DC Chapter 15:  A Glimmer of Hope Amid Gotham’s Shadows

Viktor stood in his high-tech lab, the sleek surfaces reflecting the low hum of machinery and the soft glow of advanced monitors. The walls were lined with towering metal cabinets filled with various tools and parts, and a large central workbench was covered in a series of newly extracted items from his Marvel Gatcha draws. The lab was quiet, save for the subtle sound of JARVIS processing in the background.

In front of Viktor, the spoils of his recent draws lay neatly arranged on the metal table: Magneto's Psi-Shield Helmet, Captain America's Shield, vials of Curative Reach, and a few less useful items like an old newspaper, expired milk, and a golden cat idol. The items were meticulously sorted, gleaming under the sharp, artificial lights.

JARVIS," Viktor called, "sort through these and get rid of the junk."

"Right away, sir," JARVIS replied, the Nuerobots the latest addition to Viktors every growing upgrades. They are robots fully controlled by JARVIS mixing the technology of Doombots, Ultron Drones and Ironman tech, they move in unison to dispose of the worthless items.

Viktor's gaze stopped on two particular objects: Black Widow's undergarments and Gwen Stacy's lipstick. He picked up the delicate garment, turning it in his hands before smirking.

"Wait. Not these," Viktor said, glancing over at the lipstick too. "Keep these for... research purposes."

JARVIS paused, awaiting clarification.

"Wanda's garment could contain DNA. If I can isolate it, I might be able to replicate or create my own Homo Magi and enhanced her," Viktor explained, placing the garment into a sealed container.

"As for Gwen Stacy's lipstick," he continued, picking it up and inspecting it closely, "there could be genetic markers here as well. Who knows, maybe I can create something close to Spider-Man's powers."

He placed both items in a separate, carefully marked container, ready for analysis. "You never know what breakthroughs might come from the most unexpected sources."

JARVIS voice echoed again laced with amusement, "Understood sir, they will be safeguard and displayed in your collection for 'research' purposes. With that confirmed the rest of the useless items were cleared away.

After dealing with the research materials he focus on the ones with more value.

He ran his hands across the Psi-Shield Helmet, feeling the cool, metallic surface beneath his fingers. "Magneto's helmet…," Viktor muttered, his voice a low murmur of contemplation. "A relic designed to block telepathic intrusions. A good idea, but unnecessary for me." Even a smalless piece of this metal with the right electronics can be used to block of telepaths from reading anyone's mind.

But to him it was useless his mind was already impenetrable, fortified by his telepathic abilities and the diamond form he could switch into at will making his mind unreadable by anyone, thanks to Emma Frost's abilities. But… that didn't mean there wasn't something to gain from the helmet.

"JARVIS, initiate analysis sequence," Viktor ordered, stepping back as the robotic arms descended from the ceiling, gently lifting the helmet into a glass chamber for analysis.

"Right away, sir," JARVIS replied smoothly.

As the helmet spun slowly in the chamber, blue light scanning every inch of its surface, Viktor crossed his arms, watching carefully. The data poured onto his screen: composition, design structure, and electromagnetic shielding properties. His eyes flickered with interest.

"The design is crude, but the metal shielding is ingenious," Viktor mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "JARVIS, begin analyzing the metal composition of the helmet. We'll recreate it and fuse its properties into my armor. Perhaps we can craft a small shielding device from this helmet."

The robotic arms whirred to life, studying the composition of the helmet, down to its base components. Newly fabricated metal that are like shimmering fragments were funneled into a separate chamber, where Viktor's advanced armor was stored. Slowly, the metal integrated into the suit, enhancing its shielding capabilities.

"That should take care of any potential threats from telepaths specially the… Martians," Viktor said, satisfied. You can't be to sure if you let your guard down because I'm not in my diamond form some random telepath my read my memories. He moved on to the next item of interest: Captain America's Shield.

The iconic vibranium shield lay flat on the table, its star glinting under the lab lights. Viktor picked it up, feeling its incredible lightness and durability. "A true masterpiece of a material," he whispered, flipping it in his hands. "The first proto-adamantium, made with just a little vibranium. Even with so little technology, Howard Stark was able to create a metal of this caliber. Too bad it was only shaped like a frisbee. This could prove useful."

He walked over to another scanner, placing the shield on the platform as data flooded in. Vibranium's unique properties fascinated him: its ability to absorb kinetic energy, its unparalleled strength. His mind raced with possibilities.

"Absorbing this into my armor will increase its defensive capabilities tenfold, but that would be such a waste." Viktor said aloud. "JARVIS, study the item first, will think of something we could fashion from this in the future once we have nano tech."

Once again, the robotic arms went to work, studying the shield with precision, breaking down the metal composition and the properties of vibranium. For now, that's all they could do. Although the Tinkerer's mind, along with the brilliant scientists Viktor had gathered, was formidable, they were no Stark. In fact, even some of the most brilliant scientists of this time probably couldn't do much better unless, of course, those superheroes started showing up.

As the process completed, look over the other more tangible rewards he got something that could definitely enhance himself. "Perfect," Viktor said, satisfied with the results. "Now, onto the character cards."

He turned his attention to the two most valuable draws he had pulled: Black Widow and Sabretooth. The cards glowed faintly on the table, waiting to be absorbed.

Viktor picked up Black Widow's card first. To others, the cards would appear as ordinary playing cards, and if lost, they would return to his system space. The Black Widow card featured a vivid image of her in action, set against a dynamic background that highlighted her agility and fierceness. Below the image was a detailed description of her abilities and skills. Her face briefly appeared on the card before dissolving into a swirl of blue light. Viktor felt the knowledge, skills, and decades of training and experience flood into his mind.

"Espionage, infiltration, combat skills… perfect," Viktor muttered, eyes closed as he absorbed her expertise. "Her tactical thinking and resistance to torture… those will be useful."

The cold efficiency of Black Widow's training settled into his brain, her combat agility, her mastery of stealth. He could feel her strategic brilliance now at his disposal. But he knew he had to temper it, modify it. Using his telepathic abilities, Viktor filtered out the unnecessary, refining the memories he had absorb like data until only the most useful skills remained in his mind.

Next, he moved on to Victor Freed commonly known as Sabretooth. Viktor hesitated for a moment, holding the card. He knew this one would be more dangerous.

"Here we go," Viktor muttered, as the card turns into light and merge with his body.

The wave of raw power and feral instinct hit him like a truck. His muscles tightened, and a growl escaped his lips as his mind was flooded with over 200 years of Victor Creed's brutal experiences, the way he fights, skills he learned in life a mastery over all human form martial arts he had encounter during his life time. His hands clenched, nails extending into claws as the animalistic rage threatened to overtake him. His eyes flashed red, the ferocity of Sabretooth coursing through him.

"Focus," Viktor snarled, blood dripping from his hands as his nails turns into claws that dug into his flesh. The pain was sharp, but it was gone in an instant, his new healing factor kicking in, sealing the wounds almost immediately.

He forced himself to meditate, to focus on the task at hand. "Delete the rage. Remove the berserker tendencies." He gritted his teeth, using his telepathic powers to filter through Sabretooth's psyche, discarding the madness, the uncontrollable rage although this could affect the benefits of Sabertooths animalistic tendencies but it's better than being angry all the time.

His body trembled as the transformation took hold, bones shifting, muscles swelling. His senses heightened, every sound, every scent in the lab suddenly sharper, clearer. He could hear the faintest hum of the machinery, the distant crashing of waves from the seaside.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Viktor opened his eyes. The world around him was still, calm. The berserker rage had vanished, but the raw power remained. He took a moment to assess the changes that had overtaken him.

First, he marveled at his hands. The claws that now extended from his fingers were razor-sharp and retractable. Viktor flexed his fingers, and the claws glinted menacingly in the light. They were capable of slicing through nearly anything, flesh, bone, wood, stone, and even metal. With these claws, he could scale walls effortlessly, an advantage that would prove invaluable in both combat and stealth when his not using his armored suit.

He ran his tongue over his teeth and felt their new, unnerving sharpness. His once ordinary teeth had become razor-sharp, capable of cutting through materials with ease. He also had fangs that could retract, similar to his claws. This enhancement, though initially surprising, but he finds no use on it rather than being able to eat well done steak more easily.

As for his senses, they were the most astonishing change. His vision was now superhumanly acute. He could see with exceptional clarity at great distances and even in complete darkness. His hearing, too, had become highly refined, allowing him to detect sounds that were previously inaudible. His sense of smell was so developed that he could track targets by scent alone. However, navigating Gotham's overpowering smells, filled with garbage and decay, would be a challenge he'd need to get accustomed to.

In terms of physical stature, Viktor felt a significant increase in strength and speed. His muscles felt more powerful, and his movements were more agile and precise. He had grown at least an inch or two taller, and his overall build seemed longer. His enhanced physique added to his imposing presence, making him a formidable figure.

Lastly, Viktor noticed the changes in his appearance. His hair, had grown thicker and longer, reaching down to his shoulders, he was glad he didn't grow more hairs on his body like Sabretooth. His also a bit taller and more robust, his body more defined as he flexes his muscle. He now has a body that looks like those Greek god statues, it was a surprising and very noticeable change. And finally, the most important of all he now has a healing factor and increase physical strength even without activating the suit he feels like he could lift at least 25 tons compared to his diamond form previously with 2 tons. He can't wait to test and see his limits. Especially if his diamond form had grown stronger with this additional of strength.

"It's done," Viktor whispered, his voice steady. He flexed his hand, extending and retracting his claws effortlessly. His body felt stronger, more resilient, and he could feel his lifespan stretching out before him, centuries of life ahead.

"Sabretooth's strength… Black Widow's skill…," Viktor mused, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "Let's see how Gotham handles this."

After sorting things out in his lab and reviewing the recently acquired items, Viktor made his way back to Gotham in the afternoon. It was the perfect time for him to venture out and earn more system Fame Points.

The city of Gotham buzzed with tension. Though the League of Shadows had been thwarted from unleashing total chaos, the scars of the attack still lingered. The swift intervention of Spider-Man had kept the prisoners from wreaking havoc across the city, but in one of the poorest districts of Gotham, mass hysteria had erupted. Broken windows, overturned carts, and scattered debris littered the streets where panic had once gripped the people.

Viktor Frost stood amidst this scene, a calm figure in an ocean of uncertainty. Dressed in his signature beige tailored suit and black long coat, he moved with an air of authority, though there was a subtle grace to his movements. Around him, the streets swelled with the people who had been most affected the poor, the homeless, and those who had little before the chaos and now had even less.

The real destruction, a collapsed section of the city's iconic monorail, was already being repaired by the Bruce Wayne Foundation. Still, the district where Viktor had chosen to lend his help was in disarray, the aftermath of panic leaving its mark. Broken glass glittered under the streetlights, the remnants of a once-thriving market now reduced to rubble.

Viktor's two NeuroBots stood by his side, their sleek synthetic forms blending seamlessly with the environment. Though their human-like skin concealed the advanced technology underneath, they towered over the crowd, their presence both reassuring and slightly intimidating. Their glowing red eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, scanned the area, processing every movement of the civilians on the city streets.

A small group of Frost Industries employees, clad in their blue uniforms with the diamond logo prominently displayed, worked efficiently to distribute supplies. Blankets, food, and clean water were handed out to those in need. The police, dressed in their standard navy-blue uniforms, struggled to maintain order in the swelling crowd. Some directed traffic, others helped with distribution, but all looked slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that had gathered.

A young mother, her hair disheveled and her eyes red from tears, clutched a small child to her chest as she accepted a bag of food from one of Viktor's employees. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaky but filled with gratitude.

Viktor caught the moment out of the corner of his eye and moved toward her, his steps measured and calm. "It's going to be okay," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "You and your child will have everything you need." Just saying this Viktor almost puke, he knew that they will most likely ask for help again in the future and if his unable to provide any, they will most likely turn on him. Such is human nature, but for now it's still a good tool for him to earn points.

The woman looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. "Mr. Frost… I never thought someone like you would come here. To help… people like us." There was something about the man in front of her, although he seemed young, too young if she was honest, there was something that drew her to him, like he was a light shining in their hard times. The way he moved and smiled was picture perfect, making you feel gratitude even with the simplest help he provided.

Viktor knelt slightly, lowering himself to meet her gaze. "I've never forgotten where I came from," he replied softly. "No one deserves to be forgotten."

His words, though simple, carried a weight that resonated with those around him. For many in Gotham, Viktor Frost was a name tied to wealth, power, and innovation. Seeing him here, among the poor, not as a distant figure but as a man willing to get his hands dirty, sent ripples of hope through the crowd.

At that moment, the media arrived, drawn by the sudden buzz around Viktor's efforts. Camera crews fanned out, capturing the scene from every angle. A young reporter, her hair neatly tied back and her expression sharp, approached Viktor, her microphone poised for an interview.

"Mr. Frost," she began, her voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd, "you're well-known for your innovations and contributions to Gotham's economy, but this is the first time we've seen you in the midst of relief efforts. What brought you here today?"

Viktor straightened up, the faint hum of his NeuroBots audible as they shifted beside him. "Gotham is my home," he said, his tone calm and steady. "It doesn't matter if you're wealthy or struggling. When the city is hurting, it's everyone's responsibility to help."

The camera panned across the scene, capturing the crowds of people gathering blankets and supplies. The elderly, the homeless, and families who had lost what little they had during the panic were now receiving aid. A sense of relief washed over their faces as they realized that, at least for today, they wouldn't have to worry about where their next meal would come from.

As Viktor spoke, a small group of children approached him, their faces dirty from playing in the dusty streets. One of the boys, no older than ten, held a tattered soccer ball in his hands. He looked up at Viktor, his expression a mixture of awe and shyness.

"Thanks for helping us mister." the boy asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Viktor smiled, kneeling down to meet the boy at eye level. "You're welcome kid," he replied with a chuckle.

The boy grinned, holding up his soccer ball. "Thanks for the food. Maybe next time you can help rebuild the court"

Viktor laughed softly. "Sure, I'll definitely send someone to fix that ."

As the day came to a close, the media buzzed around Viktor, capturing every moment for the evening news. But for Viktor, this was about more than just headlines. His actions here, while earning him valuable FAME POINTS and the favor of Gotham's lowliest citizens, were calculated investments. A small act of kindness today could reap great rewards in the future. For now, he would mingle, offer small gestures of aid, and wait for the day when these seeds of goodwill would return to him tenfold.

The crowd slowly began to disperse as the supplies were exhausted, but the impact of Viktor's presence lingered. The people of Gotham, long skeptical of the wealthy and powerful, saw in Viktor Frost something different. People see that he hadn't forgotten about them and where he came from, and that was something the people wouldn't forget either.

As the NeuroBots moved to Viktor's side, ready to escort him back to the Frost Industries tower, Viktor took one last look at the crowd. The lights of Gotham flickered in the distance, and despite the city's wounds, it is healing.