I look at the data on cliff jumps every day.
I'm feeling quite exhausted by the trivialities of reality.
I've been feeling a bit emotional lately, both mentally and physically.
Emotions are somewhat unstable.
The quality may have declined somewhat.
Leave a message if you have any questions, and I will correct them as soon as I see them.
The weather in New York is still very hot.
At 5 p. m., the air outside a banquet hall in Midtown Manhattan was stifling, like a sauna.
Peter Parker stood in the shadows behind the banquet hall's back door.
A charity gala is being held inside.
Aunt May stood on the stage, holding a microphone. Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.
Behind her was a huge projection screen, scrolling through countless faces—those who had disappeared for five years during the " Blip " incident and had now suddenly returned.
They stood on a familiar yet unfamiliar street, dragging their suitcases, their eyes blank, unsure of where to go.
Five years ago, half of all lives disappeared. We gradually grew accustomed to empty subways, quiet classrooms, and dining tables with half the people gone. Suddenly, they came back.
"But the world wasn't ready. There weren't enough houses, not enough jobs, not even enough desks in schools. These people disappeared for five years, and when they came back, they found themselves disoriented. We can't let them disappear again."
Applause erupted from the audience.
Peter slipped in through the back door and walked along the wall to the side of the stage. Aunt May saw him, smiled slightly, and then continued speaking.
"Tonight, we have invited someone with us. He may not be the best speaker, but he certainly understands best what 'loss' and 'return' feel like."
She stretched out her hand and pointed to the side.
Peter a deep breath and stepped out of the shadows.
The flashbulbs went off instantly.
He stood on the stage, his red and blue uniform gleaming metallically under the lights. The audience was packed with reporters and donors, their cameras and microphones pointed at him, the sound of shutters raining down like a storm.
Spider-Man!
" Spider-Man, look this way!"
He raised his hand and waved to the crowd. The crowd cheered.
Aunt May handed him the microphone. He took it, his palms sweaty.
"Uh... hello everyone."
He said, "I'm Spider-Man. I came because... she thought I had more influence."
The audience laughed.
He breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Today's event is to help those who returned after the Blip but have nowhere to live. They disappeared for five years, and when they returned, they found the world had changed and their homes were gone. All we can do is help them continue to live."
He spoke very seriously, but the reporters didn't care.
" Spider-Man! SSC recently used a new type of drone swarm in disaster response in Southeast Asia. Were you involved in the deployment decision?"
"There are rumors that Tony Stark is selecting the next core commander for the SSC. Are you on the shortlist?"
What is your assessment of SSC's current global defense system? As the youngest superhero, do you believe you are capable of taking on greater responsibility?
Peter gripped the microphone, his smile frozen on his face.
He opened his mouth, as if to say, "I'm here today for Aunt May's relief fund," but the words were cut short by the next question.
" Spider-Man, has Tony Stark already groomed you as his successor?"
This question was like a needle, precisely piercing the spot that bothered him the most.
He suddenly felt that the stage lights were too bright, so bright that he couldn't see any of the kind faces.
"Sorry, I..." He took a step back, the microphone emitting a piercing howl, "I have to go now."
He practically fled the scene.
In the backstage dressing room, he leaned against the wall, panting heavily. His reflection in the mirror showed a pale face and faint dark circles under his eyes.
He remembered what Tony had said to him on the rooftop, "I believe in you. Of all people, I believe in you the most."
Those words weighed on his chest like a stone; he felt unworthy.
During this period, he would inexplicably lose focus during training, and his abilities were slowly declining.
These changes slipped through his fingers like sand; he couldn't grasp them, and he dared not tell anyone.
If they find out, won't they think he really isn't good enough?
What if Tony finds out? Won't he be very disappointed?
He didn't dare ask.
The dressing room door opened, Happy Hogun walked in, holding a huge checkboard that read, " Stark Industries Donation: $500,000".
"Are you alright?" Happy leaned the checkboard against the wall and glanced at him.
"It's nothing. It's just... a little hot."
Happy didn't call him out. He walked over and patted Peter on the shoulder.
"You've done very well, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Aunt May asked me to tell you that she's proud of you."
Peter didn't say anything.
Happy sighed, took a bottle of water out of his pocket, and handed it to him. "Have some. You don't look well."
Peter took it, unscrewed the cap, and took a big gulp.
" Happy," he said.
"Um?"
Do you really think... I can do it?
Happy looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds.
I don't know if you can do it.
"But I know Tony believes in you. Tony has always had a good eye for people."
Peter lowered his head, staring at the water bottle in his hand, and said softly, "His judgment of people isn't always accurate."
Happy didn't reply. He turned and walked out, pausing at the door.
"Don't overthink it, you need to relax."
The door closed.
Peter sat in the dressing room chair, staring at himself in the mirror.
He didn't look like a seventeen-year-old high school student, nor did he look like a superhero. He looked like a child about to be crushed by a heavy burden.
Three days later, Peter set off with the school's Europe study tour group.
He didn't want to go. He hadn't finished dealing with things in New York, but he went anyway. Because of MJ, he didn't want to miss this trip or this opportunity.
He rehearsed his confession for a long time, and even memorized the opening lines.
The sun was shining brightly when the plane landed in Venice. Peter dragged his suitcase out of the airport and took a deep breath of the Italy air.
He boarded the bus with the rest of the group and headed to the hotel. Peter sat by the window, looking out at the Venice canals, pondering how to confess his feelings to MJ that night.
But he didn't get his chance.
That evening, an unusual hurricane struck Venice.
Peter stood by the window of his hotel room, watching the fierce winds outside and the seawater flooding the streets. He activated the scanning module of his armor and discovered a strange energy fluctuation permeating the air.
JARVIS.
"Yes, Mr. Parker."
"Analyze this energy."
"Analysis in progress. The energy signature does not match known extraterrestrial technology, but exhibits highly mimicry characteristics. Caution is advised."
Peter frowned.
He had planned to confess his feelings to MJ tonight. He had rehearsed for three days and even memorized his opening lines. Now, the plan has to be postponed.
He rolled over and closed his eyes.
We'll talk about it tomorrow.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of light-years away from Earth.
On an asteroid surrounded by star rings, Lynn and Tony sat on a warm rock, each holding a cup of tea that had gone cold. The star rings above them turned silently, like a flowing silver river.
JARVIS's voice rang in his ears.
"Sir, an unusual pulse fluctuation has been observed in a small town in Europe."
Tony placed the teacup on the rock and sighed softly.
"Sir, Mr. Peter Mr. Parker is currently on a school trip in Europe, and he should have also detected the anomalous pulse. Should we confirm that the task is being assigned to him?"
"Confirmed. Synchronize all abnormal energy signals that have occurred during this period to Peter Parker."
Lynn continued, "Provide as much assistance as possible within his authority."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Tell him this was a joint decision between Tony and me."
"Yes, sir. Should I explain the mission background to him?"
"Give him everything he needs, all at once."
Tony stood up, brushing the dust off his pants. "Don't let him feel like he was just thrown overboard."
After saying that, Tony returned to his tent.
Lynn glanced at Natasha, who was already asleep in the tent next to her, and tiptoed over to tuck the blanket that had slipped off her.
He then returned to his seat on the rock and continued to gaze at the star ring.
It was already dark when Peter returned to his hotel room.
He sat on the edge of the bed, completely removed the mask, and tossed it next to the pillow. His phone vibrated; it was JARVIS's encrypted channel.
He answered the call.
"Good evening, Mr. Parker." JARVIS's voice was as steady as ever.
" JARVIS," Peter rubbed his temples, "What is it?"
" Mr. Lynn and Mr. Stark have asked me to convey a message to you. An unusual energy pulse has appeared in southeastern Europe. Local meteorological departments have recorded an unusual weather event, but Nebula shows no supporting evidence in the area. In addition, similar events have recently occurred in Mexico and Morocco, both accompanied by unidentified energy fluctuations."
Peter remained silent for a few seconds.
"Why me?" he asked.
" Mr. Tony and Mr. Lynn both believe you have the potential to become a leader. However, to truly inherit the core responsibilities of the SSC, independent handling of unknown threats is essential experience. This mission will help you grow faster."
Peter stared at his phone screen, where the signal source was marked in a mountainous area.
He knew Tony and Lynn wouldn't assign him work for no reason. But the word "leader" still sounded too heavy to him.
He recalled the faces of the reporters in the audience a few days ago, and how he had fled in a disheveled state.
A leader?
But he still agreed, "I'll go."
"Good luck, Mr. Parker. Please contact me if needed; I'll provide remote support."
Peter put his phone on the bedside table, lay down, and stared at the ceiling.
He had originally planned to confess his feelings to MJ. He had rehearsed for three days and even memorized his opening lines. Now, the plan had to be postponed.
He rolled over and closed his eyes.
We'll talk about it tomorrow.
The next morning, Peter arrived in a small town near the signal source, dressed in civilian clothes.
The town was small, with narrow streets and cobblestone pavement that gleamed from the rain. The air smelled of damp earth, mixed with a strange, slightly burnt odor.
He sat down in the café at the edge of town, ordered a black coffee, and then activated the scanning module of his armor to begin searching for residual energy in the surroundings.
The data is messy. The frequency of the pulse signal is unstable, as if it has been interfered with by something.
After finishing his coffee, he went out onto the street and chatted with a few locals.
An old woman who ran a grocery store told him that a strange wind had blown out earlier.
"It wasn't ordinary wind," she said, gesturing with her hands, "There was a face in that wind."
Peter paused for a moment. "Face?"
"A human face," the old woman whispered, "A very large face, in the wind."
Another bakery owner added that he was hanging clothes to dry in the backyard when the wind came in.
His voice trembled slightly, "That face was smiling."
Peter returned to the street, and the armor's scanning module suddenly displayed a new set of data.
The concentration of residual energy is increasing, and the direction is towards the valley north of the town.
He took a deep breath and activated his armor. Red and blue nanomaterials spread from his wrists to his entire body, and the moment the mask closed, the world before him transformed into a stream of data.
He swung towards the valley.
The valley was quiet. A number of trees had been blown down, with fresh shavings still visible at the break. There were huge footprints on the ground, unlike any known creature.
He crouched down and touched the soil at the edge of the footprint with his finger. The soil was warm.
" JARVIS, analyze the soil composition."
"Unknown compounds detected in soil; caution is advised."
Peter stood up and looked around.
Suddenly, he seemed to realize something.
He turned around abruptly, and his armor entered combat mode.
Green smoke condensed into a cloud three meters in front of him, then slowly dissipated.
After the smoke cleared, a person was standing there.
He was wearing a yellow-green suit of armor, and a transparent glass fish tank covered his head, inside which liquid seemed to be flowing slowly.
Peter stared at him, countless files flashing through his mind, but none of them matched.
"Who are you?" Peter asked.
The man didn't answer. He just tilted his head slightly.
Then Peter sensed it.
The ground was shaking, and he turned around.
Ten meters behind, a tree was uprooted. A huge stone monster emerged from behind the tree, at least four meters tall, its body made of rough rock, with green light emanating from its joints. It opened its mouth and let out a deafening roar, the sound waves shaking all the leaves off the surrounding trees.
It raised a huge stone fist and smashed it down on Peter.
Peter dodged to the side, his stone fist slamming into the ground, sending up a spray of gravel.
Without thinking, he used the momentum to swing behind it and kicked it in the back of the neck.
It's useless.
The stone monster swayed, then turned and swung at him. Peter flipped in mid-air, barely dodging the attack, and landed on a rock ten meters away.
" JARVIS, analyze this!"
"Analysis in progress. We suggest targeting the luminescent areas at the joints, where the energy concentration is highest, potentially indicating the structural core."
Peter glanced at the stone monster's knee, took a deep breath, and prepared to charge.
But the guy with the fish tank was still standing there, motionless, just tilting his head to look at him.