"Watch out!"
Eren, constantly monitoring the rearview mirror and the approaching spider-woman, suddenly yanked George by the shoulder.
An instant later, a razor-sharp, crimson spider leg tore through the Chevy's metal roof, grazing George's left shoulder and embedding itself into the seat behind him.
Had Eren not acted, the spider leg would have disemboweled George on the spot.
Barely escaping death, George stomped on the gas pedal, pushing it to the floor.
The engine roared as the Chevy surged forward. The embedded spider leg dragged the massive creature along, its weight creating a grotesque, blood-streaked trail across the concrete floor.
In just a few seconds, the creature's body was shredded against the ground, leaving chunks of flesh and skin behind. One of its legs struck a concrete pillar and twisted unnaturally, rendering it useless.
"Screeeech!"
The Chevy reached the end of the parking lot in moments. George executed a sharp drift, sending the spider-woman flying into a row of parked cars with a thunderous crash.
The impact shattered windows and set off a cacophony of car alarms.
"This is our chance. Let's get out of here!" Eren's eyes lit up as he saw the creature struggling to get back on its legs.
With George's driving skills, a few seconds was all they needed to escape the parking lot. Once outside, the spider-woman would have a much harder time pursuing them.
Eren's plan was sound, one that most people would instinctively follow in such a scenario.
But George Stacy was not most people.
"No," George said firmly, his face grim. "If we leave now, this creature will follow us out. The reinforcements haven't arrived yet. If this thing gets loose, who knows how many people it will kill? We have to contain it here."
You idiot!
Eren was nearly livid. He resisted the urge to scream at George, the only thing stopping him being the fact that George still had control of the steering wheel.
Was now really the time for heroics?
Before Eren could speak, George added quietly, "Spiders are excellent climbers… and Gwen and Helen are upstairs. I can't risk losing them."
If George's earlier reasoning stemmed from his duty as a police officer, this revelation showed his true motivation.
George was willing to risk his life to protect his family.
For family…
Eren clenched his teeth, finding George's reasoning infuriating but reluctantly acceptable.
"I'll take responsibility for this," George continued. "I won't let you risk yourself. We're close to the exit now. I'll stop the car briefly—use that chance to get out."
Eren's anger softened slightly at the thought of George's selflessness.
But before he could respond, George said, "If I don't make it, tell Helen and Gwen… I love them."
Eren's face darkened. It was clear George had already prepared himself for death, intending to use his life to buy time against the spider-woman.
As Eren opened his mouth to argue, a voice, both real and unreal, suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Ding! A destiny-supporting character is about to die prematurely, causing a ripple in the River of Fate."
"Stabilizing this ripple will grant Fate Points. The host is advised to eliminate the aberrant spider-woman to prevent further disruption."
"Note: The nascent spider-woman's flesh is imperfectly mutated. Its head and heart remain its primary weaknesses. However, with continued consumption of flesh, it will gradually shift these vulnerabilities."
A ripple in the River of Fate?
Eren blinked in surprise, realizing the system was referring to George Stacy.
His premature death would apparently cause a significant ripple in destiny.
Eren recalled that in The Amazing Spider-Man, George Stacy had died during the climactic battle between Spider-Man and the Lizard. His intervention had been crucial for Spider-Man's victory.
Moreover, as Gwen's father, George's death had a profound impact on Spider-Man's life.
From this perspective, George was indeed a key supporting character in that storyline—a "destiny character."
So that's what a destiny character is…
After a moment of hesitation, Eren reached into his pocket, his fingers brushing against a familiar object. He clenched his jaw and turned to George.
"You're going to tell them yourself," Eren said firmly. "You don't want Gwen to lose her father, do you?"
George glanced at Eren, surprised. He hadn't expected this young man to make such a bold declaration.
A person's true character reveals itself in times of crisis.
George's respect for Eren deepened, but that only strengthened his resolve to protect him.
"You're brave, kid," George said, shaking his head. "But bravery alone won't defeat that thing. Staying here won't change anything—it'll just get you killed for nothing."
"Is that so?" Eren retorted, pulling an object from his pocket and holding it up. "What if we add this?"
George's eyes widened as he caught sight of the item in Eren's hand—a custom high-explosive grenade.
(End of Chapter)
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