Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Aftermath
[Unknown...]
"My sire... Loki has failed"
A slender, ash-colored humanoid figure uttered words, positioned in a humble stance beside an ominous throne.
And seated upon the throne was a towering entity with a deep purple complexion, grasping a glass jar containing a viscous, ebony substance.
"Hmm..."
The massive, violet-hued entity emitted a low hum, deep in contemplation.
With a thoughtful gaze, he persistently tapped the glass surface of the jar with his finger as each tap seemed to stir the black liquid within, exhibiting an uncanny semblance of sentience in its fluid movements.
"No matter. My plans remain unchanged"
"..."
"For what is about to come, will come. They are merely prolonging the inevitable"
"Of course, my sire"
The slender, gray-skinned being concurred with a nod, rising from his position.
However, he refrained from lifting his head, maintaining a poised and professional stance as he stood there patiently, awaiting his master's forthcoming instructions.
"But..."
"..."
"This loss does leave quite a bitter taste in my mouth"
The eyes of the towering, purple-skinned being gleamed with a dangerous intensity.
Abruptly rising from his throne, he extended his arms into the air, fixating his gaze upon the jar containing the black enigmatic liquid. His expression remained devoid of emotion as a mysterious air surrounding him.
"I do hope these so-called Earth's mightiest heroes' will like my gift"
"..."
"It took me quite an effort to get one after all"
The slender, gray-skinned being stood in stoic silence, head still bowed.
However, in a fleeting moment, he cast a swift glance at the jar, recognizing its contents. A sense of pity for Earth crossed his features, if only for an instant, before he reverted to his cold and aloof expression, resuming his impassive demeanor.
"My sire, I'm sure they would love your gift"
"Hmm..."
*****
Oscorp Industries...
"ARGHH!!"
Norman vented his frustration by forcefully slamming his fist onto the desk and in a fit of anger, he proceeded to sweep everything off the surface of his desk.
"Useless! Incompetent! Waste!"
Norman's anger continued to escalate, manifesting in a relentless barrage of insults that he continued to unleash repeatedly.
And the source of Norman's anger stemmed from a recent call he had received just a minute ago from General Ross with the call revealing a rupture in their deal, triggering his frustration and ire.
Over the course of three years, they had been collaborating on the recreation of the super soldier serum—a miraculous formula with the potential to transform an individual into a formidable powerhouse.
However, out of the blue, General Ross displayed the audacity to terminate their partnership, as if disregarding all of Norman's dedicated efforts and hard work.
Norman had sacrificed an abundance of resources and made significant compromises for this project. He even went so far as to "part ways" with one of his best researchers within the company, all in the relentless pursuit of success.
But now, following the Battle of New York, the abrupt emergence of Captain America had negated all of Norman's painstaking efforts and hard work.
Never did Norman anticipate that General Ross would employ the existence of Steve Rogers as an excuse to nullify their partnership and swiftly align himself with another endeavor.
To add insult to injury, Ross had the audacity to shift the blame onto Norman, shamelessly proclaiming that the failure of the project and the apparent waste of time were solely his fault.
"How dare he!"
Norman seethed with anger, the echoes of their conversation replaying relentlessly in his mind as the more he recalled, the deeper his fury intensified.
*****
[Flashback]
Seated leisurely within his office on the uppermost floor of Oscorp Industries, Norman Osborn casually watched the Battle of Manhattan unfold on his computer screen with a bored expression.
From time to time, Norman would scowl, particularly when Tony Stark made an appearance on the screen. However, for the most part, his countenance remained stoically expressionless.
Initially, he was taken aback by the sight of Captain America still alive and battling aliens, being briefly shocked and all. However, he quickly regained composure and replaced his astonishment with a sneer of disdain.
In Norman's perspective, Captain America was already a relic of the past, and what he and his team were tirelessly working on was an enhanced iteration of the super soldier serum.
This miraculous serum not only elevated human capabilities to their pinnacle but also bestowed abilities that transcended ordinary understanding.
For Norman, this project presented the perfect opportunity to showcase to the world that he was superior to Tony Stark.
Despite not having achieved success yet, Norman was on the brink, incredibly close to realizing his long-cherished dream.
The only thing he needed was to wait...
And Norman was resolute in ensuring no mistakes would occur, and if the presence of this old relic threatened his ambitions, he vowed to recreate history, consigning him to an icy oblivion forever.
Ring~ Ring~
As Norman observed the ongoing battle, his phone was interrupted by an incoming call from General Ross. Glancing at the screen, he acknowledged the caller's identity and answered the call.
"Norman, we need to talk"
"...?"
"I've waited long enough but time and time again, you've disappointed me, and now... Captain America has emerged"
"..."
"As one... ahem, the only living specimen of the super soldier serum. His existence himself will prove quite valuable to us"
For some inexplicable reason, Norman sensed a foreboding feeling as he straightened his back, preparing to speak. However, before he could utter a word, General Ross preempted him.
"General Ro-"
"Which is why, I've decided to break off our partnership"
"...What?!"
Norman experienced a moment of shock as he processed the words he had just heard.
However, once he fully grasped their implications, a surge of anger welled up within him as he rose angrily from his chair and slammed his hand at his desk.
"You... You can't do that!"
"I can and from now on, I'll be working with another group to finish the project that you couldn't complete"
"Wait!"
"Goodbye, Norman Osborn. It was a pleasure working with you"
The call concluded, leaving Norman standing there in disbelief, gazing down at his phone. Moments later, he attempted to return the call to Ross, only to face disappointment as his attempt was met with rejection.
"..."
Finally grasping the gravity of his situation, Norman felt anger flare up within him as he vented his frustration by hurling his phone to the ground, breaking it before pounding his fist forcefully on his desk.
"ARGHH!!"
*****
[Present Time]
Following a full minute of letting his frustration manifest in a tantrum, Norman eventually regained composure as he settled back into his seat with his storm of emotions subsiding.
His office, on the other hand, lay in ruins, with shattered furniture and broken glass strewn across the floor. Yet, Norman remained indifferent, knowing he had the financial means to easily rectify the chaos.
Nevertheless, the notion of his painstaking efforts going to waste and yielding nothing grated on him incessantly, causing an irritated expression to appear and eliciting a growl from him.
"No..."
Abruptly rising from his seat, Norman clenched his fist, and his teeth gritted, feeling a renewed surge of anger. Reluctant to simply concede, he grappled with the determination to persist.
"I can't just end it like this"
Norman transitioned into an unsettling calmness, his eyes turning cold and glinting with a mysterious intent as he retrieved his second phone and made a call.
Ring~ Ring~
After a few rings, the call was answered, and a hurried voice resonated from the other end of the line.
"M-Mr.Norman?!"
Norman maintained a moment of chilling silence, looking deep in thought while the person on the end waited anxiously at his response, eliciting a nervous fidgeting of his fingers.
"Move everything into my private laboratory"
"...?"
"From now on, I'll be doing the project by myself"
The person on the other end was initially dumbfounded, confusion quickly taking hold as he wondered about the project Norman was referring to.
"S-Sir... which project might you be talking about?"
"The Enhanced Project"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ChronosXx
ChronosXx Here's a bonus chaperone for you ;)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone