C115(2)

"Otto!!!"

Rose's chest heaved as her heart raced. She looked at her husband, her face etched with disbelief and sorrow.

How could the man she loved—the man she trusted—raise his mechanical arms against her?

At the same time, the crowd shifted their attention to the source of the arrow.

From above the Manhattan Bridge, a figure stood silhouetted against the chaos. Dressed in green, he balanced effortlessly on the railing, looking down on the experimental platform below.

"Who's that?"

"It's not Batman..." someone muttered. "And it doesn't look like any of the other superheroes."

A murmur of confusion spread through the crowd.

Eddie Brock, holding his camera, aimed it at the mysterious figure, his jaw slack with shock.

He recognized him instantly.

"Green Arrow…" Eddie whispered, astonished.

He turned his gaze toward Anton, who stood off to the side.

Anton, catching Eddie's look, merely smiled—a calm, knowing smile devoid of any tension. It was as if Anton had known this moment was coming all along.

Eddie's initial panic began to dissipate. After all, Anton was present—and more than capable of stepping in. With Batman at his disposal, Anton could end this crisis in a flash if he wanted to.

The reason he hadn't acted yet was now clear.

Anton had been waiting for something—or someone.

And now Eddie understood exactly who.

"Green Arrow!"

The name burst from Eddie's lips as excitement surged through him.

Just a few days ago, he had been asking Anton about Arrow, and now, unexpectedly, here he was in the flesh.

Eddie suddenly recalled Anton's cryptic words: "In a little while, you will know him."

A shiver ran down Eddie's spine. It was becoming clear that all of this had been part of Anton's plan.

This man is terrifying.

"Who's that?"

Tony Stark, standing nearby, eyed the figure on the Manhattan Bridge railing. Silently, he set the case he was carrying down, realizing it might not be his moment to step in.

Even if he did, it wouldn't be worth trying to steal the spotlight from the man in green—it just wasn't necessary.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as Arrow notched another arrow and aimed at Otto on the experimental platform.

Whoosh!

The arrow soared through the air with precision.

Otto's face remained cold and impassive as he stared at Arrow on the bridge. The humanity in his eyes was quickly fading, replaced by the mechanical precision of the robotic arms that shredded the earlier fishing net with ease.

Doctor Octopus had fully emerged.

Not far away, on the experimental platform, Rose watched in disbelief. The man she had loved for years now seemed like a complete stranger.

Boom!

Otto's expression twisted in rage as the arrow split mid-flight. One half shot toward him, while the other embedded itself into the power switch.

Zzzzt!

The current sparked and crackled, and in an instant, the artificial sun shut down.

Boom!

Metal objects that had been suspended in the air by the sun's magnetic field came crashing down, slamming into the ground and leaving deep craters by the river.

The trembling Manhattan Bridge steadied.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd.

Eddie captured every moment with his camera, his excitement now through the roof. He wasn't alone—other reporters scrambled to document the scene, their minds already racing with possible headlines for this mysterious, green-clad hero.

"Bastard!!!"

Otto clenched his fists as the four mechanical arms behind him lashed out like wild beasts.

He stepped off the experimental platform, his fury palpable.

Doctor Octopus's way of thinking had fully shifted. He had cast aside most human emotions, consumed by the pursuit of his goals.

The artificial sun was his life's work, his greatest dream. And now, that dream had been shattered.

All because of the man standing before him.

"I'll tear you apart!!" Otto roared, his voice thick with rage.

Meanwhile, Green Arrow, unfazed, spread his arms wide and leapt off the Manhattan Bridge.

The crowd gasped again, horrified by his fearless bungee jump.

In mid-air, he twisted his body, drawing another arrow. This time, it was a suction-cup arrow, its tip attached to a thin, high-strength steel wire.

With precision, he fired the arrow back at the bridge, the wire securing him and slowing his descent.

Arrow landed gracefully on the ground below, completely unscathed.

The action was simply stunning, as smooth as flowing water.

Immediately after, Green Arrow stood expressionless, a certain distance from Otto, and, with a low voice, delivered a famous line.

"Otto, you failed this city!"

"Damn, he still has an opening line? It's exactly like in the comics!!!"

Eddie, having clearly caught Green Arrow's words, was struck by an uncanny sense of familiarity. He couldn't help but think of the comics and the stories he had read about Green Arrow.

For a moment, his mind raced—memories of DC Comics' creation and Batman flooded his thoughts…

…

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