When the mask came off and revealed the impossibly young face beneath, shock washed over Tony and Ethan.
They'd already noticed how youthful Peter's voice sounded, yet they hadn't imagined he was this young.
The one who had saved their lives and slaughtered the entire Ten Rings Gang was barely a teenager who'd just come of age.
"You're not some centuries-old monster using magic to fake being a kid, are you?"
As Tony spoke he unconsciously rubbed his hands together, fighting the urge to rush up and tug Peter's cheek to see if a whole layer of skin would peel off.
Peter simply tilted his head and flashed him a "nuclear-nice" smile.
Spotting that grin, Tony instantly caved, raising his hands in sheepish surrender.
"Okay, okay, just kidding—don't take it to heart."
This was the freak who'd held the full-power mark i immobile with one hand; pissing him off would land Tony in serious trouble… "Still, why decide to show your face now?"
To Tony, the move made no sense.
If the kid only wanted favors, he could have revealed himself from the start instead of going through all this trouble.
Peter's answer was straightforward.
He knew that with someone like Tony, honesty worked far better than cloak-and-dagger games: "Because I just realized my friends and I might need your help later… You cobbled together that tin can in a cave.
With your money and brain, once you're home you'll build even wilder toys.
I'm curious what they'll look like once I add a little magic to the mix."
Tony might be arrogant and abrasive, but he was loyal and good-hearted.
In the original story, everyone who helped him—apart from the late Dr. Ethan—got repaid, whether it was Colonel Rhodes or the kid from Iron Man 3.
Not to mention Peter had personally saved Tony and Ethan.
So, hearing Peter's reply, Tony broke into a grin: "I like the way you butter me up… Getting a wizard's seal of approval is a new life experience for me."
"So… lucky you, kid—you've earned Tony's respect."
Knowing Tony's personality, Peter wasn't offended by the cocky tone and simply said, "See you back in New York, then."
With that, Peter stomped on the flying skateboard; the sudden blast of exhaust and dust as it rocketed upward left Tony and Dr. Ethan coughing and filthy.
"Pfft—" Tony spat grit, cursing, "Shit, the punk did that on purpose."
Yet he couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips… Just as Peter sped off toward New York, bidding farewell to Tony and Ethan.
In a derelict New York station, Electro—Max—tracked down the hiding Sandman, William Baker.
Sensing the danger crackling off Max, William spun, his arms morphing into weapons.
"Don't bare your fangs at me, you mangy mutt!"
Max sneered.
Unlike William, who stayed true to himself even after becoming Sandman, Max had turned dark the moment he gained power.
Craving attention and adoration, his dream had been simple: he was finally somebody.
He pictured himself fighting side-by-side with Ghost-Spider, becoming the city's heroes, maybe even starting a family with her—the perfect power couple.
Reality, however, shredded that script.
When he tried to join Ghost-Spider, his wild electricity injured her and killed several innocents.
The NYPD opened fire, citizens cursed him, demanding Ghost-Spider put the "madman" down.
Seeing his idol hesitate broke Max's heart.
He left, planning to master his powers before facing her again.
But when he got home, his mother's latest cruelty snapped the last straw.
The bedridden whale who'd drained him for years—supported solely by his paycheck—still called him worthless.
All his life she'd hammered that his birth was a mistake.
She blamed him for her single-mother misery and the accident that paralyzed her, insisting she'd have been a success without him.
Yet when Max returned glowing with electricity, her first idea was to send him to rob a bank so she could live in luxury.
When he refused, she sold him out for a measly ten-grand "tip."
As she shrieked "Money! Money!" Max exploded.
Lightning tore through the room, turning everyone present into charcoal.
Max knew he'd crossed the line; from then on he let himself go.
He hunted down every childhood bully and made them pay.
He forced big shots who once looked down on him to kneel.
Becoming the very thing he'd hated didn't feel empty—he felt fuller than ever.
Better than anything else… So when his former idol came for him and admitted she already had someone special, Max made his craziest decision: if he couldn't fight beside her, he'd make her his trophy!
A forced melon isn't sweet, but it quenches the thirst!
He tried to cage Ghost-Spider, and after that plan imploded he sought out Sandman: "Listen up, mutt—we can team!
We'll rake in cash and grab Ghost-Spider.
When it's done, the money's yours; I only want her!"