After helping Herman and Aaron complete their Lizard Serum injections, Peter once again withheld the symbiote suits from them.
Herman's role in Peter's grand design was that of a technician; he wasn't meant for the front lines. This level of physical enhancement was more than enough for self-defense.
As for Aaron, Peter still harbored a sliver of doubt regarding the man's long-term loyalty. Besides, handing out every power in his arsenal at once would only spoil his employees' appetites.
He had no desire to raise a pack of ungrateful wolves in his own backyard.
Once the two had eagerly retreated to a corner to test their newfound strength, Peter turned his attention to Sandman.
"William, your genetic structure has already fully merged with sand. The Lizard Serum would be useless on you, so I won't bother with it. However, as compensation, I'm granting you a different kind of power."
Peter entered Symbiote Mode once more, shedding a fragment of the black substance that slithered into William's sandy form.
Moments later, a suit of sandy-yellow symbiote armor coalesced over William's body. Because William was composed of loose grains, the symbiote acted as a high-density binding agent, tightly knitting his particles together.
This effectively helped William overcome his greatest weakness: water. While a heavy flood would still disperse a massive, towering sand-form, his core body—now protected by the symbiote—would no longer face the threat of dissolving into nothingness after a long soak.
Though William lacked a formal education, he understood exactly what this meant for his survival. He dropped to one knee before Peter, his voice thick with emotion.
"Thank you, Boss!"
"Stand up. We're on the same side now," Peter said, pulling him to his feet. "You and Alexei protecting Uncle Ben and Aunt May is the best way you can repay me."
Peter then turned to the hulking Alexei.
"As for you, Alexei..."
A terrifying aura suddenly locked onto the big man. This pressure, originating from a higher plane of biological existence, forced the "Radiation" symbiote inside Alexei to emerge uncontrollably.
"You. Listen closely," Peter said, his voice dropping into the rasping, jagged growl of the symbiote. He grabbed "Radiation" by the throat. "Behave yourself from now on and cooperate fully with Alexei. Otherwise..."
Peter peeled back his lips, revealing rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth in a monstrous grin.
"I'll eat you myself and find Alexei a new partner."
"!!!"
Feeling the crushing weight of Peter's power, "Radiation" was nearly scared out of its wits. It nodded frantically, its expression a mask of pure terror, signaling absolute submission.
It didn't understand how the boy who had beaten it before had become a superior symbiote, but it knew one thing: this "Man" in front of it could truly consume it as a snack.
"Good." Peter tossed the symbiote back into Alexei's chest.
Alexei, feeling "Radiation" become more docile than a kitten, broke into a wide, simple-minded grin. "Thank you, Boss! Alexei will work hard to be a good man!"
"Good. William is your big brother now. Do as he or I say, and we'll look after you."
Peter gave Alexei a simple command he could grasp. If he could, he wanted to find Alexei's wife from the original stories, but since he couldn't remember her name, he'd have to leave the big guy's love life to fate.
Finally, Peter's gaze fell upon Skye. The young girl's face was a map of anticipation, her large eyes blinking up at him with hope. Peter found her expression adorable and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Follow me."
Skye's eyes lit up, and she followed him out of the office, her heart racing.
"Skye, I'm not giving you the Lizard Serum or a symbiote suit."
Her face fell instantly, her eyes clouding with disappointment.
"Don't misunderstand; it's not because I don't trust you," Peter said, gently ruffling her hair as if petting a cat.
"On the contrary, of everyone in the Shadow's Fist, I have the highest expectations for you. Remember what I told you? There is a mysterious power dormant in your blood."
Peter briefly explained the concept of the Terrigen Crystals. "Giving you these other powers now would be like painting over a masterpiece. It would limit your future potential."
He was being sincere. In the original series, Skye had become the formidable Quake even while sharing a crystal and lacking prior training.
To Peter, her Inhuman potential was astronomical. If he could develop her physical base first and then give her a pure, undiluted Terrigen transformation, she might not just rival Black Bolt—she might surpass him.
Black Bolt's power was tied to his voice; Skye's vibration could be channeled through her entire body. With enough development, she could trigger earthquakes or even "air tremors" that cracked space itself.
"To ensure you reach your ceiling, I'm sending you to S.H.I.E.L.D. for elite agent training. Maria Hill, a Level 8 agent, will be your mentor. And in your spare time, you can learn combat from Captain America himself."
As Peter explained his plan—for her to become his right hand within S.H.I.E.L.D.—the knot in Skye's chest vanished. She didn't feel sidelined; she felt chosen.
Growing up in orphanages and living on the streets as a hacker, Skye was a girl who had been starved of affection.
For someone like her, a small gesture of kindness went a long way. But what Peter was giving her wasn't just kindness; it was trust, a future, and a sense of belonging.
Her eyes welled up. "Boss... I'll study hard. I'll help you take over all of S.H.I.E.L.D.! I won't let you down!"
Peter patted her back gently as she trembled. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Just do your best. And you don't have to call me 'Boss' anymore. Just 'Peter' is fine."
Skye whispering "Then... Peter... can you call me Daisy from now on?"
Skye was a name she had given herself to hide; Daisy was her true self. The depth of that request—to be known by him as she truly was—spoke volumes.
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