Marvel: Father of Superheroes

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Splash, splash… 

Warm water cascaded over Mike's body, washing away his fatigue and prompting him to let out a contented sigh.

The battle had left him feeling exhilarated, though it had also cost him dearly in resources.

As he mentally tallied up the cards he had used, Mike's eyelid twitched.

A hundred? Two hundred?

No… more than that.

An entire year's worth?

Thinking back to how he had recklessly thrown dozens of cards into the fray, Mike couldn't help but grimace and clutch his chest.

This time, he had burned through quite a few cards, especially his shield-type ones.

Recalling how Mister Astonish shattered more than a dozen layers of shields with a single punch, Mike cursed under his breath.

As expected, while some abilities could be materialized, their strength depended on the power of materialization and his current ability level. They weren't as formidable as he had imagined.

From today onward, he'd have to work hard to replenish his stockpile.

The battle had also made Mike realize a significant drawback of his cards: the power of his abilities was uncontrollable. The strength of a skill depended on his ability level when creating the card and the amount of materialization energy consumed at the time.

Moreover, the skills lacked precise control.

Take a spatial movement skill, for example. If it were his own ability, when he saved Raven, he might have been able to teleport directly into the car. But now, such precise control was beyond his reach.

What changes would occur when his level reached LV3?

He glanced at his current progress bar…

92%.

Anticipation began to build in Mike's heart.

Knock, knock! 

Suddenly, a knock on the door broke his train of thought.

Mike tensed up. Could it be Raven?

"Dad, I need to talk to you."

Clark's anxious voice came from outside the door.

Mike quickly opened the door, sticking his head out. "What's wrong?"

"I…"

Clark pushed against the door, pressing his hand on Mike's head. A mischievous smile spread across his face as he squeezed through the gap.

Heh heh! 

With a chuckle, Clark's body began to transform, and a blonde woman appeared before Mike.

Raven.

Mike's mouth twitched as he looked at Raven approaching him. "You've got some nerve."

Moments later, a trail of wet footprints extended from the bathroom all the way to Mike's bedroom.

On the other side, Clark hurriedly closed his eyes, deactivated his super-hearing, and wore a satisfied smile.

…

"What's the deal with your powers?"

Raven leaned lazily against Mike's chest, speaking softly.

"I'm not sure. They just… appeared one day," Mike replied vaguely.

"Oh."

Raven responded casually, not pressing further. Instead, she looked up curiously, studying Mike's still-handsome but more mature and captivating profile. Noticing the strands of white hair at his temples, she reached out and gently touched them, her heart aching slightly.

Mike smiled nonchalantly. His blue eyes reflected Raven's face, as beautiful and unchanged as it had been years ago. "Maybe when my hair turns completely white, you'll still be as stunning as you are today."

Raven gazed at Mike tenderly. "No matter how you change, to me, you'll always be the Mike who fell from the sky to save me."

"Happy New Year. Sorry, I didn't get you a gift."

"No, I've already received the best gift."

…

The next morning, Mike woke up on time. Seeing Raven open her eyes, he smiled and said, "Sleep a little longer. I'll go make breakfast."

Raven nodded lazily, watching him leave with a satisfied smile on her lips.

This kind of life was nothing short of a dream come true for her.

She hugged the other side of the blanket, taking a deep breath as if savoring every moment. But then, memories of her identity and the matters involving Hellfire surfaced. She sighed softly, burying her head under the blanket.

The alarm rang, and Clark immediately jumped out of bed. After getting dressed, he rushed downstairs to the first floor.

Seeing Raven setting the table, he smiled brightly.

"Clark, come eat!"

Raven waved at him.

"I'll be right there. Let me wash up first."

Clark dashed to the bathroom, quickly brushing his teeth and washing his face. Then, he woke up Eric and Charles, who were still groggy.

"Hurry up! Get dressed and look sharp—Aunt Raven's downstairs!"

Maybe Dad and Aunt Raven will finally work out this time?

If they do, they'll need to make a good impression on each other!

"What?! That mutant hero?"

Eric exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Charles, on the other hand, yawned and said, "You're not pulling our leg, are you?"

Using his ability subconsciously, Charles suddenly widened his eyes in realization. "Alright, I'm up!"

Ten minutes later, the three little ones, all spruced up, came downstairs.

"Good morning, Dad!"

Hearing Charles' voice, Mike looked up and was nearly blinded by the three slick, shiny pompadours glowing atop their heads.

Veins throbbed on his forehead as Mike took a deep breath and said, "What the heck are you three up to?"

"Well, we…"

Before Eric could explain, Clark stepped forward, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Good morning, Aunt Raven!" he said warmly.

Eric and Charles turned to Raven, their curiosity piqued. Following Clark's lead, they greeted her politely.

Raven stared at the three, her gaze lingering on their overly shiny hairstyles for a few seconds before turning to Mike with a raised brow.

Mike's mouth twitched as he quickly defended himself. "This wasn't my idea!"

Suppressing a laugh, Raven waved the boys over. "Come on, breakfast is ready."

The three boys walked toward the dining table, trying their best to look composed.

Mike, unable to take it anymore, facepalmed and slid his hand down his face before following them. Standing behind each boy, he delivered a swift kick to all three. "Act normal, for crying out loud!"

The trio clutched their backsides and shot Mike a pitiful look before obediently heading to the table.

"Hehehe!" 

Seeing this, Raven couldn't help but laugh. As Charles and Eric approached her, she smiled and said, "You must be Charles and Eric, right?"

"You know us?" Charles asked curiously.

Raven pinched their cheeks affectionately. "Your dad has told me about you."

The two boys grinned in response.

Meanwhile, Mike grabbed Clark and scrutinized his slicked-back hair. "What's your game this time?"

He didn't even need to guess—this had Clark written all over it.

Clark replied matter-of-factly, "If we're going to live together in the future, first impressions are really important."

"Live together?" Mike stared at him in disbelief. "You're overthinking it. She's leaving in a little while."

What is this kid thinking all day long?

"What? Leaving?" Clark froze, his body stiffening. "But last night, didn't you two…"

Clark had already imagined when they'd get married, when he'd have a little brother or sister, and even picked out potential names. And now… she's leaving in a little while?!

Last night? 

Mike's face turned red as Clark avoided his gaze. They both tacitly decided to drop the topic.

"Ahem!" Mike cleared his throat. "She's got important things to do."

"What are you two whispering about? Breakfast is ready!" Raven called out to them.

"We're coming!"

Mike patted Clark's head, then noticed how greasy it was. With a look of disgust, he wiped his hand on Clark's shirt and headed toward the table.

(End of Chapter)