Chapter 180: Spider-Woman's Ability Evolution
The second permanent ability: Spider-Sense.
With just a thought, Xi Nian released his heightened superhuman spider-sense outward. The surrounding space seemed woven with invisible strands of spider silk, and within ten meters, he could perceive even the smallest detail of what existed or occurred.
As for detecting danger, even if it was kilometers away, he could sense subtle warnings.
For example—
If someone aimed at Xi Nian with a high-precision sniper rifle, the instant the crosshairs locked onto him, the spider-sense would immediately alert him.
Of course, modern sniper rifles no longer posed any real threat to Xi Nian.
Steel Physique, Spider-Sense.
One elevated his defense and body to the peak. The other granted perception and premonition.
Xi Nian felt his survivability had just taken another leap. Unless he actively sought death, it was nearly impossible for him to die now.
Of course—
Spider-sense's hypersensitivity could also be troublesome, flooding his brain with unnecessary information.
Right now, Xi Nian could clearly perceive—
Behind him, inside the white web cocoon, the short-haired girl frowned slightly in her sleep, her delicate body shifting lightly, golden strands of hair spilling across her pretty face.
The fullness of her chest pressed into the webbing, leaving mesh-like contours that shimmered under the fractured golden sunlight.
…
By noon.
Since Spider-Man still hadn't made contact, Xi Nian grabbed lunch.
After finishing, one double-layered sandwich remained, stuffed so tightly that the sweet white filling oozed out.
…
"Xi Nian, I feel weird…"
The short-haired beauty, as though she had expected what happened last night, had prepared two identical outfits. After climbing down from the web cocoon, she began changing into a white blouse and black skirt.
Her aura had subtly shifted. On top of her usual intelligence, pride, and youthful spirit, there was now a mature radiance hard to put into words. Her already pale skin gleamed as though moisturized, and her spirit was far more vibrant than yesterday.
At this moment—
Now dressed, Gwen pressed her hand to her stomach with a strange expression. "Something feels… off with my body."
Gwen's spider-sense worked differently from Xi Nian's. It was more tuned toward mastery and control over her own body.
That was why her movements were so fast, her agility surpassing most Spider-powered individuals—dancing through the air with elegance.
So once she was fully awake, Gwen quickly sensed the anomaly in her body.
"Something wrong with your body?"
Xi Nian's gaze instinctively dropped to her stomach, then started to drift further down her legs—
"Not that!"
Gwen rolled her eyes, glaring at him before raising her pale wrist. "It's my webs… they feel different."
"Try it."
Xi Nian offered his left arm.
Gwen inhaled, then flicked her wrist. A strand of white web shot out and coiled around his forearm.
"This looks the same as before…"
Xi Nian curiously tugged at the webbing. But when he gripped and pulled with both hands, his expression shifted in surprise.
His eyes sharpened with seriousness.
Even while channeling his superhuman spider strength, pulling with several tons of force, the web only stretched taut and vibrated—it refused to snap.
Normally, both Gwen's and Xi Nian's webs, while flexible and far beyond human tensile limits, could still be torn under enough raw strength.
But now—
Her web was like steel wire.
Not the metallic threads of Polaris Spider's steel-web mode, but organic silk with steel-like durability.
"How did you do this?" Xi Nian asked curiously.
If her webs had been this strong earlier, even Abomination might not have been able to break free from her webbing.
Her silk had upgraded—becoming closer to perfection.
"I don't know." Gwen shook her head in confusion, her small hand subconsciously brushing her stomach. "I just woke up and suddenly… I could do it."
"Not only that. Look—now I can make them thinner and sharper, sharp enough to cut things…"
She pulled on the strand again, and sure enough, the web thinned and grew razor-like, scraping across Xi Nian's steel-like arm with a faint metallic ring.
Naturally, it couldn't harm Kryptonian-level durability. But against other beings, the result might be very different.
"Could it be…" Xi Nian's eyes flickered with realization.
When he gained permanent extraordinary abilities, Gwen's own abilities also optimized toward perfection.
The last time—
Xi Nian had felt that Supergirl's body seemed different somehow. Looking back now, it was likely true. Kara just hadn't noticed it herself.
"Master of Affection, doesn't this ability sound a little like dual—"
Xi Nian caught himself and didn't finish.
But one thing was certain.
Not only did Xi Nian gain permanent strength, but the one bonded to him also had their abilities perfected.
…
Inside the five-star hotel suite—
Xi Nian and Gwen stood side by side on the balcony, leaning against the railing. The bustling city stretched out before them.
Suddenly, Gwen tilted her head, her golden short hair glimmering as she gently rested against Xi Nian's shoulder.
"Yesterday, when I first came to this parallel universe, I had a terrifying thought… what if I could stay here with you, forever?" she whispered with closed eyes.
"So that's why." Xi Nian chuckled, glancing down at her small face. "No wonder you didn't look anxious at all. I thought being thrown into another universe would scare you half to death."
"But if you don't go back, your family will worry. Officer George would probably turn Washington upside down looking for you."
"Whose fault is that?" Gwen pouted, her rosy lips puffing slightly.
Xi Nian couldn't resist lowering his head for a quick taste of the sweet jelly-like lips.
His gaze shifted to her pale collarbone, where a silver necklace gleamed—a pendant shaped like a ballerina swan. He smiled. "Once again, happy birthday, Gwen."
"Mm."
Gwen exhaled softly, her nose humming lightly. Then she opened her gem-like eyes. "Now, I know what I have to do."
Xi Nian was about to ask when, from inside the suite, the communicator buzzed.
It was the one given to him by Spider-Man, Peter Parker. In this world, only he would reach out to them.
Xi Nian and Gwen exchanged a glance. Their hands, already touching, interlocked tightly, fingers entwined like strands of web.
"Xi Nian, let's go. We have to go back!" Gwen said with a smile.
"Yeah. Let's return to our world—together!"
Xi Nian nodded firmly.
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