"What a cursed situation!"
The Green Goblin—now wanted by governments worldwide—and his clandestine alliance with Doctor Doom were gathered in secret.
It was Scorpion who spoke first.
Though not a high-profile villain, his power stemmed entirely from his battle suit—a product of biological experimentation by the Osborn Group, based on the same spider species that once bit Spider-Man.
Originally, he had been in negotiations to work for Grant King. But before a deal could be struck, King's entire criminal empire collapsed overnight.
Jobless and frustrated, Scorpion had wallowed in depression until the Green Goblin and Doctor Doom came knocking, recruiting him into this freshly formed evil alliance.
"Something's really off about this," Scorpion muttered, still armored. "Word is, Grant King was crushed just for trying to tap into the Oasis business... His entire empire vanished."
"I thought that was just hearsay... But now, I'm not so sure. These Mutants are strange."
Green Goblin and Doctor Doom, both aware of the true story, stayed silent. They let the others talk.
"We always thought Mutant power rested solely with the X-Men," said Doctor Octopus, ripping open a packet of fries like they were government files. "But clearly, we've been wrong. We know nothing about this Second World Company or the new Xavier's School. And those hundred people—they just... appeared."
"Do you really believe a game gave them powers through genetic evolution?" asked a drenched Dr. Lizard, his voice full of disbelief.
"Does anyone buy that fantasy?" sneered Killian, who had attended the press conference from start to finish. "If this were genuine genetic evolution, why do they all need those strange wooden sticks to activate their powers?"
His reasons for joining the alliance were personal.
Years ago, Killian—then a Tony Stark fanatic—developed Extremis and approached Stark for funding. Tony never showed. Left alone on a rooftop in the cold, he was forgotten.
Only later did he learn Stark had skipped the meeting to spend the night with a reporter.
That betrayal twisted his admiration into hatred.
Now, as president of Pioneer Technology and with Extremis nearing full maturity, Killian wanted revenge.
But when he discovered Stark was growing close to the Mutants, the challenge intensified.
So when Green Goblin and Doctor Doom extended their offer, he didn't hesitate.
"Those hundred people are clearly undercover Mutants," he declared. "The real question is: Do they have more hidden forces? And why didn't they attack us when we retreated?"
It was that detail that unsettled them most.
Maria Hill, Porter James, and the others had demonstrated magical powers—but not overwhelming force. Their attacks had caught the alliance off guard, nothing more.
When the group fled, they expected pursuit. A counterattack. Retaliation.
But Joseph never even acknowledged their existence.
"What if... they're tracking us in secret? Waiting to strike?" muttered Electro, but even he sounded unconvinced.
Enough time had passed. No one had sensed pursuit.
"Still, our debut was a disaster," Green Goblin finally said. "Not only did we fail, we became a global punchline."
He scowled.
"We underestimated the Mutants. Since Xavier's School vanished, they've evolved—strength, technology, strategy... everything."
"So what's your plan?" asked Scorpion, joined in curiosity by Octopus, Lizard, Killian, and Electro.
"If we don't understand the Mutants... we should find people who do," Green Goblin said, his voice low.
"After what happened, the military and world governments must be panicking. Do you really think they'll let the Mutants rise unchecked?"
"You're saying... we should cooperate with the authorities?" Octopus raised an eyebrow.
The room fell silent.
"The same governments that treat us like weapons and toss us aside when we're spent?"
They were all cynical, smart, and tired of being used.
"That depends," said Green Goblin, eyes gleaming. "On how we cooperate."
More silence.
Then, slowly, Doctor Octopus nodded.
"Spider-Girl joined the X-Men recently. But she doesn't live at the school full-time. If we track her, we might learn more about their operations."
"Do it," said Green Goblin. He was about to continue when he noticed Doctor Doom walking toward the door.
"Victor? Where are you going?"
"To buy an Oasis bracelet and study it," Doom replied, his voice brimming with contempt. "I want to know exactly what kind of world the Mutants think they can build."
Despite not having clashed with the Fantastic Four yet, Doom had been simmering ever since Joseph's rise. The threat loomed, the humiliation burned.
"Buy for all of us too," said Doctor Octopus lazily. "Don't cheap out—we want helmets or full immersion pods."
Benefits of alliance: shared expenses.
"Guess how many world governments will be holding emergency meetings tonight?" said a calm voice.
Elsewhere—aboard a luxurious yacht—Lex Luthor reclined in a rocking chair, swirling a glass of wine.
"And after those meetings," he added, "how many leaders will secretly purchase Oasis equipment for themselves?"
The villains around him fell quiet.
"Lex... what are you implying?" asked Wilhelm Stryker, in his transformed Red Hulk form.
"It's simple," Lex replied. "We're all here wondering whether to act. But what's the point? The officials will act for us. That's a given."
He grinned, cold and confident.
"And Mutants? You think they haven't already prepared for that? Why do you think they released Oasis now?"
"It's bait. Maybe the evolution story isn't fully true. Maybe it is. Either way, it works. It's given people a reason to believe."
"The world will be overturned."
The villains exchanged looks. Lex had just outlined what they hadn't dared say aloud.
"You think Oasis was just a trap?" Stryker asked, his voice strained.
"It doesn't matter," Lex replied coolly. "What matters is the Mutants' momentum is unstoppable. And within every government, there are those who will side with them. The promise of superpowers is too tempting."
"The moment Oasis went public... humanity's institutions lost half their influence."
Lex rose from his chair, red wine glinting in the light.
"If you challenge Mutants head-on with only mortal strength, you'll be crushed."
The others listened, stunned. Lex was already declaring defeat?
"Let the governments clash with Mutants," he said. "Let them expose their real strength."
He laughed softly.
"And we? We use this time to grow stronger."
"Grow how?" someone asked.
Lex grinned.
"Through Oasis, of course. If lucky players truly gain powers, why can't we be those players?"
"Mutants won't know who we are in the crowd. And if they do? We'll pay our way in. Money still talks."
The others fell silent.
Brilliant.
They were witnessing the strategic genius of a man with no superpowers—but who had always matched minds with gods.
What they didn't know was the last part Lex kept to himself:
Gain power quietly. Learn the supernatural rules of this new world.
Because when the real darkness descends from the stars...
He, Lex Luthor—a mortal—will rise.
And when that happens, Mutants, superheroes, all of them... will kneel.
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