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Venice, the epitome of Renaissance beauty, was a city built on water, a place where roads had never existed, and transportation had always been by boat.
At the moment, the weather was pleasant, with the sun casting a golden glow over the historic city.
A gentle breeze carried the scent of the sea, mingling with the aroma of freshly baked pastries from nearby cafés.
Above, the sky stretched like an endless canvas of pale blue, a serene backdrop to the elegant buildings that lined the canals.
The air was filled with the distant chatter of tourists, the hum of gondoliers guiding their boats, and the occasional cry of seagulls circling over St. Mark's Square.
The square itself was lively. Dozens of tourists stood near the ornate facades of centuries-old buildings, snapping pictures and admiring the architecture.
Pigeons scattered across the cobblestone ground as children chased after them, their laughter ringing through the air.
"Venice really is a city without land transport," Wanda commented, her blue eyes scanning the bustling surroundings.
She had seen pictures of the city before, but being here in person was different. There were no cars, no bicycles, not even scooters.
Just boats of all kinds—gondolas, water taxis, and vaporettos—floating along the canal, weaving between historic bridges.
For someone who had spent most of her life on solid ground, the sight was both mesmerizing and disorienting.
Finn, standing beside her, nodded. "Yeah, Venice is a true city on the water. Boats have always been the way to get around."
Wanda exhaled, tucking a strand of auburn hair behind her ear. "That makes sense, but… wouldn't the water get polluted?"
She leaned forward slightly, peering into the canal. The surface was a mirror, reflecting her image in gentle ripples.
Sunlight shimmered over the undulating waves, making them look almost inviting.
Finn chuckled. "I heard the locals sometimes drain bathroom water directly into the canals. Especially when the tide is low."
Wanda's expression froze.
"What?" She turned to him, her face contorting in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
Finn smirked, amused by her reaction. "Yeah. And when the water turns black, that's usually why."
Wanda took an immediate step back from the canal. "Ugh. No wonder Venetians don't swim in these waters."
At that moment, a voice cut through the conversation.
"Hey, don't spread rumors about Venice like that."
They turned to see an older man standing nearby, holding a basket filled with roses.
His English was broken, but his expression was one of firm pride.
"The water is not always like that," the flower vendor continued. "Venice is beautiful, and we do not dump things in the water like some people say."
Wanda blinked, realizing the man had overheard their conversation. "Oh, um, sorry about that. My friend was just repeating something he heard."
The vendor waved a hand dismissively. "It's okay. Just buy a flower, and we'll forget about it."
His stern expression morphed into a grin as he held up a bouquet. "Sir, why not buy a rose for this lovely lady? Five dollars for one flower."
Wanda's brows furrowed. "Five dollars?" She scoffed, crossing her arms. "That's ridiculous! That's, like, five times the normal price."
Selling flowers in Venice must be a profitable business, she thought.
But before she could protest further, she heard the sound of rustling fabric—Finn had already pulled out his wallet.
She turned in surprise as he handed over a five-dollar bill without hesitation.
The vendor, pleased with the sale, handed him a single red rose. "Thank you, sir! I wish you both a happy life!"
With that, he disappeared into the crowd.
Wanda turned to Finn, staring at him incredulously. "You actually bought it at that price? He was totally scamming you."
Finn, unfazed, twirled the rose between his fingers before extending it toward her. "In some places, a rose is only given to someone special."
Wanda's breath hitched.
Her eyes darted between the rose and Finn's face.
What was he saying?
Did he mean that in a romantic way? Or was he just being polite?
Her mind scrambled for a response, but before she could say anything—
"Hey, Finn! Wanda!"
A voice interrupted the moment.
They both turned to see two familiar figures approaching—one was a young woman with sharp eyes and an air of confidence, the other a slightly nervous boy trailing behind her.
"Michelle…" Finn muttered under his breath.
Peter Parker, standing behind her, looked hesitant, shifting on his feet as if he wasn't sure how to proceed.
"What's up?" Wanda asked, glancing between them.
MJ smirked, crossing her arms. "Peter said the strongest Avenger is his aunt. So I wanted to come and say hi."
Peter's expression twisted into one of regret.
"Aunt?" Wanda echoed, raising an eyebrow.
She then noticed Peter waving his hands frantically behind MJ's back, trying to signal her.
MJ arched an eyebrow. "You two do look alike. But I've never heard Peter mention an aunt before."
Peter swallowed hard.
Alike?
How did he and Wanda look alike?
The two had barely interacted outside of battle, and now MJ was piecing things together.
If she kept pushing, she might start connecting the dots about something much bigger.
His hands clenched into fists. This was bad.
Before MJ could press further, Wanda smoothly intervened. "We don't see each other often, so no one really talks about it."
Peter let out a silent sigh of relief.
MJ wasn't entirely convinced, but she let it slide for now.
Finn, meanwhile, chuckled softly. The whole situation was amusing—MJ definitely already knew Peter's secret, but she was toying with him, waiting to see how long it would take him to crack.
Peter, still flustered, quickly added, "Yeah! We live in different states, so we don't meet often. And Aunt Wanda—uh, I mean, Wanda—is super busy, you know, Avenger stuff. Saving the world and all that. We don't really bring it up much."
His rushed explanation only made things sound more suspicious.
MJ smirked. "You sound nervous."
Peter coughed. "No… I just…"
His voice trailed off as his Spider-Sense flared.
Something was wrong.
His head snapped toward the water.
The canal, once calm, had suddenly become restless. Boats rocked violently. Waves crashed against the docks.
Something was moving beneath the surface.
Wanda noticed his sudden shift in demeanor. "What's wrong?"
Peter didn't answer.
The air grew tense.
And then—
BOOM!
The water erupted.
A powerful force surged upward, sending massive torrents of water shooting into the sky.
Nearby boats flipped over like toys. Tourists screamed as the impact sent them stumbling to the ground.
From the crashing waves, a shape began to form.
Towering. Gigantic.
A figure made entirely of water.
Like a titan from an ancient legend, it loomed over the city, its presence casting a shadow over the streets.
The sheer scale of it sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.
Finn, standing at the back, exhaled slowly, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"It's starting," he murmured.
Mysterio's spectacle had officially begun.
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Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones