"Click..."
Peter opened the laboratory door and looked up to find Jeni outside.
His gaze turned wary. "What do you want this time?"
Jeni's heart trembled as he looked at Peter.
Behind Peter, the expressionless Mark brought back memories of the humiliation Jeni had suffered that day.
"I..."
He took a step back, wanting to explain, only to realize that Mark wasn't paying him any attention.
Mark walked past Jeni without looking back. "Peter, I've got something to do. Don't wait for me for dinner tonight."
Peter opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Did this guy even understand what I told him?
He really wanted to know.
Jeni, however, had completely changed his usual attitude. He reached toward Peter with a trembling hand.
"Peter, I'm really sorry for what I did before. I hope you can forgive me." His face was full of remorse.
Peter Parker was Spider-Man, so his previous weakness had to have been an act.
If Peter had used even a little of his strength, Jeni was certain he would have ended up in the hospital.
At that thought, Jeni felt even guiltier.
He had actually mistaken Peter's kindness and generosity for weakness and incompetence.
Damn me.
Of course, Peter had no idea what Jeni was thinking.
He simply assumed Mark had secretly taught Jeni a few lessons, forcing him to come and apologize.
Yeah, that had to be it.
Mark was so considerate toward his little brother.
Peter was touched.
With that thought, he reached out and shook Jeni's hand.
"It's all right. As long as you learn from your mistakes, you're still a good kid."
Then he turned and left.
He left Jeni with an "imposing" view of his retreating back.
Watching Peter gradually disappear from sight, Jeni clenched his fists in excitement at having been forgiven.
"Yes! He forgave me! He really is Spider-Man. Only a true hero would forgive someone who'd wronged him."
He had to admit, that was how all the superhero movies he'd watched went.
He was now certain of Peter's identity.
So he eagerly called his new friend.
"Hey, Ned, you won't believe what I found out.
Spider-Man! That's right, I know who Spider-Man is. He's actually one of our classmates.
Yeah, yeah, hurry over. He's still at school..."
Meanwhile, Peter Parker had just left the Laboratory Building when he spotted a strange figure near the lake in the nearby park.
"Rustle..."
The bushes stirred slightly, and an anguished meow came from within.
Peter instinctively approached to see what was happening.
But before he could get a clear look at the little creature in the bushes, a streak of green flashed past his eyes.
"Heh heh heh, Peter Parker. Caught you again."
A long tail wrapped around Peter and dragged him into the bushes, where the disheveled Lizard Man grinned viciously.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Peter Parker struggled in terror, his mouth covered by the long tail, but Professor Connors's strength was far beyond anything he could resist.
Professor Connors's slit pupils were chilling. He slowly took out a syringe of Regeneration Serum and plunged it into Peter's left arm.
"Since you refuse to do as you're told, you can figure out how to save yourself!"
Gritting his teeth, he slowly injected the serum into Peter's body.
"Don't blame me, Peter. Those agents have pushed me too far. And Norman-that useless fool!"
Professor Connors's muttering only deepened Peter's fear.
Uncle Norman?
What was going on?
The thoughts flashed through his mind.
The next second, a terrifying force flooded his body. It frantically searched for an outlet, finally gathering at the stump of his amputated right forearm.
"Crack, crack..."
In an instant, buds of flesh sprouted visibly from the forearm that had been amputated three years ago. Bones reformed, rapidly growing into an entirely new forearm.
But that arm was also swiftly transforming into a monster's claw.
Agonizing pain struck, and Peter couldn't help screaming.
"No!!"
Professor Connors released Peter, then leaped deeper into the bushes to observe him in secret.
As he watched, Peter rolled on the ground in agony, his muscles swelling and his body growing wildly.
Green lizard scales appeared on his cheeks and rapidly spread across his entire body.
"Rrrip!"
As Peter's clothes burst apart, a thick green lizard tail swept outward, effortlessly snapping a nearby tree trunk in half.
"Crash!"
The tree toppled, and Peter threw his head back, letting out a beastlike roar.
The sudden commotion also drew the attention of nearby students.
"Oh my God, it's the Lizard Man!!"
"This is bad! Run! Professor Connors has come back to school to get revenge..."
In an instant, the students fled in panic, causing widespread chaos along the way.
"Gwen Stacy, get out of here! Professor Connors is back."
Felicia found Gwen Stacy and said anxiously, "I'm afraid he'll take you hostage again."
"Professor Connors?"
Gwen Stacy frowned. "Why would he suddenly show up here?"
She calmly gathered her belongings, then put on her green Ballet Shoes.
They were a birthday gift from Mark.
Felicia looked puzzled.
"What are you doing?"
"I still have dance practice."
"Professor Connors is here, and you're still not leaving?"
"Don't worry."
Gwen Stacy smiled. "Mark's here. He'll handle it."
At the mention of Mark, Felicia looked thoughtful.
"Right, he has superpowers. I saw him just now, too."
No sooner had she spoken than another terrifying, bestial roar erupted from the direction of the park's lake.
"Roar!"
"Crash!"
A long tail swept through the air, smashing a trash can beside the path to pieces.
The Lizard Monster Peter had become clutched his head and howled, his slit pupils glowing an eerie blood-red.
Professor Connors, observing from hiding, let out a sinister laugh.
The agents' relentless pursuit had left him utterly exhausted lately. He hadn't had any time to discuss things with Peter.
That being the case, he could only set his worst plan in motion.
Turn Peter into a monster, too.
Then, if Peter wanted to save himself, he would have to find what Richard had left behind.
Seeing Peter become a monster just like himself, Professor Connors's last shred of compassion was swallowed by his animal instincts.
"Heh heh heh! Destroy everything, Peter!"
"Roar!"
His head felt ready to split as Peter frantically attacked everything nearby. He wanted to suppress the animal instincts in his mind, but this power was too terrifying-and too irresistible.
He saw the new arm he had always dreamed of, and his slit pupils suddenly widened.
"I... it's mine. Mine!!"
With a roar, he spun around and locked onto a figure.
He spotted the person's intact forearms, and his eyes filled with savage malice.
He couldn't control himself.
He wanted to tear the other person's arms apart!
In the distance, the dense crowd suddenly cried out as flickering holy light slowly approached the vicious monster.
"Hum..."
Light swept over Mark, and magnificent silver armor clad his body.
Intermediate Demon Hunter Set!
With his stats boosted, Mark's confidence surged.
"Professor, now, count up your sins!"
In full view of everyone, he reached into the void.
"Ring!"
In an instant, dark red demonic energy poured forth, then transformed into a Dragon-Slaying Sword beneath the radiance of holy light.