Chapter 171: They're Here, They're Here!
At this moment, the entire New York, and even the whole world, was paying close attention to this sudden crisis.
In an apartment in Manhattan.
Wanda stood barefoot in front of the window.
Her eyes were glued to the helicopter aerial footage on the television screen.
On the screen, Doctor Octopus was frantically destroying the outer wall of the warehouse.
"Luca..."
Wanda murmured softly, her heart beating rapidly.
Although she knew Luca was incredibly strong and could even defeat the Hulk,
seeing the monster on television still made her feel an uncontrollable wave of worry.
"This monster looks so terrifying... Could Luca be in danger?"
Wanda bit her lip, scenes of Luca pulling her into his arms and dominantly yet gently "charging" her constantly flashing through her mind.
She had already fallen deeply for this man's charm.
"What if... what if he gets hurt?"
The worry in Wanda's eyes gradually turned into a look of resolve.
She thought to herself that if Luca was in danger, she would immediately rush over and use Chaos Magic to tear that damn octopus monster to shreds!
Just as Wanda was feeling extremely anxious, Gwen Stacy, on the other side, was in a similar state.
Inside Captain George's home.
Gwen sat at her desk. She was supposed to be reviewing her notes, but she couldn't take in a single word right now.
Her phone screen was broadcasting the same live news report.
"That bastard... he always makes such a high-profile entrance."
Gwen looked at the ruins engulfed in soaring flames on the screen and sighed helplessly.
Yet deep in her eyes, there was nothing but concern.
What worried her even more was that Peter Parker, that rookie, was also at the scene.
It wasn't that she was worried about Peter, but rather...
"That silly boy Peter, I hope he doesn't drag Luca down."
Gwen touched the web-shooters on her wrists.
She had already stood up, preparing to get her suit from the closet.
If things went south, she would definitely swing over to help immediately.
"You must come back safely, Luca. You still owe me a big meal," Gwen prayed silently in her heart.
Meanwhile, in an upscale nightclub in Manhattan.
Deafening music and dim, suggestive lighting filled the air.
Pietro was lying comfortably on the sofa in a VIP private room.
Ever since he went to a bar with Steve and saw what a real man was like,
Pietro felt as if a door to a whole new world had been opened to him.
He was now wearing trendy streetwear with a thick gold chain hanging around his neck.
Snuggled up on his left and right sides was a hot, beautiful female model.
"Hey, handsome, did you say earlier that you run faster than a sports car? Is that true?"
The model on the left cooed, rubbing against Pietro's chest and drawing circles on it with her finger.
"Of course, baby. When we get back to the hotel later, I'll let you personally experience what true fast and furious means."
Pietro mimicked Luca's usual playboy tone, boasting smugly, which drew giggles from both girls.
Just as he was about to take their interaction to the next level, the television in the private room suddenly broadcasted an emergency news flash.
"Breaking news! The Flushing industrial area has come under attack by an unidentified monster!"
Pietro paused for a moment and turned to look at the screen.
When he saw Doctor Octopus with his four mechanical tentacles and the the military struggling to hold the line, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Fuck, public security in New York is getting worse and worse these days. Even an octopus is coming ashore to cause trouble."
But he didn't feel worried like Gwen and Wanda did.
On the contrary, he took a sip of champagne and let out a gloating sneer.
"Heh, that freak Luca must have already gone over."
"Unlucky octopus monster, actually daring to rob a Stark Industries warehouse. He really has a death wish."
Pietro knew Luca's strength all too well.
A monster who could slap him into a wall and punch the Hulk back into his human form—how could he possibly be afraid of mere tentacles?
"Ladies, let's continue. Don't worry about the nonsense on TV, that guy is dead meat."
Pietro turned back and continued flirting with the models, completely treating this crisis as background noise.
...
Also paying close attention to this crisis were two assistants.
Stark Tower, Assistant's Office.
Jessica and Natasha were organizing documents face-to-face.
The projection screen in the office was also broadcasting the live footage from Flushing.
Natasha looked at the documents while keeping an eye on the screen out of the corner of her eye.
She noticed the movements of General Ross and the the military.
"The the military actually didn't use heavy firepower to carpet-bomb the area, but instead sent infantry and armored vehicles to surround it? What are they wary of?"
Natasha instantly saw through General Ross's intentions.
"That old fox Ross must want to capture this monster alive, and steal Stark Industries' energy core technology in the process!"
"The the military has always held a grudge against the Stark Brothers for announcing the cessation of weapons contracts. They are trying to use this opportunity to gain the upper hand!"
Thinking of this, a wave of unease rose in Natasha's heart.
If the the military really acquired the arc reactor technology, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s position would become very passive.
"The Director is currently conducting an internal purge and can't spare any attention for this. Are we just going to watch the the military get their way?"
Natasha frowned, falling into deep thought.
Meanwhile, Jessica, sitting across from her, had completely different thoughts.
She appeared to be working diligently, but in reality, she was secretly overjoyed.
"Fight, the more intense the fight, the better!"
Jessica screamed frantically in her mind.
She had witnessed Luca's strength with her own eyes.
Although Doctor Octopus looked fierce, he definitely wouldn't last a minute against Luca.
What she was truly looking forward to was not Luca defeating Doctor Octopus,
but rather hoping that Luca would reveal more of his unknown abilities and weaknesses during the fight!
"Minister Pierce has already ordered a halt to the testing."
"But if we can gather the limit data of Luca's energy output from this battle, or discover a blind spot in his defenses, it would be an invaluable treasure for Hydra!"
With this in mind, Jessica stared intently at the screen, not letting a single detail slip by.
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Washington.
Nick Fury sat in his dimly lit office.
His desk was piled high with investigative files on Pierceand Hydra.
His single eye was also staring at the screen on the wall.
Seeing Doctor Octopus rampaging through the ruins, Furylet out a cold snort.
"That fool Ross is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Does he think he can snatch a bone from the Stark Brothers with just his grunts?"
Fury didn't want to bother with outside matters at all right now.
All of his energy was focused on rooting out the Hydramoles inside S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Just let the Stark Brothers teach the the military a lesson. The harder they fight, the more time I'll have to clean house."
Fury lowered his head and continued drawing red circles on a confidential list.
...
Outside Energy Warehouse No. 5 in Flushing.
*Boom!*
Doctor Octopus swung one of his tentacles again, hurling a burning car toward the news helicopter in the air.
The helicopter narrowly avoided it, the pilot breaking out into a cold sweat from fear.
But the cameraman still held the camera firmly, broadcasting the footage live to the entire world.
"Viewers! The situation has completely spiraled out of control! The the military cannot stop this monster's advance! He is only one step away from the energy core!"
The reporter's voice trembled in the wind.
"Who can save us? Where is Superman? Where is Iron Man? Where is the Justice League?!"
Viewers across the United States sat in front of their televisions, too tense to breathe.
Right at that moment.
Suddenly, a loud sonic boom echoed from the sky.
*Boom!!!*
The sound seemed as if it would tear the sky apart.
Everyone, including the frantically rampaging Doctor Octopus and General Ross in the command vehicle, subconsciously looked up at the night sky.
A streak of white-and-blue light, like a beam piercing through the darkness, fell straight down toward the center of the battlefield.
"They're here! They're here!"
The reporter shouted, his voice cracking with excitement.
Chapter 172: Utter Humiliation! Utter Humiliation!
New York, Flushing.
In the open space outside the energy warehouse, flames soared into the sky.
"Boom!"
As soon as the massive explosion rang out, the sky was torn apart by a white-and-blue streak of light.
This streak of light plummeted rapidly from high altitude, carrying the momentum of destroying everything, and slammed into the open space in front of Doctor Octopus.
For a moment, a deafening roar erupted instantly.
The ground was smashed into a deep pit more than ten meters wide.
The powerful Shockwave spread in all directions, blowing away all the burning car wrecks and gravel.
The smoke and dust filling the sky gradually dissipated.
A tall and upright figure slowly walked out from the bottom of the pit.
This was none other than Lucas Stark.
Looking closely, one could still see that he was wearing a suit of armor as black as ink.
This suit of armor closely conformed to his muscle lines brimming with explosive power.
Red patterns flowed across the surface of the armor, and a black cape fluttered in the wind behind him.
However, Lucas was still holding a person in his right hand.
It was none other than Spider-Man wearing his armor.
"Stand steady, kid."
After setting Peter down steadily, Lucas looked coldly at Doctor Octopus ahead, his tone unquestionable.
"Open your eyes wide and look closely, I'll only teach you once."
Seeing this, Doctor Octopus also stopped his destructive actions.
He turned his head back, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Lucas.
The four mechanical tentacles on his back danced wildly in mid-air, seemingly believing that Lucas was no match for him.
"Lucas Stark!"
"You've come just in time! Hand over the tritium core! That is mine! No one can stop me from igniting the artificial sun!"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest with an expressionless face.
"Otto, you're too noisy."
"Your research results are too pitiful; in my eyes, they're not even as good as a lighter. But since your brain is broken, I'll help you twist it off."
This sentence completely infuriated Doctor Octopus.
"Go to hell! Arrogant capitalist!"
Doctor Octopus let out an angry roar, all four tentacles exerting force simultaneously.
With this blow, he held nothing back at all.
The tentacles smashed straight down fiercely toward Lucas's head!
A four-sided pincer attack blocked all paths of retreat.
Peter on the side tightened his entire body in fright.
"Mr. Lucas! Hurry and dodge!"
However, Lucas just casually raised his right hand.
Bang!!!
A muffled giant roar exploded across the battlefield.
There was no explosion, and backing down was even more impossible.
Lucas steadily grabbed one tentacle without suffering the slightest bit of damage.
"What?"
Doctor Octopus was stunned.
His eyes stared wide and round, completely unable to understand the scene happening before him.
The tentacle was actually caught by Lucas with one hand?
And the opponent didn't even sway at all?!
Seeing this, Lucas shook his head gently, his face full of disappointment.
"Just this little bit of strength? And you dare to come out and act arrogant?"
"It's not that I want to crush you, I can only say that you can't even beat Tony without wearing his armor."
What?!
Doctor Octopus was somewhat dumbfounded.
What do you mean he couldn't even defeat Tony Starkwithout wearing armor?!
Are you kidding me, his own tentacles could smash a car to pieces with a single strike.
You're telling me he couldn't beat an ordinary person like Tony Stark?!
Utter humiliation!!
But Lucas didn't give him the chance to think more about it, and started exerting force right after finishing.
Grasping the tentacle tightly, immense power instantly erupted.
"Get over here!"
Lucas shouted angrily, directly dragging Doctor Octopusand the four tentacles down from mid-air!
Doctor Octopus was completely unable to resist this terrifying power.
His body accordingly lost balance and was swung up into mid-air.
Following that, grasping the tentacle, Lucas fiercely smashed Doctor Octopus down toward the ground on the left!
Boom!
The ground collapsed instantly, and gravel flew everywhere.
Before Doctor Octopus could let out a miserable scream, Lucas exerted force again to pull him out of the pit, and with a backhand slam, smashed him fiercely toward the ground on the right!
Boom!
Another large pit appeared.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Grasping the tentacle with one hand, Lucas crazily smashed Doctor Octopus back and forth against the ground on the left and right sides like a toy.
Every blow was accompanied by a deafening roar.
The earth trembled, and dust soared into the sky.
The surrounding the military soldiers all watched dumbfounded, almost failing to hold steady the guns in their hands.
After smashing him a dozen times, Lucas finally stopped.
Casually throwing the battered Doctor Octopus onto the open ground.
At this moment, Doctor Octopus was already covered in blood, and the armor on his back was severely deformed.
But he was still struggling, the remaining three tentacles attempting to prop up his body to counterattack.
Lucas let out a cold snort and strode forward.
Then he stepped heavily onto Doctor Octopus's back, pinning him firmly to the ground.
Then he reached out both hands, grabbing the two thrashing tentacles respectively.
"Zizizi..."
"Crack!!!"
A harsh snapping sound rang out.
It was astonishingly Lucas tearing those two thick tentacles right off Doctor Octopus's armor!
Sparks flew everywhere, and circuits snapped.
"Ah!!!"
Doctor Octopus let out a heart-wrenching scream and passed out on the spot.
The very last remaining tentacle was also crushed to pieces by a single stomp from Lucas.
The battle was over.
The whole process took less than a minute.
Lucas casually threw the torn-off tentacles aside.
Then he looked at Peter Parker, who was standing motionless in place.
"Did you see clearly, kid?"
"When dealing with a madman, directly destroy their weapons and break their bones. This is the most effective way to protect New York."
A dumbfounded Peter wore a dumbfounded expression.
He was shocked.
Utterly and completely shocked.
That was Doctor Octopus!
His four mechanical tentacles were unimaginably hard, and his strength was astonishingly large.
But in front of Mr. Lucas, this monster was actually swung around and smashed?
How could humans possibly possess this kind of power that transcends cognitive levels?
Therefore, Mr. Lucas is not human...
Cough cough, no wait, it's that Mr. Lucas is simply Superman!
Oops, that's not right either, Mr. Lucas is Superman to begin with!
Thinking this, Peter's heartbeat began to accelerate, and his worldview suffered a severe Shockwave.
But immediately after.
Peter looked at Doctor Octopus lying in a pool of blood and having lost all threat, and then looked at the people around who were injured because of Doctor Octopus's destruction.
Lucas's words from just now echoed in his mind over and over again.
"If Mr. Lucas hadn't come today, what would have happened?" Peter asked himself in his heart.
The answer was obvious.
Otto would have stolen the energy core and ignited the artificial sun.
The entirety of Flushing and even half of New York would have been blown sky-high.
Countless people would have died because of his soft-heartedness.
Peter's gaze changed.
He understood.
Mr. Lucas was right.
Mercy towards a madman is a crime against the innocent.
Possessing power is not just for catching petty thieves on the street.
It is even more for decisively eradicating those tumors threatening the world when necessary.
"I understand, Mr. Lucas." Peter stepped forward, his tone becoming resolute.
"I won't make the same mistake again. From today on, I will do what I ought to do."
Chapter 173: I Knew It, He Never Disappoints
On the outer blockade line.
General Ross stood beside the command vehicle, the cigar in his hand having fallen to the ground long ago.
To be honest, he was terrified.
That's right, a deep, bone-chilling fear.
Even Hulk hadn't given him such a overwhelming sense of terror.
Staring intently at Lucas, his back was completely drenched in cold sweat.
Is this even human?!
The tentacles that the the military's shells couldn't Piercewere caught with one hand by him, and tore apart into scrap metal with his bare hands!
This pure physical strength was almost comparable to Hulk's.
Ross had originally planned to capture Doctor Octopusalive and steal Stark Industries' energy core while he was at it.
But the current situation made him completely abandon that suicidal thought.
Stealing Stark's stuff?
What a joke!
Who would dare mess with this monster?!
If Lucas Stark was angered, he'd only need to charge into The Pentagon and crush them into meat paste with a single punch!
"Pass down my orders!"
General Ross turned around and shouted loudly at his adjutant.
"All units, retreat immediately! Lift the blockade! Leave the scene for Stark Industries' people to handle!"
"General, what about Doctor Octopus and the energy core..." The adjutant hesitated.
"Are you out of your mind?!" General Ross cursed furiously.
"Do you want my men to go to their deaths? Retreat immediately! From now on, whenever the the militaryoperates, they must steer clear of Stark Industries!"
The reporters and onlookers on the outer perimeter were also completely stunned at this moment.
Everyone's eyes were wide as they stared at Lucas, who stood in the middle of the ruins wearing a black cape.
A dozen seconds later.
"Oh! My God!"
Screams and cheers erupted from the crowd.
"It's Superman! Superman appeared again!"
"Unbelievable! He dealt with the monster!"
The live broadcast camera had already transmitted the footage of Lucas grabbing Doctor Octopus with one hand and slamming him violently to TV screens all around the world in real time.
The reactions of the media and the audience were surprisingly unanimous.
Lucas Stark was a god descending!
As long as he was around, no monster on Earth could do evil.
"Quick! Call the brokers at the New York Stock Exchange!"
An investor in a suit shouted into his phone among the crowd.
"Buy Stark Industries stock! No matter how much it costs, buy all of it! This company will never go bankrupt because their boss is a god!"
...
Manhattan, inside an apartment.
Wanda sat on the sofa watching the news broadcast on TV.
Seeing that Lucas was fine, her surprise and excitement were beyond words.
"He's so strong... He's really so strong..."
Wanda cupped her flushed cheeks, her eyes glowing with adoration.
As the excitement receded, a deep sense of security and attachment enveloped her.
This man, invincible and powerful, had gently held her in his arms earlier.
She felt that all her previous efforts, and those embarrassing charging processes that made her blush to speak of, were completely worth it.
"As long as it helps him, as long as it makes him stronger, I'm willing to be his power bank forever."
Wanda swore silently in her heart, the smile on her face turning incomparably sweet.
...
Chief George's house...
Gwen sat at her desk, the same live broadcast playing on her phone.
First, she let out a long sigh of relief.
At first, she was really worried Lucas might get hurt.
But seeing Lucas display such godlike power, her mind was put at ease.
"So cool..."
Gwen murmured softly, her worry completely vanishing.
With such a powerful, decisive man by her side who protected her with all his heart,
What did a mere Hydra hiding in a dark corner count for?
"I knew it, he never disappoints."
Gwen leaned against the back of her chair, recalling Lucas's face with its usual smirking smile, her heart filled with deep love.
...
A nightclub in Manhattan.
Inside a VIP room.
Pietro sat on the sofa, holding a glass of champagne in his hand.
He had also seen the footage of Lucas lifting Doctor Octopus with one hand and wildly slamming him.
*Clatter!*
The glass fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.
Terrified, Pietro pushed away the two blonde supermodels clinging to him and drew in a sharp breath of cold air.
"Th-this... How does this strength feel even stronger than when he fought Hulk in Monaco?!"
Pietro's eyes widened, cold sweat breaking out on his back.
He knew Lucas was strong, but he hadn't expected his power to increase so fast.
Originally, he still had a tiny bit of defiance in his heart.
Thinking that once he trained his speed to be even faster, he'd find a chance to secretly play a prank on Lucas.
But now, that thought was directly nipped in the bud.
"I can never provoke him. No matter how fast I run, if he catches me, I'll be killed with a single punch."
Thinking of this, Pietro swallowed hard.
"Actually... come to think of it, it doesn't seem like a loss for my sister to be with him."
"At least in this world, no one can bully Wanda anymore. I'd better honestly be an obedient follower; working to pay off my debt isn't bad either."
...
Stark Tower, inside an office.
Jessica and Natasha had just finished organizing a portion of the documents, and at this moment, they were staring at the screen watching the news.
When Lucas's footage aired,
The reactions of both women were surprisingly identical.
For example, both swallowed hard at the same time, their faces turning pale.
"This kind of monster... how on Earth can anyone fight him?"
A desperate question arose in both of their hearts at the same time.
Jessica felt deeply thankful.
Thankful that she had behaved obediently, and thankful for her good acting skills that kept her from being discovered.
"If my identity were exposed, then what gets snapped wouldn't be tentacles, but my four limbs."
At this thought, Jessica silently made a decision.
"I must immediately send a message to headquarters. Tell Minister Pierce never, ever to send anyone else to their deaths."
"I'd better honestly be a good assistant and never provoke him."
Unlike her, Natasha gave a bitter smile.
She finally understood why Director Fury had left the office demoralized after his visit.
"The Director still wanted to control them? Still wanted to recruit them into the Avengers as muscle?"
Natasha shook her head, feeling that this idea was a huge joke.
"This level of power is something S.H.I.E.L.D. simply has no right to control."
"I'd better honestly organize invoices here, and see if I can use his power to protect myself while I'm at it."
"If S.H.I.E.L.D. really is infiltrated by Hydra, staying by Lucas's side might be the safest choice."
...
Washington, D.C.
Inside a secret office.
Pierce, a high-ranking member of Hydra, was already breaking into a cold sweat.
"A monster... he's a total monster!"
Pierce felt he was still too fortunate.
He had previously harbored luck, believing Lucas's strength might have a limit.
But now he saw that not only did Lucas's strength have no limit, but his methods were also ruthless, with absolutely no bottom line.
At this thought, Pierce decisively gave an order.
He picked up the communicator and shouted loudly at his subordinate.
"Destroy all project files regarding the assassination of the Stark Brothers! Permanently shelve all actions targeted at them!"
"Anyone who dares to mess with Stark Industries will be executed directly as a traitor!"
The subordinate didn't quite react in time, but Pierce didn't give him the chance and continued,
"Our current mission is to focus solely on dealing with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.. As long as we lie low and don't draw that freak's attention, Hydra still has a chance."
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters Building.
Inside the Director's Office.
Nick Fury also felt a deep sense of helplessness.
"His strength has grown stronger again. And he changed his suit. It's an unknown technology not even in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database."
Fury felt despair.
Originally, he had treated the model left behind by Howardas a trump card, thinking he could bring it out when Tony Stark was near death to force them to submit.
But now, seeing Lucas's terrifying strength, he also abandoned that delusion.
"It's useless. In the face of absolute power, these trump cards are meaningless."
He felt that if he dared to use the model to threaten them, Lucas would definitely tear down the S.H.I.E.L.D. building directly.
Fury sat dejectedly in his chair.
He knew he had lost the qualification to control the Stark Brothers.
"Coulson!" Fury pressed the intercom button.
"Director, I'm here."
"Permanently seal the files concerning Howard Stark. Without my order, no one is permitted to access them."
"Notify the Agents to shift all energy to internal vetting."
"I want to fully purge Hydra inside S.H.I.E.L.D.! As for the Stark Brothers... from now on, no matter what they do, do not interfere."
Chapter 174 Wakanda
New York, Flushing.
On the ruins outside the energy warehouse.
Accompanied by dazzling white light and reporters' questions, Lucas Stark once again became the focus of the world's media.
"Mr. Lucas! The power you just displayed is incredible! May I ask how you managed to tear off the tentacles with one hand?!"
"Mr. Superman! Is this suit really a nano armor? In fact, many authorities say that your suit is a more advanced bioweapon armor."
"Mr. Stark! I heard that you just acquired Oscorp Group. May I ask if this attack by Doctor Octopus is related to commercial competition?"
Facing the dozens of microphones shoved right into his face.
Lucas smiled slightly, maintaining a calm posture.
Then he raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling everyone to be quiet.
"Everyone, everyone. Questions one by one. Although I have great strength, I only have one mouth."
"First, regarding strength. I must say, eat more vegetables, drink more milk, and persist in doing a hundred push-ups every day, and you can be just like me."
"Of course, it's mainly because my last name is Stark, and my genes are relatively superior."
The reporters burst into laughter, obviously not taking the answer seriously, but they were also used to Lucas's cynical teasing.
"Secondly, regarding this suit."
Lucas patted his chest, and his tone became serious.
"As I said last time, this is precisely the latest bio-nano technology that Stark Industries is about to announce to the world! It not only possesses extremely strong defense, but can also instantly transform according to my neural commands."
"As for what the difference is from Tony's armor?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, deliberately drawing out his voice.
"The difference is that my suit doesn't need to be plugged in, and it's much cooler to wear than his."
The scene erupted into laughter once again.
"Finally, regarding Oscorp Group."
Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone became stern.
"I can only say that Stark Industries' acquisition behavior is completely legal and compliant. As for the personal behavior of Doctor Otto, I deeply regret it."
"But this proves one thing! Without the technical support of Stark Industries, some so-called scientists will only create disasters that blow up cities."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd broke into an uproar.
"What does this mean?!"
"Is Lucas Stark planning to publicly declare war on all scientists?!"
"If that's really the case, then there's going to be a good show to watch."
The media reporters looked at each other, all of them becoming excited.
Lucas couldn't be bothered to care what these people thought, and simply waved at the camera.
"Alright, the interview ends here. Justice Leagueemployees still need to go back and punch out for off-duty. I wish everyone a good dream tonight."
Having said that, Lucas no longer paid attention to the reporters' lingering follow-up questions.
Instead, he walked towards Peter Parker, who had been obediently standing aside as a background board.
"Good job, kid. Let's go, it's time for us to go back."
After saying that, Lucas grabbed the back of Peter's collar.
"Boom!"
The two turned into a blur and soared into the sky, disappearing into the night sky.
...
At the same time.
Himalayas, Kamar-Taj.
In the ancient meditation room, the lights flickered slightly.
Steve sat swaggeringly on the tatami mat, holding a display modified from an old-fashioned radio.
At this moment, he was listlessly watching the news rebroadcast.
On the screen, the footage of Lucas swinging Doctor Octopus with one hand and smashing wildly was playing on a loop.
"F***! This kid is simply a pervert!"
Steve said, cursing.
"Back in the day on the battlefield, when I smashed those Germans' heads with my shield, I didn't smash them as fiercely as he did."
"Damn it, how is this Superman? This is clearly a monster wearing human skin!"
"I really want to know if the thing in his pants is also made of titanium alloy, otherwise how could he satisfy so many Hollywood female stars?"
Wong, sitting opposite him, carefully held a box of Wagyu sashimi teleported over from New York, eating until his mouth was oily.
Hearing Steve's vulgar complaints, Wong rolled his eyes and swallowed the meat in his mouth.
"Captain Rogers, you should learn to appreciate it. This is called the aesthetics of power."
"Moreover, although Mr. Lucas's personality is... um, a bit unique, he is indeed a generous and great guy."
Speaking of this, Wong recalled that period of time in New York.
Not only did he live in a luxury apartment every day, eating Michelin-starred meals, but he could also casually swipe a black card with no limit.
Thinking of those days made him show an infatuated expression.
"If I could live that kind of life every day, I'd rather watch him smash monsters into the ground every day. This is called a win-win."
Steve sneered and gave Wong a disdainful look.
"Fatty, where is the dignity belonging to a mage? Bought off by a few meals and a few bottles of horse piss?"
"I think what you have is not a win-win, but selling your ass!"
"If Ancient One knew about this virtue of yours, she would definitely use magic to pull out your intestines and then tie a bow around your neck."
Hearing this, Wong's face turned red, and he quickly protected the sashimi in his hands, glancing guiltily out the door.
"Stop talking nonsense! I am experiencing the sufferings of the material world, which is for better practicing magic!"
Just as the two were bickering.
In the courtyard outside the meditation room, however, it was a completely different scene.
Amidst the fluttering snow all over the sky.
Tony Stark was wearing a slightly oversized monk robe, sitting cross-legged on a bluestone.
At this moment, his eyes were tightly closed, and his hands formed a strange spell seal in front of his chest.
Opposite him, The Ancient One stood quietly, her gaze filled with incredible amazement.
"Hum..."
I saw a stable cluster of golden sparks suddenly light up between Tony's hands.
The sparks slowly deformed in the air, gradually forming the prototype of a complex magic array.
"Incredible..."
The Ancient One looked at the sparks in Tony's hands and murmured softly.
"Only a few days. Without systematic meditation training, relying solely on mathematical analysis of energy, you can achieve this level."
"Tony Stark, your brain is perhaps truly born to explore the truths of the Universe."
Hearing this, Tony slowly opened his eyes.
Looking at the magic array in his hand, a slight proud smile immediately appeared.
But he ignored The Ancient One's praise, instead raising his hand and pressing the communicator hidden under his monk robe.
"Jarvis! Record this frequency!"
"The space folding constant is 3.14, and the energy resonance threshold is in this band. Import it into the new armor's spatial storage algorithm!"
"As long as I crack this damn spark-ring logic, I can not only cram the whole set of armor into a watch, but also engrave a defensive magic array on the armor!"
"At that time, no matter what demon gods, I can blast them back to their hometown with a single cannon shot!"
The Ancient One: "..."
Seeing Tony caught up in scientific fanaticism, this Sorcerer Supreme who had lived for hundreds of years sighed helplessly.
She suddenly doubted whether keeping this scientific madman in Kamar-Taj was right or wrong.
Perhaps it wouldn't be long before Kamar-Taj's magiclibrary was converted into a laboratory by him.
...
Meanwhile.
On the other side of Earth.
Deep within the African continent, a mysterious nation hidden under a holographic camouflage barrier.
That is, Wakanda.
This city, possessing a technological level far exceeding Earth's, was shrouded in the afterglow of the setting sun at this moment.
In a royal palace hall where a sense of technology and primitive totems merged.
The current king of Wakanda, Black Panther T'Chaka.
At this moment, he was sitting on the throne, looking solemnly at the projection in front of him.
What was playing on the projection was precisely the news footage of Lucas Stark in New York.
Standing beside T'Chaka was his young son.
Of course, he was also the future Black Panther heir, T'Challa.
"Father."
Looking at the image on the screen, T'Challa's brows furrowed tightly.
"This Lucas Stark's power is too abnormal."
"Outside rumors say it's because of genetic mutation, but looking at his suit, it seems to hide very advanced technology."
T'Chaka's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't refute anything.
Seeing this, T'Challa continued with sharp eyes.
"Moreover, previously he also announced the establishment of a superhero department, and wants to build a base in New York."
"But I feel that commercializing superhuman power or turning it into private armed forces is a huge unstable factor for the entire world."
T'Challa paused, speaking with some worry.
"If their power continues to expand, sooner or later it will threaten the concealment of Wakanda."
King T'Chaka was silent for a long time.
A complex light flashed in his weathered eyes.
"T'Challa, you only saw the surface threat."
"Pay attention to that suit's transformation method, as well as its ability to instantly absorb and convert kinetic energy."
"Don't you think this characteristic has some similarities with Vibranium?"
T'Challa froze for a moment, carefully recalling the footage just now, and his pupils shrank.
"You mean... Stark Industries has mastered technology similar to Vibranium? Or rather, they found a substitute for Vibranium?"
"Do not rule out this possibility."
T'Chaka stood up, walked to the holographic projection, and gently touched Lucas's image.
"Howard Stark back then once bought a part of Vibraniumfrom Klaw, and used it to make Captain America's shield."
"Now his sons have not only launched the Ark Reactor in the energy field, but have also shown such terrifying strength in biology and materials science."
T'Chaka turned around and looked at his son.
"Although Wakanda's technology leads the world, we are too closed off. The appearance of the Stark Brothers is a warning."
"We can no longer blindly believe that we are absolutely safe."
Hearing this, T'Challa clenched his fists, and fighting spirit burned in his eyes.
"Father, do I need to make a trip to the United States? I can personally go and test their depth, to see what trump cards they actually hold."
"No, now is not the time."
T'Chaka shook his head, stopping his son's impulsiveness.
"The Stark Brothers are currently in the limelight, and the world's eyes are all on them."
"Moreover, Lucas Stark acts eccentrically and without any bottom line. If we rashly make contact, once a conflict occurs, it is very likely to expose the existence of Wakanda."
"Let's first have S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra people act as pathfinding stones."
T'Chaka sat back down on the throne, his gaze becoming profound.
"Wakanda will continue to maintain silence. Have the hidden agents of the Dora Milaje strengthen their surveillance of Stark Industries."
"I want to see just how much this pair of brothers can turn this world upside down."
Chapter 175: New base Celebration Dinner
New York, Stark Tower.
Inside the office.
Luca and Peter crashed through the window, landing steadily on the ground.
The moment they landed, Peter's collar was disgustedly shaken off by Luca.
"Good grief, Peter. Can you stop screaming like a girl in the air next time? My super hearing was almost deafened by your screams."
Peter awkwardly scratched his head, quickly pulled off his mask, and panted heavily.
"S-Sorry, Mr. Luca. It's mainly because your speed was too fast, I felt like my soul was chasing after my body from behind."
Peter calmed his breathing and looked at Luca with absolute admiration.
"Still, Mr. Luca, you were so cool today!"
"Especially that moment when you caught the tentacle with one hand—I bet that's definitely going to be this year's most classic scene!"
Faced with Peter's fanatical flattery, Luca just waved his hand casually, walked over to the bar, and poured himself a glass of ice water.
"All right, cut the flattery. Today was just a field lesson. Next time you encounter a lunatic like that, don't go soft on me, understand?"
"I understand! I'll never do it again!" Peter immediately stood at attention and promised loudly.
Just at that moment.
"Sir."
Jarvis's gentle voice sounded in the office.
"I have good news to report to you."
"Just a moment ago, the head of the engineering department sent a message."
"The main structure and internal facilities of the new Justice League superhero base that you requested to be built off the coast of New York have been fully completed and passed safety tests."
"Oh?"
Luca raised an eyebrow, put down his water glass, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"The power of capital is truly great. As long as the money is right, buildings rise from the ground."
"It seems today is a good day worth celebrating."
Luca looked at Peter and snapped his fingers.
"Kid, consider yourself lucky. Tonight we're planning to throw a celebration party to celebrate the completion of the new base."
"Hurry home now, take a shower, and change into some handsome clothes. Later, bring your little girlfriend Mary Jane, along with your Aunt Mei, and come to the new basetogether to attend the dinner."
Hearing this, Peter's eyes lit up instantly, and he was so excited he almost jumped up.
"Really?! I can take Mary Jane with me?! Oh god, she's going to go crazy with happiness!"
"Of course. The Justice League's family benefits have always been very good."
Luca smiled and waved his hand.
"Get lost quickly. I'll have Jarvis send the base's location coordinates to your phone later. Remember not to be late."
"Guaranteed to arrive on time! Thank you, Mr. Luca!"
Peter excitedly put on his mask, not even able to wait to use the front door.
He directly shot out a strand of web and swung out the window, his excited cheers echoing in the night sky.
Seeing Peter leave, Luca stretched lazily with satisfaction.
He pressed the communicator on his desk.
"Jessica, Natasha. Come in."
A few seconds later.
The office door was pushed open.
The two walked in one after the other.
Although they looked respectful on the surface, there was some displeasure in both of their eyes.
All day today, they had been dealing with all sorts of cumbersome documents and dealing with those crazy reporters.
Moreover, they had to endure being ordered around by Luca at any time.
"Boss, what are your orders?" Jessica took a deep breath and squeezed out a sweet smile.
Luca leaned back in his chair, sizing up the two of them up and down, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Two assistants, you've worked hard today. To reward you, I've decided to arrange a very important special mission for you."
Hearing the four words special mission, both women's hearts tightened.
Could it be that he was finally going to show his true colors and prepare to make a move on them?
"Tonight, the Justice League is going to hold an internal celebration dinner at the new base."
"Since it's a private dinner, naturally we can't use those unreliable waiters from outside."
"Therefore, tonight's tasks of pouring tea, serving water, serving dishes, and cleaning up will be left to the two of you."
"Remember, you must showcase the highest service standards of Stark Industries employees. If the service isn't good, or you break a plate..."
Luca deliberately paused, his gaze becoming extremely oppressive.
"You know the consequences."
As soon as these words were spoken.
The office suddenly fell silent.
Jessica and Natasha widened their eyes, looking at Luca in disbelief.
Waiters?! Pouring tea and serving water?!
They were ace Agents of Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D.!
They were the bloodless Black Widow and Spider-Woman!
And now they were actually being asked to be waitresses at the dinner party?!
Wasn't this rubbing their dignity into the ground?!
Jessica still maintained a smile on her face, but she wished she could rush up and smash Luca's handsome face.
Natasha's breathing also grew rapid, cursing Nick Furywildly in her heart.
"What? Is there a problem?"
Luca raised an eyebrow, asking knowing the answer.
"N-No problem, Boss."
Natasha gritted her teeth, squeezing a few words out from between them.
"We will definitely provide high-quality service."
Jessica could only aggrievedly lower her head, concealing the sorrow in her eyes.
"Guaranteed to complete the mission."
Very good, that's right.
Luca clapped his hands in satisfaction.
"Go prepare. Remember to change into suitable maid outfits. If they don't fit, go find Pepper for reimbursement."
The two women nodded and turned away despairingly.
After the two women dejectedly left the office, Luca finally couldn't help laughing out loud.
"Hahaha! This is what life is about."
"Fighting monsters by day, flirting with female secretaries, and playing poker with beautiful superheroes at night."
"How should I put it, awesome!"
After laughing enough, Luca snapped his fingers.
"Jarvis."
"Present, Sir."
"Send notifications to Gwen, Wanda, and Dr. Banner. Tell them to gather at the new base tonight to attend the celebration dinner."
Luca thought for a moment and added another sentence.
"Tony and Old Popsicle are still studying deeply in Kamar-Taj, so there's no need to notify them. Lest they come back and steal my spotlight."
"Understood, Sir. Notifications sent. The base's location coordinates have been synchronized to all members' communication devices."
Luca stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked at the huge artificial island faintly visible on the distant sea surface.
That was the superhero base hammered out by Stark Industries with money and technology.
"All right, the new base is completed, and the staff are in place."
A flash of sharp light crossed Luca's eyes.
"Next, it's also time to start the next step of the plan. Hydra, S.H.I.E.L.D.... The game has only just begun."