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"Look, I like my personal space," Peter said, inching backward as the Lizard crept closer. "Maybe take a step back?"
"I like my space too," the creature hissed, "but you walked into mine!"
BOOM!
The Lizard's fist hit the wall beside Peter's head, leaving a crater. Peter barely dodged in time, reflexes firing on instinct.
He countered fast, two web shots shot forward, sealing the creature's jaws shut. Sliding beneath those thick legs, Peter looped around behind him, vaulted onto his back, and yanked on the webline like reins.
For a second, it worked. The Lizard staggered, roaring. Then his claws ripped through the webbing.
"RRAAHH!"
He swung wildly one strike connected. Blood splattered across the tunnel.
Peter hit the ground hard, clutching his chest. His suit was torn open, revealing five long, bleeding gashes slashed straight through the spider emblem.
"Game over," the Lizard growled.
"Not even close."
A voice echoed through the tunnel.
Sylas dropped in, landing between them.
He took one look at Peter's wound, then at the monster, and his eyes hardened. "Get out of here, Pete. I'll handle him."
"I can—ahh—still fight," Peter tried, but when he moved, pain tore through his chest and forced him to his knees.
"Go." Sylas didn't raise his voice, but the tone left no room for argument.
Peter clenched his teeth, realizing he'd only make things worse if he stayed. "Fine. Just don't die, okay?"
"Working on it."
The Lizard roared, lunging forward to stop him but Sylas was faster. His kick slammed into the creature's stomach, sending him crashing through the rusted railing.
Steel twisted and gave way.
As Peter limped toward the exit, Sylas raised a hand. Shadows rippled behind him.
"[Shadow Legion]—attack!"
Dozens of black-clad [Shadow Ninja] materialized, their eyes glowing faintly as they hurled shuriken like a storm.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The blades bounced harmlessly off the Lizard's scales, sparking with each hit.
The creature whipped his tail, and the [Shadow Ninja] exploded into black mist.
"I'll find you, Spider-Man!" the Lizard bellowed, eyes darting toward Peter's retreating figure. "Your family, your friends, no one will be safe!"
Peter froze at the sound of it. He couldn't just leave.
"Stupid," Sylas muttered under his breath.
The Lizard turned back, furious, and suddenly felt the ground sinking beneath his feet. He looked down to see swirling black tendrils gripping his legs, pulling him in.
"What is this?" he snarled, thrashing. The [Shadow Ninja] re-formed from the darkness, piling onto him, forcing him deeper.
Still, the creature's strength was monstrous. He began to break free.
Sylas gritted his teeth. Without a solid footing, he couldn't exert full power. The pressure was slipping.
Then—footsteps.
Peter was back.
Ignoring the blood soaking his chest, he fired a barrage of webs binding the Lizard's arms, legs, and muzzle tightly. "I won't let you hurt my family!"
The creature howled one last time before the shadows engulfed him completely, dragging him into the [Shadow Dominion].
[Lizard Defeated – +500 Justice Points]
The system's voice echoed in Sylas's head, and he finally relaxed. If the system confirmed it, the fight was truly over.
"Thanks," Peter said weakly, clutching his chest.
Sylas shook his head. "You need to wrap that before you bleed out."
"Right…" Peter staggered up the ladder, disappearing into the street.
Sylas summoned the [Shadow Ninja] to destroy what remained of the lab, then followed quietly.
Just in case, he shadowed Peter all the way home. Only after watching him climb through his bedroom window did Sylas return, slipping in through his own.
Two shadows waited for him one lying on his bed, another sitting at the desk pretending to study.
He patted the "sleeping" one. "Good work, Big Black." Then nodded to the other. "And you, Black keep up the research."
---
Later That Night
Sylas cracked his door open just in time to see Peter gingerly climbing the stairs.
"Pete? What happened to you?" Sylas asked, pretending confusion.
"I'm fine," Peter lied, but the moment he gestured, pain shot through his chest. His face twisted.
"Doesn't look fine," Sylas said, stepping closer.
"I said it's nothing." Peter opened his bedroom door and slipped inside, shutting it fast.
Sylas counted quietly.
Sixty seconds.
Then he knocked once and opened the door anyway.
"Peter—holy hell!"
Peter stood shirtless before the mirror, his torso crisscrossed with raw claw marks.
"Wait, I can explain—" Peter stammered.
"You don't have to," Sylas said calmly. "Just don't tell Aunt May or Uncle Ben, okay?"
Peter exhaled in relief. "Thanks. I just… need to patch it up."
"Sit. I've got it."
Sylas fetched a first-aid kit courtesy of "Uncle Ben," or so he claimed. (In truth, it came straight from the hospital's emergency wing.)
Peter didn't question it.
"Appreciate it," he said as Sylas began cleaning and wrapping the wounds.
Fifteen minutes later, the bleeding had stopped, the bandages neat and secure.
"Don't move," Sylas said. "You tear that open, and you're in trouble."
"Trust me," Peter sighed, collapsing on the bed. "Moving's overrated."
Sylas smiled faintly and turned to leave.
"Wait," Peter said. "Aren't you going to ask how I got hurt?"
Sylas paused at the door, glancing back with a knowing grin. "You'll tell me when you're ready."
---
Midnight – Sylas's Room
Once Peter was safe, Sylas opened the [Justice Point Store].
He had 1,203 points saved up enough to buy the next step toward his true goal.
[Exchange: Talisman Clue]
Reality dimmed. The air shimmered.
He found himself standing in a colorless void.
From the emptiness, a single symbol ignited an enormous glowing sigil shaped like a pig.
Sylas reached toward it—
The sigil shattered into light.
A line of text burned across the space before fading:
"The pig's eyes burn with solar fire—
because each day it witnesses the sun's rise."
Sylas blinked. "That's the clue? Seriously? What am I supposed to do with that?"
Still, his heart raced.
The first Talisman. The beginning of something bigger.
He leaned back, muttering to himself, "So… does this mean I'll have to cross worlds for it or can I find it right here in the Marvel universe?"
He smirked. "Guess we'll find out."
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