Chapter 566 - Troll Emerges (2/2)
”Now, all of this is speculation but I have a hunch that Osborn Corporation is definitely involved. Harry isn't here today, too, or we could have tried to get some info from him...” mumbling, Nik concluded, ”And as far as we know, the assaulter might really be an enhanced person. He couldn't have gotten the powers from the same source...” This statement caused a few questions to emerge in Cindy's mind while Nik sighed, ”Anyway, I now think that getting the police involved is a better alternative. Better yet, the billionaire superhero accessible to everyone— Tony Stark.”
”Yes!” Anna pumped her fist with a wide smile, ”I gotta have his autograph. Before we go, let me grab the Iron Man helmet I purchased!” Anna looked towards Nik as he shrugged, ”Sure. I'll grab my action figure, too.” Seeing the duo's antics, Cindy groaned, ”Mine is still back at my place...”
”Oh, about your parents, it is best that they realize that your identities might have been already leaked.” Nik suddenly spoke as Cindy practically shouted. ”What?!”
”This kind of obvious by now. Don't you think that your boyfriend might have already told the assaulter about you if you were the target all along?” Cindy's expression fell as she hissed, ”Ex-boyfriend,” she emphasized. ”Right,” Nik smiled, ”We also need to get a 'super' involved before something actually happens to your ex.”
”Here's an idea,” Anna spoke up, ”Why don't the two of you become superheroes?”
”And if you speak a little louder, we might as well have no choice,” Nik pointed out, making Anna stick her tongue playfully as Cindy seriously considered the suggestion. ”And why not, because I have seen the horrors of the darkest corner of society and if it does go 'super', I'd rather provide support from sidelines. Did you forget, we don't need to be crime fighters,” Nik nudged Anna's shoulder, making her recall the conversation in the car as she pouted, ”But seeing Incubus in action would have been awesome.”
Hearing her, Nik whispered with a playful smirk, ”Sweetheart, you just played a major role in Incubus' action, remember?”
”There you are!” Gwen's voice echoed as she made her way towards Anna while glaring at Nik, ”Did you forget about your practice?” Gwen inquired with a stormy expression, making Anna yelp in surprise. ”Ah, snap! I gotta run! I'll meet you guys later!” Anna hurriedly waved her hand and ran even without replying to Gwen, making the blonde athlete focus on Nik instead, ”And you!”
”Hey, there,” Nik grinned, ”Looking smashing as usual!” His words instantly causing her to grit her teeth. Chuckling, Nik shook his head, ”Come on, Gwen. You can't remain angry at me forever.”
”Continue such greetings, and I just might,” She snorted before turning on her heels and leaving while stomping with every step.
”Why don't you just apologize?” Cindy inquired as Nik shrugged, ”It's fun this way. I like seeing her on the edge.” Nik stated before looking at her, ”And... do you have anything else planned? Or will you just tag along?”
Cindy thought for a moment before sighing, ”Tag along.”
---
”It is quite simple, really. While everyone thought that I have a stupendous amount of knowledge of the supersoldier serum, what I did, no... what my father did was that he began finding issues in his own blood and started creating a remedy. In reality, every Osborn would find death at the age of 40 and we just reversed it,” a raspy voice taught, ”Reverse of decay is strength. There is no serum in my hands but just method to stop my own decay,” Hector was out of tears as he pleaded weakly. He was too hungry, too desperate, and too thirsty to give the 'Goblin's' teachings any thought.
”Boy, you will thank me after what I am presenting you,” Goblin installed a tube of his blood into the pipes that were connected to the large cylinder that held Hector. ”I am giving you strength, kekeke, let me rephrase it,” The Goblin snickered, ”I am giving you strength and you will provide me with Data... alongside the girl you exposed as Cindy.” Pushing a few buttons as his red blood traveled through the metallic tubes and erupted as a gaseous fog into the cylinder, Hector panicked. He struggled against the leather belts holding him in place and begged Goblin to not do anything but his cries soon stifled and he started trembling. ”If it were before, your chances of dying would have been plenty. But the formula is now incubated in a human body and the rejection rate is minuscule. Rejoice!” Goblin shouted with his wrinkly face contorted by a maniacal grin. ”You will have power!”
Meanwhile, Hector's body continued to struggle against the restraints more viciously. His skin melting and his hair withering by the second. His physique, instead of shrinking, grew in size while his skin turned mud-yellow. Hector's eyes lost its pupils and his skull continued to shift and change. Soon, the boy broke out his restraints but he had long lost his mental faculties. Smashing his fist against the tube, causing a crack to form in the cylinder.
Unfazed, the Goblin just chuckled darkly, ”Kekakakaka! Haahaahahahaha! I'll call you Troll! They took everything from me while thinking that it is I who stole first but not anymore! Not! Anymore!” He roared.
”Grrooouughhhhhh!” The Troll roared akin mindless beast and finally broke through the cylinder. With the military-grade glass shattering out and littering the entire floor, Troll slowly walked towards Goblin, completely n.a.k.e.d and his monstrous tool jiggling alongside his newfound inflated stomach. With a ground-shaking thud, the Troll fell onto his knees, crushing the glass underneath and softly whimpering while sniffing the Goblin. ”Hah! Those meds worked!” Goblin laughed, ”All you need is clothes and you are good to go!”
Goblin turned with his lab coat swishing about. On the wall right in front of him, a picture of Cindy Moon was nailed down alongside Tony Stark, and Nick Fury. ”I'll get all of you! Kehehehehe.”