Deep beneath New York City—in the shadows of the aging sewer system—dark science continued to fester.
In the flickering light of a makeshift lab, Dr. Curt Connors adjusted his "Human Evolution" device. He inserted a glowing green serum into its chamber, the liquid bubbling ominously. Though he no longer bore the full form of the monstrous Lizard, scaly green patches still lined his face, and his eyes shimmered an eerie light green.
"Peter," Connors rasped without turning, sensing the teen's arrival at the tunnel's edge. "You shouldn't be wandering around down here."
Peter Parker froze mid-step.
"My plan is nearly complete. Soon, everyone will evolve—just like you and me. Imagine it: no more weakness, no more pain. Help me finish it."
Peter's golden-tinted eyes widened in horror.
Everyone?
He envisioned Midtown High—his classmates, teachers, Flash Thompson—transformed into hybrids like Connors. Monstrous, aggressive... dangerous. He clenched his fists.
No. He couldn't let that happen.
The boy still had a conscience.
...
Meanwhile, above ground...
A high-pitched cackle tore through the Manhattan skyline.
"Heh—ha ha ha!"
The Green Goblin—Harry Osborn—blasted through the upper windows of Oscorp Tower on his glider, glass spraying across Fifth Avenue. The wind whipped through his tousled hair, and madness glittered in his eyes.
Just minutes earlier, he had vaporized one of Oscorp's board members—the same man who used to lecture him at every opportunity.
The thrill of destruction surged through him like wildfire.
As frightened civilians scattered below, Harry looked down, his grin stretching wider.
Maybe now... he understood his father.
Without hesitation, he hurled down a cluster of pumpkin bombs—orange streaks of death falling toward the crowd.
.....
Elsewhere: New York Cathedral.
Eugene "Flash" Thompson sat alone in a pew, jaw tight, fists clenched.
He had tried to confess. He wanted peace. But the damage had already been done.
The Lizard had humiliated him in front of half the school. His reputation was shattered. He was no longer the football captain. No longer the alpha. Even his so-called friends had abandoned him.
And Liz Allan?
Last he'd heard, she'd dropped out—traumatized by the attack. Her parents had pulled her out of Midtown. Word was, she hadn't spoken in days.
Thompson trembled, rage bubbling up from deep inside.
"Insignificant... weak..."
His bloodshot eyes flared.
"It was Peter," he muttered, voice thick with venom. "It has to be Peter Parker!"
Maybe it was the coward's instinct to lash out at those weaker than himself—or the need to blame someone when everything fell apart. Regardless, Flash clung to his assumption like gospel. All the rage, all the shame, all the humiliation—he funneled it straight at Peter.
What he didn't notice… Was the slithering mass in the shadows. A sentient glob of inky black matter, shifting, writhing, watching. It felt the hatred. And it was drawn to it.
....
Whhhhrrr A cool breeze swept across the rooftop of the Ghost Spider Club. Four figures stood in the dark, surveying the city with tense focus.
"I promised Stephen we'd hit the car show tomorrow," muttered Jack with arms crossed, tone casual but alert. "So this better not take all night. Don't make me miss sleep over nonsense, Jessica… or I'll come for your butt."
Jessica Jones gave him a mock glare, protectively cupping said butt, before squatting beside Skye. "Skye, how's it going? Hurry up or we're toast."
Skye, seated cross-legged on the rooftop with her laptop glowing in front of her, didn't even glance up. "Relax, superhero lady. You could bench-press a van. You'll live." Still, she typed faster. Her screen filled with overlapping police chatter and access to multiple city cams.
Gwen Stacy, now fully suited up as Ghost-Spider, crouched beside her and whistled low. "Skye, didn't know you had hacker powers. I'm impressed."
Jessica grinned. "Right? Found her myself. She's basically our tech oracle. With her, no intel's off-limits."
Jack raised a brow but didn't comment. Instead, his gaze narrowed at the screen.
"The reports are real. There are incidents in two separate locations." Gwen zoomed in on one. "Looks like two Lizard creatures at Midtown. That fits what we suspected. But the other scene—wait… is that a Green Goblin!?"
Jessica blinked. "Hold up. Isn't Norman Osborn dead? How are there two of them?"
Jack spoke up. "It's likely Harry Osborn. Norman's son. He may have inherited or replicated the tech from Oscorp."
"Perfect. Just what we needed," Jessica muttered.
"So what now?" Skye asked, her fingers still moving as she brought up more feeds.
"Let's split up," Gwen suggested. "I'll take the Lizard creatures. Jessica, you handle the Goblin—"
"Wait!" Skye suddenly interrupted. "Something's happening at Oscorp HQ too!"
A third camera feed appeared. A man wreathed in blue lightning burst out from the top floor of Oscorp Tower. It was Max Dillon—Electro. Unstable and overwhelmed, his body crackled with volatile energy as bolts shot uncontrollably in all directions. Pedestrians were struck instantly. Several collapsed.
"Oh, crap," Gwen muttered.
Jessica stood stunned. "That guy's way worse than the Goblin…"
Even Jack frowned. This was starting to spiral. "How are all these freaks appearing at once?" Jessica asked, pacing anxiously. "What is this, a supervillain flash mob? I need like three of me right now!"
Gwen turned to Jack. "You're the strategist. Thoughts?"
Jack didn't say what he was actually thinking—I should let you all run home to your moms and take all the credit myself… But instead, he calmly said, "Electro is too unstable. None of you have powers that can contain that level of energy output. So we leave him be, for now."
He pointed to the map. "First priority: the Lizard creatures. They're slower, more predictable. Gwen and Jessica, team up for that."
Jessica nodded. "Yeah. Two against two. I like those odds."
"Next," Jack continued, "Jessica can fly over and handle the Goblin. He's fast but manageable solo. I'll try to intercept Electro later—maybe with backup."
"Sounds like a plan," Gwen agreed. "Let's move. We don't have time to waste."
As the girls prepared to launch into action, the rooftop lights flickered for just a second—unnoticed by any of them.
Down in the shadows… The black substance had completely enveloped Flash Thompson. And his heartbeat… was accelerating.