"Wipe that grin off your face, John. Being able to conjure a spark doesn't make you a god," Huang Wen warned, his voice cutting through John's euphoria like a cold blade. John was currently staring at his hands as if he'd just discovered he was the protagonist of his own anime, but Huang Wen knew how dangerous that ego could be.
"Listen closely. You've unlocked both ends of the thermal spectrum, but don't forget about Bobby Drake. He's an Omega-level mutant. His potential isn't just about making ice; it's about absolute zero on a molecular level. If you want to actually stay ahead of him and not just catch up for a week, you have to treat that internal cultivation path like your life depends on it. The moment you stop training is the moment he leaves you in the dust again."
"But Teacher, look at this!" John's eyebrows shot up. He felt like he was overflowing with raw power. "I can feel the heat and the cold vibrating in my bones. I'm not just a lighter-thief anymore. Is this really still not enough to be considered 'top tier'?"
Huang Wen looked at the kid and suppressed a sigh. It was the classic "new power" syndrome. John had jumped from a C-list mutant to a solid A-list in an afternoon, and he thought he was ready to take on the Avengers. In Huang Wen's system, John had definitely solidified his 'Extraordinary' rank, but 'Legendary'? He wasn't even touching the hem of that garment yet.
"You've grown, John, but you've also grown a bit of a big head," Huang Wen said, his smile turning a bit mischievous.
Deep down, Huang Wen saw a golden opportunity. He had been so preoccupied with the Magneto situation and the chaotic mess of the mutant uprising that he'd neglected his system's bread and butter: Missions.
'System, give me something to knock this kid down a peg,' Huang Wen thought.
[Mission Generated: Curb the Student's Arrogance.] [Objective: Demonstrate the gap in power to John the Fireman.] [Reward: One Extraordinary Item Lottery Draw.] [Accept?]
'Extraordinary level? And just an item? Man, the system really thinks John is a pushover,' Huang Wen grumbled internally. 'Whatever, a draw is a draw. Accept.'
"Alright, John. You think you're hot stuff? Let's test that theory," Huang Wen stepped back, clearing a space in the center of the training hall. "I'll fight you using the exact same powers you just gained. No high-level martial arts, no physical overpowering—just the Frostfire Palm logic. If you can even touch my sleeve, I'll take back everything I said."
John's eyes ignited—literally. "You're on, Teacher! Don't blame me if I singe your eyebrows. I've been waiting for a chance to show you I'm not just a charity case!"
John didn't wait. He was hungry to prove his worth. He lunged forward, his right hand whipping through the air. A concentrated jet of flame, condensed until it was almost white, roared toward Huang Wen. His right eye glowed like a dying star, fueling the blast with every ounce of his new mutation.
"Too slow, and too loud," Huang Wen remarked.
With a casual flick of his wrist, Huang Wen released a counter-burst. To John's eyes, it looked identical to his own fire, but the density was on another planet. While John's fire was a roaring campfire, Huang Wen's was a localized solar flare. The two flames collided with a deafening BOOM, but there was no struggle. Huang Wen's fire simply swallowed John's whole, the shockwave rippling back and slamming into the boy's chest.
John gasped, his feet skidding across the concrete. He reacted on instinct, his left eye flashing blue. He slammed his palm into the ground, and a thick, jagged wall of reinforced ice erupted between him and the oncoming heat. It was a move he'd seen Bobby use a thousand times, and he'd executed it perfectly.
CRACK!
The ice wall didn't just melt; it shattered into a million glittering shards under the sheer kinetic pressure of Huang Wen's "gentle" push. John was sent tumbling backward, groaning as he hit the far wall. Thanks to his new elemental resistance, he wasn't burned or frozen, but his pride was definitely feeling the sting.
"See the difference?" Huang Wen asked, not even breathing hard. "I've traded blows with Bobby. My 'Ice Palm' alone is roughly where he is when he's serious. You're still playing in the kiddie pool, John."
He walked over and offered a hand to the dazed mutant. "But don't get discouraged. Your versatility is your edge now. You can't be countered as easily. If you stop trying to 'show off' and start focusing on the precision of your cultivation, Bobby won't be able to touch you. But that only happens if you stay humble."
John took the hand, looking thoroughly humbled. The fire in his eyes hadn't gone out, but it was burning with a more controlled, disciplined light. "I get it, Teacher. I was being a moron. One win doesn't mean the race is over. I'll keep working until I don't need the ice wall to survive your fire."
[Ding! Mission 'Curb the Student's Arrogance' Complete.] [Reward: One Extraordinary Item Lottery Draw issued.]
Huang Wen nodded, satisfied with the kid's attitude. 'System, let's see if we can get a lucky break. Give me something spectacular. No more badges, please!'
He pulled up the interface and hit the draw button. A white light flooded his vision—the signature color of the Extraordinary tier. It wasn't the gold of a Legendary pull, but it was still bright enough to make him hopeful.
[Ding! Congratulations! You have obtained the: True Honesty Red Bean Bun!]
[Source: 'Tricky Master' Universe (Optimized)]
[Effect: A one-time consumable. Once ingested, the target will speak the absolute, unvarnished truth for 5 minutes. They will answer any question with total honesty, regardless of their willpower or secrets.]
Huang Wen stared at the screen. Then he stared some more. "Are you kidding me?" he whispered under his breath. "A bun? I traded a training session for a snack?"
He felt like he'd been scammed by a street magician. The system called this 'Extraordinary'? Sure, the ability to force the truth out of anyone was technically powerful, but it was so... niche.
'What am I supposed to do with this? Set up a booth at the UN?' Huang Wen complained to himself. 'I don't have a dungeon full of spies to interrogate. If I meet Loki, am I supposed to tackle him and shove a red bean bun down his throat just to hear him admit he has a brother complex? It's a one-time use item! This is even worse than the Folding Chair or the Stool!'
He sighed, closing the menu in frustration. It was just one of those days where the gacha gods decided to laugh at him.
"Teacher? You okay? You look like you just ate something sour," Bruce Banner asked, stepping forward tentatively.
Bruce had been watching the transformations of Logan and John with increasing dread. Logan had been rebuilt from the bone up, and John had just turned into a living thermometer. Both processes looked like they involved a level of agony that Bruce wasn't sure he—or the "Other Guy"—would appreciate.
"I'm fine, Bruce. Just thinking about... culinary disappointments," Huang Wen said, shaking off his annoyance. He turned his attention to the scientist. "So, you've seen the show. Ready for your turn?"
Bruce wiped sweat from his forehead. "Honestly? No. I'm terrified. It's not just the pain, Teacher. I've spent years building walls inside my head to keep the Hulk caged. If you start 'circulating energy' or 'clearing paths' in my body, I'm worried you'll accidentally unlock the door. If he comes out here, in this confined space... it won't be a training session. It'll be a disaster."
Huang Wen's expression softened. He reached out and patted Bruce's shoulder. "I know. That's why your training is going to be completely different. I'm not going to treat you like a single person with a problem. I'm going to treat you like two students in one body."
Bruce blinked. "Two students?"
"Exactly," Huang Wen grinned, his eyes gleaming with a scientific curiosity that matched Bruce's own. "I'm going to teach you how to refine your mind... and I'm going to teach the Hulk how to refine his rage. We aren't just training a doctor today, Bruce. We're training a Monster King."