"Uh…"
Steve Rogers staggered back, blasted by the last shockwave. The Negative Energy in his body was finally exhausted.
He steadied himself, shaking his head and sighing. "…This era is much more dangerous than I imagined."
"The world is changing faster than you can believe."
Nick Fury stepped forward, his single eye fixed on him. Extending a hand, he said firmly, "That's why we need you even more, Captain."
Steve hesitated, then shook his head.
Fury raised a brow. Still shaken after a fight? For someone like Rogers, that's… unusual.
Steve caught the look and managed a faint, wry smile as he stood up by his own strength. He clasped Fury's hand and muttered, "You can't pull me up, Director. I'll stand on my own."
Before Fury could respond—
"Woah~ So you really are Captain America?"
The metallic thud of repulsors hit the pavement as Tony Stark landed beside them in his Iron Man armor. "I can't believe it."
Steve turned his head slowly, studying him. "There's more I can't believe. You are…?"
Fury cut in, "He's Tony Stark. Howard's son."
The mention made Steve pause. His mind flashed back to Howard Stark's brilliance during the war. Looking at the gleaming Iron Man suit, Steve's eyes softened with emotion. "…You're a genius. Just like your father."
Tony gave a lopsided grin. "Thanks for the compliment. A lot of people say that. But actually…" His voice lifted in pride. "I'll prove I'm better than him."
Fury ignored the jab. "Captain, there's much you need to understand. I'll have files sent to you. Tony, you'll get one as well."
Clink—
A sharp sound broke the tense air. It was jarringly out of place on the empty, battle-worn street.
All three turned their heads.
Across the way, sitting casually outside a café, was Jack Kadere. Dressed once again in his usual casual clothes, he tapped the rim of his coffee cup with a silver spoon. His posture was relaxed, his expression sharp. "Will you send me a file too, Director Fury?"
"Jack?"
Tony greeted him first, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Jack chuckled lightly. "Is it strange to see me in front of my own café, Tony?"
"Fair enough. Actually, that reminds me."
Tony tapped commands into his gauntlet. A holographic projection flared to life in midair—an image captured from the "Battle of New York." A pillar of blue light towered upward in the scene.
"Fury," Tony said with a grin, "Jack thought you might like a look. Do you?"
Fury blinked, momentarily baffled. …Is Stark trying to sell me art?
Still, he kept his composure. "Woah… Very impressive, Mr. Kadere. But you know, I don't exactly have the luxury to sit around admiring paintings."
But Steve Rogers was drawn in. His breath caught as he saw the holographic image. The light was eerily similar to the energy that had swallowed Red Skull when the Tesseract activated decades ago. His hand reached out, fingertips brushing against the glowing projection.
Zzzzt—
The image vanished.
Steve blinked in confusion, looking at Tony. "Mr. Stark? What are you doing?"
Fury frowned, misinterpreting Steve's interest. "You should respect your elders, Tony."
Tony scoffed. "Please. Captain himself doesn't even see himself as my elder." He then added, "Besides, Jack only wanted you, Director, to see this projection once. If Captain wants another look, he'll have to pay. The fact that you even got a free peek, Cap, is already a bonus."
With that, Tony disengaged his gauntlet display and walked toward Jack. A chip slid out from his armor, which he handed over. "Here you go, Jack. You showed him, he wasn't impressed. You can handle the S.H.I.E.L.D. sales pitch yourself. Me? I've got better things to do. I'm upgrading Stark Tower with clean energy… and Pepper's waiting for me."
Jack raised an eyebrow as he activated the chip. The hologram flared back to life. "So… where's my original piece, Tony?"
"Oh… right. It's still at Stark Tower." Tony's tone wavered slightly, his guilty conscience clear even through the mask. "You can swing by to pick it up later, yeah? Gotta go!"
With a roar of repulsors, Iron Man blasted into the sky.
Jack's eyes narrowed as his Spider-Sense prickled. A vivid premonition flashed—Tony holding the painting, only for it to be ripped apart by a violent gust of wind.
"President Kadere."
Fury sat down across from him now, his tone serious. "You may have refused to join S.H.I.E.L.D. directly, but I'll still be sending you the file. This concerns a top-level initiative. Natasha will brief you on the specifics."
Jack's gaze slid to Steve before returning to Fury. "…We'll talk once I've read the material."
The Avengers Initiative, no doubt.
Fury's intent was obvious. He wanted to bring the Ghost Spider Club into the fold. Even Black Spider himself.
Jack had no intention of being bound by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leash. But gaining access to their intel? That was a win on its own.
...
Ghost-Spider Club. Inside the exclusive lounge reserved for its core members.
"Come on, repeat after me~"
Gwen Stacy sat cross-legged on a yoga mat, her posture graceful yet composed, her voice calm as she recited: "Heaven and Earth are the profound origin, all Qi's fundamental root. Broadly cultivate my Dharma, prove my divine abilities…"
Beside her, Cindy Moon mirrored the same position. Her soft, melodic voice stumbled as she tried to keep up: "…Heaven and Earth are the profound origin… all Qi's fundamental root… broadly cultivate… prove my divine abilities…"
Her intonation was sweet but uneven, nowhere near Gwen's clarity and precision.
"Cindy, it's not just about chanting," Gwen corrected gently. "You also need to understand the meaning behind the words."
She lifted her pale, delicate hand, the faint pink of her palm glowing as threads of golden light shimmered into existence. Slowly, they thinned into radiant filaments until, finally, the light condensed into silky golden strands dancing across her fingertips.
Through perseverance and countless hours of training, Gwen had mastered the Golden Light Charm. Perhaps her altered physiology gave her an edge, but her natural aptitude was extraordinary. In fact, she had gone beyond mere replication—transforming the golden light into something resembling spider silk, a unique adaptation that suited her perfectly.
Much of this success was thanks to Jack Kadere, who had taken the time to explain the charm's mechanics in detail, even tracing out the pathways of human meridians and acupoints to refine her practice.
"Mm!" Cindy nodded firmly. "As long as this training makes me stronger, I'll give it everything I've got!"
Still, a flicker of unease shadowed her eyes. Gwen noticed immediately.
"Cindy, is this about Morlun again?" she asked softly. "You always look so worried. That's not good for you."
Cindy hesitated, hugging her knees. "I don't know how powerful he really is… but sometimes, I can feel echoes—like the cries of other totems from different worlds. It chills me to my core…"
The name alone was enough to fill her with dread. If before she had only feared for her own safety, now the stakes were higher. Gwen, Jack, and even Jessica were all Spider Totems too, making them targets.
Seeing Cindy's troubled expression, Gwen placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. You're not alone. Jack, Jessica, and I—we'll all fight by your side."
Cindy glanced across the lounge at Jack, who was playfully teasing Skye with some gadget. Warmth spread in her chest as she whispered, "Mm… thank you all…" Inside, however, her thoughts were firm: I'll protect them, too. No matter what it takes.
...
"I'm almost there, I'm almost there!"
The glow of the computer screen lit up Skye's eager face. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, eyes locked on the scrolling code.
"I'm about to—"
"Done!" Jack announced, pressing the enter key with a grin. "I got in first again."
Skye groaned. "Ugh, why is it always you?"
Jack smirked. "A bet's a bet. Don't hate the player."
She puffed her cheeks in frustration, muttering under her breath. "And in front of Gwen and everyone else, too…" Reluctantly, she ducked beneath the desk as agreed, earning herself a chuckle from Jack.
"It's fine," he said casually. "They've all seen worse."
While Skye grumbled, Jack turned his attention back to the terminal, scrolling through the files he had breached.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters Prepares for New Term
Vought International's Secret Superhuman Drug Trials Fail Again
Sir Reginald Hargreeves Establishes the Umbrella Academy
Residents of Hawkins, Indiana Report "Spatial Rift"—Confirmed as Rumor
"Project Monarch" Unsealed and Relaunched
Jack leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. Ever since meeting Matilda, he had paid closer attention to the strange currents of this world.
This wasn't just the Marvel Universe. It was something bigger—messier.
The X-Men's presence was expected. But Vought? Hargreeves? Hawkins? These names pointed to other worlds bleeding together.
Forget it, Jack thought. I'm just a 'superhero-adjacent' guy. No need to unravel this chaos right now.
He copied the files, setting them aside for later investigation. For now, his focus returned to the present.
The system flashed: [Loaded]
Among the files was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Avengers Initiative, delivered directly by Nick Fury. As expected, the roster included Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America. But there were notable omissions—Black Widow and Hawkeye's files were absent, and Captain America's dossier lacked detail.
Fury, as always, was keeping his cards close to the chest.
Jack glanced toward Skye. "Where's Barbara?"
"Uh… downstairs." She hesitated, then tilted her head. "Wait—you're not going down to see her?"
He shook his head. "Just asking."
Skye's eye-roll could have shaken the entire desk. "…Unbelievable."
...
Hell's Kitchen.
"Matilda."
Jessica Jones adjusted the brim of her newsboy cap, her brown-and-yellow plaid coat disguising her features. With her collar pulled high to obscure the lower half of her face, she looked every bit the private investigator she was.
"Do you really want to be a superhero?" she asked, voice low but serious.
Matilda clutched her small, glowing orb close to her chest, nodding without hesitation. "Mm!"
With her wide eyes and the crystal-like ball in her hands, she resembled a tiny fortune-teller more than a budding hero.
Jessica sighed, but her lips tugged into a smile. "Alright then. Let me show you a hideout I found."
Scooping her sister into her arms, Jessica stomped her boot. Silver light flared beneath her feet as she leapt high into the air, landing gracefully on a nearby rooftop.
With another surge of light, they darted from building to building, rooftops blurring past until they reached the shadow of a derelict factory.
"Look…" Jessica had Matilda perched on her shoulder, lifting the girl so she could peek inside. "We need to destroy this place."
From Matilda's height, she managed to catch a glimpse through the cracks of a grimy window. "They are…"
Inside the factory, the sight was chilling. Rows of people stood motionless, their eyes vacant, mechanically repeating the same task—sorting and packing bags of white powder.
Every single one of them was Asian. Even more disturbing, they all seemed to be blind, their movements clumsy yet repetitive, as if they had been forced into this pattern for so long their bodies simply remembered.
Surrounding them were dozens of armed gang members, barking orders and patrolling like prison guards.
"What should we do, Jessica?" Matilda's eyes hardened with resentment. Her family had been ruined by this poison—they were among the many victims who had lost everything to the white powder.
She pulled a cigarette from her pocket and stuck it between her lips but didn't light it, her voice low and edged with bitterness. "Should we do it like in the cartoons? Make a plan to beat the bad guys?"
Jessica smirked faintly. "Not bad."
Her brows furrowed in thought, the faint glow of confidence in her eyes. Pulling her collar up, she slipped into a mock-detective pose.
"I already have a plan."
Matilda's nervousness mixed with excitement. "What plan?"
Jessica grinned sharply. "We'll just charge straight in!"
"…Huh?"
...
The factory erupted.
"Ahhh!!" "What the hell is that thing?!" "Shoot! Shoot quickly!" "It's lightning!"
Gunfire rattled in a deafening chorus—da da da da da!
But the bullets never made it. Sparks crackled in midair, scattering with sharp metallic rings as if a wall of electricity stood between life and death.
Matilda's metal orb—affectionately named Meow Meow—had transformed into a floating sphere of lightning, darting through the factory with frightening precision. It avoided the enslaved workers entirely, unleashing bolts of energy on the gang members.
Bullets clattered uselessly to the ground, and screams replaced gunfire.
Jessica whistled, impressed. "Matilda, your ball is so powerful~."
She hadn't even lifted a finger, and already most of the guards were incapacitated. Her admiration for her younger sister only grew.
"Mm-hmm! Just like Meow Meow," Matilda replied proudly, waving her hand. At her command, the lightning sphere dissolved, the sparks fading as the orb twirled happily back into her arms.
Jessica turned to the rows of dazed laborers. "Since you're blind, hurry and leave!"
But her words hung in the air.
"…Hmm?"
None of them moved. Their faces were still blank, their bodies still stuck in the rhythm of forced labor. They had repeated the same actions so many times that their instincts seemed broken.
Jessica sighed and hardened her tone, shouting with a sharp sweetness: "Get out—now!"
Whoosh!
The command snapped them out of their stupor. In a rush of fumbling footsteps, the workers began stumbling toward the exits, desperate to escape.
"Uh…"
A gang member hiding in the corner suddenly raised his gun, trembling but determined. He aimed it straight at Jessica.
Clang!
Before he could fire, Jessica kicked a fallen handgun off the ground. It spun through the air, slammed into his weapon, and knocked it away.
Bang!
The stray shot went into the ceiling.
Snap!
In a blur, Jessica was already on him. Her leg whipped upward, the kick twisting his neck and dropping him unconscious in a heap.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Slow, mocking applause echoed from the factory entrance.
Mrs. Gao stepped inside, flanked by several silent figures clad in black—the Hand's ninjas. Her wrinkled face twisted into a smile. "Jessica Jones, you are far more ruthless than the rumors say. Hard to believe you're still just a high schooler."
Jessica raised a brow. "I'm almost graduating, you know." Her eyes flicked over the ninjas, then narrowed on the elderly woman. "Didn't the Hand die out? How is there still an old woman running the show?"
Mrs. Gao chuckled darkly. "Heh… you know nothing about the Hand."
Her voice turned cold, though her expression remained calm. "Our power is far beyond what you can imagine. Leave this matter now. Don't disturb my business again. I recall you have an ordinary brother, don't you… Jack Kadere?"
Jessica's eyes burned. "You try me!"
In an instant, she shot forward like a missile. The ninjas reacted swiftly, drawing blades and chains, but Jessica's raw strength overwhelmed them.
She fought with practiced precision, each strike guided by the martial arts training Jack had drilled into her. Against her fists, their supposed skills meant nothing. One by one, they coughed blood and collapsed, groaning on the floor.
Mrs. Gao's eyes gleamed with cunning malice.
While Jessica dealt with her foot soldiers, the old woman suddenly raised her hand—her palm surging with unseen energy.
Bang!
The shockwave struck Jessica squarely, knocking her back several feet. She steadied herself, eyes widening. "What was that?"
The frail old woman, who looked barely alive, actually possessed powers.
Jessica exhaled sharply. "Tch. Brother was right… the world really is full of surprises."
Mrs. Gao, emboldened by her strike, drew a blade hidden within her cane. She pointed it at Jessica, sneering. "I warned you. Our strength is beyond anything you can—"
Boom!
Her words cut short as a searing bolt of blue-white lightning exploded across the room. The blast hurled Mrs. Gao through the wall and out of the factory like a ragdoll.
Jessica blinked, stunned, then turned toward the source.
Matilda stood there, clutching Meow Meow tightly against her chest. The orb hummed with fading sparks, the intricate runes etched across its surface dimming back to silence.
Her sister's eyes locked on her. Jessica felt both gratitude and surprise.
Matilda jogged toward the hole in the wall, heart pounding as she saw the smoking, charred figure of Mrs. Gao lying broken outside.
Her lips trembled. "I… I didn't expect the power to be that strong. I just saw her knock you back, Jessica, and I thought… she was really dangerous."
*******
If you're reading up to tis point, it's time for you to make a decision:
Considering the Chinese bs with the golden light charm that can no longer be whitewashed, plus the incoming hodgepodge of worlds, should I continue this?
I don't want to ignore the red flags, Chinese BS, only for it to become much worse later.
Still, I'll provide the link to the other guy who already finished translationg this book, though his work is not as good as mine.