State University.
Connors' Laboratory.
Connors had an enigmatic smile on his face as he stared at his hands.
Yes, that's right!
His right hand had grown back!
It was now covered with a transparent, sticky liquid that looked incredibly grotesque and unsettling.
Yet, at that moment, Connors was mesmerized as he gazed at his right hand. "It's perfect. This is truly a gift from the Creator."
The recording camera continued documenting the experiment.
"Peter, look, I've successfully completed the human trial."
"Very soon, we'll be able to distribute this genetic serum to the world. Countless disabled patients will regain their health."
"And this achievement belongs to both of us!"
Connors carefully placed the remaining vial of serum back into the refrigerated storage and once again looked at his right hand.
Years ago, the amputation of his right hand had forced him to step back from frontline research.
It had become a lifelong burden for him, as he had endured ridicule and discrimination because of that lost limb.
But now, his hand had returned.
And he was determined to make those who once mocked him eat their words.
"What… is this…?"
Connors furrowed his brow as he examined his arm and gingerly touched it.
There was a dark green bump, hard and scaly.
It resembled…
Lizard scales?
Connors' expression changed drastically.
Around that scale, more began to slowly grow.
"No… this can't be happening…"
The scales started spreading rapidly, covering Connors' entire arm in a short span of time.
Even his fingers elongated and became thin!
They now resembled…
Lizard claws!
Connors quickly realized what was happening, but he refused to accept it.
It was a side effect of the genetic serum, causing his body to undergo a lizard-like transformation.
And this change was far beyond anything he had anticipated—it was unstoppable.
He had considered the worst outcome to be genetic rejection that would result in his death.
Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that he would become a monster!
And for some reason, a wave of violent emotions suddenly surged through him. Everything around him now seemed intolerable—
Especially the camera in front of him, capturing every ugly detail of his transformation!
Just like back then…
When the media's cameras incessantly photographed him after his amputation.
"No… stop… stop filming…"
Connors, struggling with the excruciating pain in his head, felt his mind slipping into madness.
His body, now growing stronger, thrashed wildly around the lab.
He flung everything off the lab tables, turning the entire laboratory into a chaotic wreck.
Even the power supply was damaged, causing the lights in the lab to flicker erratically.
As an indescribable growl escaped his throat,
Dr. Connors had completely transformed into a humanoid lizard. His once blue eyes were now dark yellow with slit pupils.
In the final flicker of light,
Connors disappeared from the laboratory.
...
At Alan's House.
If Alan hadn't tested it himself and found that he could only lift those barbells easily while wearing the Emperor Armor, he might have thought he had been scammed by a shady merchant.
But seeing Gwen playing with the barbells like they were just a simple stick, he felt it was too surreal.
"Gwen, aren't they heavy?"
"Of course not! Not heavy at all!" Gwen smiled.
Not only was it not heavy, but it was actually kind of fun.
Suddenly, Alan recalled what had happened earlier that day at school—the guy who looked really strong had been unable to take a basketball away from Gwen.
"No way..."
Alan quickly set down the package he was holding and hurriedly asked, "Gwen, after you came back from Oscorp Industries, were you bitten by a spider? Or maybe while you were still at Oscorp, did a spider bite you?"
Gwen was stunned. "How did you know?"
"Last night, at home..."
Gwen recounted the incident where she had been bitten by an unknown creature the previous evening.
After hearing her story, Alan swallowed hard.
Could it be that in this universe...
Gwen is Ghost-Spider?
Alan recalled a story from a parallel universe where Peter hadn't been bitten by the super spider.
Instead, it was Gwen who was bitten, and she transformed into the Ghost Spider, fighting evil.
In that parallel universe...
Peter had turned into the Lizard, just like Dr. Connors.
"Gwen, come with me," Alan said, pulling Gwen over to a smooth wall. "Remember the feeling when you stuck to the basketball earlier?"
Gwen thought for a moment, then nodded, "Yes."
"Remember that feeling and try to see if you can climb the wall."
Gwen's heart was racing now.
From Alan's reaction, it seemed the barbells were indeed 160 pounds—there was no need for Alan to lie to her.
She also thought about the strange things that had been happening since last night:
The bite wound that had mysteriously disappeared...
The way she blocked the basketball without even realizing it...
How the ball stuck to her hand, unable to be pulled away...
All these bizarre occurrences made Gwen subconsciously follow Alan's instructions.
She placed both hands on the wall and assumed a rock-climbing stance.
The difference here was that the wall was as smooth as a mirror.
Normally, it would be impossible to climb...
But Gwen effortlessly scaled the wall, as easily as walking.
From the wall, Gwen looked down at the floor she had left behind, her mind completely in disarray.
"Oh my god... Alan, I..."
Watching Gwen clinging to the wall, Alan was now entirely convinced.
In this universe, Gwen was the Spider-Woman.
And Peter... might end up becoming the Lizard.
"Alan, what's happening to me?"
Gwen jumped down from the wall, her eyes filled with fear, her expression growing teary as if she was about to cry.
At the end of the day, even though Gwen had a strong sense of justice, she was still a girl.
The situation in front of her was completely beyond her understanding, and with Alan there as her emotional anchor, Gwen began to panic.
Alan hugged Gwen, letting her lean on his shoulder.
After all, seeing her about to cry really tugged at his heart.
"It's okay, it's okay. Gwen... Everything's going to be okay..."
"Maybe I can explain what's happening to you..."
...