A sudden, strange burst of laughter rang out. It was filled with madness and terror, sending a chilling sensation down the spines of everyone who heard it. Even Peter couldn't help but frown before looking up.
And there he was—a figure in green, high-tech armor zooming around Osborn Tower on a glider.
With just one glance, Peter instantly recognized him: the classic villain from the Marvel Universe—the Green Goblin.
He hadn't expected to deal with Kingpin, the notorious underworld boss, only to now face another terrifying adversary. The Marvel Universe really was one crisis after another. This world, it seemed, thrived on chaos.
The Green Goblin swooped around the tower, flinging bizarre-looking pumpkin bombs one after another.
"Boom! Boom!"
Massive explosions erupted, flames bursting out alongside clouds of smoke and flying debris. Steel panels and shattered glass rained down, with the wreckage landing hard—crushing Peter's car into unrecognizable scrap metal.
Around them, panic erupted. Civilians screamed and cursed in fear."F*ck! What kind of monster is this now? What's happening to this world?"
"Run! That bomb's coming our way!"
"Holy crab, this disgusting green freak is a nightmare!"Peter didn't even blink at the chaos. His eyes were locked on the Green Goblin, but his expression had shifted to one of confusion.
Others might not know the truth, but he did: under that high-tech armor was none other than Norman Osborn—chairman of the Osborn Group. Yet here he was, launching an all-out assault on his own company's property.
The only explanation that made sense was that, like the Norman Osborn in Peter's own world, this one had also been ousted by shareholders. Otherwise, this made no logical sense.
But now wasn't the time for speculation. His attention snapped to the floor the Green Goblin had just destroyed.
Earlier, Peter had contacted Gwen's father, George Stacy, and learned that Gwen worked on the 20th floor of Osborn Tower.
And the floor that had just been bombed… was the 20th floor.
His heart dropped. Gwen could be in serious danger.
Without hesitation, Peter rushed toward the building.
Inside, the tower was already in disarray. Explosions had disabled the previously strict security system, allowing Peter to slip in unnoticed. Finding an unmanned corridor, he quickly pressed behind his ear.
A mask-like pattern flickered onto his face, projected via advanced holographic imaging—not a real mask, but indistinguishable from one.
This wasn't his invention. SHIELD agents had long used this kind of tech to change identities during covert missions. For Peter now, it was perfect.
Disguised, he moved silently, climbing the elevator shaft with speed and agility until he reached the 20th floor.
Smoke choked the air. The devastation was horrifying—bodies littered the floor, victims either burned or blown apart by the blast.
Peter's heart clenched. A cold fury surged through him. If Gwen had been hurt... he would make the Green Goblin pay. Blood for blood.
Searching frantically through the rubble, he still couldn't find her.
Then, at the end of the corridor, he spotted a door marked "Restricted Area — No Entry."
The heavy, iron door required a fingerprint to unlock. He remembered Gwen saying her work was in a biotechnology lab—this could be it.
Though she jokingly referred to herself as just a "general assistant," Peter knew better. Gwen was brilliant. She wouldn't be pulling late nights unless her work truly mattered.
Determined, he morphed his fingernails into claws. With the strength of 30 tons behind him, he tore the metal door apart and stepped inside.
The lab was massive—but part of the outer wall had been obliterated, exposing the interior to the open air. Through the gaping hole, he could still see the Green Goblin circling above, hurling bombs with glee, as though trying to bring the entire tower crashing down.
The floor trembled beneath his feet. He had to move fast.
The lab was in ruins—shattered equipment everywhere. Maybe it had been lunchtime when the bombing happened, because at first, it looked like no one was here.
Just as despair began to set in, he noticed something under a collapsed glass culture chamber.
A woman lay prone beneath it. The container—nearly human-sized—had clearly been part of some experiment, but what it once held was now irrelevant.
Peter didn't need to see her face. The blonde hair, the silhouette—he knew immediately.
Gwen.
He rushed over, heaving the glass away and gently turning her over.
She was unconscious—but breathing. No visible wounds. Likely knocked out from the blast's impact.
Relieved, Peter exhaled deeply. She was alive.
He reached to lift her, intending to carry her to safety—but then froze.
On the back of Gwen's hand was a spider.
A dead, genetically modified spider—its multi-colored body bore a number engraved on its back.
Peter's eyes widened.
This wasn't just any spider. It was one of those spiders.
The ones from his universe that granted superpowers.
Could it be… that Gwen was the Spider-Man of this world?
Suddenly, it all made sense.
Why the Spider of Destiny had never chosen him.
Because in every Marvel Universe, there is only one Spider-Man.
If Gwen had been chosen instead, that explained everything.
But that realization also brought a sense of dread. The fate of Spider-Man was always a tragic one. Always a curse. Whoever bore that power would inevitably suffer devastating losses.
For Gwen… that would mean losing her father—George Stacy.
Peter's gaze lingered on the spider, then Gwen's peaceful face. His thoughts were conflicted.
Then, he acted.
He placed the spider's body in a vial and gently plucked a few strands of Gwen's hair. He'd take them back to the lab and analyze everything—check for genetic mutations, possible serum extraction.
If the Spider of Destiny wouldn't choose him, then he would force his own evolution.
Because being Spider-Man wasn't his goal.
Having power was.
Spider abilities didn't make you Spider-Man. And he had no interest in any no-kill vows. That nonsense? Not for him. He killed when necessary. Period.
Peter gathered Gwen into his arms, preparing to leave.
But just then—a pumpkin bomb flew in through the open wall.
Too fast to dodge.
On instinct, he turned, shielding Gwen with his body.
BOOM!
The explosion detonated at point-blank range. The force flung Peter backward like a ragdoll, crashing him to the floor. Blood spilled from his mouth.
Even with his superhuman resilience, the blast had been brutal.
But Gwen? Untouched. He hadn't let a single scratch touch her.
As he groaned, trying to get up, a familiar, mocking voice rang out:"Well, well… who's this hero playing knight-in-shining-armor?"The Green Goblin entered through the broken wall, standing over them.
He stared at Peter, puzzled by the unfamiliar holographic mask.
This was their first encounter.
Still, anyone who could survive one of his pumpkin bombs—especially while protecting someone—was clearly not ordinary.
And Peter radiated something else—a threat.
Green Goblin was intrigued."You survived my bomb at close range. That's a first. Who the hell are you, kid? Tell me—or the girl dies."Peter's jaw clenched.
He hadn't wanted to fight Norman Osborn—not just because of Gwen, but because Norman was once a friend. Back when Harry Osborn was his best friend, Norman had been kind to him.
But that was then.
Now, Norman threatened Gwen—the one person he couldn't lose.
And that was a red line.
"You wanna know who I am?" Peter snarled. "I'm your grandpa!"
With rage surging, he kicked a heavy lab table at Green Goblin. The metal table—easily several hundred pounds—flew like a missile.
Green Goblin cackled, sidestepping it easily with his glider."Tsk tsk… ungrateful little brat. Fine. Go to hell!"He flung another pumpkin bomb.
Still holding Gwen, Peter couldn't counterattack. The bomb streaked toward them like a comet.
He dodged at the last second, the bomb exploding behind him and vaporizing the lab's iron door.
The heat was unbearable.
Had he hesitated even a second, he'd be ash.
Peter's heart raced. Green Goblin's destructive power was terrifying. This wasn't a battle he could afford right now.
He made a quick decision—escape.
Holding Gwen tightly, he sprinted from the lab.
Behind him, the Green Goblin gave a shriek of laughter and gave chase.
He'd found an interesting opponent—and he wasn't going to let him go.
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