Gwen Stacy's sense of self-awareness was clearly far sharper than Peter Parker's. She carefully chose to target only low-level criminals for her nightly lessons.
If she ever encountered a group crime she couldn't handle, she would immediately pull out her phone and call the police—a cautious habit, likely inherited from being raised in a law enforcement family.
Of course, it might also come from playing too many video games. She knew that in order to level up, you always start by fighting low-level mobs and solo enemies. Gwen Stacy's bedroom was filled with gaming consoles—collector's editions, no less—clearly marking her as a hardcore gamer.
"Two Spider-Men, huh... If the Lizard Doctor were to appear under these circumstances, things would get ugly fast. Gwen looks much stronger than Peter Parker," Herman mused. With just a faint gleam in his eyes, he could easily gauge anyone's energy level.
In Gwen Stacy, he sensed power more than ten times greater than Peter's. Though much of it was still dormant, it was only a matter of time before she surpassed the young Spider-Man. Even so, compared to Herman, her energy was no more than a firefly's glow beside the vast ocean.
The difference between their life levels was like that between a single drop of water and the sea itself.
"Ghost-Spider," he murmured.
Herman still couldn't pinpoint exactly why Gwen Stacy had mutated, though he suspected her case was similar to Peter Parker's.
While observing Gwen earlier, he had casually ordered Skye to run a background check. As it turned out, Gwen Stacy was also an intern at Osborn Industries.
Her school and research projects differed from Peter's, but the program she was involved with also gave her access to genetically altered spiders.
"In Spider-Gwen's origin, her abilities come from another spider. But I haven't detected a third Spider-Man in New York…" Herman knew that his "Prophet" ability might gradually weaken as the universe diverged.
Still, he felt no anxiety over it. With the power he now possessed, he didn't fear the unknown.
Foresight, to him, was merely a support skill. In his eyes, any transmigrator who relied solely on prophecy to survive was pathetic trash. After all, even without foresight, Herman possessed more hidden knowledge than most top players in this universe.
And with the [All-Seeing Eye] as his cheat, if someone still needed prophecy to scrape by under such conditions, Herman thought even someone useless would outperform them.
"Unexpected changes, huh... that only makes me look forward to this new future even more."
Having basically figured out Gwen's situation, Herman watched a bit longer as she swung through the city, then disappeared into the clouds, shrouded by circling ravens.
Moments later, the lights of an Airbus pierced through the clouds, passing directly through the spot where Herman had been hovering. Neither the captain nor the first officer noticed a thing.
[Stark Industries' stock continues to skyrocket, yet shares are now impossible to find. Where did all the previously sold stock go?]
[Tour the frozen city—where even the hottest flames can't melt the ice. Experts predict it may become a global travel hotspot.]
[Mysterious multicolored auroras have appeared in the night sky, as dazzling as fireworks. Experts weigh in on the possible causes.]
[Osborn Industries invests heavily to restart the "Serum Research" project. Rising scientist Dr. William has been hired as one of its lead researchers.]
Herman returned to his office in Stellar Tower.
He had left the television on, and as soon as he entered, the news caught his eye—nearly every headline seemed to tie back to him somehow.
Where had Stark's stocks gone?
Naturally, straight into Herman Chu's pocket.
As for the frozen city—that was the site of his previous battle with the Frost Giants. Now, fearless journalists equipped with aerospace suits were venturing in to explore it.
"Turning it into a tourist attraction? Guess people really can make money off anything," Herman said with a dry laugh as he watched the broadcast.
He had absorbed the frigid energy born from the Realm of Death during that battle, leaving the city frozen at sub-zero temperatures rivaling some distant planets.
Who knew how many degrees below freezing it was now... but at least professional flight suits could handle it.
"The aurora in the sky…"
The next news segment caught his attention. Watching the video, he immediately recognized the familiar brilliance, his expression shifting slightly. "That's the Bifröst's light... Did Asgard's Bifröst get destroyed?"
Herman had altered much of Thor's fate, yet it seemed Odin had still followed his script, using the opportunity to shatter the Bifröst.
"In that case, who knows when I'll finally get my hands on Asgard's runic technology," Herman muttered, pouring himself a glass of water.
If he remembered correctly, the destruction of the Bifröst would also coincide with Loki's exile—and with it, the second prince of Asgard would bring the Mind Stone to Earth.
The Mind Stone... Vision... Herman wasn't particularly interested in the stone itself. What concerned him was the Vision that would be born from it. Wanda was living comfortably with him now, and he had no intention of letting some robot take her away.
"Maybe I should just gather all the Infinity Stones and throw them into my alternate dimension. That way, the Purple Titan would have nothing but empty air to snap with."
Herman smirked at the thought. He didn't believe Thanos had the capability to breach his alternate dimension to retrieve the stones anyway. The idea alone was enough to amuse him.
As for the last bit of news, Herman didn't pay much attention. He already knew that William was an employee at Umbrella Technologies.
Changing jobs, though—well, that was common enough in the tech world.
"This William... he looks like he's suffering from serious kidney deficiency," Herman muttered, glancing at the man's pale complexion before heading into the bathroom for a shower.
His instant transformation ability meant he no longer had to bother with the nuisance of dressing or undressing by hand. It had come in quite handy during his "battle" with Fox.
"Splash, splash~"
Water streamed over Herman's perfectly proportioned physique, his well-defined muscles the kind that could make any woman's heart race.
Afterward, he drank a cup of coffee before bed.
Once he'd showered, Herman quickly drifted off to sleep—and, as expected, another strange, surreal dream awaited him. Even though he had complete control over the telekinetic powers granted by [Hidden Superpowered Being], these vivid and illusory dreams continued to persist.
"You betrayed..."
Before Superman could even finish speaking, Herman launched his attack, clashing with him blow for blow in a near-even fight.
The more these dreams repeated, the more Herman's combat abilities improved. Each battle honed his techniques further—as if every skill he possessed had been forged in these dream confrontations. His dream self was powerful enough to fight Superman until the stars themselves shattered, and tonight, he was slowly gaining the upper hand.
But soon, Superman erupted in a furious counterattack. Herman didn't feel frustrated, though. He knew that next time, he'd be even more experienced and stronger than before.
By now, Herman had developed a strange intuition—that when he finally defeated the Superman in his dreams, something unexpected would happen.
"I wonder... is this the Silver Superman? The Golden one? Or maybe... a Conceptual Superman?"
...
While Herman slept...
Somewhere in the vast cosmos, on a barren, lifeless planet—one without atmosphere or ozone—meteors streaked endlessly across the star-filled sky. No ordinary lifeform could survive in such a hostile place.
"You have failed."
At the planet's center hovered a colossal throne encircled by countless small stars. Upon it sat a giant with purple skin, as immense and imposing as a mountain. His eyes were sharp and his expression grim as he glared at the man standing before him.
"Asgardian... you have betrayed my trust."
Though the purple titan's voice was calm, the weight of his tone made the disheveled man who stepped from the portal tremble in fear.
"Honored Lord of the Cosmos, no one could have foreseen this! My damned brother received help from the gods of Midgard!"
Loki bowed deeply before the purple giant, his voice deferential. Even one as proud as he could not help but feel genuine awe before such a being.
This titan—was Thanos, the dreaded Titan who struck fear into countless civilizations across the universe, the cosmic conqueror known as the Mad Titan.
Loki knew well the countless worlds Thanos had annihilated. He dared not provoke him and instead spoke with respectful humility.
"Give me another chance. I promise I can open a gateway to Midgard for you." Clearly, there was some unspoken pact between the two.
"Earth's gods? Useless fools who only meddle and ruin everything..." Thanos muttered. The fury in his chest began to fade, replaced by a brooding calm.
"My brother... always has ridiculous luck. I've never seen such power before. He not only destroyed my father's armor but even killed Laufey, the King of the Frost Giants—someone no weaker than my father, Odin!"
Of course, Loki was lying.
He knew perfectly well the enormous gap in strength between Laufey and Odin. But unless he exaggerated his opponent's might, how else could he justify his humiliating defeat?
Loki's face twisted in frustration. He struck the massive meteor beside him with a furious punch. The meteor, roughly the size of an aircraft carrier, shattered instantly. Though a sorcerer by trade, Loki's physical power was far from weak.
It made sense—if he hadn't been so strong, perhaps he wouldn't have deluded himself into turning the role of "master sorcerer" into that of a close-combat brawler.
"That Earth god! I'm certain he's some ancient being!" Loki continued his performance, his eyes flashing with just the right amount of fear before shifting into bitter resentment. "Who knows what price Thor paid to summon him!"
There was a tinge of genuine jealousy in his tone.
For someone who always compared himself to Thor, Loki too longed for powerful allies—rather than being treated as a disposable pawn by the cosmic overlord before him.
"Earth does indeed have some ancient beings," Thanos said, giving Loki a deep, unreadable look. It was hard to tell whether he believed him or not.
As the last of the Titans, Thanos possessed all the knowledge and truths of his extinct race, which granted him unmatched strength and intellect. On the scale of cosmic beings, he was a quasi-skyfather—just below the level of the true divine rulers.
His body was harder than vibranium, nearly indestructible, and his mind was immune to almost all forms of spiritual or psychic assault.
That was why, whenever Thanos acquired even a fragment of a divine artifact, he could immediately rise to terrifying power. He was, in every sense, a quasi-skyfather who rivaled the gods themselves.
The legacy of Titan granted Thanos more than strength—it also bestowed immense wisdom.
And so, even if he didn't believe the God of Lies, Thanos had no reason to expose Loki's deceit. Not when it still served his purpose.
"Honestly, trust me—it's definitely some kind of ancient monster."
Loki blinked with feigned sincerity.
In truth, he wasn't entirely lying.
Herman's strength had far exceeded his expectations.
He had merely exaggerated the power of Herman's opponent.
"Whatever that monster is, you've ruined our deal, Asgardian. You know the price of angering me."
Thanos's deep voice carried a quiet menace that made the air feel heavier.
Loki immediately lowered his head.
"I just need another chance... Trust me, no one is more suited than I am." His words carried a subtle divine persuasion—one that didn't affect Thanos, but did stir a presence lurking in the shadows.
"I know what you're capable of. We still have an opportunity."
From the darkness stepped a hooded figure, its voice rasping and alien.
"The Chitauri," Loki said, recognizing the newcomer's race.
They were a species known throughout the universe for conquest and war. The hooded one before him was none other than the Chitauri leader.
Their kind bore bodies of exposed muscle and faces lined with jagged fangs, creatures of brutality whose individual combat power rivaled that of Asgard's finest warriors. Yet, lacking any true powerhouse among them, they had long since bent the knee to Thanos.
"There is still a chance," Thanos murmured, deep in thought. For a brief moment, worry flashed in his eyes.
When it came to Earth, Thanos was always cautious.
But to gather all the Infinity Stones, he could not avoid that peculiar little planet. He feared that some other ancient beings might claim the Stones first.
In Thanos's mind, there was no being in the universe who could resist the allure of the Infinity Stones.
"Your strength alone is unreliable. Take this and fulfill our agreement. I have no desire to grant you a third chance."
After a moment's deliberation, Thanos tossed Loki a scepter—the one embedded with the Mind Stone.
"The power in this weapon... it surpasses even my father's Gungnir. How have I never heard of it before?"
Loki caught the scepter carefully. As the gem's energy pulsed through his hand, a wave of shock and awe coursed through him.
"It's nothing more than a minor trophy," Thanos said dismissively, his tone effortlessly commanding—reminding Loki once again of the vast gulf between them.
"Truly worthy of a cosmic overlord," Loki breathed, half in flattery, half in genuine admiration.
He truly was astonished by the weapon's power.
As Asgard's second prince, Loki was no stranger to magical artifacts. It didn't take him long to grasp the scepter's true ability.
A weapon capable of bending others' minds to the wielder's will.
Loki's heart raced with excitement—this was power that suited him perfectly.
'With this, I could become the King of Asgard!
Respected... revered!'
His imagination spiraled again, filled with thoughts of Asgard, of family, of finally earning Odin's and Frigga's approval.
"You will use it to complete our bargain. Do not fail me again. You will not have a third opportunity."
Thanos's voice carried a cold warning as he and his floating throne slowly faded into the void, merging with the endless darkness of space.
"My army will await your good news."
The Chitauri leader gave Loki a final reminder before retreating into the shadows.
"To open a portal of that scale will require immense, unimaginable energy. Fortunately... I know exactly where to find it."
With a confident smile, Loki turned and opened a new portal.