Another day in the bright city of New York. Inside the halls of the NYPD's headquarters, two walking police officials engaged in a conversation about a certain masked vigilante.
"You got a description?" Police Captain George Stacy asked his associate.
"Well, no, he wears a mask," his associate replied.
"A mask?" George inquired as he opened the door and stepped outside.
"Yeah, and most of his victims... are suspects with serious rap sheets. Some of them are calling him a vigilante," his associate continued as they stopped, and George Stacy turned around to face him.
"Okay, he's not a vigilante, he's an anarchist," George Stacy said.
Suddenly, a shout echoed as a man appeared out of nowhere. His body was covered with a web-like substance, suspended from the top for everyone to see.
"Help me, somebody! Arrest me!" the man shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Hey, look!" a kid shouted, drawing the attention of the crowd. They all turned to see a masked man swinging from the side of a building, aided by a white rope that seemingly came out of his hands.
THWIPP!*
The sound of the web being shot rang out with every swing as the masked man disappeared from the public's view.
[Lucas's POV]
"That's one hell of a night," I muttered to myself, thinking about last week when the Ancient One visited me.
In summary, the Ancient One did decide to help me. Although I think she's still angry about my actions... and the way I attacked her suddenly. I was kind of tripping at that time, so I accidentally attacked her. No one came in at the door, so for a voice to suddenly appear in my room, of course, I would react defensively. I was going to change the trajectory to avoid hitting her, but she already blocked it with her eldritch construct, so there's that.
She said that our training will start after my recovery, on Saturdays and Sundays. I'll be able to leave this hospital next week, so that's when our lessons will begin.
The past week has been monotonous. All I really did was eat, sleep, and occasionally flirt with Gwen through calls and texts when she visited me. I also watched some TV, and that's where I found out about Peter's little vigilante activities. Speaking of Peter, we already had our talk the morning after the Ancient One visited me.
[Flashback]
Tok*2x
"Come in," I said as I hid the Cheetos that I sneaked into the hospital.
The door opened, and it revealed my best bud, Peter Parker.
"Hey, Pete! Aren't you busy with school work? Why the sudden visit? Is Gwen with you?" I inquired with a smile.
"Nah, it's just me, man. MJ and Gwen didn't know that I plan to visit you," he replied.
"I see, so what's up? You seemed a little down yesterday. Did something happen?"
"...Look, man, I just wanna say that I'm sorry," he said as he took a step forward toward me.
"The man that shot you, I was supposed to stop him before that accident happened, but instead of stopping him, I-I let him go because I wanted to get even with that cashier he robbed from. I-I'm sorry, man. It's because of me that that happened to you. I was there...but I didn't do anything..." Peter said with a look of guilt in his eyes.
"...Even though I have the power to do so..." he whispered to himself, looking down, avoiding my gaze.
"I see..."
Hmm, what should I say?
"Get out."
Once he heard that, he looked me in the eyes with a hurt expression, then turned around feeling dejected. He grabbed the door and tried to open it, but he stopped in his tracks as he heard an audible laugh coming from behind him.
"Pfffft, HAHAHAHA!" I tried to hold back my laughter, but it failed, causing Peter to be confused by my actions.
"Are you kidding me? Look, Pete, I'm fine, alright? There's no need to make a big deal out of it. We should just celebrate, YOU should just celebrate because your best bud is alive! Come over here," I said in glee as I moved my arms for a hug.
"But I-" He tried to explain, but I cut him off.
"Ah ah! Come over here!"
"Oh, you! Fine!" he said, finally smiling, and gave me a hug.
"So, how's the date?" I asked as we broke our hug.
Peter said that he and MJ were great, BUT they weren't able to go on a date in the past few weeks because of what happened to me. Now that my health is stable, they plan to go on a date at a good pizza place that MJ found in New York. Peter went home that day feeling much better, and that's how our talk ended.
Anyways,
A few days later, the security alarm that I placed in the yellow trash can on 2XXXX Avenue near the construction building was activated, signaling that Dr. Rajit Ratha did his job well.
"Sigh, I'll need to change my plans again. I didn't think of this happening," I said with an exasperated sigh. Nothing will ever go according to my stupid plan, will it?
Will everything that I've worked so hard to build in my life be of any use now that I've obtained some sort of cheat? It's like reincarnating and not getting any system in the 40 years of your life, though mine's much better.
"Well, I can't say that my preparation will be useless. The serums and technology that I've acquired are more than enough preparation to protect my family," I stated as I took the TV remote and switched it on.
The news was on, and there was Police Captain George Stacy in a press conference with a bunch of reporters.
[Settle down, guys.]
[Settle down, boys.]
[Settle down.]
[Come on. Listen.]
[At approximately 9 p.m. last night, an incident took place on the Williamsburg Bridge. Much of what occurred is speculation at this point. However, several eyewitnesses to the crime, as well as our own preliminary findings, have positively placed... one individual at the scene.]
[Which is why, this morning, I am issuing a warrant for the masked vigilante known as Spider-Man. And lastly, city council members met with homeowners and airport officials, in the first of four meetings...]
So it started, huh? It seems like he has already encountered his first villain. Dr. Curt Connor, a.k.a. the Lizard.
"MCU, X-MEN, and Spider-Man's bunch of nemesis... Speaking of Spider-Man's nemesis... how the hell would I be able to defeat the 'Electro' powered up by an Arc Reactor if he ever does get one?... Well, I can always prevent Electro from being born... but if I manage to make him my ally, then Earth will obtain another powerful protector... Alongside
Thor. Shit, I'm fanboying this too much, I want to go out!"
As I shouted that, something unexplainable happened. A veil of mirrors appeared in front of me, completely passing through my whole body as if it was liquid. If before, all that was visible in my surroundings was my white hospital room, well, now it wasn't. All that I could see around me were icy mountains, and I was on top of one of them. Lying down on my bed that I had accidentally brought with me, with a snowy blizzard touching my skin.
"Well, what the fuck just happened?" I muttered to myself, completely stupefied at what was currently happening to me. I was observing my surroundings when suddenly, a voice spoke behind my back, surprising me.
"Passing through space and time using the mirror dimension, a feat that even I can't fathom. It's surprising to see you here, Mr. Spectre." It was the Ancient One. She stood there, all dressed in her orange robes, her bald head reflecting the brilliance of the sun.
"Ancient One... call me Lucas," I said to her as I continued looking at my surroundings, deep in my thoughts.
'It looks like I can also instinctively control my ability. But for me to have instantaneous teleportation just like that is unimaginable even for me... This means, asking the Ancient One for guidance is indeed the right choice for me, for now.'
"Then, you can call me Master, Lucas. Now that you think about it, you've arrived just in time," the Ancient One replied as she stepped forward beside me, wearing a mysterious smile.
"Why? Will my training start now?" I was confused about what she said because I thought my training would start after I recover.
The Ancient One stood by the bed, her eyes closed in concentration.
"You've already recovered," she said, opening her eyes to look at me lying on the bed. "The hospital doesn't know it just yet because they have no idea that you can heal much faster than an ordinary man."
I, still dressed in a hospital gown, sat up in surprise. "I see. But, won't they find out that I'm not in my room? Won't they search for me?"
"You can leave that problem to me," the Ancient One said, her voice calm and reassuring. "In the meantime, one of my trusted masters will assist you. Master Mordo?"
At the mention of his name, a tall, dark-skinned man stepped forward. "Yes, Ancient One," he said, his voice deep and resonant.
"Master Mordo will guide you to Kamar-taj," the Ancient One said. "There, you will begin your training in the mystic arts. It will not be an easy journey, but it is one you must undertake if you are to fulfill your destiny."
I nodded, determination shining in my eyes. "I understand," I said.
"Then go," the Ancient One said, waving her hand. "May the power of the mystic arts guide and protect you on your journey, young Lucas."
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