◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon of which 10 are free Chapters. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
------------------------------------------------
"Got it." Ashley tapped rapidly on her tablet.
"Charisma first, looks second, ability doesn't matter."
"Are the semi-final rules set?" Anthony asked.
"All set. Fully online voting, real-name system, three votes per person." Ashley flashed the smile of a true capitalist.
"Plus, we're launching the 'Hero Boost Card.' Pay $998 and the contestant's avatar rolls on the Times Square screen for ten seconds."
"Not enough. Add a 'Fan Support Pack'—buy the 'Vought Energy Lightboard,' $10 each for +10 exposure. Buy the 'Homelander Rocket,' $1,000 each for +1,000 exposure and your name floats across the contestant's video. Keep the ideas coming!"
"…You're a genius, sir," Ashley said in heartfelt admiration.
"Right." Anthony suddenly sat upright.
"Did the silver-haired kid and the lunatic in red make the cut?"
"You mean Pietro Maximoff and Wade Wilson?" Ashley nodded.
"They're in. Pietro's popularity is huge—his bad-boy persona is a hit, and his speed really is explosive on camera!"
"As for Wade…" Ashley's expression turned odd.
"Better you see for yourself."
A video window popped up on the screen.
A guy in a cheap red-and-black hoodie and a crude mask was filming himself on the toilet.
"Hey! I'm Wade! Wade Wilson! But I prefer 'The Unfckwithable,' because I'm literally unfckwithable!"
On-screen, Wade Wilson thrust a katana at the camera in ways best left undescribed.
Ashley looked mortified.
"This… he's nuts, but online buzz is off the charts. People think he's… obnoxious, yet they love obnoxious."
Anthony watched the merc clowning on-screen, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"Let him into the semi-finals. As long as the audience loves him, he's valuable."
"Yes, sir." Ashley nodded hurriedly.
"Go make it happen. Remember, I want heat, popularity, traffic that crashes the servers."
"Yes, sir! On it right now!"
Tablet clutched to her chest, Ashley dashed out of the office like she'd had a double espresso… The door had barely clicked shut.
Ding—!
A crisp system alert exploded in his mind.
System Notice: Massive popularity influx detected!
Ding! Popularity +22,041! (from Jessica Jones)
Ding! Popularity +15,500! (from Jessica Jones)
Ding! Popularity +18,012! (from Jessica Jones)
Ding! ...
Ability Enhancement: Super-Strength (2,500 tons), Heat Vision (11,000 °C), Super-Speed (Mach 105), Super-Endurance increased.
"What the hell?!"
Anthony shot upright.
He usually kept system alerts muted; only threshold-breaking surges got through.
Those numbers… could it be?
He snatched the remote and flicked on the wall-sized screen.
"…This is breaking news! We're live at the Bronx raid scene!"
"…In tonight's joint operation, Super Seven member Queen Jones displayed astonishing combat power…"
The feed cut to a dockside warehouse.
Jessica Jones, white battle-suit gleaming, charged into a hail of gunfire like a Valkyrie.
The shot froze on her resolute close-up.
"When the World needs heroes, The Seven answer the call!"
The line, paired with perfect lighting and soundtrack, was pure adrenaline.
"This feeling…" He stared at his hands, mouth curving uncontrollably. "…I'm so high I could fly."
Before he could celebrate, another alert froze him.
Ding! National Popularity Level breakthrough!
Ding! Congratulations, host! Current level: At the Zenith of Fame!
Congratulations! Team-Leader exclusive ability unlocked: Team Rally!
Description: As the absolute core of the Super Seven, your power stems from the team's faith and presence.
Effect: Within 500 m, for every officially recognized Super Seven member, the leader gains +50% to all stats—up to 300%!
Current team bind: Super Seven
Members currently in range: 1
Current stack count: 1
Current boost: +50%
…"I've gotta…"
Anthony couldn't help swearing.
Fifty percent per member—cap at three hundred!
Get five members together and his stats quadruple!
At that point he'd slap Odin himself twice and stride off—
to his glorious death.
"Haha… hahahaha!!" Anthony roared with laughter… Avengers Tower, Mark Workshop.
Tony Stark stared at a hologram.
Jarvis had isolated the structural schematic of Jessica Jones's shield from the footage.
"Sir, spectral analysis and impact feedback indicate a 98% probability the shield's coating is Vibranium," Jarvis reported.
"Vibranium." Tony rubbed his temples.
"Rarer than unicorn horns on the market. Wakanda's locked down tighter than ever; Dad used up nearly the World's supply on Capsicle's shield."
Where did that blond bastard get it?
Tony zoomed in on the intricate mechanism.
"And this design… looks familiar. The folding tech reminds me of my Mark V, only smoother."
"Starr Industries used to do real estate and bio-gene. Since when are they ahead in military hardware?"
"Perhaps they have an R&D team we're unaware of, sir."
"No." Tony shook his head. "This isn't R&D—it's like they got the finished blueprints."
How did he get my schematics?
"Jarvis, any sign of a database breach?"
"None detected, sir."
"Right! I still had a hand-drawn draft of Mark V locked in the vault. He'd need X-ray vision to see through solid steel."
…
"Damn! The guy can see through walls… Christmas Eve!" Tony slapped his forehead in dismay.
"I let the wolf in! He's not just an actor—he's a goddamn thief! …"