Chapter 35: VS Dr. Connors (The Lizard)

This method was previously used to deal with Dr. Curt Connors when he was in an irrational Lizard state, but now the same approach is insufficient against Dr. Connors who has regained his sanity. 

He quickly saw through Peter's intention and resorted to brute force, violating the law. He leapt upward with all his strength, his sharp claws extending from his hands to swipe at Peter.

Of course, such an attack couldn't hit the agile Spider-Man.

The claws only scratched the cement wall, leaving long gashes on its surface.

Peter jumped onto the wall, using the reactive force to plant both feet squarely on Dr. Connors' back.

Boom!

A thunderous crash echoed through the sewer. 

The cement beneath shattered, and Dr. Connors was nearly stuffed headfirst into the ground.

"Oops, I didn't use too much force, did I?" Peter worried, lacking the ruthlessness of his Noir persona. Without the influence of the Noir universe's grim Spider-Man, he was a bit less fierce.

Additionally, the Amazing Spider-Man was still quite immature, and the two combined psyches only amounted to a teenage mentality.

However, his physical actions were swift. 

The experience of merging with the Noir Spider-Man and the previous assassination attempt by Hawkeye's explosive arrows taught him to never let his guard down until the enemy was truly incapacitated.

Peter rapidly fired webbing at Dr. Connors' hands and feet, binding them, then reloaded his web-shooters from his spare cartridges.

After thorough preparation, he heightened his Spider-Sense to maximum and cautiously approached the downed Lizard.

"Con-ners... Doc-tor..." Peter took careful steps, enunciating each syllable while closely observing Connors' body for any signs of movement. 

If his foe's muscles showed the slightest reaction, he could immediately respond.

Dr. Connors lay motionless, seemingly knocked unconscious by that powerful kick.

Death was unlikely though.

Peter had fought the Lizard several times and understood his durable physiology better now.

While that kick utilized greater force than before, it shouldn't have been fatal. 

Moreover, he hadn't struck a vital area.

Peter relaxed slightly and moved closer.

That's when it happened!

With a sudden swish, Dr. Connors' bare rear end sprouted a long tail that rapidly lashed out, coiling around Peter's ankles before he could react.

"Oh no!" Peter exclaimed as the tail hoisted him into the air and slammed him against the sewer ceiling.

Boom! 

A retaliatory strike.

Connors seized the opportunity, yanking hard to break the webbing before whirling around to grab at Peter.

Peter blinded him with webbing, then grappled Connors' hands with both of his own, exerting force against the Lizard's powerful legs.

Crack! 

The newly regrown tail snapped off once more.

But this time, Connors didn't conceal it, instead visibly regenerating the severed appendage through sheer force of will.

"Wow, even for a lizard you regenerate tails pretty darn fast, Doc!" Peter had already slipped free during that regenerative window.

He retreated to the other end of the confined space, putting distance between them.

"Bug!" Connors roared furiously, tearing off the webbing obscuring his vision. "Why are you trying to stop me? Why? Once my plan succeeds, everyone will possess abilities as incredible as mine! No one will ever be sick again, not a single person!"

"But this is merely your wishful thinking, Doctor!" Peter reasoned. "Others may not want to give up their human identities."

"No, this is a glorious evolution, the pinnacle of greatness on the evolutionary path. If they don't want it now, it's because they haven't experienced this sublime magnificence!" Connors wore an entranced expression. "One day, they'll understand!"

Peter realized the Lizard was beyond reasoning.

Or should I just kill him? 

Peter shook his head vigorously, unsure why he'd even consider such an idea. 

But once that thought took root, it spread rapidly like insidious weeds.

He envisioned that if he didn't stop Connors and find a way to thwart his scheme, the Lizard formula could potentially disperse throughout Manhattan, Queens, even all of New York City! 

What nightmarish reality would that create?

When Peter returned home, Aunt May, transformed into a Lizard-human hybrid, would shout: "Peter, come now, dinner is served."

Peter would approach the table. 

Aunt May would lift the lid, revealing a pot of mouse soup. 

Worse, the mice were whole and unskinned - 

Peter imagined going to school and encountering a Lizard version of Gwen Stacy.

Gwen would grin maliciously at him: "Peter, let's see how sharp my teeth are now. Why don't you stick your head in and find out?"

He'd go to the Delmar's deli on the corner to buy a sandwich, only to find it filled with dried worms; the birthday cake decorated with cockroaches, ants and various insects -

Ugh -

Peter shook his head wildly. "No, no, no way, absolutely not! I can't allow this to happen!" 

However, to bring himself to kill, even the current Peter combined with the Amazing Spider-Man lacked the ruthlessness of Noir without that harsh influence. 

So Peter decided to compromise once more.

Capture Dr. Connors and hand him over to Police Chief Stacy. 

Wouldn't that be far stronger evidence than mere photographs? 

Just do it.

On the other side, Dr. Connors realized he couldn't permanently subdue Peter for the time being, and he began contemplating retreat. 

His goal was simply to disperse the Lizard formula throughout the city. 

Once that was accomplished, this pesky Spider couldn't possibly stop him!

Thinking this, the Lizard started seeking an exit. 

He recalled that when he fought Spider-Man earlier, the webbing became much easier to tear when his body was wet.

"Hehehe!" The Lizard grinned, having found a way out.

The next moment, Peter suddenly lunged at Connors.

But the Lizard turned and fled. Although he had only lived in the city's sewers for less than a day, lizards innately preferred this humid environment, and their senses for detecting water were far sharper than most animals. 

He knew exactly where to find access to water quickly!

At first, Peter didn't grasp the Lizard's intention, but as the rushing sounds of flowing water reached his ears, he abruptly understood.

He had insight into Connors' mind! 

But he found himself powerless for the moment.

The webbing he fired would just be dodged by the Lizard.

"Damn it, I wish I had my web shooters!" Peter inwardly cursed.

If he had ricocheting webbing or something similar, even if it didn't hit Connors directly, he could fire ahead to block his path instead of remaining on the defensive!

The Lizard's strength made him explosively powerful. He leapt rapidly through the sewers with astonishing bursts of speed.

However, during the chase, Peter gradually found some coping techniques of his own.

(End of chapter)