6000 words updated, 4000+ words added, 2000 extra words added.
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The wind still swept through the forest in the valley, stirring up fine dust from the scattered pebbles.
Quentin Beck stood quietly opposite him, not urging him to answer, but simply waiting for Peter's reply.
The lingering scent of the fierce battle still hung in the air, and the scattered green embers left after the stone giant shattered were gradually diluted and dissipated by the mountain wind.
Peter's hands, hanging by his sides, clenched slightly. He now had the highest temporary authority in the SSC, but Tony and Lynn were on an asteroid tens of thousands of light-years away, Thor was missing, Carol was in deep space, and Doctor Strange was busy with his own affairs.
Now all the choices rest with him.
On one side is Quentin, the surviving warrior, and on the other is the ever-present threat of the Elementals, capable of destroying the entire planet.
On the other hand, he knew nothing about Quentin Beck.
No such person can be found in the SSC archives. There is no identity record. All the stories about the Elementals and the destruction of their home are just his one-sided oral accounts.
Reason told him that disaster was imminent and he should seize this opportunity to help.
But deep in my heart, an inexplicable unease quietly took root.
The embarrassment of being surrounded by reporters at the charity gala, the frequent lapses in concentration during training, the inexplicable slow decline in his abilities—all these scenes flashed through his mind. He was only seventeen years old, and he feared that a casual decision he made might lead to an irreversible disaster.
The silence lasted a long time.
Peter looked up at Quentin Beck, his tone sincere, yet tinged with youthful hesitation.
"I can't give you a direct answer right now. This matter is too complex, concerning the safety of the entire planet. I need some time to sort things out and think it over carefully."
Quentin Beck's face showed no disappointment or displeasure upon hearing this; he simply nodded slightly, the weathered wrinkles around his eyes smoothing out slightly.
"I understand. This is a huge matter, and everything is based solely on my verbal account. No one else could make a decision immediately."
He raised his hand and weighed the fishbowl-shaped helmet tucked under his arm. "Besides, after being attacked by the Elementals after another, I've suffered considerable damage myself and do need a few days to rest. You don't need to rush to reply to me."
This answer actually relieved Peter a little.
"Shall we all go back and rest first?" Peter said.
"Yes. We need to stay in touch. If the next Elementals awakens ahead of schedule, we must be notified immediately," Quentin Beck said.
The two exchanged contact information, JARVIS entered it into Peter's armor system, enabling two-way real-time communication. With all this done, the matter here was temporarily concluded.
After saying goodbye to Quentin, Peter activated the short-range gliding mode of his suit, left the valley, and flew towards the city of Venice.
As evening falls, a moist sea breeze blows from the Adriatic Sea, and the sunset paints the rooftops of rows of Gothic buildings. The waterways crisscross the landscape, and the surface of the water reflects the orange-red glow of the sunset.
Tourists strolled in twos and threes along the cobblestone streets, the aroma of coffee and baked goods wafting from the cafes, creating a relaxed vacation atmosphere. (Please don't get hung up on the geography here; I just wanted to make the story flow more smoothly.)
By the time we got back to the hotel where the study tour group was staying, it was completely dark.
The corridor was noisy, with the sounds of students laughing and joking coming from various rooms; the excitement of the trip had not yet dissipated.
Peter took a quick shower, washing away the dust and sweat from the battle, and exhaustion washed over him. He collapsed onto the soft hotel bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind replaying everything that had happened in the valley.
Quentin's tale of destroyed homes, the infinitely regenerating Earth Elemental giants, and JARVIS's conveyed authority to dispose of everything—all these thoughts intertwined, making his head throb.
He forced himself to suppress these heavy feelings for the time being.
His biggest wish for this Europe was not to fight alien monsters or to take on the important task assigned to him by SSC.
He was filled with anticipation for MJ. He had rehearsed his confession repeatedly in New York and imagined countless scenarios in his mind. Perhaps it would be under the evening breeze by the river, or perhaps it would be when the setting sun cast its light on her profile.
However, a series of unexpected events disrupted the plans time and again.
I tossed and turned all night. Worries kept popping into my mind, and I slept very lightly, drifting in and out of sleep.
The next morning, Venice shed its nighttime hustle and bustle, and sunlight shone through the thin clouds, bathing the entire water city in its glow.
Today was a free day for the study tour group, and everyone was free to explore the city at their own pace. Ned took a few classmates to visit a museum early in the morning, while MJ went out for a stroll alone. Peter said goodbye to the group and left the hotel by himself.
He remembered MJ's preferences. She always favored mysterious, gloomy, and suspenseful trinkets, loved dark stories, and was fascinated by floral legends with tragic beauty.
Peter strolled along the winding cobblestone paths, crossing stone bridges, wandering through the alleyways of the old town. The shops along the streets were filled with a dazzling array of goods, with bracelets, pendants, vintage silver jewelry, and handcrafted trinkets displayed in their glass windows. Tourists came and went in a steady stream, and street vendors called out loudly for souvenirs.
He slowly looked through the shops, his gaze sweeping over the various pendants displayed in the windows. Turning into a quiet alley, a small handmade jewelry shop came into view. The shop had a wooden door, and the window displayed many handcrafted silver ornaments. Pushing open the door, a wind chime tinkled softly. The shop owner was an elderly local woman, sitting behind the counter wiping the items in her hands.
Peter's gaze quickly settled on a silver pendant in the shape of a black dahlia on the display shelf. The petals were delicately carved, and the matte, aged black plating gave the flower a serene yet eerie appearance, perfectly matching MJ's aesthetic.
Peter picked up the pendant and examined it in his palm.
A cool, metallic touch came through.
Legend has it that the black dahlia symbolizes tragedy and mystery, which is exactly the type of flower MJ would like.
He imagined the pendant wearing around her neck, and his anxiety lessened slightly.
Compared to the heavy responsibility of saving the world, this small, youthful flutter of emotion felt all the more real. He took out his money to buy the pendant, carefully placed it in the inside pocket of his coat, and tucked it away close to his body, afraid of bumping or damaging it.
After paying, Peter pushed open the shop door and walked back to the street. The alleyway was right next to a wide river, the shimmering water sparkling white in the sunlight, and many gondolas slowly gliding across the water, the gondoliers singing melodious songs.
He had just stepped out of the shop when his gaze inadvertently swept across the river, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Beneath the calm river surface, large shadows are moving rapidly. They are not fish. They are huge and indistinct, writhing and darting back and forth in the clear water, stirring up the silt and making a large area of the river murky.
A sense of danger instantly crept up Peter's spine.
Without a second thought, he rushed to the stone arch bridge not far away, gripped the cold stone railing with both hands, and leaned down to stare intently at the river.
The river under the bridge was originally flowing very calmly, but now the surface began to churn violently, with bubbles constantly rising from the bottom. Tourists playing nearby had not yet noticed anything unusual and continued to take pictures on the bridge and stroll and chat along the riverbank.
Boom!!
Without warning, a large area of water suddenly exploded! Tons of water shot into the sky, splashing water all around.
A mist of water fell from the sky, as if the entire river channel was being stirred by an invisible hand. The water broke free from the constraints of the channel, defying the laws of physics as it gathered, churned, squeezed, and reorganized upwards. The water flow continued to converge and shape, with waves swirling around it, and soon a tall, humanoid monster condensed in the center of the river channel.
Standing over five meters tall, its entire body was composed of flowing seawater. Its body was constantly rippling with water, and water droplets dripped continuously from its edges. Its two enormous arms were twisted from the rushing water, and its head was a swirling cloud of mist. It had no clear facial features, but one could sense a violent consciousness emanating from it.
A wave of moisture hit us, and the air was filled with a strong, fishy smell.
Panic instantly gripped the bridge; screams erupted as the crowd scrambled to escape. Peter's pupils contracted sharply. The structure of this creation was identical to the Earth Elemental giant made of rock in the valley yesterday! Both were bodies formed from pure, basic elements.
" JARVIS!" Peter whispered into his headset. "I'm here, Mr. Parker."
"Quickly analyze the target in front of you!"
A series of scan data streams immediately popped up in the field of view, and the red analysis progress bar jumped rapidly. "Comparison complete. The energy spectrum highly matches the Earth Elementals encountered before, belonging to the same origin structure. The target is determined to be Water Elementals. Energy activity continues to rise, and immediate intervention is recommended."
As Quentin had predicted, the Elementals would appear one after another. Less than a day after the Earth Elementals were dealt with, the Water Elementals had already appeared in densely populated Venice.
Panicked crowds scattered and fled, knocking over many stalls along the shore and scattering tables and chairs everywhere.
The Water Elementals swung their massive water arms, slamming them against the buildings on the shore. The walls were instantly dented and shattered by the surging water, with brick and stone debris raining down. If left to ravage the area, the entire old town would be destroyed by the flood, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries among ordinary people.
Peter quickly scanned his surroundings; the bridge was teeming with panicked tourists, offering no place to hide. He pulled his hat down low, strode through the crowd, and turned into a deserted, narrow alley.
After confirming that there were no passersby around, he thought for a moment, and nanoparticles burst out from the device on his wrist. The red and blue Spider-Man suit instantly covered his entire body, and the mask closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world.
" JARVIS, monitor the evacuation progress of civilians in the surrounding area and mark areas at risk of building collapse." "Roger that, marking high-risk locations in real time."
Peter was just about to rush out of the alley to the battlefield when, from the direction of the river, a yellow-green figure broke through the mist and emerged.
It was Quentin Beck. He put the transparent fishbowl helmet back on, surrounded by billowing green smoke. Minor damage was still visible on his armor, indicating that it was not yet fully repaired.
Several orbs of green energy shot out from his wrist armor, slamming into the flowing bodies of the Water Elementals.
Green smoke clung to the Water Elemental ' bodies, stirring up large plumes of white steam. The Water Elementals, in pain, furiously swung their water-formed giant arms, lashing out at Quentin. Using the smoke as cover, Quentin dodged and weaved through the splashing water, keeping the monster at bay.
Peter stopped looking around, leaped off the ground, and launched himself off the roof of the alley. His Silk caught the eaves of a distant building, and he sped off to the battlefield.
" Beck!" Peter's voice came through the comms. " Spider-Man, you're here too! Perfect timing! Come help!"
Quentin, dodging the pounding water, replied, "These Water Elementals even more destructive than the Earth Elementals. The population density here is too high; if they unleash their full power, the entire old city of Venice will be submerged!"
Peter witnessed firsthand how the Water Elementals, with a casual wave of their hands, sent a torrent of water crashing down, destroying the outer wall of a riverside building. Debris mixed with seawater poured down, pelting the fleeing civilians. They absolutely could not afford to fight to the death here now.
The city is densely built up with too many tourists, and the aftershocks of the battle could cause heavy casualties.
"We can't start a war here!" Peter shouted. "We must lure it away from the town, to an area where there are no people!"
"Agreed!" Quentin replied immediately. "I'll draw its attention and lure it away! You're responsible for protecting the civilians and those injured by the aftermath of the battle!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Quentin increased his energy output, unleashing a barrage of green energy attacks that struck the Water Elementals ' bodies. His aim wasn't to kill, but simply to enrage and provoke the monster. The berserk Water Elementals were indeed thoroughly enraged, their entire attention focused on Quentin Beck. Their massive water bodies turned, taking giant strides made of flowing water, following Quentin as he moved outwards. With each step, large puddles of water formed on the ground.
Peter immediately began providing cover. Large numbers of citizens scattered in panic, and the crumbling walls threatened to collapse at any moment. He darted and weaved between buildings, his Silk shooting out to firmly hold onto rafters and swaying window sills that were about to fall.
Several tourists who couldn't escape in time were trapped under the collapsing eaves. Peter quickly swooped down, grabbed two people with his arms, and used the momentum to swing to the safety of the street.
A sightseeing vehicle on the roadside was pushed towards the crowd by the water flow. Peter kicked the side of the vehicle, forcefully changing its trajectory. Flying bricks and stones splashed towards the crowd. He turned his body and used his back to absorb some of the impact of the debris, leaving a series of small dents on his nanosuit.
The air was filled with cries, screams, and the rumbling sound of collapsing walls.
Peter's mind raced as he worked to both rescue and evacuate Water Elementals, making sure his target didn't get out of sight.
He could clearly sense the problem with his condition. The prolonged high-intensity movements had caused his body to tire faster than usual. Several times when he made rapid changes of direction, his reaction was half a beat slower, and he could only barely catch up with the rhythm thanks to the armor's auxiliary system.
That unease resurfaced in my heart, but there was no time to dwell on it right now.
Quentin fought his way back while continuously drawing aggro, gradually leading the Water Elementals toward the desolate mudflats on the outskirts of the city.
The area is far from residential areas, with no dense buildings and vast open mudflats and reefs. Even if fighting damages the environment, it will not harm innocent civilians.
Peter repeatedly confirmed that the people behind him had basically evacuated from the danger zone before leaving the chaotic city behind and chasing after them at full speed.
The sea wind howled across the mudflats, and waves crashed incessantly against the rocks. The Water Elementals, lured here, went completely berserk, with seawater swirling around them, forming a giant waterspout.
"Now!" Quentin shouted. The green smoke around him burst forth, turning into an impenetrable smoke screen that enveloped the Water Elementals. The high temperature continued to steam the monster's water body, constantly consuming its energy source and suppressing its ability to regenerate and regenerate. The Water Elementals frantically stirred the water, and countless water blades flew around, crashing onto the reefs and exploding into a sky full of water mist.
Peter seized the opportunity, his Silk firmly anchoring him to the towering reef, propelling him forward like a cannonball. His fists, brimming with power, slammed into the core of the Water Elementals's body. Seawater was scattered and splashed everywhere, exposing the monster's energy core, which emitted a faint blue glow.
"Attack the core!" Peter shouted.
Quentin raised his hand to gather his strength, and a beam of green energy, condensed to its maximum, shot out, striking the blue energy core precisely. Peter followed up with a full-force flying kick, slamming heavily into the core light point.
The blue light suddenly flashed violently. The massive bodies of the Water Elementals trembled violently, and the seawater that formed their bodies lost its energy restraint, cascading and disintegrating in all directions. The enormous water-shaped bodies, several meters tall, collapsed with a roar, turning into countless streams of water that flowed back to the mudflats and the sea. The last remaining glimmer of blue light flickered a few times before extinguishing completely and dissipating in the sea breeze.
All that remained on the mudflats was a wet surface.
The two men were panting heavily. Quentin's heavy breathing came from under his helmet, while Peter's suit was soaked with water and had scratches from the impact of gravel on his shoulders.
"All done." Quentin's voice came through the helmet in a muffled tone. "Mm." Peter nodded.
"I need to find a place to rest and repair my armor. The next Elementals could appear at any time; I need to keep communications open."
"Good."
After exchanging brief greetings, the two parted ways and left the mudflats.
Peter walked back to the city of Venice along the road. The city was still in turmoil, with everyone talking about the strange things that had just happened.
People on the street gathered in twos and threes to chat.
"What was that just now?"
"And that man in the yellow-green armor, emitting green smoke! Who is he? A new superhero?"
"And Spider-Man! He appeared too! Oh my god, that was terrifying, we almost got swept away by the flood."
Various discussions reached Peter's ears, and cell phone videos and photos from the street were spreading rapidly online. The Mysterio figure began to be seen and discussed by ordinary people.
Back at the hotel, the corridor was still a mess. Just as he reached his room, a figure rushed up to him – it was Ned. Ned's face was full of curiosity; he was holding a laptop, the screen still lit, displaying the combat video that had just circulated online.
" Peter!"
Ned lowered his voice, his eyes filled with excitement and nervousness, "There was such a commotion in the city just now. What exactly is that water monster in the river? The internet is buzzing about it. Do you need my help?"
Peter looked at his friend's enthusiastic face and hesitated for a moment. But he quickly shook his head.
This is too risky.
The Elementals are monsters capable of destroying the world; the threat posed by these enemies is unknown, and even Quentin Beck himself has not fully proven his credibility.
Moreover, I already felt my condition was declining and my abilities were starting to falter, so how could I drag my best friend into this life-threatening crisis?
Besides, Quentin is already at the forefront fighting the Elementals, so there's no need to drag Ned into it.
"No need, Ned."
Peter patted him on the shoulder, trying to sound relaxed, "SSC is already handling it, they'll get it sorted out. Just enjoy your Europe study tour, don't get involved in these dangerous things."
Ned's excitement faded, and although he was still somewhat unwilling, he nodded. "Alright, if you ever need help, just remember to call me."
"Don't worry, I will." Peter smiled.
The two exchanged a few words, Ned could tell that Peter was preoccupied, so he didn't press the matter further. They each returned to their own rooms.
The hotel room fell silent the moment the door closed. The noise of the street could still be heard outside. Peter sat down in the chair by the window, reached into his inside pocket, and found the black dahlia pendant still safely inside. Thoughts of MJ resurfaced in his mind.
He still wanted to find an opportunity to confess his feelings, at least to grasp at the little bit of hope that belonged to an ordinary boy amidst the continuous disasters.
But the heavy burden on his shoulders couldn't be ignored. He raised his hand and touched his earpiece.
JARVIS.
"I'm here, Mr. Parker."
"Now that Elementals are popping up one after another, and I hold the temporary highest authority in SSC, what should I do?" Peter's voice was weary, revealing his inner confusion.
The communication channel was silent for a few brief seconds. " Mr. Lynn left you a message, instructing you to let me pass it on to you if you ever feel lost."
Peter's heart skipped a beat.
JARVIS's steady electronic voice slowly filled the room. "With great power comes great responsibility."
Those few simple words struck Peter's mind.
He looked down at his outstretched palm.
His heart sank lower and lower.
The images of his hasty escape from the charity gala, the helplessness of the stone giant endlessly regenerating in the valley, his own slowed reactions during the battle, and the panic of his power quietly waning all rushed into his mind.
A wave of loneliness mixed with shame washed over me.
He was terrified, afraid that he couldn't live up to that trust.
Peter gave no reply, remained silent, and simply raised his hand to cut off the communication with JARVIS.
The room fell into a deathly silence. The hustle and bustle of Venice outside drifted in through the glass window, while the boy sat alone inside, enveloped by a heavy sense of responsibility.