Restart, Spider-Man! [72]

"They're coming. What do we do?" Mary Jane asked nervously, stepping back.

Gwen clenched her fists, assuming a fighting stance.

"You guys go ahead. I'll hold them off," she said calmly.

"Are you sure you can handle it?"

"I've trained in combat with my dad."

But before Gwen could make her move, Xia Luo launched himself forward like a cannonball, streaking toward the shadowy figures.

"What the—?"

In their stunned silence, Xia Luo used his web as a slingshot, rocketing toward the attackers. The sharp sound of the wind accompanied his assault, followed by the thud of bodies crashing into the alley walls.

BANG! CRASH!

In the dim alleyway, a series of explosions echoed as steel arms gleamed in the darkness, tearing through concrete like a merciless wrecking crew.

BOOM!

Chunks of debris flew from the alley, scattering onto the street as Xia Luo swung out and landed on a nearby billboard.

"Hey! All good kids should be in bed by now. You guys should head home too!" he called out, waving at the onlookers.

Then, a dozen cybernetic goons charged out of the alley, smashing through streetlights and flipping cars as they lunged toward Xia Luo.

"Run for your lives!"

"Spider-Man will save us—"

"Get real, that's not Spider-Man. The real one has a metal suit."

"That's just another fake!"

Screaming bystanders scattered, while Mary Jane and Gwen rushed to the scene.

With dozens of enhanced enemies closing in, Xia Luo darted between obstacles, his movements swift and unpredictable as he relied on his web to dodge the relentless onslaught. It looked as though he'd be overwhelmed any second.

Seeing Xia Luo's agility, Gwen remembered the technique he had demonstrated earlier.

THWIP!

She shot webs from both hands, anchoring them to either side of the alley entrance, forming a web slingshot.

CREAK!

Gwen pulled back, the tension building.

BOOM!

With a sudden release, Gwen launched herself forward like a missile, striking a cybernetic thug square in the chest.

CRASH!

The impact sent the thug crashing into a parked car, setting off its alarm with a piercing wail.

Distracted by Gwen's entrance, another cybernetic foe ripped a car door off and hurled it at her.

"Watch out!" Mary Jane screamed, shooting her web at the metal arm to intercept it.

"I saved you—"

Before she could finish, the enhanced thug flexed his steel arm, yanking Mary Jane off her feet and pulling her towards him.

"Oh no! He's too strong! I can't hold on!" Mary Jane yelled.

Xia Luo landed on top of the car, saying calmly, "Just let go of the web."

"Oh, right!"

The moment Mary Jane released her grip, the thug stumbled, only to be knocked out by a swift punch from Gwen, who darted in to deliver a blow to his head.

"Their weak spot is the head!"

"Got it."

Mary Jane ran to the alley's entrance, mimicking Xia Luo and Gwen's technique to set up another web slingshot.

"Here I come!"

SWOOSH!

She flew past Xia Luo, her figure barely visible in the blink of an eye.

"Wow, that's... pretty cool."

BANG!

Mary Jane's impact shattered a car window, sending glass flying as she landed face-first in the backseat, legs sticking out and kicking frantically.

"Help! I'm stuck!" she cried.

Xia Luo sighed.

He jumped down, firing webs to latch onto a cybernetic fist swinging toward him. With a swift yank, he ripped the metallic arm clean off.

TEAR!

Blood sprayed as the wounded cyborg staggered, only to glance at his allies, who immediately grabbed the severed limb and fled without a word.

Xia Luo made no move to chase them. He knew these brainwashed soldiers would never talk.

Since his third resurrection, dealing with these knock-off Winter Soldiers had become child's play.

But since he was currently posing as a fake Spider-Man, he had to avoid showing too much strength. That's why he'd dragged the fight out.

Gwen, meanwhile, leaned against the alley wall, breathing heavily.

"Hah... hah..."

She looked at Xia Luo, who was barely breaking a sweat, a strange look in her eyes.

"Your strength is way beyond ours," she said.

Xia Luo shrugged. "Maybe the spider that bit me was just... healthier."

Gwen didn't press the matter.

Finally, Mary Jane managed to wiggle free from the car wreck, glancing around at the aftermath with a stunned expression.

"Is... is it over?" she asked, wide-eyed.

Xia Luo crossed his arms. "You are the most useless Spider-Person I've ever seen."

"I just need more practice!" she snapped back, indignant.

Just then, a figure flashed overhead.

THWACK!

A bright orange-suited Spider-Man landed on a nearby car.

"Wow! You guys were amazing! Can I join your team?" he asked eagerly.

"You're the one who... who shoots webbing from there, right?" Xia Luo stared at the chubby newcomer, feeling the universe's cruel sense of humor.

"I'm Ned! I just became Spider-Man!" Ned replied proudly, even wiggling his hips as if to emphasize his unique talent.

Xia Luo: "..."

Mary Jane: "..."

Gwen: "..."

The three exchanged bewildered looks, utterly speechless.

"Why were they chasing you?" Xia Luo asked.

Ned shrugged. "I dunno. I was just practicing my web-slinging when they showed up and tried to capture me. It was terrifying!" He shuddered.

Xia Luo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Why was Hydra hunting these mutated individuals?

If they wanted an army of super-soldiers, they could just kidnap people and create mutants in secret, without all this hassle of releasing mutated spiders first. It didn't make sense.

"Can I join your team?" Ned asked again, hope in his eyes.

"Sorry, but a team of three is just that—a three-person team, right?" Xia Luo looked to Gwen and Mary Jane for backup.

They both nodded eagerly.

"Yeah, a trio can't have a fourth member."

"We're not even a real team. This was just a chance encounter."

They had no interest in making friends with this... oddball.

"Oh, that's too bad," Ned said, clearly disappointed.

Suddenly, the sound of police sirens drew closer. Gwen shot a web and disappeared into the night.

She couldn't let her father find out about her new abilities.

"They're here. We need to leave," Xia Luo said, just as Ned got into position, hands on the ground.

FWWP!

A sound suspiciously like a fart accompanied the web that shot out, latching onto a wall.

Xia Luo: "..."

Of course. The infamous Butt-Webs.

Ignoring the horrified expressions of Xia Luo and Mary Jane, Ned swung away with surprising skill, joyfully twisting mid-air.

"Whoopee! I'm Spider-Man!"

Hearing his triumphant shouts, Xia Luo buried his face in his hand.

The Spider-Verse had just crowned its first underdog hero—a true Dark Horse—and all that was left was his destined partner-in-weirdness.

Fun times lay ahead...

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