Queens, Blake Street.
In Mary Jane's room, a golden portal shimmered open, and Xia Luo casually tossed Jaya onto the bed.
"Now tell me, where are Spider-Man's friends?"
As he spoke, an invisible force of gravity pressed down, pinning Jaya in place. Awakened by the sudden pressure, she instinctively tried to activate her mutated genes again.
Before she could summon her powers, Xia Luo flicked his fingers, and Jaya's body floated into the air, helpless before him.
"Buzz!"
With a single motion, he slapped her soul out of her body, leaving her physical form limp on the bed. Jaya's disembodied soul hovered, her face frozen in terror.
"Who… what are you?"
"Why, I'm a friend of Spider-Man's, of course."
"No, you're not."
Suspicion filled Jaya's spectral eyes. "Spider-Man wouldn't have friends like you."
She examined the ominous figure before her, her soul quivering instinctively.
This man didn't look like someone who could be trusted.
"You want to use Mary Jane to threaten Spider-Man, don't you?" she accused, her voice steady with defiance. "You won't get away with it."
Xia Luo: "..."
Seriously? Everyone assumes I'm the bad guy. Where does she get this moral high ground from?
He sighed. Time to try another approach.
"Ah-hem." He cleared his throat and flashed an exaggeratedly evil grin.
"You're absolutely right. Hand over Mary Jane, and together, we can take Spider-Man down. What do you say?"
To complete the performance, he let out a sinister "Keh-keh-keh!" laugh.
"Never!" Jaya snapped without hesitation.
Xia Luo raised an eyebrow. "You know my strength. With my help, you could deal with Spider-Man much faster."
"No," Jaya said firmly. "I won't let you hurt Spider-Man."
Her resolve surprised Xia Luo. His expression turned quizzical.
"You don't want to hurt him? Are you saying you want to protect him?"
"I can't protect him. But at the very least, I won't make things harder for him."
"What?"
Xia Luo's confusion deepened.
"You Skrulls aim to conquer Earth, but as long as Spider-Man's around, you'll never succeed."
"This must be a misunderstanding," Jaya insisted. "I'll find out what's really going on."
"Misunderstanding?"
Three minutes later, Xia Luo had listened to her full explanation.
Silently, he turned his back to her.
Damn it. I might've gone too far this time.
He didn't doubt Jaya's sincerity—there was no reason for her to lie.
Being Spider-Man for so long had taught him a thing or two about villains.
If she were truly an enemy, she'd have jumped at the chance to team up against him. Even if betrayal was on the table, it would come after they dealt with Spider-Man, not before.
Apologizing crossed his mind.
No, he thought. If anyone should apologize, it's Kang the Conqueror—not Spider-Man.
The realization brought a measure of relief, but Mary Jane's unknown whereabouts remained his primary concern.
Rubbing his face, he plastered on a malevolent grin.
"Well, well. A rebellion within the Skrulls' ranks? Interesting. If I join forces with the dissidents, I might finally bring Spider-Man down."
Jaya scoffed. "Spider-Man won't die. Every time he falls, he comes back stronger. He'll defeat scum like you."
Xia Luo's grin widened. "Oh, really? Spider-Man will be thrilled to know he has alien fans. But tell me, are you pretending to be Mary Jane's friend just to replace her as Spider-Man's confidant?"
"If that's the case, do you think Spider-Man will kick you out of his fan club?"
Jaya flinched, her composure cracking.
I'm not Spider-Man's fan, she thought indignantly.
But the idea of Spider-Man learning the truth left her trembling again.
Damn it. Not again. This fear… no, it's Mary Jane's fear.
What's happening to me?!
She fought to steady her expression.
"Are you going to tell Spider-Man about this?" she asked, her voice barely concealing her unease.
Xia Luo's grin held steady. "Where's Mary Jane? Tell me, and I promise to keep your little secret."
"I would never trust someone like you."
"Then I'll deliver you to Spider-Man myself and expose you in front of him."
Xia Luo folded his arms, a cold smile on his lips. "I doubt he'll be interested in your excuses."
"No!" Jaya cried, panic rising in her voice. "Mary Jane is dead. I disguised myself as her to look after her family, but no one in this world even cared about her."
Her voice softened, weighted with sadness as she lowered her gaze.
Xia Luo froze, emotions stirring in a way he couldn't quite place.
Sadness?
Guilt?
Regret?
No… none of those.
It was strange, like something he'd already been prepared for.
This day was bound to come eventually.
He sighed internally.
"How did she die?" he asked.
Jaya's head remained bowed. "It happened that day—the giant red trident that tore through the building…"
"That incident?"
Xia Luo clenched his fists. "And then?"
Jaya shook her head. "The ceiling collapsed. Even if it had hit me, I wouldn't have died."
"But Mary Jane didn't know that. She was just there for a job interview."
"She pushed me out of the way and was crushed instead."
"Even the best Skrull doctors couldn't save her."
Xia Luo said nothing, a heavy silence settling over the room.
Jaya, seemingly lost in her own pain, continued.
"In her final moments, I saw something in her eyes—a longing for this world."
"At first, I thought it was for her family."
"I wanted to take care of them for her. That was the first time I decided to copy a human's memories."
"But then I discovered Spider-Man in her thoughts."
"Their connection… it was unlike anything I'd ever seen."
"Later, when Spider-Man held up the building, he saw me, disguised as Mary Jane."
"I couldn't tell him the truth. If he'd taken just a few more steps, he could've seen the real her one last time."
"He didn't know that if he'd waited just a little longer, he could've had a proper goodbye."
Her voice broke as she buried her face in her hands, her soul curling in anguish.
"I don't know why I did it."
"Mary Jane would've wanted to say goodbye to him."
"But I hid the truth. That was my mistake."
"And now I'm paying for it. Her memories are consuming me. I've started to think I'm her, trying to fulfill her unfinished wishes."
"I'm selfish, and I don't know what to do anymore. I'm going insane."
Xia Luo listened as she broke down, then suddenly chuckled.
"That coward… she must've looked awful in her final moments. She always cared so much about her appearance."
If Mary Jane is truly gone, I can only hope for a rematch with fate—or find someone who can bring her back.
He glanced at Jaya, her guilt-ridden form trembling before him.
"This isn't your fault. It was her choice."
"Her choice?"
Jaya lifted her tear-streaked face.
"Yes," Xia Luo said firmly. "There's no reason for you to hide the truth otherwise. It had to be her decision."
"Her… decision…"
Jaya seemed to grasp something in that moment.
"In Spider-Man's memories, she wanted to be the most beautiful girl in his eyes."
She began to cry, then laugh softly.
"So this… this is what human emotions feel like," she whispered.
She looked up at Xia Luo. "Thank you. You…"
"Don't thank me. This—"
Their eyes met, and both quickly turned away, the tension palpable.
"Damn you, villain," Jaya snapped, her voice defensive. "I'll never thank someone who wants to hurt Spider-Man."
Xia Luo rolled his eyes. "Right, I'm such a bad guy. Why would I even comfort you? I must be losing it."
They glared at each other for a moment before Xia Luo's expression shifted.
"Uh-oh. Spider-Man's onto me. You're lucky this time, but next time, you won't be."
He threw a parting threat over his shoulder and vanished through the golden portal.
Moments later, the terrifying figure was gone, replaced by the familiar red-and-blue silhouette of Spider-Man swinging onto the window.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Hey, Mary Jane, I sensed someone else in your room. Are you okay?"
"I… I'm fine," Jaya stammered.
No longer under the villain's grip, she quickly shifted back into Mary Jane's form and clumsily opened the window.
"Bang!"
"Ah! My nose!"
Outside, Xia Luo covered his face, his voice muffled. "Almost gave me a nosebleed!"
"Sorry! I didn't mean to!"
Jaya handed him a tissue, watching nervously as he inspected the room.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Of course. I'm perfectly fine."
"Alright then. Good news! Your new recruit assessment starts today."
Xia Luo pointed a thumb at himself. "And guess what? I'm your examiner. You're welcome."
"Really?"
Jaya's excitement bubbled over.
"Absolutely."
Watching her reaction, Xia Luo couldn't help but sigh internally.
Her dad just got beaten to a pulp, and here she is, thrilled about this. Truly, a leaky coat for her poor Skrull dad.
"Let's go. We're heading to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Okay! Give me a minute to get ready. I'm going to dress up as the most gorgeous woman there and outshine all the female agents!"
Xia Luo: "…"
Does she have to fit the character that well?
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.
In the commander's office, Carter glanced at Coulson, who stood before her desk.
"What's the situation on Staten Island?"
Coulson handed over a folder. "Commander, it appears a mutant may have destroyed a small village. Strangely, when we arrived at the scene, the villagers had all disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
Carter frowned. "Were they killed or abducted?"
"We're not sure. The bloodstains were cleaned up, and no bodies were left behind," Coulson replied, shaking his head.
Carter pondered for a moment. "Keep investigating. Did the satellite surveillance catch an image of the perpetrator?"
"Unfortunately, no. There was a strong magnetic field interference. From the evidence left at the scene, it seems the attacker could control the weather. However, based on the sheer amount of manipulated metal, it's likely Erik—one of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen. No one else could control that much metal all at once."
"Erik…"
Carter's expression darkened. "Don't alert Apocalypse just yet. Investigate discreetly."
"Understood."
As Coulson left, Agent Hill entered the office.
"Commander, Spider-Man's recruit has arrived."
"I see," Carter said, standing up. As she headed for the door, she added, "What's this new recruit like? Still the oddball types?"
"Not this time," Hill replied, her tone tinged with something unusual. "It's a woman. A very beautiful woman."
"A woman?"
Carter paused mid-step. "You're sure it's not someone like that ugly brute, Max?"
Before Hill could respond, Carter suddenly felt a chill behind her. Slowly, she turned around.
"Max?"
Standing there, Max glared at her, his expression dark.
Carter forced an awkward smile. "You've got it wrong. I was talking about someone who shares your name. Not you, of course."
"It better be that way."
With a cold snort, Max transformed into a bolt of electricity and disappeared down the hall.
Carter exhaled and patted her chest. "That guy's always lurking. Tomorrow, I'm issuing a no-powers policy in the building."
"Understood."
Hill's tone was neutral, though internally, she found the situation exasperating. She steered the conversation back on track.
"You know this woman," Hill continued.
"Who is it?"
"Xia Luo Parker's neighbor. Mary Jane."
"Mary Jane?" Carter raised an eyebrow. "The one who turned into Spider-Woman?"
"That's her."
"Great. At this rate, we should just rename the Avengers to 'Xia Luo and Friends.'"
"Catchy name," Hill quipped.
At that moment, Xia Luo arrived with Jaya in tow.
He flashed Hill a charming grin. "Would you mind showing my friend around? I need to discuss the assessment with Commander Carter."
Hill glanced at Carter, who nodded. She then gestured for Jaya to follow.
"This way, please."
"Sure."
With Jaya out of earshot, Carter fixed Xia Luo with a sharp look.
"I'll need to think long and hard about letting her join S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Why? Isn't S.H.I.E.L.D. short on manpower right now?"
"That's not the point. I need to assess her motives for joining."
"Oh, I can tell you her motive right now: she's here to get close to me."
Carter's expression darkened.
"In that case, I'm even less inclined to approve her."
Turning on her heel, she returned to her desk. "Her intentions are suspect. She's not fit to be a superhero."
"I know, but you'll need her for the Skrull situation."
"What?" Carter's brows knitted together. "Explain."
Xia Luo smiled and leaned in conspiratorially. "Here's the deal…"
Three minutes later, Carter sat back, her arms crossed in contemplation.
"The Skrull leader's daughter… That's quite the identity," she admitted.
"Exactly."
Xia Luo lounged on the sofa, sipping a glass of juice. He grimaced. "Ugh. Stale."
"We've been busy. I'll get you a fresh one later," Carter said dismissively.
"Thanks." Xia Luo set the glass down and continued. "The Super Skrulls are nearly as powerful as I am. If Jaya gains more abilities, even I might not be able to stop her. So…"
"Terminate her," Carter interrupted, slicing her hand across her throat in a dramatic gesture.
Xia Luo: "..."
"No. I meant she could be a valuable addition to the Avengers' main roster," he replied, exasperated.
Carter hesitated. "But she's an alien."
"Aliens are people too," Xia Luo quipped with a smirk. "Nick Fury promised the Skrulls a piece of land ages ago and still hasn't delivered."
"If we handle this properly, it won't be an issue."
Carter shook her head, unconvinced. "Their goal seems to be the entire Earth. I'm not the Earth's chief negotiator."
"Which brings us to balance," Xia Luo said, gazing out the window. "Some people want wealth and power. Others just want a simple life."
"More often than not, as long as you don't press a blade to their throats, they'll tolerate a lot—even someone stomping on their heads."
Carter rolled her eyes. "Statements like that are dangerous coming from a superhero."
"That's why this is our chance," Xia Luo countered.
"Chance?"
Carter fell silent, mulling over his words.
Turning back, Xia Luo met her gaze directly. "Spider-Man can be a friendly neighborhood hero, but the Unstoppable Spider-Man? He's aiming higher."
Carter's eyes widened. "You mean…"
"Yes. We're going big."
Xia Luo grinned. "This is an opportunity for mutants, for Skrulls, and for us.
Everyone thinks Spider-Man is just a superhero. It's time to do what a hero truly should."
"To the politicians, heroes are just tools," Carter said, her tone skeptical.
"Tools come in different grades," Xia Luo replied, cracking his knuckles. "A tool can be a simple wrench—or it can be a divine artifact."
Carter leaned back in her chair, pondering his words.
"I'll need to think about this."
"Take your time," Xia Luo said, his tone serious. "Because when the time comes, your family will be impacted too."
Carter drew a deep breath. "This plan is insane."
"It's time to give the superhero genre a proper moral compass," Xia Luo said. "Not just endless fighting for the sake of fighting. It's boring."
Carter was momentarily at a loss for words.
"So, what do I do?" she finally asked.
"You're on board?"
"Like I could stop you."
"Smart choice. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," Xia Luo teased, his eyes narrowing. "Step one: make S.H.I.E.L.D. busier."
"We're already stretched thin."
"Not enough."
Xia Luo rapped his fingers against the desk. "Busy enough that they won't notice anything else going on."
He had a nagging feeling that the Morlun family's repeated incursions into this universe were leading to something big.
To break Spider-Man's curse of loneliness, he would have to confront the Web of Life and Destiny.
But before that, he needed to secure enough resets—not just to save the world, but to remake it entirely.
Go big or go home.
Carter studied him intently, a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
"So, the Unstoppable Spider-Man is getting busy too?"
"Of course. Spider-Man has two choices: stay busy—or die."
Carter: "..."
"Responsible men are so attractive."
"Thanks."
"I wasn't complimenting you."
"I know."
---
Soon, Jaya's initiation test was underway.
Under the envious and resentful gazes of Reed and the rest of the Fantastic Four, Jaya successfully rescued the hostage from Xia Luo's clutches.
"Damn it, that bastard went easy on her! I'm sure of it!" Johnny Storm cursed.
Ben Grimm quickly clamped a hand over Johnny's mouth. "Do you have a death wish? Keep this up, and Spider-Man will pound you into the ground."
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Susan Storm shot Johnny a glare. "If you want to get yourself into trouble, fine. Just don't drag us into it."
Reed Richards nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Spider-Man's soul magic is terrifying. I don't want to turn into… that."
"Soul magic?" Susan's curiosity was piqued.
Reed glanced around nervously, lowering his voice. "Yes. Soul magic. Spider-Man can—"
The group huddled closer, whispering furtively, occasionally letting out startled gasps.
Watching this from a distance, Coulson shook his head in exasperation.
Sigh. You brought this on yourselves. Don't blame me.
He turned and approached Carter. "Commander, I have something to report."
---
While on a mission, the Fantastic Four encountered Mysterio. The battle left them utterly humiliated, and they were promptly declared missing.
"My God, I made a mistake! I never should've told them anything!"
In the safe house, Reed clutched his cane, wailing helplessly as he stared out the window.
Behind him, Johnny nursed his bruised eye.
"Ugh… it hurts so bad. Spider-Man's way too rough! I wasn't even the one who spilled the secret! Why'd he target me?" he grumbled, wincing with every word.
Susan, her head wrapped in bandages, swayed unsteadily as she slumped onto the couch.
"You're lucky compared to me. As Reed's fiancée, I got the worst of it," she groaned.
In the corner, Ben Grimm lifted weights, laughing at their misfortune.
"Ha! I told you to play nice with the Rhino. He's Spider-Man's buddy, so that makes him my buddy too. That's why I got off scot-free," he gloated.
The three of them glared at him with contempt.
"You don't get to say that, you coward," Johnny sneered. "You were the first to drop to your knees and beg for mercy."
"Yeah," Susan added. "You're a disgrace to the team."
Unbothered by their insults, Ben shrugged.
"You idiots kept fighting even though you knew you couldn't win. You deserved the beating."
Setting down his weights, he moved to check the locks on the doors and windows.
"I'm warning you—don't even think about escaping. If Spider-Man catches you, it won't just be a slap on the wrist."
His stern expression only fueled their frustration.
"Traitor!"
"Thanks for the compliment," Ben said with a smug grin. "Spider-Man promised that once this is over, I'll be promoted to your direct supervisor. You'll all have to take orders from me!"
"Bullshit!" Johnny flipped him off. "You rock-headed idiot, Spider-Man is on the same level as us! There's no way he has the authority to promote you!"
"Same level?"
Ben scratched his head in confusion. "Then why does it always feel like he outranks us?"
"Because you're a moron."
---
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters
Having dealt with the Fantastic Four fiasco, Xia Luo ended his workday and returned to his apartment at Eisen Residences.
In the living room, Harry, Gwen, and Jaya were already waiting for him.
"Oh, congrats, Mary Jane! We're colleagues now!"
The moment Xia Luo stepped inside, Harry popped a confetti cannon, colorful streamers raining down.
"Thanks!"
Jaya smiled as she accepted a bouquet of flowers from Gwen.
"Gwen, you never told me you were Spider-Woman," Jaya teased, narrowing her eyes playfully.
Gwen looked sheepish. "Sorry, I didn't mean to keep it a secret."
Xia Luo waved them over. "Enough chit-chat. If we don't eat the steak soon, it'll go cold."
"Coming!"
Jaya and Gwen exchanged amused glances before taking their seats beside Xia Luo.
Across the table, Harry eyed them suspiciously.
"You're all hiding something from me," he declared.
Both Jaya and Gwen quickly shook their heads.
"No, we're not."
"Absolutely not."
Xia Luo joined in, nodding vigorously.
"Not a thing. Absolutely nothing."
Harry squinted at them, unconvinced.
"Fine. I'll take your word for it."
The four of them exchanged loaded looks, each harboring their own secrets.
---
The gathering eventually wrapped up.
Jaya hitched a ride home with Gwen.
"Gwen, don't you think it's wrong to keep Harry in the dark?" Jaya asked, guilt evident in her voice.
In Mary Jane's memories, Harry had always been a good friend.
Gwen shook her head. "This is Xia Luo's business, not ours. Let him handle it."
"Alright… I just hope Harry won't hold it against us."
Gwen's hovercraft zipped through the night sky.
Before long, Jaya arrived back at Mary Jane's house.
"Jaya, thank goodness you're safe!"
Talos was waiting for her.
"You're okay too. That's good. But this situation is a mess."
Though Jaya greeted him with her usual indifference, Talos knew she was worried about him.
After all, during his earlier fight, her anger had been palpable.
That alone spoke volumes.
He smiled faintly. "We've relocated."
"I know. I saw the case files while I was at S.H.I.E.L.D."
"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Talos frowned. "You used this girl's identity to join S.H.I.E.L.D.? Are you still chasing Spider-Man?"
"No. I have other reasons," Jaya replied, retreating to her room to change into Mary Jane's favorite pajamas.
"This is for the Skrulls," she said, pouring herself a glass of juice from the fridge.
"Thank you," Talos said automatically.
Without a word, Jaya drank the juice herself, leaving Talos awkwardly retracting his hand.
"Fine. For the Skrulls. What's your plan?" he asked.
Jaya's gaze sharpened. "There's a traitor among us. I'll find them, or Spider-Man will wipe us out."
"I'm already investigating," Talos assured her.
Jaya snorted. "That black-faced guy? He's useless."
"He'll help us."
"His promises are empty."
"I still trust him."
"Suit yourself. I don't expect much from you anyway."
Jaya sat on the couch. "I've joined the Avengers. My first mission is to track down whoever stole the nano-vibranium."
"Leave that to me."
"You better keep your word."
"Of course. But be careful at S.H.I.E.L.D."
Talos's expression turned grim. "Our troubles aren't just from that terrifying man. The Brotherhood of Mutants has discovered us."
Jaya's eyes narrowed. "If the Brotherhood is involved, the traitor will eventually slip up."
"I hope you're right," Talos said, his tone heavy with concern.
He hesitated, then finally spoke.
"Child, I just want you to be yourself."
Jaya stood, her expression unreadable.
"Go home, Dad. I'm tired. I need rest."
"Jaya…"
"I understand."
Pausing at the door, she softened briefly, her gaze flickering over Talos's weary face.
"I've lost so much, Dad."
"But with this identity, I can still achieve something."
"Whatever the outcome, I won't regret it."
"I'll find a home for the Skrulls—a place where we don't have to keep running. That's my promise to you."
With that, she disappeared into the loft.
Watching her leave, Talos sighed deeply, his emotions conflicted.
"She's really grown up… but is it because of another man?"
His bitter smile lingered as the night deepened.
---
Meanwhile, at Osborne Manor
Harry arrived home to find the lights in Norman's laboratory still on. Pausing to consider, he decided to check in.
"Hey, Professor Connors, you're here too?"
Harry sounded surprised to see the professor.
Dr. Connors smiled and nodded. "Yes, Harry. The gene recombination device is finally ready, thanks to your father's contributions."
Norman removed his gloves, turned around, and handed Dr. Connors a cup of coffee.
After taking a sip, he glanced at Harry. "Did you enjoy tonight's gathering?"
Harry grinned, spreading his arms wide. "Had a blast. And the best part? He still doesn't know!"
Norman chuckled lightly. "I made a promise to young Xia Luo once. But I also promised you, Harry, that I'd never keep secrets from you again."
"Which is why I'm the last person to find out, huh?" Dr. Connors remarked as he settled into a chair. Shaking his head, he added with a laugh, "I can only imagine the scenes from your little party. Must've been hilarious."
"It really was."
Harry eyed the nearly finished gene recombination machine.
"They've been hiding the fact that Xia Luo is Spider-Man. I'm not going to let them off easy. I'll milk the guilt for all it's worth."
His grin was mischievous, bordering on wicked.
Dr. Connors, however, cast a wary glance over Harry's shoulder.
"I don't think he's going to feel guilty."
"Why not?"
"Because," came a familiar voice, "I already know you're trying to make me feel guilty. So I won't."
The moment Xia Luo's voice echoed through the lab, Harry's smirk froze.
"I didn't realize you were following me," he said, turning with a scowl.
Xia Luo gave him a sidelong glance. "I wasn't following you. I just got here first."
"That's impossible. My flying car is the fastest and most expensive there is!"
"I don't have a car. But I do have magic."
"Fine. I envy your magic," Harry grumbled.
"It's obvious."
Xia Luo approached the recombination machine, addressing Dr. Connors. "Let's begin. If anything goes wrong, I'll step in."
"With you here, I'm at ease," the professor replied as he began adjusting the device's settings.
Not long after, Dr. Connors gave Norman a nod.
Norman took a deep breath, removed his shirt, and stepped into the machine.
"Wait! Are we really starting now?" Harry's voice wavered with concern.
Norman looked back at his son, his tone calm and reassuring. "It's fine, Harry. We're out of test subjects for this device. We knew this moment would come eventually."
"Then let me do it!" Harry moved toward the machine, only for Norman to stop him with a firm gaze.
"Son, I'm an old man. Let your father do this one last thing for you."
"But—"
"Trust me. Trust Dr. Connors. Trust your friend."
"I…"
Harry clenched his fists, then exhaled deeply. "Alright. I trust you."
"Good boy."
Satisfied, Norman turned back to the professor. "Begin."
"Brace yourself. This is going to hurt," Dr. Connors warned, pulling the lever.
"Szzzz!"
Bright light erupted from the machine's mechanical arms, engulfing Norman's body. Agonizing pain wracked him, forcing him to his knees as sweat poured down his trembling frame.
"ARGH!"
"Father!"
"Don't come closer! I—I can handle this!"
Norman raised a hand, stopping Harry from intervening. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain, stealing a glance at Xia Luo.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Xia Luo recognized the resolve in Norman's gaze.
If the experiment failed, Norman had made up his mind to accept death.
At least then, Harry could take pride in his father's courage rather than live with the shame of the Osborne name.
He doesn't want to become a monster.
Thankfully, Dr. Connors didn't let him down.
As the light from the recombination machine dimmed, Norman lost consciousness.
After scanning his body, Dr. Connors couldn't contain his excitement.
"Remarkable! We did it! The Osborne family's genetic flaw has been completely corrected!"
Harry rushed to his father's side. "Are you sure he's okay?" he asked, his worry evident.
"Don't worry," Dr. Connors reassured him. "We had more than enough funding this time. And…"
The professor glanced at Xia Luo.
"The 31st-century technology provided by Mr. Parker was instrumental."
Xia Luo couldn't help but reflect.
After taking down Kang the Conqueror, everything had been going remarkably smoothly.
For other scientists, understanding the intricacies of advanced technology might have been insurmountable.
But in a world where genius was often synonymous with unreasonable brilliance, any challenge seemed solvable with the right spark.
In the Marvel universe, science often bordered on the metaphysical—a realm beyond Newtonian constraints.
With Norman stabilized, Dr. Connors moved on to his own experiment.
His ultimate goal was to regrow his missing arm.
While 31st-century technology couldn't regenerate limbs directly, it could clone and cultivate new ones using the subject's own cells, allowing for surgical transplantation.
The procedure proceeded without issue.
All seemed well.
But Xia Luo's expression remained troubled.
This is going way too smoothly.
A nagging unease crept over him.
If things go as expected… something's bound to happen.
---
T/N: Sorrrrry i acc skipped this chapter