Chapter 41: Electro is Wreaking Havoc! Tony is Defeated!
Max was in an irritable mood.
Ever since Cindy had saved him, he had clung to the hope of survival, becoming obsessed with the girl. In his eyes, Cindy was a superhero just like Ghost Spider. He became her biggest fan, scouring the internet for any news about her.
But no matter how hard he searched, the only mention of Cindy was the time she had saved him.
Unwilling to accept this, Max fixated on her, his thoughts consumed by Cindy day and night. She became his sole reason to live.
His obsession twisted into delusion. He began boasting online, claiming that he was a real superhero—after all, he had saved his girl. Compared to him, Ghost Spider was nothing.
Naturally, his outlandish remarks were met with relentless attacks from Ghost Spider's fans. Max spiraled deeper into depression. At work, he moved like a zombie, enduring ridicule from his boss and colleagues once more.
Then, his distraction cost him everything.
A single misstep sent him tumbling into a vat filled with genetically modified electric eels. Nearby, a mixture of chemical and biological agents spilled in as well. A violent reaction occurred, mutating Max into something beyond human.
When he emerged, he was no longer just Max.
He was electricity itself.
And he was angry.
The newfound power gave him a means to unleash his resentment. And so, the massacre began.
The boss who had stolen credit from him?
Dead.
The coworkers who had mocked him?
Dead.
The pedestrians who happened to be in his way?
Dead.
Even the rats scurrying through the streets? Dead.
Max had become bloodthirsty.
The police opened fire, but their bullets passed through his crackling form, harmlessly dispersed by his electric body.
Max grinned. "I'm invincible."
With nothing to fear, he could do as he pleased.
Screams filled the streets. People fled, their cries for help lost in the chaos.
"Somebody help us!"
"Where are the superheroes?"
"Spider-Man! The Female Knight! Ghost Spider! Where are they?!"
"The news says they're dealing with a Lizardman in another neighborhood!"
"Oh God, we're doomed!"
"Why are there monsters everywhere? What's happening to the world?!"
Someone attempted to escape in their car—Max electrocuted them on the spot.
Despair spread like wildfire.
"Superheroes?" Max sneered. "Let's see who dares to stop me."
Boom!
A figure clad in red and gold armor landed in front of him.
Tony Stark. Iron Man.
Raising his palm cannon, Tony aimed at Max. "Alright, Sparky. Time for a time-out."
CRACK!
Max sent a thick bolt of blue lightning straight at him. The blast hurled Tony backward. He crashed hard.
"Superhero?" Max scoffed. "That's all?"
[Sir, the suit is fully charged. Excess energy detected. Recommend immediate discharge,] Jarvis warned.
Tony blinked at the small electric sparks flickering around his armor. "Wait, fully charged?"
[Yes, sir. Immediate energy release is advised.]
Tony didn't hesitate. A blinding energy beam erupted from his chest, slamming into Max. "Let's see how you like this!"
Max had underestimated him. The blast sent him flying into the Osborn Building.
Groaning, he realized something important. He was immune to bullets, but energy attacks? Those still hurt.
Gritting his teeth, he absorbed more electricity from the building's power grid. The lights across multiple floors flickered and then went dark.
Max reemerged, more powerful than before. "You'll pay for that!"
Lightning tendrils snaked from his body, latching onto Tony's suit.
This time, he changed tactics. Instead of simply attacking, he tried something new—hacking into the armor.
Tony's suit convulsed as Max invaded its electrical systems.
[Sir… systems compromised…] Jarvis's voice began to distort.
"Jarvis!" Tony gritted his teeth. He could feel his suit slipping from his control.
Although the emergency insulation measures protected him from electrocution, Jarvis was crashing.
And without Jarvis, Tony was just a man in a metal coffin.
"Mr. Stark, you might want to consider adding an electrical repulsion system next time."
A dark figure flashed past.
Ethan Lee had arrived.
Dressed in his Black Knight Spider suit, he dropped from the sky, delivering a powerful kick to Max's chest.
Electricity surged around them, but Ethan's suit repelled the charge, sending Max flying once more.
Tony, freed from the electrical grasp, quickly worked to reboot Jarvis. "Careful! This guy's immune to physical attacks!"
"I know."
Ethan's voice was calm as he walked toward Max, unfazed by the storm of electricity crackling around him.
A surge of blue lightning shot toward him.
It hit Ethan's black coat—but did nothing.
The electricity couldn't even penetrate an inch.