บท 39: Shortcomings
Actually, the Ancient One overthought it. When Zane mentioned intervening as he saw fit, he meant during the system's mission releases. Based on the previous patterns of task releases, the system tended to issue tasks according to the original plot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Especially the critical points triggering tasks for various superheroes and supervillains' fate twists.
But Zane wouldn't be brainless enough to explain. The Ancient One had promised not to trouble him anymore, and the current situation was the best result. Zane wouldn't be foolish enough to suddenly become a world-destroying demon.
Zane's goal was always simple. Having experienced mediocrity in his previous life and helplessness when he first arrived in the Marvel world, Zane just wanted to enjoy himself in this world with his loved one. He wanted to be unrestrained, to live as he pleased, as long as nobody provoked him or blocked his path. Zane didn't care about those people.
Even though Zane had the capability to destroy Hydra now—S.H.I.E.L.D. was almost entirely infiltrated by Hydra, and Hydra was planning to subvert the government of which small country—even though these were significant issues, Zane expressed zero interest.
After returning from the mirrored space, Zane glanced at the still unconscious Peter, then picked up the blood-sampling device on the experimental table. He drew three large tubes of blood from Peter.
After all, with such a ready-made example of successful gene grafting technology, it would be a waste not to collect experimental data. Zane handed the blood sample to the arriving A.I., turned around, and left without paying any attention to Peter still lying on the cold ground.
Skynet hesitated, looking at Peter on the ground, then at Zane's departing figure it decisively followed Zane's footsteps.
Although it quite appreciated this young man, when compared to its master, the appreciation for Peter was instantly cast aside.
As for why Zane didn't help Peter call an ambulance or something similar, the reason is simple. Zane is currently very unhappy. He had to leave Lorna in the middle of the night because of this guy. It's important to note that people in this period of a relationship usually want to be together all the time. Moreover, he just had a fight with the Ancient One, and ultimately died.
With all this happening, expecting Zane to call an ambulance for him is like hoping Zane won't stab him a few times. Zane considers not stabbing him a few times as already showing consideration for their friendship.
As for what Peter will do when he wakes up, whether he will eventually return to his original trajectory, Zane's decision is the same as the Ancient One's. It's entirely up to Peter.
If he chooses to continue working at Skynet Technologies, Zane welcomes it and might even give him a raise. But if he decides to become the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in New York City, Zane won't intervene either. As long as Peter doesn't provoke him, that's the end of it.
After all, Zane has researched gene grafting technology enough. Various experimental data is also synchronized and saved by Skynet. Any slightly competent genetic engineering scientist can continue the subsequent experiments. It would only delay the results a bit, and Zane is patient enough to wait for that.
On the way home, Zane reflected on his fight with the Ancient One. This was the first time he found himself in a disadvantaged position since coming to the Marvel world. The previous battle with the Lizard People was more like bullying; it couldn't be considered a real fight.
This battle not only made Zane clearly recognize his current power level but also exposed several flaws in himself.
First: Lack of combat experience. Zane didn't seize any of the Ancient One's vulnerabilities. The entire rhythm of the battle was controlled by the Ancient One. Zane only mindlessly used skills, without coordinating their use properly. Even the time he injured the Ancient One was simply because she wasn't familiar with his abilities.
If he had activated [God's Absence] as a surprise attack on the Ancient One as soon as they entered the mirrored space, it would have been much simpler. However, Zane subconsciously considered this skill as a support skill and didn't think about it during the fight.
Second: No knowledge of any martial arts skills. Once the Ancient One got close, despite having great strength, Zane didn't know how to use it. Throughout the battle, he couldn't even grab the Ancient One's clothes, only managing to catch her in the end by risking his own life.
Third: Lack of a decisive weapon in the [King's Treasury]. If there were a nuclear bomb inside, things wouldn't have been so complicated. Zane could have started by bombarding the Ancient One with a few big level attacks to see how she would react.
Fourth: Lack of movement skills. During the fight, Zane could only stand in place, subject to the Ancient One's various attacks. He couldn't dodge even if he wanted to. If there was a teleportation-like skill, it would have been great. By the way, why couldn't the spatial gem in the [Magic Furnace] have an additional teleportation ability?
In fact, Zane hadn't fully understood the nature of the [Magic Furnace] skill. It wasn't like the Infinity Gauntlet, allowing the wearer to use the abilities of the embedded items. Instead, it turned the embedded items into buffs for the host. It couldn't generate any new skills.
Moreover, the spatial gem's greatest value had already been acquired by Zane — the infinite energy. This was a unique ability of the spatial gem. It could connect to an infinite number of dimensions to absorb energy. Compared to this, teleportation seemed insignificant.
Now that the attribute 'infinite energy' was already turning Zane into a humanoid artillery, in the future, when Zane possesses even more powerful skills, destroying the universe and breaking through dimensional walls might just be a matter of time.
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