sunlight spilled through the gap in the curtains, painting a crooked golden line on the floor.
Gwen sat up in bed and stretched.
A faint smile still lingered on the corners of her mouth.
Last night's meteor shower, last night's kiss, the things Peter said last night—every image played back in her mind, as clear as if it had just happened.
She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself.
Her blonde hair was a bit messy, her blue-gray eyes were bright, and there was a slight flush on her cheeks.
Gwen smiled at the mirror.
Then she walked out of the room.
Helen was busy in the kitchen and poked her head out when she heard the sound.
The moment she saw her daughter, her eyes lit up.
"Wow!" Helen put down the spatula and looked Gwen up and down. "What are you so happy about? You haven't stopped smiling all morning."
Gwen froze for a moment and subconsciously touched her face.
Really?
She walked to the dining table and sat down; George was already there. He was holding a newspaper, but the gaze he cast from over the top of it held a hint of profound meaning.
"My child is growing up," he said, his tone tinged with teasing. "She's in love."
Gwen's face turned bright red instantly.
"Dad..."
George put down the newspaper and looked at her.
"You came home at ten last night."
Gwen's eyes widened.
"Dad, you were actually spying on me—"
"It was the sound of you closing the door," George interrupted her, the corners of his mouth curling slightly. "That sound—it was like you wanted the whole World to know you were back."
Gwen opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
Helen brought over breakfast and sat down next to Gwen with a smile.
"Alright, alright, stop teasing her." She placed a fried egg on Gwen's plate. "Eat up, or you'll be late."
Gwen lowered her head to eat, but the flush on her face didn't fade.
After breakfast, she put on her backpack and walked out the door.
Peter was already waiting at the door.
Seeing her come out, his eyes lit up.
"Morning, Gwen."
Gwen walked over and naturally took his hand.
"Morning."
The two of them walked to school side by side.
The morning sunlight spilled over them, warm and cozy. The streets were gradually becoming lively, with people walking dogs, people out for morning jogs, and parents taking their children to school.
Everything was so normal.
Walking to that familiar street corner, Gwen suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, by the way, Peter."
"Yeah?"
"About that thing—about Harry's dad."
Peter's expression became serious.
Gwen thought for a moment, organizing her words.
"You just tell Harry that Spider-Man is willing to save his father."
Peter froze for a moment.
"Gwen, you..."
Gwen raised her hand, signaling him to let her finish.
"But there are conditions," she said. "Only 20cc can be drawn, to be used for his father's treatment. It must not be used for research, cloning, or any other purpose."
She paused.
"And, I can only go as Spider-Man. No one can know it's me."
Peter looked at her, his gaze filled with complex emotions.
"Gwen, have you really thought this through?"
Gwen nodded.
"Harry is my friend too, isn't he?"
She thought of the friendship between Harry and Peter in those stories from her past life, and the Green Goblin who eventually spiraled into tragedy.
If she could use a little bit of blood to stop all of that from happening—
It would be worth it.
"And," she added, "you have to say—that it was you who finally convinced Spider-Man to agree."
Peter blinked.
"Why?"
Gwen smiled.
"Because then Harry will be more grateful to you. You two are best buds; it never hurts to have a better relationship."
Peter looked at her and slowly smiled.
"Okay."
The two of them continued walking forward.
When they reached the school gate, Peter suddenly stopped.
"Gwen."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
Gwen tilted her head to look at him.
"For what?"
Peter didn't answer.
He simply squeezed her hand tighter.
After the afternoon rehearsal ended, Gwen returned home.
She was a bit tired from practicing today. Mary Jane had sped up the tempo of the new song, and it took her over a dozen tries to adapt.
She threw herself onto the bed and buried her head under the covers.
Sleepiness washed over her.
She didn't know how much time had passed when she groggily opened her eyes.
It was dark outside the window.
Gwen sat up and rubbed her eyes.
What time was it?
She checked her phone—nine o'clock at night.
Time to move.
She stood up and walked to the closet.
The white and pink suit was hanging inside, and the moonlight shining in from the window plated it with a silver lining.
Gwen reached out to grab it—
Her hand stopped in mid-air.
The white and pink suit was gone.
In its place was a pure black suit.
It was the same style, the same design, but the entire color had changed into a pure, deep black. The spider emblem on the chest had changed too—it was sharper, more aggressive, and carried an indescribable sense of oppression.
Gwen was stunned.
What is this?
She stepped closer, examining the suit carefully.
Under the moonlight, the black fabric rippled slightly, as if it were alive.
Venom.
The word popped into her mind.
Last night's meteor shower. That muffled thud. And that—
She remembered Peter saying that a meteorite had landed near Central Park last night.
A meteorite.
A symbiote.
Venom.
Gwen took a step back, staring at the suit.
It hung there quietly, as if nothing had happened.
But Gwen knew that something had attached itself to it.
She hesitated.
Venom—she knew about this thing from the memories of her past life. It could greatly enhance the host's strength, but it could also amplify the darkness in the host's heart. It would make people become violent, paranoid, and insane.
Should she wear it?
Gwen stood there, staring at the suit, her mind racing.
Was there anything about her that could be corrupted?
Her parents were alive and well. She was in good health. She had good friends, Mary Jane, Betty, and Glory. And there was one more—
She thought of Peter, and the corners of her mouth curled slightly.
And a very good boyfriend.
Life was very fulfilling. There was nothing to resent.
Gwen remembered that classic scene from her past life—after Bully Maguire put on the venom suit, what did his corruption look like?
A haircut.
Hitting on girls.
Posing for selfies.
Demanding a raise.
Buying a suit on sale.
Dancing awkwardly in the street.
Gwen couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Alright then.
Venom just turned him into an ordinary guy.
Maybe it wasn't that scary?
She reached out and touched the suit.
The black fabric felt very strange—softer than the previous one, but also tougher. When she pressed her fingers down, she could feel a slight pulse, as if a living thing were breathing.
It folded itself up obediently, and she put it back in the closet.
Then it slid back out and unfolded itself.
Gwen: "..."
Fine, it wanted her to wear it.
She took a deep breath and decided to try wearing it.
The moment the suit adhered to her body, Gwen felt the difference.
Power.
Power stronger than before surged through her veins. She could feel every muscle filled with explosive force, could feel her healing ability accelerating, and could feel her senses becoming sharper than ever before.
Her Spider-Sense had changed too.
It was no longer the light tingling sensation as before, but a form of omnidirectional perception—every life, every movement within a few hundred meters, was within her range of perception.
She stood in front of the mirror, looking at herself.
A pure black suit, a sharp spider emblem, with the cape fluttering slightly behind her.
Her whole demeanor exuded an aura she hadn't had before.
Gwen raised her hand and looked at her palm.
The black suit rippled slightly, as if responding to her gaze.
Just then, Peter's voice sounded in her earpiece.
"Gwen! I've found Rhino!"
Gwen's attention focused instantly.
"Where?"
"Brooklyn, the road near your dad's police station. He's moving in that direction—wait, no!"
Peter's voice became urgent.
"There's another group of ninjas also heading over there. Gwen, they might be trying to lure you away—"
Gwen was already moving.
She pushed open the window and leaped into the night.
A black figure streaked through the moonlight, faster than ever before.
She could feel the surge in speed, could feel the sound of the wind whistling past her ears becoming clearer than ever before.
Fast.
Faster.
Gwen landed on the roof of a building, overlooking the street below.
Rhino was right there.
Gray skin, blue hair, his massive figure like a moving mountain. He was walking toward the police station, and every step made the ground tremble slightly.
Gwen landed in front of him.
Rhino stopped and looked at her.
Under the moonlight, the pure black suit and the sharp spider emblem made this figure look completely different from before.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice as coarse as grinding gravel.
Gwen didn't answer.
She was listening to the voice in her earpiece.
"Gwen," Peter's voice came through urgently, "you guessed right! Rhino is just bait! Another group of ninjas has already started attacking your dad! They're at the back door of the police station—your dad and his men are fighting back, but there are too many of them!"
Gwen's heart skipped a beat.
She looked at Rhino.
This guy was just there to hold her up.
"I am Spider-Woman," she said, her voice colder than usual.
Rhino froze for a moment, then laughed.
The laughter was unpleasant, like a broken bellows gasping for air.
"Got a new skin again?" he said. "You vigilantes are really—"
He didn't finish.
Because Gwen moved.
The black figure was so fast it was almost impossible to see. Rhino only had time to raise his arms to block when a massive force slammed into him.
He stumbled back a few steps, crashing into the wall behind him.
Gwen landed in front of him and threw another punch.
This punch drove him straight into the wall.
Rhino struggled to get up, but Gwen was no longer looking at him.
She turned and rushed toward the police station.
Behind her, Rhino was embedded in the wall, unable to move.
The back door of the police station.
George Stacy, along with a few officers, was in a fierce battle with a group of ninjas.
There were too few of them.
The ninjas surged forward like a tide, one after another. Three officers had already fallen, and the remaining few were struggling to hold on.
George was almost out of ammunition.
He ducked behind cover, panting heavily.
Another group of ninjas rushed over.
George stood up and fired.
The last magazine.
He used it all up.
He threw away his gun and pulled out his baton.
Just then, a black shadow descended from the sky.
A pure black suit, a sharp spider emblem, with the cape flapping loudly in the night wind.
She landed in front of George, with her back to him.
The ninjas froze for a moment, then charged together.
The black figure moved.
Too fast to see.
Gwen charged into the group of ninjas, every punch and kick carrying power she had never possessed before. Those ninjas were like paper in front of her, falling one after another.
She felt anger burning within her.
These people were here to kill her dad.
These people deserved to die.
She grabbed a ninja by the neck and lifted him up.
The man struggled in her grip, his eyes filled with fear.
Gwen's hand slowly tightened.
She could kill him.
It was easy.
She should kill him.
They wanted to kill her dad.
"Gwen."
A voice came from behind her.
Very soft.
But Gwen heard it.
Her hand paused.
She turned her head.
George stood not far away, looking at her.
The moonlight shone on his face, revealing the complex emotions in those eyes—shock, disbelief, and a hint of—
He had recognized her.
Gwen's heart skipped a beat.
She slowly released her grip, and the ninja slid to the ground.
All the surrounding ninjas had already fallen.
The night wind blew, fluttering her cape.
Gwen and George stared at each other.
Neither of them spoke.
After a long time, George spoke.
His voice was very soft, tinged with a hint of hoarseness.
"We'll talk when you get home."
Gwen stood where she was, watching his back disappear into the night.
She didn't know how long she stood there.
Until Peter's voice sounded in her earpiece.
"Gwen? Are you okay? My dad—I mean, your dad—he—"
Gwen took a deep breath.
"I'm fine."
"Did he recognize you?"
"...Yeah."
There was silence in the earpiece for a few seconds.
"Gwen," Peter's voice was very soft, "no matter what happens, I'm here."
Gwen's eyes felt a bit sore.
"I know."
She took one last look at the direction where George had disappeared, then turned and leaped into the night sky.
Under the moonlight, the black figure streaked across the buildings of Manhattan.
She knew that after tonight, everything would be different.
But at least—
She had protected him.