"What… just happened?"
Green Goblin stared at his severed arm lying on the ground, completely lost. By his calculations, once the green flames receded, both Spider-Woman and Iron Man should have been reduced to fragile ice statues that would shatter with a touch. Yet here they were… gone.
Just then, the detached arm burst into green flames and vanished without a trace. Moments later, his stump began to squirm and regenerate, growing a brand-new arm. Testing the limb, the Green Goblin gave a satisfied smile. "So this is the power of my master…"
Since signing a soul contract with Mephisto, Green Goblin had become his most devoted servant. Feeling the surge of power within him, he surveyed his surroundings with a menacing grin.
"Tony, Spider-Woman… I don't know what tricks you used to escape just now, but tonight, I'll make you vanish from this world. I'll offer your souls to my master!"
As Green Goblin scoured for any signs of the two, a detective from within the police station shouted, "They're over there!"
George, Anna, and Green Goblin, along with everyone else present, turned in the direction he pointed. A short distance away, on a grassy patch, stood Iron Man and Spider-Woman. Standing between them, George and several other detectives immediately recognized the figure: the golden-armored The Emperor, the same hero who had helped them take down Dr. Connors as the Lizard in the sewers.
"Why is he here too?" George muttered to himself, puzzled.
Hearing him, Anna asked eagerly, "Uncle George, do you know that golden armor?"
"Yes," George nodded. "He's called The Emperor."
"The Emperor…" Anna repeated the name in awe, savoring its imposing sound.
The Green Goblin also noticed the golden figure standing between his two foes. His pupils shrank as he recognized the armor. "Isn't that… the same golden armor mentioned in the files the General gave me?"
He remembered when he first started the "New Captain America" project, the General had shown him some files. The golden armor photographed in those documents looked exactly like this one. Until now, he'd thought it was just another weapon from Stark Industries, but it seemed there was more to it.
Alan glanced at Green Goblin, then turned to Gwen. "You okay?" he asked.
Gwen looked back at him. "Yeah, I'm fine." She then asked curiously, "But why are you here?"
Alan thought for a moment, deciding how best to explain. He glanced at Green Goblin and half-joked, "I sensed an evil presence… so I came over."
"An evil presence?" Gwen looked over at Green Goblin, and, prompted by Alan's comment, she, too, sensed the unsettling aura emanating from him. Maybe that's what The Emperor meant by an evil presence.
Tony, who'd been overlooked by the two, interjected at just the right moment. "Not that I want to interrupt your friendly conversation, but I think it's worth mentioning—the flames that guy wields are… dangerous."
Both Alan and Gwen turned to Tony. He raised the arm that Green Goblin had grabbed earlier, showing that its metal plating was now covered in thick frost.
"Look." Tony raised his other hand and lightly tapped the frost-covered arm. The next moment, a loud cracking sound filled the air as spider-web fractures spread across the arm's surface. The armor shattered, exposing Tony's bare arm beneath, also frosted over.
Tony silently thanked his luck. If not for the Mark armor, it would likely be his actual arm shattered on the ground right now. He also shuddered to think of what would have happened if Green Goblin had grabbed his chest's Arc Reactor instead…
Gwen's eyes narrowed. "Why… why did the flames cause this?"
Tony shook his head. "I have no idea. Jarvis analyzed it, and his conclusion was that Green Goblin's flames somehow freeze the molecular structure of whatever they touch. His powers now… are beyond anything we can comprehend."
He glanced over at The Emperor, whose powers also defied explanation. In a mere instant, both he and Spider-Woman had been transported to this spot.
It felt exactly like that first time he'd met The Emperor.
"Thank you," Tony said to Alan. In a way, this was the second time Emperor had saved his life. The first time had been by giving him that crucial hint, leading him to Howard's research.
Alan nodded back at Tony, glancing at the triangular Arc Reactor on Tony's chest. "Looks like you found what Howard left for you."
Gazing at the ice shards on the ground, Gwen's expression darkened slightly beneath her mask. "So now… how are we supposed to deal with him?" With those abilities, not only was fighting him impossible, but even getting close would be a challenge.
Alan smiled and stepped forward. "You two should take a break. Leave this to me."
Hearing that The Emperor intended to take on Green Goblin alone, Gwen objected immediately. "This isn't the time to show off! His powers completely defy logic."
Under his armor, Alan smiled faintly. Without turning back, he said, "My powers… aren't exactly easy to explain either."
Hearing The Emperor's confident words, Gwen's urge to stop him subsided. She glanced at Tony, only to find that he had taken a seat on the ground, helmet lifted, as if ready to watch a show.
Noticing Gwen's gaze, Tony joked, "Shame I don't have any drinks. Though I could have Happy bring some over. Don't worry—I trust him."
After Tony's words, Gwen also sat down. "I hate to admit it, but he gives me a comforting feeling, sort of like…" A certain image flashed through Gwen's mind—Alan's face.
"Like what?" Tony asked, intrigued.
Gwen shook her head, dismissing it. "Nothing."
Seeing she wasn't going to elaborate, Tony simply resumed watching Emperor.
As Green Goblin saw Emperor walking toward him alone, his grin widened. "So, you want to play hero, huh? Heroes always end up miserable."
Alan ignored Green Goblin's taunting and instead asked, "I have a question for you."
Green Goblin froze, hand reaching toward his waist. For some reason, he felt an innate pressure coming from that golden armor, as if whatever power he'd received from Mephisto was now stifled in this presence.
"No, that's just an illusion! My master's power is the greatest in this universe!" he reassured himself before replying loudly, "Go ahead and ask. I'm feeling generous tonight; I won't let you die in ignorance."
"Was it Mephisto who gave you this power?" Alan asked, simply curious to confirm his theory.
He'd had two suspicions—either Dormammu, the ruler of the Dark Dimension, or the dark lord Mephisto. However, considering Norman's capabilities, he likely wouldn't have been able to contact someone of Dormammu's magical level. So, Alan leaned toward Mephisto as the source.
Upon hearing Alan's question, Green Goblin's face darkened. He couldn't understand how this golden-armored figure knew his master's name, but the instincts he'd gained through his soul contract told him that he must not mention Mephisto in front of others.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he growled. "But you can die now!"
With that, Green Goblin pulled out several pumpkin bombs from his belt. Now transformed into true skull-shaped mini-pumpkins, their hollow eyes blazed with red flames. "Let's see how many people you can save, hero!"
He hurled the bombs at Alan, arcs of red slicing through the air. Then, two of the pumpkin bombs suddenly turned mid-flight, cackling with eerie laughter as they veered toward George and the others, while the remaining bombs sped toward Alan.
If Alan dodged to save George, Gwen and Tony would be left vulnerable. If he chose to protect Gwen and Tony, George and the others would be doomed.
"So, my guess was right," Alan murmured, interpreting Green Goblin's reaction as confirmation. He extended his hand to the air. "Emperor Sword!"
The Emperor Sword appeared in Alan's hand, and with a swift motion, he slashed through the incoming bombs, detonating them instantly. Green flames erupted and engulfed Alan in an instant.
Even though both Gwen and Tony had faith in Alan, this sight made their faces pale. Gwen stood, ready to intervene.
"Wait… when did he…?" Tony's voice was tinged with astonishment.
Just then, Gwen heard explosions from another direction and turned toward the NYPD headquarters. She saw The Emperor standing protectively in front of George and the others, his sword having deflected two pumpkin bombs skyward, where they exploded in brilliant bursts.
The intense freezing force from the bombs caused moisture in the air to crystallize, falling slowly as ice particles. Alan twirled the Emperor Sword in his hand and held it in front of him, poised for battle.
...
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