Chapter 77: Spider Isotope, Could Gwen Become Spider-Man Too?
Andrew Spider-Man stared at the old Web-Shooter across from him, then glanced down at the one strapped to his own wrist.
His lips moved several times, but it took him a few seconds to form a complete sentence.
"Y-You're Spider-Man too?"
Richard Parker did not answer. His fingers twitched, and a strand of webbing shot from the Web-Shooter straight toward Andrew Spider-Man's chest.
Then came the third shot, the fourth. Webs continued firing from the device on his wrist.
Every shot precisely cut off one of Andrew Spider-Man's escape routes.
Andrew Spider-Man's instinct to dodge had practically been etched into his genes.
His body began moving before his brain could even issue a command.
He tightened his core and sprang upward, his legs launching him off the floor like coiled springs.
In midair, he executed a clean backflip.
He slipped between several strands of webbing by the narrowest of margins.
At the same time, he raised his right hand and fired a strand of webbing back at Richard Parker.
The entire sequence happened so quickly that it was almost impossible to follow.
Among all the Spider-Men across the Parallel Universes, Andrew Spider-Man might not rank highly in terms of strength.
But when it came to agility and reaction speed, he was undoubtedly among the very best.
In [The Amazing Spider-Man 2], he had effortlessly dodged Electro's lightning attacks with perfect precision.
That incredible reaction speed, which allowed him to weave through bolts of lightning with ease, was a talent unique to Andrew Spider-Man.
However, Richard Parker had an even greater surprise in store than either Peter or Andrew Spider-Man had expected.
The instant Andrew Spider-Man returned fire, Richard Parker had already leaped into the air.
He kicked off the ceiling with his right foot and completed a midair flip even faster than Andrew Spider-Man.
He dodged the incoming webbing during the flip, then fired the most crucial strand the moment he landed.
The webbing struck Andrew Spider-Man's right wrist and sealed the nozzle of his Web-Shooter.
The instant Andrew Spider-Man touched down, he raised his right hand to fire, only to discover that the nozzle had been completely blocked.
He froze for a second before realizing that he had already lost.
"You win."
Richard Parker spread his hands, an immensely proud smile appearing on his face.
"No, my son. You're the one who won. You've only been Spider-Man for a month, yet you've already reached this level. You're far better than I was at your age!"
With those words, Richard Parker had effectively admitted that he was Spider-Man.
"Ahem. Could I interrupt for a moment, Mr. Parker?"
Peter deliberately cleared his throat, bringing the [showdown] between the father-and-son Spider-Men to an end.
Richard Parker turned and studied the young man who had been quietly watching from the sidelines with an odd expression.
Andrew Spider-Man noticed his father's gaze.
He stepped forward and patted Peter on the shoulder.
"He's also Peter Parker. He's a Spider-Man from another universe."
Richard Parker's pupils trembled slightly.
The Multiverse!
It was not as though he had never heard of the theory, but it remained purely hypothetical, with no evidence proving that it was real.
However, as one of the world's leading scientists, Richard Parker was far more receptive to new ideas than most people.
He quickly accepted Peter's identity and suggested that they discuss the Multiverse theory in greater detail another time.
For now, he needed to explain where his Spider-Man abilities had come from.
He lowered his sleeve, concealing the Web-Shooter once again.
"You were right earlier. I'm not truly Spider-Man."
He gestured for both of them to sit on the sofa so they could talk.
"Five years after I faked my death, I developed a new synthetic compound based on the OZ Formula. I named it Spider Isotope."
His tone was remarkably calm, as though he did not care how much of a sensation such a miraculous compound would cause if it were ever revealed to the public.
"Unlike the OZ Formula, Norman Osborn's OZ Formula was designed to produce permanent enhancement at the cost of irreversible damage to the nervous system."
"Spider Isotope is more stable and much gentler. It can only grant the user certain abilities, and its effects last for a limited time."
"At its current stage, Spider Isotope can give me Super Strength, Super Speed, Enhanced Agility and Reflexes, and the ability to climb and cling to surfaces."
"Spider Isotope is the only reason I've been able to evade Norman Osborn's search network for so many years."
Richard Parker lowered his voice.
"An ordinary person could never escape Oscorp's intelligence system. Only by using Spider-Man's climbing abilities could I flee through places they were unable to search."
Andrew Spider-Man listened intently before suddenly frowning.
"Didn't Spider Isotope give you Spider-Sense?"
Spider-Sense?
Richard Parker's confused expression made it clear that he had never heard of such an ability.
Only after Andrew Spider-Man explained it did realization dawn on him.
No wonder Peter had said that he was not a true Spider-Man.
A genuine Spider-Man possessed an extraordinary ability that could not be explained by science.
It was almost like an enhanced sixth sense.
No synthetic compound could grant such a power.
After quietly listening to the remarkable effects of [Spider Isotope], Andrew Spider-Man suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
A strange thought entered his mind.
"Wait. If [Spider Isotope] really is that incredible, wouldn't Gwen be able to become Spider-Man if she used it? No, she'd be Spider-Woman."
Richard Parker gave his son a strange look.
He had been keeping track of Andrew Spider-Man all this time, so of course he knew who Gwen was.
"Theoretically, yes, but I strongly advise you not to do that..."
Richard Parker adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and spoke in a low voice.
"With great power comes great responsibility. Not everyone is suited to becoming a Superhero."
Peter, however, saw things differently.
"Giving Gwen some [Spider Isotope] might not be a bad thing. It would give her the ability to protect herself when it matters."
"Are you sure? Are you saying the Gwen in your universe also has special abilities?"
Richard Parker keenly sensed that there was more to Peter's words and asked the crucial question.
The question immediately caught Andrew Spider-Man's attention as well. He looked at Peter with open curiosity.
Peter remained silent for several seconds before slowly beginning his explanation.
"Gwen doesn't have any special abilities in my universe. However, during my first Interdimensional Travel, I did encounter a Gwen Stacy who had become Spider-Woman."
"Unfortunately, in the universe where Gwen Stacy became Spider-Woman, Peter Parker never became Spider-Man. Instead, he became one of the Lizard People and died in Gwen Stacy's arms."
As Peter spoke, he gave Andrew Spider-Man a meaningful look.
Hopefully, after hearing that story, Andrew Spider-Man would learn from it and make sure a similar tragedy never happened again.
Chapter 78: The Ultimate Green Goblin and the Second-Generation Green Goblin
While Richard Parker and Andrew Spider-Man were reuniting as father and son, Norman Osborn was in a foul mood.
Peter had used the Daily Bugle to expose Oscorp's underground laboratories, causing Oscorp's stock price to plummet by fifteen percent.
And that was only the beginning.
Once the downward spiral fully took hold, there was no telling how far Oscorp's stock price would fall.
Even worse, Richard Parker was scheduled to appear as a witness during a live Daily Bugle broadcast.
That would deal a potentially fatal blow to Oscorp.
By then, falling stock prices would be the least of their problems.
Oscorp would face comprehensive investigations from both the FBI and the FDA.
Yet at this critical moment, Norman Osborn could not return to Oscorp and take control of the situation.
Dr. Warren's research had reached a crucial stage.
He was on the verge of reverse-engineering the OZ Formula and producing the complete OZ compound.
Norman Osborn's body was deteriorating by the day. He could not afford to wait any longer.
He had to use the OZ compound as soon as possible. Otherwise, he might suddenly drop dead at any moment.
...
Somewhere in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, beneath an uninhabited region covered in primeval forest, Norman Osborn had converted a Cold War intercontinental ballistic missile silo into a private research facility.
From the surface, it looked like nothing more than an abandoned watchtower surrounded by rusted barbed wire.
Inside the watchtower, however, an industrial elevator led directly underground.
Twenty meters below the surface, Dr. Warren stood before an experimental chamber, holding two sealed glass syringes.
The liquid inside glowed an ominous dark green as it slowly shifted beneath the lights.
Two figures emerged from the far end of the corridor.
Norman Osborn sat in a wheelchair, still resembling a frail old man nearing the end of his life.
Behind him, pushing the wheelchair, was Harry Osborn, the new heir to Oscorp.
Harry looked around at his surroundings in confusion.
"Dr. Warren."
Norman Osborn's wheelchair came to a stop, and his gaze settled on the two syringes.
"Is that what I asked for?"
Dr. Warren adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
Barely restrained excitement filled his voice.
"The complete OZ Formula, reverse-engineered from Spider-Man's blood. It can permanently rewrite the human genome and completely cure your hereditary genetic disorder, Mr. Osborn."
Norman Osborn nodded, then turned toward Harry Osborn.
"Father, what is this place?"
Harry stared nervously at the two sinister-looking syringes.
Norman Osborn extended a gaunt hand covered in age spots.
"Harry, I know you've been experiencing health problems lately. Dizziness, blurred vision, and ulcerated patches on your skin. Those are symptoms of our family's hereditary disease, and your condition has already begun to manifest."
Harry's pupils widened slightly, and he instinctively covered the wound on his neck.
"But you don't need to be afraid. The cure that can completely repair your genetic defect is right here."
Norman Osborn took one of the syringes from Dr. Warren and placed it in Harry's palm.
"The OZ compound will not only cure your illness, it will also grant you power beyond the limits of an ordinary human. Let Dr. Warren administer it now."
Harry Osborn looked down at the syringe in his hand.
His fingers trembled. Although he resisted the sudden arrangement, years of absolute obedience to his father left him unable to refuse.
Harry silently nodded, then handed the syringe to Dr. Warren as he stepped forward.
The excitement in Dr. Warren's eyes grew even stronger.
He positioned the needle against the side of Harry's neck, pierced the skin and flesh in an instant, and administered the injection.
Dr. Warren quickly stepped back and waited for the compound to take effect.
At first, Harry Osborn felt nothing unusual.
But soon, a scorching heat erupted from deep within his body.
It felt as though he were burning from the inside.
Every bone, every muscle fiber, and every cell in his body seemed to ignite at once.
He bent over instinctively. His right fist clenched on its own and slammed into the laboratory bench.
The steel surface released a piercing metallic shriek as his punch left a dent several centimeters deep.
Harry slowly raised his hand.
His fist was completely unharmed.
Norman Osborn studied the dent and nodded in satisfaction.
Light flashed across Dr. Warren's glasses as he examined the damage and calculated the force in his head.
"He already possesses roughly a ton of punching force at the very beginning of his evolution. Once the process is complete, Harry's strength may exceed ten tons!"
"This is the proper path of human evolution. Congratulations, Mr. Osborn. You now hold the future of humanity in your hands!"
Half an hour later, Harry Osborn's trembling finally stopped.
He straightened and instinctively touched his neck.
The ulcerated patches that had covered his skin were gone, replaced by completely healthy skin.
The OZ compound had truly cured his hereditary genetic disorder.
It had also granted him unimaginable power.
But for some reason, a sinister voice, both strange and familiar, had appeared inside Harry Osborn's mind.
It constantly urged him to destroy everything around him.
While Harry struggled to ignore the sinister voice in his head, Norman Osborn had already lost his patience.
Only after seeing the OZ compound work perfectly on his son did he find the courage to inject himself.
"The second dose of the OZ compound. Begin, Dr. Warren."
Norman Osborn rolled up his left sleeve, exposing the aged skin of his forearm and its bulging blue veins.
Without hesitation, Dr. Warren administered the second dose of the OZ compound.
The dark green liquid flowed directly into Norman Osborn's withered veins.
Norman Osborn's body arched violently.
His muscles began convulsing, and within moments, the spasms spread from the injection site throughout his entire body.
In only a few breaths, Norman Osborn's gaunt, emaciated frame began to swell grotesquely, crushing his wheelchair into twisted fragments of metal.
His spine expanded outward, and his shoulder blades sharpened until they pierced through his suit jacket, revealing rapidly swelling muscle fibers beneath.
Every muscle in Norman Osborn's body was multiplying at a frenzied rate.
His pale skin split apart beneath the expanding mass of muscle.
In its place grew a layer of thick, dark green hide covered in heavy scales.
Dr. Warren froze for a moment.
Then his excitement grew even more intense.
He believed he had just witnessed a second path for human evolution.
...
Chapter 79: The Sandman Test Subject, The Terrifying Ultimate Green Goblin
Norman Osborn clenched his teeth so tightly that the grinding sound made everyone's skin crawl.
A beastlike growl then erupted from deep within his throat.
Although the sound was low and hoarse, it carried an astonishing vitality.
It formed a chilling contrast with Norman Osborn's old, withered body.
After several minutes of violent transformation, Norman Osborn's body was finally rebuilt.
His frame had swollen to nearly five times its original size.
His entire body was covered in enormous, terrifying muscles.
His hands were especially massive, so large that they seemed out of proportion. He could easily lift a car with one hand.
There was no longer any distinction between the pupils and whites of Norman Osborn's eyes. Both eye sockets were completely black.
Looking into them felt like staring into the abyss.
Whoosh!
A sharp sound suddenly cut through the air.
Dr. Warren turned and realized that Norman Osborn had also grown a massive tail.
What stood before him now was a complete green monster, almost identical to the creature known as the Ultimate Green Goblin in the Ultimate Universe.
Dr. Warren gazed at the Ultimate Green Goblin with pure admiration in his eyes.
He even began applauding.
"What astonishing vitality, Mr. Osborn. Your genes are even more exceptional than your son's, so your evolution has advanced far beyond his."
The Ultimate Green Goblin turned his head. His abyssal black eyes locked onto Harry Osborn, who stood nearby.
Then the Ultimate Green Goblin spoke.
Although his voice sounded different, a trace of its former tone was still recognizable.
"Harry, come here."
Harry Osborn was still adjusting to the violent power surging through his body.
When he heard his father calling him, he hesitated for several seconds.
Norman Osborn looked truly horrifying after transforming into the Ultimate Green Goblin.
It was difficult to connect this monster with the frail old man he had once been.
However, more than a decade of living beneath his father's absolute authority had conditioned Harry Osborn to obey every command.
He obediently approached the Ultimate Green Goblin.
"Father, is there anything I can help you with?"
The Ultimate Green Goblin looked down at his son. His monstrous mouth slowly split into a grin, revealing two uneven rows of fangs.
Without saying another word, he struck Harry Osborn in the chest with a punch so fast that it was nearly invisible to the naked eye.
He did not hold back at all.
The full force of the blow, exceeding twenty tons, erupted against Harry's body.
Harry was instantly sent flying backward like a baseball struck by a bat.
He crashed directly into the laboratory's alloy wall.
The steel alloy surface caved inward, forming a crater nearly two meters wide and half a meter deep.
Harry Osborn was embedded within it.
A pained groan escaped his throat.
Miraculously, however, he only felt pain in his muscles. His bones seemed largely unharmed.
The Ultimate Green Goblin watched his son climb out of the crater.
A satisfied laugh rumbled from deep within his throat.
The laughter echoed throughout the laboratory before he turned toward Dr. Warren.
"Make the necessary preparations. Harry's physical abilities meet the requirements, but he still needs suitable equipment to improve his combat effectiveness."
He pointed a massive claw toward the neighboring armory.
"Give him the Green Goblin suit and the Green Goblin Glider."
Dr. Warren quickly nodded. He approached Harry Osborn and helped him into the adjoining armory.
The armory was enormous, with square glass display cases embedded throughout the surrounding walls.
Inside them were Oscorp's latest personal combat equipment.
Norman Osborn had originally prepared all of it for himself.
He had never expected that his son would be the one to use it.
Dr. Warren unlocked the armory and allowed Harry Osborn to enter and select his own weapons.
He then looked at the Ultimate Green Goblin. After hesitating for several seconds, he spoke.
"Mr. Osborn, you may not need the other equipment, but the Green Goblin Glider's flight capabilities are irreplaceable."
A contemptuous smile appeared on the Ultimate Green Goblin's hideous face.
He did not answer.
He simply raised both hands as the muscles across his back began to writhe.
The next instant, two enormous bulges pushed outward beneath the scales around his shoulder blades.
Rip!
The sound of tearing flesh echoed through the laboratory.
A pair of enormous dark green wings burst from his back and unfurled through the air.
Their wingspan exceeded four meters, casting half the laboratory into shadow.
"I understand. My suggestion was unnecessary."
Dr. Warren swallowed hard, realizing that he had underestimated the extent of Norman Osborn's evolution.
The man had become a complete monster.
His rate of evolution was terrifying.
After displaying his power, the Ultimate Green Goblin folded the enormous dark green wings against his back and turned toward Dr. Warren.
"How is the special test subject?"
Dr. Warren fell silent for several seconds, seemingly organizing his thoughts.
He then opened an encrypted file on the screen.
The file was titled [Sandman].
"The test subject's abilities have stabilized. He appears to have gained complete control over Sand Transformation."
Dr. Warren moved the cursor over the first section of the encrypted file.
It contained a photograph of a short-haired white man in his thirties.
The name beside it read Flint Marko.
"However, the test subject still refuses to cooperate. We've tried every conventional method of hypnosis and drug treatment, but none of them have worked. Since we cannot fully control him, I advise against deploying the test subject."
After listening to Dr. Warren's report, a contemptuous smile appeared on the Ultimate Green Goblin's hideous green face.
"Your methods are too gentle."
His voice was filled with disdain.
"The test subject has a wife and daughter, doesn't he? Control them, and you control him."
He turned away, his thick tail striking the floor with a heavy thud.
The Ultimate Green Goblin then headed toward the deepest part of the secret base.
Before long, a massive steel gate appeared in front of him.
A window covered in bulletproof glass had been built into the gate.
Through it, a man could be seen crouching in the corner.
A large pool of yellowish-brown sand surrounded his body.
Upon closer inspection, the man's feet had completely merged with the sand.
Chapter 80: Sandman Attacks, A Fierce Battle at the Daily Bugle Building
"Dr. Warren, open the containment chamber."
The Ultimate Green Goblin stopped before the steel gate, and Dr. Warren, who had followed behind him, hurried to obey.
After Dr. Warren scanned his fingerprints and retina, the steel gate slowly slid apart with a low hum.
Beyond it lay a massive circular containment chamber.
It measured twenty meters from floor to ceiling.
The entire chamber was constructed from extremely durable titanium-zirconium alloy.
The moment the Ultimate Green Goblin stepped inside, the containment chamber doors closed behind him once again.
The man crouching in the corner raised his head and looked at the uninvited guest who had entered his "home."
"Get out. I won't obey any of your orders."
The moment Sandman Flint Marko saw the Ultimate Green Goblin, he felt an overwhelming threat bearing down on him.
He immediately entered a combat state.
His body disintegrated into countless tiny grains of sand, each one trembling slightly as though it had a life of its own.
But the Ultimate Green Goblin was not impressed.
Sandman was still far too weak. He was not even worthy of becoming his subordinate.
"Add twenty tons of sand."
Outside the containment chamber, Dr. Warren froze.
"Sir, he's already extremely unstable..."
"I don't want to repeat myself."
Dr. Warren no longer dared to hesitate. He pressed a button on the control panel.
BOOM!
A massive torrent of sand poured from the ceiling and landed directly on Sandman.
Sandman spread his arms, absorbing every new grain into his body.
His form began expanding at a terrifying rate.
Two meters, five meters, ten meters!
Eventually, a towering sand giant more than fifteen meters tall took shape.
The instant the sand giant fully formed, it swung a fist at the Ultimate Green Goblin.
The Ultimate Green Goblin made no attempt to dodge. He allowed the enormous fist to strike him squarely in the head.
But when the sand fist lifted again, the Ultimate Green Goblin remained standing exactly where he had been, completely unharmed.
"Not bad. You passed the test."
The massive dark green wings on the Ultimate Green Goblin's back unfurled once more.
He leaped into the air and crashed directly into the sand giant's second punch, shattering it into a cloud of sand.
Then his enormous wings swept through the sand giant's neck like giant blades, severing its head.
The sand giant collapsed with a thunderous crash, scattering into a vast pile of sand.
The grains continued flowing across the floor, attempting to gather together again.
But the Ultimate Green Goblin drew a deep breath.
Whoosh!
A stream of scorching flames erupted from deep within his throat.
The fire spread across the sand in a wide fan.
The grains crackled sharply in the flames before hardening into irregular chunks of crystal.
Sandman desperately controlled a small portion of the sand and moved it away from the flames.
By the time he re-formed, he was only the size of an ordinary person.
The Ultimate Green Goblin closed his mouth, and acrid smoke seeped from between his lips.
He looked down at the newly re-formed Sandman.
"Flint Marko, I have your wife's address."
"If you refuse to work for me, an accidental fire will break out there within three days. The firefighters will find two charred bodies inside."
Sandman flew into a rage. He opened his mouth and used the vibrations of his sand to produce a voice.
"Just try laying a hand on my family!"
"As I said, it will only be an accidental fire. No one wants to see that happen."
The Ultimate Green Goblin wore a savage smile, but his voice remained unnervingly calm.
Sandman was so furious that he nearly lost control. Even his sand body began to destabilize.
But the Ultimate Green Goblin had found his greatest weakness.
His family.
To protect them, Sandman ultimately chose to submit.
He slowly dropped to one knee before the Ultimate Green Goblin.
"Prepare yourself. In three days, I will show the world what true power looks like."
The Ultimate Green Goblin turned toward the containment chamber door.
"I'll kill Richard Parker with my own hands. That traitor should have died fifteen years ago. As for that detestable Spider-Kid, I'll crush him while I'm at it."
"Then Oscorp will become the most powerful corporation in the world, and I will lead humanity down the proper path of evolution."
...
Peter stood on the rooftop of Aunt May's house, holding his third iced Americano of the day.
For the past three days, Peter, Andrew Spider-Man, and Richard Parker had taken turns standing guard on the rooftop, prepared for Oscorp to resort to underhanded assassination tactics.
Peter had also asked Andrew Spider-Man to move Aunt May somewhere safe in the suburbs.
Andrew Spider-Man had found a way to send Gwen and her family on a short trip as well. They had already left the increasingly dangerous streets of New York City.
But three days passed without incident.
Instead of putting Peter at ease, the silence only left him more tense.
The longer Norman Osborn delayed his counterattack, the more likely it was that he was still gathering his strength.
That was not good news.
...
At eight o'clock on the morning of the third day, Richard Parker stepped out of an unremarkable silver sedan in front of the Daily Bugle building.
He wore a crisp dark blue suit.
Pinned to its lapel was the Oscorp employee ID card he had carried fifteen years ago.
Jonah Jameson was personally waiting for him in the first-floor lobby.
The two men looked at each other for a second, then extended their hands at the same time.
Jonah Jameson gripped Richard Parker's hand firmly.
"Thank you for coming forward. Today, we're going to expose Oscorp's darkest secrets together!"
Richard Parker's expression remained calm.
"I failed to stop him fifteen years ago. Today, I'm going to reveal the truth."
The two entered the elevator side by side and headed straight for the news studio.
At the same time, Peter and Andrew Spider-Man also began their operation.
Andrew Spider-Man had arrived ahead of them and entered the news studio through the ventilation system.
The vent opened directly above the center of the studio.
If anything unexpected happened, Andrew Spider-Man could respond immediately.
Peter, meanwhile, stood on the roof of the Daily Bugle building.
The Iron Spider suit reflected red and blue light beneath the morning sun.
The zoom function in his lenses was already active as he continuously scanned the surrounding blocks.
Not even the slightest change could escape his eyes.
But Peter could only observe what was happening aboveground.
The complex network of sewers beneath the streets remained a complete blind spot.
At that moment, a vast amount of sand was flowing along the walls of the sewer pipes.
Without making a sound, it had already entered the block surrounding the Daily Bugle building.
Chapter 81: Something's Very Off About This Spider-Man
Inside the news studio of the Daily Bugle building, Jonah Jameson took his seat behind the anchor desk.
He looked exceptionally serious today, dressed in a crisp suit with every strand of hair perfectly in place.
Richard Parker sat in the guest chair across from him. Both men faced the camera, waiting for the live broadcast to begin.
The countdown had reached its final three seconds.
The atmosphere in the studio was tense.
Everyone knew this was the critical moment that would determine whether the Daily Bugle could become one of the leading media outlets.
But just as the countdown reached its final second...
BOOM!
Several deafening explosions erupted from the street outside the Daily Bugle building.
The terrifying noise instantly startled everyone in the studio.
Jonah Jameson sprang out of his chair and, without hesitation, snatched a handheld camera from his assistant.
Displaying exceptional journalistic instincts, he raced toward the window.
"Start broadcasting now! Don't just stand there!"
...
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the Daily Bugle building, Peter's visor had narrowed into a sharp, angular shape.
It was a sign that the visor's zoom function had been pushed to its limit.
The moment several manhole covers were blasted into the air, a massive torrent of sand and gravel surged out of the sewers.
The sight unfolding before Peter was as spectacular as a volcanic eruption.
The sand and gravel gathered into towering columns that shot several meters above the ground.
Then, in a bizarre defiance of gravity, they curved through the air and converged on the same spot.
The swirling mass of sand and gravel formed an enormous torso, followed by its limbs and, finally, its head.
Within mere seconds of the explosions, a Sand Giant over twenty meters tall had appeared in the street.
Its body was so enormous that simply standing there took up four traffic lanes.
It stood nearly as tall as the buildings on either side of the street, making its presence even more oppressive.
The Sand Giant lowered its head, turning its two hollow eye sockets toward the Daily Bugle building.
More precisely, it was staring directly at the room containing the news studio.
On the rooftop, Peter rose at the edge of the building and loosened up his limbs.
"I knew Norman Osborn wouldn't wait until the last possible moment unless he came prepared."
Peter muttered under his breath, then stepped off the rooftop.
"What I didn't expect was for him to bring in Sandman as backup. I thought it would be Electro."
As Peter fell, he fired two strands of web and swung into a dive toward Sandman.
"They're both elemental villains, anyway. He'll be perfect practice for making up for my lack of experience against this kind of enemy."
Peter had never fought an elemental enemy before. This would be his first time.
So he decided to go all out from the very beginning.
As he descended, Peter clenched his right fist and poured all his weight and speed into the strike.
In an instant, he accelerated to a speed as astonishing as lightning.
Whoosh!
Like a human shaped bolt of lightning, he hurtled toward Sandman's head.
The Sand Giant raised a massive palm formed from countless grains of sand to meet him.
The instant Peter's fist collided with the vastly larger palm, a powerful shockwave erupted from the point of impact and swept outward in every direction.
Every car parked along the street began blaring its alarm, while the storefront windows on both sides shattered simultaneously.
RUMBLE!
The Sand Giant's hand exploded at the wrist. Peter's single punch blasted the entire palm into loose sand.
Peter tore through the cloud of sand and used the remaining momentum from his dive to crash into the Sand Giant's chest.
Still carrying unstoppable force, he blasted an enormous hole straight through its torso.
Sandman looked down at his shattered wrist. The sand at the severed end writhed frantically as it tried to reassemble.
But the force of Peter's punch had been too devastating. The sand was reforming several times more slowly than usual.
Peter's feet carved two enormous trenches through the asphalt before his forward momentum finally came to a stop.
He turned to look at the Sand Giant, seemingly dissatisfied with his first attack.
"Sandman has a core. Since it isn't in his chest, it's probably inside his head. Let's try that again!"
Peter slowly crouched. Tremendous power erupted from his legs, and the resulting force launched him forward like a cannonball.
BOOM!
Before the hole through the Sand Giant's chest could finish repairing itself, its entire head exploded.
Sand rained across the whole street in a truly spectacular display.
...
At the same time, a hundred meters above the ground, an Osborne Industries drone was transmitting live footage of the battle back to Oscorp Tower.
The Ultimate Green Goblin stood in his penthouse office, staring at the unfamiliar red and blue figure on the screen with eyes as dark as an abyss.
He frowned in confusion.
With his powers of observation, he could immediately tell that this red and blue figure was an entirely new Spider-Man.
This was not simply the original Spider-Man wearing a new suit.
Their builds and movements were completely different.
There was no doubt that they were two different people.
"Why are there two Spider-Men?"
The Ultimate Green Goblin turned to Dr. Warren beside him.
Dr. Warren had clearly been caught off guard as well.
His brow tightened, intense confusion filling his eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I can't determine the exact reason yet. Perhaps the Mutated Spider that bit the original Spider-Man didn't die. He may have kept it alive, and it later bit a second lucky person."
It was the only explanation Dr. Warren could offer.
The Ultimate Green Goblin was naturally dissatisfied with that answer.
No matter how he looked at it, there was something very wrong about this Spider-Man.
He had never appeared publicly in New York before. All known intelligence concerned the first Spider-Man, the young man who also wore a red and blue suit but fought in a completely different style.
More importantly, this new Spider-Man's performance was astonishing.
The power required to obliterate Sandman's entire palm with a single punch far exceeded the Ultimate Green Goblin's expectations.
Had he still been the Norman Osborn of the past, he would have retreated without hesitation.
He would first investigate this new Spider-Man, gather every piece of useful data, and identify all his weaknesses.
Then he would strike when his opponent was at his most vulnerable.
It was a rule for surviving in the business world that he had refined over half a century, and it was more reliable than any superpower.
...
Chapter 82: Father and Son vs. Father and Son, Turning Sandman Against Norman
Unfortunately, the one standing there now was the Ultimate Green Goblin, not the calculating business tycoon he had once been.
The OZ compound had completely set his mind ablaze.
Every trace of calm had been consumed and replaced by savage, brutal malice.
There was no chance the Ultimate Green Goblin would even consider retreating now.
Instead, he laughed. The corners of his mouth slowly split apart, revealing two rows of fangs even more terrifying than a shark's.
He waved to someone behind him.
Harry Osborn stood several meters away, clad in a suit of dark green steel armor.
Its surface was covered in lightweight plates of extraordinary hardness, while a green energy core glowed in the center of the chest.
The armor was clearly capable of enhancing kinetic force, greatly increasing Harry's offensive power.
"Father, should I attack now?"
Harry Osborn looked to his father for instructions.
The Ultimate Green Goblin nodded.
Harry Osborn immediately leaped into the air. A bat wing shaped Green Goblin skateboard flew beneath his feet with a low hum.
He put on his Green Goblin helmet and crouched slightly. The Green Goblin skateboard sensed the shift in his center of gravity.
Its turbo thrusters erupted with blinding exhaust, launching Harry forward like a missile.
An opening had already been made in the floor to ceiling window. Harry Osborn swept through it in a wide arc and sped toward the Daily Bugle building.
The Ultimate Green Goblin turned and slowly approached the opening.
He merely flexed the muscles along his back, and the massive dark green wings folded behind him spread open completely.
When the wings, spanning four meters, unfurled against the light, Dr. Warren almost felt as though the end of the world had arrived.
By the time Dr. Warren recovered from his shock, the Ultimate Green Goblin had already swept up a violent gust of wind.
Leaving a dark green afterimage across the sky, he flew toward the Daily Bugle building at astonishing speed.
This time, the Green Goblin father and son had taken action together. They clearly intended to crush both detestable Spider-Men with overwhelming force.
...
The news studio inside the Daily Bugle building had descended into complete chaos.
The shockwave outside had already shattered every window in the studio.
Broken glass poured inside like driving rain, while the news scripts on the desks were swept into the air.
"Don't cut the broadcast! Stay calm! Today is going to be a historic day for the Daily Bugle!"
Jonah Jameson was beside himself with excitement.
He held down his windblown white hair with one hand while using the other to exchange the handheld camera for his assistant's microphone.
"We're still live! Point every camera at the street below!"
Even amid the chaos, his commanding voice helped steady everyone's nerves.
The cameraman instinctively followed his order, hoisting the camera onto his shoulder and aiming it at the street.
Jonah Jameson turned around, his bloodshot eyes settling on the guest chair where Richard Parker had been sitting.
But the chair was empty.
He spun around and searched the entire studio, but the man who had been sitting across from him moments ago was nowhere to be found.
"Where's our guest? Doctor! Shit!"
Jonah Jameson could not wait any longer. He turned to the camera and shouted, "We're live! Good morning, New Yorkers. What you are about to witness is a catastrophe. A gigantic Sandman is rampaging through the street!"
...
Meanwhile, inside the fire escape along the side of the Daily Bugle building, Richard Parker hurried down the final step.
Andrew Spider-Man was already waiting for him.
They met each other's gaze for a second.
Richard Parker took the backpack from him and opened it. His suit was neatly folded inside.
He had prepared it for himself many years ago and kept it hidden in the deepest corner of his garage ever since.
It consisted of a loose trench coat in the classic red and blue color scheme, along with a red leather jacket and a standard Spider-Man mask.
Once Richard Parker put it on, he looked somewhat like Spider-Man Noir, though his colors were much brighter.
His build was also considerably broader than Andrew Spider-Man's, making him look like a hero who had stepped straight off the cover of an old comic book.
Over the past few days, the Spider-Man father and son had already developed an unspoken understanding.
A simple fist bump was all they needed before the battle.
Richard Spider-Man raised his hand and fired a strand of web through the fire escape window. He then kicked away the remaining frame and broken glass.
Father and son leaped out onto the street together.
At that moment, the hum of a Green Goblin skateboard rapidly drew closer.
The two Spider-Men landed side by side on the asphalt and looked up at the same time.
The turbo exhaust of the Green Goblin skateboard burned brightly overhead. Harry Osborn, the second Green Goblin, stood upon it.
His dark green steel armor gleamed, radiating an unmistakable sense of power.
He looked down at the two Spider-Men standing together in the street, and his pupils contracted slightly.
Why was there another Spider-Man?
The second Green Goblin sharply swung his Green Goblin skateboard around to slow himself, stopping in midair.
The next second, the Ultimate Green Goblin descended from the clouds, beating his enormous wings.
His massive body hovered behind the second Green Goblin as his pitch black eyes stared down at the two Spider-Men below.
...
At the same time that the Spider-Man father and son came face to face with the Green Goblin father and son, Peter's battle with Sandman continued.
Peter, however, was in complete control.
He accelerated past the Sand Giant's head and called out as he flew by.
"Hey, big guy! Can you hear me?"
The moment Peter spoke beside the Sand Giant's head, its movements noticeably faltered.
It quickly resumed its attack.
The Sand Giant swung its massive fists over and over, pounding craters into the asphalt, but it could not so much as graze Peter.
Taking advantage of an opening as he dodged, Peter flew past the Sand Giant's ear and spoke again, quietly enough that only the two of them could hear.
"Let me guess. You're not working for Norman willingly, are you? Is he threatening your family? If I'm right, hit that streetlight over there with your right hand."
Peter did not know how this Multiverse's Sandman had acquired his special abilities.
However, based on the many different versions of Sandman, there was a good chance the situation was exactly as he had guessed.
If Peter was right, Sandman was not truly an enemy.
He could try to turn Sandman against Norman.
Chapter 83: Final Showdown: Fire and Lightning (Part 1)
The Sand Giant's movements faltered once again.
Clearly, Peter's words were beginning to have an effect.
The next moment, the Sand Giant swung another fist at Peter.
But halfway through the punch, it suddenly changed course and slammed into a streetlight beside the road.
BOOM!
The streetlight was instantly twisted out of shape and ripped straight out of the concrete.
Peter's spirits lifted.
"Just as I thought. Norman Osborn must have taken Sandman's family hostage. That makes things a lot easier."
Peter continued the pretense of fighting Sandman to keep the Ultimate Green Goblin and Second-Generation Green Goblin nearby from noticing anything was wrong.
After their previous two exchanges, Peter had already figured out how to communicate with Sandman without much difficulty.
"Do you really think Norman will keep his promise and release your family? A guy willing to use your family as leverage is going to hand them back after you've finished doing his dirty work? Come on, don't be that naive."
Waves of sand churned violently across the Sand Giant's body, revealing just how conflicted he was.
A few seconds later, a line of text rose from the side of his head.
"I have no choice!"
Peter knew he had just taken another major step toward turning Sandman against Norman.
"Who says you don't have a choice? What if I can rescue your family?"
The Sand Giant threw another punch, but there was barely any strength behind it. It could not even leave a shallow dent in the ground.
"Even if you're telling the truth, I can't take that risk."
Another line of text appeared.
"Of course you can."
Peter landed on the Sand Giant's head.
"As long as you follow my plan, I can guarantee Norman won't know what you've done."
"By the time he realizes what's happening, he won't have a chance to give the order to hurt your family."
The Sand Giant remained silent for a long time.
Then he gave the slightest nod, so subtle that Peter would have missed it if he had not been watching carefully.
"Tell me the plan."
The appearance of those words meant Peter had already succeeded in turning Sandman more than halfway.
"It's simple. Once their battle reaches its most intense point, we join in and use the opportunity to throw everything into chaos. You help me create a chance to fight Norman Osborn one-on-one."
"Leave the rest to me."
...
Meanwhile, the battle between the Green Goblin father and son and the Spider-Man father and son had fully erupted on the street in front of the Daily Bugle building.
The Ultimate Green Goblin struck first.
One of his massive, scale-covered fists tore through the air with a sonic boom as it smashed toward Andrew Spider-Man.
Andrew Spider-Man only had time to cross his arms in front of himself to block.
But he quickly realized that he had underestimated just how terrifying the Ultimate Green Goblin was.
The force behind the punch far exceeded what he could withstand.
The terrifying impact tore his crossed arms apart and sent him flying backward like a cannonball.
He did not stop until he crashed straight through a truck parked beside the road.
The Second-Generation Green Goblin swooped in on his Green Goblin skateboard and hurled two pumpkin bombs into the truck.
Fortunately, two strands of web shot out with perfect accuracy, caught the pumpkin bombs, and flung them into the sky before they exploded.
Richard Spider-Man jumped into the truck and pulled Andrew Spider-Man out.
"Are you okay?"
Richard Spider-Man was clearly worried about his son.
"He's probably twice as strong as I am," Andrew Spider-Man said between breaths. Both of his arms were still trembling.
"You're wrong. Three times as strong," Richard Spider-Man replied calmly. "You can't take him head-on. I'll handle him."
He patted Andrew Spider-Man on the shoulder.
"You deal with the green kid in the steel armor on the skateboard."
Andrew Spider-Man wanted to object, but Richard Spider-Man had already turned away.
His trench coat whipped in the violent wind as he charged straight toward the Ultimate Green Goblin without looking back.
Andrew Spider-Man had no choice but to fire a web and launch himself toward the Second-Generation Green Goblin in the sky.
Harry Osborn, the Second-Generation Green Goblin, had already learned from his father that Andrew Spider-Man was actually his former friend, Peter Parker.
But when the two met now, there was not the slightest hint of friendship between them.
The air was thick with hostility.
Andrew Spider-Man fired a strand of web onto the underside of the Green Goblin skateboard.
The Second-Generation Green Goblin immediately used that to his advantage, accelerating the Green Goblin skateboard to full speed in an attempt to slam Andrew Spider-Man into a wall and kill him.
Unfortunately for him, he had badly underestimated Andrew Spider-Man's reflexes and agility.
Still gripping the web, Andrew Spider-Man began sprinting across the side of a building at an almost vertical angle.
Then he suddenly accelerated.
Before the Second-Generation Green Goblin could react, Andrew Spider-Man leaped onto the Green Goblin skateboard.
The two immediately began fighting at close range, their battle turning into a dangerous and fiercely contested struggle.
On the other side, Richard Spider-Man charged directly at the Ultimate Green Goblin.
When less than three meters separated them, Richard Spider-Man abruptly changed direction.
He fired a web onto the building to his right and used it to alter his trajectory, perfectly avoiding a heavy punch.
First, he covered the Ultimate Green Goblin's entire face in webbing.
Then he drove both feet into the backs of the Ultimate Green Goblin's knees, forcing them to buckle.
The instant the Ultimate Green Goblin's balance shifted, Richard Spider-Man leaped above his head.
A rapid barrage of left and right hooks hammered into the Ultimate Green Goblin's skull at astonishing speed.
But the results were less than impressive.
At most, the blows made the Ultimate Green Goblin's head sway slightly.
"It's been fifteen years."
The Ultimate Green Goblin tore the webbing from his face and swept his tail across.
Richard Spider-Man avoided it with a backflip.
"You're still the same piece of trash who only dared hide in a laboratory and cause trouble."
"Is that so? Still better than whatever you've turned into. I'd stay away from mirrors if I were you. You'll give yourself nightmares."
Richard Spider-Man kept dodging while firing back with taunts, driving the Ultimate Green Goblin into an even greater rage.
But at that critical moment, a series of distinct tremors suddenly ran through the street.
The Ultimate Green Goblin frowned and looked toward their source.
At the far end of the street, the Spider-Man in the Iron Spider suit, the one who had first caught the Ultimate Green Goblin's attention, had brought his battle with Sandman directly toward them.
At that moment, Sandman, two Green Goblins, and three Spider-Men had all gathered on the same street.
It was an extraordinarily dramatic sight.
And the cameraman beside the news studio window happened to capture the entire scene live.
Chapter 84: Final Showdown: Fire and Lightning (Part 2)
The Sand Giant's massive, twenty-meter-tall body moved with astonishing speed.
That was because the Sand Giant did not move conventionally on two legs. Instead, it traveled directly as a surging wave of sand.
As a result, Spider-Man, swinging ahead on his webs, was unable to widen the distance between them. He also had to remain constantly alert for attacks from the Sand Giant behind him.
The Sand Giant brought both enormous palms down at once, but Spider-Man slipped through the gap between them.
The two palms missed and slammed into the street.
RUMBLE!
The giant hands collapsed into towering waves of yellow sand. Flying grains and chunks of debris sprayed outward like a barrage, sweeping toward the Ultimate Green Goblin and Richard Spider-Man.
With no other choice, the Ultimate Green Goblin retreated, abandoning his pursuit of Richard Spider-Man.
By now, displeasure was clearly visible on the Ultimate Green Goblin's face.
After all, no one would be happy to have a battle they were clearly winning interrupted like this.
But Sandman was on the Green Goblin's side, and he was carrying out the order to kill Spider-Man. The Ultimate Green Goblin had no real reason to blame him.
All he could do was roar at Sandman to watch where he was attacking.
Controlling the Sand Giant, Sandman nodded toward the Ultimate Green Goblin.
Then he resumed his pursuit of that detestable Spider-Man.
The Sand Giant raised its left arm and swept it sideways, uprooting an entire row of streetlights and sending them flying into the air.
They just happened to cut directly across the Second-Generation Green Goblin's flight path.
The Second-Generation Green Goblin pulled up sharply. Even so, the tail of his Green Goblin skateboard was clipped, sending him spinning through the air before Andrew Spider-Man hammered him with several heavy punches.
"Sandman! Are you doing this on purpose?!"
The Ultimate Green Goblin finally lost his patience and roared in fury.
Richard Spider-Man seized the opening and rushed forward, throwing a punch at the Ultimate Green Goblin's most vulnerable spot.
His eyes.
BAM!
The Ultimate Green Goblin reacted at the last second, closing his eyes just before the punch landed.
Even with the Ultimate Green Goblin's incredible durability, his eyes were still far too vulnerable.
His vision instantly went dark, and the pain was so intense that he could barely open his eyes.
Richard Spider-Man immediately took the opportunity to taunt him, enraging the Ultimate Green Goblin enough that he charged straight toward the sound of his voice.
But what awaited him was the Sand Giant's massive fist, which just happened to be swinging his way.
BOOM!
The Ultimate Green Goblin was smashed violently into the ground, leaving a distinct human-shaped crater in the asphalt.
He clambered out of the depression and threw his head back with an enraged roar.
For the first time, his dark green, scale-covered face showed an expression that mixed anger with confusion.
What the hell was going on?
Why had their side started losing ground the moment Sandman joined the battle?
Was Sandman deliberately trying to make things worse?
"No. I can't let Sandman keep causing trouble."
A sense of urgency rose within the Ultimate Green Goblin.
The three Spider-Men were simply too powerful. If Sandman continued interfering with the battle, the situation could spiral in an unpredictable direction.
"Sandman! Go deal with the other two Spider-Men. I'll handle the one in the Iron Spider suit!"
Sandman, who had been putting on an act this entire time, realized he had probably aroused suspicion.
So he simply stopped pretending.
He immediately changed direction and charged after Richard Spider-Man and Andrew Spider-Man.
He had already played his part in Peter's plan. No matter who ultimately won this battle, his family would no longer be in mortal danger.
That was the most important reason Sandman had agreed to cooperate with Peter.
The Ultimate Green Goblin stood in the middle of the street, his massive dark green wings folded against his back as his pitch black eyes locked onto Peter.
Peter flipped down from the top of a streetlight and landed opposite him, casually brushing the dust from his Iron Spider suit.
"Norman Osborn. You spent fifteen years taking more than three thousand lives."
Peter finished dusting himself off before finally looking up at the Ultimate Green Goblin.
"And this is what you got in return? Honestly, when you look in the mirror, do you ever regret it?"
The Ultimate Green Goblin had no intention of answering.
The sharp instincts he had honed over decades in the business world were screaming at him to kill this exceptionally unusual Spider-Man as quickly as possible.
This was the man behind the collapse of Oscorp!
The ground shattered beneath the Ultimate Green Goblin's feet.
His body became a dark green blur as he shot forward, driving a fist straight at Peter's face.
That punch carried enough force to flatten an armored vehicle into scrap metal.
But at the very last moment, Peter raised his right hand and caught it.
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted outward, and the asphalt beneath Peter's feet sank into a crater with him at its center.
Yet Peter did not move an inch.
His palm remained pressed against the Ultimate Green Goblin's enormous fist without so much as trembling.
"About forty metric tons of force. You're a lot stronger than the Ultimate Green Goblin controlled by Kingpin in the Miles Universe."
Peter's words left the Ultimate Green Goblin confused.
Kingpin?
That gang boss who ruled Hell's Kitchen?
What right did someone like him have to control the Green Goblin?
Before the Ultimate Green Goblin could think any further, a sharp pain shot through his fist.
Peter was tightening his grip.
A harsh grinding noise came from the Ultimate Green Goblin's scales as they began to buckle inward beneath Peter's fingers.
The Green Goblin tried to pull his fist away, only to discover that he could not.
His brow furrowed deeply as his other fist came crashing toward Peter.
Peter caught that one with his other hand.
Then Peter seized both of the Ultimate Green Goblin's hands and leaped into the air. Bringing his feet together, he drove them into the Ultimate Green Goblin's chest with all his strength.
THUD!
A deep, bone-rattling impact echoed through the street.
The kick lifted the Ultimate Green Goblin completely off the ground and sent his massive body hurtling backward.
He smashed through an entire row of storefronts before finally crashing into a bus parked along the roadside.
The scene looked remarkably similar to what had happened moments earlier, when the Ultimate Green Goblin had sent Andrew Spider-Man flying with a single punch.
The Ultimate Green Goblin crawled out of the wrecked bus, shards of glass clinging to his scales.
His rage was now fully ignited.
The massive wings on his back spread open, carrying him into the air above Peter.
Then he drew in a deep breath and opened his enormous, fang-filled mouth.
WHOOSH!
A torrent of scorching fire erupted from his jaws.
The flames spread outward in a wide fan, filling Peter's entire field of vision. The heat was so intense that the air itself began to distort.
Looking at the overwhelming sea of flames, Peter finally showed a hint of surprise.
"He can breathe fire too? I almost forgot the Ultimate Green Goblin could do that."
"Then let's see which one's stronger. Lightning or fire!"
The [Electric Shock] icon on the Web of Life and Destiny erupted with an unprecedented, blinding light!
In that instant, Peter converted half of his stamina into electrical energy.
Countless arcs of electricity immediately began crackling around his body.
The electrical arcs leaped through the air, forcing back the surrounding flames and creating a safe zone around him.