CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 016: THE MUTANT RAT CRISIS! SPIDER-GWEN TO THE RESCUE!

The crowd was fleeing in all directions.

Wanda and Lorien held hands, moving quickly toward the place everyone else was running from. Wanda didn’t even know what had come over her. It was as if, with just a small "mm" of resolve, she had taken Lorien’s hand and stepped out of the car—like she was holding onto hope itself.

They were clearly rushing toward danger, yet Wanda’s heart was focused entirely on Lorien. From the moment he had reached out his hand to her just now, it was as if she had seen a warm sun shining deep inside her.

"Rats! So many rats!"

"Help! Help!"

The desperate cries nearby snapped Wanda back to reality. Lorien had already brought her to the edge of the scene. They looked across the street, toward a sewer opening.

Sure enough—dozens of rats, each the size of a bucket, were crawling out of the underground pipes. Along with them came all kinds of oversized insects and lizards. These creatures were terrifying enough at normal size, but now each one was huge—some even as big as a small child.

Even Wanda was startled. She instinctively tightened her grip on Lorien’s hand.

"Listen to me, Wanda," Lorien said, turning to her. "These mutant animals can definitely kill. The people here need you. Don’t be afraid—use your magic to grab them, or trap them, then crush them!"

He gave her a firm look. "Just remember—treat your magic like a pair of giant tweezers. Squeeze the life out of those rats."

Wanda’s hand was still trembling slightly in his.

"Ahhh!"

A child had been knocked to the ground by one of the giant rats. The mother was frantically searching for something to fight it off, but the creature’s teeth were already snapping toward the boy’s neck.

Lorien’s eyes flashed red. The rat froze, pupils dilating, before collapsing to the side. Without moving a step, he had destroyed its brain. The boy shoved the carcass away, scrambled to his feet, and ran into his mother’s arms.

Another scream rang out as someone else was tackled by a rat—but this time, Lorien didn’t intervene. He had only acted because the first victim was a child.

...

Meanwhile, Natasha—on her way back to base—received a comms alert.

"Mutant animal attack reported in the Elizabeth district of New York."

"I’m on my way!"

She immediately changed course toward the area where Lorien and Wanda were.

Over in Queens, by the waterfront, a girl in black spandex leggings and a white hoodie crouched at the top of a high-rise, gazing toward Elizabeth district.

"I can feel there’s a crisis over there," she murmured to herself.

After a brief pause, she decided, "I’d better check it out."

Pulling a pink-and-white spider mask over her head, she fired a web line from her wrist and swung into motion.

Spider-Gwen soared between buildings and bridges, her movements under the moonlight even more fluid than those of other Spider-Men. Her figure was striking—sleek and agile like a poised female leopard.

...

Elizabeth District.

After watching the crowd get attacked by the swarm of rats, Wanda gathered herself and decided to try stepping in.

Lorien reached out, gently cupping her cheek, his gaze meeting hers with calm encouragement.

"You can do it. Believe in yourself. Just catch those rats and crush them—it’s a lot easier than saving people. Trust me."

Wanda nodded, stepping away from Lorien and moving a few paces forward. In the midst of a panicked crowd retreating backward, those few steps made her stand out immediately.

Some people noticed her stepping forward, though they didn’t recognize who she was.

Then, Wanda extended her hands. Her distinct spellcasting gesture appeared, and scarlet magical energy began to swirl between her fingers.

"It’s the Scarlet Witch!"

In an instant, the crowd recognized her. That unique motion, paired with her unmistakable crimson magic, left no doubt.

"It’s her?!"

"Should we keep running?"

"Run! She might hit us by accident!"

The voices around her shook her focus for a moment. She glanced back at Lorien.

He hadn’t moved—still standing right where he was, eyes fixed on her. Then, he gave her a firm nod.

You can do it. Keep going.

Wanda nodded back. Her hair lifted and swayed in the air as her magic surged. She unleashed the Chaos Magic in her hands, and with a sweep of both arms, scarlet power snatched up a cluster of mutant rats—several at once.

But then she faltered. What now?

Again, she turned to Lorien. He said nothing, simply lifted one hand into the air and clenched it into a fist.

Wanda understood immediately. She faced forward again and mirrored his motion, closing her fist with force.

"Psshh!"

In an instant, the rats suspended in midair burst into a red mist and vanished.

Against Chaos Magic, these mutant rats weren’t even worth calling small fry. Having their bodies reduced to blood mist was already merciful—they hadn’t been completely annihilated, soul and all.

Overjoyed, Wanda turned back, her eyes bright with excitement.

"Lorien! I did it!"

Lorien gave her a thumbs-up, though his smile carried a hint of helplessness.

"Wanda, maybe don’t look at me just yet. Let’s finish dealing with these ’little monsters’ first."

Wanda’s cheeks flushed, and she nodded shyly.

"I know~"

...

(70 Chapters Ahead)

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