[Marvel : Spoiling Spider-man] Chapter 281 - 285

Chapter 281: The Dangerous Bomb

"Hahaha! He couldn't hold back after just over half an hour? He really is an active kid!"

"Does he have ADHD?"

Many people focused on Spider-Man's energetic personality, while others saw a resemblance to the original Peter Parker.

"He seems to have some self-esteem issues, just like the original Peter Parker!"

"Come on! Third-generation Peter Parker, you are Spider-Man!"

The audience cheered for him, unaware that this Spider-Man was only nine years old and wasn't even in the same school as Liz.

Rhodey smirked and nudged Tony. "Maybe you should teach him some of your experience in picking up girls."

Tony leaned back with a smug grin. "My experience isn't something just anyone can learn. After all, not everyone is Tony Stark!"

"If I were as rich as you, I'd have just as many girls chasing me," a female voice chimed in.

"Yeah!" Tony nodded instinctively, then suddenly froze. That voice sounded… familiar.

He turned around and found Pepper standing at the doorway, arms crossed, staring at him. Without a word, she spun on her heel and walked away.

Tony cursed inwardly, blaming both Banner and Rhodey for not warning him. Now he had no choice but to go and coax Pepper.

Rhodey shrugged at Banner, who was barely holding back his laughter. "He deserved it," Rhodey muttered.

[Spider-Man did a backflip off the container and landed on the ground, eagerly rummaging through Vulture's backpack. "There’s gotta be something useful in here!"]

["Okay! Let’s see…" He rummaged through the bag and pulled out an Ultron robot head. "Whoa, that’s cool!" he said before tossing it aside.}

[Then he picked up a glowing object. "Ah! Hey! This looks like that thing from before!"]

[Karen’s voice responded through his suit, "That glow is from an explosive Chitauri energy core."]

["Whoa! Whoa! Are you saying we’ve been carrying a bomb around?!" Spider-Man's eyes widened as he quickly threw the core away.]

[Karen replied calmly, "It requires radiation to activate its explosive mode."]

[Spider-Man immediately grabbed his backpack and fumbled for his phone. He dialed Ned’s number, but there was no signal in the warehouse.]

["NONONONONO!" Realizing the call wasn’t going through, he sprinted toward the door, knocking furiously. "Hey! Somebody! Let me out! Please!"]

[He slammed his fist against the door, but there was no response.]

[Turning to the control panel, he muttered, "Karen, you gotta help me override this timer lock!"]

George frowned as he watched. "This is bad. That thing might have radiation and could explode. I didn't expect it to actually be a bomb!"

"Damn it, he's been messing with something that dangerous?" Uncle Ben clenched his fists. "And he's dragging Ned into this?"

The second-generation Spider-Man smiled awkwardly, sneaking a glance at Gwen beside him.

Gwen unconsciously rubbed her nose. She had done something similar more than once in the Sky Dome, knowingly stepping into danger to help. But with the second-generation Spider-Man around, she had always managed to get through safely.

Even so, she knew it was reckless. Sometimes, courage and skill weren’t enough—luck played a role too.

[As time passed, the sky brightened, and the sun began to rise. Back in the hotel, Ned anxiously checked his watch.]

[Liz knocked on their door, calling out, "Ned? Peter? We’re gonna be late! Come on! Let’s go!"]

[Ned panicked. "O-Okay! Hold on! One sec!" He hurriedly grabbed the Chitauri energy core and stuffed it into his bag.]

[Meanwhile, Spider-Man was still trying to break out of the warehouse. He entered a new password into the control panel.]

["Karen, start the 247th test!"]

[This time, the door unlocked with a click. Spider-Man’s eyes widened in surprise. "It worked! Yes!"]

[Wasting no time, he shot out a web and swung out of the warehouse, latching onto a passing truck for a quick escape.]

[On the other side, the Academic Decathlon had begun. The host reminded everyone, "Please turn off your phones before we start."]

[Ned handed his phone to the inspector, who sealed it in a white plastic bag.]

[At the same time, Spider-Man crouched behind a truck loaded with cement pipes, frantically calling, "Karen, get me to the Academic Decathlon, fast!"]

["Understood. Provide the exact location."]

["It's right across from the Washington Monument!"]

[The call finally connected, but it was too late—Ned had already entered the stadium. The voicemail prompt played: "This is Ned, please leave a message!"]

["Ned! Call me back! That thing is a bomb!"] Spider-Man yelled into the phone.

[Inside the stadium, Ned was focused on his test, unaware that the Chitauri energy core in his pocket was pulsing with a faint purple glow.]

["There’s a vehicle approaching on your right!" Karen warned Spider-Man, who immediately leaped onto the pipes and dashed forward, jumping onto a moving car.]

[Back in the competition, the final round began. "We now enter the tiebreaker! The first team to answer correctly will be the champion!"]

[Flash was sweating bullets. Everyone else looked tense. Then, Michelle Jones suddenly rang the buzzer.]

[All eyes turned to her as the host asked, "Midtown High?"]

[Michelle Jones answered without hesitation. "Zero."]

[The host checked the answer and nodded. "Correct! Midtown High wins the championship!"]

[Cheers erupted. Ned and the team rushed to hug Michelle Jones. Even Flash, despite having done nothing, started running around excitedly.]

[Outside the stadium, the team stood across from the Washington Monument, still celebrating.]

["Wow! We actually won! Guys, I’m so proud of you!" Ned beamed.]

[Flash, never missing an opportunity, smirked. "Told you! We didn’t need Parker."]

[Abraham shot him a look. "Flash, you didn’t answer a single question."]

Chapter 282: What Are You Afraid Of?

"Nothing bad will happen, right?" Aunt May asked anxiously, gently patting the head of little Peter Parker as he returned home from school.

"I just hope they don’t have to go through a security detector during the competition," Natasha added, her brows furrowing slightly at Aunt May’s concern.

As a seasoned agent, Natasha understood the risks all too well. Coincidentally, Aunt May was also an agent, and their shared experiences had fostered a close bond over time.

"Usually, there is one! I mean, don’t they conduct body searches at these competitions?" Little Peter Parker looked up at the two women, his young face full of curiosity.

"Yeah..." Aunt May nodded silently, concern still lingering in her expression. She could only hope that Spider-Man would manage to warn Ned in time.

Natasha looked down at Peter, her tone turning serious. "Listen, Peter, no matter what happens in the future, you are not allowed to keep things from us. Understand? If anything happens, tell your Aunt May, Tony, or someone you trust. Don’t go sneaking off, thinking you can handle things on your own!"

"Oh..." Peter pursed his lips and lowered his head.

"And if you’re being bullied at school, speak up! Don’t suffer in silence!" Natasha added, her voice firm.

No one wanted little Peter Parker to experience the same struggles as the first and second generations. Fortunately, Tony had already instructed JARVIS to keep an eye on Peter’s school life. If anything happened, JARVIS would notify Tony immediately.

This drastically reduced the risk of Peter being bullied, but it didn’t stop his classmates from being curious about him. After all, seeing a future Spider-Man growing up in their world was bound to attract attention.

[Michelle Jones, the biggest contributor to the team’s victory, was walking alone when the teacher approached her and asked, "Aren’t you proud of your win?"]

[Michelle Jones glanced at the monument and hesitated before replying, "Oh... yeah! I just, um... don’t feel like celebrating something that was built with the blood and sweat of slaves."]

[The teacher paused, then awkwardly countered, "Oh! I’m sure the Washington Monument wasn’t built by—"]

[He turned and saw the black security guard watching him. Quickly adjusting his tie, he cleared his throat and muttered, "Okay... just read your book." Then, embarrassed, he walked away.]

[Meanwhile, Spider-Man swung onto a bus just as his phone rang.]

[“Ned! You’re still alive!” Spider-Man let out a breath of relief upon hearing his friend’s voice.]

["Peter, are you okay?" Ned asked, sensing the urgency in his voice.]

[Spider-Man immediately cut to the chase. "Where’s the glowing thing? The one from before!"]

["Don’t worry, it’s safe! It’s in my backpack," Ned replied casually, standing in line for the security check.]

[Spider-Man's heart nearly stopped. "Ned! Listen! That thing is dangerous!"]

[But Ned wasn’t really paying attention. "Oh, by the way, you missed the All-Around Game! I covered for you! We’re at the Washington Monument now!"]

[Spider-Man clenched his fists. "Ned! Listen to me!!!"]

[Before he could say more, Ned’s phone was suddenly snatched away by Liz. "Peter? Is that you?"]

[Hearing Liz’s voice, Spider-Man couldn’t help but greet her. "Hey! Liz!"]

[Karen, hearing Liz’s voice for the first time, curiously asked, "Is this Liz?"]

[Though Spider-Man was thrilled to talk to Liz, now wasn’t the time for chit-chat. He quickly said, "Put Ned back on the phone! This is important!"]

[He jumped off the bus and started running toward the Washington Monument.]

[Karen’s voice rang in his ear. "You should tell her you like her."]

[Liz, still on the phone, sounded slightly annoyed. "You jerk! You should be glad we won, you know? I want to be mad at you, but honestly, I’m more worried about you! So, what happened?"]

[Behind her, Ned—who had completely missed Spider-Man’s warning—had already passed through the security checkpoint and was walking inside.]

[Spider-Man kept running, yelling into the phone, "I need to talk to Ned! It’s really important!"]

[At that moment, the security officer reminded Liz, "Ma’am, please place all your items on the conveyor belt."]

["There's something in Ned’s backpack! It’s really dangerous! Don’t let it go through the X-ray!" Spider-Man shouted frantically.]

[But Liz had already placed the bag on the conveyor belt and didn’t hear him.]

[As the backpack passed through the scanner, the Chitauri energy core inside began to emit an intense purple glow. The light slightly seeped through the fabric, but the security staff failed to notice anything unusual.]

["Liz? Liz! Damn it!" Spider-Man shouted, but no one answered. His worst fear had just come true. He gritted his teeth and sprinted even faster.]

[Ned, still oblivious, casually slung his backpack over his shoulder and entered the elevator with the rest of the team.]

[Flash smirked and turned to the teacher. "Mr. Harrington, can I tell Peter he’s been expelled?"]

"It looks like Flash really despises the third-generation Peter Parker!" George joked as he watched. "He never misses a chance to take a jab at him!"

"Yeah, but at least our Flash turned over a new leaf," second-generation Spider-Man said with a small nod.

Although the second-generation Flash had been a school bully, he had changed after witnessing Peter Parker’s heroism and Gordon’s magnanimity. Now, he was one of Spider-Man’s biggest fans.

Gwen sighed. "It’s such a coincidence… If Ned had called earlier, or if Liz hadn’t cut in, things wouldn’t have turned out like this. I just hope they can defuse this time bomb in time!"

Tony, who had just finished smoothing things over with Pepper, narrowed his eyes at the Chitauri energy core.

"JARVIS, calculate how powerful that thing is," he ordered.

"Apologies, sir," JARVIS replied. "The energy contained within the core is unknown. I cannot determine its exact power based on observation alone. However, the level of destruction will depend on how it detonates."

"If it explodes in a concentrated manner, it may cause localized devastation. If it spreads in all directions, the casualties will be severe. Ned, who is carrying it, will be the first victim. Additionally, the structural integrity of the Washington Monument may be compromised."

"Shit!" Tony cursed, rubbing his forehead. "Why does this kid always find trouble? Can't he just be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man?"

Rhodey placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don’t overthink it. We’re just spectators here. No point in complaining about fate. Instead, why don’t you use this time to work on your nano-armor?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you’re right. But seriously, what’s with you hanging around my place every day? Got nothing better to do?"

Rhodey shrugged. "Official orders. They told me to keep an eye on you, monitor the progress of your armor, and—" He smirked. "—make sure you don’t do anything stupid."

Tony scoffed and handed him a glass of wine. "Then thanks a lot, Rhodey! I bet your paycheck keeps getting docked because of me."

"More than once," Rhodey muttered, taking the glass.

Chapter 283: At Stake

[Spider-Man had reached the base of the Washington Monument. He tossed his backpack aside, securing it to a tree with webbing before dashing toward the towering structure.]

[Inside the elevator, the tour guide continued his presentation. "The Washington Monument stands at precisely 555 feet and 5⅛ inches!"]

["Observe how marble and granite are cut!" The guide instructed, directing the students’ attention to the monument’s construction.]

[At the back of the elevator, Ned remained completely unaware that the Chitauri energy core inside his backpack was glowing more intensely, its purple hue deepening. White smoke began to seep from the bag.]

[In the next instant, dozens of energy rays shot upward, piercing through the elevator ceiling. The sheer force shattered the glass above instantly.]

[Tourists inside the elevator screamed in shock as shards of glass rained down, scattering across the floor. The monument’s topmost stone was directly penetrated, sending a cascade of debris tumbling from above.]

[Panic spread like wildfire among the tourists below as they looked up in horror.]

[Spider-Man skidded to a stop, his stomach twisting at the sight. "NONONO! Karen, what the hell just happened?!"]

["The Chitauri energy core has detonated," Karen reported. "The explosion has severely compromised the structural integrity of the elevator!" The damage assessment flashed on his HUD.]

["Oh, no!"Spider-Man groaned, his panic momentarily blinding him to Michelle Jones's presence behind him. She had just looked up, noticing something was very wrong. Closing her book, she stepped closer.]

["My friends are still up there!" she shouted, pointing toward the top of the monument.]

[Spider-Man flinched in realization before quickly trying to reassure her. "What? No, no, don’t worry, ma’am, everything’s gonna be fine!"]

["Make way, make way!" He pushed through the crowd, only now fully grasping just how massive the monument was.]

["Oh my God, why is this thing so high?!" He gulped but steeled himself. No matter how high, he had to climb. With a powerful leap, he latched onto the monument’s stone exterior and began scaling it as fast as he could.]

[Inside the elevator, Ned, shaking from the explosion, frantically threw his backpack onto the floor. None of the students realized that the blast had originated from it.]

["Oh my god! Look at the ceiling!" someone screamed, pointing at the jagged circular scorch mark where the energy beams had burned through.]

[The tour guide, maintaining a forced calm, raised his hands. "Please, everyone, stay calm!"]

[But the students were terrified. Murphy groaned in despair, "Oh, man! We’re gonna die here!"]

["We’re so screwed!" another voice echoed.]

[Meanwhile, Spider-Man climbed furiously. Karen’s voice rang through his mask, "Approximately ten minutes before the elevator completely loses control."]

[The tour guide, still trying to reassure them, forced a smile. "Okay! I know you’re all scared, but the security system is in place! We’re perfectly safe here!"]

[Unfortunately, she had barely finished speaking when Karen coldly reported, "The security system has been completely disabled. The passengers’ lives are now in immediate danger."]

[Spider-Man grit his teeth. "I’m going as fast as I can!"]

"Honestly, Ned is ridiculously lucky. Not only did that glowing thing not hurt anyone else, but it didn’t even harm him! That’s insane!"

"Yeah, and Karen totally shut that lady down. So brutal!"

"Still, what were they supposed to do in that situation? It’s not like they knew the elevator was compromised. They had to trust the security system."

"If you ask me, the real problem is security. How did they not detect something that dangerous in Ned’s backpack? That’s a massive failure on their part."

The crowd watching the broadcast erupted into discussions. Many blamed the monument’s security for the oversight. Ned had no idea the energy core was dangerous, but the security personnel? That was inexcusable.

The monument’s security supervisor paled as he watched the footage of Ned passing through the checkpoint. He knew what this meant—security protocols were about to be overhauled, and he was likely in trouble.

Tourists currently waiting in line at other sites grew frustrated as security screenings were suddenly ramped up to extreme levels. Tempers flared, arguments broke out, and several guests were even escorted away for causing disturbances.

Meanwhile, Tony and the others were quietly relieved. Had that explosion gone off inside the elevator at full force, everyone inside would have been obliterated. Spider-Man wouldn’t have been able to save anyone in time.

[Inside the monument, several security personnel struggled to pry open the elevator doors. The tour guide climbed onto a seat, lifted the ceiling panel, and peered out to assess the situation.]

[They began evacuating the students, unaware that their movements were making the elevator’s condition even worse.]

[Karen’s sudden alert stunned Spider-Man. "You now have 125 seconds before catastrophic failure."]

["What?! Why so little time?!" Spider-Man gasped.]

[Karen displayed a diagnostic. "Unanticipated movement has further damaged the elevator’s structural integrity. The brake system is failing."]

[Spider-Man gritted his teeth. "How do I get inside?!"]

["Deploying reconnaissance drone!"Karen activated a small drone from Spider-Man’s suit, launching it toward the monument’s peak.]

[As it flew, Spider-Man blinked in shock. "Whoa! Since when did I have this? That’s so cool!"]

[The drone circled the top, scanning for an access point. Karen quickly identified the best entry. "Proceed to the southwest window."]

[Spider-Man immediately sprang into action. "Got it! Karen, I’m heading there now!"] He twisted mid-air, adjusting his trajectory as he continued to ascend.]

[A crowd had gathered below, watching in awe as Spider-Man scaled higher and higher.]

[Inside the elevator, the security staff continued evacuating students. Murphy, standing near the edge, glanced down and saw shards of broken glass scattered across the shaft. They had fallen from above.]

[After a grueling climb, Spider-Man finally reached the monument’s peak. Swinging himself over the ledge, he collapsed onto the narrow surface, panting. He took a moment to steady his breathing before attempting to stand.]

["Okay... Oh my god..." He exhaled, pushing himself upright.]

[Then he made the mistake of looking down.]

[His legs wobbled as his fear of heights hit him like a truck. His hands instinctively shot out, pressing against the cold stone for support. He was gasping for breath, his chest heaving.]

["What’s wrong? You’ve reached the southwest window! Why are you hesitating?" Karen’s voice rang in his ears.]

["I-It’s fine! I just… I’ve never climbed this high before!" Spider-Man stammered.]

[Karen’s tone remained neutral but blunt. "You have not reinstalled your parachute. If you fall from this height, survival is highly improbable."]

Chapter 284: Flash the Coward

[Spider-Man waved his foot to scare away the pigeons perched on the window, mustering up the courage as he positioned himself at the top of the window. "Great... Oh my god!"]

[He attempted to kick the glass with his ankle, but the bulletproof glass was far too strong to break with just that amount of force.]

[Spider-Man frowned in confusion. "Why isn’t it breaking?"]

[Karen responded, "This is four-inch bulletproof glass. You’ll need to generate more kinetic energy."]

[Hearing this, Spider-Man had no choice but to adjust his approach. He shot a web onto the stone wall, used it as leverage, and then pushed off the window before slingshotting himself back toward the glass with increased force.]

[But even after repeated attempts, only a few cracks appeared on the surface. It was still a long way from breaking.]

[At that moment, a helicopter spotted the situation and approached. "This is the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C.! Identify yourself!"]

[Spider-Man turned around mid-climb and shouted, "My friends are in there! They’re in danger! Let me help!"]

[The officers weren’t interested in explanations. From their perspective, they saw a masked vigilante tampering with the monument’s glass. "Descend immediately! That’s an order!"]

[Inside the elevator, the students were trying to climb out with the teacher’s assistance. However, Flash, overcome with fear, shoved Liz aside and scrambled ahead of her. "Me! It’s my turn!"]

["Flash, are you serious? What the hell are you doing?!" The students couldn’t believe what they were seeing.]

[And to top it off, Flash was still clutching the trophy in his hand, refusing to let it go.]

[One of the classmates shouted, "Dude! Just leave the trophy behind!"]

[But as Flash was halfway up, the elevator suddenly trembled violently.]

[The students who had already escaped turned back, watching in horror. Spider-Man noticed what was happening, took a deep breath, and quickly formulated a plan.]

[Meanwhile, the helicopter officers continued their warnings. "Stand down! Descend immediately, or we will open fire!"]

[Spider-Man ignored them and climbed higher. The SWAT team aboard the chopper took aim, ready to neutralize what they saw as a potential threat.]

["I can do this!" Spider-Man muttered to himself, pushing forward. The helicopter rose to maintain its position above him.]

["Take my trophy!" Even in a life-or-death situation, Flash refused to let go of his prize. It was probably the only trophy he’d ever won, and he wasn’t about to lose it now.]

[Below him, the elevator suddenly dropped another few inches, causing panicked screams to erupt from the students. The staff member who had grabbed Flash’s hand quickly yanked him up just in time.]

"What the hell is Flash thinking?! Damn it!!!" Tony blurted out, unable to hold back his frustration.

"Yeah! I’ve got no respect for people like this," Banner shook his head. "Liz was ahead of him, and he just pushed her aside like a coward. And he’s still holding onto that stupid trophy?"

"What a spineless idiot," Rhodey said dismissively. "He’s always been a bully, but this? This is just pathetic. After this, his reputation is done."

The broadcast viewers were quick to judge. Many had previously thought the rivalry between Flash and Spider-Man was just childish bickering. But now? Flash had revealed his true colors.

His cowardly behavior stood out even more because everyone else had remained orderly and cooperative. The contrast was painfully clear. It was inevitable that this would negatively impact how people saw him.

One person who took special notice? Adrian Toomes. The moment he saw Flash shove Liz aside, his resentment toward the boy skyrocketed. If given the chance, he’d probably strangle him with his own hands.

Flash’s father, watching in horror, also realized his son had a serious problem. For the first time, he seriously considered changing Flash’s name... and maybe even getting him plastic surgery.

[Spider-Man crouched at the peak of the monument as the police officers on the helicopter aimed their weapons at him. "This is your last warning!"]

[Spider-Man turned his head toward them, took a deep breath, and muttered, "Oh, I’m gonna die."]

[With that, he suddenly jumped backward into the air.]

[The helicopter crew gasped as Spider-Man free-fell. But before they could react, his suit’s gliding function activated. He spread his arms, catching the wind and soaring over the helicopter’s spinning blades.]

[Mid-flight, he fired a web at the monument’s tripod, using the momentum to swing himself downward and—]

[BAM! He crashed full-force into the bulletproof glass.]

[At the same moment, the elevator beneath Flash completely collapsed, plummeting toward the ground.]

[“BREAK, DAMN IT!!!” Spider-Man roared, kicking the glass with all his might. The impact finally shattered it, sending him tumbling inside. He hit the floor, rolling as he fired a ricochet web that bounced off the ceiling before shooting downward.]

[Below, the elevator was in freefall. The students screamed, bracing for impact.]

[The webbing latched onto the elevator just in time. Spider-Man, still sprawled on the floor, felt a powerful force tug at the webbing. Gritting his teeth, he dug his heels in, pulling with all his strength.]

[The elevator jerked to a stop.]

[Breathing heavily, Spider-Man let out a weak laugh. "I did it! Whoa!!!"]

[But before he could celebrate, the metal beams holding the webbing gave way and snapped apart.]

[Spider-Man fell.]

[He crashed into the elevator’s roof, sending it sliding downward again.]

[Thinking fast, he shot another web at the ceiling and braced himself, placing both feet on the elevator’s frame to slow it down.]

[The situation stabilized for a moment. Catching his breath, Spider-Man glanced around at the terrified faces surrounding him. He cleared his throat. "Ahem... Hey, guys. Uh, don’t worry! I’m here to save you!"]

[Ned, who had been frozen in shock, suddenly burst into excitement. "Dude! You’re awesome!!!"]

[But his enthusiasm caused the elevator to wobble dangerously again.]

["Hey, hey, hey! Big guy, stop moving!" Spider-Man snapped, gripping the webbing tighter.]

["Oh! Sorry! So sorry!" Ned quickly apologized, standing completely still.]

[Outside the monument, firefighters and police officers who had responded to the emergency were finally arriving at the scene, preparing for rescue operations.]

[Inside, Spider-Man took a deep breath and pulled the webbing again, carefully lifting the elevator to align with an open floor. Above, students who had already escaped watched anxiously as their classmates were pulled to safety.]

Chapter 285: Vulture’s Killing Intent

[As the two security guards opened the glass door, Spider-Man—disregarding the risk of exposing his identity—urged, "Mr. Harrington, hurry up! Ned, come on! Okay, you’ve made it!"]

["Go, go, go! Everybody out! Move! Move!" Spider-Man shouted as he felt the ceiling beneath him begin to collapse. His voice grew increasingly urgent.]

[Liz, frozen in fear, moved cautiously. The teacher reached out to pull her forward, but before she could get closer, the fragile ceiling beneath Spider-Man finally gave way.]

[Liz screamed as Spider-Man instinctively shouted, "Liz!!!" She tried to reach for his hand, but she wasn’t close enough.]

[Reacting instantly, Spider-Man fired a web, catching Liz’s wrist mid-air and stopping her fall. "You’re fine! I’ve got you!"]

[He quickly pulled her toward the security guards, who grabbed her and pulled her to safety. "Good! Very good!"]

[Liz stood there in shock, glancing back at Spider-Man. He gave her a reassuring smile. "So, everyone’s safe now, right?"]

[She nodded, and Karen suddenly suggested, "Seize the opportunity, Peter! Kiss her!"]

[Spider-Man hesitated, But before he could decide, the web holding him snapped completely.]

["Oh!!!" he yelped as he plummeted down.]

[Everyone gasped in shock. Mr. Harrington called out, "Thank you!" as Spider-Man fell, the drone following him down.]

[Flash, still clutching the trophy, leaned over the elevator entrance and shouted, "Are you seriously Peter Parker’s friend?"]

"Oh, what a shame! I really thought he was going to have a Spider-Man kiss moment with Liz, like The 1st Gen Spiderman!" Gwen sighed in disappointment before noticing that the second-generation Spider-Man had a strange look on his face. "What’s wrong?"

The second-generation Spider-Man shook his head. "Nothing. It’s just… watching him in action reminded me of something I did back in the Sky Screen. Remember the foreman who helped me get into the Osborn building?"

"Troy?" Gwen’s excellent memory allowed her to recall the name instantly.

"Yeah. His son was in a falling car, and I used my webbing to save him. The whole moment feels similar to this scene."

Seeing that Gwen remembered, Spider-Man nodded before adding, "It’s also kind of like when you fell in the bell tower. Except Liz was a lot closer to him… I just hope he doesn’t keep relying on his webbing to save people."

Gwen gave him a comforting smile before wrapping her arms around him. "Peter, I believe he won’t. He’s got AI assistance, right?"

"Yeah, that’s better. That kind of pain… it’s not something an ordinary person can bear." He sighed before his expression darkened slightly. "But do you remember what the Sky Screen said? That all three Spider-Men will be forgotten by the whole world..."

He exhaled deeply. The Sky Screen didn’t make empty statements. This was likely the fate that awaited all three versions of Spider-Man.

Meanwhile, Toomes stood next to Liz, conflicted. That little bastard Spider-Man had caused him a lot of trouble—but he had also just saved his daughter’s life.

Even if this whole mess had been Spider-Man’s fault in the first place… he had still saved Liz.

[The scene shifts to Vulture’s secret base, where Herman was testing his mechanical gauntlet. He punched a van with immense force, sending a powerful shockwave through the warehouse. The vibration startled Mason, who quickly stabilized a nearby weapon.]

[Mason glanced at Vulture, who was leaning against a workbench. "I can still fulfill the next order, but if we don’t get new materials from the next shipment..."]

[His meaning was clear. Vulture sighed, rubbing his temple. "Yeah… Damn it. We can still finish Gargan’s order, right?"]

["Yeah, but once it’s done, we’re out of resources," Mason confirmed.]

[Vulture rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Just as he was considering his next move, Mason suggested, "Hey, maybe it’s time to build a high-altitude vacuum seal device."]

["Can you shut up about that already?" Vulture snapped, refusing the idea without even looking at him.]

[But Mason wasn’t ready to let it go. "Just one deal!"]

["No!" Vulture cut him off firmly. Then he muttered, "It’s been eight years! Eight years, and the FBI hasn’t done a damn thing! And what about those bastards in their Halloween costumes sitting in Stark Tower? Not a peep!"]

[Vulture crossed his arms, his eyes darkening with rage. His killing intent toward Spider-Man was clear.]

["And then, out of nowhere, this little punk in red tights shows up! Thinks he can tear down everything I’ve built? Really? I’m going to kill him. I’ll find him, and I’ll end him!"]

[Before he could say another word, Herman pointed at the TV. "Uh… we just found him."]

[Vulture snapped his head around. On the screen, the news anchor reported: "Spider-Man successfully rescued a Queens Academic Decathlon team from a deadly elevator collapse at the Washington Monument."]

["The true identity of the masked hero remains unknown!" the reporter continued. But Vulture wasn’t listening to the news anymore. His eyes narrowed. He suddenly remembered—Liz had gone to Washington for that competition.]

"It looks like Peter’s interference ruined Vulture’s plans," Steve Rogers observed. He then turned to Wanda, sitting beside him. "Wanda, any thoughts?"

"What?" Wanda blinked, caught off guard.

"I think what Cap means," Pietro interjected, "is that Toomes is doing something similar to what Obadiah Stane did back in the day. They both sold weapons to criminals. Toomes’ operation just happens to be more high-tech."

He then added, "Stark tried to shut Stane down, so Stane wanted him dead. Peter stopped Toomes from selling weapons, so now Toomes wants Peter dead. Same logic."

Wanda scoffed and looked at Steve Rogers. "Then they both deserve to die. Why aren’t we stopping Toomes right now, Cap?"

"Because, legally speaking, Toomes hasn’t been doing anything yet," Steve explained. "We can morally condemn him, but we have no legal grounds to arrest him. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t keep an eye on him."

Wanda stayed silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. Over the past few days, she had started to see that Tony really was working to make the world better. The resentment she once held against him had begun to fade.

Meanwhile, Steve was considering something else entirely. Wanda had previously demonstrated certain superpowers, and he wanted to help her fully realize her abilities. He had spoken to Banner and the others, but they had no idea how to guide her.

There was only one person he could think of who might help: the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One.

But there was a problem—Nick Fury had mentioned that Doctor Strange and Christine had been taken in by the Ancient One, and they hadn’t been seen in public since. SHIELD had no leads on their whereabouts.