[Host: Soren Macaluso]
[Items: Genetic Modification Scalpel, Business Cards of Everlife Medical Center]
[Abilities: Mental Shield Lv 8, Potential Awakening Lv 10, Firearm Proficiency Lv 7, Super Speed Lv 7, Teleportation Lv7, Language Proficiency Lv 6, Psychokinesis Lv5]
[Task Points: 90/100] (Reach 100 to unlock a new reward pack.]
Soren let out a low whistle. Half a month ago, he had been a nobody. Now, he was a walking mutant bank.
His genetic modification scalpel and business card were already powerful tools, but the system's next task reward should be even better. If he could rack up just ten more task points, he could unlock another gift pack.
But there was a catch. "To earn the last 10%, I need to treat characters ranked C or higher…" he muttered, rubbing his chin.
Luckily, he was in New York City, practically overflowing with superheroes and villains. It was only a matter of time before he found an opportunity.
As if on cue, the sound of helicopters roaring overhead filled the air, followed by the shrill wail of police sirens.
Soren's eyes flickered toward the street. Something big was happening.
Outside, the scene was pure chaos.
NYPD squad cars were racing down the streets, their red-and-blue lights flashing wildly. Overhead, police helicopters hovered in pursuit of something or someone.
Soren narrowed his eyes. "New York's crazy, but they don't deploy this many cars unless it's serious…"
"Might as well check it out. If I save someone important, I can rack up my last mission points."
Soren adjusted his coat and stepped into the streets.
Soren wandered toward the commotion, using the towering Osborn Corporation Building in the distance as his guide.
As he passed through a slightly rundown district, a sudden gust of wind whooshed over his head.
His instincts flared. Something or someone had just swung past him at high speed.
Soren's head snapped up, just in time to catch a glimpse of red and blue fabric soaring through the air.
His lips curled into a grin. "… That's Spider-Man."
Peter Parker was already disappearing into the skyline, his webs slinging him from building to building with incredible agility.
Soren's eyes gleamed.
Activating his Super Speed, he blurred into motion, a streak of movement faster than the eye could follow.
Soren's surroundings became a blur as he closed the distance instantly, keeping pace with Spider-Man without breaking a sweat.
Thanks to the system's integration, using Quicksilver's speed felt as natural as breathing.
Time seemed to slow down.
The city moved in slow-motion around him, pedestrians appearing frozen mid-step, their conversations stretched into distorted echoes.
He felt invincible.
"So this is why Quicksilver always looked so damn cool in the movies..." Soren mused, effortlessly vaulting over a moving truck, running up a vertical wall, and leaping across rooftops with inhuman ease.
In mere seconds, he had caught up to Spider-Man while keeping out of his view.
The police scanner crackled from the helicopter above. "The suspect is heading south! All units, keep pursuit!"
"Helicopter One, stay on him! We can't let him escape!"
Another officer's voice came through. "Yes, Captain George! We're on it!"
Soren's brows raised slightly. Chief George…? Oh. Captain George Stacy.
Soren stood on the rooftop of a nearby building, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold below. The Osborn Industrial Building was bathed in flashing police lights, helicopters circling above like vultures. The streets were filled with screaming civilians, officers struggling to maintain order.
Soren's sharp eyes followed the masked vigilante as he swung toward the Osborn building, hot on the trail of the monstrous Dr. Lizard.
"A C+ level hero, huh? Maybe I could complete the task mission."
He flexed and felt the raw energy of his super-speed pulsing through his veins. With a burst of motion, he vanished from the rooftop, reappearing on the street below in a blur. The wind from his speed knocked over a nearby police officer's hat. The officer barely reacted, just scratching his head in confusion.
"Captain George Stacy…" Soren thought, eyeing the man barking orders into a radio. "Spider-Man's future father-in-law. And if I remember correctly, he doesn't make it out alive tonight."
Soren considered his options.
Save George Stacy? That would earn him major credibility with the NYPD. Maybe even earn favor. "… sounds like a plan."
Dr. Lizard or Dr Curt Connors, clawed his way up the glass facade of the Osborn Industrial Building, his reptilian eyes gleaming with rage. A police sniper took a shot. It ricocheted off the thick scales of the monster's back.
"Fools." Connors snarled, smashing his way inside.
A second later, Spider-Man swung through the shattered glass. "Hey, Doc! Ever hear of 'Take the stairs'?"
The Lizard roared and lunged.
From his vantage point, Soren watched the battle unfold.
He folded his arms, letting the fight play out. Spider-Man was fast, nimble, dodging razor-sharp claws and countering with quick web shots. But Dr. Lizard was relentless. His raw strength sent Spider-Man flying over the roof and constantly putting him on the defensive.
Soren turned his attention. Just below the spire of the rooftop, he spotted a slumped figure against the wall, George Stacy.
The man was barely conscious, blood pooling beneath him. Ruptured spleen. Ruptured kidneys. Perforated stomach. Such injuries are basically a death sentence in the hospital.
"If I don't step in soon, he's done for."
A sudden explosion of blue light tore through the night.
Soren's head snapped up. "Well, well… there it is."
The antidote serum burst into the air like fireworks, descending across New York City like shimmering raindrops.
Wherever the blue light touched, it neutralized the Lizard formula.
Dr. Lizard shrieked in agony as his monstrous form began to unravel, scales flaking away, claws retracting, his body shrinking back into the frail form of Dr. Curt Connors as he slipped over the edge of the roof.
"NOOO!"
Connors slipped.
His human hand, no longer powerful enough to grip the ledge, failed him. He fell, spiraling below.
Spider-Man lunged, but he was too far.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream