The next morning.
News of the terrifying attack on the New York police station the previous night, involving a jailbreak and the appearance of three monstrous entities with wind, earth, and dark attributes fighting in the streets, quickly spread across major websites and news outlets.
Just half a year after the New York battle was settled, with the recent London alien invasion and the continuous unnatural events over the past few days, the public in New York was once again in a state of panic. Discussions about global security and heroes had surged to the forefront.
While the outside world was in an uproar, SHIELD, the Avengers, and other extraordinary forces like the Carl Family were silent. They knew this was just a minor skirmish, a prelude to the storm yet to come.
At this moment, in a private villa in New York City.
In a room on the second floor, Scott Lang slowly woke up from bed. His head still throbbed as he recalled that he had lost consciousness the previous night due to severe discomfort while escaping on the flying ant.
Scott reluctantly opened his eyes and surveyed the unfamiliar room. When he saw a mature woman leaning against the doorway, quietly watching him, he was momentarily stunned and then jumped up from the bed in alarm.
"You're awake. Come to the living room when you're ready," The woman glanced at Scott and said before leaving the doorway.
Ten minutes later, in the villa's living room on the second floor.
Scott sat on one side of the sofa, while Hank and his daughter, Hope, sat opposite him. On the table was the Ant-Man suit.
"Scott, this is my daughter, Hope. She will teach you hand-to-hand combat techniques and some practical martial arts."
Hank waved towards Hope, who squinted as she carefully observed Scott.
Hank's gaze fell on the Ant-Man suit as he said, "And I will teach you how to properly use the Ant-Man suit, emergency repair skills, and how to make friends with ants…"
"Hold on a second!"
Scott interrupted them, "Why do I need to learn all this? You've made me a fugitive and I'm being targeted by some unknown monsters. I almost died!"
Scott paused, then continued bitterly, "The outside world must be a mess right now. I might be wanted nationwide!"
"It's not a matter of might; you are already wanted," Hope tossed a newspaper at him. The wanted section featured Scott's photo and personal details.
"I knew it…" Scott rolled his eyes and slumped back onto the sofa.
Hank spoke slowly but firmly, "So you should join us, become Ant-Man, and thwart Cross's plan to sell the Wasp suit. Once we succeed, I will help clear your name. That way, we both win."
"Let's get started then," Scott sighed in resignation and spread his hands, "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Hank and Hope exchanged a glance and both smiled.
Thus, the Ant-Man training program— and Scott's trials— officially began.
During the day.
Scott faced intense training from Hope. Despite her background as a white-collar worker, Hope had previously studied martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, and her fighting skills far surpassed Scott's petty thief-level abilities.
In just a few rounds, Scott was knocked down and left writhing in pain.
At night.
Scott trained with Hank, learning how to use and repair the Ant-Man suit, and practiced the shrinking and enlarging process.
During this time, Scott found the suit's control device cumbersome and tried to remove it with tools, only to be sternly reprimanded by Hank.
"If the Ant-Man suit doesn't have the control device, once it shrinks, it will reduce to a subatomic level and enter the quantum realm where time and space have no meaning, making it impossible to return to reality!"
As Hank spoke, there was a hint of unmasked pain in his eyes. Scott was shaken and promised not to tamper with the control device again.
After five days of rigorous training, Scott and Hope's sparring sessions gradually became more balanced, and Scott's understanding of the Ant-Man suit improved significantly.
Next came the second phase of training.
Hank called Scott into his office. As Scott walked in, he noticed that the walls were covered with various photos of ants, diagrams of ant colonies, and numerous professional concepts related to ants.
"To become Ant-Man, it's not enough to understand the Ant-Man suit; you must also be familiar with your partner— the ants," Hank explained.
Scott feeling puzzled, said, "You want me to befriend them? How is that possible? Ants don't understand human speech…"
As Scott spoke, a dozen ants crawled onto the desk and placed a sugar cube into a cup of hot coffee.
Scott was stunned by this sight, unable to believe what he was seeing. He looked from the ants to Hank.
Hank pointed to a device on his ear and explained, "This is a device I created that allows for deep communication with ants. Of course, it requires daily training."
"Before we start training, let me introduce you to your future companions. They are loyal, brave, and absolutely trustworthy."
Hank turned his chair to face the four ant diagrams hanging on the wall behind him.
The first diagram showed a small yellow ant. The Lightning Ant, fast as lightning and capable of conducting electricity, can invade and damage electronic devices.
The second diagram depicted a tiny but strong ant. The Bullet Ant, whose sting is the most painful of all.
The third diagram showed a fire-red ant. The Red Ant, known for being excellent architects, is capable of building and shaping their colonies in various forms.
The fourth diagram was of a black ant with wings. The Carpenter Ant, suitable for both ground and aerial transport, and Ant-Man can also use them as flying mounts…
"So, the flying ant that rescued me last time was a Carpenter Ant," Scott muttered to himself.
Hank smiled and said, "In the coming days, you'll need to continuously assume the Ant-Man form and enter the ants' nests to become one of them, to team up and communicate with them."
"Interact with these ants directly?"
Scott felt a shiver down his spine and suddenly realized his trials were only just beginning.
…
At the top floor of the Supernatural Incident Bureau.
"That's the situation."
Eddie stood before the desk, his head lowering as he reported.
"Since it's confirmed that Quentin has defected, do I need to say anything more?" Raina's cold voice came from behind the chair, facing away from Eddie.
"But Mr. Kyle…"
Eddie was about to inquire about Kyle's opinion when his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Venom's voice in his mind, "Idiot, the man is right here, in front of you!"
"I understand. I will deal with him as soon as possible!"
Eddie's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly excused himself without waiting for Raina's response and rushed out of the top-floor office.
After the office door closed.
As the office chair turned back to face the room, Kyle was revealed to be sitting there. He held Raina in one arm and read a recent newspaper with the other.
"A mysterious guest…"
Kyle shook his head slightly with a cold smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.
(End of Chapter)
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