The Brilliant "Star" (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Hmm? It seems Earth isn't entirely filled with weaklings after all."

Gripping Mjolnir, Thor watched as Captain America, despite the fierce lightning ravaging around him, still managed to block the assault with his shield. A hint of admiration flickered in Thor's eyes.

"Pity, humans are still just humans. They can never compare to true gods."

In the next moment, Thor's gaze hardened.

The lightning released from Mjolnir instantly grew more violent.

Under the raging thunder, even ordinary people standing several meters away could feel a wild surge of energy churning in the air.

They could only retreat step by step, leaving the battlefield entirely to the two inhuman combatants.

Yet, even though Captain America was hailed as the strongest human and known for going toe-to-toe with anyone, his human nature remained unchanged.

Under the relentless onslaught of lightning, even his sturdy shield could block and absorb some of the current.

But the immense impact force still pushed his body backward, carving a deep trench in the ground with his feet.

"Ah..."

With sheer willpower, Captain America fought to hold his ground. Though his body was forced back, his resolve never wavered.

"Good! Human, you possess an unyielding will. You are worthy of being my true opponent."

Watching Captain America display such tenacity under his assault, even Thor was moved.

"Now, I will use overwhelming power to show you that no matter how strong your will, it can never bridge the vast gap in strength."

Taking the fight seriously, Thor abandoned the lightning and instead tightened his grip on Mjolnir, his eyes locked onto Captain America's form, burning with battle intent.

"The same goes for you. Humanity will never bow to any arrogant fool who calls himself a god. It was true decades ago, and it's still true today."

Gripping his familiar shield with one hand, Captain America felt as if he had returned to the battlefield decades ago, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve.

"Enough talk. I couldn't find that guy called Superman, so you'll do for a warm-up."

Without further hesitation, Thor leaped several meters into the air, tightening his hold on Mjolnir, and slammed it down hard toward Captain America.

Captain America reacted just as quickly. The moment Mjolnir descended, he raised his shield.

Boom!

The instant Mjolnir struck the Vibranium Shield, a deafening explosion erupted.

A powerful shockwave swept outward, flipping several nearby cars into the air.

But unlike the movies, Thor wasn't sent flying back by the shield's recoil.

Instead, both combatants staggered back a few steps before charging at each other again, swinging their shield and hammer in a fierce, unrelenting clash.

Meanwhile, as Thor and Captain America fought tooth and nail, a laboratory in a remote suburb of New York City buzzed with excitement.

Countless science enthusiasts and media reporters had been invited to witness what was being called the greatest invention of the century.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you are fortunate to be here, because you are about to witness history."

"You will be recorded in the annals of history alongside today's experiment."

At the center of the modest lab, a plainly dressed, overweight middle-aged man spoke with unwavering confidence to the crowd.

"Energy has always been the bottleneck limiting human development. Like the famous bucket theory, the shortage of energy determines the ceiling of human technological progress."

"But today, you will have the honor of witnessing history, of seeing the most important moment in human energy history."

"After today, humanity will no longer worry about energy shortages."

"You will witness the birth of a new energy source—a safe, sustainable, even permanent source that will provide cheap electricity for everyone!"

Doctor Otto's face was still brimming with confident smiles.

"Now, let me first introduce my assistant..."

As he spoke, Doctor Otto walked over to a cloth-covered device and yanked the cloth away.

"Wow... what is that?"

Everyone except Peter gasped in amazement at the mechanical device with four metal tentacles.

"Peter, you don't seem surprised at all?"

Even Gwen, who was standing next to Peter and working as Doctor Otto's intern, was seeing the octopus-like mechanical arms for the first time.

But she was curious why Peter showed no sign of excitement.

"It's just a set of mechanical arms. What's there to be surprised about?"

Peter replied calmly.

Indeed, if this mechanical arm had been in the world he came from, it would undoubtedly have been a great invention.

But in this Marvel world full of black tech, it just wasn't impressive enough.

"These four mechanical arms are the intelligent mechanical arms I specifically built for today's nuclear fusion experiment. They can withstand high temperatures, magnetic forces, and radiation."

Doctor Otto said as he slowly took off his shirt, revealing his somewhat stout upper body, and stood in front of the mechanical arms.

Then, the arms activated. A mechanical fixture resembling a human spine slowly attached itself to his back along his vertebrae.

At that moment, Doctor Octopus was born!

"Damn, that thing looks painful!"

Even Peter had to admire how driven—almost insane—Doctor Otto was to complete this experiment.

Because those mechanical arms weren't just attached to the skin.

The fixture on his back was directly inserted into the nerves of his spinal cord. Only then could he control them with his mind.

"Peter, do you think Doctor Otto will succeed?"

Watching the scene, a bad feeling suddenly rose in Gwen's heart. It wasn't her Spider-Sense, but it unsettled her even more.

She felt like something was about to go wrong.

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

Even as she said that, Peter's face remained calm, as if he wasn't worried about an accident at all.

"Everyone, keep your eyes open, because the main event is about to begin."

By now, Otto, transformed into Doctor Octopus, had reached the Laser Ignition Device.

"Oh, and I'd like to thank Oscorp Industries for sponsoring the rare element—Tritium!"

As the mechanical arm gently placed the rare element called Tritium into the center of the ignition device, the device's invisible magnetic field instantly locked it in place. It floated slowly in the air and began spinning rapidly.

"Buckle up, we're taking off."

Otto put on his sunglasses, spoke calmly, and pressed the laser ignition button.

The next moment, several laser beams precisely struck the Tritium at the center of the device.

The terrifying heat instantly activated it. A brand-new miniature "star" slowly bloomed at the device's core.

"Wow, is that a man-made miniature sun?"

Even though the scorching heat and intense radiation were completely blocked by the Magnetic Field Shield, the crowd still couldn't help bursting into waves of amazed exclamations.

"Sorry, Gwen, I need to leave for a bit."

Just as Gwen was still feeling that inexplicable unease in her heart, Peter suddenly spoke up beside her.

"Peter, what's wrong?"

Gwen wanted to press him, but found that Peter had already chosen to leave without hesitation.

"Damn..."

Watching Peter's retreating figure, then turning back to glance at the brilliant "star," Gwen ultimately didn't chase after him. Instead, she retreated behind the crowd and stepped into a corner where no one could see her.