"Gift?"
Peter Parker's eyes lit up.
He was looking forward to it.
Nolan smiled faintly.
In this Marvel world, Spider-Man's abilities were admittedly a bit lacking. His strength, speed, and overall growth simply couldn't compare to other Spider-Men.
The Peter Parker Nolan had encountered before the original Spider-Man was a different story. Not only could he shoot webs from his wrists, but he also possessed the strength to stop a train, an extraordinary spider-sense, and incredible agility.
All of these combined made him undoubtedly the strongest Spider-Man.
Even in the main Marvel universe, he would rank as a top-tier superhero.
The Spider-Man in front of Nolan now was a genuine street-level hero.
But the Tobey Maguire version?
Sorry, that was the Hulk of Spider-Men.
Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man, though lacking web-shooting, exceeded Peter Parker in nearly every aspect.
Perhaps this was because the current Peter was still growing; he might become stronger in the future.
But no matter the gap among the three, one truth remained: they were all Spider-Man.
They were the greatest superheroes in this world.
Every other hero had flaws, yet for Peter Parker, it felt as though all the best qualities of this world converged in him.
How could Nolan not like a Spider-Man like this?
On the other hand, "like" could also be replaced with "pity."
As Spider-Man, Peter's life was almost destined for tragedy far greater than anyone else's.
But now that Nolan was here, he wouldn't stand by and watch.
Why should a hero so flawless, someone Nolan himself could barely imagine existing, suffer so much hostility and danger?
It was unfair.
If the world couldn't give him fairness, Nolan would.
Over the years, he bought the Daily Bugle, kicked out that awful boss, and helped Peter manage public opinion. Using the power of LockTech, he tried to smooth out the path ahead for Peter as much as possible.
Reaching a wall, Nolan turned to Peter Parker.
"I believe you already understand what it means to be a hero, and what responsibilities come with it."
Despite LockTech's help, Peter had endured a lot.
Hearing Nolan's words, Peter nodded.
"Yes, sir. I understand what it means to be a superhero no rest, danger at every turn, and the risk even those around me could be affected."
His voice was low, but soon Peter lifted his head, determination shining in his eyes.
"But I'm ready. I'll do everything I can to protect Aunt May. I'll give my all to protect everyone I can!"
A smile crossed Nolan's face.
He liked Peter Parker's response.
Then, Nolan pressed a panel on the wall.
The wall slid open, revealing its contents: a suit. A Spider-Man-themed battle suit.
"This suit is modeled after Mjolnir," Nolan explained.
"It amplifies your strength and upgrades your power-assist system to make your attacks more forceful."
Seeing Peter's eyes sparkle with excitement, Nolan continued:
"For now, only the strength amplification is unlocked. Other upgrades will activate as you grow the AI inside will monitor your progress, unlocking features when your performance meets its standards."
Nolan's expression grew serious.
"There's one situation where the suit will grant you all its power."
He looked Peter in the eye.
"When you face a moment where you must save someone, it will give you the power to shape the future. When that time comes, use it freely."
Peter's excitement settled into a focused calm.
A moment where he must save someone…
He understood Nolan Lock's meaning.
He nodded firmly, teeth clenched.
"I won't let it come to that unless I have to!"
"Let's hope not."
Nolan patted Peter on the shoulder.
"Now, go ahead and try it. This suit belongs to you."
In the original story, Tony Stark had also crafted a suit for Peter Parker. But honestly, compared to this Spider-Man armor, Stark's creation was a child's toy.
Nolan's suit didn't rely on flashy gimmicks. Its purpose was combat and it maximized that function.
Combined with Peter's natural abilities and spider-sense, it was the perfect weapon.
It might struggle against a Hulk-level Thor, but anyone else? Even Tony Stark couldn't beat Peter head-on.
Of course, Wanda's powers could still exceed Peter's limits. But that was just speculation for now.
"Thank you, Mr. Lock!"
Trying on the suit, Peter could only feel sheer joy. The suit was beyond his imagination.
"Don't thank him," a sharp voice interrupted.
They turned to see Daisy Johnson.
Daisy pursed her lips. After Nolan left, Simon Phillip handled most of the operations, but she participated in many aspects and she had talent for it.
She shot Nolan a sharp glance.
"This suit may be his arrangement, but he had nothing to do with its actual creation."
Peter forced a chuckle. Clearly, this wasn't a conversation he could join.
Nolan didn't make it awkward for him.
"Seems I have some matters to handle. Peter, if you don't have anything pressing, head back. Remember what I told you."
"Yes, sir."
Peter didn't remove the suit and slipped out of LockTech Tower.
Nolan watched him go, then approached Daisy without waiting for her comment.
"I was wrong, but you should know, I haven't stopped thinking about you."
"Ha! Thinking about me? Or your other lovers? Who knows how many people you've been involved with," Daisy sneered.
Nolan's expression turned serious.
"You may call me fickle, but you can't insult your place in my heart. To me, you will always be first no one can replace you."
Daisy rolled her eyes. Silly words, but her irritation faded.
She had long known that if they hadn't erupted first, they had already lost.
Nolan gave her no chance to argue, pressing a kiss to her.
A few minutes later, when they parted, Daisy's resentment had vanished.
In Nolan's eyes, a notorious flirt, Daisy was still too inexperienced. But he wouldn't admit it. His love may have been broad, but it was constant. Unlike Tony Stark, who moved from one person to another, Nolan never left.
"Any trouble at the company recently?"
Daisy shook her head.
"Nothing serious. Simon can handle small issues, and Stark helped with anything bigger. By the way, Mr. Stark called he wants to meet you."
"That guy catches on fast," Nolan said. He had only just returned from another universe, fought the Vulture, and barely appeared on TV.
"I'll call him back shortly."
After a brief moment, Nolan grabbed a phone and called Tony Stark.
Fresh from another universe, there were many matters to address.
"Magician?"
Nolan paused.
Stark said, "Yes. Remember our Watchers' Creed? Six months ago, we detected traces of magicians. Though you'd mentioned it before, this was the first real encounter. But the situation was bad. These magicians aren't like the ones you described they exist not to protect Earth, but to rule it, calling themselves Death Eaters."
Nolan's brow furrowed.
Magicians aiming for world domination? Not surprising no one said only Kamar-Taj magicians existed. Evil magicians with purpose were normal.
But calling themselves Death Eaters… That suggested they might be wizards from the Harry Potter universe.
"Trouble," Nolan muttered, rubbing his temple.
Magic was wildly unpredictable. In the Harry Potter power system, the body might be weak, but magic could directly affect the soul. Even if he could face a nuclear explosion calmly, a curse spell? He had no confidence.
Undoubtedly, magic was his greatest weakness.
And Death Eaters' goal was obviously Voldemort's resurrection.
Voldemort, with seven Horcruxes, was not easy to kill.
"Do we know their objective?" Nolan asked.
Stark replied, "Not yet. But surveillance shows some heading east."
"East?" Nolan's expression hardened.
In many multiverses, beyond S.H.I.E.L.D., the East had its own powers. Even the UK had heroes like Captain Britain. But in this world, Nolan was sure none of these existed.
Of course, the East still had superhuman forces Kamar-Taj, Kunlun, and others. Their power was not weak.
But why were Death Eaters going east? That wasn't their territory. North America wasn't theirs either. Something complicated was afoot.
"I know a bit about the Death Eaters. Their base is probably in the UK. I'll be heading there soon to investigate."
"UK? Alright. Let me know if you need help. The Watchers now are different from a year ago," Stark said, surprised that the magicians' reach included the UK.
After hanging up, Nolan closed his eyes. Though he didn't know their goal, he wasn't worried.
Others might be unaware, but the Ancient One certainly wasn't.
Before going to Kamar-Taj, he had other matters to handle. The Ancient One was dangerous unpredictable.
This time, Nolan felt more confident. LockTech and its multiverse branch had been earning steadily over the past year. Beyond daily expenses, he had amassed a fortune. Now, it was time to use it.
"System, recharge everything!"
Nolan waved his hand. Technology points surged. He focused on the EVA Unit-01, exchanging for a new arm.
But that wasn't all. He also redeemed a large amount of materials.
Unit-01 was strong, but one arm couldn't even challenge Carol Danvers, let alone face the Ancient One.
His goal was to build his own full Unit-01.
Days passed. Nolan worked tirelessly in the lab, much to the displeasure of his secretary Sharon Carter, and the irritation of Daisy Johnson and Jessica Jones.
But this effort gave him confidence against the Ancient One.
Seeing the fully charged, imposing armor, Nolan allowed himself a small breath of relief. Back in the main universe, unease still lingered, but now he could relax slightly.
"Mech, charge complete."
Nolan activated the system. Donning the Mjolnir-inspired suit, he waited for the armor to reach full power.
The mech had no cockpit; lacking piloting tech, he chose a more direct approach.
The armor enveloped him like a living entity. Its eyes glowed, and it began to move.
Using magic, Nolan opened a massive portal, stepping through in one stride.
Snow howled around him.
At Kamar-Taj, magicians charged at the massive mech, tense and alert. Last time, it had been Nolan Lock with his mechanical army. This time, it wouldn't happen again.
As everyone readied themselves, the Ancient One approached.
"Mr. Lock, long time no see. Don't you find that mech uncomfortable?" she asked, smiling as she always did.
"Not at all. In fact, it makes me feel safer," Nolan replied.
The Ancient One sighed. Benevolent as she appeared, why was Nolan always so cautious?
"Alright, Mr. Lock, but I think your mech scared the villagers," she said.