Chapter 405: The Birth of the Sentry and Six Gacha Templates
At Kingpin's deep, commanding question, a figure with an enormous head and tiny little arms and legs silently floated up beside him, like a shadow settling into place.
His voice was soft but perfectly clear, carrying a barely concealed excitement. "Your Excellency, the Golden Serum project has made a breakthrough. Our lab has mastered the key technology for mass-producing super-soldier serum."
This was M.O.D.O.K., a figure little known to the public, but memorable as one of the cunning, brilliant villains in the Ant-Man film series.
He was known not only for being cold and ruthless but as an inventor of extraordinary skill in biotechnology, a talent far beyond what countless scientists could ever hope to reach.
At the words, the muscles in Kingpin's face twitched slightly. Clearly, this so-called "progress" was not what he'd hoped for.
Kingpin had paid a steep price to join notorious HYDRA, for two reasons.
First, the super-soldier serum. Only S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA had it. Kingpin had no chance with S.H.I.E.L.D., since the Hell's Kitchen he represented and S.H.I.E.L.D. were sworn enemies. So he really only had one option.
Second, HYDRA was an organization with a long history. It could easily find him the scientists he needed.
Everyone's heard of the super-soldier serum. It's what turned Steve into Captain America, Marvel's eternal "evenly matched with anyone" guy.
But for Kingpin, it wasn't enough. The super-soldier serum meant nothing to him.
He was convinced that at his current strength, the super-soldier serum wouldn't do much for him.
Only the Golden Serum would.
Kingpin was so certain because, through the Exclusive Skill I'll Treat Myself!, he had looked into the memories of a Kingpin from another universe in the multiverse.
In that universe, Earth's mightiest hero was named the Sentry.
And the reason he had become Earth's mightiest hero was the Golden Serum.
According to that other Kingpin's memories, the Golden Serum was ten thousand times stronger than Captain America's serum!
He said in a low voice, "Your so-called progress is, as far as I can see, nothing but an excuse to stall. Everyone in this room ought to know very well that it was I, Kingpin, who rescued you from your various predicaments and gave you the soil to keep doing your research.
"If not for me, most of you would probably be rotting in prison by now, or ghosts buried in the dust of history."
His words swept through the room like a cold wind, and the scientists couldn't help shivering. Kingpin's eyes were as sharp as a hawk's as they passed over each face in turn, as if weighing each man's loyalty and resolve.
If Ethan had actually been in that tightly guarded lab, he would have been shocked to find a whole gathering of notorious supervillains:
the Leader, the Lizard, M.O.D.O.K., the Wizard, Doctor Doom, and this universe's Kang!
"One month," Kingpin said, his voice suddenly rising with absolute finality. "I'm giving you one month to put a perfected Golden Serum in front of me.
"If you fail, this place will be your prison forever."
At that, the scientists' faces darkened.
More than a few of them were proud, arrogant men, used to doing things their own way and least able to tolerate outside interference or threats.
Yet Kingpin's iron stance was like an invisible shackle clamped tight around their hearts.
But his next words filled them with drive.
"But if you finish within one month, I promise you'll be welcomed into Hell's Kitchen! And whatever you wish for, I'll have Ethan make it happen. Whether it's power, or a quiet place to do your research, or access to supernatural science, I'll give you all of it!"
Kingpin had dangled a very big carrot in front of every scientist there.
A large part of why these evil scientists were willing to work for Kingpin was Ethan.
Each of them had his own ambitions, and they all knew that Ethan, Lord of Hell's Kitchen, was a man who could produce all manner of magical miracles. Most importantly, the Lord of Hell's Kitchen was fiercely protective of his own.
So no matter how hard the road ahead, they were willing to give it everything they had for a chance to make their dreams come true.
...
Ethan had no idea about any of this. He'd never imagined that his idle hour on the balcony would be like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples into every corner of Hell's Kitchen and setting off a chain reaction among its superheroes.
He didn't know that each of these superheroes had found opportunities of their own, and that they were all growing stronger where he couldn't see.
That hour seemed to have lit a spark of fighting spirit in their hearts. It made them realize that real strength didn't come only from outside help. It came from awakening within and relentless striving.
And so Hell's Kitchen's superheroes set out on the road to surpassing themselves. Some went to train in dangerous places, others shut themselves away to hone their skills. All of them swore to become stronger, to protect Hell's Kitchen and to catch up with Ethan.
It made them realize they couldn't rely on Ethan for everything. They had to work hard on their own. They had their own pride, and they didn't want to be left behind.
Nor did he know that Hell's Kitchen's superheroes weren't nearly as weak as he imagined.
In truth, Ethan had underestimated them a little. Or rather, he had been a little too protective of them.
Before Ethan ever existed, these superheroes had each been able to rule their own domains. Their histories had been somewhat tragic, but it was exactly those tragedies that had made them strong.
Ethan himself didn't realize that the potential and power of every superhero in Hell's Kitchen were growing at a staggering rate.
At this moment, Ethan was happily staring at the gacha screen. He'd never imagined that after going so long without pulling, this round would pay out such a jackpot.
「Congratulations, Host! You've obtained: Thornmail!」
「Congratulations, Host! You've obtained: Last Whisper!」
「Congratulations, Host! Better Luck Next Time!」
「...」
「Congratulations, Host! You've drawn the Growth Template: Ekko, the Boy Who Shattered Time!」
「Congratulations, Host! You've drawn the Growth Template: Ryze, the Rune Mage!」
「Congratulations, Host! You've drawn the Growth Template: Twisted Fate, the Card Master!」
「Congratulations, Host! You've drawn the Growth Template: Janna, the Storm's Fury!」
「Congratulations, Host! You've drawn the Growth Template: Viktor, the Machine Herald!」
「Congratulations, Host! You've drawn the Growth Template: Syndra, the Dark Sovereign!」
Looking at this round's rewards, Ethan couldn't help remarking,
"Holy cow, I just kicked over Runeterra's entire nest!"
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you