In the 1st Generation Spiderman universe, Harry Osborn watched the Sky Curtain with a deeply troubled expression, his analytical mind working through the tactical implications of what they were witnessing.
"This is a complete disaster! The 3rd Generation Spider-Man has absolutely no way of dealing with a monster made entirely of water! There's no physical form to attack, no weak points to exploit!"
The 1st Generation Spider-Man nodded grimly, his own experience with unconventional enemies helping him understand the severity of the situation.
"Yeah, this creature operates just like Sandman did when we fought him. Normal physical attacks are completely useless against enemies who can disperse and reform their bodies at will."
The 1st Generation Spider-Man's expression grew more concerned as he mentally ran through potential strategies.
"Even if I were there with all my experience and abilities, I honestly don't know what I could do against something like that. No matter how strong you are, how accurate your web-shooting is, or how fast you can move, you can't punch water and expect to cause damage."
The 1st Generation Gwen Stacy joined the conversation, her own memories of previous Sky Curtain revelations helping her draw parallels.
"And the creature is operating in Venice, which is literally surrounded by water on all sides! It's just like when Sandman fought in the desert - he had unlimited access to his element, making him nearly invincible in that environment!"
Harry pondered the problem from a technological perspective, wondering if any of his Green Goblin equipment might be effective.
"What if I used the flamethrowers from my glider? Could we potentially evaporate enough of the creature to neutralize it?"
But the 1st Generation Spider-Man quickly shot down this idea with the voice of hard-earned experience.
"Unless you could somehow evaporate the entire canal system and all the water in Venice simultaneously, you'd barely make a dent in that thing. It can just draw more water from the environment to replace whatever you manage to vaporize. This enemy is incredibly difficult to deal with under these circumstances!"
"Even if Sandman from our previous Sky Curtain encounters tried to fight this water creature, he'd probably lose badly in an environment with this much available water. And that's assuming he still had his powers, which he doesn't in our current timeline!"
Harry shook his head in frustration, unable to devise any viable solution to the tactical problem they were observing.
Over the years, Flint Marko had become Harry's trusted driver and had developed into a genuinely reliable employee. The former supervillain had proven himself to be surprisingly good with vehicles and had earned Harry's respect through consistent, honest work.
[Back in Venice, the massive water giant's liquid form begins to rotate with menacing purpose. Peter follows the creature's movement and realizes with growing horror that it's focusing on a nearby bridge packed with terrified tourists and locals who are desperately trying to flee the chaos.]
[Understanding immediately what the creature intends to do, Peter's voice carries genuine desperation.]
["Oh no! No! No! Not the civilians! Leave them alone!"]
[He launches himself from his current position, leaping onto a series of wooden mooring posts that line the canal. Using a long boat pole that had been abandoned during the evacuation, he vaults himself directly onto the crowded bridge.]
[The moment he lands among the panicking crowd, Peter immediately begins helping with the evacuation effort.]
["Are you okay? Can you move? Everyone needs to get away from the water! GO! Get to higher ground!"]
[He helps a fallen elderly man back to his feet and pushes him toward the safer end of the bridge. But when Peter turns around to assess the continuing threat, he sees the water giant's massive liquid fist racing directly toward him.]
[The impact is devastating. The creature's punch completely shatters the stone railing of the ancient bridge, and the force of the blow sends Peter flying backward through the air. He crashes into the railing on the opposite side of the bridge, immediately becoming drenched as water from the giant's liquid form splashes everywhere.]
[Just as Peter is struggling to recover from the crushing impact, a brilliant beam of green energy suddenly strikes the water giant, causing it to pause and turn its attention toward this new threat. A second energy beam follows immediately, confirming that someone else has joined the battle.]
[Peter raises his head and sees a figure approaching through the air, surrounded by swirling green smoke and energy. The newcomer wears an elaborate costume that seems to blend medieval armor with futuristic technology, and his dramatic entrance suggests considerable power and confidence.]
[Peter has never encountered this individual before, and his voice carries both relief and curiosity.]
["Who is that? I've never seen him before, but thank God someone else is here to help!"]
[The mysterious figure - Quentin Beck, operating as Mysterio - immediately engages the water giant in direct combat. Peter watches from his position on the damaged bridge as this unknown hero demonstrates remarkable aerial maneuverability and energy projection capabilities.]
[During the ongoing battle, Peter notices a dropped mask on the ground nearby, though he doesn't yet understand its significance to the larger situation unfolding around him.]
[The water giant launches a devastating punch at Mysterio, but the armored figure dodges with fluid grace, his cape billowing dramatically as he evades the attack. The creature's massive and bulky form works against it in this context - while it possesses tremendous destructive power, it lacks the agility to land hits against a more maneuverable opponent.]
[Mysterio responds to the giant's attack with continuous energy blasts, his hands crackling with green power as he fires concentrated beams at various parts of the creature's liquid anatomy.]
[Attempting a tactical flanking maneuver, Mysterio circles around to approach the water giant from behind. However, the creature demonstrates unexpected intelligence by predicting this strategy. It rotates and launches a preemptive strike in the exact direction where Mysterio is headed.]
[Caught off guard by the creature's tactical awareness, Mysterio has no choice but to quickly conjure a defensive energy shield. The magical barrier absorbs the first impact, but when the water giant follows up with a second punch using its other massive fist, Mysterio's defenses are overwhelmed.]
[The force of the double attack sends Mysterio flying through the air. He crashes heavily into a moored boat before plunging into the canal water with a tremendous splash.]
[Seeing its opponent apparently defeated, the water giant immediately begins manipulating the surrounding water to create a massive waterspout - a swirling vortex of liquid that rises high into the air like a tornado made of canal water.]
[But Mysterio emerges from the water with renewed determination, dodging the waterspout's destructive path as he flies back toward the creature. Green energy crackles around his hands as he prepares for another assault.]
[Although the water giant manages to land another solid hit that sends Mysterio reeling, the mysterious hero demonstrates remarkable resilience. He recovers quickly, bouncing back into the sky and launching concentrated energy attacks at the creature's head.]
[From his position clinging to the damaged bridge, Peter finally works up the courage to offer his assistance.]
["Excuse me, sir! I can help you fight this thing! I'm really strong and I have these web-shooters that are super sticky! Let me help!"]
[Mysterio, without breaking his concentration on the battle, shouts back with tactical urgency.]
["I'm going to lead it away from the canal system! The creature is too powerful when it has unlimited access to water!"]
[True to his word, Mysterio immediately decreases his altitude and begins flying away from the canal, clearly attempting to lure the water giant away from its primary source of power.]
[The water giant takes the bait and gives chase, its massive liquid form pursuing Mysterio while demolishing everything in its path. Peter watches as the creature crashes through buildings and obstacles, leaving a trail of destruction as it follows the flying hero.]
[Peter immediately begins pursuing both combatants, using his web-shooters and acrobatic abilities to keep up with the chase. Along the way, he notices a historic building that has been damaged by the giant's passage and is now on the verge of complete collapse.]
[Without hesitation, Peter fires web lines to reinforce the structure's weak points, using his webs like emergency support cables to prevent the ancient building from falling and potentially crushing any civilians who might still be in the area.]
[After ensuring the building's temporary stability, Peter continues following the ongoing battle between Mysterio and the water giant.]
Back in their current timeline, Tony Stark studied the mysterious hero with the analytical mind of someone accustomed to understanding technology and superhuman abilities.
"I'm trying to figure out where Quentin Beck's apparent superpowers are coming from. Based on our employment records, he's just a normal human being with expertise in holographic technology. Are those abilities coming from some kind of advanced equipment he's wearing?"
Bruce Banner examined their files on Beck while observing the Sky Curtain footage.
"It's certainly possible. The technology appears similar in concept to your Iron Man armor - an advanced suit that grants superhuman capabilities to an otherwise normal person. That fishbowl-shaped helmet he's wearing definitely looks like some kind of sophisticated technological device."
Steve Rogers gestured toward their current timeline's Quentin Beck, who was currently engaged in conversation with Agent Coulson about potential consulting work.
"But right now, in our timeline, he's just an ordinary civilian! He doesn't have access to any of that advanced equipment or energy projection technology!"
Tony nodded, considering the possibilities with characteristic scientific curiosity.
"Maybe he's similar to Scott Lang - an ordinary person who somehow gained access to extraordinary technology through chance, theft, or circumstance!"
Scott Lang, who had been quietly observing the conversation, immediately became defensive at being used as an example.
"Hey! I earned my equipment by passing Dr. Pym's tests and proving myself worthy! It wasn't just luck! And I defeated Darren Cross in combat to protect the technology from being misused!"
This was indeed accurate. Over the past few months, Darren Cross had finally acted on his long-standing ambitions, launching an assault against Dr. Pym and Scott's family in an attempt to steal the core secrets of Pym Particle technology. Fortunately, Hope van Dyne had suspected Cross's true intentions and had prepared countermeasures.
However, the attack had also triggered the final crisis in Scott's already strained marriage. His wife had decided that their daughter's near-death experience during Cross's assault was the last straw, and she had filed for divorce to protect their child from future superhero-related dangers.
Scott had reluctantly agreed to the divorce to ensure his family's safety, subsequently moving into Stark Tower where he could be part of the extended superhero community.
"Yeah, but you also almost died permanently in the Quantum Realm and barely managed to make it back!" Tony pointed out with characteristic bluntness. "If that dimension wasn't so incredibly dangerous, I'd love to go in there myself and conduct some research!"
Scott shrugged with the casual attitude of someone who had survived the impossible.
"But the important thing is that I did make it back! And I learned a lot from the experience!"
[Meanwhile, elsewhere in Venice, Mr. Harrington and Mr. Dell are leading a small group of students on their planned educational excursion, completely unaware of the supernatural battle taking place just a few districts away.]
["The Leonardo da Vinci Museum is the primary reason we chose Venice for this portion of our trip!" Mr. Harrington announces with the enthusiasm of an educator who believes in the value of cultural exposure.]
[Following their carefully planned itinerary and tourist map, they locate the museum's address and approach the building with anticipation.]
["Oh! Here we are! This is definitely the right place! But... wait... it looks like it's closed?"]
[Mr. Harrington stares at the locked doors and "CLOSED" signs with genuine bewilderment.]
["What does the sign say? How long will it be closed?"]
[One of the students who speaks some Italian translates the posted notice.]
["Until November! The museum is closed for renovations until November!"]
[Mr. Dell turns to Mr. Harrington with obvious irritation and the kind of frustrated expression that suggests this isn't the first planning failure of the trip.]
["Didn't you think to check the museum's official website before we planned our entire itinerary around visiting it?"]
[Mr. Harrington's response reveals just how unprepared he has been for the logistical challenges of international education travel.]
["Oh! That would have been a smart idea! I should have thought of that!"]
[At that exact moment, their conversation about failed trip planning is interrupted by the dramatic sight of Mysterio flying overhead at high speed, green energy trailing behind him like a supernatural comet.]
[The students barely have time to process what they've seen before the massive water giant comes crashing through the nearby streets in pursuit, its liquid form demolishing everything in its path.]
[The terrified students immediately scatter in all directions, abandoning any pretense of maintaining group cohesion as they flee from the impossible sight of a monster made of living water.]
[Mysterio continues his strategic retreat, successfully leading the water giant away from the heavily populated canal districts and toward areas where civilian casualties will be minimized.]
[The chase continues through Venice's narrow streets and ancient squares, with the water giant leaving a trail of destruction as it punches through historic clock towers and crashes through centuries-old architecture in its relentless pursuit of the flying hero.]