Superpowers in the Marvel World

"Should I let Vanessa go to school?"

After breakfast, Alex and Vanessa slowly walked home. Watching the young girl become a little more lively, Alex found himself mulling over the idea.

Typically, a child Vanessa's age should be attending school. Not only could she learn valuable knowledge, but it would also help her make friends her age and integrate into her new environment faster. However, Alex hesitated due to Vanessa's sensitive identity as a "mutant."

For one, Vanessa's traumatic past made her wary of trusting humans, let alone befriending them. Additionally, she still couldn't fully control her abilities, and her current unstable mental state could make her a walking disaster at school—a ticking time bomb that would do more harm than good.

"Forget it. Let her adapt to this place first, and then I'll ask her if she even wants to attend school," Alex sighed, having decided on a plan. If Vanessa couldn't integrate into a human school, he could always send her to the X-Academy founded by Charles Xavier. That would solve the problem.

Interestingly, Alex himself was only sixteen or seventeen, an age when he should be in high school. However, he firmly believed in the saying, "The more you know, the more dangerous you become to society." As such, he had flat-out refused to follow the fate that countless peers had to accept—going to school.

To him, education was merely a means to live a better life. Now that his abilities had already brought him considerable wealth and comfort, school seemed utterly pointless. In his past life, he'd studied hard to get into college, find a good job, and earn a living. But in this life, with his powers, he had long achieved financial security and luxury. School had long been a forgotten concept for him—until Vanessa's situation brought it back to mind.

---

When they reached the front door, Alex picked up the newspaper that had already been delivered. Noticing Vanessa's uncertainty, he turned on the living room TV, letting her entertain herself.

"This is tricky! I don't even know any kids her age. How am I supposed to help Vanessa live a normal life?"

Watching her engrossed in the TV, Alex felt a headache coming on. Keeping her around him, a self-proclaimed shut-in, would only turn her into an even more introverted recluse. His initial hopes for her seemed doomed from the start.

"Ugh, what a hassle!" Shaking his head, Alex decided to stop worrying for the time being. Things would work out on their own eventually.

---

"Breaking news: Dr. Reed, a scientist whose space exploration plans were previously shelved due to budget cuts, has restarted his project with funding from Dr. Victor von Doom. Dr. Reed and his team will soon launch a spaceship into space, where they aim to gather data to unravel the secrets of human genetics and use it to benefit mankind…"

As Alex scanned the newspaper, he saw a large section featuring photos of Dr. Reed, Dr. Victor, and their spaceship.

He marveled at the reporters' audacity and the lax policies of this world. Back in his previous world, a journalist reporting such details might have ended up in jail!

"These scientists are always talking about benefiting humanity, but the only ones who truly benefit are the privileged few," Alex muttered dismissively, flipping to the next page. The remaining articles were mostly sensational gossip—celebrity scandals, public fights involving officials, and other absurd events. The explicit photos made Alex both amazed at Western openness and tempted to inspect them with a magnifying glass.

---

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

The sound of flowing water echoed in the living room—the ringtone Alex had set for his phone. Both he and Vanessa froze for a moment before Alex remembered it was his favorite tune.

Finding his phone on the couch, where he'd left it yesterday, Alex glanced at the screen. The caller was none other than the Punisher, who had just left last night. Answering the call, he joked, "Old friend, you just left last night, and now you're calling? Don't tell me you left something at my place—I'm not helping you fetch it!"

"Ridiculous! Do warriors ever forget their weapons? Alex, you really lack the humor we Americans are known for," the Punisher replied.

"Is that so? I'll work on it. Anyway, why the call? Knowing you, this has to be something serious," Alex said.

"Yes, this is important. Alex, you need to be extra careful in New York these days!" The Punisher's voice turned grave.

"What happened?" Alex asked, sensing the severity of the situation.

The Punisher's reply was unexpected: "Alex, do you know about vampires?"

"Vampires? You mean those supernatural creatures that drink blood to sustain their lives?" Alex asked, his expression turning strange.

His understanding of vampires largely came from overly "cute" portrayals in anime. Despite his travels across various countries, he had never encountered real vampires, so he remained skeptical of their existence.

"Does your warning have something to do with vampires?" Alex suddenly caught on, his voice tinged with excitement.

"Why do you sound so thrilled?" The Punisher sounded puzzled before continuing with a stern warning: "This is dangerous, Alex! Don't mess around!"

"Alright, alright, my friend. I'll be careful. Now, tell me the details," Alex urged, brushing off the caution.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you," the Punisher relented. "In recent years, under the leadership of the Elder Council and their chief, Fortes, the vampire community has thrived and grown bolder. Each year, they abduct countless young women, and their influence has spread across all levels of mainstream society. The human-vampire hybrids, in particular, have become increasingly numerous and are their primary agents in covering up their crimes, making it nearly impossible for us to fight back."

Hearing this, Alex was both impressed and wary. For vampires to infiltrate human society so thoroughly, their methods must be extraordinary.

"So what does this have to do with me?" Alex asked.

"I've received intel that Fortes and his clan are planning to target the vampire hunter known as Daywalker in New York. Vampires from all over the country are gathering there, so…"

Alex interrupted, "I see. You're warning me to avoid getting involved with the Elder Council and their vampires, right?"

"Exactly. As long as you stay indoors at night, they won't bother you. Alex, you've got Vanessa with you—don't take unnecessary risks! These vampires are incredibly resilient and reign supreme at night. Even with your abilities, they're not to be underestimated. I don't want you to go through what I did, my friend," the Punisher pleaded, his voice heavy with regret.

"…Got it. Thanks for the heads-up," Alex replied softly.

"May God bless you," the Punisher said before hanging up.

"God, huh?" Alex chuckled. Knowing the Punisher had long abandoned his faith, the blessing meant the Punisher had resigned himself to Alex's inevitable decision.

Closing his phone, Alex smiled faintly. "So arrogant, these vampires… interesting."