"Breaking news from New York City!"
"Spider-Man is engaged in a fierce battle with a monstrous, steel-clawed octopus!"
"My God, it's absolute mayhem!"
"According to the latest reports, the steel-clawed menace is none other than Otto Octavius, a former scientist from Osborn Industries!"
__
New York City
A brutal battle raged across the city skyline.
Swinging through the towering buildings, Spider-Man struggled against a terrifying foe—Doctor Octopus.
"Peter Parker," Octavius sneered. "You know I know who you are. Why do you still bother with that ridiculous mask?"
His metallic tentacles lashed out like a whip, striking Spider-Man with bone-crushing force and slamming him through a skyscraper window.
CRASH!
Spider-Man groaned, his body pinned against the glass as the cold steel limbs coiled around him like an iron python.
"Where's Gwen?" he roared, struggling against the tentacles' crushing grip.
Gwen Stacy—his most beloved.
In countless Marvel universes, her fate was sealed in tragedy. And now, fear clawed at Peter's chest.
Doctor Octopus grinned maliciously.
"Oh? You mean her? She's probably with your dear parents by now."
A burst of maniacal laughter echoed through the air as he tightened his grip.
Spider-Man's eyes widened in horror.
"NO!"
Fueled by rage, he fought back, but even with the enhancements of the T-Virus and OZ serum, he was losing.
Doctor Octopus was simply too strong.
Bruises covered his body, his ribs ached, and his suit was soaked with his own blood.
"Oh my God, Spider-Man is getting destroyed out there!"
"Why hasn't anyone come to help him?!"
"Where the hell is Tony Stark?!"
The entire battle was being broadcasted live, with helicopters circling overhead, cameras capturing every brutal second.
Then, suddenly—
The air twisted.
The space warped unnaturally, distorting like a reflection in shattered glass.
A dark figure materialized in mid-air.
A black-armored entity with a glowing red V-shaped eyepiece.
"What… the hell is that?!"
"Is it another robot?!"
Before anyone could process the anomaly, the live broadcast—the entire signal—cut to static.
BZZT.
"W-What's happening?! Where's our live feed?!"
"Director, we lost the signal!"
"What do you mean 'lost'?! What happened?!"
At the TV station, chaos erupted. Every screen went black.
__
Doctor Octopus stiffened, eyes narrowing at the floating figure beside him.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
Spider-Man used the distraction to rip himself free, tumbling onto a nearby rooftop.
His legs trembled beneath him. Blood dripped onto the concrete.
But instead of running, he turned his head toward the mysterious newcomer.
The black figure hovered silently in the air, emanating an overwhelming aura of dread.
Then, finally, it spoke.
"Doctor Otto Octavius…"
"You should have died in Osborn's explosion. Instead, you've become… this."
Gene 's voice was calm. Almost bored.
"But don't worry," he continued, his tone as sharp as a blade.
"Tonight, I'll set you free."
Doctor Octopus's pupils shrank.
He staggered back, his brain racing.
'How does he know about the explosion at Osborn Labs? How does he know it was Norman Osborn?!'
Suspicion quickly morphed into rage.
"Since you know so much," Octavius growled, grinning wickedly, "why don't I just tear you apart?"
With a mighty roar, his tentacles lunged forward.
"HEY! Big guy, watch out!" Spider-Man shouted, his voice urgent.
Gene didn't move.
Instead—
SNAP!
He simply snapped his fingers.
And just like that—
Doctor Octopus's mechanical tentacles froze in place.
Suspended mid-air, they refused to move.
The sinister grin on Otto's face shattered into pure horror.
"What… what's happening?!"
He tried to command them. Tried to move them.
Nothing.
Instead, the tentacles began slowly turning—toward him.
The once-loyal metallic limbs now crawled toward their master, moving with terrifying intent.
"NO! STOP!"
Panic set in.
He stumbled back, but there was nowhere to run.
The first tentacle reached him, pressing firmly against his chest.
Then came the second.
Then the third.
Then—
CRACK!
The first metallic limb pierced his stomach.
Blood erupted from his mouth as he let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"AAAAAAAAAAGH!"
One by one, the tentacles tore through his body, ripping apart flesh and bone with merciless precision.
Within moments, all that remained was a grotesque statue—a man impaled by his own creations.
Doctor Octopus's lifeless eyes stared blankly ahead.
The once brilliant scientist was now just a corpse—trapped by the very machines he had sworn to control.
__
"Whoa…"
Spider-Man gawked, his mouth slightly open in shock.
"That was… insane."
He exhaled shakily before turning toward Gene.
"Dude, who are you?" he asked, his voice still breathless.
"Because, not gonna lie, that was pretty damn cool."
His tone was light, but his eyes carried something deeper—a quiet, haunted pain.
Gene knew that look.
He sighed.
"If you're talking about Gwen Stacy…"
Peter's body tensed.
Gene continued, his voice eerily calm:
"She's alive."
Spider-Man's heart stopped.
For a moment, his mind refused to process the words.
Gene's glowing red eyes locked onto his.
"My team saved her," he said simply.
Silence.
Then—
Peter felt something appear in his hand.
A small metallic device.
He looked down.
A sleek, futuristic insignia was engraved on its surface:
A circle intersected by a sharp arrow.
Beneath it, the words:
S.W.O.R.D.
Spider-Man's fingers trembled as he held it.
"Heavenly Sword Bureau…?"
He murmured the name softly, staring at the strange invitation in his hand.
Gene's form flickered, space distorting around him.
"Join me," he said, his voice cutting through the night air.
And then—
He vanished.
Leaving Spider-Man alone, standing under the neon lights of the city, staring at the invitation to a new future.
--------------
T/N:
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