Marvel: Ned the Master of Mystic Arts

"Listen up, people inside! You're facing Captain Stacy of the NYPD! I advise you to surrender immediately! Otherwise, I guarantee you'll see your own brains splattered!"

"Damn it! Why the hell did those damn New York cops respond so quickly?"

Inside the bank, a robber wearing a hood and clutching a large bag of cash cursed angrily as he heard the voice from outside.

"How the hell would I know?"

His accomplice, also panicking from the intense situation, snapped back before decisively tossing the bag of cash to the ground. He then grabbed a bank employee, pressed a handgun against her neck, and threatened her:

"If you want to live, cooperate with me! Otherwise, you'll meet your dear God before I do!"

"Okay! Okay!"

The female employee, already terrified out of her mind, nodded repeatedly without thinking, her survival instincts kicking in.

"What's the situation inside? Can the tactical team handle this?"

Equipped in full gear, George Stacy stood beside a police car with a grim expression as he questioned an officer.

As it happened, these unlucky robbers had chosen the worst possible time for their crime—just when Captain Stacy, fresh off a mission at the bridge, was nearby.

Still fuming over his failure to capture Spider-Man, Stacy became even more furious upon hearing about a bank robbery in his jurisdiction. He immediately rallied dozens of heavily armed officers, initially prepped for Spider-Man and Lizard, and surrounded the bank completely.

"These guys are just small-time crooks, only three or four of them with handguns. If it were a direct confrontation, I guarantee our guys could send them to hell in a second," the officer responded. "But with the walls as cover and several bank employees being held hostage, we're limited in what we can do."

"Damn it! Get the snipers in position. If there's an opening, don't hesitate—take the shot!"

Stacy barked his orders. "And have the tactical team move closer. Wait for my signal."

"Captain?"

The officer hesitated, stunned by Stacy's apparent disregard for the hostages.

"Do as I say, kid."

Stacy's tone was icy.

"Yes, sir!"

"Snipers in position! SWAT, move in!"

"What do we do now?"

One of the four robbers inside, sweating profusely, asked his accomplices.

"We've got hostages. What are you afraid of?"

Another robber sneered.

"We all know that if we push them too hard, those guys outside won't care about the hostages!"

Another accomplice analyzed the situation nervously.

"What else can we do? From the moment we stepped into this bank, there was no turning back. Even if we surrender now, those bastards outside won't let us off easy. Might as well take them all to hell with us," said what appeared to be the leader, his tone cold and resolute. "At least we've got some 'high-class company' to keep us from going down alone."

Hearing this, the other robbers turned their eyes toward the group of well-dressed "successful types" crouched on the ground, trembling in fear.

"Honestly, I'm impressed by you guys."

Just as the robbers seemed ready for a deadly standoff, a flippant voice echoed through the hall. A figure wearing a terrifying demon-like mask suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Shit!"

"Damn it!"

The robbers were startled, shouting curses as they immediately pointed their guns at the intruder.

"Wow, wow, wow, you guys really scared me."

The masked figure, Mystic Sorcerer, remained utterly unfazed by the robbers. Suddenly, the Infinity Gauntlet appeared on his right hand. He raised it confidently...

...only for his expression to change into one of confusion.

"Huh?"

Ned stared at his hand, puzzled. The Mind Stone, usually his trump card, seemed completely unresponsive. It felt like nothing more than an ordinary rock, no matter how much he tried to activate it.

"Die, you bastard!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Just as Ned was trying to figure out what went wrong, one of the robbers yelled furiously and began firing his gun wildly.

The moment the trigger was pulled, Ned's demeanor shifted.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

His body began to fade, becoming transparent. The bullets passed harmlessly through him, hitting the wall behind him instead.

"Ahhh!"

Unfortunately, one unlucky hostage got grazed in the chaos.

"Damn it! Move in!"

Hearing gunfire from inside, Captain Stacy roared in anger, assuming the robbers were executing hostages. He immediately ordered the tactical team to storm the building.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The robbers, now witnessing their bullets pass straight through Ned without leaving a scratch, were terrified. They screamed curses as they fired recklessly, ignoring both the hostages and the advancing tactical team.

Realizing that his intangible form could cause more collateral damage, Ned decided to switch tactics. He formed a seal with his hands, then crossed them over his chest.

A shimmering golden shield appeared around him, etched with mysterious runes. The robbers' bullets bounced harmlessly off its surface, scattering sparks.

"Haah!"

With a low shout, Ned formed another hand seal, disappearing just as the tactical team burst into the room. In the chaos, he casually picked up one of the robbers' cash bags and disappeared with it.

Oh, and the moment he grabbed the money, it vanished into the Mirror Dimension, so no one even noticed.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The tactical team showed no mercy. A volley of gunfire later, the robbers lay lifeless, riddled with bullets.

"Step. Step. Step."

Amidst the chaos, Captain George Stacy strode into the bank. He scanned the scene, noting that apart from one injured man, all the hostages were safe. A satisfied smile crossed his face.

Meanwhile, the tall officer who had previously delivered Stacy's orders discreetly approached the corpse of the gang leader. Staring at the lifeless body, he muttered dramatically, "I told you, you'd see your own brains."

"Alright, this was a successful hostage rescue and takedown operation. Let's wrap it up!"

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