75

Chapter 75: Justice League

Gwen and her friends, some who could fly and others who couldn't, hailed a taxi, each relying on their unique abilities to reach the skyscraper where Kingpin awaited.

"Is this it?" Tony looked up. "If I recall correctly, Kingpin should be on the top floor."

"Uh... yes, Mr. Stark."

"Then let's proceed with our best effort?"

"..."

Steve and Felicia exchanged glances. The two who could fly soared into the sky, while Gwen ascended using her spider silk.

They shared a moment of mutual understanding in their eyes.

"It's quite something to be able to fly!"

"Take the elevator?"

"Sure."

Steve gestured politely, allowing Felicia to enter first with feline grace.

He followed, eyeing Felicia's fluffy tail with slight confusion but refrained from commenting.

*Ding!*

Exiting the elevator, they found Gwen and the others waiting.

"Oh! The last one's finally here." Tony seized the opportunity to mock.

"..."

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Steve's mouth. If circumstances allowed, he'd love to give Howard's rebellious son a lesson.

Shifting focus, he looked towards the solitary office on this floor.

"So, Kingpin's in there, right?"

"Yes," Gwen confirmed. "This is the final step. Though I don't have it either, I thought tonight's progress would be quicker. But please don't underestimate..."

"Come on," Tony interrupted with an eye roll, extending his hand to nod at everyone present. "One, two, three, four, five... five against one. Guys, I don't see how we lose this."

His words carried a hint of arrogance, but he knew everyone present shared his sentiment, including Steve.

Even Gwen, despite her cautionary tone, wasn't overly concerned.

After all, despite Kingpin's many titles and formidable combat skills, he was just an ordinary person in the end.

And they were five superheroes.

"So, let's go in, deal with the final boss quickly, and then head back home."

Tony stepped forward boldly, unleashing a blast from his repulsor that shattered the door before diving inside.

The rest had no choice but to follow.

Unexpectedly, Tony abruptly retreated, looking absolutely startled, almost colliding with the group.

"Hey! Stark, what's going on?" Steve shouted.

"Run... No, you guys won't believe who I just saw..."

Tony shook his head, ensuring he wasn't hallucinating.

Damn it! Why was he here?

Seeing Tony, who moments ago had been so confident, suddenly terrified, the others became curious and peered inside.

Seated in Kingpin's chair was a dark figure, looking down at them.

"You're finally here," said Black Superman.

"..."

Steve couldn't resist quietly asking Sam beside him, "Is he Black Superman?"

"Um... Captain, this is my first time seeing him, but I think so."

They exchanged curious glances as they observed.

Tony regained his composure. He was the most shocked by the revelation.

Damn it, could anyone understand the sheer terror of rushing in confidently to confront Fisk, only to encounter a menacing figure in a black hood?

He nearly had a heart attack! Didn't they remember he was still dealing with heart problems?

Of course, others shared similar thoughts to varying degrees and were equally unnerved.

Seizing the opportunity, Felicia stepped back, attempting to blend into the background.

During her time with Black Superman, she'd already developed psychological scars.

"I've dealt with Kingpin; you'll see for yourselves soon," Peter assured them, addressing their concerns.

"And the reason I'm here is simple. You are all my chosen ones. I've been observing you for a while now."

His words left everyone stunned.

Especially Gwen, who hadn't heard "chosen" in days, couldn't help but inquire, "We're all chosen? What does that mean?"

Even Steve couldn't sit still. "Wait, you've been observing me for a while? How is that possible? I just came from..."

"Don't worry about the details. Know that, as long as I desire it, all of New York is an open book to me," Peter replied casually.

"..."

Such a menacing and powerful declaration momentarily silenced everyone.

For the first time, they fully grasped Black Superman's capabilities.

Especially Tony, who understood firsthand the difficulty of monitoring an entire city.

He once tasked Jarvis with surveilling New York to gather information on Electro, but the sheer volume of data flowing through the city's networks was overwhelming, akin to a digital tsunami capable of overwhelming any computer.

At least for now.

Even with considerable effort, he could only indirectly access the information he needed via the internet.

Black Superman, in contrast, appeared capable of effortlessly managing it alone.

Steve also pondered deeply. His immediate concern was the threat Black Superman posed.

If true, did this mean that Black Superman could expose the United States' secrets at will?

Everyone valued their privacy and secrets, yet Black Superman seemed unconcerned, which was most unsettling.

If he wished, he could potentially incite a global conflict, akin to what Hydra and Red Skull had attempted in the past.

But Steve quickly dismissed the thought, chuckling at his own expense.

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If Black Superman wanted to provoke a world war, his power alone might suffice.

He had reviewed SHIELD's assessments of Black Superman's strength, finding them almost unbelievable.

And... Hydra and Red Skull had been defeated seventy years ago, their threat long past.

"So, why have you been observing us?" Steve inquired.

"I've had an idea for some time, and tonight, I've finally set it in motion," Peter explained.

"What idea?"

Everyone was curious. This was clearly something Black Superman had contemplated for a while.

Then, Black Superman ascended into the air and floated before them, extending an invitation:

"Let's form a Justice League."

"..." x5

"Are you serious?" Tony looked bewildered. "Why form a superhero team like Nick Fury?"

"Fury... approached you too?" Steve asked, surprised.

Tony glanced at him. "Yes, they mentioned the Avengers, but I declined."

"If I recall correctly, the Justice League is from the comics, right?" Gwen chimed in, the only one focused on business.

Peter gave her an appreciative nod. "There are many reasons. With the rise of superhumans, both heroes and villains will continue to emerge. It's inevitable that crises endangering not just Earth but the entire universe will arise."

"In the face of such crises, you will eventually unite. It's the only way you'll have a chance to prevail."

"I agree it could threaten Earth, but the entire universe... isn't that a bit exaggerated?" Tony interjected.

"You know very little about the gods of mythology, other races in the universe, invaders, and even the concept of the universe itself, including parallel dimensions. These things will emerge sooner or later."

Peter calmly imparted these facts.

Tony fell into contemplation, his thoughts swirling.

Steve, too, stood firm. "So, what's the real reason?"

"To have fun."

"..."

Though his answer might prompt complaints, it was odd how Tony, usually quick to grumble, turned serious.

"Fine, count me in," he agreed without hesitation.

"Oh? That decisive?"

"It's simple. You, Black Superman, are the strongest among us. If there's a future crisis, being with you gives us the best shot at solving it."

Tony's mind raced with thoughts.

He bore a limitless sense of responsibility, shouldering burdens with ease.

If he knew a disaster loomed, he'd spare no effort to prevent it.

In many ways, he was akin to Spider-Man, trapped in the "great power, great responsibility" mantra that defined his life.

"And if there's no crisis, it's just for fun, right?" He added nonchalantly.

With the first member onboard, things seemed promising.

"Um... Sorry, I may not join your team," Steve suddenly declared.

"Oh, guess we don't need Nick Fury's boy scouts," Tony quipped dryly.

Peter ignored him, focusing on Steve. "Care to share why?"

"You know I'm a relic. I... need to return to SHIELD."

"Back to a place where you don't understand what's happening. Why keep torturing yourself in despair?"

Steve hadn't expected Black Superman to interject so abruptly, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"And were you doubting me earlier?" Peter asked, approaching Steve with a hint of condescension.

"What did you suspect?" Steve frowned.

"My abilities. Whether I could start a world war, conquer Earth, or become another Hydra. You know, I have that capability."

"Uh... Black Superman, you can't just..."

Gwen intervened, but Peter raised a hand to silence her.

Steve regarded Peter with utmost seriousness. Everything else aside, mention of Hydra, an old nemesis, stoked his ire instantly.

Peter chuckled. "It's natural for you to be skeptical in this era, Steve. I'll show you."

His words stirred Steve.

After a moment's hesitation, he spoke. "I'm sorry, I can't agree right away."

"No rush. When you're ready, visit Stark. There are many like you here, and you'll find good company."

"Hey! What's going on? I haven't agreed yet!" Tony protested.

"I am Stark's master!"

But his protests fell on deaf ears; everyone had tacitly accepted Black Superman's proposal.

"Now, only Spider-Woman remains. You're indispensable to my alliance."

"You, Tony, and Steve will be the cornerstone of the Justice League."

Gwen hadn't anticipated Black Superman's high regard for her, placing her on par with Mr. Stark and Captain America.

felt deeply honored by the recognition. In her eyes, these two were senior figures, true heavyweights.

One was a billionaire and super genius.

The other, a spiritual icon of America.

No matter how she viewed it, she couldn't compare herself to a friendly neighborhood superhero.

What puzzled her more was the absence of objections or opinions from Mr. Stark or Captain America!

Oh my God! How did this happen?

Gwen felt a bit overwhelmed, suddenly yearning to return to Peter's side.

Meanwhile, Felicia, who had been invisible for a while, struggling to remain unnoticed, couldn't hold back any longer. Raising her paw, she asked tentatively, "Um, am I also a member of the Justice League?"

"Of course," Peter affirmed.

This brought great joy to Felicia. "So, Spider-Woman's one of the Big Three, and I'm one of the Justice League's Seven Pillars?"

"No, you're a pet," Peter clarified.

"..."