To deceive a cosmic entity like the Spider Totem, a great deal of preparation was necessary. The key was to create a near-perfect mystical duplicate of a valid host. The irradiated spider was the primary catalyst, but the intersection of fate with the true host, Gwen Stacy, was just as crucial.
The spider in Amon's hand moved, slowly crawling onto the arm of the clone that now wore Gwen's face. It opened its fanged mouthparts and bit down hard. In that instant, the monocles worn by both Amon and his clone flared with an unnatural light. The "Error" was activated. The clone now looked identical to Gwen Stacy, shared a stolen thread of her fate, and had just experienced the same spider bite. The mystical similarities were now overwhelming.
Before the clone's eyes, the fabric of reality seemed to tear, revealing a cosmic tapestry of shimmering threads. A great web, impossibly vast, stretched into infinity, each strand connecting to a different world, a different reality.
"Found it," Amon whispered, his lips curling into a smile. His eyes hazed over, complex symbols shaped like doors appearing in his pupils as he recorded the information flooding his senses. With a firm shove, Amon sent his clone plunging into the endless web he now observed.
"You're so rude!" the clone's indignant voice echoed for a moment before fading into the cosmic expanse.
"Now, let's explore this properly," Amon mused to himself with a low laugh. "A very interesting construction. Perhaps I can reference this Spider Totem to create a totem of my own. But to do so, I will need a cornerstone. Where to find one...?"
While Amon contemplated his next grand project, Gwen, in another testing room, felt a sudden, bizarre lurch. A frantic buzzing filled her skull—her spider-sense screaming a warning—and then, just as quickly, it vanished. It was replaced by a profound and unnerving emptiness, as if for a split second, she had been completely disconnected from the world, a ghost in her own reality. The feeling passed as quickly as it came, leaving her breathless.
This was the aftereffect of having a piece of one's destiny stolen. If a person's fate were completely stolen, they would become a phantom, their connections to the real world severed one by one until they simply faded away. People they knew would no longer recognize them, their past would vanish, and the thief would seamlessly take their place. Gwen's nascent spider-sense had allowed her to feel the brief, terrifying anomaly.
"Haha... huh!" Gwen gasped, taking two sharp breaths. Peter, standing beside her, looked concerned.
"Gwen, what's wrong? Is the test too intense?"
Gwen patted her chest, steadying her breathing. "No, the test is fine. It's just... I felt very strange just now. Like I was abandoned by the world."
"Are you okay?" Peter asked, his eyes wide as he looked at the barbell Gwen had just casually lifted. It had to weigh several hundred kilograms.
"If this equipment doesn't meet your requirements, we also have testing apparatus specifically designed for high-level strength," Klein said, stepping forward. "Please, follow me." He led Gwen and Peter to another, even more impressive-looking device.
Peter stared at it and couldn't help but complain, "Is this supposed to be the Sword in the Stone?" Before them was a massive platform with a giant sword embedded in it. Only the hilt was exposed, making it look exactly like the legendary weapon from Arthurian myth.
"Do you want me to pull this sword out?" Gwen asked.
Klein nodded. "This is a device for testing pulling force. You just need to stand on the platform and pull upward. The instrument on the side will record your maximum output. It can measure a force of up to one hundred tons. I believe that should be sufficient to test your strength."
"One hundred tons? Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?" Peter couldn't imagine anyone having that kind of power.
Gwen hopped lightly onto the platform. She rubbed her hands together, gripped the hilt, and then said with a playful grin, "If I pull this out, does that mean King Arthur was actually a girl?"
Peter immediately shot back, "What would that mean for Lancelot? Would he be unable to love his king?"
"Perhaps King Arthur was just a big eater," Klein added dryly. "And ate all of Britain."
"Your version of history is a little too wild," Gwen laughed. Ignoring their banter, she took a deep breath and pulled upward with all her might. The giant sword slowly began to rise. Peter watched the numbers climb on the digital display, his jaw slackening.
"One ton... two tons... three... seven... nine... fourteen tons!" he read aloud, his voice cracking. "Are you kidding me? How are the numbers so high?" He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Hah!" Gwen grunted, and the platform beneath her feet groaned. The sword was pulled out another section. The numbers on the display spiked violently before falling back, the peak remaining frozen on the screen: 43 tons.
Gwen released the hilt, jumped off the platform, and walked over to Peter. "So, how did I do?" she asked.
Peter gently pinched her slender arm. "It's not even that thick," he said in amazement. "How did you generate so much power?"
Klein walked over and explained, "Your baseline strength is fourteen tons, with an explosive power that can reach forty-three tons. You have only just gained this ability. It should increase significantly in the future."
Peter swallowed hard. "Gwen, please don't hit me like you did before. I'm afraid I'd actually die."
Gwen crossed her arms. "Hmph, that depends on your performance," she teased.
"Alright," Klein said, "now that we've tested strength, we should move on to speed and reflexes, followed by endurance and special abilities."
By the time Amon returned to the testing ground, Gwen's evaluation was complete.
"It looks like the tests are finished. How did it go?" Amon asked.
"It's insane!" Peter blurted out. "Her strength peaked at forty-three tons, her reaction speed is thirty-six times that of an average person, and her adhesive strength is over ten tons per hand. She's not just super... she's superhuman!"
Amon smiled and turned to Gwen. "Very impressive data, Ms. Stacy. Are you interested in signing a contract with our company? The salary is comparable to that of a top movie star."
"Become a superhero? But I'm still a student," Gwen hesitated. "And my father might not agree."
"Don't worry about that. We are cooperating with the New York Police Department. Your father will agree if you explain the situation. And if you're worried about your identity," Amon said, his smile widening, "well, that's not an issue at all. Klein, demonstrate for her."
At Amon's command, Klein's form shimmered and changed. In the blink of an eye, another Peter Parker stood before Gwen.
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