"Xu Mo, hurry up, hurry up!" Jia Li hopped eagerly down the street like a rabbit.
It was another beautiful morning, but Xu Mo was stuck in a state of confusion. Jia Li looked like she had just stepped out of an alien world. Despite last night's events, where Jia Li had consumed the King of Biceps potion with no visible effect, Xu Mo remained puzzled. The system didn't dispense fake medicines, so the issue must have been with Jia Li herself.
Under his frown and the warmth of his bed, which now seemed like a distant dream, Xu Mo had to face the fact that Jia Li was insistent on getting out of the house. Her cryptic remarks about being an alien and her powerful father only added to his bewilderment.
Jia Li's ability to consume energy-rich substances without any effect was remarkable. It seemed she might already be one of Earth's top powerhouses. Xu Mo wondered about her father, whom he had thought was deceased.
While Xu Mo wasn't an expert on Marvel Comics, his knowledge was limited to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the X-Men movies. He was aware of some of the most powerful entities like OAA and the Living Tribunal, but his understanding of Marvel's complex lore was superficial.
Despite his lack of knowledge, Xu Mo realized that Jia Li's presence was his trump card, not the system. The American morning news displayed on the screen wall in Times Square revealed the following:
"The New York Times commented: The comic market has changed dramatically. The popularity of 'One Punch Man' is skyrocketing, with its unique take on traditional heroes leaving a strong impression."
"Washington Post reported: Marvel Comics released a new issue of 'Shounen Jump' yesterday, leading to a wave of panic buying. Experts anticipate this craze to last for at least another week."
"The Los Angeles Times stated: 'One Punch Man' challenges the values of 'The American Team,' hooking readers with its unconventional setting."
"U.S. Review Today noted: A dark horse comic is now challenging 'The American Team.' The chaotic settings have made some battlefield veterans ashamed to compare it, prompting calls for its ban for undermining the American spirit."
Xu Mo smiled at the reviews. In America, where even books criticizing the president are sold, a comic challenging traditional heroism would not be banned. Instead, it would spark curiosity and discussions, driving more readers to pick up "One Punch Man" and explore why it was compared to "The American Team."
Amidst the buzz, an emergency news interruption caught Xu Mo's attention:
"There is an emergency interruption of the latest news. The whereabouts of Tony Stark, chairman of Stark Industries, are unknown. Relevant departments are investigating."
Times Square fell silent before buzzing with chatter. Stark Industries, the leading arms dealer in the U.S., was in turmoil. The disappearance of its chairman would undoubtedly affect stock prices and trigger widespread speculation.
The screen shifted to a debate on mutants, featuring Jean Grey speaking elegantly on stage:
"Gentlemen and ladies, human mutants are merely a result of human evolution..."
A member of the audience interrupted sharply: "Are mutants a threat?"
The debate grew heated, with applause for the senator's argument that mutants posed a danger. This sentiment reflected the rising societal tensions and the controversial proposal for mutant registration.
Xu Mo raised an eyebrow and led Jia Li down the street. He thought to himself that when Tony Stark returned, the superhero era would begin in earnest, diminishing the mutant threat. In the world of "X-Men: Days of Future Past," where most humans possess latent X-genes, the current fears seemed misplaced.
As they walked through an alley, several gangsters with unknown tattoos approached, their intentions clear.
"Boy, it won't be good for you if you know the girl behind you. Otherwise..." one thug threatened with an arrogant demeanor.
Xu Mo was calm, unaffected by the threat. "Gangsters? First time I've met you."
The traffickers' desire to target Jia Li was evident, and Xu Mo had no intention of backing down. Jia Li, looking disdainful, was about to confront them, but Xu Mo stopped her.
"It seems you've made your choice."
The gangsters scanned their surroundings, seeing no one nearby. The largest of the thugs, a burly man, approached Xu Mo with a cruel expression. He swung his massive hand, intending to strike.
But before he could connect, a sudden "belch" sound was heard. The thug felt a chill in his abdomen, his mind slipping away.
The gangsters watched in horror as a white light pierced through the burly man's abdomen, evaporating the blood and leaving only an empty body that collapsed to the ground.
"Mutant! It's a mutant!!"
"Monster!! He's a monster!"
"Run!!"
The gangsters fled in terror, their screams echoing as they scrambled away.
"Stop them."
"OK!"
A purple light barrier stood firm in the alley, rendering the gangsters' attempts to escape futile. Energy surged around Xu Mo as he gathered several white balls of light.
His face was cold and unyielding. "You agree?"
Desperate wails filled the alley as Xu Mo's power took its toll.