----
While Nolan was still assessing Logan's condition, Curt Connors finally closed the last tab of the extensive files Nolan had handed him.
"Boss... you really are a genius. You actually extracted his healing factor."
He looked at the near-unconscious Logan in awe. "This... this is God's most extraordinary gift to mankind."
Nolan nodded, but his tone was serious. "The Phoenix Serum is still flawed. I need your help to fix that."
Connors understood what he ant right away. "You're referring to cellular apoptosis."
In essence, cells undergoing rapid regeneration often self-destruct to protect the organism from mutations or cancer. But the Phoenix Serum triggered such intense regeneration that the body's self-preservation chanisms began working against it.
"Here," Nolan said, pulling up a projection of formulas. "This is my proposed modification to the Lizard Serum, integrating components from the Phoenix formula. Tell what you think."
Connors leaned in. Dense equations and molecular pathways scrolled across the screen. He quickly identified Nolan's overlay of the Lizard Serum's core regeneration chanics.
"Healing factors resist foreign elents... but if we could ti the apoptosis to target the cells undergoing reptilian transformation..."
The two scientists plunged into deep discussion. Ideas flew, and formulas changed. Within hours, they'd mapped out the most efficient hybridization path.
"Boss, you really are a genius," Connors said again, overwheld. "You're even more brilliant than Peter."
"Of course I am," Nolan smirked.
"But to test this... we'd need a human subject. That's dangerous."
Then Connors' eyes slowly turned toward the lab table. "...You want to use him?"
"He's perfect," Nolan replied. "Logan naturally produces the healing factor. If we monitor his blood during the transformation, we'll know if the serum can be controlled."
"But if it fails, we could create sothing worse than the Lizard. Stronger. Wilder."
"That's why we test in incrents," Nolan said. "I'll synthesize a counter-serum in parallel. You handle the experints."
Connors hesitated... then nodded. "Alright."
"But first," Nolan added, "Go ho. Tell your wife everything's okay. Take so money. Make it look normal."
"...Thank you, boss."
---
Hours later...
"Phoenix levels rising. Healing factor concentration is up by 30%. Lizard traits... neutralized."
"Wait—mutation spike. Partial transformation occurring."
"Reptilian traits expressed in the upper limbs. Cellular breakdown begins in the surrounding tissue."
Inside the lab, Logan's body convulsed under heavy sedation. His muscles twitched and bubbled as cellular changes took effect. One assistant narrated the data aloud as Connors leaned over the monitor.
"Inject the Lizard Serum," he commanded.
"Dr. Connors, I—"
"I said inject it!"
Nolan turned. "In the Phoenix division, Connors' orders carry the sa weight as mine."
He had co to appreciate how quickly Connors absorbed and enhanced his theoretical fraworks. The progress on Phoenix 2.0 has been accelerating at a stunning pace.
The assistant complied.
"AAAGHH!"
Logan's eyes flew open as the serum flooded his veins. His withered muscle fibers expanded rapidly. Scales thick and green broke through his skin, spreading down his arms before stopping abruptly at the shoulder.
"Extract lymph and plasma samples from the transford area," Nolan instructed. "Then inject Phoenix Serum and track dosage thresholds."
Logan snarled. "What the hell... did you do to ?!"
Neither of them responded.
---
Later, as the process stabilized, Connors exhaled. "If only we had Oscorp's full lab suite..."
"Soon," Nolan replied. "Norman's descent into madness just helped us break the deadlock. We now hold 51% of the shares."
He smiled.
"Sixteen percent more and we control everything."
Once they held a majority, he could act with impunity. No board etings. No voting. Just action.
Oscorp would beco the tip of his research spear. The perfect front. The dangerous projects? They'd go there. If anything blew up figuratively or literally it wouldn't touch him.
Suddenly, Nolan's expression shifted. He pressed a button on the wall.
ALARM.
Siren lights flared across the estate.
Klaue jolted from his office and called in. "What's happening?!"
Nolan's voice was calm. "Green Goblin's here."
He grabbed his vibranium shield and motioned for Connors to follow. They headed for the surface.
---
A green hover-glider buzzed above the estate's swimming pool, casting a shadow across the lawn.
Standing atop it, clad in armor and madness, was Norman Osborn The Green Goblin.
His face twisted into a grin. "So you three vermin are the ones stealing my company."
Then he spotted Connors.
"You too? You TRAITOR!"
A razor-sharp bat-shaped bomb flew toward Connors.
CLANG!
Nolan batted it aside effortlessly with his shield.
"More research material," he said flatly.
With steady steps, Nolan walked across the lawn and stopped beneath the Goblin's glider, staring him down.
"You ca to the wrong lab, Osborn."
"TRAITOROUS THIEF!" Osborn scread. "I'LL SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL!"
He reached for a pumpkin bomb but froze.
His other hand clenched the wrist. A different voice slipped out—weaker, fractured. "Run... I can't hold him back..."
Nolan didn't flinch.
"You don't need to hold him back," he said coldly. "Because this is my turf."
With that, he hurled a grenade straight at the Goblin.
Thanks to his enhanced strength, the throw was dead-on fast, tight, and impossible to dodge.
But the Goblin reacted with lightning reflexes, tilting the glider to dodge.
"Too slow—"
"Is it?"
Mid-air, the grenade erupted not in the fire but in micro-shrapnel.
WHIRRRR!
A pulsing sonic frequency detonated, scrambling the glider's flight systems.
The Goblin's smirk vanished.
WHAM.
He plumted straight into the pool.
Sputtering, gasping, he tried to surface—
Only for a strong hand to clamp down on his face.
SHOVE.
He was forced back under.
He thrashed, but Nolan's grip didn't budge.
"You like calling people bugs?" Nolan sneered. "Let's see you act like one."
He shoved harder.
"Drink."
----
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