Chapter 76: Actually, I'm a Demon

Though these ninjas' attire resembled those under Matt's command, it was evident their skills far surpassed Matt's crew.

With a swift mental command, Peter's exoskeleton on his hands instantly transformed. Claw-like appendages resembling Xenomorphs emerged as he sidestepped, aiming his claws towards the ninja wielding a katana.

Simultaneously stepping forward, the ground cracked under his tread. With a dull thud, his claws pierced the ninja's throat, splattering blood.

The heavily wounded ninja collapsed instantly, turning into a pile of dust that dispersed into the air.

This astonishing sight momentarily froze Peter's movements with disbelief. Before he could ponder further, several red-clad ninjas closed in on him.

Individually formidable, they became even more formidable as a group.

With a swift kick, Peter knocked one of the ninjas approaching him. As he willed it, the black exoskeleton spread from his feet to his neck, enveloping his entire body.

Leaning forward, wing-like structures emerged from the most mysterious part of his back. Countless corrosive projectiles resembling Frank's spider-web genes shot out from these wing-like structures like a torrential rain.

With a terrifying whistling sound, the black projectiles struck the surrounding ninjas, inflicting severe wounds upon them. The corrosive projectiles, infused with Frank's spider-web genes, caused immense damage, immediately crippling the ninjas struck by them.

With a sizzling sound, the wounds inflicted by the projectiles continued to corrode and penetrate deep into the bodies of the affected ninjas. Meanwhile, as Peter leaned forward, shooting corrosive projectiles from his back, black spider silk also shot out from his wrists, knocking away two ninjas in front of him.

This ability to shoot corrosive projectiles from his back was a recent discovery of his.

Unlike Spider-Man, who could only shoot webs from his wrists, Peter could shoot them from various parts of his body.

The back, in particular, could store a large amount of viscous corrosive substance.

The spine's mysterious nature had been predicted by scientists before, suggesting it could be used to secrete and possibly store resin for building nests.

For his current self, the spine possessed powerful shape-shifting abilities, constantly adapting to the environment, and could store and secrete corrosive viscous spider-web-like substances.

With continuous popping sounds, the ninjas struck by his "spider-silk projectile storm" soon fell to the ground, turning into dust.

Just as Peter prepared to continue his attack, the lights in the room flicked on with a snap.

While some darkness in the room dissipated, it remained somewhat dim.

Peter looked up, directing his gaze towards the direction of the voice on the second floor.

A familiar figure appeared there.

Helen stood elevated, staring at Peter with surprise.

"Peter Parker, you truly amaze me!" Her emerald eyes met Peter's. "I thought the potential within you was already significant, but this is beyond belief!"

Peter gazed at the woman not far from him, furrowing his brows.

With his intent, the exoskeleton covering his body gradually receded.

"You're quite remarkable too, Professor Helen. I didn't expect you to possess such abilities."

He spoke while shifting his gaze to the dust on the ground, remnants of the deceased ninjas.

Helen smiled, shaking her head as she replied, "It's not magic, Parker, it's a secret technique. You can consider these things as a form of ninjutsu."

"Ninjutsu?"

"Yes."

Helen descended the stairs gracefully, exuding an air of elegance and charm.

As she approached Peter, his two hearts beat faster the closer she got.

Seemingly unaware of Peter's unease, Helen addressed him, "Originating from Japan's Kōga ninja, in order to execute missions more effectively, they would turn themselves into ashes at the moment of death, thus ensuring no secrets would be revealed to their enemies."

Peter asked her, "Are you affiliated with the Hand?"

"Yes and no, my relationship with them is rather complex."

Helen stopped a few steps away from Peter, her gaze fixed on him.

Having witnessed Peter's swift killings of a dozen ninjas earlier, she seemed unfazed.

Peter, however, sensed the threat this woman posed.

He raised his right hand, the wrist slowly covered in a layer of black bone.

In a stern tone, he said to Helen, "Aren't you afraid of death? Based on your actions just now, if I were to kill you, you shouldn't have any complaints."

In truth, Peter was prepared to eliminate this woman. However, he needed to extract information from her first.

"I'm certainly afraid, but I doubt you'll simply kill me."

Helen's smile widened.

"You're not entirely wrong."

Peter took another step closer, asking her, "Was it you who caused the volatile oil scent at the school this morning?"

"Yes, but you should thank me."

Helen admitted bluntly.

She told Peter, "Otherwise, you wouldn't have won the heart of the girl, would you? Sometimes, people who are drawn to each other lack the courage to express their love. What I created is something a bit crazy but can stimulate desires hidden deep within people's hearts."

Hearing her words, Peter's brow furrowed tighter.

"What you're talking about, I've seen it in the hands of a man named Matt Murdock. What's your relationship with him?"

He recalled the pink gas in Matt's possession.

Which nearly drove George insane and almost killed him.

Helen shook her head, with a disdainful look. "His creation is nothing more than a counterfeit imitation, how could it compare to what I possess?"

Peter continued to inquire, "Do you know Matt?"

"Of course, given his close ties to the Hand."

Helen paused for a moment, then looked at Peter's chest, saying, "It's strange, Peter, the parasite in your chest seems different from others."

Peter lowered his hand, asking her, "Is it? Different from the 'beasts' hosted by members of the Hand, right?"

"Surprising, Peter, that you even know about the beasts!"

Peter took another step towards her, his tone icy as he said, "Of course, I also know that there's a 'beast' inside you."

"How intriguing, Parker."

Helen's smile widened. "Let me tell you, the 'beast' inside my chest is also different from others."

"What's different about it?"

"No one's told you? Actually, the true form of the 'beast' is a demon."

A crack of thunder pierced the sky outside.

Under the lightning's illumination, a red gleam flashed in Helen's eyes.