Team Template

For Aiden, the best outcome was Nicole's survival. With trepidation, he lifted the lid once more. What met his eyes was Nicole's deathly pale face, colorless, her body seemingly frozen stiff.

Unlike his previous checks, this time Nicole's shaking was subdued, her usually labored breathing had slowed. She lay still in the icy bath, appearing to be on the final journey of her life, departing this world at a visible pace before Aiden's eyes.

"Nicole," Aiden murmured instinctively, a sinking realization hitting him as he slammed his hands into the ice.

A slap to his own forehead brought a chilling clarity, as the cold water awakened him to the grim truth of Nicole's impending demise.

Just as Aiden was sinking into despair, Nicole's eyes suddenly snapped open. Her mouth gaping for air, she vigorously gasped for breath, clawing her way up from the icy coffin, sitting upright amidst the chunks of ice.

Ding!

Mission Executed: The Path of Brilliance, Initiation.

Mission Type: Sequential.

Start your journey in the Marvel Universe in the most extreme way.

Mutant creation target achieved.

Identity confirmed, physical attributes significantly enhanced, possesses rapid self-healing abilities; reflexes greatly amplified, mutant gene activated, now part of the mutant community. Criteria met.

Mission Completion: 210%. Reward: 1 Light Orb.

"Hey, Nicole," Aiden rushed to support her, but she was already crawling out of the coffin, collapsing onto the cold floor, which must have felt warm to her compared to the icy water.

In mere seconds, the joy and sorrow overwhelmed Aiden, who instinctively wrapped his lab coat around Nicole. As he did, he noticed the bruises on her body disappearing at an astonishing rate, her pallid skin regaining color, though her shivering form remained somewhat rigid.

"I thought you were a cold, heartless rock," Nicole chattered through her teeth, her voice crisp and struggling, "But just now, that wasn't... quite the performance... from you."

Aiden's face flushed with embarrassment. Before coming to this world, he was indeed a more cheerful soul, but after a decade in Hydra, he learned to be silent. His personality and behavior had changed a lot, becoming more somber and less inclined to express his emotions.

When he thought Nicole had died, the effort he had put in and the apparent failure had genuinely disheartened him. His emotions and expressions uncontrollably betrayed him.

But none of that mattered anymore, as long as Nicole was alive. It felt like destiny to Aiden, just like when he had stumbled upon her while on a mission in Harlem.

Now, against the odds of thirteen patients dying and only Wade surviving, Nicole had made it through, and Aiden felt a profound gratitude to whatever higher power might be listening.

Aiden regained his composure, his Hydra training kicking in. He immediately thought of the bright future with his loyal assistant, now a powerful mutant.

With her superior self-healing ability, Nicole joined the ranks of Wolverine and Deadpool. And with her reflexes dramatically improved, she could better perceive the world, process information, and respond rapidly—a dream for any assassin or warrior.

After enduring unspeakable torments and teetering on the brink of life and death, Nicole had indeed gained the foundation to become a formidable force on Earth. The rest would depend on whether she maintained her strong will, accepted the ruthless code of conduct, and acquired advanced combat skills and tactical acumen.

This was a categorical enhancement to Aiden's team strength.

"To witness your loss of control at the brink of death means a lot to me," Nicole's speech became smoother, her body's remarkable self-healing pulling her back from the edge of death.

"Of course, you're my assistant. I like the meals you make," Aiden huffed, the topic coming up for the second time.

Ding!

Would you like to activate the Team Template? Selection available.

The sudden option surprised Aiden even more. Was this the rhythm of forming a team? When he had played with Scarlet Witch and accidentally drawn Rocket Raccoon, he had activated the team template. It seemed Nicole's strength was now recognized by the system, allowing for the recruitment of new members.

When Aiden first activated the team template, the system had rewarded him with a light orb. If team members were powerful, there might be additional light orb rewards, according to online sources. Unfortunately, Rocket Raccoon hadn't provided Aiden with an extra light orb. It seemed the reward for light orbs had high standards for team member quality.

Ding!

Side Mission Completed: Establish a Team.

A strong team is a valuable asset for survival in the Marvel Universe and may also be the first step toward your downfall.

Reward: 1 Light Orb.

Team members contribute 100 light orbs to the leader.

"Will you always be my assistant?" Aiden asked, choosing to activate the option and laying Nicole down on a couch on the villa's first floor.

"Of course," Nicole had no reason to refuse. Her life, her courage to survive, her reason to continue living, the power she had acquired—all were thanks to the slightly awkward young man before her.

Ding!

Recruited Character: Nicole Norton

Identity Confirmed: Rapid Self-Healing Abilities; Enhanced Reflexes, Part of the Mutant Community.

Mutant Level: Tier 3.

Character Assessment: Tier 3 Mutant, No Light Orb Reward.

No reward for a Tier 3 Mutant? That seemed a bit harsh.

Aiden pondered this as he carried Nicole to a small room Mike had prepared. Mike, watching Aiden carry Nicole wrapped in his lab coat, marveled silently. It seemed she had succeeded.

Having worked in the mutant factory for a long time, Mike knew the difficulty of the process and how much pain Nicole must have endured. Although he hadn't stepped into the basement recently, he could well imagine it.

A once ordinary person like himself, now elevated to a mighty mutant, a deity in control of everything. Instead of envy, Mike felt a silent applause for Nicole. Anyone who underwent the transformation deserved their newfound abilities.

Mike asked himself if he dared to join the program. Forget the terrifying torture process; he didn't even have the courage to think about it. He preferred to live as a regular person, serving faithfully and living comfortably for a lifetime.

Perhaps this was the difference between ordinary people and superheroes—he lacked the unwavering and hungry heart.

So, as Aiden once said, Nicole's painful memories were actually her most precious treasure, completely altering her attitude and outlook on life.

Tips:

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