DC HERO AT MARVEL

"Cut the power!"

"Shut down the power to the platform! Cutting the power will stop the experiment!"

Someone realized the key to the crisis and shouted for those still near the experimental platform to act.

"Who dares?"

Otto roared furiously. The mechanical arms on his back suddenly extended, violently striking down a man who had attempted to pull the lever.

Bang!!

The man flew like a rag doll, crashing to the ground. Everyone could see his chest caved in, blood bubbling from his mouth, his body twitching uncontrollably. He was as good as dead.

Those nearby swallowed hard, staring at the power lever from a distance, too terrified to move.

"Damn it, there not much time left!!"

Tony, dragged away by Anton, stood at a safe distance, roughly 200 meters from the experimental platform. He felt the powerful magnetic field emanating from the Hudson River site, his expression growing darker by the second.

Nearby metal objects reacting to the magnetic field were the least of his concerns.

The real problem lay above them—the massive bridge nearby was emitting loud, groaning creaks that were clearly audible.

But even that wasn't the most terrifying part.

If the artificial sun exploded, it would obliterate New York in an instant.

Everyone present would die.

New York would become a graveyard.

"What the hell, Anton!!"

Tony gritted his teeth, glaring furiously at Anton beside him.

This bastard had wasted precious time!

They had only a few minutes left—if the power to the platform wasn't cut, the artificial sun would reach a critical point and explode with a deafening boom.

When that happened, New York would be reduced to rubble, and no one would dare set foot in the area for decades to come.

That was the terrifying power of nuclear fusion!

To be fair, Otto theory might have been correct. He had succeeded in creating an artificial sun. However, some calculation had clearly gone wrong, or some real-world factor hadn't been accounted for. Whatever the reason, the artificial sun was dangerously unstable and now on the verge of catastrophic failure.

The consequences of that failure would be unimaginably dire.

"What are you staring at me for?"

Anton shrugged innocently. "Tony, I just saved your life! Don't think I didn't notice—you were about to head up to that platform and get yourself killed. Otto has lost his mind, and those mechanical arms on his back aren't playing around."

Tony face twitched.

Seeing Anton smug I'm only looking out for you expression, he found himself unable to argue back.

Instead, he tightened his grip on the suitcase in his hand, his expression growing resolute.

Tony Stark was not the type to take things lying down.

At that moment—

A woman voice rang out from the platform.

"Otto! Shut it down!"

The crowd, though unaware that only a minute or two remained, knew time was running out. Desperately hoping for Batman—or any hero—to make an appearance, they instead heard this sharp cry.

Who was this brave woman?

They followed the voice and saw a woman, appearing to be in her forties, desperately making her way toward the platform, shouting at the top of her lungs.

"Shut it down, Otto!"

Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with Otto.

"Rose!"

Otto hesitated, the mechanical arms on his back waving in the air but refraining from striking the woman.

"She Otto wife!"

Someone in the crowd recognized her.

The realization dawned on the others—it seemed Otto still had some humanity left.

Just as that thought crossed their minds—

Whoosh!

One of the mechanical arms behind Otto lashed out with a piercing sound, cutting through the air like a lightning strike, aiming straight for Rose.

"No!!"

Otto cried out, his face twisting in horror.

He realized, to his utter dismay, that he could no longer control the arms.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The inhibitor chip on his back had failed.

"How is this happening?"

In that instant, Otto face was a mask of panic and deep regret.

What he didn't know was that one of the mechanical arms had inadvertently come into contact with the energy radiating from the artificial sun. The energy overwhelmed the wiring, causing the inhibitor chip to overload and partially burn out.

In other words, Otto had lost control of the mechanical arms.

His current erratic behavior was heavily influenced by the AI-driven intelligence of the arms, though he remained oblivious to this fact.

"Rose!!"

Otto roared, his face contorted as he desperately tried to retract the arm, but it was futile.

"Damn it!"

Not far away, Tony, who had just finished his argument with Anton and was preparing to don his armor, turned to witness the scene. His expression darkened further.

It was too far. Even he was powerless to act in time.

Boom!

At that critical moment, an arrow whizzed through the air, fired from a great distance.

Clang!

Just as the mechanical arm stretched out to strike Rose, the arrow intercepted it, stopping its attack in the nick of time.

Clink! Clink!

The arrowhead then transformed, deploying a net-like structure that tightly wrapped around the "hand" of the mechanical arm, binding all four arms together.

A fishing net arrow!

"Otto!!"

Rose heart raced as she stared at Otto with disappointment and disbelief.

She couldn't believe that her once-loving husband had raised a deadly arm against her.

Meanwhile, everyone else watching the scene turned their attention toward the direction from which the arrow had been fired.

Above, on the Manhattan Bridge, a figure in green stood perched on the railing, looking down at the experimental platform below.

"Who is that?"

People immediately recognized that it wasn't Batman, nor did it resemble any known superhero.

Could this be another vigilante?

Eddie, aiming his camera at the man, was stunned.

He recognized him, of course.

"Green Arrow…"

He muttered under his breath, his face showing a mix of shock and awe. Almost instinctively, he turned to look at Anton.

Anton, sensing Eddie gaze, smiled at him, his expression calm and unthreatened, as if this entire situation was under control.

To be fair, Eddie wasn't nearly as panicked as he seemed either. Like Anton, he knew there were contingencies in place.

With Batman present and Eddie himself bonded with Venom, they could step in at any moment to resolve the crisis.

The reason for their inaction? Anton earlier signal.

Now Eddie understood who Anton had been waiting for.

"Green Arrow!"

The realization made Eddie practically giddy with excitement.

Just days ago, he'd been asking Anton about Green Arrow, and now here he was in person. Eddie suddenly recalled Anton cryptic remark: "Soon enough, you'll meet him."

A shiver ran down Eddie spine. It felt as if everything had been orchestrated by Anton.

The man was terrifyingly calculated.

"Who that?"

Tony muttered, staring at the man standing on the bridge railing. Slowly, he lowered the suitcase he was holding.

It seemed there was no need for him to step in anymore.

Then again, even if he tried, he wouldn't be able to upstage the green-clad archer. It seemed unnecessary now.

In the next moment, amidst a chorus of gasps from the crowd, Green Arrow nocked another arrow and aimed at the platform.

Whoosh!

An arrow shot out, cutting through the air.

Otto face was cold and emotionless as he glared at the Green Arrow standing on the bridge. The humanity in his eyes was rapidly disappearing, replaced by the intelligence of the mechanical arms, which had easily torn apart the restraining net and were now moving freely.

Otto had fully transformed into Doctor Octopus.

On the platform, not far from Otto, Rose stared at the man she had lived with for years. He suddenly felt like a stranger.

Boom!!

To Otto fury, the arrow split mid-air into two shafts—one targeting him, the other piercing straight into the power lever.

Zzzzzzz!

Electricity crackled as the sound of surging current filled the air.

In an instant, the artificial sun flickered and went out.

Boom!

The metal objects that had been suspended mid-air by the artificial sun immediately plummeted to the ground, leaving deep craters along the riverbank.

The once-trembling bridge quickly settled into stillness.

Everyone at the scene let out a collective sigh of relief.

Eddie, however, was elated, capturing the entire event with his camera.

Of course, he wasn't alone. Many other reporters seized the opportunity, their lenses focused on the mysterious man who had appeared so suddenly. Each of them was already contemplating what name to give him.

"Bastard!!"

Otto clenched his fists as the four mechanical arms on his back writhed menacingly.

Descending from the platform, his fury was palpable.

As Doctor Octopus, Otto thought process had diverged significantly from that of an ordinary person. Most of his humanity was now discarded, replaced by a singular drive toward achieving his goals.

The artificial sun was his greatest ambition, his ultimate dream.

Whether the result was catastrophic or groundbreaking didn't matter to him—it was a reality he was willing to embrace.

But everything had been brought to a screeching halt by the man standing before him.

"I'll tear you apart!"

Otto roared.

Meanwhile, Green Arrow extended his arms wide and, without a trace of fear, leapt from the Manhattan Bridge like a bungee jumper, with no visible protective gear.

This bold move elicited another wave of gasps from the crowd.

In mid-air, Green Arrow twisted his body and fired another arrow toward the bridge. This time, it was equipped with a suction-cup tip, tethered to him by a thin, specially-designed steel wire. The wire caught and secured him, allowing him to descend safely to the ground.

His movements were crisp, fluid, and executed with an effortless grace.

Landing with calm composure, Green Arrow stood expressionless. He faced Otto from a measured distance, his voice low and resolute as he delivered an iconic line:

"Otto, you've betrayed this city."

"Wow, he even has a dramatic opening line? And it exactly like in the comics!!"

Eddie clearly captured Green Arrow words on camera. His mind immediately linked it to the novels and comics about Green Arrow he'd read, and everything seemed to click.

For a moment, his thoughts raced uncontrollably, jumping from the founding of DC Comics to Batman...

"No way…"

His face turned pale as a possibility—one that seemed to already be reality—took root in his mind, stirring an enormous emotional upheaval.

Eddie was, after all, a fan of DC Comics. He'd read many of their works, including everything from Batman, Superman, and Green Arrow to The Flash, Constantine, and Wonder Woman. He was familiar with all the series produced by DC, both online and in print.

Even if some weren't his favorites, he couldn't deny his familiarity with them.

After all, he was a media professional.

But today, what he never imagined was that a fantasy had seemingly stepped into reality. Green Arrow himself was standing right in front of him, delivering that iconic, widely-recognized line beloved by Green Arrow fans.

Would this mean other heroes, like Superman or The Flash, would also start appearing one after another?

What about Cyborg?

Lately, Cyborg had been one of the hottest heroes under the DC brand, second only to Batman.

Even the Green Arrow standing before him didn't have as much buzz as Cyborg, especially among African-American communities.

That aside, Eddie wasn't the only one paying attention. In the hushed environment, others also heard Green Arrow gravelly, iconic words.

Some stared at the green-clad figure and gasped audibly.

"Green Arrow!"

They, too, recognized the man.

That line was simply too memorable.

Among DC Comics fans, almost everyone knew Green Arrow as a hero riding on Batman popularity.

And his tagline was just as famous.

Many fans joked that while Green Arrow might not rival Batman in strength, his sheer presence—thanks to that line—was on par with the Dark Knight.

Now, seeing the man in the green suit, people quickly connected the dots to the Green Arrow of DC lore.

Shock filled their faces.

They couldn't help but think of DC various intellectual properties and fictional heroes.

After all, Batman was one of them.

As the most prominent superhero in America, journalists naturally dug into Batman association with DC Comics.

Technically speaking, Batman as a character only existed because Anton had created him for a film. People had initially believed Batman was just a cosplay vigilante.

But as Anton cleared his name, people began to accept the idea that Batman was a character who had stepped into reality.

And now, with Green Arrow appearing in a similar fashion, questions arose.

Would the other DC heroes, one by one, also come to life in this world?

The thought thrilled many.

Some were so excited they nearly forgot the precarious situation they were in.

"Betrayed this city?"

Otto heard Green Arrow words, and the rage already simmering within him erupted, consuming every corner of his mind.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The mechanical arms on his back lashed out in a storm, targeting Green Arrow with relentless speed and ferocity.

Green Arrow quickly retreated, drawing arrow after arrow from his quiver with astonishing speed, firing them to clash against the oncoming mechanical limbs.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Boom!

Explosive-tipped arrows failed to damage the mechanical arms. Net arrows couldn't restrain them either.

Even when Green Arrow switched to acidic and corrosive arrows, the metallic limbs remained unaffected.

Internally, Green Arrow counterpart—carrying all of Anton memories—felt a twinge of unease.

Looking closer at the arms' outer casing, he noticed something unusual.

Vibranium?

The thought flashed through his mind.

With Stark Industries' resources, obtaining a small amount of vibranium—rare as it was—wasn't out of the question.

The battle raged on.

Otto couldn't land a hit on Green Arrow, but Green Arrow arrows seemed equally incapable of harming Otto.

The intelligence of the mechanical arms was extraordinary.

Each of the four limbs had a camera embedded in its "hand," enabling them to track the direction of any incoming arrows instantly.

No matter the angle, there was no escaping their sight.

"Looks like that guy having a hard time taking Otto down," Anton remarked.

Not far away, Anton and Tony watched the fight with great interest.

The reporters recorded every second of the thrilling battle, marveling at the display of skill and silently hoping the clash would last longer.

Unfortunately for them, Otto patience was running thin.

Grinding his teeth, he advanced on Green Arrow. As he closed the distance, his face twisted into a cruel grin.

"I'm about to tear you apart!"

As the words fell, Otto noticed that the man in front of him showed no sign of panic.

There wasn't the slightest trace of tension in his demeanor. Instead, the man wore a smile—not cruel, but cold as ice.

"You think…"

Green Arrow spoke slowly. "Your opponent… is only me?"

"What?"

Otto eyes widened.

The cameras on his mechanical arms captured a meteor-like figure streaking across the sky.

He turned to look.

Boom!

A silver figure descended from the heavens, its metallic surface gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The shockwaves generated by breaking the sound barrier exploded outward, sending waves of force rippling through the air.

Manhattan Bridge.

Hudson River.

Near the experimental platform.

Everyone witnessing this divine-like arrival was uniformly dumbfounded.

There wasn't a single person who didn't recognize the figure that had just appeared.

This protagonist—no, this hero—was currently starring in a movie that was still dominating box offices.

Even Tony, who usually avoided all this superhero-related chaos, recognized him immediately.

After all, he had seen the movie.

Victor Stone!

No—he should be called Cyborg!

Tony mind raced, connecting the dots. Suddenly, he recalled how Anton had dragged him away earlier. Turning abruptly, he stared at the well-known film director standing next to him, a look of realization dawning on his face.

"Anton… you knew something, didn't you?"

For what felt like the hundredth time, Tony gritted his teeth, feeling as though he'd been played for laughs.

"Tony, you can't just throw around accusations!"

Anton denied it flatly, his voice full of feigned innocence. "I'm just a filmmaker. What could I possibly know? I know nothing!"