Peter sat at the dining table, spoon in hand, still feeling the weight of last night's work. He had just posted his third video, "Spider-Man's Rooftop Rumble", barely catching any sleep after editing the footage. Despite the exhaustion, there was a buzz of excitement within him, his popularity was skyrocketing. On patrol, people waved, called out, and greeted him warmly.
Except the cops, he thought, smirking to himself. They're still giving me the stink eye.
He took a bite of his cereal. The crunch was perfect, just starting to get soggy on the outside, his favorite texture. Across the table, Aunt May lifted the newspaper. The headline was all about the ReGen Serum, and Peter felt a small swell of pride. He had been part of that success.
But then his eyes caught another story. His spoon froze mid-air.
'Jr. Merchant of Death Kidnapped '
His heart dropped. Damn it. It's here.
Peter knew what this meant. The chain of events had been set in motion. Soon, the Hulk would arrive in New York City. His mind raced. I'm nowhere near strong enough to handle the Hulk. Seventy to a hundred tons of base strength? I'd be pancake.
The realization hit him like a train, making him almost miss J. Jonah Jameson ranting on the TV. The usual insults about Spider-Man being a bad influence barely registered. He needed to act, and fast.
As soon as Aunt May left for her errands, Peter hurried to his room. He sat on the bed, holding the serum he had prepared for himself days ago. The hesitations and fears clawed at the back of his mind, but he pushed them aside. This is the only way to even stand a chance in this world.
With a deep breath, he injected the serum.
The change was immediate. Pain surged through his body as his nerves felt like writhing worms beneath his skin. He collapsed to the floor, clutching at his arms as his veins bulged unnaturally. His muscles spasmed, every fiber of his being burning like fire. His rapid adaptability was kicking in, his body increasing his pain tolerance second by second, putting him at ease.
Minutes passed, each one stretching into an eternity. The pain subsided soon and Peter managed to stagger to his feet. Something felt... different.
He looked at himself in the mirror. His once 5'10" frame now stood at an even 6 feet. His lean, athletic build remained, but there was a subtle power in the way he moved.
Dayumn! I'm feeling extra sexy!
Peter tested his new abilities. His strength had increased significantly, making him feel like he was capable of lifting 40 tons with ease. His fingers sprouted sharp, retractable claws, each tipped with venom glands beneath. He concentrated, and patches of lizard-like scales rippled across his skin. They felt sturdy, a partial transformation he could control at will. And his skin had a multicolored shine, they shifted their colors according to his will.
He sniffed the air, and scents exploded in his mind. His sense of smell had sharpened drastically, and his surroundings felt alive in ways they hadn't before. Closing his eyes, he focused and felt an odd connection, a pull. He opened his eyes to see a small lizard crawling out from beneath his desk.
Telepathic control over lizards? He grinned. Well, that's new.
Just as Peter was getting the hang of his new powers, his phone buzzed. It was Dr. Connors.
"Peter, come to Oscorp. ASAP," Connors said, his tone clipped.
Peter threw on a hoodie and rushed to the lab. When he arrived, he saw Connors leaving a private meeting with Norman Osborn. The doctor looked agitated, his face pale and his usual cheer absent.
"Everything okay, Doc?" Peter asked carefully.
"Just some... complications. Don't worry about it, Peter. I'll see you tomorrow." Connors gave him a strained smile. "Hitting the growth spurts again, Peter?"
Before Peter could say anything, Connors excused himself.
"You look different, Peter. Did you start working out or something?" Norman appeared moments later, his sharp suit immaculate. He smiled warmly at Peter. "Well, come on in. I've been meaning to talk to you."
In Norman's office, Peter was offered a new job contract with a substantial pay raise and a generous monetary bonus for his contributions to the ReGen Serum. Peter's eyes widened at the figures.
"This is incredible, Mr. Osborn. Thank you!"
Norman leaned back in his chair, his expression calculating. "You've proven to be a valuable asset, Peter. I'd like to give you more flexibility to focus on your work. I understand you're still in high school, but I've spoken to the school administration. They've agreed to let you skip regular classes. You'll only need to show up for exams. Consider it a special privilege for their brightest student."
Peter couldn't hide his surprise. "Wow. That's... really generous of you. Thanks."
Norman waved it off with a smile. "Just keep up the good work, Peter."
Later that evening, Peter returned home and decided to treat himself to some new clothes. His old ones were starting to feel a bit tight after his growth spurt.
When he got back, Aunt May raised an eyebrow as he walked into the kitchen. "Peter, are you hitting another growth spurt? You're going to be taller than Uncle Ben at this rate!"
Peter chuckled nervously. "Yeah, must be all the cereal I've been eating."
Aunt May laughed, shaking her head. "Well, don't forget to eat dinner, too. You're still a growing boy."
After dinner, Peter suited up and headed out into the night. Shit! Forgot to buy a bigger suit. Well, it's time for an upgrade anyway. I should order the materials, once I get back.
His thoughts were focused as he leaped across rooftops, testing his new abilities. He went to the nearest park and concentrated on the connection with lizards, summoning them from surroundings and alleys.
This is insane, he thought, watching a small army of lizards scuttle towards him. But it's definitely going to come in handy.
Hulk or no Hulk, the Spider-Man was going to face it head on.
Only the regeneration is left to test..
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The 2nd regular update from yesterday.
Bonus chapter on reaching 150 stones.
Thanks for the stones and support! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧