Chapter 38: Outbreak! Chaos Everywhere!
New York Underground – Sewer System
In the darkness, an experiment was underway.
Connors carefully assembled his "human evolution" device, inserting a vial of green reagent. Though he no longer retained his towering Lizardman form, remnants of his transformation were still visible—scales clung stubbornly to his face, and his pupils gleamed an eerie shade of light green.
"Peter, you shouldn't be running around."
Glancing at Peter, who had just entered, Connors continued, "My plan is about to be implemented. Soon, everyone will become like us. Come, help me."
Peter's pale yellow pupils contracted at those words.
Everyone?
Would everyone gain this power?
That meant Thompson—who he had just humiliated—would too?
No. He couldn't accept that.
---
Midtown – Oscorp Tower
"Hehehe!"
The Green Goblin burst through a glass window, his hoverboard carrying him into the open night.
Harry was ecstatic.
Just moments ago, he had personally taken the life of a board member who had once berated him. The sensation—the thrill—of that moment still lingered, feeding a growing hunger deep within him.
As he gazed down at the panicked pedestrians scrambling for safety below, something in him clicked.
Perhaps now he understood his father a little better.
The dark urges swirling inside him… they were impossible to suppress.
A wicked grin spread across his face as he casually tossed several pumpkin bombs into the fleeing crowd.
---
New York Cathedral
Thompson knelt at a pew, having just finished his confession. But it did nothing to ease his turmoil.
The attack from the Lizardman had ruined his life.
His classmates mocked him.
The school's football team had kicked him out, calling him an embarrassment.
Even his so-called friends had abandoned him.
And Liz?
She had dropped out, too shaken by the incident to continue school. Rumor had it she barely left her house.
"Insignificant… worthless…" Thompson muttered, his hands trembling as his bloodshot eyes widened with rage.
It was Peter. It had to be Peter Parker.
He knew it was him.
Perhaps it was his nature to prey on the weak and cower before the strong, but in that moment, his burning resentment solidified into an unshakable conviction.
His hatred consumed him so entirely that he failed to notice the writhing, inky black substance slithering toward him from the shadows… drawn to his powerful emotions.
---
Rooftop – Ghost Spider Club
The cool night breeze whispered across the rooftop, where four figures stood, watching the city below.
"Stephen and I are supposed to check out the car show tomorrow, so I'd really like to get some sleep," Ethan Lee said, arms crossed, his tone dry. "You'd better have a good reason for this, Jessica. Otherwise, I will get back at you."
Jessica instinctively covered herself, then crouched beside Skye, urging, "Hurry up! If we're caught up in some big mess again, I'll be in trouble!"
Skye, sitting cross-legged with her laptop, rolled her eyes.
"You can literally lift a car, but you're scared of fighting a normal person?" she scoffed.
Still, she sped up her work, quickly pulling up police communications and several city surveillance feeds.
Gwen, already suited up as Ghost Spider, peered over Skye's shoulder, impressed.
"I didn't know you had this kind of skill," she admitted.
Jessica grinned smugly. "Told you! I discovered her talent. With Skye, gathering intel is easy."
Ethan just sighed. He had so many things he wanted to say, but chose not to.
"The reports were right," Gwen murmured, eyes scanning the footage. "There are incidents happening in two places at the same time, but… hold on. Why are there two Lizardmen in one of the locations?"
Jessica frowned. "And… is that a Green Goblin in the other? Didn't Norman Osborn die? How can there be another one?"
Ethan leaned against the ledge. "The tech probably came from Oscorp," he said.
More specifically… from Harry.
"So what's the plan?" Jessica asked.
"Why don't we split up?" Gwen suggested. "I'll deal with the Lizardmen, and Jessica, you stop the Green Goblin before he does more damage."
"Wait, something's happening at Oscorp too!" Skye suddenly exclaimed, pulling up another camera feed.
On the screen, a figure wreathed in blue electricity burst out of Oscorp Tower. Violent arcs of energy crackled around him, instantly electrocuting several bystanders. The sheer destruction he caused rivaled—if not surpassed—the Green Goblin's pumpkin bombs.
Ethan narrowed his eyes. This was… unexpected.
"Why are more of these guys showing up?!" Jessica groaned. "What do we do?! There's only four of us! I wish I could split myself into two!"
Gwen turned to Ethan.
"Ethan, what do you think?"
I think you should all go home so I can take all the credit…
Though that was a tempting thought, Ethan pushed it aside and analyzed the situation instead.
"The guy with electric powers—Electro—is too dangerous right now. None of you can counter his abilities effectively, so leave him alone for the moment," he said. "First, focus on taking down the Lizardmen. They're slow. Then, go after the Green Goblin—he's fast, but not unbeatable. Once those two threats are handled, then we'll figure out how to deal with Electro."
"Solid plan," Jessica agreed. "We need to prioritize. Gwen, I'm with you."
"It's too dangerous for you to handle both Lizardmen alone," Gwen admitted. "Yeah—let's take them down together first."
Ethan crossed his arms.
Things are about to get interesting.