Chapter 15: Setbacks and New Players

Ethan stepped out of a swirling portal, his black-and-white form emerging into the desolate Romanian forest, the cool night air brushing against his skin. The towering trees cast long shadows over the secluded warehouse that housed his nearly-complete particle collider. He stood still for a moment, surveying his surroundings. Everything seemed quiet. Too quiet.

The energy hum from the collider inside filled the air, a constant reminder that he was almost there. Almost. But the nagging feeling in the back of his mind told him otherwise. As brilliant as Ethan was, even he knew the limits of controlling chaos.

His black circles rippled across his skin as he absorbed the energy flowing from the machine inside, but something felt… off. The collider was taking longer than expected to reach full power, the energy wasn't stable enough yet, and each time he tried to push it further, something pushed back.

Frowning, Ethan walked into the warehouse, his eyes scanning the intricate machinery. The converter hummed, the energy flowing through the conduit cables like veins in a massive beast, but the pulses were irregular. He adjusted the control panel, trying to balance the power flow, but the more he tinkered, the more the issue became evident.

"This should be working," he muttered, his frustration growing. His hands moved over the controls, recalculating, but no matter what adjustments he made, the collider refused to maintain full stability. There was a brief flicker of light as one of the circuits shorted out, and sparks flew across the room.

Ethan hissed under his breath. "Damn it."

He stepped back, stroking his fingers through his bald head, his black circles shifting erratically across his skin. The setbacks were unexpected, and he couldn't afford delays. Not with the Avengers, SHIELD, and who knows who else closing in on him. He felt the weight of their pursuit, the pressure mounting with every second.

Something had gone wrong, but what?

....

Avengers Compound – Later That Night

Tony Stark was hard at work in the lab, his eyes glued to the series of data points flashing across the screens. The energy signatures they were tracking had begun to fluctuate, something unusual even by their standards. Ethan's portals were leaving traces, faint, but growing more erratic.

"Looks like he's running into some issues," Tony muttered to Bruce Banner, who stood beside him, scanning the readings.

Bruce frowned, adjusting his glasses. "The fluctuations are definitely not intentional. He's losing control over something."

"Good," Tony said, not looking away from the screen. "That gives us the time we need."

Suddenly, the doors to the lab slid open, and Steve Rogers, Captain Marvel, and Natasha Romanoff entered. Behind them, a familiar group followed, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, better known as the Fantastic Four. Fresh off a deep-space mission, they had returned to Earth just in time to catch wind of The Spot and the havoc he had been causing.

Reed Richards, the ever-curious scientist, stepped forward, his eyes scanning the data that Tony and Bruce had collected. "We heard you might need some help," Reed said, his tone friendly but professional.

Tony smirked. "Always a pleasure to have the Fantastic Four back on Earth."

Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, crossed her arms, her face serious. "We saw the footage. This 'Spot' character, he's not like anything we've dealt with before. What's the plan?"

Captain Marvel spoke up. "We've been tracking him, but he keeps slipping through our fingers. He's been gathering materials, probably for something big. We just don't know what yet."

Bruce turned to Reed, his expression thoughtful. "His portals leave behind quantum disturbances. We've been using that to track him, but his energy signatures are becoming more erratic. It's like he's losing control."

Reed leaned over, studying the holographic display. "He's likely pushing the limits of his powers. If he's trying to manipulate something as volatile as space-time, it's no wonder he's encountering instability."

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, grinned. "Sounds like he's biting off more than he can chew."

Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, cracked his knuckles. "Good. Let's chew him up then."

The team shared a tense laugh, but there was no denying the gravity of the situation. As formidable as Ethan was, his ambitions were growing increasingly dangerous.

....

Romania – The Next Morning

Ethan stared at the malfunctioning converter, his frustration boiling over. The collider was on the verge of breaking down, the energy flow too unstable to maintain the portals he needed to complete the next phase of his plan.

He slammed his hand down on the control panel, his mind racing through potential fixes. But even he couldn't deny it, something was missing, something he hadn't accounted for. If he wanted to stabilize the collider and fully harness the energy of the spotted dimension, he needed more power. Cosmic energy. The kind that could only be found from the stars themselves or an advanced particle accelerator.

"Damn it!" Ethan growled. He paced the room, his mind spinning. He couldn't abandon the collider now, not after all the work he'd put into it. But there had to be a solution, something he hadn't yet considered.

His frustration reached a breaking point, and his black circles began to shift violently, some dissipating as he pushed his body too far. Ethan winced, feeling the strain of overusing his powers. He could feel himself growing weaker with each passing minute.

And that's when he felt it, a presence watching him. Ethan's instincts were sharp, and he immediately turned toward the dark corner of the room. A figure stepped out from the shadows, draped in a dark green cloak with metallic armor gleaming faintly under the dim light.

Doctor Doom.

Victor von Doom's eyes gleamed with cold intellect as he regarded Ethan's struggling form, his expression unreadable behind his mask.

"I see you're having some difficulties," Doom said, his voice calm and composed, yet carrying an air of arrogance.

Ethan's black circles rippled as he sized up the infamous ruler of Latveria. "What do you want, Doom?" he spat, his voice filled with frustration and suspicion.

Doom stepped forward, his presence commanding the room. "I've been watching you, Spot," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Your powers are intriguing… but your methods are flawed."

Ethan bristled at the insult, but he didn't respond immediately. He knew better than to underestimate his opponents.

"You're reaching for something far beyond your grasp," Doom continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But you lack the resources, the understanding. If you continue down this path, you will destroy yourself before you achieve anything worthwhile."

Ethan calmed down and pondered, but before he could speak, Doom raised a hand.

"However," Doom said, his voice soft but dangerous, "I can offer you something. Power. Knowledge. The means to stabilize your collider. But in return…" He paused, his eyes gleaming. "You will work for me."

Ethan's black circle face remained unreadable as he processed Doom's words. He could sense the danger in Doom's offer, but the temptation of greater power was undeniable.

"Think about it, Spot," Doom said, his voice low and threatening. "Together, we could accomplish far more than you could alone."

And with that, Doctor Doom turned and walked back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared, leaving Ethan standing alone in the dark, his mind racing with possibilities.

The setback had rattled Ethan, but now a new question hung over him: Was Doom an ally, or the next threat?

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