104

**Chapter 105: Addicted Gwen**

Felicia and Natasha were in the manor, so close that they could best feel the energy level of the earthquake.

The ground was unstable, utensils fell over, and cracks appeared on the floor and walls.

The earthquake spread outward from the manor. Though it came and went quickly due to lack of sustained energy, most people in New York clearly felt it. The ground swayed, hanging lights and utensils rattled unsteadily.

This quickly led to widespread media coverage the next day.

Experts tried to explain the unscientific event with scientific theories, enthusiastically presenting their analyses.

"Regarding the new changes in the crustal movement..."

"Is New York affected by a seismic zone?"

"Unknown vibrations may originate from the ocean floor..."

Eventually, someone used a model to analyze the earthquake's source, discovering the devastation at a manor in the suburbs.

By that time, SHIELD had already cleared the manor, but many traces of the battle remained, especially the cracked ground spreading outward like a spider web. Only one entity in the world could do this.

Public opinion was quickly ignited again, and experts disappeared, but the gossip persisted.

It's hard to say if life for New Yorkers has been better or worse over the past six months, but gossip always finds a way.

One of the parties involved in this small earthquake, the Leader, failed to escape and was successfully taken into custody by SHIELD.

A leader is more dangerous than an abomination. A scientist with a super brain can cause more harm than a berserker.

Especially when this scientist encounters a fearless spy organization always eager to study something extraordinary.

Peter knew trouble was brewing.

But he didn't care; any subsequent trouble would be SHIELD's problem.

If SHIELD could really seize the Leader and create something interesting, Peter would welcome it. Otherwise, it was not his concern.

The second person involved, Banner, also woke up the next day.

When he opened his eyes and saw Betty unharmed, he almost thought he had arrived in heaven.

"That's great, Betty, I didn't expect to see you again after I die... Ow!! What's going on? Why does it hurt so much in heaven?"

He soon realized he was lying on a hospital bed, feeling pain all over his body. It felt like he had been ravaged by something.

"Because you're not dead yet, Bruce," Betty said.

"I'm not dead?" Banner was surprised.

"What, do you want to die?"

"No, I didn't mean that, I just..."

"Black Superman saved both of us..." Betty quickly explained everything to Banner, who gradually recalled some memories from his Hulk period.

This left him feeling conflicted.

The damage this time was much greater than any other. Even Hulk couldn't bear it.

This resulted in body aches, multiple fractures, and a complete loss of self-care ability.

Most importantly, it hurt.

This time, Hulk's fury left Banner with a psychological shadow.

But no matter what, it was infinitely better than death.

"You don't seem happy, dear." Betty knew Banner well and quickly sensed his thoughts.

"Yes, I don't know what to think about Black Superman," Banner sighed.

Unlike Stark, Connors, and the others, Banner had been saved by Black Superman but hadn't gotten to know him further.

Many things weren't clear to him.

He was grateful for Black Superman's help but also uncomfortable with his methods.

"You know, Betty, I really thought you were dead, beaten to a pulp."

"Hey, that's so cruel."

"Well... even now, when I think of that scene, I still feel suffocated and uncomfortable."

Betty hugged Banner gently, "Don't be afraid, Bruce. Am I not here with you?"

"Yes." Banner enjoyed his girlfriend's comforting presence, speaking softly and gently.

"Even though I understand it shouldn't be this way, I still think it would have been great if Black Superman had appeared earlier. Maybe then you wouldn't have been in such danger."

Black Superman wasn't like traditional heroes.

He was more self-centered and acted arbitrarily.

He didn't seem interested in ruling the world, at least not yet, but his indifference was evident.

He could watch people around him sink into despair without intervening, like a cold god.

"Are you blaming him?"

"No, I...well, I have to admit, a little bit. I can't understand it."

"And it's not just me. I feel the changes to Hulk this time are also significant. He seems a little resentful and afraid of Black Superman."

Betty didn't know what to do about this. She knew even less about superheroes than Banner did.

She thought for a while and said, "Bruce, maybe you can talk to those who have also been helped by Black Superman."

Banner was stunned, "You mean..."

"That's right, Connors, Stark, Spider-Woman, Catwoman, Osborn, and even Peter Parker! I remember you told me Stark was very optimistic about that child. I think they could give you more insight."

---

Asgard.

Loki had been imprisoned by Odin since he returned from Midgard.

He once questioned Odin, confused. All his actions were to gain Odin's approval and help Odin solve his problems.

Why did Odin never look at him but instead chose Thor, who came back from a walk in Midgard?

At this time, the once elegant and refined second prince of Asgard seemed depressed. His hair was messy, and his overall demeanor was gloomy.

He had been in jail for a while, but it wasn't a complete news blackout.

He knew Odin went to Midgard after waking up and quickly fell asleep again.

During this time, Thor became regent. It was said he even awakened the blood power in his body, significantly increasing his strength.

Everyone was optimistic about him, and the previously turbulent Nine Realms returned to stability.

Even his mother, Frigga, was assisting him in handling government affairs.

This made Loki incredibly jealous. All of this should have been his.

"Ha, the divine power of blood... Is this why you chose him, Father?" Loki sneered.

Thor got everything: strength, fame, power, and Odin's love.

And Loki lost everything, even his identity as the prince of Asgard.

He was just a feral child adopted by Odin, born with stunted growth.

The so-called bloodline power was only possessed by Thor.

At the same time, Loki feared Thor. He was afraid that when Thor realized, he would be the first to deal with his younger brother who had tried to frame and kill him and compete for the throne.

At this moment, the prison door suddenly opened.

Who could it be?

As a loser in the fight for the throne, he was now hated by everyone in Asgard, and no one wanted to associate with him.

Loki narrowed his eyes and looked outside with some discomfort...

Unexpectedly and reasonably, the visitor was Thor, wearing royal robes and at the peak of his life. He was somewhat high-spirited, which was dazzling in Loki's eyes.

The two formed a sharp contrast at this time.

What is he here for? Loki wondered.

He couldn't think of why Thor would come to him now. Was he here to mock him? Or... kill him?

Loki was shocked but maintained a sarcastic tone:

"What's wrong, my brother? Why do you have time to see your rebellious brother?"

"I just came to see how you are doing." Thor hesitated before explaining.

In theory, this period was the best time for him to grow rapidly and learn how to be a king.

Still, Thor struggled a bit.

He was a warrior.

He once thought that as a king, having unparalleled strength and fearless courage would be enough to lead his subjects to a better future.

But this wasn't the case.

It was only after he sat on the throne that he discovered being a king was such a tiring task.

Being a king required much more use of brains than muscles.

Weighing pros and cons, distinguishing right from wrong, and allocating benefits—there were too many tasks that overwhelmed him. Even with Frigga's help, he had to spend a lot of time dealing with them every day.

Overall, he was still too young.

He awakened the divine power in his body, and everyone thought he was ready, including Odin.

But in fact, his magical power was just forced out of him by some guy with bad taste. He had not suffered enough testing and growth at all.

When Thor felt extremely confused and uncertain about the future, he somehow suddenly remembered his imprisoned brother.

He missed Loki a little.

Loki had been very smart since he was a child and had a lot of clever ideas. If Loki were still here, he would definitely be able to help him very well.

Of course, he couldn't say these words directly.

How could a strong brother expose his weakness to a weaker brother?

Also, saying he missed Loki outright would make him look foolish.

When Loki saw Thor's hesitation, he became even more suspicious,

"Do you see how depressed I am? Very good, you should be satisfied now, Thor. I have completely failed."

"No, that's not what I meant..."

"Could it be? Do you want to kill me to get rid of the trouble forever?" Loki suddenly stared at Thor and asked.

This stunned Thor. Why did Loki say the same thing Black Superman did? Did he think Thor wanted to kill him?

In Loki's eyes, Thor's reaction seemed to confirm his fears. Due to his preconceptions, Loki almost attacked him with an illusion.

He couldn't believe it: "You really want to kill me?"

"Why do you all think so?" Thor asked in confusion.

But this made Loki even more certain,

"You? Who else!?"

Damn it, does he actually have allies now? His foolish brother has learned to gather support?

No, he must escape, or he will surely face his demise...

Loki became convinced that Thor intended to eliminate him completely, just as all kings do to threats.

Thor, still oblivious to the gravity of the situation, engaged in a dialogue that seemed almost comical.

A conflict erupted between them soon after. Knowing he didn't want to die, Loki preemptively attacked with illusions.

Of course, these illusions posed no threat to Thor, now empowered by divine strength, and couldn't harm him in the slightest.

Yet Loki seized the moment to escape from his cell, leveraging his mastery of illusions perfectly.

By the time Thor reacted, Loki had already fled.

But Thor, powered by the God of Thunder and wielding Mjolnir, was not one to relent easily.

With a surge of divine energy, he swiftly caught up to Loki, blocking his path with the Mjolnir.

"Why are you running, Loki?" Thor confronted him sternly. "You know this will only worsen your punishment!"

Even Loki hadn't anticipated their roles being reversed in such a dramatic fashion. The vast disparity in their strengths only fueled his frustration.

"Do you truly intend to kill me? All for that damned throne?" Loki challenged, a hint of resignation echoing his words.

Perhaps bound by the inertia of fate, Loki made a decision reminiscent of his fate in the MCU and plunged into the abyss of the universe.

"Loki!" Thor exclaimed, leaping forward to catch him, but Loki rebuffed his brother.

"You are no longer my brother, Thor."

...

The gears of destiny continued to turn slowly, yet the events unfolding between the siblings in Asgard seemed distant from Earth, at least for now.

In her bedroom, Gwen returned from a hectic day, eager to unwind. She hadn't even had a chance to shed her Spider-Woman suit before settling onto Peter's lap, kissing him deeply. The pleasure caused her thighs to tense as they clung tightly.

As they parted, Peter teased, "If you keep that up, you'll crush me."

Gwen breathed heavily, dismissing his jest. "Nonsense, you're still quite strong..."

For many young women, emotions and physical responses take time to warm up, even when feelings are confirmed. Gwen had spent months with Peter, adjusting both her mind and body to a perfect harmony, intensifying her emotions and developing a shy addiction to him. She often initiated intimate moments, held back only by George's parental restrictions, preventing her from devouring Peter completely.

Gwen hugged Peter close. "You're definitely better at this. I feel so light and soft."

"I learned from the best," Peter replied lightly, countering Gwen's compliment.

She snorted. "Sure, but why haven't I left you weak-kneed from my kisses?"

Their banter continued until Gwen's softened state betrayed her words.

Peter chuckled. "Men and women react differently, dear."

Gwen blinked, her hips twitching involuntarily as she smiled foolishly.

"You're grinning like a middle-aged dad, Gwen."

"Blame yourself!"

"Alright, alright," Peter soothed, stroking Gwen's back. "Haven't changed out of your suit yet?"

Gwen nibbled her lip, leaning in to whisper in Peter's ear, "Help me get out of this suit."

Superhero suits, though cool, weren't easy to remove. Gwen had long planned for Peter to assist her in this task.

"No problem," Peter agreed, his hands deftly finding the clasps on Gwen's suit.

"It tickles..." Gwen giggled as Peter worked, her body squirming slightly. "That feels... good."

"Don't move," Peter cautioned, patting her gently.

Gwen trembled as her suit peeled away bit by bit, a mix of shyness and anticipation coloring her cheeks.

Changing the subject, she asked, "Have you talked to Dad lately?"

"About moving? I'll check with Uncle George soon," Peter replied, patting her again.

"I also participated in Mr. Stark's clean energy project and expo," Peter continued, "and he rewarded me generously. Dr. Connors even wants me on the biological serum project."

"We could easily move to the Upper East Side or buy a luxury house with this," Peter added, noting the unexpected flow of money into his life.

Gwen arched her hips proudly. "No need for that. Peter, you're what matters most. We won't be apart."

"Never," Peter assured her.

With Gwen finally out of her suit, her skin glowed in the bedroom light. She felt shy despite wearing underclothes.

"You have an amazing figure, Gwen," Peter complimented, admiring her waist and hips, shaped perfectly during her tenure as Spider-Woman.

Pleased by his praise, Gwen straightened up. "Where's the new suit? Let's try it."

After upgrading Peter's [Superman] talent package to level 3, his super brain had improved further, effortlessly solving many technical challenges. While the vibranium suit's hardware remained mostly unchanged, Peter enhanced its software to better integrate with the spider silk launcher, completely independent from Stark's systems.

Eagerly eyeing the suit, Gwen turned to Peter. "What's the hold-up?"

Turning her back to him, Gwen asked playfully, "Would you help me put it on?"

Peter chuckled. "I've set it up so you can dress yourself easily, Gwen. It's designed for convenience."

Gwen paused, momentarily surprised. "How is that even possible? What about my plans to... rely on you?"

"Is that a bad thing?" Peter asked, curious.

"No, it's just..." Gwen hesitated, feeling her initial thoughts might be unhealthy.

"What were you saying?" Peter pressed gently.

"It's nothing..."

While the upgraded suit offered new conveniences, Gwen secretly preferred Peter's hands-on assistance for now.