[Quest: Dragon Slayer] [Quest requirement: Eliminate at least four evil dragons within three days.]
As the quest interface appeared before his eyes, Mark was briefly taken aback.
Wasn't he supposed to rescue Nini?
NPCs were people too, okay?
This game was way too cold-blooded.
He immediately turned to Pepper Potts and the others, thumped his chest, and promised:
"With me here, you can rest easy. I won't abandon Nini.
But before that, I have to finish my quest and destroy the evil Demon Dragons!"
No sooner had he spoken than green exhaust flames swept toward them.
A barrage of glowing Pumpkin Bombs followed.
"Oh, shit!"
Seeing this, Happy hurried to activate the building's defense system.
But Mark moved even faster.
The energy of the Demon Dragon's breath was spectacular, but he knew these Demon Dragons were merely elite monsters-all flash and no substance.
With his current strength, he could easily defeat them.
So, faced with the terrifying breath sweeping toward him, the great demon hunter clenched his fists and plunged straight into it.
Demon hunting-Holy Light Fist!!
"BOOM!!"
In an instant, dazzling light blossomed within the breath.
Wrapped in Spider-Man's webs, the Pumpkin Bombs hurtled back out, then exploded.
"BOOM!!"
Brilliant fireworks burst above Stark Tower. As the Glider plummeted at an angle, trailing black smoke, fragments of green armor landed at Pepper Potts's and the others' feet.
"What the fuck?"
Happy froze.
The terrifying Green Goblin had been defeated just like that?
Mark, meanwhile, stared at the interface before him.
[Defeated Demon Dragon x1. Obtained Demon Dragon's Claw x1.] [Quest progress: 1/4]
At the sight of this, Mark seemed to understand something.
This was clearly setting him up to craft the Dragon-Slaying Sword.
This game really understood its players.
With that thought, he turned to Happy and the others.
"If any more demons come after you, make sure you contact me. Free of charge."
With that, Mark leaped off the skyscraper, flicking his wrists to shoot webs as he disappeared into the streets and alleys.
Delayed retirement, the Secret Laboratory.
Norman, who had been watching the battle at Stark Tower the entire time, wore a dark expression.
"Damn bug! You again, you bastard!"
He launched into a tirade, and the healed wound in his abdomen seemed to start aching again.
Beside him, Professor Connors looked thoughtful.
"This guy's strength has become even more ridiculous than last time," he said.
Hearing this, Norman turned around, his expression ugly.
"So this still isn't the full extent of his strength?"
"Of course not."
Professor Connors looked dejected. "Why else do you think I lost to Spider-Man? His strength surpasses mine."
Those words sent a tremor through Norman's heart.
He had already tested it. The Lizard Man Professor Connors transformed into could tear his Green Goblin Armor apart with his bare hands.
If not for his control of the skies, he would have been no match for Professor Connors.
And Spider-Man held an overwhelming advantage in both strength and speed.
That guy had ruined his plans time and again.
Norman would never forgive Spider-Man.
"Connors, initiate the third plan."
"What?"
Professor Connors frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Of course."
"But if we initiate the third plan, we can destroy Stark Industries faster, but your demon army will become extremely uncontrollable. Are you sure you want to do this?"
If possible, Professor Connors did not want to execute the third plan so soon.
Norman gritted his teeth. "I can't worry about all that now. I have to make the Osborn Group surpass Stark Industries as quickly as possible and become the industry's sole leader.
The longer we drag this out, the more unexpected things will happen."
Seeing how resolute Norman was, Professor Connors stopped trying to persuade him.
Whether Norman succeeded or failed, he had everything to gain and nothing to lose.
His earlier attempt at persuasion had merely been his habitual act of playing the good guy.
Curt Connors was a demon more evil than Green Goblin!
He sneered inwardly and rose to prepare the third plan.
As for Norman, he stared at Happy and the others on the surveillance feed, his expression turning bizarre.
One moment he looked terrified, the next he laughed, only to suddenly begin cursing wildly.
"Damn Howard! Damn Stark Industries! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have become like this! I'll make you pay!!"
"Hahaha! Howard, your child isn't coming back..."
The Kingdom of Ake.
Empire State University.
Otto's Laboratory.
On the outdoor balcony, Otto was entertaining Ben Parker and May.
"Ben, don't worry. With my recommendation letter, Mark will definitely be able to become a student at Empire State University," Doctor Octavius said confidently.
Ben Parker raised his coffee cup and smiled faintly. "I'm really sorry for the trouble this time."
Doctor Octavius shook his head. "It's nothing. Richard is my friend, and so are you."
Ben Parker smiled and nodded. "Yes. I still remember how you and Richard always had all kinds of wild ideas when you were young."
May, sitting beside him, also recalled their younger days.
She gazed at the sky and said wistfully, "Yes. Richard had this fanciful idea of copying animals' abilities into human bodies.
And you, Otto, wanted to create unlimited energy, and you actually worked toward it."
Ben Parker looked at Otto. "Yes. You're the only one who's still pursuing his dream."
Otto thought for a moment. "Connors is too."
"But he took the wrong path."
At the mention of Curt Connors, Ben Parker's smile faded, and he said with a sigh:
"I ran into him recently. He's fallen. He'll stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and he even wanted to hurt Peter and Mark."
Hearing this, Otto's expression darkened.
"Going after children? I knew I was right. He was no good even when he was young."
"Hm?" May sounded curious. "You knew Connors's secret all along?"
Doctor Octavius shook his head. "No. I mean that even when we were young, that Connors fellow was secretly pursuing my Ruth.
Not only that, he tried to steal my friendship with Richard. He's a bitch, a real bitch
!"
Doctor Octavius bristled with righteous indignation. Ben Parker and May exchanged glances, then suddenly fell silent.
They had heard about these things too.
But the version they had heard differed somewhat from Otto's.
When Curt Connors was pursuing Ruth, she had not yet met Otto.
And Richard had met Curt Connors first, so it was hardly a matter of anyone stealing anyone else's friendship.
Strictly speaking, Otto was the interloper.
Because Otto was so outstanding, he had won Ruth over first and even married her.
And when it came to research, Otto had no shortage of financial support from major corporations.
Unlike Curt Connors, who grew so frustrated over research funding every year that he lost sleep.
As for Richard's friendship, that was a matter of perspective.
There was no clear answer to something like that.
Just as the three of them were reminiscing, a red-and-blue figure suddenly swung up.
"Hey, Octopus Knight! I'm looking for Her Highness, the beautiful princess."
Spider-Man had found the captain of the Kingdom of Ake's elite palace guard.
Otto: "????"
Spider-Man's arrival ruined his good mood.
"Annoying bug! Get lost before I lose my temper!" he snarled mercilessly.