Amazoness stood before Professor Monster. Her red eyes held a cold satisfaction. She knew he appreciated efficiency.
A job well done.
A holographic display shimmered between them, showing a series of captured mineral deposits and twisted energy conduits. These were the stolen materials, now cataloged and secured.
"The acquisition is complete, Professor," she reported, her voice smooth and precise. "Minimal resistance, as expected. The humans were…insects."
Professor Monster observed the reports. His glowing yellow eyes fixed on the data, moving across the schematics of rare Earth minerals and the advanced energy conduits. A low, metallic rumble left his throat.
"Excellent, Amazoness," he said. His voice echoed, a sound of cold approval. "These materials are exactly what I need."
His gaze returned to the main screen, where a swirling image of Tokyo appeared. "They will be the instruments of chaos. They will bring this pathetic city to its knees."
He watched the data. Such potential. He outlined his plan, his voice gaining a chilling edge. Tokyo would not merely fall; it would shatter. Mass destruction would pave the way for the Iron Cross Army's total domination.
He shifted the holographic display. Blueprints for a series of advanced rockets materialized, sleek and deadly. Their forms were too clean, too precise. They promised an end, not a beginning.
"These missiles," Professor Monster began, his voice devoid of warmth, "created from the resources you acquired, possess the capability to wipe out large portions of Tokyo."
The image zoomed in, showing projected impact zones, vast areas of the city marked for erasure. Buildings crumbled in simulated firestorms. Panic spread through holographic streets.
"The ensuing devastation," he continued, his words slow and deliberate, "the terror, the chaos… will leave the city utterly vulnerable. It will be easy prey for the Iron Cross Army to seize control."
The blueprints pulsed with a dark red light, highlighting the warheads. Such elegant destruction. The gravity of his plan settled over the command center, a heavy, silent weight. This was not merely conquest. This was an act of absolute will.
Professor Monster's yellow eyes narrowed. He turned to Amazoness, his gaze burning with cold resolve.
"Launch the missiles," he commanded. His voice was an absolute order, a final judgment. "Tokyo's destruction is the next step. Do not fail."
The air in the command center grew still. There was no room for hesitation, no space for questioning. His word was law. The fate of the city, of Earth, hung on that single command.
Amazoness gave a sharp, confident nod. Her silver hair swayed with the movement, catching the glow from the holographic displays. A predatory glint shone in her crimson eyes.
"As you command, Professor Monster," she replied, her voice firm, unwavering. Finally.
She turned, moving with fluid grace towards the launch bay. Her mind already raced, calculating the precise coordinates, the optimal timing for maximum impact. She visualized the explosions, the spread of destruction.
Tokyo will burn.
Her steps were light, eager. She was ready. The taste of victory, of Earth's submission, was already sweet on her tongue. The conquest had begun.
* * *
Takuya burst into the Marveller's training room, his lungs burning. He had pushed his motocross bike harder than ever, the roar of the engine a dull echo in his ears. Now, only his ragged breathing filled the silent space.
Garia sat cross-legged in his worn chair, eyes closed. The faint glow of his silver scars pulsed softly in the dim light. He looked like a statue, carved from ancient moonlight.
No time for statues, Takuya thought, his voice tight.
"Garia!"
The alien's eyes opened, silver-blue, calm.
"I found them," Takuya gasped, forcing the words out. "Ninders, a whole squad. They were stealing something, loading it into some kind of armored transport."
He paced, his anger a hot coal in his gut.
"And she was there. Amazoness. The one with the silver hair and red eyes. She saw me."
Garia simply watched him, his gaze steady. No surprise, no urgency. Just an ancient, quiet attention. Takuya felt his own frantic energy clash against Garia's stillness.
Garia slowly uncrossed his legs, the faint hiss of his robes the only sound. He rose, his tall, lean frame unfolding with fluid grace. His silver-blue eyes held a deepening seriousness.
"The Iron Cross Army does not engage in petty theft," Garia said, his voice a low resonance. "They are precise. Every resource is calculated for maximum impact."
He walked to a holographic display that flickered to life. Shapes and symbols, alien to Takuya, spun across the light.
"To steal such materials… it means Professor Monster plans something significant. Something dangerous."
Garia's voice hardened, a metallic edge entering his tone. Professor Monster. The name itself carried the weight of centuries, of worlds destroyed.
"He drained my world of its very life force," Garia continued, his gaze distant, haunted. "He seeks to consolidate power, to build his empire from the ashes of others. This is his pattern."
The thought of Professor Monster establishing himself, growing stronger on Earth, twisted something inside Garia. Another world lost. Not again.
"He will not be allowed to repeat history here."
Takuya slammed his fist against his palm. My father. He died because of them. The image of Hiroshi's fading eyes, the word "aliens" on his dying breath, burned in his mind.
"Then it's time," Takuya declared, his voice firm, resolute. "It's time for me to fight them. I'm ready."
Garia turned, his gaze unwavering. "Ready? You have but glimpsed the shadow of their power, Takuya. Your training is incomplete."
"My father is dead," Takuya shot back, the words raw. "Because of them. I'm ready to make them pay."
Inexperienced? Maybe. But my rage is real. It's all I have left.
"You are still too impetuous, too driven by emotion," Garia stated, his voice calm, yet unyielding. "The Iron Cross Army is not a motocross race, Takuya. You cannot simply out-speed them."
"I can outfight them," Takuya insisted, his jaw tight. He thought of the Ninders, how he had taken them down, how he had moved without thinking, powered by instinct and fury. I might not be perfect, but I can fight. I have to.
"I'm not going to sit here while they destroy everything else."
Garia stood silent for a long moment, his eyes scanning Takuya. He saw the fire, the unyielding spirit that echoed his own centuries-old resolve. He saw the same thirst for vengeance that had driven him across the stars.
He is young. Untamed. But strong.
He knew Takuya would not be stopped. The anger, the grief, they were too potent. And Professor Monster… he was a cancer that spread, consuming all in his path. If he was allowed to establish himself, to build his missile arsenal, it would mean another world lost. Earth would become another Planet Spider.
My long war. Now, it is his.
Garia closed his eyes, a flicker of ancient pain crossing his face. Then they opened again, silver-blue and resolute.
"Very well, Takuya," Garia said, the words a heavy concession. "The time has come for you to embrace your destiny. To become the warrior you were always meant to be."
The next warrior in our war. Against him.
"You will be Spider-Man."
Takuya felt a jolt of apprehension, a cold dread mixing with the heat of his resolve. This is it. He had chosen this path, but the reality of it felt immense, overwhelming.
"How?" he asked, his voice a little rough.
Garia gestured to the Spider X Bracelet on Takuya's wrist. It seemed to pulse faintly, almost in anticipation.
"The Spider X gene has already integrated with your cellular structure," Garia explained, his tone precise, technical. "The Bracelet is now your conduit. To activate your full potential, you must focus your will."
He tapped his own wrist.
"A mental command, or the hidden trigger beneath the emblem. Nanomachines, contained within the Bracelet, will then materialize around you. They will form your costume, your armor."
Takuya nodded, absorbing the instructions. Focus my will. He closed his eyes for a moment, picturing his father, picturing Amazoness, picturing the Ninders. The rage was there, a steady flame.
He found the small, almost invisible button beneath the red spider emblem on the Bracelet. He pressed it, his thumb firm.
A surge of pure energy coursed through Takuya's arm, a burning warmth spreading through his entire body. It felt like every nerve ending suddenly lit up.
WHOOSH
A fine mist, silver and black, erupted from the Bracelet. It swirled around him, a living cloud of nanomachines. The air crackled with a faint blue light.
The mist moved with impossible speed, coalescing over his skin. First, a sleek black bodysuit formed, clinging to every curve of his body. It felt like a second skin, incredibly light yet immensely strong. Then, bold red accents materialized, tracing intricate web patterns across his chest and limbs.
A large, stylized red spider emblem appeared, sharp and predatory, centered on his chest. It seemed to glow with an inner fire. The nanomachines then flowed over his face, forming the mask. Red eye lenses with black highlights snapped into place, covering his vision. The world sharpened, colors deepening, details becoming clearer than before.
He felt taller, stronger, lighter all at once.
He walked to a nearby polished metal panel, using it as a makeshift mirror. A powerful, intimidating figure stared back. Black, red, and utterly alien. The eyes, his eyes, glowed with an intensity he had never possessed.
This is me now.
He was Spider-Man.
His new boots made no sound as he walked. He moved with a confident stride, a predatory grace he hadn't known he possessed. Every muscle felt perfectly tuned, ready.
The Spider Machine GP-7 waited, a vibrant red and blue beacon in the hangar. It gleamed under the Marveller's artificial lights, its aerodynamic lines a promise of speed. He felt a pull towards it, a connection to the machine. It wasn't just a car; it was an extension of his new identity, a powerful tool for the mission.
He reached the driver's side. The door swung open with a soft whirr. He slid into the seat, the controls feeling natural beneath his gloved hands. The cockpit wrapped around him, a perfect fit.
Garia approached the GP-7, his silver-blue eyes fixed on Spider-Man. There was a solemnity to his gaze, a weight of expectation.
"Remember your training, Takuya," Garia said, his voice echoing in the enclosed space. "Trust your Spider-Sense. It is your most potent weapon against the Iron Cross Army's deceit."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping.
"Strike hard. Strike fast. Make Professor Monster pay for his past atrocities, for the destruction of my world. Make him pay for your father."
The words hit Takuya with the force of a physical blow, igniting the cold fire of his vengeance. My father. The core of his purpose.
Spider-Man gave a firm nod. He absorbed the weight of Garia's vengeful words, a silent promise forming in his heart.
He pressed the ignition.
[ENGINE STARTING: GP-7]
The GP-7's engine roared to life, a deep, throaty rumble that filled the bay. It vibrated through the floor, a powerful symphony of mechanical might.
Spider-Man twisted the throttle, the GP-7 surging forward.
The hangar doors slid open, revealing the dark Japanese night. He shot out of the Marveller, a red and blue streak against the blackness. The GP-7 was a blur, cutting through the air with incredible speed.
He was heading for Tokyo. The city lights blurred in the distance, a sprawling target. A target for his newfound power. A target for his rage.
The Iron Cross Army would pay.
***
Advance Chapters on patreon.com/Najicablitz.
Give Powerstone to support this novel. This tells me you like it.