Armament Haki—activate!
In an instant, Fenric's body gleamed with a steel-like sheen, his defense impenetrable.
"Ha!"
Almost as soon as Fenric cloaked himself in Armament Haki, a thunderous impact struck him. His head tilted slightly to the right as his body staggered back two steps.
He hadn't even seen the attack, but he knew—Pietro had landed a punch against his left cheek.
The blow carried tremendous force, the product of sheer velocity.
But even so…
It was nowhere near enough to break Fenric's defense.
With ease, he steadied himself, while Pietro recoiled in pain.
The silver-haired speedster leapt back, clutching the back of his right hand and gasping. That single punch had felt like striking a steel wall. His knuckles throbbed with pain, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"What kind of monster are you?" Pietro muttered, staring at Fenric in horror.
Fenric's lips curved into a faint smile. Instead of answering, he said calmly, "If that's the best your fists can offer, I suggest you save your strength and surrender."
"Really?" Pietro sneered. In a blur, he vanished, leaving only an afterimage behind. When he reappeared, an iron rod was clutched in his hand.
"Try this instead!"
He shot forward again, a streak of silver lightning.
But before he could close the distance, a wave of invisible force rippled outward from Fenric's feet, spreading in all directions.
Pietro barely managed two steps before the unseen power seized his legs. With a strangled cry, he tripped and crashed into the ground.
Boom!
The impact was harsh, dust exploding around him as his shoulder scraped hard against the pavement, blood smearing his shirt.
The faster the speed, the greater the inertia—the fall had left him battered.
Wanda's face twisted with worry at the sight of her brother's injury. But bound by the magical contract, she dared not protest. She could only stand quietly, her loyalty to Fenric unshaken.
Fenric stepped closer, his telekinesis lifting Pietro from the ground with ease.
"Now," Fenric said evenly, "will you swear allegiance?"
In truth, he valued Pietro. In the original timeline, Quicksilver had shone brightly, giving even the Avengers a hard time. The only reason Fenric had subdued him so easily now was because his telekinesis countered raw speed perfectly.
Not everyone had Fenric's gifts.
And with proper guidance, Pietro could be much stronger.
Suspended in the air, Pietro glared with a twisted expression, humiliated and furious.
"Pietro, stop resisting. Swear loyalty to the Master!" Wanda urged, her voice filled with desperation.
Her words only deepened his scowl. But before he could speak, Fenric cut him off coldly.
"We had a wager. If you won, I'd release Wanda. If you lose and dare to break your word, I'll take your life."
The silence was suffocating.
At last, Pietro's defiance crumbled.
"I… swear," he said bitterly.
The moment the words left his lips, the magical contract surged to life. Pietro's eyes flickered, his hostility fading into unshakable devotion. He dropped to one knee midair, voice filled with reverence.
"Master."
"You have subdued a subordinate. Current task progress: 2/10."
Fenric's smile deepened. He glanced at the Maximoff siblings, both now standing faithfully at his side like his shadows.
"Come," Fenric said. "First, we'll treat your brother's wounds."
At those words, Wanda's face softened with gratitude.
Though bound by loyalty, her emotions remained intact—she was no puppet.
By the time Fenric returned to New York, it was already the following afternoon.
A sleek Rolls-Royce Phantom glided through the streets of Queens. Inside sat Fenric and the Maximoff siblings. Wanda rested in the backseat beside Fenric, while Pietro drove.
The Phantom, of course, was no ordinary car. It was a Transformer Fenric had created with the AllSpark, standing seven meters tall in its robot form—far larger than Hurricane.
Fenric, not one to waste effort, had lazily named it Phantom. Hurricane remained parked in a garage for now—great for speed, but uncomfortable for long rides.
"Master, what are we doing here?" Wanda asked curiously, her crimson eyes flickering toward him.
"Looking for someone," Fenric replied with a smile. "Phantom, hack the network. Find me a boy named Peter Parker."
Seconds later, the vehicle's speakers crackled.
"Master, there are 1,137 individuals named Peter Parker."
Fenric blinked. "That many Spider-Men?"
"Refine the search," he ordered. "High school student. Lives in Queens."
The screen lit up with a match.
"Target found. Peter Parker, age seventeen. Resident of Forest Hills, Queens, New York. Currently a student at Midtown High School. Guardian: May Parker."
Fenric chuckled. "That's him. Is he in class today?"
"Confirmed. Surveillance shows him on campus."
"Perfect. Take us straight to his school."
Though confused, Wanda and Pietro kept silent. Their master's business was not theirs to question.
Soon, the Phantom rolled up to Midtown High.
The luxury car immediately drew stares, and the security guard at the gate approached with surprising politeness.
"Sir, may I ask who you're here for?"
Fenric smiled pleasantly. "I'm a philanthropist. I'd like to donate ten million dollars to improve the school's facilities."
The guard nearly dropped his clipboard. Within minutes, the principal himself rushed out with several teachers, eager to greet Fenric and usher him into the office.
After a short discussion—and ten million wired effortlessly—Fenric was named honorary director of the school, a prestigious title that required no actual responsibilities.
"Principal," Fenric said smoothly, "you have a student named Peter Parker. Could I meet him? I once worked with his father."
"Of course!" the principal agreed without hesitation.
Moments later, Peter Parker was summoned from his classroom. Confused, he assumed he was in trouble.
When he entered the office, he greeted politely, "Good afternoon, Principal."
But then his eyes flicked to the strangers in the room.
Three of them.
His spider-sense screamed at him like an alarm.
These weren't ordinary visitors.
Especially the calm man seated on the sofa, smiling faintly.
Danger. Extreme danger.
Peter's heartbeat quickened.