Chapter 69: It Seems Not Bad Either
"What?! "
Namor, standing atop the giant beast, hadn't even realized what was happening when he suddenly felt empty beneath his feet.
The moment he lost his balance, a large black hand broke through the water mist and grabbed him by the neck.
"Got you, little flying fish. "
This time, Luke did not give him a chance to resist.
Countless tiny tentacles instantly surged from Luke's palms and burrowed into the surface of Namor's skin.
[Contact successful! ]
[Copying target gene sequence... ]
[Gene fragments detected: Flight / Amphibious Breathing / Super Strength... ]
[Atlantis royal bloodline detected: Water Element Affinity / Longevity / Pressure Resistance... ]
[Merging... ]
[Fusion progress: 10%... 50%... 100%! ]
Namor only felt waves of numbness spread throughout his body, as if his soul had been seen through.
This feeling was even more terrifying than getting beaten up.
"You... What did you do to me?! "
Namor shouted in panic, struggling desperately.
But he found that the power of the black monster in front of him was soaring wildly, and it even possessed the same aura as him!
"Nothing, just borrowing some fire. "
Luke let go of his hand.
But he didn't fall.
Splash!
The black battle armor behind Luke wriggled for a moment, and a pair of miniature wing-shaped thrusters made of black keratin appeared at his ankles.
More importantly, in the air around Luke, faint ripples of water vapor appeared.
He raised his hand and waved it gently.
The sea below surged with his movement, forming a giant water hand that lifted Namor, who was about to fall into the water.
"Look, I've learned it too. "
Luke hovered in the air, looking at the stunned Namor.
"I have to say, these abilities of yours are quite useful. Especially the ability to control water; it'll make Showering much more convenient in the future. "
Namor was completely dumbfounded.
What was this supposed to be?
Who am I? Where am I?
Why did his signature skill get learned by him just by taking a glance at it?
"You... Are you the devil? " Namor asked tremblingly.
"No. "
Luke removed his faceplate, revealing his handsome face.
"I am the owner of this resort. And you, for destroying public property, trespassing, and carrying contraband pets, I am now going to fine you. "
Luke pointed at the golden trident in Namor's hand.
"That fork looks not bad, it should be quite handy for grilling fish. Let's take it as collateral. "
"Bastard! This is Neptune's artifact! "
Namor just wanted to resist, but found that Wanda behind Luke had already floated over, holding two magical orbs in her hands.
On the other side, Thor was wielding his hammer, staring at him with an expression of not having fought enough yet.
Even the kid in the red and blue uniform was eager to paste his face with spider silk.
Namor looked at the surrounding lineup and the unfathomable Luke.
As a monarch, although he was arrogant, he was not stupid.
A wise man submits to circumstances.
"I think we can talk. "
Namor took a deep breath, put away the light on the trident, and tried his best to make himself look less disheveled.
"That's right. "
Luke smiled and patted Namor's shoulder, taking the opportunity to scrape a bit more tissue sample.
"Come on, don't be polite. Since you're here, let's have a barbecue together. After all, there's nothing a barbecue can't solve; if there is, we'll grill you up. "
Namor shivered.
He felt that this man wasn't joking.
...
Half an hour later.
The bonfire on the beach was lit again, burning even brighter than before.
Only this time, the guest sitting next to the main seat had one more extremely depressed blue-skinned man.
Namor held a skewer of grilled squid in his hand, not knowing whether to eat it or not.
"Eat up, this is the leftover scrap I just cut from the big monster. "
Luke took a bite of the huge tentacle meat, his mouth full of grease.
"I have to say, the meat of the deep-sea sea monster is really firm and has a good chew. "
Namor looked at the meat in his hand, his mood complicated.
This was Giganto's tentacle tip, and also his royal pet!
But looking at this circle of tough guys around him, Namorcould only take a bite with tears in his eyes.
Hm?
The taste... seemed pretty good?
"Let's talk business. "
Luke wiped his mouth, took out the glowing stone slab, and placed it on the table.
"What on earth is this? Why are you so nervous? "
Seeing the stone slab, Namor's eyes instantly turned serious.
He glanced at Thor, then at Jane Foster, obviously hesitating whether to reveal Atlantis's secrets in front of these people.
"Don't hide it anymore. "
Luke played with the stone slab, the black fluid at his fingertips gently seeping into the patterns of the stone slab.
"This thing is calling for space energy. If I'm not mistaken, this should be a key. A key to where? Some sealed armory? Or a prison holding ancient evil gods? "
Namor sighed.
"Since you've already sensed it, then I'll tell you, this is indeed a key. "
"This is the beacon leading to the ruins of Lemuria. "
Namor's voice was low.
"Before Atlantis sank, Lemuria was our mortal enemy. They worshipped the dark power of the Elder Gods and created terrifying biological weapons. Later they were sealed in another dimension. "
"But this stone slab has recently become active, which means the seal has loosened. "
"I must take it back and reinforce the seal. Otherwise, once those otherworldly monsters run out, the ocean will suffer first, followed by the land. "
After listening to Namor's explanation, everyone fell into silence.
Jane Foster was thoughtful.
"Another dimension?! This sounds somewhat similar to the Nine Realms Thor mentioned. "
"Lemuria... "
Luke touched his chin.
Not only was he not worried, he was even more excited.
Otherworldly biological weapons?
Doesn't that mean... more buffet?
Moreover, since it involves another dimension, it must be related to the Space Stone.
This might be the opportunity for him to master the laws of space, and even open channels to other universes.
"This stone slab belongs to me now. "
Luke announced tyrannically.
"You! "
Namor just wanted to slam the table, but was glared back by a look from Luke.
"Don't get excited. I mean, I'll take care of this matter. "
Luke picked up the stone slab, a confident light flashing in his eyes.
"If those Lemuria monsters dare to come out, I'll stuff them back. Or... turn them into my own power. "
"You don't know how terrifying they are! " Namor warned.
"That is an existence that even gods would tremble at. "
"Gods? "
Luke pointed at Thor, who was drinking with Pietro nearby.
"I happen to have a god right here. He doesn't look like he's trembling much, except for his hand shaking and not being able to hold the wine glass steady. "
Thor hiccupped, with a heroic expression.
"Who? Who is calling me? Bring another bottle! "
Namor was speechless.
Did this group of people have any sense of crisis at all?
"Alright, Your Majesty Namor. "
Luke stood up and raised his glass.
"Since it's a misunderstanding, let's turn the page. This stone slab is temporarily kept with me. If you're worried, you're welcome to visit Fisk Tower anytime. Of course, remember to bring some deep-sea specialties as admission tickets, like glowing pearls or something. "
"The doors of Fisk Industries are always open to wealthy friends. "
Namor looked at Luke's smiling face, feeling a mixture of emotions in his heart.
He lost.
He lost thoroughly.
Not only did he fail to get the stone slab back, but he was also forced to sign an unequal mutual assistance treaty.
But strangely enough, he didn't have much hatred for this land-dweller.
Perhaps it was because of the pure aura of a strong person on Luke, which made him, a monarch who believed in supremacy of power, feel a sense of recognition.
"Hmph, I hope you know what you're doing. "
Namor downed the beer in his cup and stood up.
"If you can't handle it the day the seal shatters, I will personally bring the seawater to flood your company. "
After speaking, Namor picked up the trident and turned to walk towards the ocean.
"No need to see you off. " Luke waved his hand.
Watching Namor disappear into the waves, the smile on Luke's face gradually subsided.
"Boss, how should this matter be handled? " Natashawalked over with a tablet computer.
"As for S.H.I.E.L.D.... "
"Tell Fury that it was a commotion caused by the migration of a group of mutated giant tuna. As for the stone slab, not a single word is allowed to be mentioned. "
Luke looked at Natasha, his eyes deep.
"You know how to write the report, right? "
"Of course. " Natasha shrugged.
"'No abnormalities found, it's just Mr. Fisk conducting a special night fishing activity.' "
"Smart. "
On the other side.
Peter Parker was sitting on the beach, staring blankly at his hands.
MJ walked over and sat down beside him.
"What are you thinking about? That fall just now was pretty cool. "
Peter smiled bitterly.
"I'm wondering... if that soldier didn't have a helmet just now, would I have killed him? "
"But you saved us. "
MJ held Peter's hand, her gaze firm.
"Peter, Luke is right. This world is not just black and white. Sometimes to protect the white, you have to get a little gray on you. "
"You don't need to become someone like Luke; you just need to be yourself, a Spider-Man who can protect everyone. "
Peter raised his head, looked into MJ's eyes, and then looked at Luke not far away.
Luke was surrounded by Wanda and Gwen. Although they were chatting and laughing, in the shadow behind him, the phantom of a huge black monster seemed to be watching the whole world.
"I know. "
Peter took a deep breath.
"I will become stronger. In my own way. "
...
Late at night.
The party dispersed.
Luke stood alone on the highest reef, holding the stone slab in his hand.
The sea breeze blew the corner of his clothes.
The virus and Symbiote in his body were cheering and leaping, digesting the genes obtained from Namor.
[Evolution complete. ]
[Abilities acquired: Amphibious breathing, deep-sea pressure resistance, bio-electric current perception, water element manipulation... ]
[Characteristics acquired: Atlantis royal coercion, deterrent effect on lower marine life. ]
Luke clenched his fists.
The water molecules in the air seemed to be surrendering to him.
"Lemuria... "
Luke looked at the faint blue light on the stone slab, his eyes full of anticipation.
"I hope you can bring me more surprises. "
"After all, the long vacation has just begun. "
Chapter 70 Operating System
The night grew deeper, and the scent of the sea breeze swept across the reefs.
The stone tablet in Luke's hand had stopped glowing, reverting to an ancient and crude appearance.
If thrown by the roadside, it would probably be mistaken for scrap material used to prop up a table leg.
But in Luke's perception, the spatial coordinate information contained within this thing was as complex as a tangled mess of yarn.
"A bit interesting."
Luke's fingers tapped gently against the edge of the stone tablet.
A black fluid silently covered the surface of the stone tablet, attempting to seep inside and analyze the material.
There was no energy backlash as imagined, nor any whispers of ancient gods.
This made him slightly disappointed.
"It seems I still need to find a professional translator," Lukemuttered inwardly.
Although he possessed super intelligence and could instantly learn all the languages on Earth.
However, encrypted files involving ancient magical civilizations were clearly not within the scope of conventional linguistics.
...
Early the next morning.
Sunlight spilled onto the beach of the private island, and the craters left by last night's battle had mostly been filled in by auto-repair robots working overnight.
One had to admit that money could indeed work wonders, even restoring the scenery to its original state.
In the villa's open-air restaurant, the air was filled with the scent of fried bacon and freshly ground coffee.
Luke wore a loose shirt with his cuffs casually rolled up.
He sat in the master seat, holding today's Daily Bugle in his hand.
The front-page headline of the newspaper was still that big question mark.
"Is Spider-Man a Hero or a Public Menace?"
"Tsk, Jameson's obsession runs really deep," Luke shook his head, picked up his coffee, and took a sip.
"Another bucket! I want that... that thing called latte! Extra sugar!"
A roar broke the peace of the early morning.
Thor slumped limply in his chair with zero regard for his image.
He was gripping a huge wooden bucket, originally used to hold ice cubes, filled to the brim with coffee.
Jane Foster sat to the side, supporting her forehead with a helpless look, yet her eyes revealed an undisguised doting affection.
She tried to wipe away the cream stained on Thor's beard with a tissue.
"Thor, that's enough for several people..." Jane reminded him softly.
"Ha! For an Asgardian, this is just mouthwash!" Thorlaughed heartily, casually slapping the table.
Crack.
The thirty-thousand-dollar marble dining table let out a groan, and then a crack split across it.
The whole scene instantly fell silent.
Peter Parker's hand shook as he was cutting a fried egg.
Pietro had a slice of toast in his mouth, his movements freezing as his eyes drifted back and forth between Lukeand Thor, seemingly calculating the probability of the boss blowing his top.
Luke slowly put down the newspaper.
He looked at the crack, then at Thor, who was raising his hands with an innocent look.
"Thirty thousand dollars," Luke said expressionlessly.
"Plus the beach loungers you smashed last night, the palm trees scorched by lightning, and the few bottles of red wine from the cellar that you drank."
Luke pointed at Thor.
"Put it on your tab. If you don't have money, I'll melt your hammer down into barbed wire."
Thor was stunned for a moment, then awkwardly scratched his head.
"Uh... you know, Asgard doesn't use these paper scraps as currency. We use glory, gold..."
"Then gold it is," Luke interrupted him.
"I'm not a picky eater. Next time you come to Earth, remember to bring some local specialties from Asgard, even if it's just gold bricks pried from the palace."
In fact, Luke didn't care about this bit of money.
What he cared about were the rules.
In this world, he was the only person who dared to settle bills with Thor; this feeling alone was more valuable than thirty thousand dollars.
Thor laughed heartily, trying to use his laughter to cover up the awkwardness.
"No problem! Next time I'll take you to tour Asgard's treasury! But for now... is there any more food?"
"I want to eat donuts!"
Watching the muscle-bound and brainless Thor, Natashasilently cut the sausage on her plate.
Her mental activities were far more complex than they appeared on the surface.
The target person, Luke Fisk, showed an extremely strong control over Thor.
Thor not only lacked the arrogance of a deity, but instead held a sense of acknowledgment for the strong.
Natalie's gaze swept over the hand Luke placed on the table.
This hand was slender and powerful, looking no different from an ordinary person's.
But just last night, this hand easily gripped the neck of the king of Atlantis, copying the other party's ability simply through contact.
Not just strength, but also learning ability.
If he wanted to, he could even copy Hulk...
Thinking of this, Natasha couldn't help but feel a chill.
"Natalie, the sausage is about to be cut into powder by you."
Luke's voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
Natasha snapped back to her senses abruptly, only to find Luke looking at her with a smile.
"Instead of writing reports in your mind, you might as well eat more. After all, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s cafeteria doesn't have Michelin three-star chefs."
Natasha was startled inwardly, but her composure as a top agent kept her expression unchanged as she gracefully forked a piece of sausage into her mouth.
"Boss is joking, I was just thinking that this sausage tastes really good."
"Is that so?" Luke smiled meaningfully and didn't expose her.
As long as Fury didn't lose his mind and bomb him with a nuclear weapon, he was happy to play house with Natasha.
...
After breakfast, by the beach.
Peter Parker squatted beside Luke, his two eyes wide as copper bells, holding a small notebook in his hand.
"Mr. Luke! Was that water element manipulation just now? How did you do it? Did you change the surface tension of water molecules? Or did you control hydrogen bonds through a bioelectric field?"
"And also! Are the wings on Namor's feet really aerodynamic? How can such small wings drive such a heavy body? This is unscientific!"
Peter's questions popped out like a machine gun.
This was the young Peter Parker. Before he became that Spider-Man bearing heavy responsibilities, he was first and foremost an academic achiever who loved science.
Luke lay on a beach lounger soaking up the sun.
Although he didn't need ultraviolet rays to synthesize vitamins, he enjoyed the lazy feeling.
Hearing Peter's questions, Luke wasn't impatient.
On the contrary, he greatly appreciated this child's thirst for knowledge.
"Peter, science is a tool to explain the world, but in this universe, there are many things that current science cannot explain."
Luke extended his hand.
His fingertips liquefied slightly, a mass of black fluid dancing at his fingertips, and then slowly turning into the shape of a small spider.
This black spider crawled back and forth on Luke's palm, its movements shockingly nimble.
Peter curiously leaned in to observe.
"It looks like... it has life?"
"It is life."
With a thought in Luke's mind, the spider in his hand suddenly jumped up, instantly disintegrating in mid-air into a mist of water, and then rapidly condensing into a miniature ice blade.
"As for the principle you asked about."
Luke looked at the dumbfounded Peter, the corners of his mouth turning up.
"You can understand it as a form of advanced biological programming. I analyzed Namor's genetic code, found the program controlling water affinity, and copied it into my operating system."
Chapter 71 Spider-Man Isn't Needed Right Now
"Just like copy and paste?"
Peter tried to explain it using his own understanding.
"Pretty much. Except my clipboard has a huge capacity."
Luke withdrew his hand, and the ice blade melted back into his skin.
"As for the little wings..." Luke couldn't help muttering.
"To be honest, I don't think it's very scientific either. So I only copied the flight ability, not the appearance. The rest was too ugly."
Peter couldn't help laughing out loud.
Compared to a lofty genius like Tony Stark, or a textbook Hero like Captain America.
Luke gave him more of the feeling of an omnipotent neighborhood big brother, albeit one with a somewhat dark sense of humor.
"Mr. Luke." Peter suddenly put away his smile, becoming somewhat serious.
"You say... if I could be as strong as you, would I be able to protect the people I want to protect and keep them from suffering any harm?"
This was Peter's deepest fear.
Ever since gaining superpowers, he had always worried that he would bring danger to the people around him.
Luke turned his head and looked at him.
"Becoming stronger is a good thing, Peter."
Luke sat up and patted Peter on the shoulder.
"But in this world, having power alone isn't enough. You need brains, and you need a bit of ruthlessness."
"Ruthlessness?" Peter was somewhat puzzled.
"Right. The kind I taught you last time." Luke pointed into the distance at Gwen, who was practicing combat with Pietro.
"Look, if it were the old you, encountering a thug with a gun, what would you do? Hang him up with web-shooters? Then hand him over to the police? And wait for him to retaliate after making bail?"
Peter froze. That was indeed what he would have thought.
"Then... what else?"
"I would make him wet his pants every time he sees a gun for the rest of his life." Luke's voice was very calm.
"I can avoid killing people just like you, but I'm good at making people learn their lesson. Peter, kindness is your virtue, but don't let kindness become your weakness."
"When your enemies know that you also have a bottom line, and that your bottom line is 'if you dare touch my family, I will make you regret coming into this world,' then they will truly fear you."
That's right, Luke's words were actually a true portrayal of Peter Parker.
In the comic event "Civil War", because of Iron Man's persuasion, Peter Parker ultimately decided to reveal his true identity to the public.
But the result was that Aunt May was attacked by bad people and was in critical condition.
Out of anger, Peter Parker no longer swallowed his anger, directly and decisively striking back with retaliatory blows.
In the end, he even threatened Kingpin, stating that if Aunt May couldn't be saved, all of them would be buried with her.
Thinking of this, Luke smiled slightly and didn't say anything more.
Peter lowered his head, looked at his palms, and fell into deep thought.
This passage had a bit of an impact on him, completely different from the gentle justice taught by Uncle Ben.
But this seemed... more in line with the logic of reality?
Just then, Wanda walked over.
She was wearing a red casual outfit, her hair loosely tied back, holding two iced drinks in her hands.
"Here, your iced Americano." Wanda handed the cup to Luke, then turned and smiled at Peter.
"And your orange juice, pajama baby."
"Thanks! Also, I'm not called pajama baby!" Peter protested with a red face.
Wanda ignored Peter's protest, sat down on another chair next to Luke, and cast her gaze toward the sea.
"Are we going back?" she asked softly.
"What? Can't bear to leave this sunny beach?" Luke raised an eyebrow.
"No." Wanda shook her head, her gaze complicated.
"I just feel that it's very quiet here. No Hydra experiments, no explosions, and no gazes looking at us like we're monsters."
Here, on this island sheltered by Luke, she felt very at ease.
Luke looked at Wanda.
He could feel the sensitivity and anxiety deep within her heart.
"Rest assured."
Luke reached out and ruffled Wanda's hair.
If anyone else had done this action, they probably would have been torn into pieces by Chaos Magic, but when Lukedid it, it was exceptionally natural.
"From now on, wherever I am will be your safe house."
"Whoever dares to look at you with the eyes of a monster, I'll make them go see an ophthalmologist."
Wanda chuckled out loud.
Feeling the warmth coming from the top of her head, the stone hanging in her heart seemed to gently drop to the ground.
This man was truly strange.
Clearly harboring such terrifying dark power within his body, he could always give people an inexplicable sense of security.
Wanda thought to herself.
Perhaps this was what they called bad guys being kept in check by an even bigger bad guy?
As long as he was the biggest villain, being under his wing was the safest place to be.
...
Vacations are always short.
The private jet landed at New York's Kennedy Airport, and the familiar hustle and bustle rushed over them once again.
Thor had already opened the Bifrost straight back to Asgard right from the island.
When he left, he even swiped a case of Luke's whiskey, saying he wanted to take it back for Odin to try something new.
Although Jane Foster was reluctant to part, she had to return to her scientific research.
She and Thor agreed on the time for their next date, though she didn't know whether "next time" meant tomorrow or next year for a god.
As for Peter, Gwen, Wanda, and Pietro, they followed Lukeback to Manhattan.
The motorcade drove down the bustling streets.
Luke sat in the back seat of the limousine, watching the scenery flying past outside the window.
New York, a city full of crime and opportunity.
"Boss, things over at the company have already been arranged."
In the passenger seat, Natasha reported.
"Regarding your absence, Oscorp Group attempted to suppress our stock prices in the biopharmaceutical field, but they were all fended off by our legal department and PR team."
"Norman Osborn?"
Luke chuckled softly.
It seemed Green Goblin's skin was itching for a beating again.
"Don't worry about him. Let him bounce around for a few days. Once something goes wrong with his human enhancement serum, he'll naturally come begging us."
Luke knew Oscorp's background too well.
"There's one more thing."
Natalie's tone paused slightly.
"Mr. Tony Stark has called you a dozen times."
"A dozen times?" Luke raised an eyebrow.
"Is he bankrupt and looking to borrow money from me?"
"No. He said he detected abnormal energy fluctuations erupting from your private island, and he suspects you're conducting some prohibited weapons of mass destruction experiments, demanding that you make the data public to him as a responsible entrepreneur."
"A responsible entrepreneur?"
Luke was so amused he laughed.
"Coming from the mouth of a playboy who flies unfinished armor all over the world, how does that sound anything other than ironic."
"Tell him I'm raising seafood. If he's interested, I can send him two catties of specialty octopus tentacles."
Natalie's mouth twitched slightly: "Understood, I'll polish it a bit before passing it along."
Right at this moment, the traffic suddenly stopped.
There seemed to be a congestion ahead.
"What's going on?" Luke frowned.
"Looks like there's a shootout between police and robbers ahead." The driver glanced at the GPS.
"The police have blocked the road."
Luke rolled down the car window.
Relying on his hearing far surpassing ordinary people, he could clearly hear gunshots from hundreds of meters away, as well as shrill police sirens.
"Damn it! Don't come over! Come any closer and I'll kill everyone in this bus!"
A hysterical voice roared.
It appeared to be a few masked robbers. After robbing an armored car and being intercepted by the police, they panicked and hijacked a school bus.
Screams and crying from children came from inside the school bus.
"A school bus?"
Peter Parker in the back seat immediately couldn't sit still anymore.
"Mr. Luke! We have to do something!"
He had already begun searching the luxury car to see if there was a corner where he could change clothes.
"Don't rush, Spider-Man doesn't need to make an entrance during a traffic jam."
Luke held down Peter's shoulder.
"Since that's my territory, and Fisk Tower is right nearby, then this is my family business."
Luke pushed open the car door and got out of the car.
"Stay in the car. Pietro, watch your sister, don't let her blow up a few police cars."
Finishing speaking, Luke straightened his suit tie and walked leisurely toward the blockade line.
"Sir! This is a restricted area! It's dangerous!"
A young police officer tried to stop Luke.
Luke didn't even look at him, merely raising his hand gently.
An invisible pressure instantly spread outward.
This was the aura of a top predator coming from the Blacklight Virus.
The police officer instantly felt as if he were facing a giant beast. His legs went soft, and he involuntarily retreated a few steps, clearing the path.
Luke walked straight through the cordon, heading towards the hijacked school bus.
The surrounding police officers were all stunned, forgetting to stop him as well.
"Fuck! Suit-wearing asshole! Don't come over! I'm going to shoot!"
Seeing someone approaching, the robber leader nervously raised the automatic rifle in his hand, its dark muzzle aimed straight at Luke.
Luke stopped walking, less than ten meters away from the robbers.
"Give you three seconds, put down the gun, and get lost."
"What the hell are you jok..."
Da-da-da-da!
The robber leader was clearly a hot-tempered guy and directly pulled the trigger.
Bullets whistled out, heading straight for Luke's chest.
Peter gasped in exclamation from afar.
"Mr. Luke!"
Chapter 72: Tony
However, the next second,
the moment the bullets hit Luke's suit, it was like hitting a steel plate, and they were directly bounced off.
No, not bounced off.
If viewed in slow motion, one could clearly see that black fluid instantly surged out from beneath the clothing on Luke's chest.
It then hardened into pieces of black carapace, perfectly blocking all the bullets.
This was even with Luke intentionally holding back his defense; otherwise, those bullets would have been directly absorbed.
"The clothes are quite expensive, and it's very troublesome if they get ruined."
Luke patted the non-existent dust on his chest.
"Since you won't scram, then don't leave."
Swoosh!
Luke's arm suddenly raised and then instantly elongated, resembling a black rubber whip, moving so fast that the naked eye couldn't catch it.
Snap!
The elongated black arm grabbed the gun in the robber leader's hand and then violently yanked it.
The rifle was instantly snatched away and then crumpled into a lump of scrap metal in Luke's hands.
Immediately after, Luke's arm, like a branching tree branch, instantly split into several black fluid ropes, wrapping around the necks and limbs of the robbers present.
"Wuwuwu!"
The robbers found with horror that these black things not only restrained their movements but were also invading their skin!
[Contact successful.]
[Low-level combat skills (street brawl tier) detected.]
[Firearm usage memories (beginner tier) detected.]
[Crime network intelligence detected...]
Luke did not devour them; he merely read these people's memory areas instantly through contact.
"Turns out they are Kingpin's remaining old subordinates? Wanting to grab some money and run away?"
Luke instantly understood the cause and effect.
Ever since he took over Kingpin's underground empire, he had indeed purged a batch of disobedient people, and these escaping fish were obviously driven to a dead end.
"Too weak."
Luke disgustedly let go of the tentacles.
The robbers collapsed to the ground one by one with rolling eyes, foaming at the mouth.
Although they didn't die, the impact on their nervous system was enough to make them lie in the hospital for half a year, and upon waking up, they would most likely turn into idiots who screamed at the sight of black.
This was called psychological castration, which was more environmentally friendly than physical destruction.
The entire scene was dead silent.
The police officers' hands holding guns were shaking.
The children inside the school bus pressed against the windows, watching this scene, their gazes changing from fear to worship.
"So cool..."
A little chubby boy muttered to himself.
Luke straightened his cuffs and turned to look at the police captain in charge of the scene.
"Clean up the ground. Also, don't let those kids see this trash."
After saying that, he walked towards his car without looking back.
This was just a small interlude.
But he knew he wouldn't have to worry about tomorrow's headlines.
And more importantly, through this brief action, he announced a message to the entire New York underground world.
The previous King of New York was Kingpin.
And the current King of New York was a monster that even bullets couldn't pierce.
...
Returning to the office on the top floor of Fisk Tower.
In front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, Luke swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand, overlooking the brilliant lights beneath his feet.
"Looks like you really enjoy the feeling of being a major villain?"
A voice with a synthesized mechanical sound suddenly rang out on the terrace.
Luke knew who it was without turning back.
Accompanied by the roar of thrusters, a red and gold Iron Man slowly landed on the terrace.
The faceplate opened, revealing Tony Stark's stinking face wearing sunglasses.
"Trespassing, Mr. Stark."
Luke turned around and raised his glass to gesture.
"Even though you're a celebrity, this is still subject to a fine."
Tony walked out of the armor, walking and disdainfully looking at the surrounding decoration.
"This taste... too nouveau riche. You need a good interior designer; I can give you Pepper's number."
Tony walked over to the liquor cabinet and unceremoniously poured himself a drink.
Although his gaze seemed casual, he was actually scanning Luke the whole time.
Jarvis was frantically sounding the alarm.
[Sir, detected extremely high density of biological energy within the target. Unable to parse its DNA structure. Threat level extremely high.]
Tony felt a chill in his heart, but on the surface, he still maintained a flippant appearance.
"I'm here to talk business. The energy fluctuation on the island."
Tony put away his smile.
"Jarvis detected readings similar to gamma rays but completely different. Doesn't look like Earth stuff."
"That indeed isn't."
Luke generously admitted it.
"That's a gift from a friend from the deep sea. What, do you also study marine biology?"
"Deep sea?"
Tony frowned.
"You mean those legends about undersea people?"
"Not just legends."
Luke walked up to Tony; the two were about the same height, not counting the height added by the armor.
But the sense of oppression coming from Luke made Tonyvery uncomfortable.
"Tony, this world is much bigger than you think, and much more dangerous."
Luke's voice was low.
"There is Atlantis in the deep sea, Asgard in the sky, and a purple sweet potato spirit deep in the universe holding a big stick wanting to commit genocide."
"Your tin toy seems cool right now, but when that day really comes..."
Luke reached out and gently tapped the Ark Reactor on Tony's chest.
Clang.
A crisp sound.
Tony was surprised to find that a shallow fingerprint had actually been left on the reactor casing.
You know, that was gold-titanium alloy!
"You..."
Tony took a step back, his expression changing.
"Don't be nervous, just a friendly reminder."
Luke withdrew his hand, smiling brilliantly.
"You need an upgrade, Tony. Whether it's your armor or your perspective."
"If you need help, the doors of Fisk Industries are always open to you. Of course, the technology transfer fee is extra."
Tony stared at Luke for a long time.
This was the first time someone dared to talk to him like this.
In the past, he was always the one lecturing others; today he actually got schooled by a nouveau riche?
But what made him the angrier was that his intuition told him this guy was right.
"Is that so?"
Tony put down the glass and walked back to the armor.
"Upgrade? I will. Next time we meet, I'll let you see what a real tin toy is."
The faceplate closed, and Iron Man soared into the sky, carving a brilliant arc through the air.
Watching Tony's departing back, the smile on the corner of Luke's mouth gradually disappeared.
Jarvis definitely recorded the contact data from just now.
Just now, he felt the scanning beam.
So what? Let him scan.
Luke shrugged indifferently.
"If the Blacklight Virus structure could be so easily parsed by Earth technology, Blackwatch would have already ruled the galaxy."
"Besides, giving Iron Man a little pressure is also good. After all..."
Luke looked at the starry sky outside the window.
If Tony isn't made to pull himself together quickly, are they really going to rely on him alone to plug the portal when the time comes?
How tiring would that be.
He just wanted to be a behind-the-scenes boss, coming out at critical moments to harvest a wave of alien biomass and incidentally play the savior.
This was the correct way for a transmigrator to do things.
Chapter 73 Ability Enhancement
Luke turned around and walked toward the office chair.
"Since that slate is still in my hands, let's not sleep tonight."
"Let's see what good things are really hidden in the lost civilization of Lemuria."
...
A few minutes later
The ancient slate was suspended before Luke's eyes.
It was covered in distorted text, a legacy belonging to the ancient oceanic civilization of Lemuria.
Luke took off his suit jacket, wearing only a white shirt with his sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows.
He directly pressed his palm against the slate, which was emitting a faint eerie glow.
"Let me see what you bunch of undersea holy men are really hiding."
As Luke moved his mind, black fluid instantly surged from his palm.
They were like living data cables, frantically penetrating along the tiny, almost invisible patterns on the slate.
If the Ancient One sorcerer were here, her jaw would definitely drop in shock.
Because Luke was analyzing idealistic magic in a materialistic way.
[Contact successful.]
[Parsing material structure... Calcium carbonate base... Unknown energy circuit detected...]
[Warning: Mental interference wave detected.]
The next second,
A whisper that seemed to come from the abyss of the deep sea tried to drill into Luke's brain.
This was a curse on the slate, or some kind of anti-theft mechanism.
If it were an ordinary person, they would probably have brain overload and gone mad by now, or been brainwashed into a slave of the undersea people.
But Luke just curled his lips, a trace of mockery even in his eyes.
"Mental attack? Against me?"
The collective consciousness within Luke instantly boiled.
This was the cheering of countless cells when facing prey.
"Shut up."
Luke gave a faint shout in his consciousness.
Instantly, that whisper from the deep sea stopped abruptly.
Then, the Blacklight Virus overbearingly counter-invaded, swallowing those so-called curse energies in one bite as a delicious snack.
[Parsing complete.]
[Obtained: Lemuria Water Element Manipulation Technique.]
[Obtained: Deep Sea Creature Communication Atlas.]
[Converting magic circuits into biological instinct...]
Luke withdrew his hand.
He looked at his palm; beneath the originally black skin, a trace of faint blue light flickered vaguely, then quickly faded away.
"A bit interesting."
He did not become a magician, nor did he learn to chant spells.
The overbearing nature of the Blacklight Virus was that it didn't learn principles; it directly copied results.
It forcibly translated the magic circuits recorded in the slate on how to mobilize water elements into biological instincts on how to interfere with water molecules through biology.
Simply put, the current Luke, if he was willing, was a humanoid Sea King who didn't need to chant or have a mana bar.
"Although it can't compare to god-tier beings like Poseidon, stirring up a tsunami in a bathtub is still no problem."
Luke made a self-deprecating remark and casually picked up the ice water on the table.
He didn't touch the cup, but the stream of water in the cup seemed to have life, automatically jumping out and condensing into a crystal-clear little dragon in the air, swimming joyfully around Luke's fingers.
"Great, from now on I won't need to turn on the faucet when taking a take a bath."
Although he was telling lighthearted jokes with his mouth, Luke was calculating intently in his heart.
This slate was just a beginning.
His goal was never to become a powerhouse of a single system.
The Marvel universe was too dangerous; a single ability always had times when it was restrained.
Superman feared kryptonite and magic, Doctor Strangefeared being closed in close quarters, and Hulk feared mind control.
Only by becoming a stitch-monster with no shortcomings could one live a good life in this world where gods and demons Ran dance.
"If Jarvis sees this scene, his CPU will probably burn out."
Luke dismissed the water dragon, letting the water droplets scatter on the laboratory bench.
He didn't wipe them, but turned and walked toward the elevator, while the water droplets automatically disappeared.
"Lemuria... Looks like I still have to make a trip to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. But before that..."
His gaze turned cold.
"I must first deal with the green-skinned grasshopper Ran jumping around on my territory."
Norman Osborn.
This guy's little actions lately were simply too many.
...
Early the next morning, the sunlight of Manhattanpenetrated the floor-to-ceiling windows of Fisk Tower.
Although he stayed up late last night doing scientific research, for Luke who possessed super recovery, sleep was long no longer a necessity, just a seasoning of life.
At the dining table, the atmosphere was somewhat eerie.
Peter Parker arrived here early, obviously invited by Pietro.
Wanda sat opposite him, fingers gently stirring the coffee, red energy faintly heating the coffee.
Felicia went out on a trip, saying she wanted to enjoy life.
Pietro was annihilating the bacon on his plate.
"So..."
Luke put down the New York Times in his hand, breaking the silence.
"Is this your battle result from last night? Making the headlines, but it's negative news?"
He pointed to a section on the newspaper, the title very sensational.
"Spider-Man Causes Traffic Paralysis! Vigilante or Trouble Maker?"
The accompanying picture was a photo of Peter trapped on a street lamp by a huge mass of white viscous substance, in a rather ungraceful posture, like a wrapped-up insect cocoon.
"That wasn't my fault!"
Peter was almost choked by his cereal, his face instantly turning red, explaining at a fast pace.
"That's a new villain! He calls himself Shocker, no, seems like Vibration Man? Or something else. Anyway, he's holding two gloves made from pressure cookers in his hands, which can fire shockwaves! To dodge his attack, I accidentally... Then... Then I wound myself up."
Peter's voice became softer and softer as he spoke, finally lowering his head in frustration.
"The editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle will definitely say I'm a wall-crawling public nuisance again."
"Be confident, Peter."
Luke took a sip of coffee, his tone flat.
"Take away 'definitely'. He has already written it like that on the front page."
Peter wailed, burying his head in the crook of his arm.
"I think it's quite cute."
Wanda added a knife on the side; although she said it with a smile, to Peter it sounded more like an execution.
"Like a giant silkworm baby."
"I'm not a silkworm baby! I am Spider-Man!" Peter protested.
"Listen, Peter."
Luke tapped the table, making everyone's attention focus over.
"I've said it many times, and you forget every next day. Your problem is not in your equipment, nor in the stupid villain holding a pressure cooker. Your problem lies in your gentleness."
Luke stood up, walked behind Peter, and rested his hands on the back of his chair.
Soon, the familiar sense of oppression came again.
Peter felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up; this was his Spider-Sense alarming.
Even though he knew Luke wouldn't hurt him, this fear on a biological instinct level was uncontrollable.
"You possess the strength to even lift a truck, and your reaction speed is faster than a bullet. But every time you fight, you still can't bear to deal a fatal blow."
"Have you forgotten everything on the beach yesterday?! Peter! How many times will it take for you to understand this principle?"
Luke's voice echoed in Peter's ears, like a demon's whisper, or like a strict teacher's instruction.
"This is like a tiger worrying whether it will scratch a mouse too hard."
"Boss, I understand, but after I went back last night and thought about it, I thought of what Uncle Ben said: with great power comes great responsibility..."
Chapter 74 Norman Osborn
"I know, the greater the responsibility..."
Luke interrupted him.
"But that maxim doesn't say you have to make yourself look like a clown for so-called responsibility."
Luke reached out, and black fluid surged at his fingertips, instantly turning into a sharp little knife that gently sliced across the desktop in front of Peter.
The hard desktop was cut open like tofu.
"I know Shocker, his name is Herman Schultz, just a thief holding second-hand tech. If you had used webs to seal his airway in the very first second he raised his hand, or directly dismantled his gloves, last night's battle would have ended in three seconds."
"There wouldn't have been any traffic paralysis, nor would there be this photo."
Peter was stunned.
He looked at the scratches on the table, recalling last night's battle in his mind.
Indeed, he had many opportunities to subdue the opponent, but he was always hesitating.
"What I want to teach you is not killing, Peter."
Luke patted his shoulder, his tone slowing down a bit and returning to a bantering tone.
"What I want to teach you is efficiency. Dealing with bad people doesn't require talking about martial ethics, nor does it require striking a pose. What you need is to make them lose the ability to resist in the shortest possible time, and create a psychological shadow, making their legs go weak the next time they see red and blue-colored tights."
"This is true protection. Protecting innocent people from being affected, and protecting yourself from being annoyed to death by these flies."
Peter nodded thoughtfully.
"Efficiency... psychological shadow..."
He muttered to himself, seeming to have opened the door to a new world.
Pietro beside him swallowed the bacon in his mouth and said incoherently,
"I think the boss is right. Last time a guy wanted to grab my wallet, I threw him directly onto the torch of the Statue of Liberty. Although he pissed his pants, he definitely won't dare to rob again."
"Pietro, that's kidnapping." Wanda rolled her eyes.
"And I had to go get you down because you ran too fast and forgot how to come down yourself."
A burst of relaxed laughter sounded in the restaurant.
Luke looked at these young people, the corners of his mouth slightly rising.
This is his home now, although the members all have some problems.
A Chaos Witch who might turn dark at any time, a speedster as fast as ADHD, and a chatterbox, holier-than-thou Spider-Man.
But this is exactly what he wants.
Compared to an organization like Avengers full of political calculations and internal conflicts, this small group is purer and belongs more to him.
"Alright, finish eating and go do whatever you need to do."
Luke looked at his watch.
"Peter, go to school. Don't be late, otherwise Aunt May will be angry. Pietro, take your sister shopping and swipe my card. As for me..."
Luke straightened his tie, a flash of shrewdness passing through his eyes.
"I have to go see some old friends."
...
Oscorp Group, top-floor meeting room.
The atmosphere was so heavy that water could almost drip from it.
Norman Osborn sat in the main seat of the long table, his face frighteningly gloomy.
His hands tightly grasped the armrests of the chair, showing that he was very angry.
In front of him were the board members of Oscorp Group.
But this group of usually arrogant capitalists were now all as quiet as cicadas in winter, their eyes flickering, not daring to meet Norman's gaze.
"Can someone explain to me?"
Norman's voice was low.
"Why has our market share in the biopharmaceutical field dropped by thirty percent in just one month?"
"And it was snatched away by a company that has been reorganized for less than half a year?"
He slammed a financial statement heavily onto the table.
The document slid across the smooth tabletop and stopped in front of a bald director.
This was Fisk Biotech's quarterly financial report; the numbers on it were dazzlingly red, and every line mocked the incompetence of Oscorp Group.
"This... Norman, you know too."
The bald director wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and stuttered to explain.
"Fisk... I mean, that guy named Luke, the high-efficiency healing spray he launched is simply dark tech. The price is only one-tenth of our similar products, but the effect is five times ours. The military's orders have all turned to them..."
"And," another female director added cautiously,
"There is also the clinical trial data of the limb regeneration auxiliary fluid... Although they haven't officially launched it yet, Wall Street is already crazy. Our stock price plummeted also because..."
"Enough!"
Norman suddenly stood up and roared.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his frantic expression made everyone present feel a chill down their spines.
What they didn't know was what kind of personality tearing Norman was experiencing at the moment.
A green, evil voice was laughing wildly in his head.
"Look, Norman! Your legitimate business is being swallowed up! Your empire is collapsing! Those mortals simply don't understand your greatness!"
"Kill them all! Or go kill that stumbling block named Luke!"
"Shut up!" Norman growled lowly, as if talking to himself.
The directors looked at each other, thinking Norman was roaring at them, and were too scared to make a sound.
Just at this moment, the door of the meeting room was suddenly pushed open.
"Sorry, I'm not late, am I?"
A relaxed voice came over.
Everyone turned their heads in surprise.
Only to see Luke wearing a black suit, walking in with strides.
Natasha held a folder, following expressionlessly behind him, her cold and glamorous temperament instantly overshadowing all the women present.
"Security! Where is security?!"
Norman Osborn narrowed his eyes, but before he could speak, the bald director jumped up first and shouted at Luke.
"Security?"
Luke smiled.
He ignored the clamoring director, and instead walked straight to the other end of the long table, which was the position directly facing Norman.
He pulled out a chair, sat down imposingly, and crossed his hands on the table.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Luke. The guy you were just discussing who snatched your livelihoods."
The whole audience was in an uproar.
This was the mysterious person rumored to have taken over Kingpin's territory?
He looked too young! And too arrogant!
"Mr. Luke."
Norman Osborn took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the killing intent in his heart and the crazy voice in his head.
As an old fox, he knew it was not yet time to fall out.
"This is the internal board of directors of Oscorp Group. I don't remember inviting you."
"Indeed not."
Luke nodded and snapped his fingers.
Natasha behind him immediately stepped forward and distributed a thick stack of documents to every director present.
"But I invited myself. After all, as the second-largest shareholder holding fifteen percent of Oscorp Group's shares, I think I have the right to sit in and listen to why my money is shrinking."
Dead silence.
Absolute dead silence.
Everyone widened their eyes, looking at the documents in their hands.
This was a share transfer agreement.
It clearly showed that over the past month, through dozens of offshore companies and shell funds, Luke had quietly swallowed up a large number of circulating odd lots of Oscorp Group on the market, as well as shares acquired from several small shareholders.
"Fifteen percent..."
Chapter 75: Are you ready? Green Goblin
Norman's pupils contracted violently.
This isn't just about money; it's a threat.
As long as Luke unites a few more shareholders, he will be qualified to impeach him as chairman!
"What do you want?" Norman's voice turned bone-chillingly cold.
"Don't be nervous, Norman."
Luke leaned back against the back of his chair.
"I'm not here to seize power. I have no interest in managing a company that's going downhill."
"I'm here just to give you a suggestion."
Luke raised a finger.
"Shut down your damned human enhancement serum project full of side effects. Pack up all the materials, samples, and experimental data and send them to my laboratory."
"In exchange, I can choose not to leak the scandals of your previous botched human experiments to the media."
This was barefaced extortion.
And it was the dimensional reduction strike that Lukeexcelled at the most.
He knew where the Oscorp Group's vulnerabilities were.
The so-called enhancement serum was the culprit that created the Green Goblin.
And now, Norman Osborn had injected it himself, even though it was still in the early stages.
"Do you know what you're talking about?"
Norman's facial muscles twitched.
That was his life's work! It was his ambition to surpass Captain America's serum!
"I know."
Luke leaned forward, his gaze suddenly turning sharp.
"That serum will cause users to develop schizophrenia, becoming violent and paranoid. Norman, look at yourself now. Are you sure the person speaking is really yourself?"
This sentence was like a bolt of lightning striking Norman Osborn's nerves.
How did he know?!
This was Norman's biggest secret!
The laughter in his mind became even more piercing.
"Kill him! He knows everything! He's a threat! Tear him into pieces!"
"Get out!!!"
Norman slammed the table and stood up abruptly, with such force that it actually cracked the solid wood conference table.
This was the power brought by the serum.
But in Luke's eyes, this was just like a baby throwing a tantrum.
"It seems the negotiations have broken down."
Luke shrugged, stood up, and straightened his unwrinkled suit.
"What a pity. I originally wanted to leave you some dignity."
He turned and walked toward the door. Halfway there, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, and glanced at Norman, who was covered in cold sweat and panting heavily.
"Oh, right. Norman. Since you aren't willing to keep your dignity, the upcoming game might be a bit rough."
"I hope your body is as tough as your mouth."
With that, Luke strode away with Natasha.
Leaving a room full of directors looking at each other in dismay, and a Norman Osborn on the verge of collapse.
...
Leaving the Oscorp building, Luke got into the Maybach.
"Boss, isn't directly provoking Norman Osborn a bit too risky?"
As she drove, Natasha observed Luke's expression through the rearview mirror.
As a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, she was accustomed to planning before acting and laying out plans in secret.
Charging straight into someone's stronghold to dominate right in their face like Luke did seemed like sheer madness to her.
Although it felt great.
"Risky?"
Looking at the bustling streets outside the window, Luke's mouth curled into a playful smile.
"Natasha, you need to understand one thing."
"When your strength is only a little stronger than your opponent's, you need tactics and detours. But when your strength can crush your opponent, any tactic is a waste of time."
"Norman Osborn is now a mad dog driven into a corner. I just want to provoke him, make him lose his mind, and let him voluntarily bare his fangs."
"When he turns into a monster, I'll clean him up and take over his heritage along the way."
This was Luke's overt plot.
He had his eyes on the Oscorp Group's biotechnology production line, which was the best place to mass-produce the Captain America serum enhancers.
Acquisition was too slow; it was better to send the boss straight to a psychiatric hospital or prison.
"Besides, I feel his counterattack will come even faster than I expected."
Just as Luke finished speaking,
Boom!!!
A loud bang.
The ground ahead suddenly exploded.
A heavy truck smashed through the roadblocks like an out-of-control beast, directly cutting across the front of the Maybach and blocking the way.
Immediately afterward, a behemoth rushed out from the nearby alley.
This was a giant wearing heavy gray armor, with a signature huge Rhino horn on his head.
Aleksei Sytsevich.
Nicknamed the Rhino.
Except that right now, he hadn't yet put on the fully-covered mecha of later times, but was wearing a somewhat crude-looking exoskeleton armor.
This was an experimental model privately sponsored by Hammer Industries or Oscorp.
"Luke!!!"
The Rhino let out a thunderous roar, his voice making the surrounding car windows buzz.
"Someone paid a high price for your legs! Mr. Osborn says hello!"
This stupid Rhino even shouted out his employer's name directly.
It seemed Norman was truly desperate; the people he found weren't very bright in the head.
"Whoa."
Natasha slammed on the brakes, stopping the car steadily, her hand already reaching for the holster on the inside of her thigh.
"It seems your predictive ability is more accurate than Stark's radar."
"Don't move."
Luke pressed down on Natasha's hand.
"Such rough work doesn't suit a lady."
"Besides, I'm getting tired of this suit anyway; it's a good time to change my look."
Luke pushed open the car door and stepped out.
The surrounding pedestrians screamed and fled in all directions; the quality of New York citizens was vividly displayed at this moment.
Which was, they ran really fast.
Watching Luke's tiny figure step out of the car, the Rhino's eyes were filled with disdain.
"Kid! I'll trample you into meat paste!"
Boom!
The Rhino activated the thrusters on his back, his entire body rushing forward like an out-of-control tank with matchless kinetic energy.
He lowered his head and slammed fiercely toward Lukewith his Rhino horn.
The ground shattered beneath his feet, and the air was torn apart, making a piercing screech.
The power of this impact was enough to smash through a main battle tank.
Luke stood in place, his hands shoved into his pants pockets, not even changing his posture.
The moment the Rhino horn was about to touch his chest,
"Too slow."
Luke sighed.
He didn't dodge.
He reached out his right hand.
Then, he pressed it against the huge Rhino horn.
Bang!!!
A dull, heavy explosion.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
This was a collision of sheer strength against strength.
Natasha widened her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing.
The Rhino stopped dead.
He was forcibly pinned in place by Luke with just one hand!
The instantaneous disappearance of kinetic energy caused the ground beneath the Rhino's feet to collapse instantly, forming a large crater several meters in diameter.
All shockwaves dissipated into nothingness within Luke's palm.
"Th-This is impossible!"
The Rhino's eyeballs were about to pop out.
He felt like he had crashed into a mountain range—no, into a wall.
No matter how he increased the thruster power or roared, this seemingly frail man didn't budge an inch.
"Your strength is not bad."
Luke commented in a flat tone.
"However, the utilization rate is too low."
The next second, Luke's palm suddenly underwent a change.
The black Symbiote substance erupted instantly, like a huge net, instantly wrapping around the Rhino's helmet and armor.
[Contact successful.]
[Detected specific carbon fiber skin reinforcement.]
[Detected exoskeleton power transmission technology.]
[Copying...]
"Ahhh! What the hell is this thing?!"
The Rhino shouted in terror, feeling a cold force invading his armor and even his skin.
"Don't scream like a little girl."
Luke chuckled softly.
"Borrowing your skin for a moment."
[Copy completed.]
Luke's arm muscles swelled instantly, and a layer of grayish-white stratum corneum appeared on the surface of his skin.
This was the Blacklight Virus combined with Symbiotemimicry, perfectly copying and enhancing the characteristics of the Rhino's mutant skin.
"Now, let me show you what a true savage charge is."
Luke exerted sudden force with the hand holding the Rhinohorn.
Crack!
This was the sound of high-strength alloy breaking.
Luke forcibly snapped off the huge Rhino horn!
Then, amidst the Rhino's dull gaze, Luke reversed his grip on the broken Rhino horn and violently smashed it across the Rhino's face.
Boom!!!
Accompanied by the sound of shattering armor, the Rhinoflew backward, crashed through a roadside coffee shop, then smashed through the wall behind it, and finally embedded itself in a bus before stopping.
Dust and smoke rose everywhere.
Luke casually threw away the deformed metal horn and clapped his hands.
The grayish-white stratum corneum on his arms quickly receded, restoring normal skin.
"Done."
He turned around, looked at the dumbfounded Natasha, and flashed a brilliant smile.
"Look, I told you this was just a minor trouble."
"However..."
Luke's gaze looked toward a tall building in the distance, where a drone seemed to be filming.
He made a throat-slit gesture toward the camera.
This was an ultimatum to Norman Osborn.
"Game on, Green Goblin."
Luke muttered inwardly.
"I hope your serum is more nutritious than this Rhino hide."