After a quiet night, the hustle and bustle of Venice faded away, and the soft morning light streamed through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, gently carpeting the room.
Peter woke up early, not sleepy at all.
After hanging up JARVIS's call last night, he tossed and turned in bed for a long time, the phrase "With great power comes great responsibility" echoing in his mind like a light yet heavy shackle.
The youthful spirit of a teenager ultimately couldn't withstand the sudden, overwhelming world-class burden.
He feared making mistakes, losing control, and that his declining performance would lead to disaster, but deep down, he harbored a stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
He sat up and leaned against the soft chair by the window, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the black dahlia pendant in his inner pocket.
The cool, metallic touch was clear and real, representing his only small yet tender hope in this world full of crises and burdens.
Two consecutive Elementals attacks disrupted all his plans. His carefully prepared confession was repeatedly pushed aside by monsters, battles, and responsibilities. He didn't want to wait any longer.
Peter turned on his phone, swiped through the pages, and began diligently searching for lesser-known spots in Venice suitable for a confession. Avoiding the crowded, trendy stone bridges and the bustling commercial streets, he wanted to find a quiet, gentle corner, a place with only the evening breeze and starlight, to properly express his long-hidden feelings to MJ.
The page redirected, and images of the city at dawn and the riverside at night came into view. But as he looked at those tender scenes, he felt inexplicably empty inside. The tension and exhaustion of the past few days had made him less confident in even imagining the scene of his confession.
Just then, a familiar, slight static sound came through the headset, and JARVIS's communication request popped up quietly.
Peter snapped out of his reverie and raised his hand to answer the call.
Good morning, Mr. Parker.
JARVIS's calm and gentle electronic voice rang out without the slightest ripple, "As per the instructions previously given by Mr. Stark. Tony Stark, E.D.I.T.H. has completed all deployments, and permissions have been finalized."
Peter paused for a moment, then realized what was happening.
E.D.I.T.H..
Stark Industries' highest-level global security system, with ultimate authority over global monitoring, battlefield support, material dispatch, and emergency defense, is the last line of defense personally built by Mr. Stark. Tony Stark to protect the Earth.
You now possess full, highest-level privileges.
JARVIS continued, "All SSC backend data, global energy monitoring, and emergency support modules are now fully accessible to you. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, you can directly issue commands and mobilize all E.D.I.T.H. resources."
"I understand, thank you, JARVIS," Peter replied softly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Wishing you all the best.
The call ended cleanly and decisively after the words were spoken, without any further instructions, yet it contained the most reliable safety net.
Peter raised his hand and looked at his palm. E.D.I.T.H.'s permissions were fully activated, meaning he was no longer fighting alone. But this confidence only made the pressure heavier. Tony had given him all his trust and trump cards, and he was even more afraid of failing this heavy trust.
He composed himself and looked down at his phone again, intending to continue finalizing the location for his confession. But before he could finish browsing, a burst of lively footsteps suddenly echoed down the hotel corridor, and the cheerful shouts of the teacher leading the group came through the door, breaking the silence of the room.
"Dear students! Everyone, please assemble in the lobby downstairs immediately! There is an important announcement!"
His voice was filled with undisguised joy, completely lacking the anxiety of a last-minute change of plans, instead sounding like he had stumbled upon an unexpected surprise.
Peter, somewhat puzzled, got up and pushed open the door to leave the room. The corridor was already crowded with students on their study tour, gathered in small groups discussing the situation, their chatter filling the entire floor. Everyone was curious about what had caused the sudden emergency gathering.
"Could it be that they're cutting their trip short and heading back to New York?"
"It shouldn't be, the teacher seemed genuinely happy about it."
"Is it a new attraction?"
As everyone descended the stairs with their own speculations, Peter followed them into the hotel lobby. The teacher in charge stood at the front of the group, a broad smile on his face. He raised his hand to quiet the students' chatter and then spoke loudly.
"I have some good news to share! Due to scheduling issues with the upstream travel agency, our original itinerary including a stop in Venice has been cancelled and we've had to reroute it!"
A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd; some were taken aback, others were curious.
The teacher smiled and continued, "Our next destination has been changed to Prague, Czech Republic! Accommodation, venues, and itinerary have all been arranged in advance. No need to rush or cut back on sightseeing time; we can stay in Prague for a full four days and three nights! We're leaving tonight, so everyone has a whole night of free time to research travel guides, decide where to go, what food to eat, and plan everything out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, cheers erupted in the hall.
Compared to Venice, which is crowded with tourists and heavily commercialized, Prague, a less-traveled and romantic destination full of European retro charm, clearly appealed more to these high school students. The long study abroad journey suddenly included a brand new and unknown adventure, and everyone was full of anticipation.
Peter stood at the very end of the crowd, a slight tremor running through his heart.
Prague.
The sudden change in schedule disrupted all his plans that he had just finalized. The location for his confession in Venice was completely canceled, and the last-minute arrangements he had prepared for so long were once again forced to be scrapped.
He frowned slightly, a sense of regret and frustration quietly growing in his heart. The series of unexpected events and disruptions seemed to suggest that the more he longed for the beauty of the ordinary, the more fate would drag him back into the mire of heroism.
The crowd gradually dispersed, and the students returned to their rooms to pack their luggage and search for Prague travel guides, each with a joyful smile on their face. Peter walked back to his room alone, closed the door, and shut out the hustle and bustle outside.
He picked up his phone again, deleted the search history for confession locations in Venice, and began rapidly tapping the screen to find lesser-known locations in Prague suitable for confessions.
The Prague Old Town Bridge Tower, the Charles Bridge at dusk, the romantic viewpoint on the hilltop, the deserted riverside lawn... one after another, gentle and romantic spots come into view, artistic and tranquil, far more suitable for confessing love than the bustling water city.
Despite gazing at these beautiful sights, Peter's heart remained heavy.
During the two days of studying together, he keenly noticed that one of the boys in the group was always deliberately getting close to MJ. He would take the initiative to talk to her, share snacks, and quietly stand next to her during group activities. He couldn't hide the affection in his eyes.
He hadn't taken it too seriously before, but the successive crises made him increasingly anxious. He didn't know if there would be any more sudden battles, any more unexpected events that would disrupt his plans, or if he would ever have another chance to properly express his feelings.
He didn't want to wait any longer.
Regardless of whether MJ would ultimately agree to his proposal, and regardless of whether his youthful feelings would be reciprocated, he didn't want to leave himself with any regrets. Amidst endless responsibilities and crises, this pure affection was the only thing he didn't want to compromise on or miss out on.
Peter a deep breath, his gaze hardening.
Once he arrives in Prague and settles in, he must confess his feelings as soon as possible. He wants to set aside his Spider-Man identity and the burdens of SSC, and simply be an ordinary seventeen-year-old high school student, to properly express the feelings he has kept hidden in his heart for so long.
Just as he was carefully reviewing the strategy guide and making up his mind, a faint green light suddenly appeared on the terminal of his armor on his wrist, and a call popped up on the private communication channel.
Electro: Quentin Beck.
Peter's heart tightened; his recently relaxed mood instantly became tense, and he immediately connected the communication.
" Spider-Man." Quentin's voice came through the headset, carrying a hint of urgency and seriousness. Faint energy fluctuations and noises could be heard in the background, indicating that he was monitoring energy signals in the wild.
"What's wrong?" Peter asked in a deep voice.
"I just detected an extremely strong Elementals energy reaction in the airspace near the Central Europe border," Quentin said with unusual seriousness. "The location is pinpointed to the outskirts of Prague. The energy concentration far exceeds that of Earth Elemental and Water Elemental, and the activity is extremely high; it has already materialized."
Peter's pupils contracted slightly.
It just so happens to be Prague.
The travel agency's last-minute change of destination turned out to be the very place where the next Elementals would appear in the world. The coincidence was unsettling.
"It's the last Elementals." Quentin's voice deepened, carrying the weight of a past catastrophe. "We've dealt with the wind, earth, and water Elementals. The last one is the Fire Elemental."
" The Fire Elemental's characteristics are unlike any of the monsters we've encountered before." He quickly added crucial information, his tone becoming increasingly urgent. "It possesses an extremely strong ability to devour and evolve, capable of absorbing all surrounding metallic substances to strengthen itself. The higher the temperature and the more metal it contains, the larger, stronger, and more explosive it becomes. Once it enters the main urban area, the dense steel bars of buildings, the metal of vehicles, and the city's pipelines will allow it to evolve to an unstoppable state in a short time, and the entire Prague will be engulfed in flames."
Peter's heart sank to the bottom.
I originally thought that the simultaneous appearance of the two elements of water and soil would give me a breather and a chance to strive for a simple and beautiful life. But reality didn't give him any buffer at all.
Earth Elemental destroyed valleys, Water Elemental attacked water cities, and now Fire Elemental has directly targeted Prague, a densely populated tourist city.
"I tried to contain it alone," Quentin said, his voice tinged with weariness. "I couldn't suppress its evolutionary speed. My energy output wasn't enough to keep it under control for long. Once it fully erupts, I won't be able to stop it. I need your help. Only by working together can we completely eradicate it."
Peter fell silent.
He wanted to refuse. His truest thought was to escape this endless battle, to properly complete the confession he had prepared countless times, and to be a carefree ordinary high school student for a few days.
But he couldn't escape it.
He held the highest temporary authority in the SSC, the E.D.I.T.H. card entrusted to him by Tony, and looked at the unfamiliar city facing imminent annihilation, at countless innocent ordinary people about to be in danger. As Spider-Man, he had no right to back down.
"I understand." Peter remained silent for a long time before replying in a low voice, "Where shall we meet?"
"Tomorrow night at 8 PM, the rooftop of the Prague Hotel," Quentin replied immediately. "It offers a wide view, is far from the crowds, and will allow us to synchronize tactics, monitor Fire Elemental movements, and prepare for battle in advance."
"Good."
A single, brief word exhausted all his strength.
The call ended, and the room fell silent once more. The phone screen remained on the guide page for Prague, a legendary spot for confessions of love; the tender words and romantic pictures contrasted sharply with the impending crisis.
I tossed and turned all night, even more so than yesterday.
The next evening, the tour group's bus arrived safely in Prague. The entire city was bathed in the gentle glow of the setting sun, with European-style buildings with red tiles and white walls scattered about. The evening breeze carried a gentle, exotic atmosphere, and the melodious music of street performers filled the air, creating a romantic ambiance that seemed completely out of place with the impending disaster.
The students got off the bus with beaming faces, chattering excitedly about their evening plans, but Peter preoccupied. He checked in with the group, put down his luggage, and then, avoiding the crowd, walked up to the hotel's rooftop via the fire escape.
The evening breeze was strong, making his hair fly wildly. The twilight scenery of Prague was spread out before him, gentle and healing, but in his heart, there was only a heavy sense of oppression.
Not long after, a yellow-green figure descended onto the rooftop on the evening breeze, landing lightly without making a sound.
Quentin Beck's bangs were ruffled by the wind, and his eyes were weary. He looked at the boy standing alone on the rooftop and saw through Peter's confusion and struggle at a glance.
He had witnessed everything that had happened during their days of fighting side by side. This young man, despite possessing top-level authority, had never been arrogant in the slightest. He was always at the forefront of saving lives and always silently endured pressure. Deep down, he possessed a kindness and sense of responsibility beyond his years, yet he also had the vulnerability and confusion that a seventeen-year-old should have.
On the rooftop, there was only the howling evening wind and the faint sound of a piano in the distance. There was no noise, no crisis, just the perfect place to pour out all the pent-up emotions.
Peter gazed at the city shrouded in twilight in the distance, remained silent for a long time, and finally shed all pretense of strength. His voice, carrying the weariness and bewilderment unique to young people, slowly began to speak.
" Beck, I'm really not ready."
This was the first time he had openly admitted his powerlessness to outsiders.
"I never imagined I would suddenly shoulder such a heavy burden. Everyone else in SSC had their own things to do, and in the end, I was the only one left to bear it all."
He looked down at his hands, his fingertips slightly white, his eyes filled with desolation.
"My reasons for coming to Europe this time are actually very simple. I just want to study abroad and confess my feelings to the girl I like."
"But from the beginning, everything changed. I was constantly on edge, anxious, and afraid of making the wrong choice and letting everyone down."
He misses the old days so much.
They can go to school, go shopping, and play around with friends as they please; they can openly pursue the people they like without worrying about ruining a city with a single mistake; they don't have to fear that their powerlessness will implicate everyone around them; and they are not bound by the labels of "heir" or "bearing heavy responsibilities."
"I sometimes feel really lost."
Peter spoke softly, his voice filled with the struggle of a young man.
Quentin listened quietly without interrupting, and only spoke slowly after Peter finished.
I understand how you feel.
"In my hometown, before the disaster struck, I was just an ordinary person. I had my own life, my own expectations, and my own ordinary things I wanted to protect. But crises never give people time to prepare, and responsibilities never choose the right person to fall upon."
He looked towards Prague in the twilight, his tone gentle yet firm.
"You feel unprepared because you're too kind, too afraid of letting others down, too afraid of losing them. But Peter, true responsibility is never about calmly accepting things when everything is ready, but about having the courage to step forward even when you're afraid and longing for the ordinary."
" The Fire Elemental is the last one. Defeat it, and the crisis facing the Elementals will temporarily end, allowing you to return to your life."
Peter suddenly looked up at Quentin beside him.
The end.
Once we win this final battle, we can temporarily shed our burdens and return to our ordinary lives.
The evening breeze swept across the rooftop, dispelling some of the gloom in my heart. The anxiety, confusion, and self-doubt that had been building up for days gradually subsided under this gentle yet powerful comfort.
He took a deep breath, the confusion in his eyes faded, and a determined light rekindled.
"Good."