Just outside the main gates of the Fantastic Four's lab, a suspicious figure in a purple cloak slipped through the shadows, his face obscured by a pointed hood. He looked around constantly, moving like a low-tier thief rather than a world-class villain. He crept closer to the building, his body crouched low, every step oozing caution—and delusion.
Nathan and the Electric Man watched from the corner shadows.
"That's him," said the Electric Man. "The one who used the emotional ray weapon. He's the reason the Fantastic Four turned on each other."
"He used that weapon to sow paranoia among them," the Electric Man continued. "Made them suspicious, angry, volatile. They ended up fighting and abandoning the lab in frustration."
Nathan studied the purple-clad figure. "So that's the so-called mastermind? Doesn't look like much…"
Now inside, the purple figure straightened up and walked with newfound confidence, seeing the empty lab before him.
He smirked. "What can the Fantastic Four do against my Hate Ray? They're finished. Their lab is mine now."
"I'll destroy this place and make headlines. The name 'Hate Merchant' will echo through New York!" He kicked a stool to make his point.
CRACK!
The stool's leg broke instantly—so did his big toe, apparently.
"Damn it!" he howled, hopping and clutching his foot. "Stupid stool! Why's it so hard?!"
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Mentally unstable."
"Super villains usually are," muttered Electric Man.
Nathan took a deep breath. "Hate Merchant, huh? Definitely not an A-lister. But he's got something useful. I need that weapon."
Inside the lab, the Hate Merchant pulled out a small lighter.
"Hehehe… Time to torch this place. Let's see you work your science when everything's ashes!"
He flicked the lighter. A flame appeared.
But before it could do any damage, a tall shadow loomed over him, blocking the light.
FWOOOSH!
A sudden gust extinguished the flame.
The Hate Merchant looked up, startled. A masked man stood over him, expression unreadable, body imposing.
"You can't do that," said the man—Nathan, in a deep, commanding tone.
The Hate Merchant blinked. "Do what?"
"Burn this lab."
"Who… who are you?" he stammered.
"Just a passerby."
The Hate Merchant took a nervous step back. His bravado crumbled under Nathan's presence.
"Should I… leave then?"
"Leave your gear." Nathan's voice was cold steel.
"Gear? What gear?"
"Your special ray gun. Hand it over."
The Hate Merchant's face twisted. "H-how do you even know about that?!"
Then his face flushed with anger. "No! That ray gun is everything to me!"
His eyes burned with defiance.
Nathan didn't argue. He just punched him square in the face.
BAM!
The Hate Merchant collapsed to the floor, holding his bruised cheek.
"I'll… I'll give it to you!" he said quickly, fumbling to unclasp the gun from his belt. He handed it to Nathan without further resistance.
"Smart," Nathan said. "Now talk. What does this thing do?"
Still nursing his swollen face, the Hate Merchant explained, "It emits Hate Rays. Anyone hit by it becomes extremely paranoid—aggressive. They start turning on each other. Lasts a day."
"I used to start riots with it," he said proudly. "Got bored. Wanted to take on the Fantastic Four instead."
Nathan nodded slowly, his mind already running calculations. "I heard you wanted to defeat the Fantastic Four. That wasn't just about destroying the lab, was it?"
The Hate Merchant smiled nervously. "You're sharp. No, I wanted to separate them. Divide and conquer."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You? Alone?"
The Hate Merchant laughed awkwardly. "Well… no. I'm not exactly powered."
Nathan already knew that. Through his hyper-sensitive hearing and perception, he could tell: this guy was just a normal human in a silly costume. His heartbeat, brain patterns—everything screamed "non-threatening."
"So what's the plan?" Nathan asked. "Gadgets? Hired muscle?"
"Exactly," the Hate Merchant admitted. "I teamed up with Rhino Man. He's strong. Tank-like defense. A real brute."
"I had him go after Invisible Woman first."
"Trouble is, she can turn invisible. But I rigged the ray gun to leave an electromagnetic trace in her. With my special goggles, Rhino Man can track her—even when she's invisible."
Nathan's eyes narrowed. Clever. But still reckless.
"Alright," Nathan said. "Thanks for the info."
"Can I… go now?" the Hate Merchant asked hesitantly.
Nathan's fist answered for him.
BOOM!
The man dropped to the floor, unconscious.
Nathan turned to the Electric Man. "Find Invisible Woman. Fast. Track her fight with Rhino Man."
The Electric Man nodded and zipped off as a crackling blue current, vanishing into the power lines.
Nathan turned to the lab's mainframe and began working at lightning speed.
Rows of green data flooded across the screens, symbols and numbers racing too quickly for any normal person to follow.
But Nathan wasn't normal.
His eyes scanned the data like a machine. Within minutes, he had absorbed everything about Invisible Woman's physiology, power levels, frequency signatures, weaknesses.
But that wasn't all.
A hidden folder caught his attention.
It was buried deep—encrypted.
Nathan's fingers flew across the keyboard.
Decryption complete.
"Coordinates? A dimensional portal? Another world?"
His eyes widened.
"This… this is the origin of the Fantastic Four's powers."
The file contained full documentation of the incident: a spatial breach to a strange planet, exotic radiation, sudden mutation—and the birth of the Fantastic Four.
Doctor Doom's transformation was also recorded.
Nathan leaned back. "I came for data on invisibility and got the key to an entire super-powered world."
He burned the data into his enhanced memory and erased all traces.
Suddenly, Electric Man returned, forming next to him.
"Boss! Found her. Invisible Woman's fighting Rhino Man—and she's losing. Badly."
He handed Nathan the coordinates.
Nathan nodded. "Good. Clean this place up. Tie up the Hate Merchant. And take this ray gun—I'll need it later."
He then transformed into an arc of lightning and disappeared into the circuitry.
---
Moments later, he emerged from a utility pole on the edge of a grassy battlefield.
Below him, chaos raged.
Rhino Man was battling with… thin air.
But Nathan knew better. His senses picked up the faint outline of the Invisible Woman, struggling to keep her defenses up.
Rhino Man, wearing special goggles and a reinforced insulated battle suit, grinned wickedly.
He could see her. He could hurt her.
And he did.
BOOM!
He slammed his massive fist into her force field. It shattered.
Another punch, and the Invisible Woman flew across the lawn, rolling helplessly.
Her invisibility dropped.
Bruises on her face. Blood at her mouth. Eyes glazed with shock.
She gasped, "How… can you see me?!"
Rhino Man grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know? Now, sleep tight."
He raised his fist again.
And then, Nathan appeared.
He dropped silently in front of the Invisible Woman, shielding her.
Rhino Man froze. "Wait a minute… You're—!"
Realization dawned. "YOU! The one who electrocuted me last time!"
Nathan didn't reply.
Rhino Man roared, "You think it'll be that easy again?! I've upgraded! This suit's insulated. And I'm stronger now!"
He leapt into the air, bringing down a massive punch.
Nathan raised his hand.
BOOM!
The punch landed squarely on Nathan's palm.
He didn't move an inch.
Shockwaves exploded in all directions, flattening grass, rippling the air.
Rhino Man's eyes widened in horror.
Nathan didn't flinch.
He looked up calmly.
"Round two. Let's see who's upgraded more."
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