Chapter 12: The Reflex Gambit
---
Midtown High — Morning.
Midtown High was buzzing with energy.
Students swarmed the halls, eyes glued to their phones, whispering and speculating.
Spider-Man fever had swept the school.
"Did you see him flip that truck?"
"Dude, he's insane! He has to be some kind of meta-human."
"He's probably some government experiment gone rogue!"
Ark walked through the crowd, calm and composed, faintly amused at how fast stories spun around his other identity.
---
"Morning, Parker," Gwen called as she leaned near his locker, watching him intently.
Harry came up next, showing Ark a meme-filled feed about Spider-Man.
"He's blowing up, man. Even the Daily Planet's all over this."
"People need a hobby," Ark replied dryly, shutting his locker.
Harry snorted. "By the way, my dad says Oscorp's been hit again. Real serious tech this time."
Ark gave a subtle nod, masking his interest. "Sounds like trouble."
"My dad thinks it's organized crime," Gwen said, her eyes lingering a second too long, as if testing him.
---
System Notification — Mission Alert.
Just then, Ark's Trait System appeared in his vision.
---
> [Optional Mission Available!]
Mission: Prevent Oscorp Tech Heist (Warehouse #17, Industrial District).
Time Limit: 6 Hours.
Mission Rewards:
1 Trait Token.
Random Trait Opportunity (Trait will be randomly selected upon mission completion.)
Bonus Objective: Prevent all civilian and employee casualties for an additional Trait Token.
Reminder: Trait copying requires 10 seconds of uninterrupted focus during combat.
You can only copy one trait per person permanently.
---
Ark skimmed the details with practiced ease. The system's restrictions were nothing new.
One trait per person, always. Gotta pick carefully.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Well," he muttered, "guess I know where I'm going tonight."
---
Nightfall — Mission Begins.
Night settled over the city as Ark crouched atop a rooftop overlooking Oscorp's Warehouse #17.
Below, masked thugs loaded stolen crates into trucks.
Among them stood Shocker—his gauntlets crackling with lethal energy.
---
System Scan — Targets Identified.
> Primary Target: Shocker (Herman Schultz)
Available Traits for Copy:
1. Vibro-Shock Gauntlet Proficiency (1 Trait Token)
2. Enhanced Reflex Conditioning (1 Trait Token)
3. Engineering Tinkerer's Intuition (1 Trait Token)
---
Ark eyed the list calmly.
Only one shot per person. Reflex Conditioning is the clear winner here.
---
He moved in silently, webbing up two guards before they could raise an alarm.
But then—
KR-KOOM!
A shockwave blasted through the building, scattering debris.
Shocker's voice boomed.
"Come out, Spider! Or I'll flatten this whole place with you in it!"
---
Ark dodged as concussive blasts shattered walls and ripped apart steel beams.
Each attack left less cover and narrowed his options.
---
System Emergency Prompt.
> Combat Threat Level: Critical.
Recommended Trait for Survival:
Enhanced Reflex Conditioning (1 Trait Token)
Warning: Trait copying requires *10 seconds of uninterrupted focus. Movement allowed, but getting hit or losing focus will cancel the process.
---
Ark exhaled sharply.
"Ten seconds in this mess?" he muttered. "Gonna need every trick I've got."
---
Trait Copy Initiated.
> Copying Trait: Enhanced Reflex Conditioning…
10 Seconds Remaining.
---
The countdown timer lit up in his vision as Shocker zeroed in on him.
---
10 Seconds Left.
Ark vaulted across the warehouse, narrowly dodging a twin shockwave that shredded the floor.
---
8 Seconds Left.
He zipped high, flipping through falling debris, every sense screaming under pressure.
---
7 Seconds Left.
Shocker roared, firing blasts wildly—each one demolishing walls and sending flames erupting through the room.
---
6 Seconds Left.
Ark's breathing sharpened, every muscle focused purely on survival.
---
5 Seconds Left.
Shocker grew more reckless, trying to bury Ark under collapsing machinery.
---
4 Seconds Left.
Ark's enhanced instincts and agility pushed him through collapsing catwalks, his mind locked on the timer.
---
3 Seconds Left.
Shocker launched another blast; Ark ducked and slid under it, every motion precise.
---
2 Seconds Left.
Ark used a snapped cable to sling himself toward a higher perch, the countdown nearing its end.
---
1 Second Left.
One last massive blast tore through the room—but Ark was already moving, dodging it by a hair's breadth.
---
Trait Copy Complete.
> Trait Copied Successfully: Enhanced Reflex Conditioning.
Trait Integrated.
---
Time Slows.
Suddenly, Ark's senses sharpened to an unreal degree.
He could predict Shocker's every move before it even started.
---
Fight Reversal.
He danced through the next barrage, weaving effortlessly between blasts.
He landed behind Shocker, his voice calm and amused.
"Time's up."
---
Before Shocker could react, Ark struck with brutal precision—webbing the gauntlets mid-shot, disarming him in seconds.
Every dodge, every strike was flawless now.
Shocker's efforts were useless.
Ark finished it with a hard punch, knocking Shocker unconscious.
---
Mission Complete.
Silence filled the warehouse.
Ark stood victorious amid the wreckage.
---
System Mission Completion.
> Mission Complete. +1 Trait Token Earned.
Bonus Objective Achieved: +1 Trait Token.
Processing Random Trait Reward…
Random Trait Acquired: Stealth Master (Passive).
Description: Grants near-total silence in movement, enhanced hiding instinct, and improved urban camouflage.*
---
Ark read the reward calmly.
"Stealth Master, huh?" he muttered, testing it.
He moved through the shadows—silent as a ghost, his body naturally slipping into hiding spots with eerie ease.
He grinned beneath the mask.
"Now that's gonna come in handy."
---
Oscorp Tower — Norman's POV.
High above, Norman Osborn watched the battle unfold on hidden cameras.
A cold smile touched his lips.
"So predictable," Norman whispered, eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
He leaned back, fingers steepled.
"You keep growing stronger, Parker… but even the cleverest spider gets tangled in its own web eventually."
---
To Be Continued.
---