"Hello, my patient audience. Sorry for the wait. A grey-skinned lab rat of mine was making too much noise, so I had to smash some fingers of his, hehehe," a woman in a lab coat enters the room with a small smile.
"Monica, don't dally. Is the serum ready?" I ask, looking at the busty Italian woman.
She is Dr. Monica Rappaccini, someone who would have become the Scientist Supreme of A.I.M. and a minor villain if not for my intervention.
After hiring her with the promise of a high salary, funding for her research, and her own lab, I soon discovered her questionable ethics. Recognizing that groundbreaking research sometimes necessitates setting morals aside, I continued to support her by providing various 'test subjects.'
Villains and dangerous criminals who shouldn't be placed in prison were sent to her lab by me. Like the assassin sent to kill Karen and even the three villains that we apprehended at Stark's Headquarters.
"Yes, my dear Luke, I wouldn't have called you if that wasn't the case," she says, her eyes twinkling as she looks at me.
"This is perfectly safe, right?" Peggy asks from besides me.
"Yes, Captain Carter, the Super Soldier Serum—now known as S.S.S. 2.0—is perfect and ready," Monica says with a beaming smile.
We have gathered here at my concealed research site 7, just outside of NYC, for this very reason.
I feel a bit bad about leaving Marie, who has been waiting for me at the X-Mansion, and Kitty, who isn't familiar with anyone in the new environment. However, this procedure had been arranged by me well in advance, and I couldn't afford to delay it. Postponing could pose unnecessary risks.
"As we all know, there have been many attempts to recreate the perfect miracle invented by Dr. Abraham Erskine, who we are honoured to have standing here amongst us, Captain Carter," Monica says dramatically, spreading her hands towards Peggy, who looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "Just let her be. She likes to be dramatic," I murmur.
"She is the only successful result of Project Rebirth," Monica continues. "There were other attempts before her," she adds, pointing to a screen on the wall that lights up to reveal an image of a man with a Nazi symbol and a red skull for a face. Peggy's fists clench as she gazes at the screen, recognising the face.
"After the first successful try, people around the world didn't stop, and there were various other attempts," she says, pointing to numerous screens as they light up one by one.
"But they are not perfect as they have various side effects, like rapid aging," she says, pointing to the first screen where there is a black man in a blue uniform and another recent photo of him elderly and weak. I identify him as Isaiah Bradley, one of the few survivors of the inhuman experiments conducted on black people in the army.
"Or lackluster effects," Monica says, pointing at another screen with a young black man with an eye patch on. "Nick Fury," Peggy murmurs with a sigh.
"Or they are exclusively for women," another screen shows a video of a woman wearing a black combat suit, taking out multiple men easily and quickly. I, on the other hand, am focused on how flexible the woman in the video is, imagining some fun times that could be experienced.
"Or with some mental problems," she says, pointing at another screen where there is a guy with a mask and a metal arm, killing dozens of people effortlessly. Peggy sighs again looking at the screen.
"Some people even went a bit too crazy with their experiments," Monica says awkwardly, pointing at the last screen where a green monstrosity is destroying a lab.
"When my dear Luke gave me my first task years ago of replicating this serum, I was excited because according to him, he wanted the new serum to be even more perfect than the original one," Monica says, looking at me with a wide smile.
"You see, the original serum needed a Vita-chamber and Vita-rays for stability. It bulked up your body, enhancing your physiology in the process. But my new serum requires no machines, no radiation—just a single 10 ml dose," Monica says, taking out a small vial of blue liquid from the locked storage.
"Did I mention that it's perfected to the point of having no negative side effects and can be self-administered? It also grants enhancements without any visible change to your physical form, thanks to optimized cell density augmentation," Monica adds proudly.
"Great work, Monica," I praise her, a smile spreading across my face. I hadn't been sure she could pull it off, especially since I still couldn't locate Wilfred Nagel, the scientist who was meant to perfect this serum a decade later. So I had to make do with what I had.
"Thank you, Boss. But honestly, if I didn't have blood samples from Captain Carter here and D.A.I.S.Y.'s help, it would have taken me years," she sighs. "Although, if you had granted me access to those new miracle pills of yours, I might have done it even faster," she adds, casting a bitter gaze at me.
"You know those are extremely limited," I wave her off.
"I will definitely get my hands on them some day, my dear Luke," she murmurs with a small smirk. "Shall we test it out then?" she asks, shaking the vial.
"You are fine with this, right?" I ask softly, looking at Peggy standing besides me.
After the Moleman battle, Peggy had confronted me and given me the green light to use her blood for recreating the super-soldier serum, provided that she would be asked first before anyone else is injected with it.
I was surprised by her initiative and reminded how Peggy Carter was not Steve Rogers. As an agent herself, she is a lot more pragmatic, she even warned me that the serum would be dangerous if it fell into the hands of the government, Hydra or even S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Yes, you have a good heart, and you will need the extra power if you are going to keep being a hero," Peggy smiles, giving my arm a playful punch.
"Thanks, Peggy," I say, smiling back at her as I step forward.
"Nervous?" Peggy whispers to Bobbi, who is clenching her fists.
"Yes, a bit," Bobbi murmurs, shaking her head. "Even though D.A.I.S.Y. and Luke himself have thoroughly checked it, I still wish I could have been the first to try the serum. But Luke has always been stubborn, insisting that he is the best candidate to handle any negative effects that might arise." She sighs.
"Don't worry; I believe everything will work out fine," Peggy says, placing a comforting hand on Bobbi's shoulder. Her other hand, however, remains clenched, betraying her own nervousness.
"Here you go, Boss. I hope it doesn't change your handsome face; that would be very bad," Monica chuckles, handing me the vial.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I reply with a wry smile as I lay down on the prepared bed.
"I was kidding. It is my creation; obviously, it will work perfectly," she says with a smile as she goes to the computer.
I place the injectable vial on my upper arm and look at Monica, Bobbi, and Peggy. The last two women look at me nervously as I reassure them with a confident smile.
"Project Super: Phase One: Project Rebirth 2.0 now commencing," D.A.I.S.Y.'s voice blasts through the speakers as I inject the blue liquid in.
I close my eyes and feel the cool liquid entering my body.
Badum! Badum! Badum!
I hear my heartbeat as the blue fluid flows throughout my body.
The three women watch with bated breath as I lie perfectly still with my eyes closed.
I start doubting if it had failed as nothing happens. Then, suddenly, I feel it—heat, such immense heat, originating from all over my body!
"UGHHH!" I grunt as it feels like my skin is being attacked by small needles all over. I keep my eyes closed, silently bearing the pain, knowing it will end soon.
Badum BADUM BADUM!
I focus on my heartbeat, feeling it getting longer, louder, and stronger!
Bobbi grabs Peggy's arm in concern, her eyes darting between Luke's pained expression and Peggy's face. Monica remains focused on the screen, monitoring his vitals and stats.
My forehead, my face, my whole body is covered in sweat as I feel the pain subsiding gradually. I don't know how long it had lasted, but it didn't seem that long to me.
I take a big, powerful breath and open my eyes, feeling my lungs, my hands, my whole body filled with power.
I think about it and get up instantly from the bed. The women in the room look at me standing up in surprise.
"Luke, how are you feeling?" Bobbi asks, taking a step forward, but Peggy holds her back.
"You are feeling yourself, right?" Peggy asks with narrowed eyes.
I take another deep breath, clenching and unclenching my hands. "Yes, I feel fine, and... really powerful," I say with a smirk.
"I can see how 'powerful' you are, clearly," Monica comments with a smirk. Peggy and Bobbi follow her gaze and look at my pants, blushing.
I had already realized it—that for some strange reason, I am fully erect right now!
"It must be due to the increased testosterone or increased blood flow? I wouldn't mind doing an in-depth research on it," Monica says with a smirk.
"No need," Bobbi says, looking at Monica with narrowed eyes. Monica just shrugs, walking back to her computer.
"Let's do a small test," Peggy says with a smirk as she steps forward, winds her hand back, and punches straight at my chest.
Just as she had taken her first step, I had realized what she was going to do. I stay in the same position and thrust my hand forward casually.
Bam!
"Whoa!" Peggy takes multiple steps backward as I easily win the strength contest. "Looks like I should upgrade myself as well," she says with a wry smile.
"I am the next one, Peggy. You had already promised," Bobbi reminds Peggy swiftly.
I look at my own hands and smile, feeling a lot better as Project Super has started at last!
***
[Improved Super Soldier Serum injected]
[Gained Stat: 20 Strength]
[Gained Stat: 20 Endurance]
[Gained Stat: 20 Agility]
***
Updated Stats:
***
Strength: 30 + 1 (M.W. Trait) = 31
Endurance: 30 + 1 (M.W. Trait) = 31
Agility: 30 + 1 (M.W. Trait) = 31
Intelligence: 20 +1 (M.W. Trait) + 3 (S.S. Trait) = 24
Wisdom: 20 +1 (M.W. Trait) = 21
Mana Pool: 69 +20 (A.S. Perk) = 89
Charm: 20
Luck: 30
Dick size: 10
***
This is a short abridged version of the Tier list for Stats:
Tier 1 (Enhanced Humans): Stats range 11-20
Tier 2 (Street-Level Superhumans): Stats range 20-30
Tier 3 (Mid-Tier Superhumans): Stats range 30-50
Tier 4 (Regional/National Threats): Stats range 50-100
Tier 5 (Global Threats): Stats range 100-200
Tier 6 (Cosmic Entities): Stats range 200-500
Tier 7 (Universal Guardians): Stats range 500-1000
Tier 8 (Multiversal Threats): Stats range 1000-2000
Tier 9 (Cosmic Abstracts): Stats range 2000-5000
Tier 10 (Supreme Entities): Stats range 5000+
For a detailed one, you can check it out in the Discord under Tier-system thread, where there are also some examples given. You can also suggest me some people who can be added to those examples.
Another thing is that someone can have an Ability or Power which is Tier 3 or Tier 5 but their Stats maybe in Tier 1 or even Tier 0, or vice versa.
This is just a numerical representation of where we stand in the Marvel verse, don't fret too much about it!