After stepping out of a hot shower in his hotel room, Su Zhan felt the tension of the night begin to melt away, the soothing water washing away the frustration of the chaotic battles he'd just endured. He had set out that evening simply to relax, but instead, he'd been swept into a whirlwind of misunderstandings and unexpected fights-first with Invisible Woman, Susan Storm, and then, inexplicably, with Spider-Man. Although Su Zhan had won both encounters-and won them with relative ease-he couldn't shake a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.
He glanced at Susan, still unconscious in the other room, then poured himself a glass of red wine and settled onto the sofa. As he sipped, his mind replayed the two battles. Victory had come easily enough, but he realized his own attack methods were still too limited. Neither Susan nor Spider-Man were close-combat specialists, nor were they the most powerful superheroes he might face. As a result, his Extremis-enhanced abilities hadn't been truly tested. The pyrokinesis he'd acquired was useful, but it was more about manipulating existing flames than generating overwhelming firepower. If he hadn't combined his raw physical strength with the flames, he might not have been able to break through Susan's psionic force field at all.
The sound wave ability he'd absorbed was decent, but it lacked flair and spectacle. How many main characters in the Marvel universe relied on shouting to win their battles? Even compared to the most verbose villains, it just wasn't impressive.
"I need something a bit more eye-catching," Su Zhan mused, swirling the wine in his glass. He thought about how Spider-Man had ended up battered, and how Susan was now in his care. This situation was bound to attract attention. Should he expect someone to come to Susan's rescue? Even if it was all a misunderstanding, it wasn't a bad opportunity to test himself further.
Who would Spider-Man contact first? S.H.I.E.L.D.? The Avenger? Or perhaps the Fantastic Four? The latter seemed most likely-Susan was one of them, and from Spider-Man's words, it sounded like he was on good terms with the Human Torch. Susan was Johnny Storm's older sister, and Johnny's impulsive nature meant he'd probably come charging in for a fight, not a conversation.
Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, could generate flames exceeding a thousand degrees, fly, and unleash powerful fire attacks. He was immune to fire, and his flames were self-sustaining-they didn't need oxygen and couldn't be extinguished by water. In terms of fire-based powers, Johnny was near the top of the Marvel hierarchy.
After absorbing Extremis, Su Zhan had considered focusing on developing his fire abilities. With pyrokinesis already in his arsenal, he'd planned to seek out a certain Hong Kong superhuman in the future to gain the ability to generate flames. That power, while useful, wasn't as overwhelming as the Human Torch's. Johnny Storm was always on his list, but now, it seemed the order of his plans would have to change.
"I wonder if my pyrokinesis can control Johnny's flames," Su Zhan mused, swirling his wine and waiting patiently.
Sure enough, across town, Spider-Man was nursing his injuries on a hotel rooftop. He dialed Johnny Storm's number, knowing exactly who to call for help.
"Johnny, your sister's been taken by a guy named Su Zhan. I've found his location, but he's really strong. I tried fighting him, but I couldn't get Susan out," Spider-Man explained.
Johnny Storm was at a bar when he got the call. He had been about to invite Spider-Man to join him for a drink, but the news wiped the smile from his face.
"What? You said Susan was taken? Where is he? I'm on my way!" Johnny demanded, getting the address from Spider-Man and preparing to leave.
His date pouted, "Leaving already? I thought you wanted to stay with me a bit longer."
Johnny flashed her with a confident grin. "Don't worry, babe. Anyone who messes with the Fantastic Four is asking for trouble. I'll be back before you know it, and then we'll pick up where we left off." With that, Johnny stepped outside, his body igniting in a burst of flames as he soared into the sky, leaving a trail of fire and a chorus of gasps behind him.
Back at the hotel, Spider-Man watched from the rooftop as a streak of fire blazed across the city. Johnny landed beside him, radiating heat and impatience.
"Where is he?" I can't wait to show this guy what happens when you cross the Fantastic Four," Johnny said, fists blazing.
"He's in room nineteen of this hotel," Spider-Man replied. "But be careful, Johnny. He can control fire-it might counter your powers."
Johnny scoffed; his confidence unshakable. "My fire? No one can control that but me!" With a leap, he soared up to the nineteenth floor, peering through the window. Inside, he saw Susan lying unconscious and Su Zhan sitting calmly on the sofa, sipping wine.
"That must be him!" Johnny declared, bursting through the window in a shower of glass and flame.
Su Zhan didn't even flinch. "So, you must be the Human Torch," he said, setting his wine aside.
Johnny's eyes blazed. "You're Su Zhan? You kidnapped my sister and picked a fight with the Fantastic Four?"
Su Zhan shrugged. "This is all a misunderstanding."
"I don't care if it's a misunderstanding. After I teach you a lesson, you can explain yourself!" Johnny shouted, unleashing a torrent of fire at Su Zhan.
Su Zhan dodged effortlessly, the flames incinerating the sofa behind him. Johnny didn't let up, sending wave after wave of fire at Su Zhan, who continued to evade with ease. But as he moved, a sly smile crept onto Su Zhan's lips. Johnny Storm, so self-assured and reckless, had fallen right into his trap-step by step, just as Su Zhan had planned.