The evening breeze swept across the rooftop of the Prague Hotel, dispelling the last vestiges of twilight's warmth.
Peter exhaled a heavy breath, the confusion in his eyes completely disappearing, replaced by a forced, mature resolve.
A heart-to-heart talk with Quentin helped him temporarily suppress his cowardice and resentment, and recognize that he had no other choice at the moment.
Running away won't solve anything. Only by stepping forward and defeating the last Fire Elemental can this battle truly end, giving him a chance to reclaim his ordinary youth and properly pursue the confession he's kept hidden for so long.
"Next, we will prepare for the battle with all our might."
Peter looked at Quentin beside him.
Quentin nodded slightly, his expression grave. "I've pinpointed its final location in the mortal world through energy monitoring. The core of the Fire Elemental's birth is located in Prague's central square, and there shouldn't be any deviation. That's the most densely populated area in the entire city, with the highest concentration of metal-structured buildings, making it its perfect breeding ground for evolution."
These words struck Peter like a boulder.
Prague Square.
Once the Fire Elemental manifests in the world, the raging flames will engulf and devour metal, instantly plunging unsuspecting ordinary people into Extremis. His classmates, Ned, and MJ will all be in mortal danger.
Peter made up his mind about the plan almost without hesitation.
He absolutely could not allow those around him to be caught up in this monster's rampage.
" JARVIS," Peter called softly.
"Ready to go at any time, Mr. Parker."
"Use E.D.I.T.H.'s highest authority to access all available public venues in Prague and reserve tickets for tonight for all members of our study tour group."
"Confirm the location, screen for safety factors, and prioritize venues that are far from Prague Square, have enclosed building structures, no large areas of exposed metal, and have a fixed and controllable flow of people."
"Received, resource matching is in progress."
After a brief pause, JARVIS's electronic voice sounded again, "Reservation complete. Prague Royal Opera House, 1.2 kilometers in a straight line from Prague Square, with several high-rise buildings in between effectively isolating the aftershocks and shockwaves of battle, completely avoiding the risk of Elementals outbreaks. Venue safety level A. Ticket information has been sent to the supervising teacher's email address; all members can directly enter the venue to watch the performance."
Peter's anxiety eased slightly.
The distance of 1.2 kilometers, coupled with layers of buildings, was enough to completely isolate the square from the disaster. As long as the students stayed obediently in the opera house, they would definitely not be affected by the war. This was the most secure protective barrier he could erect for those around him, given his highest authority.
Having done all this, he had no more worries and turned to look at Quentin.
"Ready. We're in position."
Peter retreated to the hotel corridor, avoiding the gaze of all his classmates, and quickly changed into his nanotech suit. The red and blue armor instantly covered his entire body, the nanomaterial conforming to his skin and locking in shape. The mask closed, isolating him from all the noise and lights of the outside world.
Quentin was already fully armored, with green energy smoke faintly visible around him. He had completely concealed his aura and disappeared into the night.
Under the cover of night, the two leaped from the hotel rooftop, swiftly traversing the rooftops of European-style buildings. The night wind was biting, whistling through their armor. Below them lay the brightly lit Prague cityscape, with cars and tourists thronging the streets. The city was romantic and peaceful, showing no signs of impending doom.
They eventually stopped on the rooftop of an old clock tower next to Prague Square. The view from there was superb, overlooking the entire square and providing unobstructed surveillance of the entire area. At the same time, the location was concealed, making it an excellent spot for ambush and observation.
The corner of the rooftop was quiet and still. The two concealed all their energy, like two silent shadows, quietly lurking in the night, patiently waiting for the last Elementals to appear.
Time passed slowly, and the crowds in the square grew denser.
As the sun completely sets and the streetlights come on, the warm yellow streetlights illuminate the Prague Square one by one. The retro streetlights, European-style fountains, lively street performers, and tourists from all over the world create a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. The laughter of children, the conversations of tourists, and the sounds of street music blend together, creating a scene of peaceful and idyllic life.
Meanwhile, towards the opera house.
Overjoyed to have received tickets for everyone, the students entered the magnificent, retro-style opera house lobby in groups. The carved dome, gilded railings, and warm-toned chandeliers created a wonderful atmosphere. Everyone enthusiastically found seats, took photos, chatted quietly, and enjoyed the unexpected high-end experience.
Only MJ stood by his seat, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the hem of his clothes, his gaze sweeping back and forth through the crowd, carefully scanning every familiar face.
She didn't see Peter at all from beginning to end.
From the moment they arrived in Prague and checked into their hotel until the entire group gathered to head to the opera house, Peter seemed to have vanished into thin air; he neither appeared nor left any trace.
A strange, inexplicable sense of loneliness and unease welled up inside me.
MJ turned to Ned, who was fiddling with his phone and looking at information about the opera house, and asked softly, " Ned, have you seen Peter? He hasn't come over yet."
Ned paused, looked around, and shook his head blankly. "I don't know. I haven't seen him since I went back to my room to pack this afternoon. I thought he came with the rest of the group. He's not answering his phone either. I guess he's gone off to explore somewhere else by himself."
Unable to get an answer, MJ's unease grew stronger, and his already waning interest completely vanished. The vast opera house was filled with melodious piano music and beautiful lighting, but without that familiar figure, everything felt utterly dull.
"I'm going for a walk," MJ said casually, turning and heading towards the opera house exit.
Seeing this, Betty quickly put down her phone and followed, saying, "Wait for me, I'll go with you."
Ned watched the two figures leave one after the other, then sat alone in his seat, looking around, feeling bored and lonely. Everyone else was chatting in twos and threes, but he was all alone. After thinking for a moment, he simply got up and quickly chased after them.
The three of them left the solemn and quiet opera house and stepped into the streets at night. The evening breeze was gentle and the streets were bustling. They had only intended to stroll around and relax, hoping to run into Peter by chance. However, as they walked and stopped along the way, following the flow of people, they unexpectedly found themselves in the brightly lit center of Prague Square.
At this moment, the square was bustling with activity.
Countless tourists flocked to the fountain to take photos, crowds thronged around it, the open-air market was bustling with activity, and street performances drew constant applause. The giant Ferris wheel in the center of the square slowly turned, its colorful lights flashing in alternating patterns, becoming the most eye-catching sight in the night sky. Many couples and tourists lined up to sit and enjoy the panoramic view of the city under the night sky, creating an atmosphere of unparalleled romance.
"There's no one in line right now, let's take a ride before we leave," Betty suggested enthusiastically, watching the Ferris wheel slowly turn.
MJ had no intention of having fun, but he couldn't resist the two's enthusiasm, and he also harbored a slight hope of running into Peter, so he nodded slightly.
The three boarded the Ferris wheel gondola one by one. The staff fastened the safety buckles, and the gondola slowly rose into the air, gradually leaving the ground and climbing into the night sky.
But just as the elevator car rose halfway up and hovered directly above the square...
Boom!!!
A deafening roar erupted without warning from the depths of the earth!
The ground of Prague Square trembled violently, the cobblestones underfoot bounced wildly, the streetlights swayed wildly, the market stalls and tables overturned instantly, and all the laughter and chatter came to an abrupt halt, replaced by panic and screams.
The ground in the very center of the square suddenly cracked, with countless fissures spreading wildly like a spider web. From the depths of the dark cracks, blinding crimson flames erupted, and rolling heat waves surged upwards along the cracks, instantly scorching the entire square.
The next second, towering flames burst forth from the ground!
Endless flames converged, churned, and shaped in the center of the square. The raging fire defied the rules of physics, burning, coalescing, and compressing wantonly. The flames transformed from tiny Mars into a raging inferno, and then solidified into a form. Scalding lava, carrying crimson flames, continuously pieced together, recombined, and rose higher.
A gigantic monster, its entire body engulfed in inextinguishable flames, slowly rose from the sea of fire.
Its body far surpassed that of the Elementals, its entire form composed of molten lava and boiling flames. Flames on its surface constantly leaped and exploded, and scorching heatwaves surrounded it, distorting and vaporizing the air, blurring its vision. The monster had no clear facial features; its head was a swirling core of flame, and its limbs were solidified from molten lava. Every slight movement, whether raising a hand or taking a step, would splatter molten lava fragments, instantly burning black scorch marks upon landing.
This is the last one, and also the strongest and most terrifyingly powerful Fire Elemental.
"Run! Run!"
After the deathly silence came an overwhelming panic.
The tourists in the square completely panicked. Everyone scattered and screamed, disregarding direction and the crowd. The elderly, children, and tourists pushed and shoved each other, and the panicked crowd blocked all the exits. The once romantic and lively square instantly turned into a living hell.
The Ferris wheel cabins suspended in mid-air became the most desperate cages.
The violent tremors caused the equipment to malfunction, and the Ferris wheel suddenly jammed in mid-air, unable to rotate any further. MJ, Ned, and Betty's cabin was stopped dozens of meters above the square, hanging alone in the night sky, with no way to move forward or backward, and below them was a raging sea of fire and a giant fire monster.
The scorching heat rushed in through the elevator car windows, turning the three of them pale and completely panicking. Ned gripped the handrail tightly, his body trembling uncontrollably, Betty covered her mouth to suppress a scream, and even the usually calm MJ had terror in his eyes.
On the rooftop, Peter's pupils constricted and his heart stopped.
He meticulously planned and painstakingly arranged for everyone to be safely housed in the opera house, doing everything in his power to protect everyone around him. However, he never expected that MJ and the other two would appear in the square and be trapped in the most dangerous high-altitude Extremis!
Damn it!
Peter cursed under his breath, his inner panic and anxiety erupting instantly.
"Action!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Peter and Quentin set off at the same time.
Two figures leaped from the rooftop terrace, one red and one green streaks of light piercing the dark night sky, heading straight for the Fire Elemental in the center of the plaza. Quentin's green smoke instantly surged, a dense energy smoke screen tightly enveloping the fire monster's body. The low-temperature energy frantically suppressed the high-temperature flames, steaming up a sky full of white mist, forcefully locking the Fire Elemental ' movement trajectory.
Countless beams of green energy bombarded the Fire Elemental's lava body, each impact sending up bursts of flames and temporarily suppressing the monster's explosive momentum.
Peter followed closely behind, his Silk shooting out precisely and wrapping around the limbs of the Fire Elemental. The high-strength nano- Silk were taut and tightly bound, layer upon layer, and with Quentin's energy suppression, the strongest Fire Elemental was temporarily trapped in the center of the plaza, preventing it from recklessly chasing the fleeing crowd.
However, the vitality and destructive power of the Fire Elemental far surpassed that of the water and earth monsters. The moment it was bound, the flames around it suddenly surged, frantically scorching the Silk and energy smoke wrapped around its body. The high temperature continuously eroded the two's suppressive defenses, and the force of its struggle to break free became more and more violent.
While Peter struggled to stabilize himself against the Silk, he kept a close eye on the Ferris wheel cabin high above.
MJ was up there, as were Ned and Betty.
With no shelter or protection at high altitude, if the Fire Elemental were to break free and splash lava, the elevator car would instantly melt from the intense heat, leaving no chance of survival for the three people.
In that critical moment, Peter had no time to consider the battle situation. He immediately turned to Quentin, who was locked in combat beside him, and shouted in a deep voice, " Quentin! Hold it off for now! I'm going to rescue the people!"
"Go quickly! I can't hold out much longer!" Quentin gritted his teeth and responded, unleashing his full energy output. A green smoke screen completely covered the fire monster's entire body, forcibly suppressing its rampaging evolutionary momentum.
Peter instantly released his tension, freeing himself from all the Silk bindings. He then propelled himself forward, his body transforming into a streak of red and blue light as he hurtled towards the Ferris wheel cabin high in the sky.
In a flash, he reached the outside of the cabin, gripped the metal body firmly with both hands, and nanoparticles instantly adhered to his fingertips to reinforce it and prevent the cabin from cracking due to the high temperature.
Peter's voice came through the mask into the elevator, calming the three panicked people.
Before the others could react, Peter exerted his strength, lifting the entire sedan chair steadily into the air. Using the inertia of the Silk webs, it landed safely on the edge of the square.
The moment they landed, the three men, still shaken, rushed out of the elevator. Their hearts were still pounding as they looked at the familiar Spider-Man figure in front of them.
Peter just breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the three had landed safely and were completely out of danger, Peter was suddenly met with a terrifying roar and heat wave behind him!
Boom--!!!
Freed from their double restraints, the Fire Elemental completely broke free from suppression.
The large amount of steel structure left over from the Ferris wheel that Peter used to restrain it, the metal railings around the square, and the steel frames of the streetlights all fell under the control of the Fire Elemental.
This perfectly matches its terrifying characteristics of devouring metal and using it to evolve!
The countless steel fragments were melted by the high temperature, turning into molten iron that poured into the lava bodies of the Fire Elemental. The fire monsters, originally six or seven meters tall, instantly swelled and grew taller, their bodies stretching to over ten meters! The flames on their bodies became even more violent and ferocious, their lava bodies became increasingly solid and hard, and the high-temperature air waves around them doubled in size, directly melting and blackening the stone slabs on the ground.
The evolved Fire Elemental possessed an aura several times more violent than before. Every time they raised their hands or took a step, they carried a world-destroying power, igniting the air in the entire plaza with intense heat.
"Oh no! It's evolved!" Peter's pupils shrank, and he immediately turned and rushed back to the battlefield.
Quentin immediately rushed to the rescue, unleashing a barrage of green energy beams. He and Peter once again coordinated their attacks, one controlling and the other attacking, to contain the raging Fire Elemental. However, the evolved monster's defense, explosive power, and self-healing abilities had all doubled. Their combined offensive could only temporarily halt the attack, failing to inflict any fatal damage.
Flames exploded and swept across the battlefield time and time again, and heat waves swept in all directions. The two men's physical strength and energy were rapidly depleted, and the load on their armor continued to rise, gradually making them unable to keep up.
Peter kept shooting out Silk, trying to entangle and restrict the fire monster's core position, but strange things kept happening.
Several times, his precisely fired Silk, with its straight trajectory and accurate lock-on, was blocked or deflected by an invisible barrier at the very moment it was about to hit its target, landing in empty space. It was as if countless obstacles invisible to the naked eye were hidden in the air, constantly disrupting his attack rhythm, both eerie and deadly.
Peter was filled with doubts, and the situation became increasingly passive.
Quentin, who had been continuously expending energy and was already exhausted, watched Peter repeatedly miss, a complex look flashing across his eyes that went unnoticed by anyone. He then pursed his lips and said in a deep voice:
" Peter, listen."
"My next strike will be the culmination of all my accumulated energy."
His voice was hoarse from exhaustion, yet incredibly firm.
"This is our only chance. If this strike doesn't finish it off, I won't be able to suppress it further. You'd better have a Plan B."