When Tony Stark arrived at the State Park Mining Tunnel, the scene before him was chaotic.
The security personnel who were supposed to guard the entrance were all missing, and the ground was covered in blood. Everywhere he looked, signs of destruction were evident.
"So, can someone explain what happened here?" Tony asked the representatives from Warren Mining Company.
Danforth, the president of Warren Mining Company, stood beside Tony, hanging up his phone.
"Our people are missing," Danforth replied calmly.
Tony was surprised by how composed he seemed. "Let's assume the worst happened and something terrible happened to these security personnel," Danforth added, glancing over at the sealed tunnel entrance.
Tony took off his sunglasses and, clearly dissatisfied, asked, "You deployed so many security personnel here, even mercenaries, and now after something like this happens, you're telling me you have no idea what happened?"
Danforth shrugged, his expression one of resignation. "As much as it pains me to say it, that's the reality. All the surveillance systems we installed have failed. Our ears and eyes are blind, so we have no useful information."
"The surveillance systems failed?" Tony repeated, now more concerned. "Does this mean someone else is eyeing this place?"
He looked around, his suspicion growing. Who else could have noticed this?
"Of course not," Danforth responded quickly.
---
Meanwhile, Peter had also discovered something troubling. His Gem Wasp monitor had malfunctioned near the entrance to the copper mine tunnel. Upon arriving at the scene, he immediately recognized the signs of something sinister—a strong smell of blood and clear indications that the people who were there had met their end.
He quickly called Helen to confirm whether she was involved.
"It wasn't me," Helen replied firmly. "After all, we're a team now. Even though I don't agree with some of your actions, I would have informed you if I planned something."
Peter pressed her further, but she continued, "Things related to vampires are generally handled by a few groups—either the Vampire Queen or the mysterious vampires who control New York's underground. Maybe you should check with them."
After ending the call with Helen, Peter put down his phone. Almost immediately, it vibrated again. It was a message from Gwen.
"Hey, Gwen," Peter said, answering the call.
"Hi, Peter," Gwen responded, sounding cheerful. "Where are you?"
"I'm at home. What's up?" Peter asked.
"I was thinking we could go out for coffee or maybe a root beer," Gwen suggested. "Tomorrow's a big day with the band, so I want to relax a bit."
Peter thought for a moment, then agreed. "Sure, where do you want to go?"
---
The next day, at the Metropolitan Theater in New York, Gwen stood backstage, glancing nervously at the audience.
"Honestly, I feel a little dizzy," Gwen admitted to Glory, her voice filled with anxiety. "It's like I'm on a road crowded with cars, but they're all stuck and I can't move."
Glory, who was busy checking herself in a mirror, barely noticed. "I'm not nervous. I was born for big moments," she said, dismissing Gwen's concerns. The sound of the crowd entering the theater filled the air.
Glory glanced at a nearby poster, which featured Felicia Hardy. Dressed in a rock-style yellow skirt, sunglasses, and surrounded by several black cats dressed in punk clothing, she sat sideways on a chair. The poster's tagline read, "Felicia Hardy and her secrets."
"This poster is great," Glory remarked sarcastically. "Could it be that Felicia has revealed her true colors? Maybe her secret is that she's a glutton, devouring the entire art world?"
Gwen didn't respond immediately, focusing instead on her nerves. "You don't like Felicia Hardy, do you?" she asked Glory, still clearly worried about the upcoming performance.
Glory denied it immediately. "No, of course not," she said, though her tone was uncertain.
Betty, standing nearby, couldn't resist adding her own opinion. "Glory always said Felicia's just a brainless singer with a voice that sounds like the devil tuning his farts."
Glory looked defeated, realizing Betty was right. "Okay, I did say that, but she's also a type of person we can't ignore—she's a winner."
Her eyes drifted towards Betty's head, where Betty was wearing a cartoon-style hat that didn't quite fit the rock-and-roll theme of the night. Glory sighed but quickly refocused. "I don't care why we're here tonight. All I know is that Felicia gave us a chance, and we're going to make the most of it."
---
Meanwhile, in her VIP box, Black Cat—wearing a lavender wig—scanned the audience with a telescope, searching for Peter. After a while, she sighed in frustration. "Well, maybe now isn't the best time to enter."
She muttered a few words in French under her breath before putting away the telescope. She had been hoping to spot Peter, but it seemed he hadn't arrived yet, which left her feeling disappointed.
"I even prepared an encore segment," she muttered to herself, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. She wasn't sure if it would ever be needed, but it was ready.
---
Backstage, Gwen nervously checked her phone once again. She had just called Peter and was growing anxious as he hadn't arrived yet.
Peter, on the other hand, was caught up in the trouble near the mining tunnel. The Gem Wasp had detected something, and Peter had to address it before heading to Gwen's performance, which delayed him further.
"I'm running into some trouble, but it's nothing serious. I'll be there soon," he texted Gwen, hoping she would understand.
Gwen, now relieved, refocused on the performance ahead. The lights on stage suddenly came on, flooding the entire venue in warmth. The audience erupted in cheers, eager to see the star of the night—Felicia Hardy.
"Hello, New York City! I'm Felicia Hardy!" she shouted, standing center stage in a purple skirt, avant-garde sunglasses, and silver heels.
The audience responded with a roar of approval, and Gwen, along with the rest of the band, stood backstage, awestruck by Felicia's dazzling presence. Gwen couldn't help but think that Felicia, in her current image, was even more captivating than her usual Black Cat persona.
Betty leaned over to Gwen and Glory, whispering, "I can't believe she has it all."
Glory, still in shock from Felicia's entrance, leaned in and whispered, "Maybe she thinks she's the star of an animated show."
As the audience's cheers died down, Felicia gestured to her backup band, who were all dressed in black cat costumes and masks.
"These are my black cats!" she announced, her voice carrying over the crowd.
The crowd cheered even louder as she continued, "I'm so grateful to be here with my friends, with my family. We're here together, knowing that this moment, or any moment, could be our last. But…" she raised the microphone, turning up her voice, "we'll never stop dancing."
With that, the drums kicked in, and the rock performance officially began. Gwen, now fully engaged, focused on the rhythm, ready to give it her all.
---