The following week passed in a blur for Ethan. School life carried on, the monotony of the day-to-day offering no escape from his growing list of responsibilities and the new abilities he was learning to control. But that wasn't what consumed his thoughts. What burned in his mind was the need to test himself, to push his limits and see just how far his powers could take him. Every day after school, he'd return home, lock himself in his room, and grind on his web-shooting, his wall-crawling, his combat maneuvers.
He hadn't told anyone about the powers he'd gained—not Peter, not Mary Jane, and certainly not Gwen. Even though they weren't friend, they used to talk and Ethan tried his best to act the usual. But that didn't stop his mind from racing. It wasn't just the physical aspect of it; it was the sheer adaptability his body seemed to possess. His mind and muscles were learning faster than he could keep track, and it felt... unsettling. Powerful, yes, but there was always a nagging feeling in the back of his head that he was missing something crucial, some knowledge, some warning.
By now, he'd perfected the basics of web-slinging, though it was still a work in progress. The webbing wasn't as clean as the comic Spider-Man's—there was no elegant line between the shot and the swing—but it was functional. The walls of his apartment were covered in test webs of all shapes and sizes, each one reminding him of how far he still had to go.
Tonight was different, though.
Ethan had set up a new test—one that would take him out of his comfort zone. He had already climbed across rooftops, swung between buildings, and even learned to wall-crawl with ease. Now, it was time for something more—something real.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, interrupting his thoughts.
Peter Parker: Hey, what's up? You ready for bio homework tomorrow?
Ethan smirked, but it was short-lived. His mind was already on the mission at hand.
Ethan Daniels: Yeah, yeah. Just catching up on some stuff.
He didn't have time for distractions.
The test was going to be on the streets of Queens, where the real danger lay. He needed to get a feel for what it was like to face actual criminals—people who didn't just run from him because of his appearance or his enhanced strength. Tonight, he was going to take his web-shooters out for their first real test.
Time to see if these things hold up.
After dark, Ethan suited up in his makeshift costume. The black hoodie, gloves, and scarf were a far cry from what a superhero should wear, but it would do for now. For tonight, he wasn't trying to impress anyone. He was testing his limits.
He made his way to the alley behind his building, where he had more than enough space to test his abilities. The hum of the city was a constant background noise, but his senses were sharper now. Every footstep, every voice, every shifting shadow. His heightened awareness made it seem like the world was moving slower.
Focus, he reminded himself, squinting into the shadows. Don't get distracted.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan extended his arm and fired a web at the nearby fire escape. The sticky strand shot out like a bullet, connecting with the metal structure. He pulled himself up, using the webbing to guide his movements, his hands finding the steady rhythm he had worked so hard to develop. He wasn't perfect—his landing was a little too rough—but he was moving fast, faster than he could have ever hoped to move just a week ago.
He didn't stop. Ethan let the momentum carry him, swinging across the city streets, leaping from building to building. The wind in his face, the blur of the city lights flashing past—he felt alive in a way that nothing else had ever made him feel. But something in the back of his mind was still gnawing at him.
Don't get cocky, he thought. There are dangers out there. Real ones.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, he spotted the flicker of movement on the street below. A dark car skidded to a halt in front of a small convenience store. Ethan's instincts kicked in immediately, and he swung lower to get a better look. Three men in masks spilled out of the car, rushing into the store with guns drawn.
Robbers. Great.
It wasn't the kind of supervillain he'd been hoping to face, but it would have to do. This was his first real test as a superhero, and he wasn't about to back down.
He swung closer, hanging upside down on a nearby lamppost. His senses flared as he felt the cool night air brush against his skin. He could hear the robbers shouting inside the store. One of them, a tall man with a deep voice, was threatening the cashier.
"What's the holdup, huh? Open the safe!" the man yelled.
The other two stood guard by the door, their guns aimed at anyone who dared to enter.
Ethan had been practicing his webbing skills all week, but now it was time to see if they could help him make an entrance. He aimed his wrist and fired, this time letting the webbing wrap around the edge of the store's roof. With one quick motion, he pulled himself forward, launching himself into the air like a projectile.
He crashed through the front window with a grunt, his body rolling across the floor before he regained his feet. The robbers barely had time to react before he fired another shot of webbing, catching one of their guns mid-air and yanking it out of his hands.
"Who the hell—!" one of the robbers shouted, but he was cut off as Ethan swung into him, knocking him out cold with a clean hit.
The remaining two men aimed their guns, but they weren't prepared for Ethan's speed. He ducked and weaved, firing webs to disarm them, pulling their weapons from their hands and sending them flying across the store. The entire fight lasted no more than a minute, but for Ethan, it felt like an eternity.
By the time he was done, all three robbers were webbed to the walls, unable to move. The convenience store was in ruins, but Ethan didn't care. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline still rushing through his veins.
Not bad, he thought, surveying the scene. The robbers were groaning, stuck in their webs, but no one was seriously injured.
As sirens blared in the distance, Ethan took a step back, webbing his way out of the building. He had to leave before the cops showed up. The last thing he needed was to get caught by the authorities.
Leaping onto the rooftops once more, Ethan moved quickly, swinging away from the scene of the crime.
It had been his first real fight, and he was already addicted to it.