.I.E.L.D. to the point of having no way out, press it."
"Fisk Industries always welcomes job hoppers."
Evacuation.
"Alright, wrap up!"
Luke's voice was transmitted into the minds of Wanda and Pietro through the Symbiote's mental link.
"Pietro, stop playing, take Wanda with you."
"Wanda, say goodbye to your new friend, it's time for us to go home."
In the stands.
Wanda looked at Gwen.
"I'm leaving."
"So fast?"
Gwen was a bit surprised, but then nodded.
"It seems your boss doesn't want to deal with the police."
"Mhm."
Wanda nodded.
"Thank you for helping me today, Gwen."
"You're welcome, that's what friends should do."
Gwen smiled and waved her hand.
"Next time there's a chance, I'll treat you to that... what was it called? Bubble tea?"
"No problem!"
Wanda showed a brilliant smile.
Just at this moment, a silver light flashed.
Pietro appeared by Wanda's side.
"Sorry to interrupt the ladies' tea party, but our private car is about to leave."
Pietro winked at Gwen.
"Goodbye, Ghost Miss. Your uniform taste is not bad."
"Same to you, Mr. Quicksilver."
"Hold on tight!"
Pietro let out a low shout, silver light erupted again, and he instantly disappeared from the spot with Wanda.
Natasha looked at her empty side and sighed helplessly.
"It seems I have to leave too."
She tidied up her somewhat disheveled hair and turned to blend into the crowd, as if she were just an ordinary frightened member of the public.
But her hand tightly grasped the voice recorder in her pocket.
Tonight's information volume was too big, she needed to go back and digest it well.
In mid-air.
Luke took one last look at the chaotic battlefield below.
Tony was busy saving people, and Peter and Gwen were also helping out.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s motorcade arrived belatedly, and Coulson led a team of agents rushing toward the unconscious Ivan.
"A perfect curtain call."
Luke smiled slightly.
Boom!
His wings shook violently, and the fierce wind howled.
He turned into a stream of black light, shooting straight up into the clouds, catching up with the silver lightning speeding along the ground, and disappearing together into the boundless night.
...
The next morning.
Fisk Tower.
After a night of clamor, New York returned to peace.
But the news headlines were still fiery hot.
"Iron Man Saves the World Again!"
"Mysterious Black Monster Appears! Enemy or Friend?"
"Hammer Industries Stock Plummets! Justin HammerArrested!"
Luke sat at his desk, holding a cup of hot milk in his hand, looking at the news on his tablet, and pouted somewhat dissatisfiedly.
"These media folks really have no vision."
"Clearly I ended the match, how did Tony steal all the spotlight?"
"Even uncharming names like mysterious black monster came out. Don't I deserve a handsome codename?"
"Like Black King? Venom? Or Dark Lord of the Night?"
"Boss, what you need is not a codename, but public relations."
Natasha walked in carrying a stack of files with a smile on her face.
"If you are willing to accept a few exclusive interviews or open an account on Twitter, I believe your fans definitely won't be fewer than Iron Man's."
"Oh, come on."
Luke put down the milk and gave her a sideways glance.
"I have no interest in being watched by people."
"However..."
He looked at Natasha, his eyes carrying a hint of playfulness.
"Speaking of public relations, my trader assistant, what arrangements are there for today?"
"The asset liquidation of Hammer Industries has already begun."
Natasha reported, her tone professional and capable.
"Mr. Wesley is operating and preparing to acquire several production lines under Hammer's name."
"However, the Department of Defense is a bit troublesome. They don't seem to want these things to fall into private hands, especially... your hands."
"Department of Defense?"
Luke sneered, cold light flashing in his eyes.
"Tell them that if they don't sell to me, I'll blow up those production lines."
"Anyway, what I can't get, no one else should think of getting either."
Natasha's fingers paused slightly.
This was so Luke.
"I will convey your suggestion."
"There is one more thing."
Natasha pulled a black gold-stamped invitation letter from the stack of files and handed it to Luke.
"Sent by S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Nick Fury wants to invite you for tea."
"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Luke's eyes lit up as he took the invitation letter.
How could he have forgotten about the Tesseract.
Although the Tesseract might still be in the research stage now, an energy source of that level, just thinking about it, made the virus inside Luke begin to stir restlessly.
"Tell One-Eye that I'm free."
Luke stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the distant azure sky.
"However, I'm not just going for tea."
"I'm going to..."
A greedy smile hooked the corner of his mouth, and the invitation letter in his hand was devoured and exhausted by tentacles.
"Restock."
Chapter 40 You Are Just a Cotton Machine
The next morning, Washington, D.C.
On the banks of the Potomac River, the Triskelion stood majestically.
This was the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D., and also one of the places with the most secrets on this planet.
A black Rolls-Royce Phantom slowly drove across the bridge and stopped at the security checkpoint of the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
The car window rolled down, revealing Luke's face wearing sunglasses.
"Good morning, Mr. Agent."
Luke took off his sunglasses and flashed a brilliant smile at the stern-looking security guard.
"I am looking for Nick Fury; he invited me over for tea."
The security guard glanced at the tablet in his hand, which displayed the highest-level reservation pass.
He swallowed hard, stood up straight, and saluted.
"Let them pass!"
The car drove into the underground parking lot.
Luke pushed the door open, got out of the car, and straightened his suit.
Today he was dressed very formally, but the lazy temperament exuding from the inside out made him look more like a prodigal son inspecting a family business.
Natasha got out from the other side.
Today she was wearing a dark gray business suit, holding a briefcase, with her hair tied up in a bun and wearing black-rimmed glasses.
As a top agent, she played the assistant role of Natalie Rushman perfectly.
"Boss, this is the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters."
Natasha walked behind Luke and reminded him in a lowered voice, her tone carrying a bit of professional tension—which was, of course, acting.
"I know."
Luke looked around, watching the heavily armed quick-reaction force.
"Director Fury seems very enthusiastic, arranging so many people to welcome me."
"Let us go, Natalie."
Luke naturally extended his arm, signaling Natasha to take it.
"Do not be nervous; just treat it like visiting a museum. I heard the coffee here is good."
Natasha hesitated for a moment, but still took Luke's arm.
She could feel the terrifying power contained beneath Luke's arm, as well as his arrogance in completely disregarding S.H.I.E.L.D.
This lunatic...
Did he really think this place was his back garden?
...
Top floor, director's office.
The office door slowly opened.
The office was very spacious with excellent lighting, overlooking the entire view of Washington.
But at this moment, the atmosphere in the room was as cold as an ice cellar.
Nick Fury sat behind the desk, his One-Eye staring intently at Luke who walked in.
Behind him stood the expressionless Agent Hill and Coulson with a kind smile. (Agent Hill's plot was changed by me.)
In the corner of the office, within the shadows of the ventilation duct, a faint trace of murderous intent seemed to be hidden.
Luke guessed right away that it was Hawkeye.
"Please sit, Mr. Luke."
Fury did not get up, pointing to the chair opposite him.
Luke sat down unceremoniously, placing his legs directly on Fury's desk, and kicked a folder marked top secret aside.
Natasha obediently stood behind Luke, opened her briefcase, and took out a notebook, looking like she was ready to take meeting minutes.
She did not look at Fury, and Fury did not look at her; the two were like complete strangers.
"Good tea."
Luke did not drink the tea, sniffed the scent in the air, and then looked at Fury.
"Speak, One-Eye. You called me here from afar, surely not just to invite me to appreciate your one-eyed look, right?"
Coulson's mouth twitched slightly.
Fury's face darkened a bit, although it was already very dark to begin with.
"We investigated you, Luke."
Fury crossed his hands against his chin, his tone low.
"No past, no records, it is as if you appeared out of thin air in this world. You possess power that surpasses human limits, and you can even devour energy and plunder the abilities of others."
"You established your own gang empire in Hells Kitchen, openly displayed unregistered biological weapons at the expo, and illegally modified that Russian's technology."
Fury leaned forward, his single eye revealing a scrutinizing gaze.
"What on earth are you? A superpower user? An Inhuman? Or some kind of runaway biochemical experiment subject?"
"I am your father."
Luke blurted out.
The room fell silent instantly.
Hill's fingers trembled slightly.
The tip of the pen in Natasha's hand poked a hole in the paper.
A blue vein bulged on Fury's forehead, but he held it back.
"Just a joke, do not be so serious."
Luke waved his hand and looked straight into Fury's eyes.
"Who I am is not important; what is important is that I know who you are and what you are doing."
Luke smiled slightly.
"S.H.I.E.L.D., Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Sounds high-end, right? A shield to maintain world peace?"
Luke scoffed, his eyes full of mockery.
"Unfortunately, this shield rotted through long ago."
"What do you want to say?" Fury's eyes became dangerous.
"I want to say..."
Luke lowered his voice, his tone mysterious.
"Hail Hydra."
"Click! Click!"
Almost reflexively, Hill and Coulson drew their guns instantly, the pitch-black muzzles pointing directly at Luke!
Even Hawkeye, hiding in the dark, pulled the bowstring, and the special explosive arrow locked onto Luke's throat.
The atmosphere became somewhat subtle.
However, Luke did not even blink an eyelid, still leaning lazily against the chair with a playful smile on his face.
"Do not move anyone!!!"
A low shout broke the silence.
It was not Luke, but Nick Fury.
Fury stood up abruptly, his eyes full of shock, but he had more of a headache.
Not a headache about Hydra, but a headache about Luke in front of him.
He had seen the video of Times Square and the ruins of the expo.
Bullets? Bombs?
To a monster like Luke who could tear steel apart and devour lightning, these things were not even enough to tickle him!
Once they opened fire and angered this monster, everyone in the entire Triskelion building would have to be buried with him!
"Put down your guns! Everyone! Put them down!" Furyordered.
"But Director..." Hill hesitated a bit.
"This is an order!" Fury roared.
Hill and Coulson unwillingly put away their guns, but their muscles remained tense, staring intently at Luke.
"Wise choice, Nick."
Luke clapped his hands, seemingly very satisfied with Fury's tactfulness.
"If you had not called it off just now, this office would have already been redecorated. As for the decoration style... probably a flesh-and-blood graffiti style."
Fury took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Do you know what you are talking about? Hydra has already..."
"Stop pretending."
Luke interrupted him and continued.
"Your former director, Alexander Pierce, is Hydra. Your capable subordinate named Sitwell is Hydra. Even at least half of the people in this building, every morning when they wake up and brush their teeth, recite silently in their hearts, cut off one head, two more shall grow."
"You think you are the director? No, Fury, you are just a gatekeeper kept in the dark."
Fury's fingers sank deeply into the desktop.
Massive waves stirred within his heart.
Some of this intelligence, even he only suspected, yet Lukespoke of it with such certainty!
"It is not over yet."
Luke pointed to the ceiling.
"Aside from Hydra, you also hid quite a few good things."
"For example, that woman named Carol Danvers."
Fury's hand trembled violently, almost knocking over the cup on the table.
Captain Marvel!
This was his last trump card, a top secret known only to him!
"That auntie who can glow in the universe should still be in outer space acting as an interstellar cop, right?" Luke said playfully.
"Is your pager still around? It would not be out of battery, would it?"
"And..."
"Remember the Skrulls? Talos and his people are still working for you, right? Have you found the new home you promised them? Or are you just using them to be your free shapeshifting spies?"
Fury could no longer sit still at all.
His trump cards and secrets, his entire layout—the opponent actually knew all of it?!
"What on earth do you want?!" Fury looked straight at Luke.
"Me? I am just a passing enthusiastic citizen."
Luke spread his hands.
"Oh right, there is one more most important thing."
Luke's eyes turned greedy.
"The Tesseract."
"I know it is right here, or in some underground base you hid away. You are studying it, trying to develop infinite energy weapons, just like the Red Skull back then."
Fury stared fixedly at Luke, his lips moving as if wanting to say something, or wanting to press the alarm under the desk.
But Luke did not give him the chance.
He slowly stood up.
"I know what you are thinking, Nick. You are thinking about how to kill me, or how to lock me into a damn refrigerator."
"But I do not suggest you do that."
"Zzzt!!"
As Luke's voice fell, black fluid instantly burst forth from his body!
No longer a gentle covering, but a violent surge!
His figure instantly grew taller, his muscles expanded, menacing bone spurs emerged, a black mask covered his face, leaving only a pair of blood-red eyes exposed.
"Boom!"
A terrifying aura erupted from him, not targeting anyone in particular, but just the biological coercion made the agents present feel a sense of oppression.
Fury was forced back two steps by the air wave, his hand already reaching for the pager in his bosom, but no matter what he did not dare to press it.
"Do not waste your effort."
Turned into the Symbiote form, Luke's voice became hoarse and low, carrying a certain echo, reverberating in the office.
He walked toward Fury step by step, the huge shadow completely enveloping the other party.
"Who do you want to call? Captain Marvel? Or your Hydrasubordinates? Or do you want to mobilize the agents in this building to send me a snack?"
Luke extended a sharp black claw and gently poked Fury's chest.
"You are just a control freak, a self-righteous paranoiac, a cotton machine who only knows how to hide in the shadows and play with power politics."
Chapter 41: Tesseract
Fury's face flushed to a liverish purple, and the veins on his temples throbbed violently.
As the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., no one had ever dared to humiliate him like this! Never!
But he didn't dare to move.
Because his intuition was warning him.
Move even slightly, and he would die!
"Shh."
Luke raised a finger, pressing it against the lips of his faceplate.
"Don't speak, don't move."
"I'm in a good mood today, and I don't want a bloodbath. But if any of you dare to pull any little tricks..."
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"
A ring of purple lightning suddenly burst from around Luke's body!
This was bio-electricity fused with Electro's abilities, and the violent energy crackled in the air.
"I wouldn't mind tearing down the Triskelion just to liven things up for you. I think Hydra would probably thank me for saving them demolition costs."
The office was dead silent.
No one dared to move.
Everyone was awed by the power Luke displayed and his omniscient intelligence network.
In front of this power, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authority was like a joke.
"That's right."
Luke nodded in satisfaction, but the black fluid on his body did not recede; instead, it surged even more actively.
He tilted his head slightly, as if listening to a call from deep underground.
"Since everyone is so quiet, let's talk about business."
Luke turned around, not looking at Fury, but staring intently at the office floor.
It was as if his gaze could pierce through dozens of layers of reinforced concrete to see the deepest secrets.
"Since I'm already here, I can't go back empty-handed. I said before, I'm here to stock up."
Fury's heart sank sharply, and an ominous premonition surged into his mind.
"What do you want to do?!"
"What do I want to do?"
Luke grinned, revealing a ferocious smile beneath his faceplate.
"Naturally, I'm taking what I've set my eyes on. I have one good trait, which is that whatever I want, I usually take it myself."
"It's right down there, isn't it? Sub-level seven... the laboratory."
Before his words faded, Luke abruptly raised his right foot, the black muscle fibers instantly expanding as a massive amount of force converged at a single point!
"Open... up for me!!!"
"Boom!!!"
A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering loud noise!
Under Luke's kick, the director's office floor shattered instantly!
"Damn it! Stop him!" Fury roared frantically.
But it was all too late.
Luke didn't jump down; several thick black tentacles suddenly shot out from his back, extending downward through the kicked-out hole and piercing in!
The tentacles ignored the barriers of the floors and the locks of the security doors, directly piercing through layer after layer of flooring.
"Sizzle, sizzle!!"
Just two seconds later.
Luke suddenly pulled back!
"Clatter!"
Amidst flying gravel and sparks, a silver briefcase, tightly wrapped by the black tentacles, was forcibly dragged up from deep underground!
It was precisely the special containment box carrying the Tesseract!
"No!!!"
Fury's eyes split with anger; this was the cornerstone of S.H.I.E.L.D. and even global security!
Luke grabbed the briefcase and squeezed hard with his fingers.
"Snap!"
The sturdy outer shell was directly crushed, revealing the cube inside emitting a faint blue light.
Tesseract.
The vessel of the Space Stone.
The charming blue halo instantly illuminated the entire office, and massive energy fluctuations swept across the room.
"Ah... this is the scent."
Luke took a deep breath, an intoxicated expression appearing on his face.
The virus and Symbiote within his body boiled instantly!
This was an instinctive desire for high-dimensional energy and an opportunity for evolution!
Without a trace of hesitation, he directly stretched out his large hand and grabbed the Tesseract!
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!!!"
Terrifying energy instantly surged into his body along his arm!
The black armor on Luke's body instantly lit up with streaks of blue lines, just like an overloaded circuit board, and his eyes even shot out two dazzling rays of blue light!
[Infinite energy core detected...]
[Parsing space energy rules...]
[Energy reserves: 100%... 200%... Overflow...]
[Assimilating...]
"Awesome!!!"
Luke let out a long howl to the sky, his voice full of the release of power.
Although he couldn't yet fully parse the mysteries of the Space Stone, nor could he directly use the power of rules like Thanos.
But the massive energy could cause a qualitative change in his biological body once again!
Even, he felt that as long as a thought crossed his mind, he could open some kind of portal through this energy?
"This is the true specialty."
Luke flipped his palm, and the black fluid instantly surged out, wrapping the Tesseract layer by layer before directly swallowing it into his chest.
It looked just like a black storage space.
He turned around, looking at the dazed Fury and agents.
"Thanks for your gift, Nick. Even though it's something you didn't want to give, I'll take it anyway."
The armor on Luke quickly receded, turning him back into a harmless and handsome guy, except that deep within his eyes at this moment, a hint of blue light faintly flowed.
He tidied up his slightly wrinkled suit and turned to look at Natasha, who had been standing in the corner trying to minimize her presence.
At this moment, Natasha's look at Luke was no longer one of wariness, but deep shock.
He really did it.
Right at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters, right in front of Nick Fury, he forcibly snatched away S.H.I.E.L.D.'s treasure!
This was practically tearing off S.H.I.E.L.D.'s face and throwing it on the ground to trample!
"Let's go, Natalie."
Luke waved at her, his tone relaxed.
"It's too stuffy here, and the host's complexion doesn't look too good, so we shouldn't stay here and be an eyesore."
Natasha took a deep breath, glanced at Fury and the others, closed her notebook, and quickly followed Luke.
"Alright, boss."
The two of them, one after the other, swaggered out of the director's office.
Fury gripped the corner of the table tightly, his eyes bloodshot.
He looked at Luke's back, at the large hole, and at the empty cube containment box.
He didn't order a pursuit.
Because he knew that S.H.I.E.L.D. right now couldn't stop this demon.
Any obstruction would only bring meaningless slaughter.
"Director..." Coulson hesitated slightly.
"The cube..."
"Let him take it."
Fury gritted his teeth.
"As long as it's still on Earth, we still have a chance. But right now, what we need to assess is a threat even more terrifying than the cube."
He watched Luke's departing back, a sense of powerlessness rising in his heart.
He knew that this world was no longer under their control.
Outside the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters building.
The sunlight was still bright, and the surface of the Potomac River was shimmering.
Luke walked out of the main doors, feeling the warm energy continuously coming from his chest, and his mood was at its absolute best.
"This trip wasn't in vain."
He stretched lazily.
"Not only did I curse out One-Eye, but I also got an infinitely rechargeable power bank. Now I don't have to worry about running out of gas halfway through a flight."
"Boss."
Natasha walked beside him, her tone somewhat complicated, mixed with awe.
"Did you really take the cube just now?"
"Of course."
Luke opened the car door and sat in the back seat.
"Leaving it in their hands will only invite an alien invasion; it's better off being used as a flashlight by me."
Natasha hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"You were too reckless just now. If Fury really used his trump card..."
"He wouldn't dare." Luke shrugged.
"He's a smart man, and a coward. Without absolute certainty, he'd rather play the coward. That's the so-called king of spies."
Watching Natasha get into the car, Luke hooked the corner of his mouth into a smile.
"Besides, don't I have you? My dear assistant Natalie."
"I believe that at the critical moment, you'll protect me, right?"
Natasha's hand stiffened slightly.
She looked through the rearview mirror at Luke's eyes, which seemed to perceive everything.
Protect him?
In front of this monster who could crush armor with bare hands and physically withstand nuclear energy, who would protect whom was far from certain.
"Drive, Wesley."
Luke closed his eyes and leaned against the back of the seat.
"Head home. Now that we have an infinite power bank, our plans can speed up."
"New guests?" Natasha asked subconsciously.
"Yeah."
Luke muttered to himself, the image of the green big guy and a god of mischief holding a scepter surfacing in his mind.
With the Tesseract in his hands, this meant Loki's arrival location might change.
But that wasn't important; that was a matter for a few years later.
What was important was that in the collection game of the infinity stones, he had already taken a huge step ahead.
"Hulk should be getting restless soon, right?"
Chapter 42 Special Training of Power
New York.
Fisk Tower, top floor.
The elevator doors slid open with a ding.
Luke stepped out, although he had just caused a ruckus at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters and even snatched the Tesseractright in front of Nick Fury.
But his expression was still relaxed, just a cotton machine after all, no big deal.
Natasha, who was following behind him, was somewhat different.
At this moment, she could remain calm even in the face of a hail of bullets.
But now, her face was full of existential doubt.
She tightly clutched the briefcase in her hand, which contained the meeting minutes just now, as well as her cognition of the collapsing world.
"Boss, you're back."
Wesley appeared on time at the elevator entrance, holding a tray with a glass of milk and a hot towel on it.
"Welcome home."
"Thanks, Wesley."
Luke took the milk and chugged a mouthful with his head tilted back.
The feverish sensation caused by forcibly devouring the Tesseract just now was finally relieved.
The virus inside his body was frantically parsing the energy band of the Space Stone.
This took time, and also needed more things to repair the cells damaged by the high-energy scouring.
"Go prepare dinner, I want a steak for three... No, for five."
Luke casually placed the empty cup on the tray, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and walked toward the living room.
In the living room, the television was on, broadcasting a boring soap opera.
Pietro was lying on the sofa with his feet propped up high, holding a game controller in his hand.
But at this moment he was obviously not playing games, instead staring blankly at the air, with a silly smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.
Wanda sat on the carpet in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, with a fashion magazine spread open on her knees, but her gaze drifted toward the clouds outside the window.
Hearing the footsteps, the two came back to their senses simultaneously.
"Boss! You're back!"
Pietro jumped up with a carp flip, so fast that even afterimages were indistinguishable.
The next second he was already standing in front of Luke, leaning over with a gossipy look.
"How was it? Was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s tea good? Did you vent One-Eye's anger?"
"Tea is average, people are average."
Luke took off his coat and casually tossed it to Natashaaside.
The latter instinctively caught it, then stiffened for a moment before realizing she was an assistant now.
He sat into the sofa, sinking into it comfortably, and then looked at the siblings with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Don't just ask me. Talk about yourselves."
Luke crossed his legs and clasped his fingers together.
"How is the homework I assigned coming along?"
Mentioning this, Pietro instantly perked up.
He puffed out his chest with an expression saying 'praise me quickly'.
"Just as you expected, Boss! Peter really got into trouble. It was S.H.I.E.L.D. people, or agents disguised as FBI."
Pietro described it vividly.
"They wanted to take Peter away by force, and even wanted to get rough. Then I showed up! You didn't see the scene back then, I dismantled their guns and threw them into the trash can, and tied their shoelaces into dead knots!"
"Also, I drew two turtles on their foreheads! Hahaha, the look Peter gave me at that time was simply like looking at God!"
Luke raised an eyebrow, a smile curling up the corner of his mouth.
"Drew turtles? That's really your style. And then? What did he say?"
"He thanked me, and lent me his chemistry homework to copy... Uh, I mean, lent it to me for reference."
Pietro scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"I think he is starting to trust us. At least, he no longer treats us as bad guys. Before leaving, I also told him to press the bracelet anytime if he has trouble."
"Well done."
Luke nodded, giving Pietro an affirming look.
"Peter Parker is a good kid, but he is too kind and easily bound by rules. We need to let him know that sometimes breaking rules is not a bad thing, as long as your fists are hard enough."
Finished speaking, Luke turned his head to look at Wanda, who hadn't spoken the whole time.
"What about you? My little witch."
Luke's voice softened a bit.
"How is it getting along with Ghost-Spider Miss?"
Wanda's face flushed slightly.
She closed the magazine and smiled.
"We went to drink milk tea."
"Milk tea?" Luke laughed.
"Seems like a good start."
"Mm."
Wanda nodded, the red light in her eyes flickering slightly.
"She is a very nice person. Although she was a bit vigilant at first, but... she is very lonely. Just like me."
Wanda raised her head, her gaze turning bright.
"We talked a lot. About superpowers, about the hardships of hiding identities, and about damned schoolwork. We exchanged contact info and agreed to go shopping together this weekend."
"Luke, you're right."
Wanda looked at Luke and said seriously.
"We need kindred spirits. This feeling isn't bad."
Looking at the expression on Wanda's face, Luke smiled slightly.
Who could have imagined that the Scarlet Witch, who in the future would modify reality at every turn and almost destroy the world, is now just a little girl happy about making a friend?
"Very good."
Luke stood up and clapped his hands.
"Since the social activities are over, then next..."
His expression instantly turned serious.
"It's time for the main event."
"Special training time has arrived."
Fisk Tower, special training room.
"Listen, your abilities are not bad right now, but in front of real powerhouses, they are full of flaws."
Luke took off his top, revealing his lean and muscular build.
Along with his breathing, black fluid flickered across the surface of his skin, exuding a full sense of oppression.
"Pietro, your speed is very fast, but that is also your weakness."
Luke pointed at Quicksilver, who was doing warm-up exercises.
"Your mind can keep up with your speed, but your combat intuition is still at the level of street brawls. If you encounter an enemy who can predict your landing spot or has large-scale AOE capabilities, you're just a crispy chicken."
"Like this."
Before the words fell, Luke fiercely stamped his foot.
"Boom!"
The ground trembled, and countless black spikes shot out from beneath the floor, covering the dodging space around Pietro!
"Whoa!"
Pietro let out a weird yell, silver light flashing, he narrowly shuttled through the gaps of the spikes, and finally plastered against the wall in a disheveled state, his chest rising and falling violently.
"What is this? Cheating?!"
"This is called battlefield control."
Luke retracted the spikes with an expressionless face.
"In the future, you will encounter enemies who can control gravity, control magnetic fields, and even freeze time. If you only know how to run in a straight line, you're dead for sure."
"Starting today, you will practice dodging in my tentacle array. When you can pass through my thorn forest unscathed, you pass."
Pietro looked at the black thorns all over the floor, swallowed his saliva, and nodded with a bitter face.
"Fine... You're the boss, you call the shots."
After lecturing Pietro, Luke turned to Wanda.
Wanda immediately stood straight with her hands behind her back.
"As for you, Wanda."
Luke walked up to her, his tone easing up a bit, but still stern.
"Your talent is the strongest, even stronger than mine. Chaos Magic is a power that can rewrite reality."
"But you right now are like a child holding a nuclear missile launcher only used to crack walnuts."
Luke reached out, a ball of black energy condensing in his palm, with purple electric arcs faintly jumping inside.
"Attack me." Luke commanded.
"What?" Wanda was stunned.
"Attack me with your magic. Don't hold back."
"But..."
"No buts. If you don't even have the courage to throw a punch at me, how can you protect Pietro in the future? How can you protect your new friend Gwen? And how can you protect me?"
This sentence touched Wanda, and her gaze instantly became firm.
"Hum!!"
Crimson energy converged in her hands, then transformed into a red shockwave, fiercely blasting toward Luke!
Luke didn't dodge.
Waving one hand, the black energy ball instantly expanded, turning into a shield that easily blocked Wanda's attack.
"Too slow, too scattered."
Luke shook his head.
"Your emotions are the fuel of magic, but you can't let emotions control you. You must learn to compress, learn to control. Compress all your anger, your fear, your hope into a single point."
"Come again!"
Watching the two siblings sweating profusely in the special training room, Natasha standing outside the observation window pushed up her glasses, her pen writing rapidly on the notebook.
[Observation report updated.]
[Target Luke has demonstrated extremely high tactical literacy and mentor abilities.]
[He is systematically cultivating Wanda and Pietro, not only enhancing combat power, but also reshaping their psychological defense lines.]
[This cultivation mode doesn't look like manufacturing killing machines, but more like nurturing protectors?]
[Question: What on earth is his ultimate goal?]
Natasha closed the notebook, looking at the figure in the field like a demon god, her gaze complex.
Where on earth do you want to lead this world, Luke?
Chapter 43 Countermeasure Plan
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Earth.
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.
This is the City of God, and also a hotbed of sin.
The tin houses of the slum are stacked layer upon layer, like pustules growing on the mountain.
In a dim and damp apartment.
Bruce Banner sat cross-legged on a yoga mat.
He was shirtless, his thin chest rising and falling slowly with his breath.
"Inhale... Exhale..."
"Heart rate, 65... Very good."
A special heart rate monitor on his wrist made a faint ticking sound.
Ever since the gamma-ray experiment turned into a disaster, he had been living the life of a rat.
To keep the big guy from coming out, he learned yoga, learned meditation, and learned how to To Live like a plant.
"I want to go home..."
Banner opened his eyes and looked at the huge statue of Jesus outside the window, his eyes full of bitterness.
He was the world's top physicist, holding seven doctoral degrees, and should have been exploring the mysteries of the universe in a bright laboratory.
But now, he could only repair conveyor belts for a soda factory in this place where even English was hard to hear, earning a meager living.
"Beep beep beep!"
Suddenly, a rapid alarm interrupted his thoughts.
It wasn't the heart rate monitor, but a homemade encrypted computer connected to the global network.
Banner's expression changed, and he quickly got up and rushed to the computer.
On the screen, a red dialog box was flashing frantically.
"Mr. Blue: I found some interesting data. Regarding the gamma cell inhibitor, maybe we can try a new formula. But you need to send me your blood sample."
This was his only online friend, a biologist who claimed he could cure him.
"Blood sample..."
Banner looked at this line of text, falling into a struggle.
He knew how dangerous his blood was.
What flowed inside was not just DNA, but radiation, a disaster.
Just yesterday, while repairing a machine at the factory, his finger was accidentally cut.
Although he quickly stopped the bleeding and sealed the wound with super glue.
But he wasn't sure if even a single drop of blood had fallen into the soda bottle on the conveyor belt.
"Should... not be, right?"
Banner comforted himself.
However, what he didn't know was.
Right in a small grocery store, a thirsty old man had just bought a bottle of guarana soda produced in this batch.
"Pfft."
The bottle cap was unscrewed.
The old man raised his head and took a gulp.
"This taste... why is it a bit spicy?"
The old man frowned, then his eyes suddenly widened, a rattling sound came from his throat, and his whole body fell straight down.
The gears of fate began to turn at this moment.
And in the distant United States, on General Ross's desk, a report on a gamma radiation poisoning death case was about to be placed in the most conspicuous position.
...
...
United States, California, Malibu Beach.
Tony Stark's villa.
This and the slums of Brazil were simply two different worlds.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows was the magnificent Pacific Ocean, and inside was a comfortable environment with a constant temperature of 24 degrees.
But Tony Stark's mood at the moment was not much better than Banner's.
"Jarvis, still haven't found it?"
Tony, wearing a vest and holding a screwdriver in his hand, vented his energy on a disassembled Iron Suit.
"Sir, I have searched all public databases globally, as well as some less-than-legal encrypted databases."
Jarvis's voice remained elegant.
"Except for the already confirmed Hulk, as well as Electroabsorbed by Mr. Luke and the two people around him, Spider-Man, and Ghost-Spider, no other obvious signs of superpower activity have been found."
"What about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database?" Tony pressed on.
"Their firewall is tricky, sir. Although I have breached the outer perimeter, the core database is physically isolated. Unless you personally go to the Triskelion building and plug in a USB drive."
"Damn it."
Tony dropped the screwdriver and irritably rubbed his hair.
Ever since Luke said those words to him at the donut shop last time, his heart had felt like it had a thorn stuck in it.
"If one day, the Earth faces an irresistible threat..."
"No matter who the opponent is, even the so-called gods."
This sentence kept echoing in his mind.
Tony was an arrogant person, but he was also a person with an extreme lack of security.
Ever since escaping death in a Middle Eastern cave, he had developed severe anxiety.
He frantically built armor just to protect himself and the people he cared about.
But now, a Luke had appeared who was stronger than him, more mysterious than him, and even more like a protagonist than him.
He not only cured palladium poisoning, but also showed despair-inducing power.
Bio-armor capable of devouring energy and withstanding hot weapons with a physical body...
"Jarvis, create a new file."
Tony stood up, walked to the holographic projection table, and operated quickly with both hands.
"Codename: Countermeasure Plan."
"Target: Luke."
"And..."
Tony paused, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.
"Hulk..."
"This world is much more crowded and much more dangerous than I imagined."
"I need stronger armor. Armor capable of flying out of the atmosphere and killing gods."
"Okay, sir. Creating new project folder."
Jarvis replied.
"Also, sir, Pepper Miss just called to ask if you are coming home for dinner tonight. She seems to have bought a very expensive dress."
Tony's expression instantly changed from a melancholy savior to a cynical playboy.
"Tell her I'll be right back! Also, prepare a candlelight dinner, make it look like I made it myself, but actually it's takeout made by a Michelin chef."
...
...
Night, New York, Hells Kitchen.
Unlike the brightly lit Manhattan, the night in Hells Kitchenwas always shrouded in a layer of gloomy fog.
Luke walked alone in the narrow alley.
He didn't drive, nor did he bring anyone.
The clothes on his body had also been changed to an inconspicuous black hoodie.
He was foraging.
But this time the food was not human, nor was it ordinary energy.
He was looking for something legendary, Qi.
"The Hand..."
Luke stopped in front of a seemingly abandoned unfinished building, looking up at the pitch-black windows.
In his perceptual field of vision, this building emitted a strange life magnetic field.
The magnetic field was different from superhuman beings, nor was it the radiation of technological products.
It was older, more cryptic, carrying the smell of death and rebirth.
"Dragon bone."
Luke smiled slightly, and the virus inside his body sent a signal of desire.
According to Marvel's setting, the reason The Hand could survive for centuries and even bring people back from the dead.
Relied on the life energy, Qi, contained in the dragon bone fossils buried underground.
Although that thing performed quite poorly in The Defenders, for Luke who possessed the Blacklight Virus, that was a great tonic.
The Blacklight Virus itself was a biomass manipulation ability, if it could fuse with Qi, a system capable of controlling physical energy through the mind...
"Perhaps I could develop a true biological immortal cultivation genre."
Luke smiled self-deprecatingly.
"Zizhi!"
He reached out and pressed his hand on the rusted iron gate.
The black fluid seeped in along the gap of the door, instantly destroying the lock structure inside.
"Click."
The door opened.
The moldy smell of decay hit his face.
Luke stepped inside.
In the darkness, dozens of pairs of eyes lit up instantly.
These were the ninjas of The Hand.
They wore red ninja uniforms, holding sharp blades, like a group of breathing-less statues, quietly lurking in the shadows.
"Welcome."
An old voice came from the stairway.
Alexandra, one of the five fingers of The Hand, and also the current leader.
Leaning on her cane, she looked at the walking-in Luke, her eyes filled with vigilance, but more of arrogance.
"The new master of Hells Kitchen, Mr. Luke. Visiting late at night, what is the business?"
"Nothing much."
Luke took off his hood, revealing a brilliant smile.
He strolled leisurely surrounded by dozens of ninjas, seemingly not caring at all.
"I just heard that you guys have some good stuff in your hands."
"A kind of bone broth that can make people live forever?"
Luke looked at Alexandra, the red light in his eyes gradually lighting up, appearing very abrupt in the darkness.
"I have a relatively big appetite, and I've been a bit malnourished recently."
"So..."
"Zizzizi!!"
Luke's arms instantly turned into two pitch-black sharp blades, wrapped in purple electric arcs.
"I want to borrow your bones to make a pot of soup to drink."
Alexandra's expression changed instantly.
"Kill him!"
At her command, dozens of ninjas rushed up like ghosts!
"Well-timed!"
Luke laughed loudly, advancing instead of retreating.
Tonight belongs to the carnival of the predator.
Chapter 44: The Energy of Chi
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Dense sounds of impact echoed through the empty underground space.
Dozens of The Hand ninjas were like ghosts, the katanas in their hands carving out trails of deadly blade light in the darkness.
Their coordination was seamless, and every attack pointed straight at Luke's vital spots.
If it were an ordinary person, even a trained special forces soldier, they would have long been sliced into sashimi by now.
But Luke was not an ordinary person.
He did not activate his full-body armor, only mutating his arms into pitch-black sharp blades and covering them with a thin layer of bio-electricity.
"Too slow."
Luke sidestepped to dodge a long blade thrust from behind and swung backhanded.
"Zzzzt!"
Purple electric arcs flashed across the sharp blades.
"Snap!"
The katana forged from fine steel was instantly cut off, and immediately afterward, a wound deep enough to see the bone appeared on that ninja's chest, yet he did not bleed.
This was simply because the wound was instantly charred by the high-voltage current.
"This tactile feel is even smoother than cutting a steak."
Luke commented, his tone relaxed.
"Is this all The Hand has? You're hundreds-year-old old bones, yet your movements are still so stiff. Do you have osteoporosis?"
Alexandra stood on the high platform, her face turning livid.
She had lived for centuries and had seen countless powerhouses, but she had never seen a monster like Lukewho told cold jokes while killing people.
"Use poison! Use hidden weapons!" she screamed.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
A large number of poison-laced darts and smoke bombs shot toward Luke from all directions.
The green poisonous mist instantly spread, swallowing Luke's figure.
"Hmph, ignorant." Alexandra sneered.
This poisonous mist was a secret transmission of The Hand; even if an elephant inhaled a breath of it, it would die instantly.
However, the next second, her smile froze.
"Whoosh!!"
A gust of fierce wind suddenly erupted from the center of the poisonous mist!
This is... the sound of wings flapping?
Only to see a pair of huge black wings suddenly spread open, instantly blowing away the poisonous mist and hidden weapons.
Luke stood in place unscathed, even taking a deep breath of the residual poisonous gas, a look of intoxication appearing on his face.
"Hmm... a bit minty, quite refreshing."
The Blacklight Virus within his body was cheering.
[Neurotoxin detected...]
[Analyzing... Assimilating...]
[Toxin resistance increased...]
For the Blacklight Virus, this level of toxin was not only useless, but rather a good condiment.
"How is that possible..."
Alexandra took a step back, fear finally appearing in her eyes.
"Nothing is impossible, old hag."
Luke looked up at her, his wings suddenly shaking, and he instantly disappeared in place!
When he reappeared, he was already hovering in front of Alexandra.
"Now, take me to see that bone."
Luke reached out his hand, and black tendrils instantly wrapped around Alexandra's neck, lifting her up.
"Or, you better pray your taste isn't too bad."
...
...
Deeper underground.
In front of a huge stone door.
Alexandra collapsed limply on the ground, coughing violently.
At that exact moment just now, she truly thought she was going to die.
The aura on this man was even more terrifying than any demons she had ever seen.
"It's right inside."
She pointed at the stone door, her voice trembling.
"But I don't have the key... Only when all five fingers are gathered can..."
"Bang!"
A loud crash interrupted her words.
Luke directly punched the stone door!
The half-meter-thick stone door instantly filled with cracks, then collapsed with a roar, kicking up a sky full of dust.
"A key? What kind of outdated thing is this?"
Luke withdrew his fist and walked inside in big strides.
Behind the stone door was a huge natural karst cave.
And in the center of the cave, a huge skeleton lay quietly there.
That was a dragon.
A true dragon bone!
Even though it had been dead for countless years, a faint fluorescent glow still emanated from the pale white bones, and an ancient and majestic life energy filled the entire space.
"Chi..."
Luke took a deep breath, feeling the cells in his body trembling.
This was an energy purer and more vibrant than electrical energy or the Ark Reactor!
This was the source of life!
"What a perfect ingredient."
Luke walked up to the dragon bone, reached out his hand, and gently stroked the cold bones.
"Zzzzt!!"
Black fluid instantly surged out from his palm, rapidly covering the surface of the dragon bone.
[High-purity life energy (Chi) detected]
[Analyzing energy structure...]
[Attempting fusion...]
A warm current poured into Luke's body along the tendrils.
But the energy was not as violent as the previous electrical energy; instead, it gently nourished his body, repairing some minor hidden injuries left behind from forcibly devouring the Tesseract earlier.
More importantly, Luke felt that his mental power seemed to have been sublimated.
His perception range was expanding, able to clearly feel the breathing of the surrounding rocks and the flow of groundwater.
This was a brand-new realm.
"I see..."
Luke closed his eyes, immersed in the marvelous feeling.
"Chi is not only energy, but also the bridge between spirit and flesh."
"If the Blacklight Virus is the ultimate physical evolution, then Chi is the reins to control power."
As energy continuously poured in, the black armor on Luke's body began to undergo subtle changes.
Faint white lines, resembling ancient runes, vaguely emerged on the originally pitch-black outer shell.
This was the product of the dragon bone's power fusing with the Symbiote.
"Roar!!"
A low dragon roar seemed to resound in Luke's mind.
He suddenly opened his eyes, golden light flashing and disappearing in his pupils.
[New ability acquired: Chi Reinforcement (Passive)]
[All attributes greatly enhanced... Qualitative change in self-healing ability...]
[Active skill acquired: Dragon's Might (Mental Suppression)]
"Not bad, truly not bad."
Luke retracted his tendrils.
The huge dragon bone had now become dim and dull, turning into powder with just a gentle touch.
The essence within it had been completely squeezed dry by Luke.
He turned around and looked at Alexandra, who was shivering in the corner.
"You can go."
Luke waved his hand, in a great mood.
"Tell the rest of The Hand, if you don't want to end up like those ninjas, obediently get out of New York."
"This place is my territory."
As if granted amnesty, Alexandra scrambled and fled outside.
She swore that she would never step foot into Hells Kitchen for the rest of her life.
...
Hells Kitchen, midnight streets.
Luke strolled down the empty streets, his black trench coat blending into the night.
He was not in a hurry to go back, instead walking while sorting out his current power system in his mind.
"The Chi of the dragon bone has significantly enhanced my body's toughness and self-healing ability, and even my mental power has been sublimated...
The current me, relying solely on physical strength, should be able to pin and thrash an angry Hulk."
Luke clenched his fist, feeling the power in his palm as if it could crush the void.
"And this..."
With a thought in his mind, the Tesseract that had been nurtured at his chest trembled slightly.
"Hum!"
Luke's figure suddenly blurred in place, and the next second, he appeared out of thin air ten meters away.
There was no sonic boom, no The Message, this was spatial folding.
"I've only absorbed a tiny fraction of the Space Stone's energy, yet I've already mastered this kind of short-distance teleportation."
Luke licked his lips, the light of ambition flashing in his eyes.
"Captain Marvel was just blown up by the Space Stone's energy engine, and she became one of Marvel's strongest combat forces. As for me, I'm eating the stone directly like jelly beans."
"Once I completely digest this thing, let alone Captain Marvel, even if Thanos comes, I can still strip off his gauntlet."
Chapter 45 Hulk and Abomination
Just as Luke was immersed in pleasant fantasies about the future, his sensory network suddenly captured a trace of unusual movement.
On the roof of a luxury mansion not far ahead of him, an agile figure was stealthily leaping among the tiles.
That was a woman wearing tight black leather clothes and long white hair.
She was carrying a bulging backpack, and her movements were as light as a cat's.
"Just finished stealing something?"
Luke raised an eyebrow.
"Hells Kitchen is my territory now. Stealing right under my nose, did you ask the landlord?"
...
Felicia Hardy, codename Black Cat.
At this moment, she was in a great mood.
Because she had just swiped a priceless Ocean Star from a smuggling tycoon's safe, and this single job would be enough for her to live in style for several months.
"These idiots' security systems are practically just for show."
Felicia landed lightly on a gargoyle, and just as she was preparing to jump again, she suddenly felt a chill behind her neck.
Someone!
Her intuition as a master thief made her instantly bristle, and just as she wanted to turn her head, a magnetic voice sounded right beside her ear.
"Good evening, little kitty. Carrying something so heavy, are you not tired?"
"Who?!"
Felicia turned pale with fright, and without even thinking, she swung her sharp claws backward!
Her gloves were equipped with special sharp claws, enough to cut through glass.
"Clang!"
A crisp sound rang out.
Her sharp claws were casually pinched between two fingers.
Only then did Felicia clearly see the man behind her.
Tall, handsome, wearing a black trench coat, with pitch-black eyes looking at her playfully.
"Not a bad reaction, it is just that your strength is a little small."
Luke released his fingers and smoothly flicked her pert nose.
"Who are you?!"
Felicia quickly retreated, widening the distance, and assumed a defensive posture.
Her heart pounded wildly. How did this guy appear?
She had not noticed him at all!
"Who I am does not matter."
Luke leaned against the gargoyle and pointed at the bag on her back.
"What matters is that you are in my territory and took something you should not have. Although that smuggler is not a good person either, according to the rules, taxes have to be paid on this."
"Your territory?"
Felicia froze for a moment, then as if thinking of something, her expression changed.
"You are that Luke? The person who took over Kingpin's territory?"
She had heard this name on the streets.
Recently, the underground world of Hells Kitchen had been spreading rumors that the newly ascended overlord was a monster who ate people without spitting out their bones.
"Bingo, correct."
Luke snapped his fingers.
"Considering that you are pretty, I will let it go this time. However..."
Luke's figure suddenly blurred and instantly appeared in front of Felicia, their noses almost touching.
"Next time you come to my territory to restock, remember to report to Fisk Tower first. Or, you could consider coming to work for me? I happen to be missing... um, an agile secretary?"
Felicia felt her legs go a bit weak from the strong hormone scent radiating from Luke, but she still gritted her teeth, a flash of slyness crossing her eyes.
"Want to hire Black Cat? Your cat food better be expensive enough."
Finishing her sentence, she leaped backward fiercely, jumping off the roof, shooting out the grappling hook in her hand, and swinging toward the distant darkness.
"Remember this, handsome! Next time we meet, do not think you can catch me so easily!"
Watching Black Cat's receding figure, Luke did not chase after her.
"An interesting woman."
He smiled.
"However, a creature like a cat will eventually find its way back on its own."
...
The next morning, Fisk Tower.
Sunlight spilled into the spacious dining room, and breakfast had already been set on the dining table.
Luke sat in the main seat, still holding a cup of constant-temperature hot milk in his hand.
On his left side, Natasha was cutting steak while reporting work using a tablet computer.
"Boss, the acquisition of Hammer Industries has reached its final stage. Justin Hammer has agreed to sign the transfer agreement for bail. We are about to take over all the production lines and armories under his name."
"Very good."
Luke nodded with satisfaction.
"Remember to keep the production lines for those iron soldiers; I have great use for them. As for Hammer himself... let him reflect in prison, and do not let him come out and be an eyesore."
"Understood." Natasha recorded it down, a flash of unusual emotion crossing her eyes.
This guy swallowed an arms giant as casually as eating breakfast.
On his right side, Wesley was respectfully pouring him coffee. Although Luke did not drink it, this was a sense of ritual.
"Boss, news came from The Hand last night. They withdrew their stronghold in Hells Kitchen, and even the Midtown Circle project under construction has been suspended."
"That old hag knows what is good for her."
Luke took a bite of a fried egg and looked at the brother and sister sitting opposite him.
Pietro was sweeping through a large plate of spaghetti, his speed so fast that only afterimages of his fork could be seen.
Wanda was drinking juice gracefully, holding a fashion magazine in her hand, looking to be in a good mood.
"How was it, did you sleep well last night?" Luke asked.
"Pretty good." Pietro swallowed the noodles in his mouth.
"It is just that Peter was too wordy, sending me a dozen text messages last night asking how to use that wristband and whether it would explode or something."
"Gwen invited me to see a movie this weekend."
Wanda put down the magazine with a faint smile on the corners of her mouth.
"She said she wanted to let me experience the life of an ordinary high school girl."
"That is good." Luke nodded.
"Remember to bring your credit card; Wesley will reimburse you."
Right in this peaceful breakfast atmosphere.
Suddenly, the picture on the television screen on the dining room wall shifted, and the original morning news turned into a red emergency broadcast.
[Breaking News! A large-scale biochemical terrorist attack has broken out in Harlem!]
[The military is engaging two unknown giant creatures! The scene is extremely dangerous! Citizens please evacuate immediately!]
On the screen.
On the smoke-filled street, two behemoths were fighting frantically.
One was a green-bodied muscular giant, lifting a police car to use as a brick.
The other was an earth-yellow, hideous monster covered in bone spurs on its back, its size a circle larger than the green giant, emitting a deafening roar.
Hulk! Abomination!
"Roar!!!"
Abomination's roar came from the television. With a single punch, he smashed Hulk into a residential building, which instantly collapsed amidst flying dust.
"Whoa..."
The fork in Pietro's hand dropped onto his plate.
"Is this shooting a movie? The special effects are so realistic?"
"No, that is real."
Wanda stood up, looking at Hulk on the screen, her brows slightly furrowed.
Luke put down the milk glass in his hand.
He wiped his mouth, stood up, walked in front of the television screen, and looked at Abomination, who was wreaking wanton destruction, crimson light gradually lighting up in his eyes.
This was the excitement of a hunter seeing top-tier prey.
"It has finally begun."
Luke muttered to himself in a low voice.
"Gamma energy... this is truly good stuff."
Hulk's source of power, the infinite physical stamina that grew stronger the angrier he got, was precisely one of the puzzle pieces he needed most right now.
"Wesley, get the car ready."
Luke turned around, his casual clothes instantly covered by black fluid.
"No, no need for the car. Too slow."
He looked at Pietro and Wanda.
"Stop eating."
"The team-building activity has begun!"
"Team building?" Pietro froze for a moment.
"Where to?"
"Harlem."
Luke pointed at the television screen and smiled faintly.
"To attend a party between monsters."
"By the way..."
"Teach that yellow ugly monster a lesson."
Natasha looked at Luke's unmasked gaze, her heart tightening.
She knew that Abomination was probably going to be in deep trouble.
"I am going too." Natasha stood up and picked up her briefcase.
"I might be able to help, like evacuating the crowd."
"As you wish."
Luke walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, the black wings behind him suddenly spreading open!
"Keep up! Do not fall behind!"
"Boom!"
The glass shattered, and the black figure shot up into the sky like a black meteor, heading straight in the direction of Harlem!
Pietro grabbed Wanda and turned into a silver streak of lightning closely following behind.