Chapter 333: Green Goblin Bombs the Campus to Lure Peter?
"Thanks, Silas!" Felicia leaned her soft body against Silas Parker.
Silas instinctively looked down and let out a small sigh.
In the end, Felicia didn't actually join the Boxing Club. Now that she knew Silas was so powerful, she didn't feel the need to mess around in the gym with him. Instead, she chose to join the Photography Club with Gwen. Photography was relaxed, quiet, and gave her plenty of free time to seek out Silas for "martial arts training."
"Hey, Peter, the Computer Interest Club is over there," Ned said, tugging at a distracted Peter.
Peter stared at Gwen and replied without looking back, "Actually, I think the Photography Club looks pretty good. You go ahead to the Computer Club." With that, Peter left Ned behind to go fill out a registration form for photography.
"Fine, go chase your love, brother," Ned sighed. Peter was growing up; he didn't need him anymore. Ned turned toward the Computer Club alone—regardless of Peter, he was genuinely interested in the subject.
"I thought you and Silas were joining boxing?" Gwen smiled at Felicia, happy to have her best friend joining her.
"Silas doesn't need an escort," Felicia smiled mysteriously. Silas's combat power was so high that his muscles were likely impressive too. She'd have plenty of chances to see them during their "training," which made her a little excited.
"Hi, Gwen!" Peter walked over with a smile.
"Peter?!" Gwen was surprised. "Weren't you going to the computer club?"
"I was, but then I remembered I actually like taking pictures. Don't forget, I have a professional camera," Peter said. It wasn't a total lie, but his real motivation was Gwen. Besides, Ned had a girlfriend now; he didn't need Peter's company as much.
"Peter? I thought you were with Ned?" Silas arrived, carrying three bottles of water. After handing two to Gwen and Felicia, he shrugged. "Sorry, I didn't buy one for you." He hadn't expected Peter to be there.
"It's fine, I'm not thirsty," Peter replied.
The Attack
As the four of them sat and chatted while waiting for school to end, the water in the bottles on the table began to vibrate, creating rhythmic ripples.
"Hmm?" Peter's eyes shifted to the bottles. Water doesn't move for no reason. He looked up at Silas.
Silas understood the look immediately. Had something happened at school? Felicia also noticed the vibration, her heart racing as her intuition warned her of an impending disaster.
"What's wrong with you guys?" Gwen asked, noticing the sudden silence.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted from the southwest side of the campus, followed by the screams of students fleeing in terror. Silas looked toward the source: thick, black smoke was billowing into the sky like a snarling demon.
"What's happening!" Gwen stared in horror.
"Whatever it is, it's not good," Peter stood up immediately. "You guys get out of here. I'm going to go see if anyone needs help."
As he spoke, a high-pitched cackle echoed from above. "Hee-hee-ha-ha!"
Harry Osborn, riding his glider, zoomed through the air, dropping pumpkin bombs wherever he passed. As he flew over the group, he reached for a bomb but hesitated when he saw Peter below. He didn't want to hurt Peter, but he had to create panic.
"Die!" Harry threw a bomb intentionally far away from Peter.
Crash! BOOM!
The pumpkin bomb flew through a window, detonating inside a classroom and sending shards of glass flying everywhere. The crowd below fell into complete chaos, filled with cries and wailing.
"What do we do!" Gwen asked, trembling.
"Go! Get out! I'll see if students are trapped!" Peter shouted, glaring at the Green Goblin's retreating back.
Silas gave Peter a meaningful look, then grabbed Gwen and Felicia to lead them away. Once he saw his friends were safe, Peter ducked into a deserted corner and pulled his Spider-Suit out of the Shadow Kingdom.
The Trap
Harry hovered in the air, looking down at the fleeing students. He felt a sense of release, venting all the frustration he had built up after his dealings with the Mandarin. More importantly, he was here to lure out Spider-Man. Today was meant to be the hero's funeral.
"Green light means go!" Peter, now in costume, swung up and launched a double-kick into the Goblin's back.
Thud!
Harry was knocked off his glider but quickly regained control and remounted. "Curse you, Spider-Man! You finally showed up!"
"Goblin! This time you're going to jail!" Peter roared.
"Jail? What can those useless fools do to me?" Harry laughed.
"The law has a long reach. You're going in today!" Peter fired a web to snag the glider, but the machine deployed sharp blades that sliced through the webbing effortlessly.
"Catch me if you can, Spider-Man! Let's see who you choose to save!" The Goblin dived toward the ground, snatched a female student with one hand, and sped off toward the east.
"Let her go!" Peter swung through the buildings in hot pursuit. The student was screaming until Harry threatened to drop her, causing her to fall into a terrified, sobbing silence.
As Peter followed, he noticed something strange: the Goblin was moving just slow enough for him to keep up. Usually, the glider could easily outpace him.
"Gaia, check the local surveillance feeds," Peter commanded.
"Understood, Peter." A minute later, Gaia spoke: "There is an unidentified individual sitting ahead of your current path." She pulled up a photo.
In the picture, a man in a red robe sat on a chair carved with dragons, looking completely relaxed.
"Gaia, identify him."
"Identification successful. That is the Mandarin, leader of the Ten Rings, wanted by the police."
The Mandarin?! Peter recognized the name from Silas's stories about Mr. Stark's troubles. Was the Goblin working with him?
Peter grew cautious. "Gaia, contact Silas. I might need backup."
"Silas has already sent a message," Gaia replied.
"What did he say?" Peter saw the Goblin slowing down even more.
"He said: 'Peter, you handle the Goblin. I'll handle the Mandarin.'"
"Tell him I've got it!" Peter accelerated. Knowing Silas was on the way removed any hesitation.
Meanwhile, sitting in his dragon chair and waiting for the hero to arrive, the Mandarin rocked back and forth. Helping the Goblin settle a score with Spider-Man was a trivial task for him.
Shing!
A circular black portal slowly began to open in front of him.
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