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Next came strength tests—bench press, deadlift, weighted holds.
Storm crushed every number Ethan expected.
Then came reflex tests—light panels, reaction sensors, combat dummies.
Storm moved so fast the sensors started lagging.
Finally, Ethan ran diagnostic scans on muscle density, bone strength, lung capacity, and overall energy output.
When the last screen finished loading, Ethan let out a low whistle.
"…Seven times," he said. "Your physical stats are a solid seven times stronger than before. Speed, strength, reflexes—everything."
Storm blinked, surprised. "Seven times?"
"Yep." Ethan shut the scanner.
"Seems like it worked great for you," he said.
Storm bowed his head. "It's all thanks to you, Ethan-sama. You've given me something marvelous."
Ethan waved a hand. "It wasn't mine originally—I just got it. Anyway, get familiar with your new strength. Tomorrow, we're going to meet someone… and it could very well end in blood."
Storm nodded, pulled his robe back on, and left the room.
Ethan stretched his back and muttered:
"System… you are really great. This serum can be administered without the Rebirth Pod, sure—but doing it with the pod boosts the results by another twenty percent."
He nodded to himself as the system windows floated around him.
Because this version of the serum was made by Wilfred Nagel, it could be injected normally—but when combined with the Rebirth Pod's controlled environment and Vita Radiation, the enhancements multiplied even further.
No wonder Storm's results were so extreme.
"Yeah… with that extra twenty percent, he's way beyond Captain America," Ethan said with a satisfied grin.
"Though that's only the first step of making an OP bodyguard. Next step is giving him superpowers, not just super strength," Ethan muttered.
He leaned back in his chair, thinking.
Ethan didn't know where Ulysses Klaue was hiding. But there was one man who might know:
Wilson Fisk.
The Kingpin.
Crime overlord.
Information broker.
A man who definitely knew where someone as valuable—and as reckless—as Klaue would be dealing.
"As far as I remember… Klaue has a stash of Vibranium worth billions since 1992" Ethan murmured. "Time to get it."
With the Replicator built, Ethan suddenly had a lot more free time.
The machine could build almost anything he wanted—fast, precise, and without him lifting a finger. No more long engineering hours, no more sweating over tools.
Even better?
He didn't have just one Replicator.
He already had two.
One of them was constantly working on his requested projects…
And the second one?
It was busy building a third Replicator.
Ethan smirked as he sat cross-legged on the training mat, green soul-energy flickering faintly between his fingers.
"Automation, baby…" he muttered. "Soon I'll have a whole army of Replicators."
"Okay… time to practice magic," Ethan continued. "Today's the day to focus on Quan Chi's Dark Magic. Not the evil type, just… darkness. Dark matter-type magic."
He sat down, concentrating, letting the green and black energy weave through his hands, practicing control, shaping it, and trying to extend the flickers into stable forms. Hours passed in a blur as he experimented, failing, adjusting, and trying again.
By the next day, everything was ready.
Storm stood there in his white combat suit, completely calm and nonchalant—as always.
Sharon looked composed in her red suit.
But Grant… Grant was tense.
It was his turn today.
After months of preparation, training, and waiting, this was the first real mission he'd be part of. His first chance to prove himself to Ethan.
And over time, Grant had changed.
At first, he'd been cautious—fearful even. He thought Ethan was a monster, someone too powerful and unpredictable.
But Ethan never treated him badly.
Never abused him.
Never acted like the monster others would've become with Ethan's power.
Ethan was strict, but kind. Demanding, but fair. Someone who actually saw him.
Little by little, Grant grew to respect him.
Then like him.
And now… he was loyal to him.
Ethan knew all of this, of course—thanks to the system's non-invasive emotional monitoring. Enough to understand his team, but not enough to control or manipulate them.
Grant's loyalty sat at around ninety percent now—just a little lower than Sharon's 93%, but still genuine and strong. He wasn't brainwashed, wasn't forced. It was real loyalty, earned through time and trust.
And today, Grant wanted to prove he deserved it.
He tightened his gloves, took a steady breath, and stood beside the others—ready for whatever Ethan had planned next.
Soon, the wait was over. Ethan emerged from his basement room—which now doubled as his bedroom—having spent most of his time there lately.
Ethan appeared in a royal blue suit with sleek lines, his black hair and sharp eyes making him look even more imposing.
"Okay, we're heading to Fisk Tower," he announced.
Storm and Grant both nodded, ready.
Sharon raised an eyebrow. "Why there? You know it's the home of the crime overlord Kingpin. What are we doing there?"
"He might have some intel that I want," Ethan replied.
"What kind of intel?" Sharon asked.
Ethan shrugged. "Hmm… about a rare metal I'm interested in," he said, keeping his real goal to himself.
"By the way, Grant, what name did you choose for yourself?" Ethan asked. During dinner, Grant had mentioned it while Storm stayed quiet. Storm had said it should be a codename suitable for a ninja.
Grant nodded and answered, "I chose something simple… Ghost."
"Simple and cool. Well, it's your choice anyway," Ethan nodded.
Sharon then called the car. Soon, the Phantom appeared—it looked the same as before, though Ethan had added more toys and upgrades with all the new tech he had acquired. Now, the new Phantom was even more powerful, giving off the presence of a tank disguised as a sleek car.
As they settled inside, the Phantom's engine purred to life, smooth yet powerful. The car glided forward, silently slipping through the city streets toward Fisk Tower.
Sharon glanced at Ethan. "Should I… book an appointment? Make it look official?"
Ethan shook his head. "No need. He's just a petty criminal. We don't need to bother with formalities."