Marvel : the Author

Hello everyone ! I hope you're having a good day. I've started working summer hours. This means I start earlier to finish… well, earlier. I'm kinda pumped about it to be honest ! Although, it's tiring, it leaves me some time to do other things like play games, read or watch stuff. And of course, work on my stories when the mood strikes !

Abrupt subject change ! Let's talk about myself and my Patréon. You can search the website for Cathbel and find more of my stories, advanced chapter, etcetera… And, as always, you can gift me with your stones here, leave a comment or review. Although I don't always reply, I read them. Honest ! And no, that's not me being dishonest.

Finally, for the minute culture, I wanted to talk about Mashle. Some or even most of you probably know about it. If you didn't read it or watched it, I highly recommend it ! It's an hilarious shounen story, kind of a parody about Harry Potter but with a MC without any magic. Doesn't matter though cause he's still crazy strong ! You can watch it on Crunchyroll if you're curious.

Now without further ado, I bid you Adieu ! Enjoy !😉

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I won't bother you with the training montage. Especially since life goes on, heedless of my will to grow stronger. Let's just say I trained for a couple of days, implementing a few of my ideas. I also started writing an external cultivation technique which revolves around tempering each of my cells with universal energy. A work in progress…

Meanwhile, we continue to go to school, train as a team when we have time, or go through our daily life. For instance, Peter works at the Daily Bugle… A constant it seems, despite my encouragement that he should pursue his love for science. As he said, science itself doesn't pay the bills. And he doesn't exactly have the connections to intern at the Baxter Foundation or something. Oddly enough, he refuses to work for Oscorp…

Doreen works at a burger joint and Cory is employed in an electronic store. I'm kind of the only one who just 'lazes' about without a job. Well… I'd argue that I actually have a job : I'm an artist ! Though it doesn't sell - at all - for now, I'm hoping that when my dimension is more… fleshed out, I'll be able to start working on its story. And then, start choosing people to experience the dimension for themselves.

Basically, what I'm hoping to do is create a VR game. That always was kind of fantasy of mine : experiencing the joys of sci-fi or fantasy world in complete safety. And now… My life was just that. The safety part on the other hand… Yeah, I almost envy the characters from Sword Art Online. Almost 'cause they too had it tough. A lot of players died if I'm not mistaken. For real.

At the moment however, the four of us… Have we chosen an actual team name ? Can't remember… The Four Nerds or Misfits would suit us well, I think. The others won't go for those names, unfortunately. They'll probably want something more fearsome or awe-inspiring. What was I saying ? Oh, yeah !

The four of us are actually surveilling one of Kingpin's associate gang. Like the good wannabe heroes we are, we're perched atop a rooftop looking down on a stash-house on the other side of the street. At least, we think it's a stash-house. Peter… I mean Spider-Man's intel says so. How did he get the intel ? I'm guessing by bashing the head of a poor drug dealer or gang member.

The thing is my inner worrywart is screaming at me that it's a trap. So I caution my team-mates not to just jump in and that we start by getting the lay of the land. Which is why Squirrel Girl has her 'friends' running around the place, unnoticed, practically invisible. For a moment, I think about what rodents actually understand of human activities… There are questions here to be certain : what do they get ? What do they tell Doreen ? How does she interpret their 'reports' ?

Another reason why I'm starting to think her powers are kind of cartoon-ish. Anyway I'll stop trying to figure it out 'cause there lays madness… Or something. I want to sound smart and it comes out wrong. Perhaps I should try and send a few scrying spells of my own. While it might be an ambush planned by Kingpin, I doubt he considers magic into his plans. At least, not yet…

And so, as the thought crosses my mind, I get to work. I spit and hear a comment beside me…

« Man, that's always a little… disgusting. » Peter has the galls to say.

While my mind is working on the spell, I direct a glare at him and he shrugs, raising his hands in a placating gesture. My gaze sweeps back to the ink which stretches in the air, while a drop of it detaches and swiftly floats toward the building. Soon, the black, flat mirror clears a bit and we can actually see fast moving pictures, like from a drone.

I'm really happy with this particular spell. I mean, I can make another with just the mirror and using magic to transpose the images instead of using a medium, but… Well, it's usually not as stable. It can be easily disrupted by a number of things : sounds, radio waves, wi-fi, etc… In addition, the amount of concentration required is leagues above my variation.

Anyways, soon we all realize that… I was right ! It'd be satisfying to say 'I told you so !' If it isn't also an extremely dangerous situation for us. I mean there was an army of gang members, armed to the teeth and laying in ambush. If that wasn't enough, there were also a couple of other weirdos… Two guys dressed in animal costumes - kinda - and another who let off sparks as he yelled at one of the criminals speaking to him. Yeah, there's no sound with this spell. I know, I'm an idiot and a lazy bum for not having incorporated it. Give me a break ! I can update my spells whenever I want, anyway, unlike other mystic arts users who need to study years and become masters before even considering working on developing new spells ! Disney made it look so easy in the Doctor Strange movie and other MCU movies with magic. News flash : It's not !

I shake my head, not comprehending where this rant comes from… Instead I focus on the weirdos Fisk obviously hire, and possibly created, in order to deal with us. Scorpion, Vulture and Electro… Yikes !

Vulture's an old man, so you might think he's not too much trouble. I mean, a little humid weather, and he's done, on account of arthritis, right ? Maybe I should create a spell for that…

I seem to recall that Scorpion is kind of an idiot. Might be wrong. Although the character's powers have always drawn me for some reason, I never was really interested in his background. He's a B-rated villain at best, I think.

Electro on the other hand… He's quite a big shot ! In the Ultimate comics he starts off as just a guy who can throw electricity around. Dangerous and impressive, but manageable. Then, I recall that he gets a power up, turning himself into electricity. Kind of like the female DC villain Livewire. Much more difficult to deal with… He seems human enough for now, though.

« Let's just cross our fingers, huh ? » I mutter to myself before turning to my friends. Soon, Doreen's friends finish reporting the situation inside and she tells us their numbers and what her 'friends' figured out about their plans. Once again, I'm confused by what the little critter told Doreen… Are they or she full of shit ? Oh, well… I'll keep an open mind, I guess.