He said confidently, "I came up with this plan a long time ago.
But Spider-Man delayed it for a while."
He looked at Professor Connors. "Still, that's all right. Spider-Man's appearance was a good thing.
At least he indirectly brought about our partnership."
At the mention of Spider-Man, Professor Connors's expression darkened.
"Don't mention that guy. Running into him was the reason I suffered such a complete defeat," he said through gritted teeth.
Norman nodded. "Same here. I'm no match for Spider-Man either.
But I won't give up on my dream."
He told Professor Connors, "And you won't give up on your arm."
"Of course not."
Professor Connors looked down at the freshly prepared Regeneration Serum and shook his head slightly.
"The Regeneration Serum's effects don't last long. I need a crucial piece of technology, and Peter has it."
"I'll help you deal with Peter," Norman said.
Professor Connors recoiled. "Don't hurt Peter. He's Richard's son."
Norman gave him a sidelong look. "But what you've done has already hurt him."
"I was only trying to scare him."
"So what?"
Norman sneered. "There's no turning back for you now."
"I know. That's why I agreed to work with you."
Professor Connors took a deep breath. "Before we officially start working together, what do you intend to do to Peter?"
Norman elegantly straightened his suit.
"I'm not like you. I'm a demon. A demon slowly lures his opponent into a trap, making him willingly help me find what you want."
"You're mocking me." Professor Connors tightened his grip on the Regeneration Serum.
He looked ready to turn on Norman at any moment.
Seeing this, Norman quickly changed the subject.
"Calm down. I'll take you to see my demon army. Then you'll understand that working with me is your best option."
"Demon army?" Professor Connors asked in confusion.
"Yes, a demon army."
Norman's smile brimmed with madness.
"One man's strength is limited."
He recalled, "Three years ago, that green monster not only destroyed an entire street, but also wrecked my industrial district.
Afterward, my failure to deliver that crucial batch of orders on time brought the Osborn Group to the brink of bankruptcy."
At the mention of the green monster, even Professor Connors felt a shudder run through him.
He knew just how terrifying that creature was.
"What happened next?" he asked.
Norman continued, "Then the shareholders tried to force me to give up the Osborn Group. I refused to accept it.
I knew Stark Industries was stirring up trouble behind the scenes because our businesses competed.
I couldn't stand by and watch it happen. I decided to take a risk."
Norman clenched his fists, his smile turning eerie.
"I succeeded. The Green Goblin genes changed me, gave me a new lease on life, and granted me terrifying demonic power."
"Your research doesn't seem complete."
Professor Connors said, "You started researching this technology twenty years ago.
But you're just like me. Without Richard's help, you couldn't possibly succeed."
Norman looked at him. "But my gamble paid off, and a demon was born.
The side effect was the emergence of another me, but I know this was the best arrangement fate could have made for me."
Professor Connors looked thoughtful. "Is that what you meant when you said one man's strength was limited?"
"Yes."
Norman's smile faded. "That was when I realized that if there were only one Norman, his fate would be miserable.
Because there was a second Norman-me-he succeeded.
He's now the sole dictator of the Osborn Group. And so am I."
Professor Connors asked again, "Then this demon army of yours..."
"You'll find out soon enough."
Norman summoned his Green Goblin armor and suited up in front of Professor Connors.
He opened the exit to the secret chamber and looked down over the city.
"One demon's strength is limited, but countless demons... that would be a feast."
At the sight, Professor Connors seemed to think of something and suddenly spoke.
"Yes, one Spider-Man's strength is limited, but countless Spider-Men... that could never happen!"
He laughed.
"Achoo~"
The next day, Mark got up to wash and unexpectedly sneezed.
"I feel like someone's targeting me."
He rubbed the tip of his nose.
After eating the breakfast Peter had made, he returned to his room and began devising a treatment plan for the prince.
Physical exorcism wasn't very effective against demonic possession.
Hmm, I can try exorcising him with holy light today.
If holy light doesn't work, I'll have to find other exorcism weapons and skills.
Dark Soul Fighter Demon-the word "soul" suggests this guy doesn't have a physical demonic body.
Use Demon Hunter skills or weapons that attack the soul!
Hmm, that's treatment plan number two.
At that thought, Mark sank into contemplation again.
He didn't have any weapons or skills that attacked the soul.
No, that's not quite true.
He brought up his game inventory.
[Demon Dragon's Fang: A material used to forge the Dragon-Slaying Sword.]
This was the material that had dropped after he rescued the princess last time.
The Dragon-Slaying Sword sounds pretty powerful. Maybe it comes with a soul attack.
But how exactly do I forge the Dragon-Slaying Sword?
Mark thought he needed to talk to the princess he had rescued last time.
After all, the evil dragon wouldn't have abducted her for no reason.
There had to be some special connection between them.
If he could confirm that the Dragon-Slaying Sword came with a soul attack, his second treatment plan for the prince would be viable.
He acted on the idea immediately.
Mark entered the game again.
Empire State University.
"The Kingdom of Ake?"
This time, Mark learned the country's name.
It was another fairly small city.
The Kingdom of Locke and the Kingdom of Ake should count as brother nations.
I'll mark this place when I get back.
His map was becoming more complete.
As he stepped through the city gates, the people were overjoyed by the Demon Hunter's arrival.
"Oh my God, it's Spider-Man!"
"He's back."
"Unknown Evil Entity... no, Spider-Man! I want your autograph."
The crowd pressed in around him. Helpless, Mark could only activate his Movement Skill to escape and head straight for the palace.
The locals were far too enthusiastic.
Soon, he arrived at the palace.
"Hey, Sir Knight. I'd like to see the princess."
Outside Otto's Laboratory, a strange figure appeared by the window.
Doctor Octavius was calculating the amount of tritium needed for the experiment when he suddenly heard a voice outside.
He instinctively looked up and saw the red-and-blue figure making some other gestures at him.
"Annoying bug."
Doctor Octavius gave him a cold look, then told his assistant to drive Spider-Man away.
He had no interest in so-called superheroes.
He only wanted to complete his artificial sun experiment, win the Nobel Prize, and become the world's most famous physicist.
Yet the assistant's attempt to "drive him away" made Mark thank him repeatedly.
"All right, I know where the princess is now."
He leaped away, swinging through the air, and soon found where the princess was.
A secluded, tree-lined path near the park's lake.
Snow White was being harassed by a prince from a neighboring country.
"Ryan, listen. I don't want anything to do with you. Please stop bragging to other people that I'm your girlfriend. It's not true."
"Oh, Felicia, it hurts so much to hear you say that. I love you."
"Shut up. I'm going back to class."
"You're not leaving."
"Ryan, let go of me." The silver-haired girl looked at him in disgust.
She wanted to leave, but Ryan stubbornly blocked her way.
"You have to be with me, or I'll make you pay."
He threatened her. "I've already joined Hell's Kitchen. If you don't want anything to happen to your father, you'll have to say yes."
He was blunt, and greedy too.
"If you think you can do that, go ahead and try."
Felicia wasn't intimidated in the slightest. She didn't want to keep arguing with him; she only wanted to leave.
But Ryan's harassment grew increasingly rough.
His gaze grew more dangerous too.
Just as Felicia began to feel deeply uneasy...
The Demon Hunter made his entrance!
"Oi~ Let go of that princess!"