Black_Paladyn
patreon
Marvel: King of The Swarm Chapter 56: Silver (II)
🕑 Added 2025-07-06 15:23:26 +0000 UTCSilvija stared at Harry for a long moment before she laughed, "I did not realize you were a fan of jokes, Mr. Osborn. You should consider comedy, I believe you would do quite well."
"It wasn't a joke, Ms. Sablinova, while I may not act like it or promote it very often, I am a very jealous and greedy person. I don't like to share or cooperate unless absolutely necessary. And I must say you are anything but necessary." Harry spat the lines of his face hardening as he stared at Silvija, "You seem to forget, or at least hoped that I would, that currently, Ascend Agencies is a subsidiary of Oscorp, one of the richest companies in the world. That alone is enough of a deterrent for most, and if we truly needed an armed force, we would simply buy one. And let me clarify that I saw we, because one day I will inherit Oscorp and all of its money, influence, and power. So perhaps it's in your best interest that you leave now, because in addition to being jealous and greedy, I've got a great memory and believe me, a couple of years from now I won't forget this meeting of ours."
Despite Harry's threat, Silvija didn't react in the least as she stared into Harry's amber colored eyes, "So young, yet so arrogant. Your father had coddled you, spoiled you with delusions of grandeur. You believe that because you have money, you are invincible. Yet here we are alone in your office with no security around. I imagine after this meeting, you'll consider changing that...if you make it out of this meeting."
Madison bristled behind Harry, who remained silent as Silvija continued, "You rely on pulling levers of power and buying others to do your dirty work and carry out your threats. You lack the spine, the grit to do anything that involves both hands because you've never been tested, pushed in a scenario where you can only rely on yourself."
A heartbeat passed in silence as Silvija's scorning words lingered in the air.
"Is that your assessment of me?" Harry asked as he leaned back in his chair, "That I'm incapable of accomplishing anything without leaning on my father's legacy or someone holding my hand?"
"Da," Silvija answered in Russian with a small sneer.
"And how confident are you in that assessment? What would you bet on it?" Harry asked as his eyes gleamed while setting out the bait.
Instantly smelling opportunity in the water, Silvija honed in on Harry's words, "Are you proposing a wager?"
"I am," Harry confirmed, "You think I can't do anything with my hands, I beg to differ. If I prove you wrong, Silver Sable Industries joins Ascend Agencies. If you prove me wrong, I'll augment all of your soldiers free of charge."
"Harry!" Madison exclaimed, unable to hold herself back any longer, but before she could say anything, Silvija jumped on the offer, "I accept, and since you're the one issuing the challenge, it's only fair that I set the terms."
Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I have no problem with that."
"Harry!" Madison shouted again, but both he and Silvija ignored her.
"Then here are the terms, you and I will fight barehanded, the first to land three clean blows or get the other to submit will be the winner," Silvija's predatory smile returned with a vengeance as she stood up from her seat, "I understand if you need time to preare-"
"Not at all," Harry replied as he stood up as well, much to Madison's dismay, "There's a recreational center on the fifth floor that has all the space we need, we can head there right now and get this business done with."
"Hmmm, perfect," Silvija purred as she stared at Harry with gleaming eyes.
---
"Are you out of your mind?!" Madison hissed, staring at Harry with a look that could kill, "Did you even read the file I sent you?!"
"Of course I did," Harry replied as he rolled his shoulders and neck.
"Well, clearly not well enough, because if you had, you would have seen the section that says Silvija's mercenary name is Silver Sable, and all of the jobs she's done around the globe, and those are just the ones we know about," Madison stressed, "She's an expert fighter who started her training when she was a child taught by her father who was a professional nazi hunter!"
"Stop telling me what I already know," Harry muttered as he glanced over at Silvija, who stood on the other side of the sparing mat and was likewise warming up. She had discarded her jacket and most of her clothes to reveal a silver sports bra and a pair of similarly colored leggings. It was obvious from Silvija's physique that she had been physically active for most of her life, with well-defined muscles and very little fat around her stomach, leaving her abs visible even without actively flexing them. But even more impressive were Silvija's legs, with large, powerful thighs and an matching ass that looked both firm and soft to the touch.
"I just don't understand how you can possibly see this going your way," Madison continued, trying everything in her power to convince Harry to back down.
"That's because you don't know everything about me," Harry replied with a grin that made Madison pause as in the matter of a second it felt as if she was looking at an entirely new person, "And neither does she."
"Reconsidering our wager?" Silvija asked from across the mat as she took a step forward, "I hoped you would at least have the courage to honor the agreement you proposed."
"Of course not," Harry replied as he reached up and took off his glasses, "I'm just telling Madison that she needs to prepare for our sudden increase in staff."
Setting his glasses down, Harry then took off his lab coat, followed by his shoes and socks, leaving him barefoot in a pair of slacks and a white tank top.
Silvija's gaze narrowed as she stared at Harry and found an unexpected sight. Instead of a tall, wiry frame, Harry's torso was sculpted by muscle, giving him wide, broad, rounded shoulders, long arms with sturdy-looking wrists and forearms, while his thick biceps and triceps pressed large vascular veins against his marble skin.
But Harry's physique wasn't enough to sway Silvija; she had faced far stronger opponents with far more training than Harry could ever hope to emulate. But then her gaze moved from Harry's body back to his face, and for a moment, Silvija froze.
Stepping onto the mat, Harry bounced on the balls of his feet as his heart pounded in his ears, the vibrations causing his grin to broaden, revealing the gleaming whites of his teeth, 'I didn't think I would get this excited...but it has been a while since I've let loose. Been so wrapped up with managing the Swarm, my Chosen, and running Ascend...I'll have to keep reminding myself that I can't kill her here.'
Silvija felt a wave of pins and needles wash over her entire body as she stared into Harry's amber eyes, looking for the naive and growing man-child that had been present in the office, 'How did I not see it? How was it not there?'
"First to three hits or submission right?" Harry asked almost cheerfully as he stopped bouncing and came to a rest on the mat, staring Silvija down, who only nodded once, "Great, Madison, if you would be so kind as to give us a countdown."
Shaking her head to clear the rampant thoughts from her mind, Madison stared at Harry's back for a long moment before speaking, "On my mark..."
Raising her hands, Silvija settled into what appeared to be a modified boxing stance, with her feet staggered but dropped far lower with a heavy bend in her knees. Harry responded in kind, spreading his feet apart in a wide stance with his fists lowered, leaving his front deceivingly open. Silvija frowned as she failed to recognize the stance, but before she could question it any further, Madison's voice rang out, "Fight!"
