Chapter 23: Marvel 23
MJ nudged Peter, whispering, "Are we sure this is safe? I mean, training with a bloodthirsty vampire?"
Peter shrugged. "If Max says it's fine, I trust him. Plus, she's not that bloodthirsty... right?"
Max grinned, stepping forward. "Alright, enough stalling. Rize won't kill any of you—today, at least. But you're all here for a reason. You've got powers now, and we need to hone them before someone—or something—decides to make a move."
Gwen, still buzzing with excitement over the vampire revelation, was practically bouncing on her heels. "So, what do we do first? Punch things? Fly? Shoot webs?" Her eyes gleamed as she looked between Max and Rize.
Max glanced at Rize, who rolled her eyes but stepped forward, her presence commanding. "Let's start with something simple. You all need to understand the energy inside you. It's not just about punching harder or jumping higher. It's about control." She flicked her hand, and the blood blade she had summoned earlier reappeared. "Like this. This is my blood. It's part of me, but I control it."
Flash gulped, eyeing the blade warily. "And we're supposed to do... what exactly?"
Rize smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, you'll see. Now, stand still."
Before anyone could react, she shot the blade toward them, not to harm, but to test their reflexes.
Rize's blood blade moved swiftly through the air, aimed directly at the group. The intent wasn't to harm, but to test their instincts. As the blade neared, Peter's reflexes kicked in—his spider-sense tingling as he dodged out of the way with ease. Flash, with his new powers awakening, barely managed to sidestep, his movements clumsy but effective. Gwen, still adjusting, hesitated for a moment before instinctively rolling to avoid it. MJ froze, but Max, watching closely, raised a hand just before the blade touched her, stopping it in its tracks.
"Not bad," Rize remarked, retracting her blade. "But you all need to move faster, especially you, MJ. The energy coursing through you is raw and new, but if you don't learn to control it, it will control you."
Max nodded, stepping forward. "She's right. Your bodies are changing, your abilities are growing, and soon enough, you'll be facing threats far bigger than a training session. But before we dive into the serious stuff, we need to figure out what each of you can do. So... who's first?" He glanced at the group, waiting to see who would volunteer.
Gwen stepped forward, determination in her eyes. "I'll go first," she said, her voice steady but carrying a hint of excitement. She looked at Rize and Max, eager to unlock whatever potential was now coursing through her veins.
Max smiled. "Alright, Gwen. Let's see what you've got."
Rize gave her a critical glance. "Focus on your body. Feel the energy flowing inside. It's not about force, but control. Try to harness it."
Gwen took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. She concentrated, trying to sense the new power within her. There was a strange tingling running through her muscles—almost like a buzzing. Slowly, she opened her eyes and stretched her arms, instinctively moving her fingers as if to test her body's new capabilities. In a sudden burst of motion, she leapt into the air with surprising ease, flipping mid-air, landing softly on the ground a few feet away.
"Whoa!" Gwen gasped, wide-eyed. "That was... awesome!" She looked at her hands, flexing them as if feeling an unfamiliar strength.
Rize nodded, looking impressed but keeping her expression neutral. "Not bad. Your body has already adapted to its new strength and agility. But it's only the beginning. Try to sense your surroundings. Feel them."
Gwen frowned, unsure of what Rize meant, but she tried anyway. She closed her eyes again, this time focusing not just on her own body but on the space around her. The more she focused, the more she became aware of subtle changes in the air, the faintest sounds, the tiniest movements. It was like her senses were suddenly heightened to a superhuman degree.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes and snapped her head to the side. "Something's coming!" she said, just as Rize's blood blade shot toward her again. But this time, Gwen reacted instantly, flipping out of the way with perfect timing, her reflexes almost spider-like.
Max chuckled. "Looks like you're getting the hang of it."
Gwen grinned, breathing heavily but exhilarated. "This... is amazing."
Rize crossed her arms, giving her a small nod of approval. "You're a quick learner. Keep honing that awareness. You're faster and stronger now, but that's useless if you don't sharpen your instincts."
Clap Clap
Everyone clapped along, cheering Gwen on after her impressive demonstration. Max then stepped forward, a smile on his face. "Great job, Gwen," he said, "but now let's see what your unique ability is."
"Unique ability?" Gwen asked, looking at him with curiosity.
"Yeah, each of you has something special beyond just the superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes," Max explained. "For example, in my foresight, Peter had superhuman abilities similar to what you all just showed—super reflexes, wall-crawling, and even a 'spider-sense', Silk manipulation. But Peter also had a unique ability. You might have something like that, too."
"Wait," Gwen interrupted, "are you saying I might have an ability like Peter's?"
Max nodded. "Maybe. And then there's Flash over here, who demonstrated something else entirely. You saw how his hand glowed red earlier? That wasn't just a light show—it was his unique power, 'Crimson Light.' A combination of light and flame, with destructive power and the speed of light."
Flash's eyes widened, looking down at his hands as if trying to summon that power again. "So... I'm that powerful?"
"Yes," Max confirmed, "and likewise, Gwen, you also have a unique ability. Let's see if we can unlock it." He extended his hand toward her. "Give me your hand."
Gwen hesitated for a moment, then nodded and placed her hand in Max's.
In the back of his mind, Yue's voice echoed, asking him: [Why go through all this when you can just use your UP to check their stats? Would be much quicker, don't you think?]
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