Chapter 138

[Third Person's PoV] 

Two days later…

Peter sighed as he slowly put down the weights, which added up to 100 tons in total. "I think I've reached my limit…" he muttered.

'100 tons seems more than enough, but why am I unsatisfied? I really hope I don't turn into some power-hungry idiot.'

"Aria, based on your scan, what is the reason I've hit my limit?" Peter asked curiously.

There was a short pause before Aria answered, "Based on what I'm seeing, there are two reasons you haven't grown stronger. First, your muscles are very strong, which means they are much more resilient. I dare say they have become as hard as steel. If they can't break, or in other words tear—"

"Then they can't grow stronger. I see, so I need to train under more extreme measures. Weights aren't doing it anymore, huh?" Peter finished her sentence. "And the second reason?"

"It's your age. You are only 15. Your age has limited how strong you can get. There's no doubt you will grow stronger as you age. But at your current age, 100 tons is the most your strength can reach," Aria finished informing him.

"Will the limit of my age be removed or improved when I take the SSS?"

"Calculating…"

"Yes, based on all the information I have, it will not only increase your strength but double all of your attributes and abilities. For example, as you can hold 100 tons now, after the serum, it will be 200. Meanwhile, your spider senses will be twice as strong, possibly developing into some type of precognition. I'll even say that you will be able to control your wall-crawling abilities to repel or push things away instead of just sticking to them."

'I see, it makes sense. After all, the SSS is all about enhancements more than anything else,' Peter thought to himself pensively. 'But my enhancements can wait. I'm already strong. I wanted the serum for our families more than anything else so they could protect themselves when we're not around.'

"In the meantime…" Peter was rolling his shoulders and putting everything away, after which he went towards one of the rooms to find Harry working on the framework of their jet.

Upon noticing Peter's presence, Harry raised a brow. "Shouldn't you be at your internship at this time?"

Peter sighed, "I can't. It's illegal to work seven days of the week. I 'have' to take some days off; otherwise, Reeds will get in trouble with the law and stuff."

"Since you have no work to do, pick up a tool and help me, you son of a bitch. You came up with this idea and threw all the hard work on me."

Peter gave a teasing grin. "I mean, you have to earn your stay somehow, don't you?"

Peter easily caught the tool Harry threw at him. "You bastard, I cover your area for the day while you work. I think I've earned more than my stay…"

Peter jumped up and began helping Harry attach the metal frame pieces together. "Should I actually start paying you guys? That doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"I don't want money, and don't you dare start paying us," Harry said as he stopped what he was doing and looked at Peter with a serious expression.

Peter, taken aback by his seriousness, looked at him bewildered. "Why?"

"Because then it becomes less about saving people and doing the right thing and more about making money. It takes away the nobility of our actions. We aren't heroes because we get something in return. We are heroes because we do the right thing without expecting compensation for our actions."

It was Peter's turn to stop what he was doing and look at Harry in surprise. "That's so profound… who are you, and what have you done to my best friend?"

Harry rolled his eyes as they went back to work. "But you understand what I'm trying to say, right?"

"Yeah, Socrates, I understand," Peter teased.

Harry scoffed as they continued working. To them, they were moving at a normal pace, but the same couldn't be said from an outsider's perspective. They were moving rapidly and talking just as fast with no sign of stopping.

… 

Soviet Union: 

The General was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, his posture straight, his face calm.

Behind him was Dr. Valkov, who watched him walk back and forth. In front of them were five people, each with animal characteristics.

"You are going to be sent through enemy lines for a special mission, a mission with a great amount of danger: stopping the US military from replicating more of this…" The General said as he took out a remote and turned on a projector showing five people: Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, Nightwing, Scarlet-Spider, and Spider-Kat.

"It has come to our attention that these beings are considered to be superheroes of New York City. They are something the US military wants to get their grubby little hands on. Those Yankees are already considered to be a superpower; now imagine what they would become with beings with actual superpowers. 

So your mission will be simple: stop that from happening. You are to incapacitate them and bring them here, and if that's not an option, I want you to simply kill them. If we can't have them, then no one will. We can't have them becoming weapons they could use against us. 

Do I make myself clear?"

"YES SIR."

"Good," the General nodded before going to the front of the line. "Mantis, why have you agreed to be a part of this project?"

Mantis, who looked apathetic, simply said, "To make a name for myself, sir. Ever since I was young, I've always been told I wouldn't amount to anything. I wanted to prove them wrong, so I joined the military."

The General nodded before looking towards the person next to Mantis. "Ursula, why have you agreed to be a part of this?"

"For my children… I was promised our families would be more than taken care of. I was promised their education and housing wouldn't be an issue."

The General then looked towards the person in the middle. "Rhino, I ask you the same question as the other two."

Rhino looked down at the General for a bit before looking up and ahead. "I was promised the spider. I was promised they would make me stronger. I wanted to pay back the spider for the humiliation I suffered at his hands."

The General was pleased to hear that. 'His anger is useful.' "I have heard you faced the ones named Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider before. Tell me about them."

"I have faced the one named Ghost-Spider once, while Spider-Man twice. From what I can remember, they can dodge bullets and fast missiles easily. They must have some super senses. The White Spider has the power to use ice, while the Man-Spider can use some sort of electricity. I do not know about the others."

The General nodded at the information before turning towards the woman next to him. "And you, Frostbite?"

She had a cold expression as she said, "I saw it as a way to get power and grow stronger."

The General raised a brow before turning towards Tigerwing. Tigerwing did a military salute. "Ever since I was a little boy, I dreamed about becoming a hero of our nation. I thought if I went and did this, I would be known as that hero."

The General nodded as he went and stood back, facing them all. "With that said, I have something to inform you all. You will all be known as deserters of the Army."

Most of their eyes widened in shock.

"If you were to fail this mission, it could lead to disastrous circumstances. But worry not. To us, to the higher-ups, and to the people who truly matter, you will be known for your cause. They will know you are heroes giving your life and freedom for the betterment of our nation. You will all be someone great. All your families will be taken care of, you will have your revenge, you already have the power, and you all will be considered heroes. That is all for today. Rest, since tomorrow you will have a hell of a day," the General said, his expression growing serious as he scanned everyone in the room.

…

As Peter and Harry wore metal masks and used blow torches, Gwen and the rest of the girls returned, wearing their superhero outfits.

"I brought pizza if you boys are hungry!" Gwen announced, holding a stack of pizza boxes in one hand and taking off her mask with the other.

Peter took off his metal mask and did a backflip off the completed frame of the jet. "Oh my god, I think I'm in love with you all over again."

He gave Gwen a quick kiss and then kissed MJ on the cheek. Peter then turned towards Felicia, looked at her for a bit, and patted her on the head.

"This is the best I can do."

Felicia smacked his hand away and rolled her eyes.

Peter went to grab a box, but Gwen swatted his hands away. "Wash your hands first."

"But…"

Gwen just gave him a long look before turning to Harry. "You too, mister."

"Yes, Mom," both Harry and Peter said sarcastically as they went to wash their hands.

While they were eating their pizza, Gwen looked towards them and asked, "So, what's new?"

"I've reached my peak," Peter said, stuffing his mouth.

"Really?" Gwen asked with a raised brow.

Peter nodded, and Gwen rested a hand on her chin. "I guess that means it's time to use the serum…"

Peter nodded in agreement before adding his idea. "I was actually thinking of giving some to our families."

"I see, to protect themselves. That's a good idea," Gwen nodded.

"Wait, does that mean I would have to tell my mom about… this?" Felicia motioned towards herself, still in her hero costume.

"That's really only if you want to and trust that they would be able to keep it a secret," Peter said.

"I trust my mother, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to tell her just yet."

"Same with mine," MJ said a bit nervously.

"Then don't. The only reason I mentioned it to Gwen is because our families know our identities, so they're the ones who are in the most danger," Peter said with a shrug.

"No offense, Harry, but there's no way in hell…" Peter started.

"Relax, I know, I know," Harry said, shaking his head.

Peter then turned towards MJ and Felicia. "Also, you girls aren't getting the serum until both of you reach the peak of your abilities and power."

"Yes, Master," Felicia said sarcastically.

"Fe-li-ci-a~" Peter teased, pronouncing all her syllables.

Felicia looked confused as she took a bite before realizing what she said, causing her to choke on her food. She banged her chest and held up a finger. 

"Wait a minute, I didn't mean it like that," she said hurriedly.

"Then how did you mean it?" MJ asked, pulling cheese from her pizza and looking at her.

Felicia blushed. "I meant it like a martial arts master, not a slave owner."

"Wow, calling me a slave owner because I'm white. Low blow, Felicia," Peter said before looking around.

"I didn't mean it like that either!" Felicia said, growing embarrassed.

As Peter looked around, he paused and said, "Uhhh, guys, I think we'll need more people on our team… preferably of a different race. Every single one of us is as white as can be, and Gwen already has a white hood. This isn't looking good for our image."

Gwen smacked Peter on the arm for making such a joke, while Harry was covering his face as he laughed, and MJ had to look away from Gwen as she silently giggled, while Felicia was recovering from her embarrassment. 

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