Capítulo 11: Chapter 11
Shadows and Steel
The city sprawled beneath Jack's villa like a vast labyrinth of concrete and glass, the hum of traffic and the distant flicker of neon lights painting the skyline. Inside the mansion, Jack paced thoughtfully, the energy from the reactor humming quietly in the background. The vibranium core was stable, and his powers had grown more potent since he began absorbing its energy. His Kryptonian blood had responded beautifully, absorbing the solar energy at a rate that surpassed even his expectations.
He had become a being of near-limitless potential, yet the weight of it all was not lost on him. With great power came great responsibility—or, as Jack preferred to think of it, great opportunity. The world had yet to realize just what kind of force was hiding just beneath the surface.
Nam's voice broke through his reverie, soft and ever-present.
"Jack, S.H.I.E.L.D. has ramped up their investigation," she warned. "They're no longer just watching—they're probing for anything that could lead them to you."
Jack smirked, fingers drumming against the sleek surface of his desk. "Let them. I've prepared for this."
---
The Web Tightens
Meanwhile, Peter Parker's life had become a whirlwind of danger, responsibility, and the constant hum of anxiety. He swung from building to building, trying to balance his new life as Spider-Man with school, friends, and the mysteries of his transformation. The bite from the radioactive spider had granted him incredible strength and agility, but with it came the challenge of controlling his newfound abilities.
Jack kept tabs on Peter's progress, watching as the boy made his first attempts at crime-fighting. He saw his potential but knew that Peter wasn't ready for the true weight of what lay ahead. The Lizard had become a pressing threat, and the boy was quickly approaching the moment where he would face his first real test.
Jack's eyes narrowed as he watched the news reports of the chaos unfolding in the city. The Lizard was rampaging, and Spider-Man was struggling to keep up. It was only a matter of time before the boy's inadequacies were exposed, but Jack didn't want to interfere just yet. Peter had to learn on his own—after all, that was the essence of heroism, wasn't it?
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Strikes
Jack's presence had not gone unnoticed, and with his recent material purchases and the growing concern over the mysterious planet, S.H.I.E.L.D. had begun to connect the dots. They were now actively searching for him. Nick Fury, ever the pragmatist, had dispatched his agents to monitor the planet more closely, narrowing their focus on a series of seemingly unrelated incidents: the appearance of the new planet, the sudden surge of high-tech material purchases, and the mysterious case of vibranium being sold through illicit channels.
Fury's brow furrowed as he looked over the latest intelligence reports. "We need a name," he muttered, turning to Hill. "We need to know who's behind all this."
Maria Hill nodded. "They're good, Nick. Real good. Whoever this is, they've covered their tracks."
Fury stood up, his eye burning with determination. "Then we find them the old-fashioned way—force."
---
The Day at School
Jack, meanwhile, had a more immediate concern. Gwen Stacy.
The previous day, they had spent time chatting in the hallways, the beginning of a bond that seemed to be growing stronger by the minute. Gwen, in her characteristic way, had tried to play it cool, but Jack could see the slight blush on her cheeks when he spoke to her. It was subtle, but to someone with his heightened senses, it was unmistakable.
The day had begun like any other, with Jack walking into Midtown High with his usual calm demeanor. His interactions with the other students were polite but reserved, though he had found himself growing particularly fond of Gwen's company. She was intelligent, quick-witted, and had a natural charm that made him feel… human. It was something he had long since forgotten in the pursuit of power.
"Hey, Jack," Gwen greeted him as they met at the lockers. She seemed a little more upbeat than usual, though Jack could sense an undercurrent of nervousness in her voice.
"Hey, Gwen," Jack replied, flashing her a small smile. "How's your day been?"
"Same old, same old," she said with a shrug. "Except for—well, you know. Spider-Man."
Jack chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Yeah. Pretty big news, huh?"
"I'm still trying to figure out who he is," Gwen said, clearly intrigued. "There's something about him, you know? Like, he's just a regular guy—yet he does all this crazy stuff."
Jack raised an eyebrow, his mind racing. Peter, he thought. She's on the scent. Not good.
---
The Black Market's Aftermath
Back at his villa later that evening, Jack spent the hours tinkering with the vibranium reactor he had built. Nam's calming voice was a constant companion, offering suggestions as Jack adjusted the delicate machinery. It was working perfectly—too perfectly.
"Jack, I've detected a series of spikes in the city's energy readings," Nam said suddenly, her voice tinged with concern. "They seem to be coming from your vicinity."
Jack paused, furrowing his brow. "What do you mean?"
"Power surges. The reactor is releasing more energy than it should, and it's causing localized disruptions. S.H.I.E.L.D. has likely picked up on the readings."
Jack's mind raced. "Damn it. I need to fix this before they trace it back to me."
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Approaches
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Fury watched the city from a secure command center, his face illuminated by the glow of multiple screens.
"We've got a problem," he muttered, watching a feed of the increasing energy readings. "Whoever this is, they've got access to tech we've never seen before. Start mobilizing the team. We need answers."
Maria Hill nodded, her fingers flying over her keyboard. "We're already running background checks on anyone who could've made these purchases. Someone's out there building something big."
Fury clenched his fists. "And we need to make sure it doesn't blow up in our faces."
---
Jack's First Test
Later that night, as Jack wandered through the streets of the city, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. His heightened senses were on high alert as he strolled through the park, and it didn't take long before his instincts kicked in.
From the shadows, a group of thugs emerged, each armed with weapons and clearly looking for trouble. One of them stepped forward, eyeing Jack with a sneer.
"Hey, pretty boy," the thug spat. "What's a fancy guy like you doing in a place like this?"
Jack didn't flinch. "I'm just passing through," he said calmly.
"Not anymore, you're not," the thug growled, lunging forward with a knife.
The fight was over in seconds. Jack moved with fluid grace, his enhanced strength and reflexes making short work of the thugs. A few quick strikes, a few well-placed kicks, and they were all on the ground, nursing broken bones and bruises.
"Dumbasses," Jack muttered as he dusted off his hands. "Don't they know who I am?"
---
Peter's Struggle
Meanwhile, Peter Parker was having his own struggles. The Lizard, having transformed from Dr. Curt Connors into the monstrous reptilian creature, was wreaking havoc across the city. Spider-Man, now fully realizing the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders, was doing his best to stop the creature's rampage.
The battle had taken its toll on Peter, who was barely managing to keep up with the Lizard's unpredictable attacks. He had no idea what he was up against.
"I can't do this alone," Peter thought, gritting his teeth as he swung through the city, trying to find a way to stop the Lizard.
Jack watched from a distance, knowing that Peter would have to learn how to fight the Lizard on his own. The boy wasn't ready for the full weight of this world, but he had potential. And that was something Jack would always respect.
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End of Day Reflections
Back in his villa, Jack watched the chaos unfold on the news. The Lizard had taken the city by storm, and Spider-Man was doing his best to keep up. But as Jack watched, his thoughts wandered to the bigger picture.
Soon, S.H.I.E.L.D. would come looking for him, and that was a problem he would need to solve—carefully. But for now, Jack had time. Time to grow stronger, time to perfect his skills, and time to shape his destiny.
And with that, Jack Reaves—the invader from the stars—retreated into the shadows, preparing for whatever challenges the world would throw at him next.
End of Chapter
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