[Sacrifice Successful!]
[Congratulations! Host has received 3,000 Sacrifice Points!]
The cold, mechanical prompt chimed, and Peter watched the balance on his retina jump from 0 to 3,000. Seeing those dusty old relics transform into a warm pile of points put him in an excellent mood.
He wasn't in a hurry to go on a shopping spree just yet. The System Shop only refreshed once a month, and the items weren't going anywhere.
He could wait until he made contact with the Lizard Serum and then plan his purchases based on the results. These 3,000 points were his savings—his safety net for whatever came next.
With that settled, Peter looked at the handwritten algorithm in his notebook and contentedly dove back into his studies.
Two days later, in the early morning.
"Done!"
Peter stared at the notebook filled with dense calculations. Though exhaustion tugged at his eyes, they gleamed with a terrifying intensity. Relying on his genius-level intellect, it had taken him only forty-eight hours to fully master the complexities of the Decay Rate Algorithm.
He used the Horse Talisman to instantly wash away the dark circles under his eyes and the fatigue in his muscles. Grabbing his backpack, he stepped out of the house with a brisk, confident stride.
The school bus was as noisy as ever. A quick scan of the rows revealed Gwen Stacy huddled in a corner seat by the window.
She looked withdrawn, her head down, projecting a clear "leave me alone" vibe. Even from a distance, Peter could see the faint shadows under her eyes. She clearly hadn't slept well over the weekend.
He didn't need to be a psychic to know why. Gwen was likely struggling to get a grip on her newfound spider powers. Judging by her dejected, slumped shoulders, the results hadn't been great.
Without hesitation, Peter slid into the seat right next to her.
Before his "awakening," he and Gwen had always been careful to keep a bit of distance at school to avoid gossip. Usually, this seat was reserved for Gwen's best friend, Betty Brant. But the current Peter didn't care about teenage social etiquette.
"Morning, Gwen."
Peter looked at her, his voice carrying a hint of knowing amusement. "You look like you didn't get much sleep."
Gwen stiffened at the sound of his voice and the sudden dip in the seat. She looked up, and seeing Peter's face so close, she instinctively recoiled toward the window like a startled rabbit.
She was terrified. She was afraid that if she didn't control her strength or the tiny barbs on her skin, she might accidentally stick to him—or worse, rip his jacket if she moved too fast.
If she accidentally "latched onto" Peter in front of the whole bus, the teasing from her classmates and the smirks from Betty would be social suicide.
But to Peter, her wide-eyed panic looked entirely different.
Instead of giving her space, he leaned in just a fraction closer. He lowered his voice, sounding slightly playful. "What's with the distance? Do I smell that bad?"
"No! No, of course not!"
Gwen waved her hands frantically, her face flushing. "I just... I'm a bit out of it today."
She wanted to reach out and touch his arm to prove she wasn't avoiding him, but her hand froze in mid-air, afraid of her own strength. The internal struggle was nearly driving her crazy.
Peter suppressed a grin. Seeing the future Ghost-Spider this flustered was honestly adorable. He didn't push further, choosing instead to settle back into a more respectful distance to let her breathe.
"I'm just messing with you," he said, his tone shifting to something more grounded. "But seriously, you look stressed. Is everything okay?"
Gwen let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I'm fine, Peter. Just... a lot on my mind."
"Well, if you need a distraction, I actually wanted to ask you for a favor," Peter said, pivoting to his real goal. "I know you're an intern at Oscorp working in the Cross-Species Genetics department. Your supervisor is Dr. Curt Connors, right?"
Gwen blinked, surprised by the change in topic. "Yeah, Dr. Connors. Why do you ask?"
"The tour the other day really sparked something in me," Peter lied smoothly. "I spent the weekend looking into some of my parents' old notes.
It turns out they were doing some fascinating work in that field. I'd love the chance to meet him and maybe discuss some ideas."
"Biology?" Gwen's expression turned skeptical. "I thought you were a physics-or-nothing kind of guy. You used to say physics was the only true romance of the universe."
"True," Peter shrugged, a flash of arrogant but charming confidence crossing his face. "But my parents were biologists. And honestly? I think with a brain like mine, it wouldn't take much effort to pick up a PhD in Biology alongside my Physics degree."
The statement was incredibly bold, yet Peter delivered it with such natural conviction that Gwen found herself unable to argue. She could feel it—Peter really was different today. He wasn't the shy, stuttering nerd she grew up with. He was confident, sharp, and, in a way she couldn't quite put her finger on... magnetic.
"You want to meet Dr. Connors today?" she asked.
"If you can get me in," Peter smiled. "I promise not to embarrass you."