Building Superheroes at Marvel

"Call—"

As the cabin doors unfolded, a rush of heavy breathing swept across the room, followed by a cloud of white mist that dissipated quickly.

"Did you make it?"

Kyle rushed to the glass, clenched his fists, and peered inside anxiously. If Gasco failed, his entire plan would be delayed.

The success of this experiment was pivotal. Only when a superhero capable of surviving with the transplanted crystal emerged could Kyle act on his ambitious plans without hesitation.

With his current resources, he was in no position to risk a full-scale reform. A number of shareholders from Walter Company were watching Kyle closely.

"Familiar feeling, and... even stronger!" Gasco's deep voice resonated.

The room buzzed with excitement as everyone present turned their attention to Gasco. Kyle relaxed his grip and allowed a smile to spread across his face.

With Gasco's enhanced physical power, even without any specialized abilities, his strength could still make a huge difference.

"My God! No. 087, you managed to survive."

The head scientist ran into the room, tugging at his hair in disbelief, as he circled Gasco's now-evolved form, his gaze filled with envy.

This man knew well that the moment he entered the laboratory, he had bound himself to Walter Company. He understood the consequences of any betrayal.

Though he'd noticed the procedures Kyle had implemented using MRI technology, he had no intention of removing the embedded enhancements. After encountering the transformative potential of the No. 7 crystal, he was now eager to gain such power for himself—becoming more than just another subordinate.

His best bet was to ensure Kyle's success. Any secret attempt to implant the crystal himself would be met with swift retaliation. He would be disposed of instantly, and his family would face Kyle's vengeance.

"Exactly, now you can take care of those old men blocking your path without hesitation."

Kyle was elated. The shareholders had been restless ever since his ascension, even conspiring against him.

The most troubling factor was that these men had a dozen elite bodyguards surrounding them, making it almost impossible for typical assassins to infiltrate.

Kyle, however, couldn't afford to take direct action himself. They were still his 'uncles,' in a manner of speaking.

"Gasco, how do you feel?"

Kyle swiped his fingerprint across the door's security panel, stepping into the room with impatience.

As he entered, Gasco immediately approached, revealing his newly transformed physique.

His previously weak muscles had ballooned, now rippling with tremendous power. His once-white hair had darkened to black, and the scars that marred his body were gone.

"I feel great, Master. I could probably crush someone with a single punch."

Without a hint of modesty, Gasco performed a military salute, his massive chest muscles flexing as he did.

Kyle stepped forward, reaching out to test the new strength in Gasco's arm. It was like steel—unyielding and dense with power.

"Lane, take Uncle Gasco for testing to assess the extent of his evolutionary enhancements," Kyle instructed, gesturing toward the lab assistant.

Afterward, he left the room, feeling satisfied that Gasco's physical augmentation was complete, though the superhero's true abilities had yet to fully awaken.

Kyle believed that Gasco, even without fully manifesting superpowers, could already rival agents inferior to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s standards. With some training, Gasco would be back to full form in no time.

Back in his office on the top floor, Kyle retrieved a list of shareholders who needed to be eliminated.

His father had left him 53% of the company's shares, granting him control, but those old men still held sway over the board.

At his current age, Kyle was young and inexperienced. Without Gasco's assistance, it was uncertain whether Kyle would have been able to secure the position he held now.

"They've done nothing but take the money and run, living it up outside. It's time to take back their shares."

Kyle muttered, eyeing the list. Of the seven people named, none had the original vision of building the company. Though they had contributed in the past, now they were liabilities.

From the moment they'd decided to oppose him, the outcome was sealed. If they'd simply chosen to step down, perhaps they could have received some financial compensation, but now, no such leniency would be offered.

Kyle had no intention of targeting those who had not actively opposed him. Their shares would be reclaimed in a legitimate manner.

"Recover all their shares. Once I have 75%, the company will be fully under my control."

With absolute control over the company, Kyle could set aside corporate affairs and focus on his true passion—developing crystal-powered superheroes.

dong dong—

There was a knock at his office door. Kyle quickly slipped the list back into a file and called, "Come in."

"Boss, here are the test results for No. 087, along with the laboratory's expense report."

Ryan entered, holding two documents. The lab's equipment was still relatively basic, so the tests had been completed quickly.

Ryan glanced at the data and was immediately shocked. He set the papers down and hurried over to Kyle.

"Power and speed?"

Kyle's interest peaked as he scanned the data. The strength test had reached 7,500 pounds, and Gasco had completed a 100-meter sprint in just 3.7 seconds.

While this was a sprinting record, Kyle knew that Gasco's sustained speed would be slower, but these numbers were impressive.

"Other tests will need to be scheduled, like bone density and blood tests," Ryan added.

"Boss, No. 087 also gained a special ability—something like 'bullet time' from the movies," Ryan continued, sharing more astonishing news.

Kyle stood up quickly, the excitement growing in his chest. "Are you sure it's 'bullet time'? What exactly does it do? How long can he use it?"

"Yes, it can last five minutes when Gasco is at full stamina, but it drains energy quickly. He'll need to replenish afterward," Ryan explained.

Kyle grinned with satisfaction, pulling the earlier list of names from the file and handing it to Ryan.

"Tell Gasco to take care of everyone on this list tonight. Make it look like an accident. No survivors."