Peter felt dizzy and incredibly cold—like an icy chill had settled deep in his bones. His whole body seemed to shiver as if something foreign was changing him from the inside out.
He still didn't know the cause of this strange sensation, but it all started with the bite—the spider in the laboratory.
Inside his body, the genes of the Chosen Spider were working their magic, breaking and reorganizing his genetic code.
"Peter, are you okay?"
A concerned voice broke through his foggy mind. Mei's gaze was filled with worry as she turned toward Luya, her brows furrowed.
"Luya, do you know what happened to Peter? He seemed fine when he left for school this morning."
Mei had always treated both Peter and Luya like her own children, and now, seeing Peter in this state, her heart filled with dread.
"It's fine, Aunt Mei. I just feel a little sleepy," Peter muttered before Luya could respond. "I'll be fine after a nap."
Peter's eyelids felt unbearably heavy. All he wanted was to lie down and let sleep take him.
"Okay, but if you feel worse, promise me you'll tell me," Mei said softly, still worried but trying to hide it.
Peter gave her a tired nod, then slowly climbed the stairs, his legs shaky with exhaustion.
Luya smiled to himself as he watched Peter stagger out of sight. Tonight… everything will change. Spider-Man will awaken. I can't wait.
After seeing Peter off to bed, Luya turned to the window, where the moon shone brightly through the night sky.
"Good night, Aunt Mei," he said, heading to his room.
The door clicked shut, and the room fell silent.
The window swung open with a soft creak. Once Luya saw the lights downstairs turn off, he sprang through the window, landing softly in the alley below.
Crack.
His muscles tensed and relaxed with precision as he hit the ground without a sound. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward Hell's Kitchen.
Soon, the familiar, grimy streets appeared in front of him. Through his enhanced hearing, he picked up a mixture of carnival laughter, distant screams, and the hum of nightlife all around. But he had a destination in mind—Bray's restaurant.
Bray was enjoying a late-night snack outside the restaurant when he saw a familiar figure approach from the shadows. Recognizing Luya, he stood up with a grin.
Inside the restaurant, a few familiar faces from the night before were busy working. Among them were two young siblings, Lu Xuan and Lu Hao, bustling about, clearing tables and carrying plates.
Following Luya's suggestion, Bray had offered the two kids part-time work, paying them in food. Resources were scarce in Hell's Kitchen, and Bray wasn't exactly wealthy, but helping these two survive gave him a sense of purpose.
Lu Xuan saw Luya enter and smiled, carrying over a slice of pie.
"Here, this is tonight's reward," she said, handing him the plate.
"Thanks," Luya replied, accepting it without hesitation. Having work is good. It gives them dignity, he thought. A small step toward self-reliance.
As Luya took a bite, his mind drifted. How much more progress do I need? 45% of the Motherland template unlocked, but still far from perfect…
He flexed his arm briefly. His strength had grown exponentially—easily hundreds of tons, if not more—but it wasn't enough. The most elusive ability, flight, still felt out of reach.
He sighed. Not yet… but soon.
Just then, the restaurant door creaked open, and a cloaked figure stepped inside.
The figure looked around the dimly lit restaurant before pulling back her hood. Beneath the cloak, the woman revealed a strikingly athletic figure with sun-kissed skin, dressed in a form-fitting red outfit. A steel fork rested on her hip—a subtle but clear warning to anyone foolish enough to challenge her.
"Boss, one apple pie, a steak, and a bottle of juice," she said, her voice smooth and confident.
Luya watched her carefully—not with desire, but curiosity. She had the physique of a fighter, every muscle finely tuned, and her aura radiated danger.
She's no ordinary woman... he thought.
"Killer," the word floated in his mind unbidden, as if instinctively labeling her presence.
Luya knew little about this universe's many dangerous figures, but if he had, he might have recognized her immediately. The steel fork, the red outfit… they all pointed to one conclusion. This wasn't just anyone—this was Erica, also known as the "Black Angel," a woman whose actions blurred the line between hero and villain.
Erica ignored the stares from the restaurant's patrons, only glancing briefly at Luya, as if assessing him.
She was in a good mood tonight, having dealt with a few lowlifes earlier.
The restaurant's brief silence was broken by the arrival of another guest.
The door swung open, and a man in a crisp white suit and a newsboy hat strolled in. His sharp gaze scanned the room with a practiced ease.
He was Jeremy, one of the new enforcers for Hell's Kitchen's underworld, taking over after the death of Myron Toynby.
Jeremy grinned at Bray, who shrank slightly at the sight of him. But then Bray glanced at Luya and straightened his shoulders. Why should I be afraid? I have someone like Luya on my side now.
"Bray, I hear your boss is dead," Jeremy said, his voice casual but dripping with malice. "No matter. The rules stay the same. Time to pay your gang dues for the month."
Bray steadied himself and replied firmly, "Matt already paid the fee two days ago."
Jeremy chuckled, his grin widening. "Yeah, well… Matt's dead now, so that's not my problem."
He glanced around the restaurant, his eyes settling on Erica first. For a brief moment, his gaze lingered on her figure, but her cold, dangerous aura made him think twice about saying anything.
Reluctantly, Jeremy turned his attention to Lu Xuan, who was tidying up near the door. A twisted grin spread across his face.
"Tsk. Didn't know you had such fine merchandise in here, Bray," he sneered. "How about we call it even? Hand her over, and your debt's cleared."
The room fell deadly silent.
Luya's gaze darkened. Not on my watch.