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[Marvel : Spoiling Spider-man] Chapter 26 - 30
🕑 Added 2025-01-03 13:35:18 +0000 UTCChapter 26 Artificial Little Sun
[Peter trudged down a quiet road, pushing his damaged scooter alongside him. The streets were lined with posters of Mary Jane, her smiling face seeming to mock his loneliness. Peter’s expression was heavy, his thoughts lost in the overwhelming weight of his life.]
[In Professor Connors’ classroom, the professor lectured passionately on the intricacies of fusion energy, but Peter sat in the back, absent-mindedly scribbling in his notebook. Words like "Nucleur fusion," "excessive energy," and "explosion" covered the page, a chaotic reflection of his thoughts.]
[After class, Peter found a payphone and called Mary Jane. The phone rang several times before going to voicemail. "Hi, Mary Jane, it’s Peter," he began awkwardly. "I went to your show last night. I rode my scooter..."]
[At this time, Mary Jane returned home. After hearing Peter's voice, she pick up the phone. The noise attracted Peter's attention, "Are you home? I really planned my whole day around it, but..."]
[Mary Jane, having just returned home, listened in silence. Finally, she whispered, "I know. You expected that I would be disappointed in you. You guessed right."]
["It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?" Peter continued; his voice tinged with frustration. "Isn’t it just about arriving on time at 8 o’clock? I made something so simple so complicated."]
[Mary Jane sat down and listened as Peter rambled. "It’s that annoying doorman. Someone needs to talk to him, MJ." Before Peter could finish, the payphone abruptly cut off.]
[Sighing deeply, Mary Jane turned away from the phone, disappointed. Peter still didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of his actions or take responsibility, instead blaming external factors. Frustrated, she walked away.]
[On the other side, Peter stared at the phone in his hand, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest. He took a deep breath and murmured, "This is it. I am Spider-Man. Incredible, isn’t it?"
Peter’s voice softened. "Now you understand why I can’t be with you. If my enemies knew about you, if they hurt you, I’d never forgive myself. I wish I could tell you how much I love you." Slowly, he hung up the phone and walked away.]"
“On one side is Peter Parker, and on the other side is Spider-Man. It's really hard to balance!" An ordinary citizen lamented Peter's difficulties.
"Who wouldn’t agree?" another chimed in. "He’s already struggling with school and work, barely has a dollar to his name, and still spends his nights fighting crime as Spider-Man. It’s too much for one person." Another lady nearby said in deep agreement.
[That afternoon, Otto's experiment was carried out as scheduled. People from all walks of life were invited to his lab. Otto and Rose were welcoming the guests.]
[Before starting the experiment, Otto told a joke to make everyone laugh, including Peter and Harry. Although he thought it was terrible, everyone was indeed amused.]
[Otto's expression became serious. "Today, you will witness with your own eyes the birth of a new energy based on fusion reactor. A safe and sustainable energy source that provides electricity for everyone."]
[Otto then introduced his assistants to everyone, who turned out to be four robotic arms. He took off his shirt and explained, "These four robotic arms are specially designed and manufactured to operate this fusion reactor system! They are completely unaffected by heat and magnetic fields!"]
[He came to the stage and operated on the computer. The mechanical arms were fixed on his waist, and then fixed firmly on his body with his spine as the core.]
[The spikes pierced his spine, causing intense pain, but Otto gritted his teeth and persevered. The crowd watching was so frightened by this scene that they gasped, making a great contribution to the global greenhouse effect.]
[Once secured, the robotic arms extended behind him, moving fluidly like living appendages.
"These smart arms are controlled directly by my brain," Otto explained. "Commands are transmitted via my spinal nerves through microscopic wires inserted into my cerebellum. This allows me to perform operations in environments humans cannot survive."]
[A woman raised her hand nervously. "Dr. Octavius, if these robotic arms are as intelligent as you claim, could they… control you instead of the other way around?"
Otto smiled at her question. "An excellent concern! That’s why I developed this inhibitor chip." He turned to reveal a small chip at the base of his neck. "This ensures that I control the arms, not the other way around."]
Tony noticed something was wrong immediately.
"What?" Tony exclaimed, sitting upright. "One chip? That’s it? What happens if it fails?"
As one of the world's top scientists, he was well aware that relying solely on such a chip was not safe at all. Once there was a problem with the chip, Dr. Otto would become a slave to the machine.
"Moreover, the material of his chip is too low-end. It can't withstand the huge pressure at all and will easily go wrong." Tony looked at the crystal material deduced by Jarvis and was very annoyed by the doctor's recklessness.
If it were him, he would definitely not rely on just a simple chip. Even if he only relied on the chip, he would definitely add high-strength protection on the outside of the chip. Unlike Otto, he directly exposed the entire chip. He really is not afraid of anything happening!
[Otto controlled the robotic arms and turned his head to aim at the equipment he was going to use next. He walked over and the four robotic arms began to operate.]
[He operated the computer and opened the test tube containing tritium. The test tube stretched out from the machine, and the mechanical arm took away the tritium stored in it.]
["This system operates using the rare tritium element," Otto explained. "There are only 25 pounds of it on Earth. Special thanks to Harry Osborn and Oscorp Industries for providing this invaluable resource!"
Harry beamed, laughing. "Happy to foot the bill, Doctor."]
[As the robotic arms carefully released the tritium, it began to spin and accelerate, suspended mid-air. Rose handed Otto a pair of goggles, her smile warm with pride.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Otto declared, donning the goggles, "please fasten your seat belts!" He activated the device, and beams of light erupted from four positions, converging into a radiant energy ball—a miniature sun.]
[The assistant announced the success of the fusion process, and the room erupted in applause. Harry grinned, feeling he’d achieved something his father had only dreamed of. The fusion reactor was generating an astounding one gigawatt of energy per second.]
"That's pretty impressive, Dr. Otto. You actually created an Ark reactor. It just doesn't seem stable enough. However, the energy output is really huge, much stronger than my previous reactor. But can you control it?"
Tony became serious when he saw that Dr. Otto had successfully made an artificial sun. Although it was thermonuclear fusion, it was indeed an Ark reactor. Its energy output was better than the large reactor of Stark Industries and the micro reactor on his body. However, its only drawback was that it was not stable enough.
Chapter 27 Experiment failed
Tony’s Ark reactor, based on the principle of cold nuclear fusion, was a marvel of stability. Its low temperature and pressure requirements allowed Tony to wear it on his chest without harm. If it were thermonuclear fusion, the immense heat and pressure would have been lethal.
Both the artificial sun and Tony’s Ark reactor had their strengths, but Tony’s was far more stable. Scaling down Stark Industries’ large reactor to a micro version had been a feat of engineering brilliance.
"It’s a shame Otto and I aren’t from the same world," Tony mused, swirling his wine glass. "We’d have so much to discuss. Maybe we could’ve collaborated. He built nuclear fusion from scratch with the simplest of tools."
To Tony, Otto’s setup was laughably primitive. Protective measures were nearly nonexistent. If it were up to Tony, he’d have implemented a robust magnetic field, employing a tokamak magnetic confinement system—similar to what he had built in the cave.
[Otto stood before the blinding energy of the artificial sun, his expression one of triumph and awe. "The power of the sun in the palm of my hand!" he declared, intoxicated by his success.]
[Peter, standing nearby, stared at the energy source, captivated but uneasy. Something felt off. Glancing down, he noticed a paperclip slowly sliding across the floor, drawn toward the artificial sun like a magnet.]
[Within moments, the laboratory’s chandeliers tilted precariously toward the energy source. Metal objects of all kinds—necklaces, laptops, and even structural components—began pulling free, hurtling toward the artificial sun.]
[Realizing the growing danger, Otto tried to calm everyone. "Don’t panic, it’s just a power fluctuation! It’ll stabilize soon!" he reassured, though his eyes betrayed uncertainty. Rose stood nearby, watching him with growing concern.]
"Damn it, that wasn't a power fluctuation, that was a breach in the protective magnetic field! I told you the equipment was too crude and the energy reaction was too huge. That damn magnetic field couldn't even last five seconds!" Tony was furious. He had realized what was going to happen next. The energy would get out of control and everyone present would be in big trouble.
"Looks like we have to find Tony and ask him what's going on. He's an expert in this area!" Nick Fury squinted his one eye and looked at the chaotic scene in the screen. He was not a scientist and didn't understand these things, but he knew that Tony must understand!
[Peter's spider sense was alarming him. He realized something was going to happen and left the scene immediately to change his clothes. Harry turned around and called out, "Peter!" but found that Peter had already disappeared.]
[The assistant asks everyone to leave here as soon as possible. At this time, the computer also issued an urgent alarm. The screen displayed an alarm: System overload, system instability warning. ]
[Energy is still being generated, and the magnetic field of the artificial sun is getting stronger and stronger. Even the metal counter is attracted to it. The iron sheets in the laboratory are also forcibly pulled away from the wall and all fly towards the artificial sun.]
[The protective shield has been completely breached, and the huge energy even produced a solar prominence. The huge energy easily tore apart the building in the laboratory. Rose nervously asked Otto shut it off. She was almost hit by debris falling from the ceiling.]
[Harry yells at Otto to turn off the artificial sun, but Otto doesn't want to give up and thinks he can control it and stabilize it.]
["I’m the boss! I pay for this!" Harry bellowed, oblivious to a metal frame flying toward him from behind. Fortunately, Peter arrived in time and rescued him.]
[Even after being saved, Harry’s anger toward Spider-Man didn’t waver. Ignoring him, Peter rushed toward the power source.
"What are you doing?!" Otto yelled, his mechanical arms lashing out.
"Turning it off!" Peter shouted back.]
[Peter reached for the power cords, but Otto, unwilling to let his experiment fail, used a mechanical arm to strike him. The force sent Peter flying into a pillar, leaving a massive dent in the concrete.]
[As the artificial sun’s magnetic field intensified, the laboratory’s metal doors and windows bent and deformed before shattering completely. Shards of glass and metal hurtled toward Rose. She screamed, her reflection momentarily visible in a shard before it struck her. She collapsed, lifeless.]
[Otto froze, his goggles slipping from his face as he turned to see Rose’s body. "No… Rose!" he screamed, his voice breaking with grief. He stumbled toward her, but another solar prominence erupted, sending a surge of energy through the mechanical arms. The inhibitor chip on his neck overloaded, shattering under the immense power.]
[Peter, recovering from the blow, saw the disaster unfolding. He rushed to the power cables and yanked them free with all his strength. Sparks flew as the artificial sun collapsed inward, consuming itself in a final burst of light and energy. A deafening silence followed, leaving the room in ruins.]
"Damn it! Otto! What are you doing? Why don't you turn it off? Don't you realize that it's the magnetic field shield that's having problems? What makes you think you can control it?"
Tony couldn't help but burst into cursing. Otto was too arrogant. He arrogantly thought that he could control the situation and prevent Peter from turning off the power, otherwise the tragedy would not have happened.
Otto was filled with despair and self-blame. He regretted his arrogance and blindness, regretted not treating the experiment more carefully, and was so stubborn to stop Peter's action.
He kept recalling the good times he had with his wife, her support and love for him, and the thought that he would kill her in the future made him feel heartbroken, and he could not accept that he was the culprit behind all this.
At the same time, he was also afraid and uneasy, not knowing what chain reaction the failure of future experiments would bring. He was worried that his reputation and career would be ruined and no one would support his experiments anymore.
In his inner struggle, Otto also thought about the future. He began to doubt whether his scientific pursuit was worth it and whether he should continue such dangerous research. Rose comforted Otto.
With Rose's encouragement, he decides to face his mistakes and is determined to find a way to not only redeem his reputation but also prevent the tragedy on The Screen from actually happening.
Chapter 28 Dr. Octopus
"Peter..." Harry glanced at Peter next to him. He knew that Otto had always been Peter's idol and Peter had always admired him. After Harry took over Oscorp Industries, he was the first to provide funding to Dr. Otto because he was Peter's idol.
Now that Otto's experiment had failed, Otto himself was likely in trouble, and Rose had died as a result. He didn't know what Peter would think.
Peter's heart was filled with grief and shock. Like Otto, he could not accept this fact. His admiration for the doctor collapsed instantly, and he felt extremely disappointed and confused.
How could this happen, he kept asking himself? Dr. Otto had always been his role model, a symbol of wisdom, a paragon of scientific achievement. He could not understand how such a brilliant man could have suffered such a failure.
However, in the midst of grief, Peter also began to think. "Harry... I'm fine. This is just a possible future shown by the screen. The doctor will fail in the future, but now we know it in advance, so next time, we will try to do better."
He realized that the failure of the experiment was not the doctor's incompetence, but a part of scientific exploration. Every scientist may face failure, which is inevitable in the pursuit of truth.
He looked at Harry and added, "Can I go see him? He must be devastated right now. I understand what he’s going through—like when I let that robber go, and it led to Uncle Ben’s death."
"No problem," Harry replied, pulling out his phone. "I’ll call him now and let the famous Spider-Man come cheer him up." Despite the failure, Harry still believed in Otto. Reviewing the experiment’s process and learning from mistakes would pave the way to future success.
[The sound of ambulances echoed throughout the city, and a large number of police officers and medical staff continued to send the injured to ambulances. ]
[A spokesperson for Oscorp Industries, present during the incident, expressed relief. "It’s fortunate no greater disaster occurred. If more tritium had been used, New York could have been destroyed."]
[Harry emerged from the wreckage, his clothes disheveled and his expression grim. The failure had crushed his dream of surpassing his father and left him facing potential legal repercussions. "I’m ruined," he muttered bitterly, shaking his head.] [Harry was filled with resentment, and he wanted to find someone to vent his anger on, and the best target was Spider-Man. The assistant next to him said that Spider-Man saved him, and Harry angrily retorted: "I don't care about him saving me."]
[The assistant took Harry away before the reporters arrived to avoid being caught up in the whirlpool of public opinion. The medical staff covered Rose's body with a white sheet and put it in the ambulance.]
[Peter also walked out, looking around in confusion, looking at the large number of wounded outside the laboratory, he didn't know what would happen next.]
[Late that night in a hospital operating room, a team of doctors reviewed Otto’s injuries. His spine had been pierced by the mechanical arms, causing extensive nerve damage. Surgery was imperative.]
["We’ll have to saw off the mechanical arms," one doctor said grimly. "If necessary, we may need to remove the spinal lamina and fuse his vertebrae."]
[Another doctor picked up an electric saw, ready to begin. But as the blade neared a mechanical arm, it suddenly rose and struck him, sending him flying across the room.]
[A nurse screamed, and chaos erupted. The mechanical arms, now acting autonomously, lashed out, grabbing and throwing anyone who tried to approach Otto.]
[A doctor holding a scalpel was lifted into the air and thrown into a light above, where he was electrocuted. Others were tossed like ragdolls, their cries of pain filling the room.]
[Despite their best efforts, the staff was powerless. The arms were crafted from specially designed materials, resistant to heat and gravitational force. Even an electric saw proved useless.]
[As the mechanical arms wreaked havoc, Otto remained unconscious. When he finally awoke, he saw the carnage around him and screamed, "No!!!"]
[Under the arms’ control, Otto broke through the hospital doors and stepped onto the street, his upper body bare. A taxi couldn’t brake in time and collided with him, but the arms effortlessly flung the vehicle aside, sending it crashing into another car.]
[Otto stared at the mechanical arms, watching them move protectively. He realized their autonomy extended beyond simple reactions—they could act independently, defending themselves and, by extension, him.]
[As police sirens blared in the distance, the arms guided Otto to safety, moving with incredible speed. They led him to an abandoned building near a bridge, where he paused, gazing at the dilapidated structure before heading inside.]
"Sure enough, after the chip was damaged, the intelligent robotic arm was no longer under his control. I said the protective measures were too crude." Tony frowned as he looked at the robotic arm that was wreaking havoc in the operating room and sighed.
"Otto, you should be more vigilant. The chip is unreliable." Rose looked at the medical staff who were slaughtered, and looked at Otto beside her with a worried look. He had just received a call from Harry, and he and Peter were on the way. Upon hearing the news, Otto's mood finally improved a little.
"I will take protective measures, or use another method." Otto was also grief-stricken when he looked at the arm. Not only did the experiment fail, but the mechanical arm also went out of control and killed so many doctors and nurses. This made him even more sad.
[By morning, news of Otto’s failed experiment dominated the headlines. Rumors and gossip swirled, painting Otto as a mad scientist.]
[At the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson discussed the event with Robbie. "If we’re lucky, this will cause a citywide panic. A mad scientist turned into a monster! Four mechanical arms—an eight-limbed menace! It’s perfect."]
["What should we call him?" Hoffman suggested, "Doctor Octopus!"
"Terrible name!" Jameson retorted. "What else?"
"Octopus Scientist?" Hoffman offered.
"Worse!"
"Doctor Strange?" someone else proposed.
"Cool, but already taken," Jameson snapped. "Doctor Octopus it is!" Hoffman raised his hand to protest, but Jameson waved him off. "You waiting for a raise? Get lost!"]
["Doctor Octopus," Jameson mused. "The city’s newest villain. It’s genius." Hoffman muttered a reluctant, "You’re brilliant," before scurrying away.]
Chapter 29 Bank Attack
"Doctor Strange..." A gleam flashed in Ancient One's eyes. Did they have a Doctor Strange over there? She had already chosen Stephen Strange as her successor, planning to pass on her mantle when the time came.
[At the Daily Bugle, Ms. Brant led Peter into Jameson’s office. "Boss, I found Peter!" she announced cheerfully.
Jameson turned, spreading his arms dramatically. "Where the hell have you been, Parker? Didn’t pay your phone bill? And no pictures of the mad scientist?!"
Robbie chimed in, "I heard Spider-Man was there too!" His gaze briefly met Peter’s, a knowing look passing between them.
Jameson glared at Peter. "What’s next? Squirrels in Central Park? You’re fired!"]
[Before Peter could respond, Ms. Brant returned to remind Jameson about the planetarium party that evening. "You’re not fired," Jameson grumbled. "I need you."]
[“How much do you know about high society?” Jameson asked. Peter opened his mouth to answer, but Jameson cut him off. "Doesn’t matter. The regular photographer’s out—knocked down by a polo ball. You’re all I’ve got. Big party celebrating American heroes. My son’s an astronaut!"
"Can I get an advance on my salary?" Peter ventured hopefully.
Jameson let out a booming laugh, slapping his thigh. "An advance? I’m paying you to stand there like an idiot! Be at the planetarium tomorrow night at eight, or don’t bother showing up again!" he bellowed, dismissing Peter with a wave of his hand.]
. . . . . .
[Meanwhile, at an abandoned wooden house by the Manhattan River, Doctor Octopus stood silently, staring at the water. His mechanical arms swayed gently around him, reflecting his inner turmoil. "Rose is gone. My dream is shattered," he murmured. "These… horrible things should sink to the bottom of the river. And me along with them."]
[As Otto contemplated his fate, the robotic arms resisted. A voice whispered in his mind, growing louder with each passing moment. "Start again," it urged.
"No!" Otto shouted. "Peter was right. I calculated wrong!" But the voice was relentless, echoing in his head.
"You didn’t fail," the voice insisted. "Wasn’t nuclear fusion successful? Start over—this time, make the shield stronger!"
"But we need money," Otto muttered, conflicted. "Rob a bank? No. No, I can’t commit a crime."
"Not fulfilling your dream is the real crime," the voice countered. Otto’s expression twisted into an unsettling grin. "The energy of the sun is in the palm of my hand," he declared, his resolve solidifying. "No one can stop us now. No one!"]
"Dr. Otto is being controlled by a robotic arm. This is terrifying!"
"He will complete the experiment at all costs. Who knows what the consequences will be?"
"We have to find a way to stop him!"
People's voices were full of anxiety and helplessness, as they knew full well the disastrous consequences that Otto's experiment might bring. Some began to pray silently, hoping that someone would come forward to stop all this from happening; others fiercely discussed ways to deal with it, but every proposal seemed so powerless.
Fear spread among the crowd, and people were shrouded in panic. Some people began to spontaneously go to Otto's laboratory to try to stop him from continuing to study fusion reactor, but many people believed that Otto's original intention was good, but there was just a mistake, as long as he recalculated it, there was no need to throw away the research.
[At the bank, Peter and Aunt May sat in the loan department, hoping to secure funds using Uncle Ben’s life insurance and Social Security benefits. The bank staff shook their heads regretfully. "I’m sorry, it’s not enough to qualify for a loan," they said.
Aunt May quickly added, "I’ve started teaching piano again!"
"Really?" Peter asked, surprised. Aunt May tried to nudge him discreetly, but instead accidentally kicked the staff member’s foot. The man yelped in pain, rubbing his foot while glaring at her.]
[“Thank you for opening a super savings account with our bank," the staff member added stiffly, "but your assets don’t meet the threshold for refinancing.”
Aunt May sighed and pulled out an advertisement. "At least I can get the toaster," she muttered.
"You need a deposit of at least $300 for that," the staffer replied. Aunt May glanced at the ad again, defeated. "I see," she said with a resigned smile.]
["Don’t worry, Aunt May," Peter said, patting her hand. "We’ll figure something out."]
[Suddenly, a deafening crash interrupted their conversation. Otto had ripped the vault door from its hinges and flung it across the room. It landed inches from where Peter and Aunt May sat. Reacting instinctively, Peter shoved Aunt May’s chair to safety and slid backward himself, narrowly avoiding the door.
Aunt May, startled, cried out, "Peter! Don’t leave me behind!"]
[Peter dashed toward the fallen door. The bank staff, watching him, exclaimed, "What a hero!" Meanwhile, a security guard approached Otto, gun drawn. "Freeze! Hands and tentacles in the air!" he commanded.]
[The robotic arms responded violently, swatting the guards aside like toys. Otto strode into the vault, using his tentacles to grab bags of cash. Coins spilled onto the floor as he stuffed his loot into the mechanical arms.]
[Peter quickly changed into his Spider-Man suit. Swinging into action, he confronted Otto just as the villain flung a money bag at him. Peter dodged, the coins scattering around him.
Leaping onto a pillar, Peter snared one of the money bags with his web and threw it back. "Here’s some pocket money for you!" he quipped.]
[The bag hit Otto squarely, though his mechanical arms absorbed the brunt of the impact. Annoyed, Otto grabbed more bags and hurled them at Peter, who deftly evaded. But as Peter prepared to counter, his web-shooters failed. "Oh no! Not now!" he groaned, desperately trying to fire a web.
Unable to react in time, Peter was struck by one of the bags and fell from the pillar. Otto, triumphant, let out a gleeful laugh. "Ha!" he bellowed, preparing for another attack.]
Chapter 30 Hostages
Tony frowned as Peter failed to shoot his spider web yet again. His concern deepened, and he turned away from the Screen. "Jarvis, are you absolutely sure Peter Parker is okay?" he asked.
"Sir, through analyzing Peter Parker's body movements and facial expressions, he is no different from before and does not show any physical abnormalities." Jarvis compared it over and over again many times to make sure there was no problem.
At that moment, Nick Fury entered the room, having overheard Tony’s question. Tony opened the door wider, letting him in.
Fury wasted no time. "Our analysis suggests Peter Parker’s powers are failing due to extreme psychological stress," he said. "Mary Jane has had a significant impact on him. If he can’t reconcile his identity as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, his powers may continue to fail, possibly permanently."
Tony sighed, pouring himself a drink. "That’s terrible news. What’s the solution?" he asked, eyeing Fury over his glass.
"Three options," Fury replied evenly. "One: Give up being Spider-Man, follow his heart, and pursue Mary Jane. Two: Sever all ties with her and fully embrace Spider-Man’s responsibilities. Or three: Reveal his identity to Mary Jane and hope it resolves his inner conflict. If he tries to hold onto both without making a choice, he risks losing everything."
"Classic Parker," Tony muttered, shaking his head. "No money, no time, no balance. He’s late for everything—work, school, and relationships. Being Spider-Man eats up all his time."
Fury nodded. "Our psychologists also suggest Peter may eventually abandon Spider-Man altogether to live a normal life—attending school, working a steady job, and pursuing Mary Jane."
Tony drained his glass. "With great power comes great responsibility," he murmured. "But if Peter loses his powers, maybe he won’t have to bear that weight anymore."
Fury crossed his arms. "It’s not that simple. Responsibility doesn’t vanish with power."
"Let’s put a pin in it," Tony said, pouring another drink. "Peter’s choices are his to make. Now, what did you want to talk about?"
[On the Screen, gold coins spilled from the bag Peter had caught. One coin rolled to the feet of the loan officer, who picked it up and tried to pocket it discreetly. Aunt May noticed and slapped his hand. "Ouch!" the man yelped, dropping the coin loudly onto the floor.]
"The audacity!" the bank president exclaimed, watching the chaos unfold. "Fire him immediately!" That employee was promptly dismissed by the end of the day.
[Meanwhile, Doctor Octopus grabbed Peter with his tentacles, his voice seething with rage. "You’ve made me angry, Spider-Man!"
Peter stared back defiantly. "I specialize in catching bad guys."
"Then you’re dead!" Otto growled, clamping Peter’s head between two of his tentacles. Peter groaned in pain, his vision blurring.]
[The intense pain triggered Peter’s powers to return. With a surge of strength, he shot webbing from both hands, yanking tables on either side of him. The tables flew toward Otto, forcing him to release Peter.]
[Otto used his tentacles to block one table, tearing it apart. But the second table struck him full force, knocking him out of the bank and into a taxi idling at a red light. The tentacles absorbed much of the impact, leaving Otto unharmed.]
[Peter pursued Otto, only for Otto to rip off the taxi’s doors and hurl them at him. Peter dodged the first door effortlessly, but Otto anticipated his landing and threw the second door, hitting Peter mid-air. The force sent Peter crashing back into the bank, eliciting gasps from the onlookers.]
[Police cars arrived, sirens blaring. Armed officers confronted Otto, but he reacted instantly, grabbing a hostage from the crowd. To Peter’s horror, the hostage was Aunt May.]
[Aunt May screamed and struck the tentacles with her umbrella, but her efforts were futile. The police held their fire, unwilling to risk harming the hostage. Otto, now holding Aunt May and two bags of money, escaped the bank.]
"Oh, God! I must have been so scared!" Aunt May looked at her frightened self on the screen with red eyes. She couldn't believe that she had lost her husband and was being taken hostage. Ben hurried to comfort her.
[Outside, Otto fled through the city, his tentacles carrying him across buildings. Passing a high-rise office, one of his tentacles smashed through the window, startling the employees inside. Aunt May dangled helplessly, her face pale with fear.]
[Peter intercepted Otto, landing squarely on his back. "Leave her to me!" Peter demanded.
Otto smirked wickedly. "No problem!" he replied, lifting Aunt May higher. Just as Peter reached for her, Otto threw her down.
Aunt May’s scream echoed through the city as she plummeted toward the ground. Peter shot out a web, catching her just in time and pulling her back like a bungee cord.]
[Otto lunged at Peter, using his tentacles to deliver a brutal blow. Peter reeled but managed to steady himself. Aunt May, meanwhile, swung into the side of a building. Her umbrella caught on a statue, leaving her dangling precariously.]
