Chapter 73- The Romance Dawn Arc (2)

As the fight heated up, I made sure to keep my upper hand while not wasting energy. I planned out each move carefully, trying to take down the Erebus creatures without wasting any extra effort.

As I swiftly trapped the Erebus creatures with my webs, they wriggled and squirmed but couldn't escape in my webs. It made me wonder why Ted's creatures could get caught in physical traps. Is it because he just summons It or Maybe he couldn't fully make them real, only creating them partially. Or maybe summoning them made them weaker against my attacks. Whatever the reason, it worked in my favor, giving me the upper hand to keep going.

With Ted's minions trapped and taken care of, I focused on Ted himself. My spider sense warned me as he attempted to sneak up on me, so I swiftly turned and landed a solid punch to his gut

The impact sent Ted hurtling through the air, his cry of pain echoing in the darkness. "Arghh! Spider-Man!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration and agony as he struggled to regain his footing.

Then He vanished once more into the shadows, this time engulfing himself in an overwhelming darkness. With a chilling declaration, he uttered, "I offer my soul to the darkness! Grant me strength!"

Wrapped in armor crafted from pure shadow, he stood before me, radiating some badass aura. It was a chilling sight, showcasing his deep connection to darkness. if I'm being honest, It's kinda badass. I mean, it was like Skyrim shadow armor level badassery. I almost felt like complimenting him on his fashion choice, but then I remembered he's, you know, evil.

Anyway, Despite feeling uncomfortable, I didn't back down. I dug deep for courage, ready to take on Ted. "You're diving into darkness, Ted, but I won't let you win," I said firmly. My voice stayed calm, even as the darkness loomed over us.

Ted's voice dripped with menace as he spoke, his words laced with malice. "Today," he sneered, "marks the end for you, Spider-Man. You've been a thorn in the side of our organization for far too long." His tone turned contemptuous. "Initially, I was ordered to avoid you by our leader. But your actions have provoked my wrath, fueling my desire to eliminate you."

Ted's mention of the organization sent a chill down my spine, stirring memories of past encounters.

"You're part of the '69' organization?" I inquired, trying to gain any information if he is really related to them.

Ted's lips twisted into a malevolent smirk, confirming my suspicions. "Oh, Spider-Man, you've been a thorn in our side for far too long," he admitted with disdain. "At first, I was content to follow our leader's orders and avoid you. But then you just had to poke your nose where it didn't belong, making things personal. Now, let's just say I'm looking forward to seeing you suffer."

Then he suddenly showed up in front of me, punching me in the face, but I managed to block and evade his attack with the help of my spider sense. However, my relief was short-lived as he quickly cloned himself into two, attacking me from both sides. I couldn't avoid both of them at the same time. It was fast, and he was faster and stronger than me, even with my berserker mode activated. His transformation make him stronger.

"Aurg!!" I screamed as he punched me left and right, the force of his blows sending shockwaves of pain through my body. Each hit was like a sledgehammer. Despite my best efforts to defend myself, I felt myself being pushed to the brink, my strength fading with each passing moment.

I tried to stop his punch from hitting me, but then the other clone punched me in the side. It hurt a lot, and I had trouble breathing for a moment. I stumbled back, trying to stay on my feet.

"Enough!" I gasped, struggling to catch my breath as I faced Ted and his clone. "Just give up already. This fight isn't going to end well for you."

Ted laughed in the dark, his eyes showing how much he enjoyed beating me. "You should give up, Spider-Man," he taunted, sounding like he thought he was better than me. "But since you insist on resisting, I'll just have to teach you a lesson the hard way."

"Bye-bye, Spider-Man," Ted sneered, as Ted's fist came hurtling toward me, with a quick dodge and a surge of adrenaline, I managed to evade his attack, sidestepping just in time.

With one swift uppercut, I sent Ted flying backward. His clone vanished, leaving me facing him alone.

Ted's voice crackled with disbelief as he demanded, "How did you become so powerful? How?!"

"I've got something you lack, Ted," I replied, my voice steady despite the exhaustion weighing on me. "Determination, a cause worth fighting for, and a few overpowered traits up my sleeve.

[Brink of Death Boost: When you are in a brink of death, your strength is boosted to 10, granting you a last burst of power to potentially turn the tide of battle.]

"Ted, it's over," I declared, my voice strained but firm. "There's no need for us to keep fighting. Surrender now, and we can resolve this peacefully."

Ted's eyes narrowed, his expression contorted with rage and defiance. "You think you can defeat me that easily, Spider-Man?" he snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. "I'll never surrender to the likes of you. This ends only when one of us is lying defeated on the ground."

As Ted disappeared once more into the shadows, I desperately tried to sense his presence with my chi sense. With all my focus, I reached out, searching the room for any sign of his energy. Just as I felt a faint trace, a panic surged through me, I shouted, "Mary!" My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the danger she was in. Ted's sudden appearance in the same room as Mary sent a chill down my spine. I had to get to her, fast.

[Meanwhile Mary side]

"Stay back!" she shouted, her voice trembling with fear. But as Ted moved closer, his eyes filled with malice, Mary's courage faltered. Panic rose inside her, threatening to overwhelm her.

"Feisty, are you?" Ted's voice oozed with sinister amusement as he advanced, his gaze fixed on Mary. "I could use someone like you for my plan to finally get rid Spider-Man." His tone was chilling, sending shivers down Mary's spine as she backed away, her heart pounding with fear.

Then he remarked, taking a step closer. "But you'll soon learn that resistance is futile. Once I've dealt with Spider-Man, you'll be mine to do with as I please."

Mary recoiled in disgust at Ted's vile words. "You're really are sick!" she spat, her voice trembling with anger and revulsion. "I will never let you lay a finger on me, you monster!" Her words were filled with angry and desperate, but deep down, she couldn't shake the fear that gripped her heart.

But then, in the darkness, she heard Spider-Man's voice calling her name. "Mary!" His voice gave her hope. With new determination, she focused on breaking free from the shadows that held her captive.

"He knows My name" she whispered to herself then she said looking at Ted

"I won't let you win, Ted," Mary declared firmly. "Spider-Man will stop you, no matter what. And I'll be right there with him, fighting against you."

To be continued