Spider-Man sped through the city in the GP-7, the engine's hum a steady rhythm against the frantic beat of his Spider-Sense. They're still out there. Nijika. Ryo. Everyone. The world outside was a blur of panicked faces, sirens wailing in the distance. He knew the police were useless against this kind of threat. It was up to him.
The Spider-Sense was a constant tug, a thread pulled tight in his mind, guiding him through the maze of streets. He wove through traffic, pushing the GP-7 to its limits. Gotta be fast. Faster. Every turn felt like a race, a desperate sprint against time.
His eyes darted, searching. The city lights blurred into streaks, but the pull in his head grew stronger, a focused beam in the urban sprawl. It led him away from the main roads, deeper into the industrial district, toward the abandoned warehouses near the old port.
A substation?
The GP-7's headlights cut through the gloom as Takuya aimed it down a narrow, unused service tunnel.
This is it.
His Spider-Sense hummed, a low vibration that made his teeth ache. The air grew colder, dampness clinging to the black walls. A metallic scent, like old wiring and rust, filled his mask. He had to be careful here.
The tunnel opened into a large cavern, the ceiling a tangle of old pipes and conduits. He killed the GP-7's engine, plunging the space into near silence. Only the drip of water from above broke the quiet. He climbed off the car, his boots soundless on the cold concrete.
Ninders. Close.
The Spider-Sense prickled at the back of his neck. Not just a warning, but a specific location, like a thread pulling him to a spot in the darkness. He moved low, sticking to the deep shadows cast by defunct machinery. The air here felt thick, heavy with dust and something else, something alien.
He saw them then. A group of a dozen Ninders, their matte black forms barely visible in the dim light. They stood guard around a large, open area.
And there were the captives.
They huddled together, a cluster of terrified faces, some crying silently. He failed them. Guilt hit him, a cold wash over his anger. He scanned the group, his eyes finding the familiar blonde ponytail of Nijika, her face pale. Ryo stood beside her, yellow eyes wide, but surprisingly still.
Nijika caught his eye, a flicker of hope in her terrified expression. He gave a slight nod, a silent promise. Not this time.
He focused on the Ninders. Two stood closest to the group, their red visors scanning the room. He moved, a silent predator in the shadows. His first target turned its head, its visor glowing brighter, but it was too slow.
He struck, a precise chop to the back of its neck, right where the red energy lines met. The Ninder stiffened.
CRACK.
It fell, a dead weight, without a sound. Its red visor dimmed. The second Ninder took half a second longer to react.
He lunged.
THWIP.
A web line shot out, wrapping around its head, pulling it back off balance. Takuya followed, driving a fist into its chest, right over the glowing red core.
CRUNCH.
The Ninder sparked once, then went dark, collapsing like a puppet with cut strings. No alarms. No cries. The other Ninders hadn't even noticed. He melted back into the shadows, his Spider-Sense now focused on the remaining threats.
The remaining Ninders turned, their red visors swiveling toward him. Their heads tilted, a mechanical inquiry. He did not give them time to react.
He stepped out from the shadows. The captives looked up, startled. Their eyes, wide with fear and confusion, fixed on his masked face.
"Quiet," he told them, his voice a low growl through the mask. "Stay silent. I'm getting you out."
Nijika and Ryo stared at him. Relief washed over Nijika's face, a stark contrast to the terror from moments before.
"Thank you," Nijika whispered, a soft plea that cut through the silence.
"Who are you?" Ryo asked, her voice calm despite the situation.
"Spider-Man." He kept his voice steady. "Now move. Get out of here. Find an exit." He pointed toward the tunnel he had just come from. "Go!"
The substation wasn't empty for long. The air shifted, growing heavy. His Spider-Sense flared, a sudden, cold dread replacing the earlier focus.
They know.
More Ninders appeared from the deeper shadows, their identical forms marching in lockstep. They surrounded the remaining captives and him. Amazoness stepped into the flickering light, her silver hair gleaming, crimson eyes narrowed. Silvermane, a towering figure of polished chrome, moved beside her.
"Still alive, little spider?" Amazoness snarled, her voice a low, mocking hum. "You disappoint Professor Monster."
He faced her, his fists clenching. Not this time.
"I won't be killed that easily."
"How did you survive Silvermane?" Amazoness asked, her voice a low, cold hum. Her crimson eyes scanned him, searching for a weakness. "That machine was designed to crush you."
"Your toys couldn't keep me down," he shot back, a snarl in his voice. Crush me? Not a chance.
"You are nothing but a pest," Amazoness snapped, her silver hair swaying. "An annoying insect that crawls back from the grave."
"I am the enemy of the Iron Cross Army," he declared, his voice cutting through the damp air. "And I will destroy you all."
"This time," she promised, her smile predatory, "you will stay dead."
She gestured, and the Ninders charged. Time to move. He focused, his Spider-Sense flaring, showing him paths through the chaos. He needed to create an opening. The captives had to escape.
He met the first Ninder with a burst of speed, a red and black blur.
WHUMP.
His fist connected with its chest, crumpling the metallic plating. The Ninder stumbled back, its red visor flickering. He didn't let up, launching a web line that wrapped around its arm, pulling it off balance.
CRACK.
Another Ninder tried to flank him, its vibro-blade extended. He spun, a low kick sweeping its legs. The robot fell, its movements stiff and uncoordinated.
THWACK.
He webbed it to the concrete floor, a temporary restraint. He had to keep them moving, keep them off the civilians.
"Go!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "Now!"
The captives, seeing their chance, began to stir, a hesitant murmur filling the air. They moved, a slow trickle at first, then a frantic rush toward the exit tunnel. He needed more time for them.
A Ninder broke through his line of defense, charging directly at Nijika and Ryo.
No!
His blood ran cold. He couldn't let that happen again.
THWIP.
A web line shot out, snagging the Ninder's head, pulling it back. He followed with a powerful kick, the impact ringing through his boot.
CLANG.
The Ninder slammed into a cold, damp wall, leaving a dent in the concrete. Its body spasmed once, then went dark.
"You two, run!" he urged, his voice tight with desperation. He saw their terrified faces, their wide eyes. They nodded, scrambling over debris, their figures shrinking as they ran for the tunnel.
Good. Get out. Get safe.
He turned back to face Amazoness and Silvermane. The real fight had just begun.
He spun, a web line catching one Ninder, yanking it into another. They collided with a crash of metal, their red visors flashing. He didn't wait, darting forward, kicking one unit's chest, then vaulting over the other.
CLANG.
Still not enough.
Silvermane stepped forward, his massive frame blocking the remaining Ninders. The metallic mane around his head stiffened, crackling with blue-silver energy. It reminded Takuya of a thorny crown, but far deadlier.
"You are persistent, little spider." Silvermane's voice was a low growl, like grinding gears. It vibrated through the damp concrete floor. "A nuisance. But Silvermane will ensure your demise."
He watched as the energy mane extended, each strand glowing with plasma. They lashed out, razor-sharp tendrils cutting through the air, carving deep lines into the solid rock walls.
"I will tear you in half, piece by piece," Silvermane promised, his visor glowing red. "Then, Professor Monster will have a broken toy to study."
***
Advance Chapters on patreon.com/Najicablitz.
Give Powerstone to support this novel. This tells me you like it.