The aftermath of the Flash Thompson incident lingered like an electric charge across the campus. Su Yi had instantly transcended the status of 'new kid' to become a local legend.
Videos of the fight—the impossible catch, the sickening snap, and the bewildering, effortless click of the repair—were circulating wildly, positioning him as an untouchable force.
In the classroom, Flash Thompson sat with a rigid, unnatural stillness. The humiliation was palpable, yet he remained subdued.
Su Yi's ruthlessness and, more importantly, his mysterious knowledge of Kung Fu—which Flash genuinely feared as a form of exotic, terrifying magic—had successfully neutered the bully.
With college basketball tryouts looming, Flash dared not risk another, more permanent injury. The thought of permanent disability, or worse, becoming a "eunuch" via one of Su Yi's mythical, dark arts techniques, was a profound psychological deterrent.
The final bell of the week brought a wave of relief. Su Yi's mind, already running at Level 4 Intelligence, was entirely focused on the weekend's primary operation: The rescue of Tony Stark.
"My attributes are now formidable: Level 4 in Strength, Speed, and Endurance. The Symbiote Suit provides protection and versatility. As long as they don't hit me with a tank shell or a nuclear warhead, this should be manageable. High-risk, high-reward."
His strategic internal monologue was interrupted by a warm, familiar presence.
"Hey, Su. What fascinating crisis is occupying that brilliant mind of yours now?" Mary Jane Watson slid up to his desk, her beautiful red hair falling over his shoulder.
She sealed their 'relationship' with a quick, proprietary peck on his cheek, a clear public signal to any lingering gossipers—or to Flash Thompson.
Su Yi turned to her, finding Mary Jane's bold, proactive approach strangely endearing, even if his sights were still set on Gwen. Mary Jane had been relentlessly charming and forward over the last two days.
"I was just planning my weekend escape," Su Yi confessed with a slight smile. "A few days off the grid to recharge."
Mary Jane's eyes lit up with anticipation. "And do I, the temporary girlfriend, feature in this plan?"
"Naturally. You are a key part of the new timeline." Su Yi paused, steering the conversation toward his actual goal. "I was hoping to find an opportunity to see the famous band—the one with you, Betty, and Gwen. I hear you're all incredibly talented."
Mary Jane's enthusiasm immediately deflated, a slight veil of disappointment crossing her features. "Oh. You're still trying to use me to get to Gwen, aren't you, Su?" she teased, though the question held a genuine barb. "We haven't played out in months. We're all too busy."
Su Yi maintained his earnest expression. "It was worth a shot. I'll settle for your company, Mary Jane. But let's go ask the others anyway."
They found Gwen Stacy at her locker, meticulously organizing her textbooks before heading to the library—a commitment that perfectly encapsulated her character. Betty Brant was nearby, already working on a preliminary draft for a piece on 'The Rise of the Midtown Marvel.'
The invitation was swiftly declined. Gwen, ever focused on her studies and other commitments, politely but firmly refused.
"I appreciate the thought, Su, but I'm swamped this weekend. Maybe after graduation, during the summer break, we can get the band back together." Betty also apologized, citing a crucial assignment that demanded her attention.
First obstacle confirmed: Gwen is a fortress of responsibility. Direct pursuit will be a long, slow siege. Su Yi mentally filed the information. Initial strategy confirmed: intercepting Mary Jane and stabilizing the social environment yields Fate Points and buys time to approach Gwen more tactically later.
"Well, it seems fate has dictated our plans," Su Yi announced, turning back to Mary Jane. "Only you and I are free, Mary Jane. Since you're stuck with me, would you like to explore some of the real culture I grew up with? I could make us some authentic Chinese food."
Mary Jane's interest immediately peaked, her disappointment forgotten. "Chinese food? You mean you'll cook? That sounds amazing! Are you showing off your culinary skills now?"
"It would be my pleasure to showcase a skill other than joint manipulation."
"Then it's a date," Mary Jane confirmed, leaning in with a smile that promised much more than just a dinner. "I'm looking forward to it, chef."
"Tomorrow evening, then. I'll pick you up."
Su Yi arrived back at his apartment, a luxury two-bedroom he thankfully inherited. After a quick, efficient dinner—cooked and consumed with superhuman speed and precision—and a shower, he stood in the center of his living room. The real work began.
"System, engage One-Time-Use Target Locator and focus on Tony Stark!"
A holographic, blue-tinged screen shimmered into existence before Su Yi's eyes. The screen displayed a three-dimensional model of a vast, crude cave system somewhere in the Afghan mountains. The air crackled with tension.
The live feed from the locator was instantly terrifying and captivating.
The camera focused on a man—unshaven, gaunt, dressed in rags, but with a fire in his eyes—hunched over a makeshift workbench. It was Tony Stark, nearly unrecognizable, but undoubtedly the genius. Beside him was Yinsen, the fellow captive.
The scene confirmed Su Yi's memory: Stark was nearing the end of his three-month imprisonment. The terrorists' patience was wearing thin.
Suddenly, the image shifted as several armed men, led by a menacing bald figure, stormed into the cave.
"You have disappointed me," the leader, the head of the Ten Rings faction, snarled, his voice muffled but clearly hostile.
"We are working! We work very hard!" Yinsen pleaded, pushing himself forward, sacrificing himself to protect the genius.
The bald man, his patience utterly gone, had Yinsen violently restrained. He then picked up a piece of charcoal glowing red-hot from the furnace. The threat was explicit: force Stark into compliance or torture his helper.
Tony Stark, witnessing the brutality, did what heroes do: he intervened.
"What do you need?" Stark shouted, pushing away the hands of the guard holding him. "A deadline? I'll give you missiles! Just give me him back! He's my helper, I need him for the schematics!"
The bald man, satisfied that he had broken Stark's resistance, lowered the charcoal. "Tomorrow. I want to see the missiles ready for transport. Or your friend dies, and then you follow him." The terrorists withdrew, leaving the cave to the desperate work of the two prisoners.
The sight of Tony—his brilliant mind focused on the clanging hammer, forging the crude Iron Monger armor out of necessity—filled Su Yi with a powerful sense of confirmation.
This is it. The window is closing. Tomorrow is the final deadline before the armor is complete, before the escape attempt, and before Yinsen sacrifices himself.
"System, shut down the feed," Su Yi commanded, his mind already cycling through the variables.
Saving Tony Stark before he finished the Mark I armor would be the largest single destiny break possible, yielding an unimaginable wealth of Fate Points. But the rescue had to be timed perfectly to prevent Yinsen's death as well.
Su Yi stood up, his gaze intense. He needed to be inconspicuous, powerful, and utterly prepared.
"Symbiote Suit, engage!"
With a silent, sickening hiss, the black, organic matter flowed out from the bracelet he wore on his wrist. It didn't just cover him; it enveloped him, instantly molding itself into a sleek, matte-black battle uniform.
The suit had the ability to change its coloration and appearance, and Su Yi chose a subtly menacing, streamlined design—a nod to the terrifying efficiency of the comic book original.
"A bit of a bully vibe, indeed," Su Yi mused, running a gloved hand over the alien texture. The suit felt like a second skin, enhancing his already massive Level 4 Strength and providing vital protection against small arms fire.
He took a deep breath, focusing his mind on the exact coordinates and environmental data captured by the Target Locator. The dry air, the rough rock texture, the oppressive heat of the furnace—it was all imprinted perfectly.
He closed his eyes, his will focusing on the distant, dangerous cave.
"Teleportation!"
The world dissolved into a flash of electric blue. Su Yi was gone.