As The Only Mutant in Marvel

January tenth, Saturday.

It had been a week since Lance obtained Black Emperor Shaw's Energy Absorption ability.

In that time, Lance had signed in seven more times, but his luck seemed to have run dry. Every ability he unlocked afterward was nothing more than Iota-level scraps—abilities so weak they were practically useless.

Naturally, Lance didn't keep them.

Instead, he broke them all down, using the proficiency gained to strengthen his existing powers. He poured a portion into his Teleportation ability, upgrading it to Level 3, and dumped the rest into his Energy Absorption skill.

Now, Lance had two Level 3 abilities.

His Teleportation was faster and covered even greater distances, while his Energy Absorption—already overpowered—had ascended to an entirely new level.

Previously, Lance's absorption limit equaled the energy output of a 10-megaton nuclear explosion. After upgrading it, the upper limit multiplied tenfold!

Now, Lance could safely store energy equivalent to 100 megatons of nuclear firepower without breaking a sweat.

He no longer worried about accidentally overloading himself.

Previously, Lance had been operating at 95% capacity, teetering dangerously close to his limits. Now, that same energy only occupied 9.5% of his expanded reserve.

To overload him, someone would need to generate energy equivalent to 90 million tons of TNT—something not even Captain Marvel or Odin himself could pull off in a single strike.

Unless someone figured out how to redirect the full force of Bifrost into his chest, Lance felt pretty invincible.

The sound of splashing water broke the silence.

Lance surfaced in his open-air swimming pool, water glistening on his toned muscles. He climbed out, grabbed a towel, and flopped onto a recliner, soaking in the sun.

With one hand, he scrolled through his phone.

Suddenly, a shadow moved overhead.

He looked up.

A figure in a white and pink Spider suit landed lightly on the terrace railing.

"Hi! Just passing by."

Gwen's voice carried a cheerful tone, but her shoulders seemed heavier than usual.

"I welcome you anytime," Lance replied with a smile.

"Water?"

"Hot water?" Gwen grinned.

"Hot water is good for you. Trust me."

Chuckling, Lance disappeared into the house and returned moments later with a steaming mug.

"Here."

"Thanks." Gwen lifted half her mask, took a sip, and perched herself casually on the railing.

"I like high places," she said, swinging her legs.

Lance raised an eyebrow. "You don't get dizzy?"

"Not even a little." Gwen smiled faintly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Lance noticed.

"What's wrong?"

Caught off guard, Gwen froze for a moment, then sighed.

"Did you see what they've been saying about me online lately?"

"I'm not big on social media," Lance said, glancing at the Facebook feed still open on his phone.

Gwen gave him a deadpan stare.

"Okay, fine. I saw it."

She let out a half-laugh, half-sigh.

"So you're upset about the comments?"

Gwen nodded, her shoulders slumping.

When Gwen first got her powers, she never imagined becoming a superhero.

She was just a regular girl who dreamed of touring the country with her band.

But after helping someone for the first time, she realized how much she enjoyed it—especially the look of gratitude on their faces. It made her feel like she was truly making a difference.

At first, she ignored the occasional negative comment, brushing it off as jealousy or ignorance.

But as her popularity grew, so did the hate.

Now, her social media accounts were flooded with criticism—some accusing her of being reckless, others outright calling her a menace.

The negativity crushed her confidence.

"I thought I was doing the right thing." Gwen's voice trembled.

"But maybe I'm just screwing everything up."

Lance leaned against the railing, arms crossed.

"People fear what they don't understand," he said.

"But what matters is what you believe. Do you think you're helping people?"

Gwen hesitated, then nodded.

"Then don't let a bunch of keyboard warriors tell you otherwise."

"But it's not just random trolls," Gwen argued.

"Some of them are reporters—people with huge platforms. And the more they talk, the more people listen."

Lance shrugged. "So what? Those same people worship celebrities one day and cancel them the next. You can't live your life for them."

Gwen bit her lip, considering his words.

"Besides," Lance added, smirking, "if you really want to make them mad, just keep proving them wrong."

Gwen laughed.

"You're right. I guess I'm overthinking it."

"That's what happens when you spend too much time reading comments. Stop checking social media."

"Easier said than done."

Gwen stood up, finishing the last of her water.

"Thanks, Lance. I needed that."

"No problem. Drop by anytime."

As Gwen shot a web and swung off into the distance, Lance watched her disappear over the rooftops.

Despite his words of encouragement, he couldn't help but wonder how long Gwen could keep this up.

Fighting crime was one thing.

Fighting public opinion?

That was a whole different kind of battle.

PS: Fourth update! Gwen is starting to feel the pressure of being a superhero. Meanwhile, Lance continues to push his limits. Don't forget to drop your comments, votes, and support!Chapter 31: Gwen Is Worried! Attacked By The Internet!

January tenth, Saturday.

It had been a week since Lance obtained Black Emperor Shaw's Energy Absorption ability.

In that time, Lance had signed in seven more times, but his luck seemed to have run dry. Every ability he unlocked afterward was nothing more than Iota-level scraps—abilities so weak they were practically useless.

Naturally, Lance didn't keep them.

Instead, he broke them all down, using the proficiency gained to strengthen his existing powers. He poured a portion into his Teleportation ability, upgrading it to Level 3, and dumped the rest into his Energy Absorption skill.

Now, Lance had two Level 3 abilities.

His Teleportation was faster and covered even greater distances, while his Energy Absorption—already overpowered—had ascended to an entirely new level.

Previously, Lance's absorption limit equaled the energy output of a 10-megaton nuclear explosion. After upgrading it, the upper limit multiplied tenfold!

Now, Lance could safely store energy equivalent to 100 megatons of nuclear firepower without breaking a sweat.

He no longer worried about accidentally overloading himself.

Previously, Lance had been operating at 95% capacity, teetering dangerously close to his limits. Now, that same energy only occupied 9.5% of his expanded reserve.

To overload him, someone would need to generate energy equivalent to 90 million tons of TNT—something not even Captain Marvel or Odin himself could pull off in a single strike.

Unless someone figured out how to redirect the full force of Bifrost into his chest, Lance felt pretty invincible.

The sound of splashing water broke the silence.

Lance surfaced in his open-air swimming pool, water glistening on his toned muscles. He climbed out, grabbed a towel, and flopped onto a recliner, soaking in the sun.

With one hand, he scrolled through his phone.

Suddenly, a shadow moved overhead.

He looked up.

A figure in a white and pink Spider suit landed lightly on the terrace railing.

"Hi! Just passing by."

Gwen's voice carried a cheerful tone, but her shoulders seemed heavier than usual.

"I welcome you anytime," Lance replied with a smile.

"Water?"

"Hot water?" Gwen grinned.

"Hot water is good for you. Trust me."

Chuckling, Lance disappeared into the house and returned moments later with a steaming mug.

"Here."

"Thanks." Gwen lifted half her mask, took a sip, and perched herself casually on the railing.

"I like high places," she said, swinging her legs.

Lance raised an eyebrow. "You don't get dizzy?"

"Not even a little." Gwen smiled faintly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Lance noticed.

"What's wrong?"

Caught off guard, Gwen froze for a moment, then sighed.

"Did you see what they've been saying about me online lately?"

"I'm not big on social media," Lance said, glancing at the Facebook feed still open on his phone.

Gwen gave him a deadpan stare.

"Okay, fine. I saw it."

She let out a half-laugh, half-sigh.

"So you're upset about the comments?"

Gwen nodded, her shoulders slumping.

When Gwen first got her powers, she never imagined becoming a superhero.

She was just a regular girl who dreamed of touring the country with her band.

But after helping someone for the first time, she realized how much she enjoyed it—especially the look of gratitude on their faces. It made her feel like she was truly making a difference.

At first, she ignored the occasional negative comment, brushing it off as jealousy or ignorance.

But as her popularity grew, so did the hate.

Now, her social media accounts were flooded with criticism—some accusing her of being reckless, others outright calling her a menace.

The negativity crushed her confidence.

"I thought I was doing the right thing." Gwen's voice trembled.

"But maybe I'm just screwing everything up."

Lance leaned against the railing, arms crossed.

"People fear what they don't understand," he said.

"But what matters is what you believe. Do you think you're helping people?"

Gwen hesitated, then nodded.

"Then don't let a bunch of keyboard warriors tell you otherwise."

"But it's not just random trolls," Gwen argued.

"Some of them are reporters—people with huge platforms. And the more they talk, the more people listen."

Lance shrugged. "So what? Those same people worship celebrities one day and cancel them the next. You can't live your life for them."

Gwen bit her lip, considering his words.

"Besides," Lance added, smirking, "if you really want to make them mad, just keep proving them wrong."

Gwen laughed.

"You're right. I guess I'm overthinking it."

"That's what happens when you spend too much time reading comments. Stop checking social media."

"Easier said than done."

Gwen stood up, finishing the last of her water.

"Thanks, Lance. I needed that."

"No problem. Drop by anytime."

As Gwen shot a web and swung off into the distance, Lance watched her disappear over the rooftops.

Despite his words of encouragement, he couldn't help but wonder how long Gwen could keep this up.

Fighting crime was one thing.

Fighting public opinion?

That was a whole different kind of battle.

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