Chương 641: Avengers' Training: Hulk
"I am," she nodded her head slowly. Edward did not say anything more. In this timeline, it's not feasible for Steve to travel back in time to retroactively become her husband. Meanwhile, Peggy had another husband, but they divorced after a few years, probably because she could not forgive her first love.
Edward released a white light from his palm into her body, changing his Life Code on a genetic level, thus increasing her lifespan by a thousand years. He also strengthened her physical abilities, given her stats similar to those of the former Captain America before becoming the Universe Guardian. He also left an Aura Training Method in her mind, just in case.
In a matter of seconds, Peggy returned to her younger self and a physical shape unlike anything else. She looked at her smooth skin and touched her young face. Then, smiling, she looked at him," Steve."
"Peggy."
They hugged each other before starting to kiss passionately. Edward was fine at first, but when these two did not stop after more than thirty seconds, he had to cough to remind them they were not alone.
"Sorry about that," Peggy apologized.
"My bad," Steve said.
Edward controlled his jealousy. "I've increased her constitution, so she might have to take a few days adapting to her newfound strength."
"Is this why I feel I can crush a boulder or run a marathon like it was nothing?" Peggy commented. At first, she thought these thoughts were because she had regained her youthful vigor.
"Use the training I left in your mind to adapt to your strength quickly," Edward said before looking at Steve. "Don't you have something to do?"
"Oh, right." Steve flew in the air before disappearing.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"He should be fine."
"You don't sound too certain," Peggy stated worriedly. They had just reunited, and she did not want to experience another separation.
"His life is not in danger, but there are more important things at stake."
Peggy was briefly quiet. "He told me about everything. Is there anything I can do?"
Edward looked at her: "You're on the list for the secondary training group. Use the method I left in your mind to save me time and effort." After training the Avengers, Edward will take a long break before training the Defenders, and Peggy is part of that training group, along with the younger members of the Avengers, like Spider-Man, the Marvels, and maybe Scarlet Witch and her brother, if he can save them from Hydra's clutches.
"I'll do my best," Peggy nodded. Oh, and could you please unseal my strength and memories?"
'That bastard Steve really told her everything,' Edward complained. He then removed the seal from her memories. "Adapt to your current strength first before getting more of it."
Peggy was fine after seeing how she killed another version of herself. After all, she was in the army and one of the founders of SHIElD; she has killed plenty of people. However, there was still an odd feeling after killing someone that looked exactly like herself.
Steve appeared in the sky a few minutes later, releasing a potent aura and palpitating cosmic enemy.
"Tier 9, not bad," Edward commented. Although this strength was not his but the universe, it was still valuable. "How is it?" he asked.
"Bucky is still my flaw," Steve admitted with a sigh.
"Do you know where he is?"
"No."
Edward was not surprised. It's simple for a Tier 10 Entity like Mephisto to hide from the Universe Will— especially a devil like him who likes to hide behind the scenes and use tricks.
"In that case, we can only wait," Edward uttered. "There is one more thing." He told Steve about acquiring another set of strengths in case he loses his status as the Universe Guardian.
"Is this really necessary?"
"The Universe Will is limited by rules," Edward calmly explained. "If one day you have to make a choice that saves the universe but breaks the rules, it will have no choice but to remove your status as a Guardian. We must prepare for such a possibility."
Edward did not even mention the fact that once people discover the source of his power, they will try to deal with the Universe's Will. No, they don't even need such a reason as eliminating their timeline's will, which is one of the most direct and efficient ways to destroy them.
"I understand," Steve nodded.
"By the way, have you contacted Sam?"
"I've met him.
"And?"
"A great guy," Steve commented. He understood why the future him he saw got along so well with the latter.
"Have you told him the current situation?"
"No, that's confidential information."
Edward resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Tell him since he's on the training list for this round."
"Is that so? Alright."
The two chatted briefly before Steve left with Peggy. The two lovebirds have a lot to catch up with.
"It might be in our interest to study the source of his power," Morgan suddenly said.
"I've already put a mark on him to gather data."
"Good. You should also talk to Tony about his parents. We don't want that to become another one of his flaws."
"I'm on it." Edward hid that Bucky had killed Howard when he showed the Avengers the future, but this fact would become a problem that he needed to address eventually.
He summoned Banner for training, and as soon as the latter arrived, he could tell he was nervous.
"Banner, what's on your mind?" Edward asked, trying to appease him before things started.
"I'm a little jiffy about this training."
Edward glanced at him: "Are you afraid of being used as a weapon?"
Banner suddenly paused: "Something like that."
"Unfortunately, that is exactly what fate awaits you," Edward said, not mincing his words. "While you have reservations, some variants of yourself do not. When these monsters encounter our timeline and want nothing more than to eradicate it, we need someone to restrain them."
Banner was quiet. His life has been so peaceful ever since he found that meditation technique. With absolute control over his mind and soul, he easily suppresses the other Hulk and can control his transformation at will. However, he had never lost his fear of losing control, of being manipulated and turned into a weapon of destruction.
"You are a monster, Banner," Edward said calmly. "And that's coming from another monster who can recognize his own kind. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing — as long as you keep that sliver of humanity that allows you to use that monstrous power for something good."
"I…never thought of it that way," Banner uttered. "But what if I can't preserve that humanity?"
"That's why you need other people, other closed ones, to keep you grounded," Edward explained.
"I understand."
Banner proceeded with his test, and the test result was abnormal yet predictable.
"An abnormal affinity with Gamma Energy," Morgana reported. "We only need to strengthen his soul and pump him with enough Gamma Energy, and he'll become a rampaging monster that is the embodiment of strength and rage."
"So?" Banner asked.
"You'll need to start practicing an advanced version of your meditation technique to increase your soul. Then, you can start absorbing Gamma Energy from other dimensions," Edward explained.
"Advance meditation technique?" Banner muttered as something dawned on him. "Of course, that meditation scroll was so effective; it had to be magically related." He thought he was lucky enough to find something so mystical, but now he knew no luck was involved.
Banner shook his head, deciding not to overthink it, and started training. Despite how uncomplicated Hulk's training was, Edward still allowed him access to this Time Acceleration Room. He also added other training for Banner, including hand-to-hand combat, weapons training, and, more importantly, soul defense.
Banner had a unique soul that was divided into two. The Banner Soul was previously weak before this training, but now, there is no issue. Meanwhile, the Hulk Soul is powerful, but it is easily influenced. Edward tried to teach that soul how to defend itself, but this thing was too stupid to learn anything too complex, so it was now the Banner Soul's task to protect it in case he met an opponent who was an expert at Spiritual/Soul Magic.
Edward even created a Soul Defense Artifact for them.
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