บท 19: Chapter 19: The Weight of Power
Alex stood in the middle of his apartment, pacing restlessly. The light from his system panel floated in front of him, glowing softly in the dim room. He had accumulated more points over the last few weeks, creeping closer to the threshold for upgrading to the Platinum Wheel. But that milestone still seemed distant.
Points: 340/1,000.
It wasn't enough, not nearly enough, to unlock the power he would need for the battles that lay ahead. He had been thinking about this for a while now. He couldn't afford to wait around for something to happen. Not in a world filled with superhuman threats. He had to be proactive, find ways to accumulate more points, and more importantly, build connections that mattered.
But for now, the Silver Wheel was his only option.
He knew the rules—he had four slots available for Silver Wheel characters. One was already filled with Peter Parker, granting him Spider-Man's agility, strength, and spider-sense. The other three slots were empty, just waiting to be filled with the powers and skills of other silver-tier heroes.
The temptation to spin the wheel had been growing stronger every day, but Alex had held back until now, wanting to save up as many points as possible before making his next move. But after his conversation with Foggy at the bar, something inside him had shifted. He wasn't just a passive observer anymore. He was part of this world, and if he was going to survive and make a difference, he needed to be ready.
"Alright," Alex muttered to himself, cracking his knuckles as he summoned the wheel. The familiar, brightly-colored disc appeared before him, spinning lazily. It hummed with energy, filled with the potential to change his life.
Silver-tier heroes. Characters like Daredevil, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Ant-Man, and so many others. Not world-shattering powers, but enough to make him a force to be reckoned with. Enough to give him an edge.
"Let's see what you've got for me this time," Alex said, his heart beating faster as he reached out and spun the wheel.
The colors blurred together as the wheel spun faster and faster, the hum growing louder. Alex held his breath, watching as it slowed, ticking from one hero's name to the next. His mind raced with possibilities. Maybe Daredevil, with his heightened senses and martial arts expertise. Or Hawkeye, with his deadly accuracy. Both would be useful in their own ways, giving him skills that could complement Spider-Man's abilities.
Finally, the wheel came to a stop, and a name appeared on the glowing panel in front of him.
Black Panther: T'Challa.
Alex blinked in surprise, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Black Panther? That was… unexpected.
A surge of energy rippled through him as the system activated the new power, integrating it seamlessly with the Spider-Man abilities he already possessed. His muscles felt stronger, more powerful. His senses sharpened, and for a moment, he swore he could feel the heartbeat of the city around him, the rhythmic pulse of life moving through the streets of New York.
Black Panther's power wasn't just about physical strength. It was about speed, agility, and the heightened instincts of a predator. And then there was the tactical mind of T'Challa, the brilliance of a king and strategist.
Alex took a deep breath, flexing his fingers as he tested out the new abilities. His movements felt smoother, more controlled. He could sense the air around him more clearly, as if his awareness of the environment had expanded.
He felt… different. Not just stronger, but more grounded. More in control. And with the combined powers of Spider-Man and Black Panther, he was becoming something more than just a survivor.
He was becoming a protector.
---
The next day, Alex found himself walking through a quieter part of New York, far from the bustling chaos of Hell's Kitchen. The morning air was cool, and the streets were relatively empty, which gave him the peace he needed to think.
He hadn't interacted directly with any of the Avengers yet, but the idea had been lingering in the back of his mind ever since his encounter with Foggy. It wasn't that he wanted to be a hero, at least not in the traditional sense, but he couldn't deny that being involved with the Avengers—or at least the people around them—might help him gain more points.
The system rewarded interference with the plotlines of this world. If Alex could find subtle ways to influence events, maybe even help the Avengers indirectly, he could accumulate points faster without exposing himself to unnecessary danger.
But how could he get involved without drawing attention to himself?
That's when he remembered someone. Not an Avenger, but someone close to one.
Pepper Potts.
She wasn't a superhero, but she was a key figure in Tony Stark's life. Maybe checking in on her, seeing if there were any threats or dangers lurking in the shadows, could earn him a few points. And even if it didn't, it would at least give him the chance to test out his new powers in a real-world situation.
It wasn't long before he found himself standing outside Stark Tower—or, as it was more commonly known now, the Avengers Tower. The building was massive, its sleek, modern design towering over the surrounding structures.
Alex kept his distance, staying out of sight as he scanned the area. He didn't want to get too close—Tony Stark had an army of surveillance drones and security measures that could detect even the slightest anomaly. The last thing Alex needed was to end up on the Avengers' radar before he was ready.
His instincts kicked in, a combination of Spider-Man's spider-sense and Black Panther's heightened awareness. He could feel the subtle energy of the city around him, the ebb and flow of life as people moved through their day.
And then he saw her.
Pepper Potts, stepping out of a sleek black car in front of the tower. She looked as poised and composed as ever, her hair tied back in a neat ponytail. A few security personnel accompanied her, but nothing out of the ordinary.
For a moment, Alex hesitated. What was he supposed to do? Follow her? Intervene if something went wrong?
As he considered his options, he noticed a man in a dark coat standing across the street. At first, he didn't seem out of place, just another person in the crowd. But something about the way he was watching Pepper set off alarms in Alex's head.
His stance was too rigid, too focused. And the way his hand hovered near his jacket suggested that he was armed.
Alex's heart rate spiked. This was it—a chance to intervene, to test out his new abilities and maybe earn a few points in the process. But he had to be smart about it. No reckless moves, no drawing attention.
Keeping to the shadows, Alex moved closer, his body moving with the grace and agility of a panther. His muscles tensed as he prepared to act, but just as he was about to step in, the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Alex frowned, his senses still on high alert. Something wasn't right. That man had been watching Pepper, but now he was gone. Was it a coincidence? Or was there something more going on here?
He glanced back at Pepper, who was already inside the building, oblivious to the potential threat.
"Not today," Alex muttered to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. Maybe it was nothing, just a random stranger in the wrong place at the wrong time. But his instincts told him otherwise.
As he walked away from the tower, his thoughts returned to the system panel.
He had the power to make a difference now, to influence the lives of people in this world for the better. But he couldn't afford to be careless. He had to remain cautious, calculating. One wrong move, and the Sorcerors—or worse—could come after him.
Still, the encounter with Pepper had given him a taste of what it felt like to be involved, even if only indirectly. He was getting closer to his goal, closer to understanding how to navigate this world without revealing his true nature.
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