[Task Settling…]
[Current Progress: 3]
[Rewards Issued at Final Stage]
[Ding!]
[Chained Mission: Third Stage Unlocked]
[Objective: Protect the Hunted Girl]
[Location: Unknown Faction's Research Facility]
[Note: Target Involves Genetic Experiments]
James looked from the sky to May and Russell. "Crisis over."
May sensed something, eyes widening under her mask. "You're leaving?"
"Yup." James nodded. "My task's done."
May fiddled with her web-shooter, voice softer. "Will we meet again?"
James chuckled, tracing a golden arc in the air. "Give me your universe's coordinates."
May's eyes lit up, rattling off numbers. James stored them. "When I've got time, I'll check how you're doing as Spider-Girl."
May grinned, hugging him tightly, then stepped toward the portal he opened. She turned, fist raised. "Bring souvenirs!"
As the golden light faded, James looked at nervous Russell. "You're this universe's Spider-Man now." His tone was calm. "Mercy to enemies is cruelty to yourself. If they try to kill you…"
"Take them out," Russell finished, eyes firm. "I get it."
James nodded, satisfied, giving the new Spider-Man a final look before stepping into a new portal.
---
Unknown Universe, Outskirts
James stood in a barren field, night wind lifting his black cape. His super vision scanned, spotting only drunken fishermen. "Korea?" He raised a brow. "New."
He appeared atop Seoul's grandest hotel, standing before a panoramic window, city lights below. Turing would handle logistics. No rush to find the target—time for a break.
The next day, James strolled Seoul's streets, morning sun warming the asphalt. The hotel clerk's sweet greeting lingered, but the city bored him. "Plastic surgery's gone overboard," he muttered, super vision noting identical faces and smiles among passersby.
He wandered into a food street, sampling tteokbokki, fish cakes, and spicy chicken claws. Decent, but nothing special. As he considered teleporting back, faint voices caught his ear.
"Target area cleared."
"E-series sample recovery failed."
"Continue searching for primary target."
James's brow lifted, vision piercing three buildings to a secluded alley. Five men in black combat suits disposed of a body beside an unmarked van. Their leader, a handsome young man, spoke into an earpiece.
James smirked. The Witch's Pretty Boy, if he recalled. Knowing the world narrowed the search.
His super vision blanketed Seoul, data flooding his mind, filtered in 0.5 seconds. He locked onto a girl in a dirty school uniform, short hair, eating ice cream with another girl on a park bench.
"Found you, Ja-yoon."
James vanished. A couple taking photos flinched, and a patrol froze, stunned by his speed. To James, the world was still—a floating plastic bag, a thief's hand in a woman's purse. He slapped the thief casually.
Ja-yoon licked her ice cream, feigning cheer as her friend Dohui rambled about school gossip. Her hairs stood on end, a predator's gaze chilling her. She nearly crushed her cone.
"Ja-yoon, you okay? You look pale," Dohui asked.
Ja-yoon didn't answer, eyes locked on a man appearing before her. One second, empty space; the next, he stood there, as if always present.
"Hello, Ja-yoon," he said, voice audible only to her. "We need to talk."
Dohui followed her gaze, puzzled. "Who's this?"
"Her cousin," James said smoothly. "Family emergency."
Ja-yoon's pupils shrank. He knew her name and appeared from nowhere—not normal. She faked a goofy smile. "Oh, cousin! How'd you find me?"
James smiled at her act. "Good performance, but no need. I'm here to help."
Dohui blinked. "Since when do you have a cousin?"
"Distant relative!" Ja-yoon waved exaggeratedly, then whispered to James, "What do you want?"
"To protect you," James said bluntly. "And learn about this world." He paused, smirking. "You know Dr. Baek's dirty work, don't you, Witch?"
Ja-yoon's expression froze.
Seconds later, she stood, eyes sharp, aura shifting. "Dohui, go home," she said calmly. "Family business."
As her confused friend left, Ja-yoon faced James. "Who are you? Which lab?"
"James Holden, free agent." He shrugged. "Not a place to talk. Coffee?"
Ja-yoon nodded silently.
As she stepped, James vanished, reappearing with new clothes. "Change. That uniform's too conspicuous." He touched her shoulder, teleporting them to an empty alley.
Ja-yoon gaped, the teleportation beyond her imagination. "Change and call me," James said, vanishing.
Five minutes later, Ja-yoon, in a white tee and jeans, stepped out, refreshed. "James," she called softly.
He appeared instantly, nodding. "Good. Normal high schooler now."
He touched her again. The world warped, landing them in a high-end café's corner, two coffees already served.
"Who are you?" Ja-yoon's fingers tapped the table.
James sipped. "I told you, here to protect you. Dr. Baek's people are hunting you citywide. You've felt it, right?"
Ja-yoon's eyes narrowed. She'd noticed her "siblings" vanishing. But why this man helped her was unclear.
"I don't need protection," she said, exhausted. "If you're after my powers, forget it."
James laughed. "Your powers?"
His eyes flashed red, telekinesis lifting her half a meter. Café patrons noticed nothing. Her powers flared to resist, but an invisible barrier blocked them.
"Get it?" James set his cup down, lowering her. "If I wanted you dead, you'd be gone."
Ja-yoon sweated. No one had suppressed her like this—not even Dr. Baek's best creations.
"Why help me?" she asked.
-----------------------------------------
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