Marvel's Shendu: Dominating the Multiverse

Chapter 161 Peter Parker

Loki's gaze lingered on Wanda for less than a second before returning to its original position. "The energy fluctuations around you have changed significantly since last time. I'm not unfamiliar with chaos magic, and I've studied parts of the Vishanti system. Your current state—it doesn't seem like the result of cultivation; it's more like something has been injected into you."

"Nidaville," Wanda replied succinctly.

Loki's expression changed, briefly, but only for a moment. He'd been a conman for over a thousand years, and his ability to control his facial muscles was top-notch, but the impact of the name Nidavillier exceeded his control threshold.

"You sent her to the neutron star forge?" Loki asked the Holy Lord, using polite language, but with a hint of barely suppressed emotion in his tone. It wasn't a question; Loki had no right to question, nor would he be foolish enough to. It was more like a quick assessment after surprise.

"What are you calculating?" The Holy Lord stopped in his tracks.

Loki straightened his back.

“I’m thinking,” Loki chose honesty, “that your investment in her goes beyond the value of a mere tool. The radiation from the neutron star forge can reshape dwarven weapons, and it can also reshape a person’s energy foundation. The fact that you brought her there means you need her to withstand a certain level of power. That level—up to…”

Wanda didn't refute the word "tool." Loki's way of phrasing it is unimportant; he's analyzing the problem using his own logical framework. In Loki's worldview, all relationships between everyone can be reduced to an exchange of benefits—this isn't malice, but rather his philosophy of survival.

The Holy Lord continued on his way.

"Your analysis is not wrong, but it's not entirely correct either."

Loki didn't press for details about what was right or wrong. He already had enough information.

The group arrived at a side hall of the palace. The Holy Lord sat down at a stone table, with Wanda standing to his right, Hela standing at the doorway, and Loki standing to his left.

"The next steps," the Holy Lord began. "Wanda needs a relatively secluded environment to process what Nidavelly gave her. Asgard's energy field is more stable than Earth's, making it suitable for this. Prepare a separate training room for her, one that can withstand high-intensity energy releases."

"On the second basement level of the palace is Odin's meditation room, with all six walls made of Uru alloy, which can withstand the weight," Loki replied quickly.

"Alright. Wanda, you stay in Asgard to practice your control. Time is short; I'll be back once I've dealt with the Sheep Charm."

Wanda nodded.

Hela.

The black-haired woman at the door stepped forward.

"exist."

"During Wanda's training, if there are any signs of her getting out of control, you are responsible for suppressing her. Don't hurt her, but also don't let her tear down the meditation room."

"clear."

Loki interjected, "Hela suppressing Wanda? Are you sure you haven't got the direction wrong?"

Saint God and Wanda glanced at him at the same time.

Loki raised his hands in a gesture of surrender: "I didn't say anything."

The Holy Lord rose. The energy of the Space Stone shone in his hand, casting geometrically shaped spots of blue light on the stone walls of the side hall. A portal opened before him, the other side leading to Earth.

Wanda stood in the side hall, watching the blue afterglow lingering in the air after the Holy Lord left dissipate.

"The meditation room is underground," Loki said.

Wanda turned and followed Loki. Hela brought up the rear, deliberately keeping her footsteps as quiet as possible. The three of them walked through the palace corridors in silence. Loki led the way, at a moderate pace, and after two turns, they began to descend.

The underground structure of the Asgardian palace was even more elaborate than the surface section. The descending stairs were carved from a single block of rock, with the height error of each step not exceeding millimeters. Loki pressed the runic lock on the second-level entrance with his left hand; the lock recognized his magical signature, and the door slid open silently.

The meditation room is at the end of the corridor.

Pushing open the door, the space inside was larger than Wanda had expected. The six walls were a dark gold, polished to retain the unique luster of Uru alloy, not dazzling but very heavy. There were no furnishings in the center of the room, and a faded Odin rune array was engraved on the floor.

"This rune array was used by Father—" Loki paused, then changed his words, "during Odin's reign. Its main functions were to aid meditation and suppress energy leakage. It hasn't been used for a long time, but the array itself hasn't deteriorated, and the energy conductivity of Uru alloy is unaffected by time."

Wanda stepped inside, and as her foot touched the edge of the rune array, she felt a subtle tremor beneath her feet. The array was sensing her energy.

"That's enough," Wanda said.

Loki leaned against the doorframe, not in a hurry to leave. He glanced at Hela, who looked back at him expressionlessly.

new York.

Winters in Queens aren't too cold, but the wind at 4:30 pm already carries a chill.

The Holy Lord emerged from a side alley, the portal disappearing behind him. His attire was unremarkable in Asgard and Queens; a simple dark coat and black trousers, making him inconspicuous on the street.

He walked along the street for three blocks.

The apartment buildings in Queens all look pretty much the same: brick-red exteriors, iron fire escape ladders hanging on the outside, and flower pots and clothes racks occasionally sitting on the windowsills. The Holy Lord stopped in front of one building and glanced up at a fourth-floor window. The curtains were drawn, and the light was on.

He didn't go up.

Across the street was a sandwich shop. The Lord went in and sat down by the window. He ordered a black coffee. The coffee was so-so, but the window faced the main entrance of the residential building.

Seventeen minutes later, a boy wearing a cheap hooded sweatshirt ran out of the building.

Thin, not tall, with messy brown hair, carrying a bulging backpack, his running posture conveyed a sense of urgency. Not the kind of urgency of rushing to finish a task. It was more like he had inexhaustible energy, and he would feel uncomfortable if he didn't run.

Peter Parker.

The Holy Lord took a sip of coffee and watched the boy turn the corner and disappear down the street.

He put down his cup and pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands. He then pulled a seemingly ordinary cell phone from his pocket—actually a genuine secondhand Android phone that Wanda had purchased for him while he was on Earth. He didn't take it because he needed it, but because it would look strange sitting in a New York coffee shop without something in his hand.

He was waiting for Parker to come back.

Spider-Man's routine patrols, during the "friendly neighbor" phase, generally last no more than two hours. His area of ​​activity is also small, covering a few blocks around Queens, and he mainly deals with minor cases such as robberies and thefts.

The Holy Lord had a clear understanding of Parker's situation. The child had been bitten by the spider less than three months ago, his abilities were still being developed, and he had no uniform or equipment. His so-called battle suit consisted of purchased athletic leggings and a hat he had sewn himself, and the lenses of his goggles were salvaged from old goggles he had bought from a secondhand store.

Poor, but smart.

And the crucial point is that he has no mentor.

In this timeline, there's no scenario where Tony Stark comes looking for Peter Parker. No one will build him a nanotech suit, no one will take him to an airport brawl, and no one will be his role model in crucial moments.

Because Tony Stark has been dead for fourteen years.