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Chapter - 11: Night Walk
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I waited for Aunt May to fall asleep before I could comfortably slip out of my bedroom window. After all, safety was never too much in a situation like this, and I had no intention of revealing my identity too soon, to be honest.
I wasn't afraid of hypothetical villains attacking me, unlike many other versions of Peter Parker in other universes. I just wanted her to be able to live a life free from worry about my existence while I fought to prevent this universe from being destroyed and, in the meantime, pursued my goals.
I was still concerned about the idea of being erased from reality, considering that I was altering some "canonical events" in Spider-Man's life for selfish reasons. I wondered if all of this would land me in trouble with the fabric of reality.
However, it seemed that I was worrying too much... or at least, for now, there were no visible consequences.
Being an Avatar has its advantages, sometimes.
For instance, by deciding not to rid myself of the symbiote, I knew people would start to see me differently. If anyone saw me in a dark-colored costume, acting more aggressively and less cautiously, it would be easy to think I was a much bigger threat than before.
People's perceptions change with so little.
My colors, now, were very different from Spider-Man's classic red and blue. I wanted to make it clear that I was no longer the good guy who forgives everything, the one who holds back in fights for fear of hurting his enemies.
I couldn't help but remember a meme I had seen on Reddit that said, "When Peter wears the symbiote, none of his enemies want to face him because they see him as a threat too big for them."
Above all, I thought about the comic featuring Shadow Spider-Man...
Well, at least I had an ace up my sleeve in case things got really bad for me. But honestly, I would have preferred to do without it since I seriously doubted my control to avoid killing everyone.
I opened my bedroom window and jumped down, landing effortlessly thanks to my spider powers. As always, I was careful to avoid the security cameras in the area. Even though I was pretty sure S.H.I.E.L.D. knew all about me, I didn't want to attract unwanted attention.
Hydra, on the other hand, would be another story. I wasn't in a hurry to confront them, but I knew that day would come. And when that day arrived, I would destroy every single base they had scattered around the world.
And as the good old Machiavelli said: "The ends justify the means." I was ready to do whatever it took to eliminate them once and for all.
I looked out over New York City from the top of a gargoyle, which had now become my vantage point like any good superhero worth their salt, given how much degeneracy I could see from this position.
However, as already mentioned, I had a simple goal tonight... I wouldn't be fighting some big bad, and I wouldn't be stealing cosmic artifacts to enhance my powers or anything like that.
I just wanted to take a walk in New York, discovering every corner of this city. Every dead end, shortcut, abandoned building, the busiest places, the highest levels of violence, and then practically every place that seemed dangerous to me.
I didn't intend to dive headfirst and hope everything would turn out fine. I meant to take things slow so I wouldn't end up like another Spider-Man who took the life of an ordinary person too lightly, as he had.
Spider-Man was labeled a threat because of the destructiveness of his battles, especially when it came to the villains he faced. The fact that he was a vigilante didn't help much.
So I was looking for a way to make everything much easier for me.
"But that doesn't mean I can't offer subtle help," I said, looking down at the street below me. The city was completely illuminated by various lights, as if it were some kind of glowing orb.
In that moment, I pushed off from the edge of the wall and fell. I felt the wind carry me as I clung to the web, swinging like a pendulum through the alley toward the open street.
"This is a feeling I can't live without!" I smiled and ran ahead. I jumped from the edge of the rooftop and shot a web.
I swung between the streets with surprising ease, and at one point, I executed an acrobatic flip before landing, staring in awe at my hands and the street I had launched myself onto.
My stomach didn't bother me at all, which was a clear sign that I was finally getting used to this new identity. It was exactly what I expected; I just needed to acclimate more quickly as I flew over New York.
I landed gracefully on the rooftop of a building across the street. I began to settle into my new routine. Without much effort, I intervened to stop a bank robbery.
I entered, disarming the robbers. Their reactions were swift, but my speed caught them off guard, leaving them with no chance to defend themselves. In a matter of moments, I ensured they wouldn't be getting back up for a few days.
I protected a kid from some thugs who was about to get hurt, saved a cop who was about to be hit by some bullets, damaged the engine of a car belonging to some criminals, and did many other things that night.
Yeah, I have to admit I was pretty busy on my first day. This made me realize even more how necessary a Spider-Man was in every universe...
Making one last quick round of the area, I heard screams coming from a direction not too far away. I hesitated for a moment but then decided to check it out. I arrived in a dark alley and saw a thug with a knife lodged in the stomach of a woman, slumped on the ground and bleeding.
"Tch," I scoffed with annoyance as I launched myself at a speed that surpassed any Spider-Man, taking down the thug in an instant. My attention was now entirely on the woman, who was losing a lot of blood.
Uhm
I did a quick assessment and, luckily, the cut was less deep than I had initially imagined, without touching any vital organs. I quickly applied first aid using my webs, as she was losing too much blood.
Now the woman was out of danger. I decided to take her to the police station, even though I didn't really intend to run into anyone that night. I knew I couldn't save everyone, but I was trying to do the right thing.
*Bang Bang Bang*
Suddenly, my spider sense warned me of imminent danger. Without even turning around, I dodged several bullets that were fired at me, sensing they weren't meant to kill me but just to immobilize me.
Contrary to what one might think, my spider sense has nothing to do with how spiders perceive air movement on their hairs or anything like that.
The spider sense is more like a low-level cosmic awareness, tied to the connection of all "spiders" to the Web of Life and Destiny, a cosmic web that connects everything.
It's through this web that I perceive danger, and that's why it had been so difficult for me to tap into it fully when I found myself in this body. Despite my enhanced powers and the presence of the symbiote, they hadn't helped me as I had hoped.
I could practically sense the future, as all "spiders" are connected to the Web of Life. One of the many "gifts" granted by the spider goddess to her spider totems.
Neith is the spider goddess, daughter of the Ancient Goddesses Oshtur and Gaea, and creator of the Web of Life and Destiny.
Everything in the Marvel universe is connected to the Web of Life, and it is believed that the Weaver is on the same level as the Phoenix and Lady Death.
"I believe there has been a misunderstanding," I said, observing the newcomers in front of me. My voice was deeper than usual. Unlike Peter, I had no intention of getting discovered by some stupid mistake that could reveal my identity.
In front of me stood a muscular, robust Black man. His short black hair and well-groomed beard gave him an impeccable appearance. He wore a black jacket that exuded professionalism and authority.
Behind him was the woman I recognized immediately: of mixed ethnicity, American and Asian, with light skin, a beautiful face, and raven hair that fell over her shoulders. Her form-fitting uniform accentuated her mature figure, and I couldn't help but notice her well-sculpted backside.
Yuriko Watanabe. One of the many women who, in the comics, had some connection to Spider-Man. And, to be honest, even in this universe, Peter had interacted with her in recent months.
We can say it was his way of obtaining confidential information, the kind only the police had access to. Peter had always had a knack for getting into the most complicated situations, but at least with her, he knew he had a reliable source.
"And your new detective colleague, Yuriko? He seems like a tough guy," I said, trying to lighten the tension, but it didn't seem like my joke had landed.
It wasn't the first time that had happened...
Yuriko began to respond but was abruptly interrupted, which made me realize the situation was more serious than I thought.
"Don't make any jokes. Turn around slowly and raise your hands," the man ordered in a harsh tone that left no room for doubt or hesitation.
I raised my hands, trying to remain calm. "I understand the confusion," I said, attempting to diffuse the situation. "A masked guy in an alley with an unconscious woman on the ground... yeah, that looks suspicious. But I just saved her. That guy there..." I pointed to the unconscious thug on the ground, "I took him down. There was no other choice."
The man, visibly skeptical, stared at me intently. "I don't care what your story is. You're Spider-Man, and that's enough to arrest you and take you in!" His voice was harsh and determined.
I remained silent for a moment, then responded sarcastically: "Oh sure, because arresting the guy who just saved a life makes perfect sense."
"Stop, Cole!" Yuriko intervened, throwing a glance at Cole, visibly annoyed by the whole situation. "There's no need to draw weapons right away. Let him explain how things went."
Cole, however, ignored her advice. With a swift movement, he drew his gun and opened fire. I easily dodged the bullets thanks to my spider sense, which was becoming increasingly refined.
This time, however, I didn't just defend myself. I lunged at him, determined to show him who he was dealing with. Not to hurt him, but to make him understand that it was unwise to continue.
I grabbed him and pushed him against the wall, holding back my strength so as not to seriously injure him. "This is the second time you've attacked me with lethal force," I said, locking eyes with him. "So you're ready to risk your life, huh?" My voice was low and threatening, but deliberately controlled.
"Let me go!" Cole growled, desperately trying to break free from my grip. "Who the hell do you think you are to attack me like this?"
I ignored his question and quickly changed the subject, maintaining control of the conversation. "You wanted to make sure you had control of the situation before speaking, right? That's how you operate, isn't it? You treat people like they're all just common criminals."
My words seemed to hit him, and after a moment of resistance, he stopped squirming, looking at me with nothing but contempt.
"You need to be careful, officer. The world is much more dangerous than you can imagine. If it had been someone else in my place, you'd be dead right now."
"..."
"Have you ever felt that sense of total helplessness?" I continued, my tone sharp. "You used a gun so easily, without knowing who you were up against. What would have happened if you had killed an innocent person, Cole?"
"I don't make mistakes like that," Cole shot back, visibly irritated. But I interrupted him sharply.
"Not this time," I said, cutting him off. "But there was always a chance. And what if things had gone differently?"
"I'm a professional agent!" he exploded, visibly furious. "I don't need a lesson from a masked vigilante!"
"Cole!" Yuri intervened, her tone firm and authoritative. She quickly stepped between us. "We can't continue like this. Spider-Man isn't the enemy. You know that. This isn't the way to resolve things."
"No, it isn't. Did you see the bloodstains on the guy's body on the ground?" Yuri replied, staring him straight in the eyes. "He clearly attacked first. And you're too smart not to see that."
"I don't care!" Cole insisted, his voice filled with frustration. "There's still someone I don't trust."
"So you'd rather attack him than give him the benefit of the doubt?" Yuri interrupted Cole, raising an eyebrow with a hint of reproach. "We have other priorities, and attacking Spider-Man won't make us good cops."
Cole paused, visibly conflicted, but said nothing. His expression was serious, yet he seemed to be considering his partner's words.
"Thank you," I said, slowly lowering my hands while looking at Yuri with a nod of appreciation. "I knew that, unlike many others, you would use that brilliant head of yours."
Yuri crossed her arms, looking at me with a small smile on her lips. "Don't get too cocky, Spider-Man. I still want some answers. Who's the guy on the ground and what happened to the injured woman? And most importantly... what's with the new costume?" Her tone was firm but not hostile.
I nimbly climbed up a nearby wall, watching Cole move closer to check on the woman's condition. "I was just doing my usual night patrol," I explained, keeping my tone calm, "when I saw that guy stabbing her. I took him down to prevent any further harm. And about the new costume..." I gestured to my black, intimidating outfit, "you don't like it?"
"I didn't say that," Yuri replied, tilting her chin slightly. "In fact, if I'm honest... I really like it." Her tone was professional, but the slight smile betrayed the fact that we were, in a sense, friends.
"I'm glad to hear that," I replied simply, but with a hint of irony. "But tell me, what are you and your new friend doing in this humble alley? Not exactly a spot for a casual meeting."
Yuri was about to respond when she was interrupted by Cole, who had returned to her side. "You shouldn't care, Spider-Man," he said brusquely, giving me a hard look. "The woman's out of danger, just like you said." He paused but seemed reluctant to add anything more.
"Enough, Cole," Yuri snapped, shooting him a severe glance. "Spider-Man will always be on our side, and we've proven that again." Then she turned back to me, her expression more serious.
"This is Cole North, my new partner who's been assigned to me, at least for now, for people like you," she explained, her serious tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.
"People like me?" I couldn't help but ask, even though I already knew where she was going with this and I wanted so badly to be wrong about it.
"Yes," Yuri continued, "in the past year, more and more people with powers have emerged, and the situation is getting increasingly complicated." She paused for a moment, locking eyes with me in a serious stare. "The police can no longer ignore the phenomenon. The streets are filled with vigilantes and superheroes operating outside the law. Some of them have good intentions, but others... well, you can't say the same."
The direction of this conversation led me to suspect that things would only take a turn for the worse in the future, hoping only that I wouldn't see a
"That's why an order came down from above. We've been told to act more actively both day and night and to intervene more forcefully when it comes to individuals with special abilities. In some cases, we've even been given permission to capture or... kill, if necessary, if they're too dangerous."
"I understand," I said, maintaining my calm, though I didn't like any of this at all. "So, what will your next move be? Do you really think I'm such a big threat that I need to be 'neutralized'?"
Yuri shook her head slowly. "No, but not everyone thinks like me. You need to be careful, Spider-Man. Things are changing, and not always for the better. Some see you as an ally... others see you as a problem to eliminate."
"It won't be easy to take me down; you should know that," I said with a slight smile, nodding as I took note of her words. "But I'll keep your advice in mind."
Yuri smiled back, crossing her arms in a relaxed manner. "That's more than enough. It would be such a shame if someone were to hurt my favorite hero."
I seized the opportunity to joke. "The same goes for my favorite detective. If you ever need help, just send a simple signal into the sky," I said, making a theatrical gesture upward, referencing the classic call of the old Bat-signal.
Yuri shook her head with an amused smile. "Always the joker, huh? I just hope you keep that promise when the time comes."
"I will," I said with a serious tone that left no room for doubt. Then, with a sarcastic smile, I added, "Oh, and hello to you too, Mr. 'I hate all vigilantes.'" Before he could respond to my jab, I was already disappearing between the buildings, leaving him without a comeback as I swiftly moved away.
Before heading home, I decided to take one last tour of the neighborhood. I already had in mind to deploy a network of spider-bots that I had designed myself in key locations like Hell's Kitchen, Oscorp, Midtown High, Stark Tower, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in New York.
In my neighborhood, I would place these devices in strategic points, pushing almost to the edge of my neighbors' privacy, but it was a necessary measure to ensure my personal security in the future.
With that thought, I returned home, satisfied with my first official day as Spider-Man, while in my mind, new plans were already taking shape about what I needed to improve and refine my skills.
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Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 3 advanced chapters
Osmosian Sorcerer?: 3 advanced chapters
Son of Li Qiye?: 3 advanced chapters
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Chapter - 12: New Mask - Chapter - 13: A Dragon Rises - Chapter - 14: Symbionte
Chapter - 16: Demon Sorcerers - Chapter - 17: Onmyoji - Chapter - 18: The Power of Bao
Chapter - 7: Hobby - Chapter - 8: New Hunt - Chapter - 9: Past unknown
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