Chapter 10: Spider-Man
The first punch nearly shattered my ribs.
Tombstone moved like a freight train, faster than anyone his size had a right to be. I barely rolled aside as his fist slammed into the ground, leaving a spiderweb of cracks in the pavement.
"You're quicker than you look, kid," he growled, his eyes glowing faintly under the flickering streetlights.
"Quicker than I look," I muttered, dodging another punch, "and smarter, too. Ever heard of cardio? Might help with your footwork."
I fired a web, yanking myself over a rooftop ledge to gain distance.
[System Mission Active]
- Protect Civilians (2 detected nearby)
- Defeat Hostile Target: Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln)
- Trait Tokens Remaining: 2
Tombstone ripped through the webs anchoring him, charging again. I ducked under his swing, heart pounding as the pavement exploded from the force of his fists.
[Target Traits Available for Copy]
- Superhuman Durability (Passive) - 2 Trait Tokens
- Copy Time Required: 10 seconds
I had to risk it.
"Initiate Trait Copy," I commanded under my breath.
A faint timer appeared in my vision. [10 Seconds Remaining]
I ducked, spun, flipped, doing everything I could to keep my distance while maintaining line of sight. My breathing quickened, adrenaline spiking as I played keep-away.
"You talk too much, bug," Tombstone roared.
"Hey, talking's half the fun," I quipped, landing a kick against his jaw that barely fazed him. My words were meant to distract him, to buy time.
[4 Seconds Remaining]
I led him through the streets, vaulting over parked cars, narrowly avoiding his swings. He wasn't just strong; he was relentless, his blows tearing through the environment like a wrecking ball.
[2 Seconds Remaining]
Tombstone lunged again. I dodged just in time, the wind of his punch nearly knocking me off my feet.
[Trait Copied: Superhuman Durability]
I felt it immediately. My body hardened, my skin tingling as durability surged through me.
"That all you got?" I smirked, testing my newfound resilience.
His next punch hit square in my gut—and I barely flinched.
"Surprise," I said, slamming my fist into his chest. This time, he staggered back.
I kept pushing, trading blows with him now that I could take the hits. The impact of each strike reverberated through my bones, but I held firm.
Tombstone roared, charging like a bull. I caught his fist mid-swing, the shock of it jolting through my arm but holding firm.
"Not bad for a rookie," he sneered, twisting his grip to slam me into a nearby car.
The impact crumpled the vehicle, but I recovered quickly, flipping over him and delivering a powerful double-kick to his back.
He stumbled, but didn't fall. "You think you've won just because you can take a punch now?" he taunted.
"No," I replied, breathing heavily, "but it helps."
I darted in, weaving through his swings and landing precise strikes to his joints and pressure points. My copied durability gave me the edge, letting me tank some of his hits while delivering my own.
Tombstone grabbed a streetlight and yanked it free, swinging it like a massive club. I leapt back, narrowly dodging the arc of destruction as it smashed through walls and cars.
"You really don't hold back, do you?" I said, firing webs to snatch the pole from his grasp, anchoring it to a nearby building.
He roared in frustration, charging again. This time, I met him head-on, our fists colliding with thunderous force.
Each blow echoed through the street, drawing more attention. Civilians gathered at a distance, phones out, recording every second.
I needed to end this.
A nearby building groaned, civilians trapped inside. I fired webs, yanking down debris to block Tombstone.
"You wanna fight? You're gonna wait your turn," I muttered, diving toward the building.
I smashed through a window, shielding two civilians as I webbed up the collapsing ceiling.
"Go! Get out!" I yelled, guiding them to safety.
Outside, cameras were already rolling as I emerged, covered in dust, civilians safe behind me.
Tombstone broke through the rubble, but I was ready.
I swung in, landing a flurry of punches that drove him to his knees. My strikes were faster, sharper, each blow fueled by determination and the weight of responsibility.
"Game over," I said, webbing him to the pavement in layer after layer.
Police sirens blared nearby.
One reporter rushed up, mic trembling.
"W-Who are you?!"
I glanced back at the civilians, then at the cameras.
I grinned under my mask.
"Spider-Man."
---
Across the city, in the Justice League Watchtower, a meeting was already in session.
Batman leaned forward, watching the footage in silence.
"He's inexperienced," Wonder Woman said, crossing her arms.
"But effective," Superman noted.
"Reckless," Batman muttered, though his eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"Should we approach him?" Green Lantern asked.
Batman didn't answer immediately.
"Monitor him," Batman finally said. "He's too green for recruitment. But he has potential."
---
Meanwhile, inside a SHIELD briefing room, Nick Fury stood before a similar screen.
"So that's our bug," Iron Man quipped, watching the footage.
"Kid's got guts," Captain America muttered.
"I've already assigned Black Widow to observe," Fury said. "No contact yet. We wait."
"You think he's powered?" Bruce Banner asked.
Fury's eye narrowed.
"I think he's something new. And I want to know what side he'll land on."
---
Back on the streets, I slipped into an alley as police swarmed the scene.
[Mission Complete]
- Civilians Protected: +1 Trait Token
- Hostile Neutralized: +2 Trait Tokens
[Trait Tokens Remaining: 3]
I exhaled, heart still racing, my muscles sore from the brutal fight.
But something told me tonight was only the beginning.
---
To be continued
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