After the previous events, Harry and Felicia returned to Osborn Mansion.
"Felicia, tell Max to come here," Harry said as he took the coffee from her and sat down in front of the desk.
"Okay," Felicia replied, turning to make a call.
In Osborn Industries, Felicia was officially Harry's assistant. That was her own request. Although Harry had considered hiring another assistant for the simpler tasks—pouring coffee, answering phones—he had given up because of Felicia's persistence.
After a short while, Felicia came in with Max, who was dressed in a neat suit.
"Harry, what do you need from me?" Max asked as he sat opposite him.
"There's something I want to try," Harry replied.
"Felicia, close the door," Harry said with a wave.
Felicia nodded and quietly shut it.
"Okay, I just want to test this." Harry raised his hand toward Max. His palm faced forward, fingers closing slightly as if gripping the air.
"It might be a little uncomfortable."
"Huh—!" Max's body trembled violently. The electric current running through his body flared out uncontrollably, dancing across his skin in unstable blue arcs.
"What's happening, Harry?" Max's voice buzzed amid the crackling current. The electricity that had always obeyed him suddenly grew wild and restless. If not for his body's resilience, he might've thought he'd lost his powers altogether.
"Hah…" Harry exhaled deeply, lowering his hand. This ability—"Control of Electricity"—was literal indeed: control.
The blue currents gradually drew back into Max's body, and he closed his eyes with relief.
"Cough, cough!" Harry suddenly coughed.
"Harry, are you okay?" Felicia hurried over, only to start coughing herself.
"Oh, what's that smell?" she asked, covering her nose.
"Ozone," Max explained. "It's produced when current arcs through the air."
He quickly absorbed the remaining loose energy back into himself.
Harry tapped the control panel on his desk, activating the room's ventilation system.
"Much better," he said, smiling at Felicia.
"Harry, what just happened? My electricity stopped listening to me for a while," Max asked, staring at his hands.
"Hmm?" Max blinked, then flexed his palms. Electric light flickered again between his fingers—calm this time, under control. "Weird… I can control it fine now."
"That's today's harvest." Harry lifted his hand, letting thin blue threads of electricity arc between his fingers. He shaped them casually into twisting forms.
"This is…" Felicia said, startled. She knew Harry hadn't possessed any such power before.
"It's Victor von Doom's ability to control electricity," Harry said.
"Victor Doom?" Felicia repeated, surprised. To her, Doom had seemed like a failed scientist, hardly a superhuman.
"So you can really do that?" she asked.
"That's right," Harry replied with a faint smile.
"Victor… the self-made one? His powers sound stronger than mine," Max muttered, a little dejected. Even after finding recognition and purpose, he still had the heart of a would-be hero—and now there was someone stronger than him at his own gift.
"Max, remember—power alone doesn't make a hero. Only kindness does. And you have that," Harry said, sensing his mood.
"Besides, this ability isn't as strong as yours." Harry walked over and patted Max's shoulder. "It's similar in effect, but weaker in scale. Its strength lies in fine control."
"Right…" Max nodded slowly, reassured.
"Alright, it's noon. You want to grab lunch?" Harry asked. Felicia naturally perked up at the mention.
"Ah, uh… sure," Max glanced between Harry and Felicia uncertainly.
"I'll pass. Still have work," Felicia said quickly, glaring at Max when she caught his look. "You two go ahead."
Harry only smiled and didn't insist.
...
That afternoon, the military—whom Harry had all but forgotten—showed up again at Osborn Industries, only to find he wasn't there.
At Osborn's ancestral estate—
"It's not bad here, Master Harry," said Butler Al, pointing to the wide open underground space.
"Of course it is," Harry replied, satisfied.
It was an old underground test site Norman Osborn had once built for the spider-venom soldier experiments—spacious, nearly a hundred square meters, with only a few dusty exercise machines left in the corners. Overhead, rows of long fluorescent lights illuminated the room like an underground basketball court.
"Al, does anyone else know about this place?" Harry asked. He intended to use it as his personal testing ground—the fewer people who knew, the better.
"This was built for the original experiments," Al said after thinking for a moment. "When those were destroyed, the place was sealed off. If you hadn't asked to expand the basement, I'd have forgotten it myself. So, only I know."
"Perfect," Harry said, glancing toward Felicia, who stood nearby in a black training outfit that showed her athletic frame.
"Yeah." Felicia nodded. It was a bit too big for a training room, but as long as Harry was happy, she didn't mind.
"Then I'll get back to work," Al said with a knowing smile.
"Alright," Harry replied.
Once the butler left, Harry activated the system.
"Acquire Susan Storm's 'Invisible Field' ability," he said.
Ding-dong.
"Acquisition successful. Current remaining points: 25."
"Almost out of points already… that's annoying," Harry muttered. Still, curiosity about his new power overrode any concern.
"Felicia, stand back a bit," he said.
"Got it." She jogged a few steps away.
Harry closed his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, his body began to lift from the ground.
"Harry!" Felicia gasped as he floated higher and higher.
"Huh?" Harry opened his eyes and looked down in shock. "I'm… flying?"
"Yes! Harry, what's going on?" Felicia called. She had a good guess—it had to be another borrowed ability.
"It's Susan Storm's 'Invisible Field,'" Harry explained, landing gently. "It can pull or shield objects. Very versatile."
"I see," Felicia said, then suddenly spun and kicked at him.
"Felicia! Sneak attack?!" Harry dodged with a startled laugh.
"Come on, you've got Susan's shield now—don't tell me you can't handle a kick!" she said, swinging again.
"Fine, if you want to play, I'll humor you." Harry grinned and leapt high, vaulting cleanly over her head.
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