Peter's first thought when he woke up was his YouTube channel. With a quick stretch, he reached for his laptop and checked the stats. His first video, "Spider-Man's Debut: Villains Caught in 4K!", had officially gone viral.
Day 2 Stats (First Video):
Views: 3,457,891
Likes: 198,243
Subscribers: 121,543 (a massive jump overnight!)
Comments: 43,112
The excitement bubbled in Peter's chest. He scrolled through the numbers in disbelief. People were loving it.. his quips, his acrobatics and the clear takedown of criminals.
The second video, "Spider-Man and the Forty Goons!", a drug bust video was uploaded late last night, wasn't doing too badly either.
Day 1 Stats (Second Video):
Views: 932,156
Likes: 62,431
Subscribers Gained: 28,572
Comments: 10,847
While it hadn't reached the explosive success of the first video, Peter wasn't surprised. It usually took a follow-up video a little longer to catch fire. But the feedback was already pouring in.
As Peter scrolled through the comments, his chest puffed with pride. Looks like people are finally seeing Spider-Man as more than just some masked weirdo. They're starting to believe in me.
Mr.JJJ must have heard of it now. Most probably, I'll get attacked again tomorrow. The movie JJJ, at least once tried to protect Peter from the Green Goblin. If this JJJ is a complete asshole, I'll fuck him up!
He couldn't linger on it too long, though. Today, there was work to do, both in the lab and as Spider-Man. The world didn't stop for a viral video.
Peter decided school could wait. With a voice-modulated call mimicking Aunt May, he excused himself for the day. He needed the time for more important things.
He arrived early at Oscorp, the lab quiet and empty. Pulling on his gloves, Peter got to work.
Dr. Connors' formula had been incomplete and flawed, but Peter's intellect, paired with his rapid adaptability, had allowed him to see the gaps clearly. Over the past few weeks, he had guided Connors subtly, leading him toward a version of the serum that would enable regenerative effects without the monstrous transformation into a lizard.
Now, with no one around, Peter prepared the his own perfected serum. He adjusted the formula precisely, ensuring that every component was balanced. The result was a serum that not only could regrow lost limbs and heal wounds, but boost physical strength and give him additional abilities, without any side effects.
Peter held the vial up to the light, marveling at the glowing liquid. This was it… the Enhanced Lizard Serum, perfected. He carefully hid it in a secure spot before Connors arrived.
Dr. Connors walked in earlier than expected, wearing his lab coat and an air of exhaustion. Peter quickly masked his excitement, greeting him with a casual smile.
"I had a hunch the serum would be ready today," Peter said, feigning casual curiosity. "Figured I'd come in early to witness history."
Connors chuckled. "I hope your hunch is right, Peter. We've been chasing this for too long."
The two worked tirelessly throughout the morning, testing and rechecking the serum's stability. By lunchtime, everything was ready. Peter suggested conducting animal trials first, but Connors shook his head.
"No more delays, Peter. I've wasted years testing incomplete formulas. This is it! I can feel it."
Before Peter could protest, Connors injected himself with the serum. Peter held his breath, watching as Connors' right arm, the one he had lost years ago, began to regrow. The process was smooth, with no visible side effects.
Connors flexed his new hand, tears welling in his eyes. "It worked… It really worked!"
Peter couldn't hide his grin. "You did it, Dr. Connors. This is going to change lives."
"We!", Dr.Connors corrected him. "We did it Peter".
Connors asked Peter to take a photo so he could send it to his wife. Peter happily obliged, capturing the doctor's joyful expression as he held up his newly regrown hand. Connors' private call with his wife, gave Peter more than enough time to retrieve and hide the serum safely in his bag.
Once the initial excitement settled, they knew they had to inform Norman Osborn. As they walked through the corridors of Oscorp, every staff member they passed stopped in their tracks, jaws dropping at the sight of Connors' regenerated arm.
Norman's reaction was no different. He stared at Connors in stunned silence before breaking into a wide grin. "This is incredible. Do you realize what this means for Oscorp? For the world?"
The news spread quickly. The board of shareholders was notified, and a test subject was brought in for a live demonstration. The process was recorded and sent to potential clients worldwide, marking a monumental moment in scientific history.
Back home, Peter shared the news with Aunt May, who was thrilled for him. Which also had to include the confession of him skipping school, earlier that day. "That's wonderful, Peter! You must be so proud of yourself. Your uncle Ben would, if he were still here." Aunt May's initial anger turned to grief and then genuine pride.
Peter could feel it, the pride and love. He thought he could remain indifferent, but this… was hard to ignore.
They turned on the TV to find Oscorp's breakthrough already making headlines. Dr. Connors' name and face were front and center, but what surprised Peter was seeing his own name mentioned briefly as an assistant who had contributed significantly to the project.
Peter blinked, stunned. Legally, he wasn't entitled to any credit due to his intern contract. But Connors had insisted on sharing the spotlight, showcasing his gratitude and integrity.
Peter smiled softly. "Maybe good people still exist in the corporate world."
Connors' character had always intrigued Peter. Even when transformed by the original Lizard Serum in the comics, Connors' motives were rooted in altruism: trying to help people. It was reassuring to see that this version of Connors hadn't lost his moral compass.
As Peter headed to bed to get some shut eye before the patrol, he once again checked his bag to see if the Enhanced Lizard Serum is safe. Tomorrow, Aunt May will be out visiting her church friends, a perfect opportunity to try the serum.
As close his eyes, he felt a sense of accomplishment. For the first time in both his lives, he had achieved something monumental.
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Thanks for the stones and support, next bonus chapter on hitting 150 stones!
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