Chapter 81: When You Face Yourself
Zhou Ning was stunned. He got the super serum that quickly? He vaguely remembered that in the original timeline, even a powerful legendary vampire had to scheme for a long time before getting his hands on it.
I didn't expect the Crazy Clown template to have such seemingly ordinary skills, but their actual effects are this good.
To be honest, he was quite looking forward to the showdown between the crazy clown and the legendary vampire.
He continued the simulation.
July 2006. You received three doses of the super serum. You watched as Electro was injected with the enhanced version, his strength and agility increasing by approximately 60%. It was quite amusing. To everyone's surprise, however, you gave all three doses to your subordinates, keeping none for yourself. When they asked why, you simply smiled and said, "You don't need this to be more dangerous. You... are the danger itself."
August 2006. Perhaps because you bombed several of their elite agents, S.H.I.E.L.D. has become like a fat, divorced ex-girlfriend with two kids who's still trying to get back together with you. They're boring, annoying, and they won't stop chasing you. But you remain calm. The kidnapper was Max Dillon, Electro. The one who planted the bomb was William Beck, the Sandman. What does any of that have to do with you?
[Another interesting discovery: in the slums, you found Bruce Banner. He seemed to have just gone through a rather tragic experience. Transforming into the Hulk had cost him his job and his love, turning him into a wanted criminal. People like this are the most susceptible to influence. You know, madness is like gravity; sometimes all it takes is a little push.]
September 2006. Events unfolded just as you planned. You used hypnosis to plant suggestions in Bruce Banner's mind, then managed to tip off the military to his whereabouts. The ensuing scene was fascinating, as you effortlessly manipulated everything from the shadows. The enraged Hulk killed all his pursuers, including General Ross—his girlfriend's father. Some things can never be undone. Upon waking, Bruce Banner was in agony, believing your hypnotic suggestions were his own subconscious thoughts. A few days later, you found him and had a long chat. Before long, he was laughing just like you. You had controlled his mind with words alone, turning him into a villain. As the saying goes: you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
October 2006. Bruce Banner, truly one of humanity's brightest minds, helped you recreate and refine Joker Gas—a chemical that drives people into a frenzy of fear and infighting. Shortly after he joined the Joker Gang, you were approached by Dr. Connors, a retired military doctor with a PhD in biology. He had lost his right arm in battle and had since dedicated his career to limb regeneration. You weren't interested in his goals, but rather in his Lizard Potion, which could supposedly transform ordinary people into lizards. That seemed intriguing. Most intriguingly, during this process, you discovered a Skrull named Henrietta and successfully brought her under your control. She claimed to be a Skrull deviant, capable of transforming into any creature, including humans. This surprised you quite a bit.
[Also, at the end of October, your men who had been injected with the enhanced serum became quite active. Electro, in particular, was extremely powerful. Under your command, they successively eliminated the Irish Gang, the Hines Gang, and the Demon Gang in Hell's Kitchen. Your Joker Gang had become the undisputed masters of the district, and even Kingpin acquiesced to this.]
December 2006. Tony Stark, whom you had been keeping an eye on, disappeared during a business negotiation. In his absence, the CEO of Stark Industries was Obadiah Stane. So, under your arrangement, Henrietta transformed into Tony Stark and signed a share transfer agreement. You were now the undisclosed owner of Stark Industries. At the end of the month, when Tony Stark finally returned to confront Obadiah, he discovered his company was gone. He was completely bankrupt, penniless. That evening, you watched as security guards kicked Tony Stark out onto the street, and you burst into laughter. You had personally bankrupted a billionaire and reduced him to a pauper. Isn't that amusing? (Family +12)
January 2007. After taking full control of Stark Industries, you discovered several encrypted folders within the company's database. Enlisting Bruce Banner's help, you decrypted them and uncovered the complete formula for the super serum. Additionally, in Tony Stark's lab, you discovered even more advanced products. Perhaps you had Tony Stark to thank for succeeding in making danger even more dangerous. You obtained the epic item: Tony Stark's Super Serum.
January to June 2007. You leveraged Stark Industries' vast financial resources to expand your influence. More villains, drawn to your wealth and sinister charm, joined your Joker Gang, including Martin Li and Herman Schultz. Meanwhile, the bankrupted Tony Stark chose to join S.H.I.E.L.D. During this period, the two sides frequently clashed, with conflicts flaring up behind the scenes. Isn't that even better? As a classy criminal, creating a little commotion and disrupting the established order is exactly what you enjoy. But one thing truly bothered you: since March, a gorilla in iron armor had suddenly appeared on the streets of New York. Your right-hand man, Vulture, had been killed by it. Don't think for a second you haven't read Marvel comics before this time travel. Isn't this just a classic deus ex machina?
July 5, 2007. Professor Connors informed you that his Lizard Potion had finally been developed. You decided it was time to start an interesting plan.
July 13, 2007. You dispatched Electro to infiltrate the Triskelion, the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D., and release a concentrated gas of the Lizard Agent inside the building. The result pleased you greatly. Numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were transformed into Lizardmen, including the senior agent Hawkeye. As you predicted, S.H.I.E.L.D. quickly targeted you. Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter led a large number of agents to storm Stark Industries. However, under the effects of the Joker Gas you had pre-emptively released, they quickly fell into a frenzy of fear and began to slaughter each other. You were confident of victory, but what happened next shocked you. Among them, somehow unaffected by the Joker Gas, you saw yourself from this world. Your eyes met. You were both stunned for a moment before you attacked without hesitation, drawing your gun and pulling the trigger on your alter-ego. The result was astonishing: after being shot three times, he continued to charge at you as if nothing had happened. After exchanging blows, you felt a crack in your right arm as it broke instantly.
[Only now do you finally understand the warning from the beginning of your journey: Please pay attention to the other 'you' who is also traveling through time.]
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