Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
The New York City skyline sprawls beneath us, a jagged tapestry of lights against the inky canvas of the night. Gwen sits on the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling, a large pizza box resting beside her. The aroma of pepperoni and melted cheese drifts in the cool air, a stark contrast to the city's usual blend of exhaust and something vaguely…fishy.
Then, a blur of red and blue silhouetted against the moon. Thwip. A webline sings, followed by a graceful arc, and Spider-Man lands lightly beside her, crouching low before straightening. He is a sight.
"Hey, you made it!" Gwen says, her smile radiant as always.
"Wouldn't miss pizza night with my favorite rooftop companion," Peter says, his voice muffled by the mask.
"Smooth, Parker, real smooth," Gwen retorts, playfully nudging his arm. "Almost as smooth as that landing. You're getting good at this whole superhero thing."
"All thanks to the suit," Peter says, striking a pose. "Seriously, though, you should see what I started with. It was, uh… something."
I remember when Peter showed us his first attempt. Bright red and blue spandex suit. Big, buggy eyes. A spider logo that looked like it had been drawn by a kindergartner. He looked like a toddler drew all over him. He sure has come a long way.
"Yeah, well, thank Ethan for that," Gwen says, gesturing to the sleek, form-fitting suit. The colors are vibrant, the web pattern intricate, the spider emblem striking. Ethan really outdid himself with the design. The kid has a knack for this stuff.
Peter sighs. "True. That was before he had anything to do with this."
"Anyway, you must be starving," Gwen says, opening the pizza box. The cheesy aroma intensifies, filling the air. "Pepperoni, just the way you like it."
"You know me too well," Peter says, eagerly grabbing a slice. He devours it in a few bites. "This is exactly what I needed. Patrol's been… well, patrol. Cat out of a tree, purse snatched, the usual."
"Did you at least save a kid from getting hit by a bus?" Gwen asks, her eyes twinkling.
Peter grins. "Actually, yeah. Little Timmy was chasing his balloon. Good thing I was there."
"See? Making a difference, one neighborhood at a time," Gwen says, taking a slice herself. She chews thoughtfully, her brow furrowing slightly. "Hey, did you hear from Ethan today? I haven't been able to reach him since he went to Oscorp this morning."
Peter's expression clouds over. "No, I haven't. That's… not like him. He usually checks in, even if it's just a stupid meme."
"I know, right? I texted him a bunch of times, but nothing. I'm starting to get worried," Gwen admits, her voice laced with concern.
"He probably just got caught up in something," Peter says, trying to sound reassuring. "You know Ethan. He can handle himself. He has those weird cats. Seriously. What are those things? Still wrapping my head around the whole Digimon thing."
Gwen sighs. "I know, I know. But still… Oscorp's been a mess lately. And after what Harry said…"
Peter reaches out, placing a hand on her arm. "Hey, don't worry. He's probably just hacking into their mainframe or something. You know, Ethan things. He is resourceful."
Suddenly, a deafening crash echoes from the streets below, shattering the fragile peace of our rooftop sanctuary. The building shakes.
"What the hell was that?" Peter says, leaping to his feet, his Spider-Man senses tingling.
We rush to the edge of the roof and peer down. The sight below is anything but reassuring. Cars are overturned, streetlights are shattered, and panicked civilians are fleeing in terror. And at the center of it all, a monstrous figure rampages through the streets.
It is huge, hulking, and radiating a palpable aura of menace. Its skin is a sickly green, its eyes glow with fiery orange intensity, and sharp horns protrude from its forehead. It is like a demon.
Peter stares at the chaos below, his face grim. "What the heck is that thing?" he mutters, his tone a mix of disbelief and exasperation. He looks back at the pizza and then back down to the streets. The pizza is forgotten. "Looks like patrol just got a whole lot more complicated."
He turns to Gwen, his expression serious. "I gotta go. Stay here. Stay safe."
Gwen nods, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "Be careful, Peter. And kick his ass for me."
"Always," Peter says, a wry smile beneath his mask. He gives her a quick nod, then turns and dives off the roof, launching a webline and swinging into the night.
I watch him go, a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. This is bad, really bad.
I head for the emergency stairs, my mind racing. I need to get down there. I need to see what's happening.
As Spider-Man swings through the city, homing in on the source of the destruction, he sees the Green Demon grab a car. He crushes the hood. He throws it down the street.
Inside the car, trapped and terrified, is Harry Osborn.
"Not on my watch," Spider-Man says, his voice grim.
He shoots a webline, swinging down and landing directly in front of the careening vehicle, just in time to dig his feet into the asphalt. The car comes to a screeching halt, inches from impact.
"You okay in there?" Spider-Man shouts, yanking the driver's side door open.
A dazed and shaken Harry Osborn stumbles out, coughing and clutching his arm. "Spider-Man? What the…"
"No time for questions," Spider-Man says, grabbing Harry's arm and pulling him away from the wrecked car. "Get out of here! This isn't a safe place to be."
"But what about…" Harry protests, glancing back at the car.
"Just go! I'll handle this," Spider-Man says, giving Harry a firm shove in the direction of safety. "Now!"
Harry hesitates for a moment, then nods and sprints away, disappearing into the fleeing crowd. "Thanks, Spider-Man! I owe you one!"
With Harry safe, Spider-Man turns to face the Green Demon, who stands a few yards away, his fiery eyes burning with malice.
"Alright, buddy," I say, cracking my knuckles, trying to project confidence I don't entirely feel. "Name's Spider-Man. I'm pretty sure you're parked in a 'no crushing cars' zone. Also, your complexion? Needs work. I prescribe a week in the Bahamas."
The big, green brute just stares at me, a grotesque grin spreading across his face. "Charming," he snarls, his voice a gravelly rumble that seems to vibrate through the very air. "But I'm afraid I'm not here for a vacation, Spider-Man. I'm here for…evolution."
He takes a step forward, and I tense, ready to dodge. He seems way bigger than anyone I have fought. And meaner.
"Evolution? Last time I checked, evolution didn't involve smashing up perfectly good sedans. Seems more like… devolution, am I right?" I shoot a web at him, hoping to slow him down, but he just swats it away like it's a pesky fly.
Okay, this is new.
He chuckles, a chilling sound that raises the hairs on the back of my neck. "You think you understand, little spider? You think this is about petty crime? About power? You are so adorably naive."
He takes another step, and I feel a tremor in the ground. This guy is strong, way stronger than anything I've ever faced. I mean, yeah, I've tangled with some tough customers, but this is a whole different league.
"Oh, I get it," I say, trying to buy myself some time. "You're one of those 'world domination' types. Always a classic. Just wondering if you have dental."
His eyes narrow, and for a moment, I see something flicker within their fiery depths. Something…intelligent. Twisted, yes, but undeniably intelligent.
"You mistake me, insect," he says, his voice dropping to a low, menacing growl. "This city, this world… it's all a stage. And I'm here to direct the next act. An act of… transformation."
He raises a hand, and Goblin Fire flickers into existence, bathing his face in an eerie orange glow.
"The curtain is about to rise, Spider-Man. And you…you have a front-row seat."
My spider-sense is screaming, blaring warning signals that I can barely process. This is beyond anything I have ever faced.
"Then let's see if your show is any good," I say, shooting two web lines at his feet. "Because I'm a pretty tough critic."
The Green Goblin roars and lunges, his clawed hand outstretched.
This is going to hurt.
***
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