"That makes sense, but humans should be different from birds," Gwen hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Society is incredibly complicated—so much so that sometimes, I can't tell what's right and what's wrong."
She thought for a while before turning to Peter. "For example, Josh was killed by Frank and wrapped in a spider's web. There's no doubt that he was a bad person. Many people think so. You and I both know that."
"But at his memorial service, I saw something different. His neighbors and friends spoke about him as if he were a completely good person."
"His parents said he dreamed of playing professional football after college. He planned to major in English and loved writing poetry. Six months before his death, he even had a poem published in the famous magazine Everli."
Gwen paused, her expression filled with doubt. "I mean... I have my reservations about whether he could have gotten into college, but I have to admit, he seemed idealistic. He had a plan for his future."
Everything Gwen recounted was what she had heard at the memorial service. While some of it was surprising, it was likely true.
"But in school, he bullied others without restraint. He even beat you up, Peter. Sometimes, I wanted to punch him myself," Gwen admitted, frustration creeping into her voice. "So... was he a good person or not?"
"If you're going to be a superhero, and you can't distinguish between justice and evil—good people and bad people—it could have serious consequences."
Gwen sighed, clearly unsettled.
"If I want to fight crime as Spider-Woman, what happens if I misjudge someone? What if I do something I regret?"
Peter watched her carefully. Gwen was struggling with a moral dilemma—one he himself had faced before.
"I think you're making a good point, Peter," Gwen said suddenly, her gaze becoming sharper. "I have to understand how cruel this world really is. If I don't recognize what's wrong, how can I tell what's right?"
"And how exactly do you plan to understand society's cruelty?" Peter asked, intrigued.
"I'm not sure yet. Maybe you can help," Gwen said, looking at him expectantly.
Peter raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"Well... You're good at saying cruel things in a normal tone. Maybe you could, I don't know, try to hurt me emotionally?"
Gwen's suggestion was half-serious, half-playful. She had always been fascinated by Peter's perspective on the universe—the way he could say things like, "The universe is just a massive graveyard, and eventually, we will all die," with a straight face.
Peter considered it for a moment but ultimately shook his head. "Probably not."
"Why not?" Gwen pressed.
"Because I'm Spider-Man. Does that count for anything?"
Gwen blinked, stunned.
For a brief moment, she felt her heart race. Was Peter serious?
His eyes locked onto hers, and her mind raced with possibilities.
No. That's impossible.
She shook her head. "That doesn't count."
If Peter really were Spider-Man, she'd feel... something, right? A sense of revelation? Instead, all she felt was doubt.
She quickly changed the subject.
"In that case, I'm also Spider-Man. So we're even," Gwen joked, smirking.
During class, Peter sat at his desk, flipping through a textbook, though his mind was elsewhere.
He was still thinking about what had happened the previous day.
His new biology teacher, Helen, was similar to Frank.
Did she also have a "beast" living inside her?
Peter glanced outside the window, deep in thought.
That would mean she was part of The Hand as well.
After Frank's death, Peter had tried to root out The Hand's operations in New York, but he had found nothing.
Either they were hidden extremely well, or their main headquarters were in Japan, meaning their influence in New York was limited.
According to what Matt had told him, The Hand had been around since Japan's feudal era, centuries ago.
It was formed by oppressed civilians who had fled to the Iga and Koga regions, secretly training in combat and espionage. Over time, their techniques evolved, possibly influenced by The Art of War, until they became true masters of ninjutsu.
Over the next hundred years, The Hand continued refining their craft, excelling in hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, disguise, and assassination.
But beyond their physical prowess, The Hand also possessed supernatural abilities—secrets that allowed them to bring the dead back to life.
In 1588, Kagenobu Yoshioka led The Hand, transforming it into an international organization feared for its assassins.
Their so-called "beast" parasite granted them immense power. Frank's "beast" had mutated into a spider-like entity.
Peter's eyes narrowed.
If Helen was reaching out to him, she must have sensed something familiar about him—perhaps thinking he was one of them.
That was likely because he had absorbed Frank.
But unlike The Hand's "beasts," the entity inside Peter wasn't a beast—it was an alien.
Both organisms sought to reproduce, but the alien in Peter's body was focused on something else: destruction.
Peter took a deep breath, closing his textbook.
Lately, his body had felt different. The strange physiological impulses he had been experiencing had subsided.
It was only when he was near Helen that the alien embryo inside him reacted strangely.
Suddenly—
Ding, ding, ding!
The sound of the school bell snapped him out of his thoughts.
He was about to reach for another book when something felt off.
A familiar scent filled the air—similar to the one Frank had emitted, but different.
It was mixed with something else—a distinct, almost intoxicating fragrance.
Something was wrong.
Looking around, Peter noticed that the entire classroom seemed... unusual.
Everyone was oddly excited.
Even after class ended, the students remained restless, talking and laughing more than usual.
"What is this...?" Peter muttered under his breath.
His gaze fell on Gwen.
She looked different.
Her face was flushed, and she kept shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
Was she trying to resist something?
Frowning, Peter stood up and walked over to her.
"Are you okay, Gwen?" he asked softly.
Gwen looked up at him, her grip tightening on his hand.
Her body trembled slightly.
"Peter... I—I don't feel right."
(End of Chapter)