Peter perched on top of a fire escape in Hell's Kitchen, his mask partially pulled back as the chill night air brushed against his face. The city was alive below him, its sounds echoing through the alleys. Sirens wailed in the distance, mingling with the shouts of late night revelers and the hum of traffic.
Hell's Kitchen.. a place riddled with crime, chaos, and danger.
If there's anywhere to test this regeneration, it's here, he thought, pulling his mask back into place.
His decision wasn't easy. The idea of deliberately taking hits to test the serum was unsettling. He may not be able to test the limits of the regeneration here, but at least he could know how fast his regeneration is. In this world, filled with Hulks and gods, knowledge was survival.
He adjusted small camera on his shoulder, to recording everything at a better angle.
Another video for the channel, he figured. It wasn't about views this time, though it was about understanding what he was capable of and to show the world how dangerous the life in Hell's Kitchen actually was.
Activating his camouflage, Peter felt his body blend seamlessly into the surroundings. This ability is insane. I'm practically invisible. His rapid adaptability made it even more effective; he instinctively adjusted his movements to stay hidden.
As he swung through the neighborhood, he noticed a factory that shouldn't have been operational this late at night. His sharp senses picked up the faint sound of footsteps and murmurs inside.
Sliding down to the roof, Peter observed blind men and women being led into the building. His brows furrowed. Inside, he saw them working in silence, packing small paper packets. The pungent smell confirmed it... Heroin...
This setup looked familiar... The Hand...
Peter's heart sank as he moved stealthily around the factory. In a separate room, he saw something far worse: children, their eyes bandaged or scarred. They were being groomed-trained to join this twisted operation as laborers.
He clenched his fists. I'm no hero. But kids? This has gotten way out of line. He exhaled slowly, calming himself. Anger would only get in the way.
Peter mapped out the factory in his mind. Room by room, he planned his attack. Efficiency was quick, silent takedowns to avoid raising the alarm.
His first targets were the guards at the entrance. Dropping from the ceiling, he used his retractable claws to knock them out with precision strikes to their blood vessels, discovering his hidden abilities along the way.
Dayumn, the concentration of the venom is controllable. Nice!
Not even an unnecessary drop was used, just enough to incapacitate.
He moved through the factory like a ghost, taking down targets who were clearly more than just guards. The way they moved, the way they carried themselves-they were trained fighters, ninjas.
One down, two down... How many are there? he mused, webbing a group of them to a wall.
The deeper he went, the more resistance he faced. In a corridor, the ninjas started to ambush him. His Spider-Sense flared, giving him enough time to dodge and counter. His fists connected with their bodies, crushing vitals with precise force.
One ninja leaped at him with a katana. Peter sidestepped, grabbed the blade mid-swing, and twisted it from the attacker's hand. A swift kick sent the ninja flying into a wall.
I'm faster, stronger, and smarter. They don't stand a chance.
Just as he thought he had cleared the last room, a presence caught his attention. Peter turned to see an elderly woman standing calmly amidst the chaos. Madam Gao.
"You're impressive, Spider-Man," she said, her voice calm but filled with authority. "But you're meddling in matters far beyond you."
Before Peter could respond, she thrust her palm forward. A wave of invisible force, qi, hit him like a freight train, sending him crashing into the wall.
Peter groaned, pulling himself up. What the hell was that? Oh right , the 'qi'... The life force,the vital energy in all life. His rapid adaptability kicked in, his body analyzing the energy. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and his nerves adjusted to the unfamiliar force.
Gao moved with grace, her strikes precise and deadly. Peter blocked and dodged, holding back his strength to avoid accidentally killing her. He needed a few more seconds to fully adapt to her fighting style and the qi energy.
Seconds passed like hours as his body underwent subtle changes. His muscles and nerves adjusted, aligning with the rhythm of Gao's energy. When she struck again, Peter countered with ease, his movements fluid and efficient. He could faintly sense the qi, it was there.. but still out of his reach.
"You're learning," Gao said, her tone almost impressed. "But it won't be enough."
Gao's eyes narrowed, and Peter felt a sharp pain in his mind. She was using telepathy, trying to manipulate his thoughts.
But Peter had prepared for this, way ahead. Well.. Sooner or later, every Tom, Dick and Harry will have mind reading abilities.
Currently, his mind was well trained to resist intrusion. He focused on a mental image: a steel wall and reinforced it with every ounce of willpower.
"You won't get in, you fossilised bitch " he said, his voice steady. Causing Madam Gao's face to twitch with anger.
In a few seconds, the pain subsided and Peter grinned beneath his mask. Nice try.
It was during the mental attack that Peter realized something. This version of Madam Gao posseses the peak strength shown in comics. That meant dark magic was in play.
He held back further, observing her closely. Gao raised her hands, chanting in an ancient tongue. The fallen ninjas around them began to stir, their lifeless bodies reanimating.
Zombies? Great.
Peter moved swiftly, taking down the undead ninjas. Their movements were slower than before, and his strength made quick work of them. He felt his body adapt to them, but the adaptation was not limited to mere resistance. It was finally here.. Qi! Unfortunately, he gained no powers related to the dark magic.
On learning that he had nothing more to gain, he turned to Gao.
"This ends now," he said, leaping towards her.
She tried to block, but Peter's claws tore through her defenses. A qi powered punch to the face resulted in a bloody explosion. A bitch like you doesn't deserve to live...
Madame Gao's body went limp, and the undead ninjas collapsed instantly.
Peter stood amidst the chaos, calm as ever. He felt no guilt, no urge to vomit or any negative feelings like he thought he would. The adaptibility, he thought. It is changing me, fit enough to survive. Fit enough to be a predator.
But the night was far from over. He had evidences to destroy.
He looked at the camera on his shoulder. There was no way he could upload this. Not after what had happened. He had taken lives tonight. He ceased the recording for now.
Peter stood amidst the destruction, the factory now eerily silent. He quickly moved through the rooms, luckily there were no surveillance cameras.
The blind laborers and children were his next priority. He couldn't leave them here, but he also couldn't risk exposing his identity. Adjusting the voice modulator, he adopted a deeper voice and spoke firmly. "Follow my lead. Stay quiet, and I'll get you out." Using his camouflage, he guided them through the factory's back exits.
As the group huddled together, Peter disappeared into the shadows, leaving them to be found and helped without anyone knowing Spider-Man was involved.
Once everyone was clear, he found the gas lines in the factory and webbed them open. A single spark from an exposed wire ignited the blaze, and Peter watched as the flames devoured the factory.
Ding!
System? Oh wait, it's the alert tone..
Pulling out his phone, Peter checked the alerts forwarded from his PC. Another site was being attacked.
No time to dwell on it. There's always more work to do.
He swung out of the factory, . The night wasn't over yet, and the city still needed him.
As he swung through the night, he saw notifications pop up-superchats, memberships, and Patreon contributions. For a brief moment, he allowed himself a small smile.
At least something good is coming out of this.