84. The Hand Returns With More Samples
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Several days later…
Even at night, Oscorp Tower remained lit like a beacon.
Inside, Nolan rubbed his temples. After days of observation and testing, he had finally cracked the preliminary sequencing on the mutant DNA samples delivered by Xavier's team.
Due to only having blood samples, certain genome fragments were incomplete. But that didn't matter.
He didn't need perfection only potential.
"Cyclops and Storm's X-genes were relatively straightforward. But Xavier and Iceman… their genomes are exponentially more complex."
Their genetic structures had hundreds more anchor points, with compound links that would take most scientists years to unravel.
But Nolan? He was nearly done.
He sat before his screen, launching the genetic modeling software originally refined from Dr. Richard Parker's notes, layered over the template of the Enhanced Spider Genome.
Because Xavier's gene influenced neurological function, Nolan decided to save it for last.
For now, his priority was Storm and Iceman's genes, particularly isolating segments that could enhance pulmonary output.
As tempting as it was to wield elemental weather control and cryokinesis, too many abilities would cause internal competition. Even with his body's adaptability, Nolan knew how important internal synergy was.
Otherwise, he might as well have spliced himself with Max Dillon and called it a day.
Cyclops, however, was simple.
His optic blasts originated from his eyes. If Nolan could splice the gene directly into his optic nerve genome, the ability could be naturally housed there—no conflict.
"Point 1—switch adenine to guanine. Thymine to cytosine."
"Point 2—apply 32-degree torsional shift, cleave purine triplets."
"Point 3—fold structure at 180 degrees…"
Nolan muttered endlessly, his hands flying over the keyboard at inhuman speed.
Each simulated change required mental reconstruction of chemical reactions, structural fold patterns, and future permutations.
Gene editing wasn't like snipping a wire.
It was a biochemical ballet involving CRISPR enzymes and viral carriers delivering highly-targeted payloads into specific loci—targeted mutation by precision chemistry.
And Nolan wasn't working on one point.
He was manipulating the entire gene chain—mapping, simulating, and adjusting it faster than most GPUs could keep up with.
His brain processed calculations with surgical precision.
His fingers blurred, creating phantom images over the keyboard.
If not for the reinforced military-grade keyboard, it would've been destroyed by now.
Finally, he loaded the spliced gene fragment into the test subject: a genetically modified spider, one from the same strain that gave Peter Parker his powers.
Under the electron microscope, the spider's DNA mutated rapidly—transformed.
The hybrid DNA now bore the complete signature of Cyclops' optic gene.
But the original spider genome was too compromised. The recombinant strain was incompatible with spider physiology.
The spider convulsed violently inside the containment box.
Its exoskeleton twisted and collapsed. Within seconds, its internal tissues liquefied into sludge.
Nolan wasn't fazed.
He extracted the organic slurry with a needle, carefully filtered it, and produced a vial of lime-green serum.
He placed a drop under a high-magnification scan. Green-tinted data flooded the screen.
This was a success.
To Nolan, all processes led to one of two outcomes: 1 or 0.
If you understood every variable, then failure became impossible.
---
Meanwhile… under the moonlight
Silhouettes flickered across rooftops surrounding Oscorp Tower.
Small, agile figures dressed in black ninja uniforms moved like shadows. The Hand had returned.
Their leader muttered something in hushed Japanese. The rest responded with a whispered, unified "Hei!" before dispersing into the night.
Their mission had two goals:
Rescue Black Sky
Recover the Dragon Bone
The leader clutched a strange stone in his hand a mystical locator that glowed brighter the closer it came to the Dragon Bone.
But first, they needed to infiltrate Oscorp.
And they had strict orders:
Don't alert the Superman.
The one who flipped a Jeep with one hand.
As they slithered through vents and shadows, deep in the tower, Nolan paused mid-keystroke.
"…More guests?"
The breathing was quiet. Very quiet.
But thanks to his training in the Sacred Path breathing arts, plus the heightened senses from the Spider Genome, Nolan detected them.
Their stealth was impressive almost undetectable.
Only Hand ninjas moved like that.
He'd been trying to get their mystical body-training secrets from the last captured ninja, but even after four days of torture, the man refused to speak.
"Well then… guess I'll be collecting more samples tonight."
He reached for his phone.
"Max. We've got intruders. Bring the Undying Corps and infrared scanners."
"On it, boss."
---
Atop Oscorp Tower, a blue bolt of lightning exploded into the sky.
Max Dillon stood floating above the roof, electricity crackling at his fingertips. He now understood enough about electromagnetism to generate anti-gravity pulses via friction-charged polarity under his feet.
It wasn't flight… not yet. But he could hover.
It was early-stage magnetokinetic propulsion, but it meant Max had entered a new tier.
Where most scientists still used iron rods to detect magnetic fields, Max could see them.
He couldn't control them yet—but Nolan had a plan for that.
Max grinned.
Because for the first time in his life, he wasn't just a freak.
Nolan had never treated him like a monster.
He gave Max a purpose.
A mission.
And anyone who threatened that?
Would face the wrath of the Electro!
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