"Scan the energy response on Fenris."
"Sir, Fenris's surface temperature has doubled. His energy activity and intensity have both increased severalfold. Due to interference from an unfamiliar magnetic field, exact values cannot be observed."
"His size has increased by a factor of 1.5. Current height: twenty-five meters. Weight unknown."
"Based on simulations using the previously established database, his strength and defense have increased by at least three times. Estimated cellular activity has increased by more than tenfold. Regenerative ability..."
"Extremely powerful."
Since direct observation was impossible, JARVIS could only call on the computing center to run a simulation.
It was just that the conclusion produced by the simulation seemed to surprise even him, an artificial intelligence. After a brief silence, JARVIS said, "Sir, it would be best if you avoided angering Mr. Fenris in the future."
"He has now completely departed from the category of normal biological life. Calling him a walking super-yield nuclear bomb would not be an exaggeration."
"Although you now possess a superhuman physique, in his hands, you would be no different from cotton."
"..."
For the first time in his life, Tony heard concern for himself in the voice of an artificial intelligence.
At this moment, Fenris still seemed to be familiarizing himself with his brand-new body. Because of the existence of his G-cells, he quickly adapted to the sudden increase in size and strength.
Fenris could even clearly sense every cell in his body, including the vast energy stored inside them. As long as he willed it, he could pour all that power out at once.
With each breath, a deeply oppressive low hum sounded in a steady rhythm.
When everyone met Fenris's eyes, which were flashing with blue light from the overflow of energy, they felt as if their hearts had been seized. A suffocating pressure instantly enveloped their entire bodies.
"I was wrong. I actually worried something might happen to this guy."
Tony looked up at Fenris, feeling as though his heart was no longer under his control. It began beating wildly in time with Fenris's rhythm. "From now on, even if this guy says he's going to take a bath in the actual sun, I won't be surprised anymore..."
"I wonder when I'll be able to become like that."
Connors stared straight ahead, then glanced at his own body.
Compared to Fenris, the form he had always considered muscular and beautiful was practically unbearable to look at. Not only was it nowhere near as majestic, it even looked a little dumb and crude.
Noticing Peter repeatedly looking between him and Fenris, Connors felt his chest tighten. He simply changed back to his original form.
"Fenris, if you keep moving around like that, this building really is going to collapse."
The Ancient One watched Fenris stretch as though no one else were there, smiling as pieces of the ceiling kept smashing onto the ground and throwing up clouds of dust.
The already battered building finally reached the edge of total collapse after this latest round of abuse.
Before the Ancient One even finished speaking, several load-bearing columns gave explosive cracks almost at the same time. After a violent tremor, the laboratory building looked as if it was about to cave in completely.
"Not good."
Only then did Fenris snap out of his ecstasy over his sudden surge in strength.
"Rise."
A familiar soft command rang out. Countless streams of golden light spread along the beams and columns. The shaking building trembled once, then immediately stabilized.
"Master Ancient One?"
Fenris lowered his head and happened to meet a gentle gaze.
He had not expected to see her here. Fenris immediately restrained the energy surging around him, and the brilliant blue light in his eyes slowly faded.
"Fenris, congratulations. You have gained another precious power."
Seeing Fenris return to his original form, the Ancient One smiled and congratulated him.
"Master, why are you here?"
After giving Tony and the others a reassuring look, Fenris stepped forward.
Recently, the Ancient One had been busy all the time. Even when Fenris occasionally went to the Dark Dimension to take advantage of Dormammu, he rarely ran into her anymore. How did she have time to come find him today?
"I ran into a little trouble."
The Ancient One gestured to the side in invitation. "Shall we talk?"
"All right."
"Connors, take everyone back to the academy first. I have something to deal with."
Fenris nodded. After giving Connors an instruction, he set off side by side with the Ancient One.
Behind him, Peter only saw the two of them take a single step before they vanished from his sight together.
"So this is what the world really looks like..."
Peter removed the web-shooter from his wrist and turned it over in his hands, suddenly beginning to doubt his life. For the first time, he felt that perhaps he really could only be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in Queens.
And not even a very good one.
...
"Where is this?"
Fenris's vision blurred, and he discovered that the Ancient One had brought him to a place he had never been before.
He looked around and saw barren earth stretching in every direction. Black clouds hung low overhead, making the place feel especially oppressive.
When Fenris released his life perception, he discovered that there was not a single living creature within thousands of kilometers. Everything was dead silent.
"Caw!"
Several piercing cries came from the distance. Dark shadows flapped their wings and swept low through the air, adding to the desolate atmosphere.
"This isn't Earth?"
Fenris frowned and looked toward the calm-faced Ancient One.
At this moment, the Ancient One no longer had the relaxed composure from before. Instead, she looked faintly cautious, an expression Fenris had never seen on her before.
"This is one of the hell dimensions."
"One of them."
"One of them?"
Fenris was so startled by her words that he nearly jumped in place.
He had indeed become much stronger now, but he had not reached the point where he could freely come and go in places like this, right?
"Master, we can talk things out properly. Why did you have to bring me here to discuss it?"
After learning the truth of this place, Fenris instinctively wanted to leave.
"So there are things even you fear, Fenris?"
The Ancient One looked at the youth, who could barely hide his alarm, with amusement.
"Give me a few more years and see whether I'm still afraid."
Fenris coughed lightly.
During this period, he had also relied on the notes he had left behind to visit quite a few dimensions. Most of their powers were harmless, but at the same time, they did not help him improve much either. They were not even as convenient as Tony's arc reactor.
The most dangerous and most helpful one was instead the one he was most familiar with: the Dark Dimension.
Under the nourishment of the Dark Dimension's power, the faint purple glow on Fenris's skin had grown brighter and brighter whenever he transformed into Godzilla.
As for this hell dimension, biting off more than he could chew was never wise. From the very beginning, Fenris had not dared to set his sights on it.
He had never expected that his first visit would once again be because the Ancient One had brought him here.
"Don't be afraid. Mephisto isn't here today."
The Ancient One smiled softly. "Besides, even if he were here, I'm here too. What are you afraid of?"
"..."
Fenris pursed his lips and did not answer.
A confrontation at that level was not something he currently had any desire to witness.
"Recently, the lord of this hell dimension, Mephisto, has begun frantically expanding his influence in the human world for reasons unknown."
The Ancient One was not annoyed and continued speaking on her own. "He selects his human representatives through soul contracts, allowing them to trade their souls for great power."
"However, one of his recent representatives has an exceptionally vile nature. With that superhuman power, he has done many things that disrupt the balance. I want..."
"Hss..."
A piercing hiss suddenly rang out from thin air, cutting off what the Ancient One was about to say.
"What was that?"
The unpleasant sound made goosebumps rise all over Fenris's body. He shuddered involuntarily.
Fenris instinctively looked around. After realizing he had found nothing, his eyes abruptly widened. A chill suddenly ran down his back. "Why does that sound like it's coming from me?"
"Fenris!"
The Ancient One suddenly turned around and immediately noticed something wrong with him.
She grabbed Fenris's arm and pinched down hard.
The skin all over Fenris's body had begun churning uncontrollably. In only a moment, his appearance had already changed dramatically. His entire body had almost completely lost its original shape.
And that horrifying hissing sound was coming from beneath Fenris's skin.
"How could this happen?"
(End of Chapter)
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