Boom!
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Repulsor blasts thundered through the air.
At the same time, Clint Barton unleashed a triple-shot, three arrows screaming straight toward Thor.
"Damn it!"
Thor spun Mjolnir, knocking aside the repulsor fire and arrows in a shower of sparks.
"Tony! Clint! Wake up!" Thor roared. "She's an enchantress!!"
"Thor—don't fight them!"
Natasha seized the moment, rolling to Thor's side and shouting.
"They're being controlled! If we fight here, we'll be forced to hold back—and we'll destroy the tower!"
"Take me with you! We retreat first!"
"We need time to think!"
Thor clenched his jaw, eyes flicking between Lorelei's mocking smile and the merciless advance of Tony and the others.
"You're lucky today, witch!"
He wrapped one arm around Natasha's waist.
"Hold tight!"
Mjolnir spun violently.
"WHOOO—!"
The two transformed into a bolt of lightning, blasting out through the shattered windows and vanishing into the sky.
Lorelei walked to the broken window, gazing down at the glittering city below.
"Run," she murmured.
"This is only the beginning."
"Soon… this world will kneel at my feet."
-----
V.G.D. Headquarters – Antony's Office
Antony was staring at his system interface, grinning so wide his mouth almost split.
The Sokovia operation?
To put it bluntly—he won so hard it was unfair.
System notifications rang out like divine music:
Earth Region Popularity Level Increased: "Legend in the Making"
Ability Enhanced: Super Strength (20,000 tons base output)
Ability Enhanced: Super Speed (Mach 800 limit)
Ability Enhanced: Magic Resistance (Minor Barrier)
Ability Enhanced: Heat Vision (44,000°C Focused Mode)
Antony nodded with satisfaction.
With this level of power—plus his buffs—Earth was basically a comfort zone now.
Sure, there were still undisclosed cosmic threats lurking out there.
But no rush.
He had time.
Then the next notification appeared.
Antony froze.
For a moment… he actually stopped breathing.
New Ability Unlocked: INJUSTICE FORM
Description: When the scales in your heart tip, absolute power descends.
Effect: Upon activation, continuously burns Popularity Points as fuel to amplify all attributes.
Amplification scales with Popularity Points consumed per second.
Consumption rate controlled by host. Higher investment = higher multiplier.
NO UPPER LIMIT.
Can be deactivated manually or ends automatically when Popularity Points are exhausted.
Popularity Rank will not drop before deactivation.
"…No upper limit," Antony whispered, crimson light flickering faintly in his eyes.
This wasn't just a trump card.
This was a world-ending button.
Sure, it was a pure pay-to-win skill—but that meant as long as his popularity kept rising…
Even Celestials.
Even a fully-stoned Ultron.
He could kill them.
"So… I'm literally unbeatable as long as I'm popular?"
Antony laughed softly.
"I love it."
He casually checked his Special Popularity Points.
Current Special Popularity: 178,500
That number gave him pause.
Previous pulls had yielded some… interesting rewards.
Like that American-style upturned ass—
Ahem.
Good, but somehow still felt lacking.
"Do I save up for a ten-pull?"
Antony stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Single pulls are superstition… ten-pulls are science?"
Just as he stood at the edge of the gambler's abyss—
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the office door.
"Come in," Antony said, dismissing the system interface and returning to his calm, executive posture.
The door opened.
Jessica Jones walked in, dressed in her sharp leather jacket.
Behind her were Pietro Maximoff and Wanda Maximoff.
Wanda had changed out of her red jacket, now wearing a simple, low-cut red dress.
It gave her an air balanced delicately between girlhood and womanhood—shy yet alluring—especially paired with those wide eyes that still looked untouched by the world.
Antony had to admit it.
In the Marvel universe, Wanda's looks were absolutely top-tier.
"Boss!" Pietro greeted enthusiastically.
"This is my sister, Wanda. I brought her to report in!"
Wanda lifted her head nervously, glanced at Antony—
Then immediately looked down again, textbook introvert behavior.
Antony stood, walked around the desk, and stopped in front of her, wearing a warm, big-brother smile.
"Wanda," he said gently, "are you settling in well?"
"…Very well," she answered softly, fingers twisting the hem of her dress.
"Thank you, Mr. Starr. The apartment… it's very big. I'm still getting used to it."
"You will," Antony said reassuringly.
"This is your new beginning."
He extended his hand.
"My name is Antony Starr. You can call me Antony—or, like Pietro does, call me Boss."
Wanda hesitated, then lightly took his hand.
Warm.
Strong.
"Hello… Antony," she said, her voice trembling just a little.
"All right," Antony said, turning to Jessica.
"Jessica, introductions. This is Wanda—Pietro's sister."
Then back to Wanda.
"This is Jessica Jones, Jewel. She's our vice-captain and V.G.D.'s chief instructor. Captain Rogers is handling off-site operations, so Jessica's acting head trainer for now."
"Instructor!" Pietro snapped to attention, saluting exaggeratedly.
Jessica rolled her eyes but nodded at Wanda, her tone unusually gentle.
"Welcome. Lots of weirdos here—but at least the food's good."
"Thank you," Wanda replied, smiling shyly.
"Then," Antony continued, "Wanda, you'll follow Jessica first and familiarize yourself with the base. She'll teach you how to become a… compliant superhero."
"…Um."
Wanda suddenly spoke up.
She raised her head, her beautiful eyes shimmering with something unmistakable.
"Antony… can I stay by your side instead?"
The room fell silent.
Pietro's mouth fell open as he looked from his sister to his boss.
Jessica's eyebrow shot up instantly, her gaze sharpening.
"Stay… with me?" Antony blinked.
"Yes," Wanda said, taking a step forward, mustering courage.
"In Sokovia, you said you would guide me. You said I had talent. You said you'd teach me how to control my power."
"So… I want to stay close to you."
"That way, I can learn faster."
Her gaze was sincere.
Burning.
Unhidden.
Antony felt something stir.
Honestly—who could refuse a request like that from the Scarlet Witch?
A beautiful girl.
Infinite potential.
Looking at you like you're her anchor.
Having her by your side, pouring tea, learning from you—
That was every man's fantasy.
But…
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals