Gunshots erupted from all directions as the voice faded, punctuated by the occasional grenade blast. The gangsters were thrilled with how things were playing out—their targets were completely tied up in combat, giving them free rein to unleash hell. Kraken's performance made it clear he wasn't one of the good guys, and with the mechanical octopus and spider locked in desperate battle to prevent each other from causing massive destruction, the criminals had somehow become the heroes wielding weapons against the real threat.
Even with police backup behind them, the gangsters felt no panic. They weren't the criminals today. If anything, they were... enthusiastic citizens lending a hand?
But who cared about labels? All they knew was that the cops were giving them a free pass today. Hell, even the officers behind them were unloading rounds into Kraken. Compared to their street guns, the octopus monster was the real terror.
"Shoot! Keep shooting!"
The relentless barrage of gunfire and explosions turned the pier into a war zone. Thunderous noise rolled across the water, drawing the attention of civilians throughout the area.
"Damn it! What the hell is happening at the cargo pier?"
The NYPD Director slammed his fist on the desk. His officers were in the thick of it, and every instinct screamed at him to head there personally. But he still needed to coordinate the full response.
"You bastards better not push this too far, or I'll have your heads!"
Watching the constant stream of reports flooding in, the director's jaw clenched tight.
Meanwhile, Marcus and Harry were playing spectator to the chaos, except their "movie" was unfolding in real time.
"Get him, Spider! Left hook, right hook!" Harry shouted, throwing punches at the air as he mimicked the fighting techniques Marcus had taught them. He moved as if he were the one battling the octopus monster.
But Harry had only experienced training, after all. Even in his sparring matches with Peter, neither had ever fought with lethal intent. Without the crucible of life-and-death combat, Harry's growth remained limited. He didn't understand what real battle demanded, never having faced that razor's edge between survival and death.
Not everyone possessed Peter's spider-sense—that almost supernatural early warning system. While it wasn't particularly useful against Marcus, it remained incredibly powerful against other opponents. The spider-sense was the foundation of Peter's fighting style, allowing him to sense danger and circle his enemies until he could land the decisive blow.
Right now, Peter was doing exactly that. Though he'd learned some expanded sensory techniques from Marcus, integrating them into his combat style remained a work in progress. Even with Dr. Otto's help, he could barely keep pace with Kraken.
Kraken was proving to be the most formidable enemy Peter had faced. Not only was he incredibly powerful, but the mechanical tentacles on his back had been amplified to terrifying levels by whatever energy coursed through him. The raw power was so intense that even Dr. Otto's mechanical arms couldn't match it. Despite the rocket and small arms fire raining down on him, Kraken held his own against two opponents, matching them blow for blow.
"The flame is about to go out," Marcus murmured, watching Kraken dominate despite the weapon barrage.
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Marcus's mouth. Kraken had been pushing too hard, burning too bright. The explosions and gunfire weren't just external threats—they were accelerating the consumption of Kraken's power, and that power was consuming his very life force. Seeing the oblivious Kraken continue to burn through his reserves without restraint, Marcus couldn't help but chuckle.
The seemingly invincible Kraken was incinerating his body and soul in exchange for this temporary strength.
"What did you say?" Harry leaned closer, trying to catch Marcus's words over the gunfire.
"Nothing important," Marcus replied with a casual wave. "That guy's about to lose."
He continued watching the battle unfold. Peter was under immense pressure—the energy discharges from his opponent's attacks were too dangerous to block directly. His spider-sense was screaming constant warnings, that familiar tingle of mortal danger keeping him on edge. But he couldn't understand why the sensation felt so urgent. While Kraken's power was devastating, it shouldn't have triggered such persistent alarms.
Peter darted around his enemy, using web-lines to entangle Kraken's limbs and disrupt his attacks.
"I can't keep this up much longer—my webbing isn't infinite!"
Peter felt his reserves draining. Normally, web-slinging was supplementary to his fighting style. Aside from rapid movement, he rarely relied on it heavily. But now, launching web after web had become his primary attack method, and it was taking a toll. Spider-silk was synthesized automatically in his body, consuming his own nutrients and energy.
Lost in thought, Peter almost missed Kraken's incoming fist. The attack came loaded with crackling blue energy, and while his spider-sense screamed warnings, Peter was a split-second too slow. He watched helplessly as the energy-wreathed fist closed in.
"I can only try to block it!"
Unable to dodge, Peter raised his arms defensively, bracing for impact.
Please don't break my arms!
He gritted his teeth and waited for the devastating blow.
But... it didn't hurt?
That was Peter's first confused thought. He knew exactly how powerful Kraken was—that punch should have shattered his defensive guard. Instead, his arms hung limply at his sides as he stared at his opponent in shock.
Kraken stood frozen mere inches away, looking like a clay figure held together by failing glue. Cracks spider-webbed across his entire body, and energy leaked from every fissure like light bleeding through broken pottery.
"What's happening to this guy?"
The sound of twisting metal drew Peter's attention upward. The mechanical tentacles that had been Kraken's greatest weapons were now being systematically destroyed by Dr. Otto's superior arms.
"Spider, do you have any idea what's going on here?" Dr. Otto's voice carried equal bewilderment.
"Uh... I have no clue—"
Before Peter could finish, Kraken's body underwent another dramatic change. The crack-covered figure began to disintegrate, pieces of him floating away like ash from burned-out kindling.
"Well, I think I know what happened," Peter said, his voice rising with amazement. "This guy... it looks like he burned himself out. He literally turned himself to ash!"
Peter stared in disbelief at the scene before him. How could Kraken, who had been dominating the fight just moments before, suddenly crumble to nothing?