Chapter 235: Iron Man is Dead, the Door of Opportunity Opens!
"In terms of motivation, this 'C,' from what we can see, the mysterious client chose the location of the big battle to be where Peter is. He wants to get close to Peter and deceive him into giving something away. That much is clear," Thor said. "But the thing he wants to deceive Peter for is a bit ridiculous, isn't it? A pair of glasses?"
"Thor, did you not see clearly? Those are Tony's glasses," Steve Rogers said. "Glasses are glasses for others, but who knows what powerful thing Tony's glasses might be."
"Do you remember Tony's wristwatch? It was shown in a previous video," Natasha Romanoff added. "A simple touch can turn it into a battle gauntlet."
"I have to say, Iron Man, your tricks are truly diverse," Loki chimed in.
"This 'D' option can also be ruled out," Bruce Banner commented. "Who is this mysterious client, and does he have any connection to Iron Man?"
"I don't recall the name Quentin Beck, and I don't know the person," Tony Stark shook his head. "Maybe I'll know in the future, but regardless of who it is, I don't think they have the right to test who's qualified to become the next Iron Man. There's only one person with that qualification, and that's me!"
"This option itself is a paradox," Steve Rogers stated. "Suppose this person truly wants to test Peter. In that case, it implies that he must have Tony's approval, making him a hero as well. But a hero would never engage in a public fight for a supposed test, disregarding the lives of others."
"It looks like I'm going with option C," Peter Parker promptly made his choice. "I choose C!"
"Correct answer! Rewards distributed!" appeared in the response.
Peter Parker's body briefly emitted a milky-white light before returning to normal.
"Peter, how sturdy is your body now?" Tony Stark asked. "Do you think you can stand up against the Hulk?"
"Indestructible doesn't mean physically tough; it means my body cannot be destroyed," Peter Parker explained. "Surviving a fall from ten thousand meters isn't because I'm physically robust; it's because my body becomes light as a feather, slowly drifting down and landing safely."
"So, your body is lightweight?" Tony Stark inquired. "Low density?"
"Not exactly. My body's properties adapt to the external environment," Peter Parker clarified. "For example, if you shoot me with a gun, my body becomes as tough as bulletproof armor. If you poison me, my body becomes immune. But if you electrify me, my body becomes insulated."
"This sounds similar to Tony's ability to adapt to extreme environments," Steve Rogers commented.
"It's somewhat similar, but not as advanced as Mr. Stark's ability," Peter Parker responded. "My body can't be destroyed, but there are numerous ways to kill me. If I can't breathe, I'll suffocate. If I don't get food, I'll starve. Expose me to extreme cold, and I'll freeze."
"Speaking of being indestructible, I have a question," Peter Quill chimed in with a classic query. "Peter, what happens when you need surgery for appendicitis?"
As soon as this question was asked, everyone's attention turned to Peter Quill.
"What kind of question is that?!" came the reactions. "Only you would ask that!"
"Why?" Peter Quill shrugged. "Isn't this a valid concern? Can you guarantee that Peter won't fall ill in the future?"
"Indeed, it's a valid concern," Bruce Banner joined the discussion. "If being indestructible prevents surgery, Peter will have to live very cautiously, ensuring he never falls sick."
"When surgery is truly necessary, I can be cut open," Peter Parker assured.
At this moment, a light in the room illuminated, and a video started playing.
In the video, Michelle Jones stood there as a large amount of magma surged from the ground. Then, a massive magma giant appeared in the square.
"It's here, Beck. Are you ready?" Peter Parker, wearing a simple black combat suit, spoke. "Do what you should do."
"Under your command, Spider-Man," Quentin Beck flew over and confronted the flame-attacked figures, emitting green light from his hands. "It's your turn, kid."
Peter Parker picked up a large box behind the magma and threw it, then shot a strand of web at a fire hydrant on the ground, releasing a torrent of water that aimed at the magma giant.
"Wait, is that Spider-Man?" Betty exclaimed from the Ferris wheel.
"No, no, no. That's the European knockoff of Spider-Man," Ned provided cover for Peter Parker, "I read about it just a couple of days ago. It's not Spider-Man."
"Roar!" The ground-shaking roar interrupted Ned's explanation as the magma giant swung a massive fist towards Peter Parker.
Peter Parker flipped onto a carousel, but the magma giant struck again, consuming the carousel, and Peter Parker crashed to the ground.
"Beck, it absorbed the carousel. It's growing larger," Peter Parker urgently informed Quentin Beck.
"What's its name?" Betty asked Ned from the Ferris wheel.
"Night Monkey," Ned quickly came up with a nickname.
"Night Monkey?" Betty felt that the nickname was strange.
"Yes," Ned replied, forcing a smile.
"Night Monkey! Help!" Betty shouted towards Peter Parker below. "Save us!"
"What?" Peter Parker was utterly bewildered by this nickname. He looked up and saw his friend Ned sitting on top of the Ferris wheel.
"Night Monkey, we can't get down. Save us!" Betty pleaded.
Peter Parker wanted to help, but at that moment, the magma giant approached. He raised his hand, and two strands of web shot out.
However, the web didn't even touch the magma giant; it ignited upon contact.
Boom!
The magma giant raised a massive hand and swung it down towards Peter Parker.
As it seemed like the flaming fist of the magma giant was about to hit Peter Parker, Quentin Beck arrived just in time. He extended his hands, forming a green barrier that encompassed both himself and Peter Parker.
Boom, boom, boom!
The magma giant relentlessly pounded the green barrier, but it held strong, protecting Peter Parker within.
"Are you okay?" Peter Parker turned his head and asked Quentin Beck.
"Switching to the new plan," Quentin Beck said.
"Alright," Peter Parker responded. "We need to attack with something it can't absorb."
"I'll take the left, you take the right," Quentin Beck instructed.
"Now!" Quentin Beck shouted, removing the green energy shield and charging out with Peter Parker in the prearranged directions.
Perhaps Peter Parker's "Night Monkey" costume was too ugly, as the magma giant pursued him.
Peter Parker flipped onto a wall and used webbing to pick up a large stone. He vaulted off the wall and jumped over the magma giant's head, landing behind it. He hurled the stone directly at the giant.
Boom!
The stone hit the magma giant solidly, striking one of its hind legs and causing it to let out a pained roar.
Indeed, the magma giant couldn't absorb rocks.
"Okay, open fire on it!" Peter Parker ordered.
In the next moment, Quentin Beck flew over, continuously launching energy attacks at the magma giant.
"This approach is working, keep attacking!" Quentin Beck instructed.
Peter Parker vaulted onto a lamppost and used webbing to grab another large stone. He swung the stone at the magma giant.
"Spider-Man, don't get too close!" Quentin Beck warned.
"I'm doing my best!" Peter Parker yelled back.
"Don't let it get near the Ferris wheel," Quentin Beck emphasized.
"Got it! Here I come!" But Peter Parker's attempt to intervene was cut short; he was knocked out of the air and landed on the ground.
Boom!
The magma giant's fist struck the ground, causing cracks to appear. One of the cracks extended towards the Ferris wheel's base, with molten lava flowing from it.
Crack!
The Ferris wheel began to tilt, and Ned and Betty screamed in terror.
The magma giant roared angrily and advanced towards the Ferris wheel. Quentin Beck quickly flew over, launching green energy attacks at the giant.
Peter Parker rushed over to rescue his classmates. He shot a strand of webbing, aiming for the Ferris wheel.
However, the webbing didn't hit the Ferris wheel; instead, it hit empty air in front of it. There was nothing visible, but it was actually an invisible projector. Peter Parker's webbing had struck the projector.
"What's that thing?" Peter Parker didn't have time to investigate. He flung the projector aside.
Clang!
The drone landed in an alleyway.
Peter Parker's attention was focused entirely on the battle with the magma giant; he didn't notice the projector.
But Quentin Beck wasn't so lucky; there was someone hiding in the alleyway.
Michelle Jones was busy watching the battle between "Night Monkey" and the "Mysterious Client" and the magma giant. The projector fell right at her feet, and she saw it clearly.
Meanwhile, the Ferris wheel tilted again, prompting Betty to scream once more.
Peter Parker swung up using his webbing, grabbing onto a nearby building. He positioned himself on top of the Ferris wheel, exerting force on the webbing to prevent it from falling.
With Peter Parker occupied, Quentin Beck was left alone to battle the magma giant.
Unfortunately, during the course of the battle, a massive iron framework crashed into the magma giant, only to be consumed by it. Instantly, the giant's body grew even larger.
"No matter the outcome, it's been a pleasure knowing you," Quentin Beck turned towards Peter Parker, who was holding onto the Ferris wheel.
"Beck, what are you planning?" Peter Parker asked.
"To do what I should've done last time," Quentin Beck shouted, his body emitting a swirling green mist. He then flew straight towards the magma giant and plunged through its body.
The magma giant's body turned green, and the green gradually spread until the whole giant was covered in it. With a loud "bang," the giant exploded.
Quentin Beck demonstrated firsthand what it meant for "love to be a blinding shade of green."
Peter Parker anchored his webbing to the Ferris wheel and quickly jumped down. He saw Quentin Beck lying on the ground, seemingly lifeless.
"Mr. Beck?" Peter Parker ran to Quentin Beck's side.
"Thank goodness," luckily, Quentin Beck was still alive. Though he appeared battered, he was alive.
Peter Parker extended his hand and helped Quentin Beck up.
"So, everything's resolved?" Maria Hill, who had just arrived with Nick Fury, asked.
"We just faced our final challenge," Quentin Beck replied.
"But it won't be our last threat. We have to remain vigilant," Nick Fury addressed Quentin Beck. "Our world is lacking people like you. Maria and I are headed to the headquarters of the European Police Organization tomorrow. You should join us."
"Thank you," Quentin Beck replied, "I might consider your invitation."
"You're capable, Peter, but your heart isn't fully in it," Nick Fury walked over to Peter Parker.
"Mr. Fury, I…" Peter Parker began explaining.
"I also hope you'd come to Berlin with us, but you need to decide if you want to take that step," Nick Fury said, "Tony chose you; he made you an Avenger. I need your determination; the whole world needs it. Maybe Stark was wrong. Was he wrong? The choice is yours."
"Let's go for a drink," Nick Fury left, and Quentin Beck came over, pulling Peter Parker to join him for a drink.
Although Peter Parker accompanied Quentin Beck to the bar, he was still underage, so he drank lemonade through a straw.
"You should celebrate; you did a good thing tonight," Quentin Beck said, holding a bottle of alcohol while placing his hand on Peter Parker's shoulder.
"Beck is right. Tony did a lot for me, so..." Peter Parker said, "I owe him, I owe everyone."
"Is that so?" Quentin Beck asked.
"Yes, I mean, Mr. Stark gave me a chance to use my talents. He wanted me to do better than him," Peter Parker said, "Mr. Fury wants me to live up to that expectation."
"What do you want, Peter?" Quentin Beck asked.
"What do you mean?" Peter Parker questioned.
"What do you want?" Quentin Beck repeated.
"I don't know," Peter Parker replied.
"Peter Parker, what do you really want now? I know you're thinking about something," Quentin Beck pressed on.
"I want to keep traveling, alright!" Peter Parker finally spoke his true thoughts, "I want to go back, continue traveling with my friends, go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, confess to the girl I'm fond of, and give her a kiss."
Quentin Beck burst into laughter.
"Don't make fun of me!" Peter Parker hurriedly said.
"Are you really going to do all that?" Quentin Beck asked.
"No, I can't," Peter Parker said.
"Why not?" Quentin Beck inquired.
"Because I have too many responsibilities on my shoulders," Peter Parker said.
At that moment, a woman nearby picked up a pair of glasses from the ground and handed them to Peter Parker.
"What's this?" Quentin Beck asked, "Could this be..."
"Edith's glasses, exactly," Peter Parker said.
"You even dropped these?" Quentin Beck said, "Put them on; let me see the effect."
"I think they look good," Peter Parker said as he put on Edith's glasses.
"Can I be honest with you?" Quentin Beck said, "You look particularly silly, maybe they have an invisible version."
"Try them yourself," Peter Parker took off the glasses.
"I don't want to wear it," Quentin Beck protested, but Peter Parker's repeated requests finally persuaded him to put on the glasses. He asked Peter Parker, "How does it feel?"
"For the next Tony Stark, I believe in you," Peter Parker suddenly said.
"What?" Quentin Beck didn't quite understand the meaning of this statement.
"Mr. Stark left this message for me inside the glasses case: 'For the next Tony Stark, I believe in you,'" Peter Parker explained.
"I still don't get it. How much lemonade did you drink?" Quentin Beck joked.
"I've made every mistake he knows about. He must know I'm not ready to bear such a heavy responsibility," Peter Parker said.
"Why did he give them to you then?" Quentin Beck wondered.
"Maybe he didn't give Edith to me for personal use, but to hand over to the right person," Peter Parker continued, "It makes sense. He knew I'd make the right choice. He couldn't entrust Edith to Fury, because Fury would keep Edith for himself."
"That's true, it's definitely possible," Quentin Beck agreed.
"Exactly, the world needs the next Iron Man, and that person definitely won't be me. I'm just a 16-year-old kid from Queens. It has to be an adult," Peter Parker said, "Someone with experience, someone reliable, like Tony Stark, like you."
"No, Peter, stop it," Quentin Beck quickly took off the glasses, "No."
"Edith." Peter Parker immediately put the glasses back on, "I want to transfer your ownership to Quentin Beck."
"What are you doing, Peter?" Quentin Beck was surprised by Peter's actions.
"Do the right thing," Peter Parker said firmly.
"Mr. Stark gave these glasses to you!" Quentin Beck exclaimed.
"Mr. Stark let me choose, and this is my choice, alright?" Peter Parker insisted, "I've made my choice. Listen, you're a warrior, a leader. You stopped the Elemental horde, you saved my life, you saved the world. He would want you to take this."
"Welcome to the Avengers," after confirming the operation, Peter Parker handed the glasses to Quentin Beck.
"Thank you, I'm honored," this time, Quentin Beck didn't refuse and put on the glasses.
"Mr. Stark would have really liked you," after handing over the glasses, Peter Parker picked up his backpack and left the bar.
As he left, an astonishing transformation occurred in the bar. Beams of light flashed, and one by one, the patrons who were drinking disappeared. The bar's decor changed gradually.
In reality, this was never a bar, and there weren't as many people present. Everything had been an illusion created using holographic projection technology.
"See, effortless," Quentin Beck said somewhat smugly, "Who will help me get out of this ridiculous costume?"
"Alright, Edith is acquired. Connect it to our system," Quentin Beck handed Edith's glasses to a technician.
"A toast! A toast!" people around him cheered.
"No, this is a great achievement, but we still have a lot to do," Quentin Beck said.
"A toast! A toast!" everyone remained enthusiastic.
"Alright, let's have a toast," this time Quentin Beck didn't refuse.
"Pass me a glass, Doug," Quentin Beck toasted the first person unexpectedly, "A toast to my former boss, Tony Stark, who united us all."
Boos instantly erupted from the crowd.
"That tyrant, wrapped in real gold and top-notch technology, he squandered it. For example, my holographic system, a revolutionary technology with immense potential, he turned it into a self-healing device, renamed it 'BARF.' I told him it was a mistake. My technology could change the world. Then he fired me, claiming I had unstable mental health." Quentin Beck raised his glass, "To Tony!"
"To Tony!" this time, everyone raised their glasses together.
"The next toast is to William," Quentin Beck raised his glass again, "My 'BARF' technology combined with your armed drones—unbeatable. Realistic illusions, genuine attacks, incredible skill, and this is just the beginning."
"Thank you, brother," William raised his glass.
"A toast to Guttman," Quentin Beck continued, "You spun a story about a warrior named Quentin from another Earth fighting alien monsters in Europe. It's so far-fetched, but it's what people believe in most now. In fact, everyone believes it!"
"A toast to Victoria," Quentin Beck carried on, "She was the first to discover after Tony's death that he didn't entrust Edith to us or the Defense Department, but to a little kid."
After toasting everyone individually, Quentin Beck delivered a passionate conclusion:
"A toast to all of you. Tony Stark is dead, the door of opportunity has opened, and someone will undoubtedly step up to take on the mantle."
"In today's era, even if you're smarter and more professional than anyone else, no one will pay attention to you unless you're flying around in a cape or shooting lasers from your hands. Otherwise, nobody listens."
*Vote Stones Plz*
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[END OF CHAPTER]