"Fantastic Four? What’s that supposed to an?"
Whether it was the reporters, agents, civilians at the scene, or the powerful figures watching the broadcast from afar, all of them were stunned by the na.
It wasn’t that they didn’t understand. From Luthor’s earlier speech, it was already clear that the Fantastic Four was so kind of superhero team.
But the question was this: where did these so-called superheroes co from?
Everyone had the sa doubt in mind.
* * *
"Could they be mutants?"
Inside the Triskelion building, Fury sat in silence, deep in thought.
If soone really wanted to mass-produce superpowered individuals, then on Earth, only mutants had the potential to do that. But even if that were the case, there were still too many problems to solve.
"I once thought about recruiting mutants into S.H.I.E.L.D., letting them serve as special operatives—essentially superheroes. But after observing them over ti, I realized loyalty was a massive issue," Fury muttered to himself.
People with powers were often more likely to beco criminals than heroes.
Back then, he had even sent Coulson to try and build contact with the mutants, but the results weren’t promising.
Not that the mutants were unwilling to cooperate. On the contrary, Charles Xavier had shown extre enthusiasm once he learned of the idea, so much so that it actually made Fury uneasy.
The more he observed, the more he realized sothing troubling. Mutants instinctively saw themselves as different from humans. They didn’t just see themselves as special; they believed they were a different species altogether.
How could Fury possibly allow soone with that mindset to join S.H.I.E.L.D.?
And the sa problem applied to average mutants too.
If one had the power to beco a hero, what was stopping them from using that sa power to run a gang or rob a bank instead?
Being a superhero wasn’t just about having powers. What truly mattered was having the heart of a hero. That was why S.H.I.E.L.D.’s plan to bring mutants into their ranks had ultimately failed.
"Did LexCorp develop sothing through the cosmic storm?" Fury wondered.
* * *
Others working in the shadows to take down LexCorp had similar thoughts.
Creating a superhero team wasn’t that hard. Mutants were rare compared to humans, but even then, there were still millions scattered across the globe. And if two mutants had a baby, odds were that child would be a mutant too.
The challenge wasn’t finding people with powers. It was keeping them under control once they stepped into the spotlight as heroes. That was the hard part.
Could this so-called Fantastic Four be another version of Captain Arica? Superheroes created through advanced technology?
They didn’t realize that their offhand guesses were exactly right.
* * *
Back at the press conference, Luthor had begun his introduction.
"First up is the leader of the Fantastic Four. With exceptional physical strength, a sharp eye for justice, and unmatched agility, he hunts down cri with precision and resolve... Nightwing!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a batarang slamd into the podium.
The second it hit, it exploded into a thick cloud of white smoke.
When the smoke cleared, Nightwing stood confidently on the stage in his combat suit.
"Hello, everyone."
He didn’t say much. As Dick Grayson, he was a kind and easygoing young man. But as Nightwing, he was another version of Batman, taciturn yet quick and decisive in his actions.
"Cough, cough."
While coughing, Luthor waved the lingering smoke aside and stepped beside him.
"Nightwing, when operating at full strength, can lift up to twenty tons and leap as high as thirty ters. He has mastered nearly every known martial art and is an expert in surveillance and tracking. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? And one more thing, he is the adopted son of Gotham’s very own Batman."
Though Nightwing didn’t interact much with the crowd, his presence was powerful. In the DC world, he was famous not just for his skills, but also for his striking looks. Even in a male-dominated universe, his strong physique and charisma had earned him a devoted fanbase, especially among female fans.
The reporters might’ve stayed neutral for their job, but the regular citizens, already trusting of LexCorp, quickly ward up to him. Their cheers rose imdiately.
"Fla on!"
Just as Nightwing was about to steal the spotlight, Johnny couldn’t hold back his urge to show off anymore. He burst into flas and soared into the sky, becoming a blazing fireball spinning above the crowd.
"Our second hero, the Human Torch," Luthor continued. "A fire-wielding powerhouse. His flas can reach temperatures close to the sun’s surface. He can fly at supersonic speed. And yes, he’s still just a kid."
Johnny then dove back down, landing with a loud thud. The flas on his body vanished amid the crowd’s amazed gasps.
"Brother-in-law, I know you’re engaged to my sister, but that doesn’t an you get to treat like a child too," Johnny said in protest.
His words, however, created an unexpected contrast to Nightwing’s earlier entrance.
Nightwing had co across as the classic hero: strong, silent, and efficient. While he looked dependable, his cold deanor and masked appearance made him feel distant, like soone far removed from the lives of ordinary people.
Johnny, on the other hand, was the opposite. Unlike Nightwing, who was in full tactical gear and a mask, he showed his real face. Many in the crowd quickly recognized him as Johnny Storm, the younger brother of Luthor’s fiancée.
With his playful, younger-brother energy, Johnny made everyone realize that heroes weren’t just symbols or icons. They were real people with real emotions, just like them.
"Alright Johnny, stand still and behave."
Before Johnny could continue his complaints, a voice rang out from nearby. It wasn’t just him; everyone in the audience heard it clearly. But no one could see who was speaking.
"Who said that?"
In the next mont, Susan revealed herself, canceling her invisibility. She slowly beca visible, now dressed in a custom-made combat suit that solved the issue of her clothes not vanishing with her.
Appearing like that not only showcased her powers, but also allowed her to establish her role in the group. She floated over and gave Johnny a light tap on the head.
The crowd burst into laughter.
Finally, the last to appear was Ben, the massive stone-skinned man. His rugged, towering figure instantly drew gasps of astonishnt.
It was obvious now—this was no ordinary group.
Each of them had their own personality and strength. This was a superhero team unlike anything the public had seen before.
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