"Even though it hasn't actually been that long, I feel like I haven't been to school in forever."
The American school year ends relatively early; by late May, Midtown High had already declared the conclusion of this year's studies. Peter Parker had spent his freshman year at Midtown High with almost no memorable academic moments to speak of.
His entire freshman year had been consumed by saving the world and beating up supervillains.
"You don't need to say 'it feels like.' You literally haven't been to school in forever," Harry sighed helplessly before continuing. "If it weren't for Amadeus acting as your buffer at the bottom of the attendance sheet, you would definitely be the student with the most requested leaves of absence at Midtown High this year, bar none."
"I didn't exactly want to take leave," Amadeus Cho added from the side. "But I had to save the world with Hercules, guys."
Perhaps because he had been out with Hercules so often lately, Amadeus had become significantly more outgoing. He shared many stories of his adventures with Hercules with his close friends. However, despite his enthusiasm, neither Harry nor Peter had heard a single word about these great world-saving feats in the news.
It was as if Hercules and Amadeus lived in a world where Hercules was the only hero, frantically saving the day while the rest of the world remained completely oblivious.
Then again, neither Amadeus nor Hercules seemed to care.
Harry let out a lament: "I feel so pathetic, guys. Both of you are out there saving the world, and I can't do anything."
Peter was about to offer some words of comfort when his phone rang. After answering, his brow furrowed instinctively. He hung up, and seeing this, Harry asked with concern, "Are you okay? Did something happen?"
"No, nothing. Everything's fine."
The call Peter received was from the X-Men. They had delivered some rather troubling news: Doctor Octopus had previously hired Gambit to install a program on the X-Men's Blackbird jet. This program was designed to copy and transmit parts of their system while the X-Men's mainframe was in sleep mode. Worse still, the data transfer was already complete.
What Otto Octavius wanted from the X-Men was the Danger Room program.
The Danger Room was the X-Men's training facility. Its most famous and useful feature was combat simulation. Based on technological principles Peter didn't fully understand, the Danger Room could simulate incredibly realistic tactile, olfactory, auditory, and visual elements. It could even generate "collision volume" when fighting holographic enemies.
In other words, while the objects were fake, the feedback—including pain—was real. You would truly believe you were injured, and your body would react accordingly.
Peter knew exactly who Otto had prepared this for: Mysterio.
Mysterio's original light-particle manipulation device was ingenious, but it still had obvious flaws. Firstly, it could only control how light particles formed images; other sensory factors could not be altered. For Mysterio to manipulate sound and other effects, he previously required auxiliary equipment, including drones.
But what if he used the Danger Room program to upgrade his "fishbowl" helmet?
Then Peter wouldn't even know if the enemies he faced were real or fake. These enemies would have real touch and real impact feedback; if they hit Peter, he would feel genuine pain. Such a Mysterio would no longer just be creating special effects and illusions—he would be casting full-scale sensory sorcery.
Because the X-Men hadn't discovered the breach in time, this was the enemy Peter now had to deal with.
Peter sighed helplessly. However, he wasn't fighting alone anymore. While it might be troublesome for Spider-Man to face the Sinister Six solo, what if the entire Avengers team piled on them?
Then it would be very simple indeed.
But he suspected Otto would find a way to make him face the Sinister Six alone... No, wait, why was he so fixated on Otto? Otto's primary goal right now was to find Dr. Jonathan to cure the ALS in his cloned body and to seek revenge on Osborn. Spider-Man was just an obstacle in the way, not the ultimate objective. Strictly speaking, the Sinister Six were just pawns used to keep Peter occupied.
Did that mean his focus was misplaced?
"Alright, guys, I have something I need your help with." Peter suddenly looked at Harry and Amadeus, then sent messages to the others. "We need to go to the Web Base to talk in detail."
About an hour later, at the Web Base.
Inside the base, Harry was struck with awe at the number of people who had arrived. It wasn't just the three of them and Dr. Jonathan, who had been managing the base; Silk (Cindy Moon) and Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)—two superhumans Peter could call upon for help at a moment's notice—were also there. Illyana and Kitty had been on Peter's contact list as well, but considering the nature of the situation, he hadn't reached out to them immediately.
He had contacted someone else instead.
"Hello, Silver. I hope the time difference isn't too much of a bother." As Peter spoke, he opened a video link on the base's large screen. On the other end was Silver Sable, whom he had fought alongside in Europe. She didn't seem to mind the interruption at all.
"You mentioned business, Spider-Man. Business is never an interruption."
"Good. Then I'll give a brief overview of the situation. Otto Octavius secretly rescued the supervillain known as Electro—we thought he had been eliminated at the time, but he wasn't. He used his mutant abilities to sabotage the Raft prison, releasing a large number of super-criminals in the process."
"Otto Octavius, the supervillain known as Doctor Octopus who was presumed dead, transferred his consciousness into a younger body and called himself the 'Technomancer.' After being arrested and sentenced, he was sent to the Raft. There, he handpicked four other criminals to be members of his crew."
Peter then displayed the headshots and files of Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, Scorpion, Rhino, Electro, and Sandman on the large screen. "Additionally, he previously hired a mutant thief to install a hacking program on the X-Men's jet to steal Danger Room data. This data is likely being used to enhance Mysterio. There is no doubt: Doctor Octopus and his Sinister Six are on the move."
"Their goals, at least as far as I know, are very specific: the modified spiders for treating ALS, and revenge against Osborn."
-----------------------------------------------
I handpick only the finest and most captivating novels for you. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon HongMengZi