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Mike moved swiftly among the high-rise buildings. Although he couldn't yet fully control his extraordinary physique, he was finally becoming more comfortable with his movements outside.
'So this is what it feels like to fly.' He thought, exhilarated.
With the help of the golden rope in his hand, Mike was leaping back and forth across the tops of buildings, some as low as a few floors, others towering over ten stories. When his leaps were too strong or fell short, he would use the lasso to pull himself to the next building, ensuring he didn't fall.
No one knew what material this golden rope was made of. It could stretch and retract at will and attach to anything—railings, eaves, clotheslines, and even seemingly intangible things like smoke rising from chimneys.
He was stunned to discover that it wasn't limited to solid objects. The rope could grip smoke as if it were solid, allowing him to swing from it.
Mike even suspected it could be used to lasso clouds, or even more ethereal things, like a soul—assuming the concept of a soul was real in this world.
"We should be able to shake them off now, right?" Mike mused as he stood atop a skyscraper, near the precarious edge. He gazed down at the vehicles and pedestrians below, which looked like tiny black dots, and still felt a flutter of nervousness.
"Time to head home."
With that thought, Mike leapt again, intending to throw the golden lasso to reach the opposite building. But just as he made the motion with his left hand, he realized that the golden rope, his reliable lifeline, had disappeared without a trace.
"No way, are you kidding me again?"
Mike's heart sank as he once more found himself in a free fall, plummeting through the air for what felt like the third time that night.
Gravity was certainly not taking any breaks tonight.
So, the scene we saw at the beginning repeated itself.
Mike crash-landed onto the roof of a five-star hotel. Spotting the police helicopter hot on his trail, he had no choice but to keep fleeing, relying on his still-unsteady strength.
Ten minutes later.
Mike didn't know how long he'd been leaping across the cityscape. He only knew he was far from the urban area near his home.
Hiding in the shadows of a water tower on a tall building, he watched the helicopter patrol in the wrong direction until it disappeared completely from sight.
Mike finally let out a breath, his body radiating enough heat to evaporate the frost and snow around him. His eyes were filled with exhaustion.
"Now, can I finally go home?" Mike murmured softly.
It felt like tempting fate.
As soon as Mike finished speaking, a figure appeared out of nowhere and landed gracefully atop the high-rise water tower.
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As Christmas approaches in Western cities, the nights grow colder.
Especially on the top floor of a twenty-story skyscraper, where the wind is strong enough to knock an adult down, mixing with frost and snowflakes carried by the howling night breeze.
The door leading to the top floor had long been locked from inside the building. It was rare for anyone to come up here, even during the day.
But now, here they were on the rooftop.
One figure crouched atop the highest point of the water tower, while the other leaned against the rooftop railing. They faced each other in the cold night, about ten meters apart.
"Who are you?"
Gwen's eyes widened as she looked at the figure in front of her through her spider mask.
The sight was stunning.
The woman before her didn't look particularly strong. Her exposed skin was delicate and fair, lacking defined muscles. It was hard to imagine the source of her formidable strength. Her armor, weapons, crown, and boots exuded an ancient, noble wildness.
She stood on the rooftop, facing the icy night wind, feet on the frost-covered floor. Moonlight bathed her, illuminating her wild, silver hair, making her entire figure glow with a silver-white holy light.
She looked like a goddess from ancient Greek mythology.
"So beautiful." Gwen couldn't help but murmur.
Though Gwen couldn't clearly make out her features due to the darkness and frost, the woman was still breathtaking.
While Gwen was admiring her, Mike was also sizing Gwen up.
Although Gwen's body was fully wrapped in her tight uniform, her posture, attire, and movements confirmed she was a woman.
After all, in contrast to the skirt-like armor he wore, a tight uniform like hers made concealing one's form more challenging. A man wearing such a suit would inevitably reveal a slight bulge, unlike the smooth appearance of the woman before him.
What caught Mike's attention was that the black and white spider suit Gwen wore perfectly outlined her slender, sexy figure. Her body exuded strength and agility, with muscles and curves in perfect balance.
Could this be the legendary Spider-Man?
Wait—wasn't Spider-Man supposed to be a guy?
Mike felt slightly confused and was just processing the sight when he heard her question.
The voice that came through the mask was cold and clear—a girl's voice. Somehow, it felt strangely familiar, stirring a sense of déjà vu.
While Mike pondered this, Gwen looked him over with increasing curiosity.
"You don't want to hurt the police or those in the helicopter, do you?" She asked, her voice growing softer.
Mike remained silent, then looked down at the retro sword in his hand.
He'd taken this sword because it had been hidden by his aunt at home. For that reason alone, he was unwilling to lose it.
As for why he hadn't used it, did it even need an explanation?
He didn't know how to wield a sword!
Gwen, reading his thoughts, said, "You don't want to hurt the officers or ordinary people."
Mike nodded. Suddenly, he realized he hadn't spoken aloud, so he placed the tip of his sword on the floor and drew a line.
Gwen looked at the scratch he'd made between them, quickly understanding what he meant, "Don't cross the line?"
Mike nodded slightly, holding his sword defensively, signaling his intent to draw it if she tried to cross.
He didn't want a confrontation with someone who might have powers similar to his own and hoped this would intimidate her into backing down.
"All right." Gwen agreed, almost too easily. The moment Mike relaxed, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes, and with a swift flick of her wrists, she launched her plan.
Whoosh!
Two white webs shot from Gwen's wrists. One attached to Mike's retro sword, and the other to the railing behind him, trapping him from both sides.
"Let's see who you really are!"
Gwen yanked on the webs, trying to pull the sword from Mike's grip. Though the sword didn't budge, her webbing acted like a spring, propelling her towards Mike at incredible speed, like a human cannonball.
Realizing he was in a tight spot, Mike decided to drop the sword, throwing it forward with force.
Swoosh!
The sword sailed through the air, becoming a silver streak.
Gwen's eyes widened as she prepared to dodge, only to see the sword fly past, dragging the webbing attached to her wrist along with it.
"No!"
Gwen's mouth opened in shock as her body was pulled backward, the webbing dragging her through the air.
The sword embedded itself in the metal door leading to the rooftop, sinking in all the way to the hilt.
Reacting quickly, Gwen pulled the webbing attached to the railing to slow herself down, flipping in mid-air to plant her feet firmly on the door.
But before she could turn around, a shadow closed in on her at high speed.
"Out of my way!" Gwen shouted, kicking backward fiercely. Mike, anticipating her move, grabbed her ankle with one hand, braced his knee against her back, and pinned her against the door.
Worried that Gwen might shoot more webs, Mike flipped her to the ground, keeping her pinned. He sat on her back, gripping her wrists and ankles tightly.
The counterattack was smooth and precise, as though he'd practiced it countless times. Even Mike was surprised by his instinctive agility, having barely understood his new abilities until now.
Desperation, it seemed, was a great teacher.
Gwen struggled beneath him, though her extraordinary strength was no match for his.
Despite possessing enough power to lift a car, she found herself utterly restrained by Mike's hold.
"Let me go!"
Pinned to the ground, Gwen was furious and humiliated, struggling against her captor's hold.
Mike, though, found himself in an awkward position.
He hadn't planned to engage in a fight; it was only Gwen's aggressive move that forced his hand. Now that he'd subdued her, he wasn't sure what to do.
Letting her go would risk her seeing his face, yet keeping her pinned indefinitely was hardly a solution.
"Maybe I should just knock her out." He muttered to himself, wary of using too much force.
As he hesitated, Gwen suddenly arched her body, raising her free leg high. Her foot, small but agile, hooked around his neck, pulling him backward slightly.
Gwen tried to capitalize on this, twisting in his grip. Realizing her intent, Mike tightened his hold, refusing to let go.
The two were locked in an intense struggle, almost a tug-of-war, their bodies close and muscles tense.
Pinned beneath him, Gwen's body was bent almost into a crescent, her flexibility and strength on full display.
"Let go!" She shouted.
"Loosen your leg first!" Mike retorted, their voices overlapping.