Marvel: Ned the Master of Mystic Arts

The series of missile explosions had jolted all of New York awake. The moment Huang Xiwen woke up, her first instinct was to check on Ned. Rushing to his room, she discovered it empty, confirming her worst fears. She immediately linked the deafening explosions to Ned—there was no way he wasn't involved.

Ned had just stepped into his room when he froze. Sitting on his bed, arms crossed and face devoid of emotion, was Huang Xiwen, staring straight at him.

Her worry turned to frustration as she realized that despite his already missing arm, Ned had found himself in yet another dangerous situation. She waited in his room, determined to confront him.

"Um... we agreed that I could go out and fight crime," Ned began, trying to get ahead of the storm brewing.

"What were those explosions?" Xiwen's first question hit him like a missile.

"Uh… it's nothing serious. It's late—you should get some rest. Besides, a young man and a young woman alone in a room this late at night..." Ned tried to deflect her questions, steering the conversation in a different direction.

"What were those explosions?" she repeated, her expression unchanging.

If it had been any other time, Xiwen would have turned red and scurried away at such a remark. But tonight, she was unshaken, her focus unwavering. She demanded an answer, her piercing gaze leaving no room for excuses.

"Fine," Ned relented. "The explosions were caused by a new super-suit developed by Oscorp. It's similar to the one powered by my AI assistant, but far inferior to my Iron Suit."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The missiles? They were part of that suit's arsenal. Oscorp designed them."

"Missiles?!" Xiwen's voice rose sharply. "Ned, do you remember what you promised me when we discussed this? No getting involved in dangerous situations! Just focus on catching small-time criminals!"

"Yeah…" Ned nodded silently.

The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence as the two stared at each other. Finally, Xiwen broke it. "Ned, I…"

"I know. I'm sorry," Ned interrupted her. "I promise, I won't engage with people like that again. If I must fight, I'll send my Iron Suit remotely."

"No," Xiwen said, surprising him.

"I want to learn magic," she stated firmly. "I don't want to keep forcing you to promise things, but I also don't want to stay at home, worrying whether you'll come back alive. If I can learn magic, I could fight alongside you."

"Xiwen…" Ned was taken aback, deeply touched by her words. But the thought of teaching her magic filled him with dread.

His magic wasn't like that of Doctor Strange or other sorcerers—it was a forbidden path of arcane secrets. He'd already faced opposition from those aligned with the Vishanti. Teaching Xiwen would not only put her in danger but also make her a target for other sorcerers.

Shaking his head, Ned said, "No. Learning secret magic requires the Sorcerer Supreme's approval. I can't teach it to you without permission."

He used this as an excuse, knowing Xiwen, raised with values rooted in martial arts and secrecy, would understand. True to his expectations, she believed him and reluctantly dropped the subject.

"Well, then forget it," she said, her disappointment clear. "I won't stop you from going after criminals anymore, but please—be careful."

Ned felt a pang of guilt as he watched her walk back to her room. Even though he wasn't Tony Stark and couldn't build her an Iron Suit, he wished he could do something to ease her fears. Left alone in his room, he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind heavy with thoughts.

Meanwhile, in a hidden underground facility, several figures rushed to meet a battered Green Goblin as he stumbled through the entrance.

"What's going on, Osborn? Why do you look like this?" The man who seemed to be their leader questioned him.

The Green Goblin, however, appeared dazed, mumbling incoherently, "Charming… heroic… philanthropist… Iron Man… Avengers… billionaire…"

Finally, his ramblings settled into a name he repeated obsessively: "Tony Stark! Tony Stark! Tony Stark!"

"What? Who did you say?!" The suited leader's calm demeanor evaporated as he grabbed the Green Goblin by the collar.

"Tony Stark! Tony Stark!" Goblin continued, unresponsive to anything else.

"Damn it!" The leader swore, gesturing to his men. "Inject him with a sedative. Once he's coherent, let me know immediately."

"Yes, sir," one of the henchmen replied, dragging the Green Goblin away.

Still shaken, the leader made his way to the facility's lab. "Doctor Octavius, how are things progressing? We might have a serious problem on our hands."

"Oh?" Doctor Octopus looked up from his work, his mechanical arms whirring softly. "Problem? Boss, I think you'll be quite interested in what I'm working on. Once it's complete, no problem will remain unsolvable."

With a confident grin, Octavius handed the leader a monitor displaying his latest project. The leader took it with mild disinterest, but as he read, his expression shifted from skepticism to exhilaration.

"This person must join our organization. Do you have a plan to recruit him?" the leader asked eagerly.

"Of course," Octavius replied confidently. "I've heard you possess an extremely effective method of persuasion?"

The leader's excitement faltered, and he scowled. After a moment's pause, he growled, "Just get him here. I'll handle the rest."

Without another word, he stormed out of the lab, unwilling to linger after Octavius had touched upon his secret.

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