Max's mind buzzed with rage as fragments of memory surged forward.
"It was you!" he shouted, face contorting. "You're the bastard who touched Spider-Woman!"
Spider-Woman—his name for Cindy Moon. He hadn't known her real name or alias-Silk Spider. All he remembered was how Jack Kadere, in Max's warped recollection, had once placed a hand on her chest. That moment had twisted into an obsession.
Since then, Max had scoured the internet trying to find Cindy. But there were no records—no news, no photos, no social media.
So he tried searching for Jack instead.
But by that time, Jack had already gained advanced hacking skills through the system and took full control over his digital footprint. He monitored traffic to his online identity and set up layered firewalls, blacklisting any device, IP address, or account Max tried to use.
To Max, it was as if Jack Kadere didn't exist.
Jack's enhanced Spider-Sense flared, allo
"So you're the Black Spider!" Max bellowed, electricity flickering wildly around his crackling form.wing him to read Max's emotional storm with ease. He tilted his head slightly, taunting, "You don't even know her real name. How pitiful."
"YOU—!!!" Max's body glitched, unstable arcs of current flaring from his fingertips. He was literally vibrating with fury, his form barely holding together.
Jack smirked coldly. "And one more thing. The person who shoved you into that power conduit the day of your accident... was me."
BOOM!!
Max exploded—literally. His entire body shattered into unstable plasma, dispersing into the air.
But he wasn't gone.
A system notification blinked in Jack's vision:
You have defeated Gwen Stacy's destined enemy. Choose one of the following rewards:
1. Monetary Reward: $1,000,000
2. Random Reward: Electrician's Wrench
3. Servant Reward: Transform Maxwell "Max" Dillon (Electro)
Max's distorted form began to reassemble, this time weaker, flickering like a dying neon sign.
"I... I can't die... I'm immortal..." he muttered, echoing his delusion.
Jack knew that if he kept shattering Electro's form repeatedly, it would eventually destroy him for good. But frankly, he didn't have the patience for that.
"Option three," he said calmly.
As soon as Jack made the selection, the golden light of the system wrapped around Electro's re-forming body. Max's energy began to unravel, not violently this time—but as if surrendering.
"You... what did you do?!" he screamed, the last of his free will draining away.
Jack walked forward, looking him in the eye.
"I made you my puppet."
There was a system. And it didn't always play fair.
...
...
Club HeadquartersTraining Wing. Yoga Room.
Barbara Gordon moved with fluid grace across the padded floor, her loose black gauze outfit flowing as she held a deep pose. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, unbound and catching the light.
She wasn't here for yoga. Not really. She was gathering intel. Through the studio's expansive glass panels, she kept an eye on the training ground below.
As far as the public knew, the Ghost Spider Club was just a community of fans — cosplay enthusiasts, web-forum dwellers, the kind who wore homemade masks and compared theories on Gwen Stacy. But Barbara had seen enough covert fronts to know when something didn't add up.
This place reeked of something more.
"Barbara!"
The door swung open as Skye entered, cradling a tablet. Her expression was earnest as always, but her footsteps betrayed urgency.
"Sorry to interrupt your session."
"It's fine," Barbara said, gracefully shifting into a bridge pose. "Your club's... bigger than I expected. A dedicated yoga room? That's impressive."
Skye gave a tight smile. "We try to make everyone feel welcome. Actually, I was wondering if I could ask for a favor."
Barbara raised a brow, holding her form effortlessly. Let me guess... you're about to drag me deeper into whatever this operation really is.
"If it's something I can help with," she said, "I'll try. You've already been generous — a private room and full access? I'm flattered."
Skye hesitated, then decided to come clean — or partially. "There's been a spike in supernatural disturbances around New York. Jessica and Ghost-Spider went out to contain the situation."
Barbara kept her expression neutral as she moved into a pigeon stretch.
"While they're occupied, I'd like you to manage things at the club. Coordinate if necessary. I'll check in as often as I can."
Barbara blinked. Wait... what? Tactical command? I never volunteered for that.
She opened her mouth to respond, but—
"You're here."
Jack Kadere stepped in casually, his sharp gaze taking in the scene. His eyes briefly flicked over Barbara's pose — legs crossed behind her shoulders, spine arched perfectly.
Tsk. Incredible flexibility. Top-tier among baseline humans. Still not Gwen's level, though.
Barbara didn't pause. She smoothly transitioned to another stretch, unbothered by his presence.
"You've been gone a while," Skye noted, addressing Jack. "Jessica and Gwen are on-site. Still no updates, but I'm guessing they've already engaged the Lizardmen."
Jack stroked his chin, pondering.
"Max Dillon's been handled. Electro won't be a problem anymore."
The rest? Meh. Not worth his time. Let Gwen and Jessica get their reps in.
"There's no need for a command post. Let's check it out ourselves."
...
Elsewhere, Midtown Manhattan.
The crumbling remains of a tech lab bore witness to an intense skirmish. Acrid smoke and broken glass hung in the air.
"He got this from a friend?" Jessica Jones asked, hefting the humming blue lightsaber in her hand. "Jack's got some interesting contacts."
Beside her, Gwen Stacy — aka Ghost-Spider — launched another volley of webbing, reinforcing the cocoon that bound Dr. Curt Connors. Once known as The Lizard, Connors now looked like a giant, angry iguana mummified in sticky white strands.
Gwen's web cartridges had been upgraded recently, increasing both range and capacity. No more mid-battle reloads.
"In the past, I'd be out after two or three shots," she muttered, tightening the strands. "But now? I could wrap up the whole zoo."