Chapter 7: Shadows of New York

The sun had set hours ago, casting the city of New York into a veil of shadows. The streets below hummed with life—car horns, the distant chatter of pedestrians, the rhythmic click of heels against concrete. It was a city that never slept, where the darkness brought out both the mundane and the dangerous. Himawan stood at the edge of a rooftop, looking down at the sprawling cityscape, its lights blinking like stars against the backdrop of the urban night.

He had been here for weeks now, slowly gathering what he needed. The warehouse, tucked away in one of the more forgotten parts of the city, had become his makeshift lab, his sanctuary from the chaos that ruled outside. But tonight, Himawan wasn't in the lab. He was hunting.

In the brief time he had spent in this world, Himawan had come to understand one thing: New York was a city of opportunities. Not only did it host some of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe—heroes and villains alike—but it also teemed with those who operated in the shadows. The city was filled with the lost, the forgotten, and the unwanted, people who would never be missed if they disappeared.

His breath was steady as he surveyed the streets below, his red eyes scanning the alleyways where the less fortunate congregated. New York's underbelly, its darker side, was alive with criminals, vagrants, and the downtrodden. These were the people he needed for his experiments, people whose disappearances wouldn't raise too many alarms.

The cold air brushed against Himawan's skin, but he paid it no mind. His mind was focused, calm. The first experiment had shown him the importance of patience, of taking time to perfect his work. But now, he needed more subjects, more data. He had refined the serum, tweaking the formula based on what he had learned from the vagrant's body. Now it was time to test it again.

In the distance, a figure emerged from the shadows of an alleyway—a lone man, hunched over and shuffling along the sidewalk. His clothes were ragged, his face pale and gaunt. Himawan's eyes locked onto him immediately. A perfect candidate.

Without making a sound, Himawan slipped down from the rooftop, moving with a fluidity that came from his heightened senses. His body had been subtly altered by the system, enhancing his physical abilities in ways that weren't obvious but were undeniably effective. He landed in the alleyway without a single sound, his form merging with the shadows.

The man didn't notice him at first, too lost in his own world of misery and desperation. Himawan watched for a moment, assessing the man's condition. He was weak, malnourished—likely addicted to something, judging by the tremor in his hands. The perfect subject.

Himawan's cold, calculated expression remained unchanged as he approached. His footsteps were light, almost ghostly, as he moved in behind the man.

"Excuse me," Himawan's voice cut through the silence of the alley, soft yet commanding.

The man startled, whipping around with wide, bloodshot eyes. Fear flickered across his face, but there was also confusion. He clearly hadn't expected to encounter anyone in this dark corner of the city. The tremor in his hands worsened as he stared at Himawan, who stood motionless, his eyes gleaming under the dim streetlight.

"You look like you could use some help," Himawan continued, his tone calm, almost gentle.

The man's eyes darted around, suspicion now mixing with his fear. "Who are you?" he rasped, his voice hoarse.

Himawan didn't answer immediately. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial, the refined version of the serum he had been working on. He held it up to the light, letting the liquid inside shimmer faintly.

"I can offer you something," Himawan said, his voice taking on a more coaxing tone. "A chance to change everything. A chance to be something more."

The man's gaze locked onto the vial, his fear momentarily giving way to curiosity. "What… what is that?"

Himawan smiled faintly. "A solution to your problems. Strength. Power. Freedom." He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he were approaching a wounded animal. "All you have to do is trust me."

The man hesitated, his eyes flickering between the vial and Himawan's face. He was desperate—Himawan could see that clearly now. Desperate people were always the easiest to manipulate, to push toward the decisions they would never normally make.

"I don't… I don't have anything to give you," the man mumbled, his voice shaking.

Himawan shook his head, still smiling. "I don't want anything from you. Consider this a gift." He extended the vial, offering it to the man. "Just take it, and all your problems will disappear."

There was a long pause as the man stood there, staring at the vial. His hands twitched, trembling uncontrollably now. Himawan could see the conflict in his eyes—the desperation to escape his wretched life warring with the fear of the unknown. But in the end, desperation always won out.

Slowly, shakily, the man reached for the vial, his fingers closing around it as if it were his last lifeline. He held it up, staring at the liquid inside with wide eyes.

"What… what do I do with it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Drink it," Himawan replied simply, his smile fading into a cold, neutral expression. "And let the transformation begin."

The man looked at Himawan one last time, fear flashing across his face again. But it was too late. His fate had already been sealed the moment he accepted the vial. With trembling hands, he uncorked it and raised it to his lips, swallowing the liquid in one desperate gulp.

For a moment, nothing happened. The man stood there, his body still trembling from fear and withdrawal. Then, slowly, a change began to take hold. Himawan watched intently, his gaze fixed on the man's form.

At first, it was subtle—a twitch of the muscles, a slight shift in posture. But soon, the effects became more pronounced. The man's body began to convulse, his muscles tightening and swelling just as they had with the first subject. But this time, the transformation was slower, more controlled. Himawan's refined formula was taking effect, allowing the body to adapt to the changes rather than being torn apart by them.

The man let out a low groan, his hands clutching at his sides as his muscles expanded, his veins bulging beneath his skin. His breathing became heavier, more labored, but he remained standing, his body enduring the strain.

Himawan took a step back, watching closely. This was the moment of truth. The serum was working, but how long would it hold? Would the man's body survive the transformation, or would he meet the same fate as the vagrant?

As the convulsions subsided, the man stood there, panting heavily but still alive. His muscles had grown, his skin flushed with new vitality. He looked stronger, healthier, more powerful than he had before.

Himawan's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. The trial had succeeded, at least for now.

"How… how do you feel?" Himawan asked, his voice calm but with a hint of curiosity.

The man, still breathing heavily, looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if testing his newfound strength. "I… I feel…" He trailed off, his voice filled with awe. "I feel incredible."

Himawan's smile returned, colder and sharper than before. "Good," he said softly. "Because this is only the beginning."

As the man stood there, basking in his newfound power, Himawan's mind raced with possibilities. This was just the first step, another piece in the puzzle of his grand design. But in the shadows of New York, hidden from the eyes of the world, Himawan's experiments were far from over. The city, with all its secrets and its forgotten souls, would soon become the perfect testing ground for his ambitions.

And in the shadows, Himawan was just getting started.