In a ruined subway station underground, Dr. Connors had returned to human form. At the moment, he stared at the computer with cold indifference. He was verifying a new genetic potion. The first genetic injection had gone terribly wrong, but now he had developed a corresponding serum.
He understood his weakness now— the serum. With his regenerative ability, only large-scale thermal weapons or fire could kill him outright. Otherwise, even severe injuries wouldn't be enough; he would always regenerate.
Staring at the data on the computer screen, Dr. Connors believed he had finally unlocked the gateway to genetic perfection.
"Peter Parker didn't give me all his father's data," Dr. Connors muttered angrily.
He had always thought of Peter like a nephew. But now, knowing that Peter's parents died in a crash caused by external forces, his anger grew. Dr. Connors believed that Peter's father had hidden critical pieces of his genetic research.
"The Spider-Man above New York must be the result of a successful mutation of the spider gene in humans."
Peter's father had created spiders capable of causing genetic mutations. However, the missing data had been kept secret, which was why Osborn's experiments had met with adverse reactions.
"Peter Parker is the key," Dr. Connors realized. "The genetic technology Osborn has been developing over the years—he's holding it back."
Suddenly, Gwen Stacy's face flashed through his mind.
"The Ghost Spider…" he whispered. Gwen had access to the spider gene. The Ghost Spider was, after all, a woman.
Injecting a new dose of his latest genetic formula into his own body, Dr. Connors screamed in agony as his body transformed once more.
Back at Midtown High School, Gwen and Hannah were on their way to the chemistry lab with books in hand when Gwen's senses alerted her.
A huge commotion erupted from the bathroom.
BANG!
The students paused, turning their heads toward the source of the sound. Crawling along the corridor wall was a ferocious lizard monster.
Panic spread instantly.
"Quick! Get out of here!" Gwen yelled, her expression frantic. She hadn't expected the lizard monster, which had been frozen by Ethan the last time, to return and find Midtown High.
Gwen quickly directed students toward the exits. But as she scanned the area, her heart sank—there was no sign of Ethan.
Worry gnawed at her, but there was no time. She ducked into a secluded corner and quickly changed into her Ghost Spider suit.
Meanwhile, Ethan was still asleep at his desk in the classroom, exhausted from his eventful weekend. Jessica Jones had kept him busy all day on Sunday, and later, a seductive spider spirit had haunted his dreams. His iron-willed body felt drained.
The loud crash finally woke him up. Groggily, he noticed that only Peter Parker remained in the classroom, earbuds in, deeply focused on something.
Sounds of fighting echoed through the hallway. Ethan frowned, using his water control magic to enhance his senses. He could feel the blood circulation of two beings in combat, both running at incredible speeds, far beyond human.
"The Lizardman," Ethan muttered, stretching as he stood.
Peter Parker suddenly stood up too, his expression shifting as he grabbed his backpack and dashed out of the classroom.
Ethan followed at a more leisurely pace, observing the destruction in the hallway. The Lizardman was locked in fierce combat with Ghost Spider, who was doing her best to keep him at bay.
Gwen had improved her abilities recently, but Dr. Connors was still an overwhelming opponent. His regenerative powers made him nearly impossible to defeat through sheer force.
Ethan glanced at his fists, pondering whether Phantom Fist could handle the Lizardman's insane regeneration. Even though the Lizardman's power was enviable, Ethan had no desire to turn into a lizard monster himself.
Suddenly, Ethan remembered. He hadn't yet revealed one of his abilities.
"I still have my water control magic," Ethan thought, considering his options. Now that he had grown closer to Gwen, he could afford to demonstrate some of his more hidden talents. Maybe it was time for her to see that he could protect himself—and her.
Then, something else caught his attention. From the other side of the corridor, Ethan could sense another superhuman presence.
Peter Parker? Ethan thought, feeling something off. Peter's blood flow was different from Gwen's or Dr. Connors'—stronger, more potent. He quickened his pace.
Reaching the library, Ethan found the scene in chaos. Flames, flowing water, and broken walls surrounded the area. Gwen moved with agility, her black and white spider suit a blur as she fired webs at the Lizardman, trying to restrict his movements. She kicked him away repeatedly, her reflexes sharp and precise.
Ethan watched in quiet admiration. Despite her lack of formal training, Gwen's speed, strength, and agility were top-tier. Every hit she landed seemed to hurt the Lizardman, but it wasn't enough to stop Dr. Connors.
From the corner of her eye, Gwen spotted Ethan. She wanted to call out, but she couldn't afford to be distracted.
"Hao, get out of here!" she warned, knowing that she could escape if necessary—but Ethan couldn't.
"Tsk, tsk, Gwen," Dr. Connors growled, halting his attack. "I know it's you. And this is the classmate who visited you last time… your boyfriend."
With that, he twisted his body and lunged toward Ethan.
Ethan's hands began to glow with white light. In Gwen's shocked eyes, the school's fire suppression system burst. A torrent of water surged through the library, forming a massive water dragon under Ethan's control. The dragon slammed Dr. Connors into the wall and wrapped around him, forming a watery prison that held him in place.
Just as Ethan was about to finish him off, something strange happened. He felt another presence—stronger, faster.
The Lizardman's body, now with eight spider legs growing from his back, shot forward, breaking free from the water prison. With lightning speed, he scaled the walls and disappeared, fleeing the school.
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