After logging out of the game, Mark opened his eyes to see a plump fat guy charging toward him.
"Stay away from me!!"
A wave of terror swept over him.
After all, the guy looked far too sleazy.
Fortunately, Mark wasn't his target.
"Hey, buddy, did you see Spider-Man?"
A panting Ned Leeds asked excitedly.
Mark blinked. "Spider-Man? Where?" He looked around.
Ned immediately looked disappointed.
"He just saved a girl from the Lizard Monster, then came this way."
"Here?"
Mark looked puzzled. "That shouldn't be possible!" he muttered.
"What?" Ned had caught something.
Mark shook his head. "Nothing. I suggest you try over there." He pointed in a random direction.
Ned gave Mark a sidelong look. "Buddy, that's the way to the bathroom."
Mark looked utterly serious. "Exactly. The bathroom.
"You know, superheroes usually change into their suits in the bathroom."
Ned's eyes lit up at those words.
"Right! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks, stranger."
With that, he immediately ran toward the bathroom.
He had become a Spider-Man fan just moments ago.
Mark watched him leave and shook his head helplessly.
Peter seemed to have gotten himself into trouble again.
That was his guess.
Sure enough, Peter and Gwen Stacy soon found Mark.
"Mark, we saw Spider-Man. He saved me," Gwen Stacy said meaningfully.
Mark looked at Peter, deeply gratified.
Spider-Man had finally managed to save Gwen Stacy.
Boohoo, this is so touching.
"Peter, nice work," he praised.
Peter: "..."
"What did I do?" He looked bewildered.
Mark waved a hand. "Nothing. Oh, right, you must have fallen from upstairs, didn't you?" he asked Gwen Stacy.
Gwen Stacy's expression grew even stranger. "Yes. Were you there?"
"No, I guessed."
The corners of Mark's mouth lifted slightly. "I knew it."
Gwen Stacy had to fall from a tall building in every universe. No exceptions!
This was one of the Ten Laws of Marvel.
As for the other nine laws, he hadn't thought them up yet.
"Also, you said Professor Connors is the Lizard Man?" he asked Gwen Stacy.
Gwen Stacy's expression turned grave. "That's right. It's him. Peter saw him too."
Beside them, Peter Parker thought for a moment. "Actually, I knew a while ago. He threatened me into helping him, so..."
"I understand."
Mark patted his shoulder. "I heard everything that day."
"You heard?" Peter was startled.
"Yes. Don't look so surprised."
Mark reassured him. "It's fine. I'll be okay. As for Professor Connors, now that his identity's been exposed, he probably won't show up at school anymore."
"But I don't have any evidence. The police might not arrest him right away, and they wouldn't be able to catch him anyway," Peter said.
Mark looked mysterious. "Don't worry. If the police can't catch him, someone else can."
"Who?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"What's S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Peter looked puzzled.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Mark grinned.
He knew those guys loved sticking their noses into things.
Now that they finally knew the Lizard Man's true identity, they were bound to take action.
What worried him, though, was that Professor Connors might secretly keep an eye on Peter.
Right, and me, the great Demon Hunter.
Mark figured that even if he could put up a fight now, he still lacked the overwhelming strength needed to defeat his opponent.
So he needed help.
He looked at Gwen Stacy. "Your father should be able to contact S.H.I.E.L.D., right?"
Gwen Stacy thought for a moment. "I've heard George mention a mysterious department. It's probably this S.H.I.E.L.D. you're talking about."
"Good. Have George tell them I want to work with them to capture Professor Connors."
Peter was immediately startled by Mark's words.
Is he planning to reveal his identity?
Gwen Stacy looked thoughtful too.
Is he planning to reveal his identity?
"Are you sure they'll work with you?" Gwen Stacy asked curiously.
Mark nodded. "Of course. I'm... someone with superpowers!
"Though I don't have the overwhelming strength to defeat the Lizard Man, I still have superpowers. I can hold my own, at least."
Peter Parker had nothing to say to that.
If you don't have the strength to defeat the Lizard Man, who does?
Before, he had worried that Mark was no match for Professor Connors.
Now that he had witnessed Spider-Man's incredible strength firsthand, he wasn't worried at all.
With that weight off his shoulders, he simply let Mark do as he pleased.
It would be difficult for Mark to keep his identity hidden.
But if he used another identity as cover, there would be no problem.
At that thought, Peter's gaze grew even more complicated.
Mark's illness came and went.
When will he ever get better...?
Before long, amid the rising and falling wail of sirens, George led the police officers in securing the scene and collecting evidence.
Since Gwen Stacy had been directly involved, George didn't doubt her account of what had happened.
Besides, the students at the scene had recorded it on their phones.
So he immediately contacted S.H.I.E.L.D.
Soon, a group of mysterious agents in immaculate suits arrived at the scene.
"The Lizard Man's real identity is Curt Connors?" Coulson looked shocked.
Natasha, however, urgently questioned Gwen Stacy.
"Then do you know Spider-Man's real identity?"
Before Gwen Stacy could speak, Mark cut in.
"Ma'am, let me correct you on one point. It's Spider-Man!"
He was fiercely protective of Peter.
Wait, when did we get so close?
Damn that Spider Succubus. Even I've been drawn in!
Mark cursed inwardly.
Natasha ignored Mark and simply stared at Gwen Stacy, as though she could make an answer appear by looking hard enough.
Gwen Stacy shook her head. "I don't know."
Natasha was disappointed by the answer.
"Bruce, record this for me."
Suddenly, George called over a police officer. As though acting on reflex, Natasha whipped out her pistol and aimed it at him.
"Spider-Man!"
Bruce hurriedly raised his hands, his face deathly pale.
"Ma'am, I'm Bruce. I'm on your side. I'm not Spider-Man."
Only then did Natasha come to her senses.
She let out a long breath.
"Sorry. I mistook you for someone else."
Bruce. That name was her nightmare.
Suddenly, she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, I'd like to..."
In an instant, reflex took over again. She flipped over, clamped her legs around his neck, and used the momentum to pin him down.
"Ow, ow, ow! That hurts! It's me! I'm on your side!" Mark slapped his hands against her, crying out for help.
Only then did Natasha release her legs.
If only Spider-Man were this easy to defeat.
"What do you want?" Natasha asked coldly.
Finally able to breathe, Mark felt like crying, but no tears came.
I'm so weak!
I can't even beat Black Widow.
He got up and dusted off his trouser legs.
"Here's the thing. I have superpowers, and I'd like to ask for your help," he explained.
"Superpowers?"
Natasha gave Mark a sidelong look. "You?"
"Yes, me."
"Then may I ask what your superpowers are?"
"Uh, I can run fast, jump far, and... transform!"
Mark immediately sprang backward.
The instant he summoned his game equipment, the Demon Hunter Set appeared on his body!
Natasha rolled her eyes.
So he's a magician.