Noah didn't hesitate for even a second when The Punisher suggested working together.
He refused immediately.
If the job involved stopping armed robbers or dealing with small-time criminals, that was one thing. With Noah's current physical strength, even a handgun would only be lethal under very specific circumstances—like taking multiple shots to the same spot on his head.
Helping people under those conditions? Sure. Noah might even consider it relaxing.
But vampires?
That was clearly supernatural territory.
Which meant complications, unpredictability, and a level of danger Noah wasn't ready to deal with yet.
Someone else could handle that mess.
The Punisher didn't argue after being told to leave. The earlier defeat had already cost him enough pride. There was no point lingering.
But just before he walked out, Noah spoke again.
"Wait a second."
The Punisher stopped.
"I thought vampires were Blade's problem," Noah said. "Why are you involved in something that far outside your league?"
It was the same question Matt had asked earlier.
The Punisher paused before answering.
"Blade disappeared two days ago."
His voice was flat.
"He might already be dead."
Then he left.
The door shut behind him.
Silence filled the room.
Peter looked stunned.
"Wait… vampires are real?"
His worldview felt like it had just been kicked sideways.
First mutants.
Now vampires?
What else was hiding under the surface of everyday life?
Noah shrugged.
"You've already accepted mutants. Vampires shouldn't be that hard to process."
"They're just creatures that can't walk in sunlight. Most of them aren't actually that strong."
He glanced at Peter.
"Honestly, ninety-nine percent of them probably couldn't beat you in a fight right now."
But even as he said that, Noah's thoughts drifted.
So Blade's story is happening next door…
In the original events Noah remembered, Blade handled those situations on his own.
Still…
This world wasn't exactly the same as the one from the movies.
It clearly wasn't the familiar Earth-199999 timeline.
This place felt like a strange fusion of multiple Marvel worlds.
Spider-Man.
Mutants.
Iron Man.
Vampires.
All of them coexisting in the same universe.
That meant the butterfly effect could easily change everything.
Better not assume things will play out the same way.
The uncertainty left Noah slightly uneasy.
Without another word, he picked up the steel rod lying nearby and tossed it toward Peter.
"Same as yesterday," Noah said.
Peter caught it instinctively.
"But increase the force by twenty percent. Keep the same speed."
"Twenty percent?" Peter asked.
But he nodded anyway.
Moments later the steel rod slammed against Noah's body.
Again.
And again.
A deep thudding sound echoed through the training room—like steel striking thick rubber.
The noise even carried faintly down to the gym floor below.
Some of the people exercising downstairs glanced at the ceiling in confusion, wondering if construction work had started upstairs.
Because of the increased force, Peter's endurance dropped faster than usual.
After twenty-five minutes, his arms were shaking again and he had to stop.
But Noah noticed something else.
Peter seemed distracted.
"You've been spacing out," Noah said. "What's on your mind?"
Peter hesitated.
"It's what The Punisher said earlier."
He lowered the rod.
"Do you think… people like us should become superheroes?"
His voice grew thoughtful.
"If we have these abilities, shouldn't we use them to help people?"
Noah didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stared at Peter in silence.
The gaze lasted long enough to make Peter uncomfortable.
Did I say something wrong?
The room felt oddly tense.
After a long pause, Noah looked away and resumed training.
"Why'd you stop swinging?" he said calmly. "Keep going."
Peter let out a breath of relief and resumed hitting him.
Inside, however, Noah felt a faint sense of resignation.
Figures.
Even without tragedy pushing him, Peter Parker still leaned naturally toward the hero path.
That was just who he was.
Noah suspected the high salary he'd offered might actually be part of the problem. With financial pressure gone, Peter now had the luxury to think about ideals.
Becoming a superhero.
Of all things.
Of course, Noah also knew trying to change Peter's personality was pointless.
Peter was the kind of person who would still try to do the right thing even if the world punished him for it.
Still…
Noah wasn't ready to lose his best training partner yet.
He glanced at Peter.
"Peter."
Peter stopped again.
"If you really want to be a superhero, I'm not going to stop you," Noah said.
"But have you thought about how that works with real life?"
Peter blinked.
"Superheroes don't get paid," Noah continued. "There's no salary. No insurance. No retirement plan."
"You live with your aunt and uncle, right?"
Peter hesitated.
"Have you thought about how your choices affect them?"
That question hit harder than any punch.
Peter immediately remembered the look on his aunt and uncle's faces earlier that morning when he showed them the twenty thousand dollars he'd earned.
Their relief.
Their pride.
The excitement in their voices.
His earlier enthusiasm suddenly cooled.
Noah continued calmly.
"I already paid you twenty thousand dollars in advance."
"I won't stop you from chasing your ideals."
"But at the very least, you shouldn't abandon the job you already agreed to."
Peter thought about it carefully.
After a moment, he nodded firmly.
"You're right."
"I'll finish the month."
Noah smiled faintly.
Perfect.
In his mind, the plan had worked exactly as intended.
Honestly, relying on real human workers was inconvenient.
Machines were far more reliable.
They didn't get tired.
They didn't have moral dilemmas.
They just worked.
Smith had already contacted manufacturers about modifying a heavy-duty hydraulic press for Noah's training. Once the machine was finished—probably within two weeks—Peter's role as a "human durability trainer" would become obsolete.
Of course, that wouldn't be firing him.
Noah preferred to think of it as career redirection.
Peter would simply move on to his real calling—patrolling New York as a superhero and contributing to society.
Meanwhile, Noah would continue training without interruptions.
Peter, completely unaware of Noah's future plans, continued swinging the rod with renewed determination.
In fact, he felt grateful.
Even after hearing that Peter might leave someday, Noah still seemed willing to help him think through his responsibilities.
What a good friend, Peter thought.
Noah, meanwhile, felt a hint of regret.
Still not enough time…
Ever since gaining his system, events kept crashing into his life one after another like iron filings drawn to a magnet.
Trouble found him whether he wanted it or not.
And the clock was always ticking.