Marvelous Pals #62

I sighed, scratching the back of my head as I stared at Kraven, who was now pinned against the wall by my psychic energy. This was supposed to be an epic showdown, a battle of wits and strength where I’d carefully outmaneuver one of the deadliest hunters in the world. Instead, it had turned out to be something else entirely—far easier and less thrilling than I’d imagined.

I had spent days planning this, deploying my Pals all over this abandoned area, setting traps and ambush points with meticulous detail. The plan was simple: kite Kraven from one ambush to another, wearing him down until I could finally exhaust him completely. But the reality had been vastly different.

Kraven had put up a fierce fight, I’d give him that. He escaped my telekinetic grasps more times than I could count, using all manner of tricks—hidden weapons, gas, poison. Every time I thought I had him, he’d slip through my fingers, attacking from the shadows with a tenacity that would’ve been admirable if it wasn’t so annoying. But in the end, there was nothing he could do against my telekinesis. It was almost unfair, really.

Another sigh escaped my lips as I looked at him, still struggling against the invisible force holding him in place. It was clear he wouldn’t stop. If I let him go, Kraven would come back, more determined and better prepared. I knew his character from the comics—relentless, obsessed with the hunt. He’d come at me again, and again, until he figured out a way to counter my powers. It might take him three, maybe even four tries, but he’d eventually find a way.

The thing was, by that time, my powers would’ve grown so much that whatever countermeasures he came up with would be useless. Still, the idea of having to deal with him over and over felt like a hassle I didn’t want to put up with.

I scratched my head again, deliberating what to do with him. The best way to deal with Kraven was obvious—kill him. It would solve the problem once and for all, save me the trouble of looking over my shoulder every time I stepped outside. Then again…

Before I could finish weighing my options, a sudden, booming laugh interrupted my thoughts. My eyebrow shot up as I turned to face Kraven, who was laughing like a madman, his voice echoing off the walls of the empty alley. He looked at me with wild eyes, his grin stretching wider as he caught my attention.

“Ah, I wonder,” he began, his voice dripping with dark amusement, “what prison will they throw me into this time?” He shook his head, a twisted smile on his lips. “Not that it matters. No matter how deep they bury me, I’ll claw my way back up. And when I do, I’ll hunt you down again.”

He let out another laugh, more feral than the last, as if the very idea thrilled him to his core. “As long as there is worthy prey to hunt, my spirit will never rest. Not until I’ve mounted your head above my fireplace.”

I stared at him blankly, the weight of his words sinking in. Then, slowly, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “I think you’re misunderstanding something, Kraven,” I said, my tone calm, almost conversational. “I’m more than capable of killing you. And trust me, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. The thought of handing you over to the authorities, just so you could escape and come after me again, never crossed my mind.”

Kraven’s grin didn’t waver. If anything, it seemed to widen. “Death would be the only way to stop me,” he replied, his voice low and deadly serious. “But a hunter should always be prepared to lose his life in pursuit of worthy prey. Go ahead. Kill me. It’s the only way this ends.”

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, considering his words. “You know, that was the plan,” I said, my voice carrying a note of genuine contemplation. “Seeing as it might be more merciful than the alternative. But seeing how eager you are to accept the consequences of your actions… I’m starting to have second thoughts.”

Kraven’s eyes narrowed, the manic energy in his gaze giving way to a more calculating look. “What are you talking about?” he asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into his voice.

I didn't answer immediately, instead reaching into my inventory and pulling out a Mega Sphere. I tossed it casually in my hand, feeling the weight of it, watching as Kraven's eyes followed its movement with a mix of wariness and curiosity.

“An experiment,” I said, my voice deceptively light.

Kraven’s suspicion deepened, his eyes narrowing even further. “What kind of experiment?” he asked, his voice tinged with confusion and mistrust.

“The kind where you could die,” I replied, flipping the sphere once more before catching it in my palm. “Though what kind of death, I have no idea.” I raised the Mega Sphere for him to see, letting it catch the faint light from a nearby streetlamp. “But if you somehow manage to survive, you’ll never think about bothering me again…”

I let my words trail off, watching as Kraven’s expression shifted from confusion to cold indifference. For a moment, he looked almost bored, the threat of death clearly not something that phased him. But before he could open his mouth to retort, I added, “…but it won’t be that bad for you either. If you survive, you’ll have more prey to hunt than you could ever imagine.”

His interest vanished in an instant, his face settling into a stoic mask. “Get on with it,” he said flatly, his voice devoid of the manic energy from before. “It’s not like I have any choice in the matter.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, you don’t.”

Without any further delay, I tightened my grip on the Mega Sphere and hurled it at Kraven. It struck his torso with a solid thud, then rebounded into the air, hovering just above his head. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sharp snap, the sphere cracked open, releasing a burst of blinding blue light.

Kraven’s eyes widened in shock as the light engulfed him, drawing him upward. His form distorted, breaking apart into shimmering fragments of energy that spiraled into the sphere, his last look one of defiance before he was fully absorbed.

The sphere hovered in the air for a few breaths, emitting a faint hum as it clicked and whirred, seemingly processing what had just transpired. I watched, a mix of curiosity and surprise bubbling up inside me. Finally, with a soft mechanical whir, it floated back down and settled into my hand, the energy within now calm and contained.

I glanced at the sphere, turning it over in my palm, the weight of it now feeling different, heavier somehow. My wristwatch buzzed, pulling my attention away. I flicked my gaze to it, noticing two new notifications. With a raised eyebrow, I tapped the first one.

“Kraven the Hunter has been captured,” the message read in plain, unremarkable text.

I couldn’t help but snort in bemusement. “These things can even capture humans?” I muttered to myself, a mix of disbelief and intrigue coloring my tone. “What the hell are these spheres, really?”

My mind immediately jumped to Elena. Of course, she hadn’t mentioned this little detail when she was teaching me the ropes. How convenient. My eyes narrowed as I considered what else she might have neglected to tell me.

“I’ll have to have a talk with her about this,” I said, my voice low with irritation. I shook my head, filing the thought away for later. There was still another notification to check.

I tapped the second message, and this time, what I read left me momentarily stunned.

“Calypso Serum acquired.”

I blinked, my brain scrambling to catch up. “No way…” I murmured, staring at the screen in disbelief.

These spheres could not only capture humans, but they could also extract something from them, just like they did with Pals. And this time, it had given me the Calypso Serum—Kraven’s infamous concoction that granted him superhuman strength, agility, and longevity.

The implications hit me like a freight train. If the spheres could do this… What else could they extract? What other powers or abilities could I harvest from those I defeated?

Just what were the limits of these spheres? How strong of a being can they capture, and what kind of drops will I get for catching someone as powerful as Thor for example?

The possibilities seemed endless, and that realization sent a shiver down my spine.