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When Gwen realized the Lizard-Man was actually her dad, she was overjoyed—he hadn't died.
But that joy didn't last long.
She saw him getting beaten up, blood pouring from his wounds. He was being overwhelmed by another monster. That terrible feeling in her chest came back full force.
"No… don't give me hope just to take it away again!"
She pushed her exhausted body forward, sprinting toward the two monsters fighting.
But that earlier burst of power had pushed her way past her physical limit. If not for her desperation to reach her father, she probably would've passed out already.
Her legs barely worked. She stumbled forward, slower than even a normal person.
…
Even though both of the monsters had transformed using some kind of serum, the stuff inside them wasn't the same.
The Lizard-Man's formula had been created by Dr. Connors—just a regular serum based on lizard DNA.
It gave humans incredible strength and turned them into lizard-like creatures—but it came with a horrible side effect.
Once you became the Lizard-Man, your human DNA would start breaking down. Eventually, you'd die.
So right now, Captain George was trading his own life for the lives of everyone else.
"At least it was worth it…"
As his genes crumbled and his body was torn apart by pain, George managed to catch a glimpse of Spider-Man saving the train full of people.
He could die without regret now.
Knowing full well he wouldn't survive this transformation, George didn't bother dodging attacks. He didn't care about the monster clawing at his body—he just fought back with everything he had.
He let the creature's claws tear into him, just so he could land a punch.
He traded injury for injury. He risked his life to take its life.
"I hope… after I'm gone, they can finish this thing off more easily."
As his mind started to fade, that was the only thought he had left.
The serum's side effects were hitting harder and harder now. His genetic structure was falling apart.
The power that had surged through him before was fading fast.
BOOM!
Finally, George couldn't hold on any longer. The creature he was fighting slammed a fist right into his chest.
CRACK!
His ribs shattered. It felt like a giant hand had grabbed his heart.
The impact sent him flying nearly a hundred meters—right in front of Gwen.
"No!"
Gwen screamed, full of rage and desperation. Her legs kicked into gear, but they gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
She didn't care. She clawed her way forward, dragging herself toward the bloodied Lizard-Man lying in a pool of green blood.
She finally reached him.
Ignoring the ugly lizard form, ignoring the gross green blood, Gwen pulled him into her arms with all the strength she had left.
Then, for the first time in front of others, she ripped off her Spider-Man mask.
"Gwen… it really is you…"
In the last flickering moment before losing consciousness, Captain George saw his daughter.
It felt like a dream.
"Dad, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to lie to you…"
Gwen's eyes welled with tears, her face full of helplessness and sorrow.
Cough cough "It's okay... Gwen…"
George coughed up blood, but his expression looked peaceful, like he had finally found relief.
"No... I can't... die like a monster!"
In that final moment of life, seeing the daughter he loved most seemed to awaken something deep inside George—an overwhelming willpower.
He didn't want to die in front of his beloved daughter as a monster.
Suddenly, the reptilian features that had taken over his body began to fade, his monstrous form slowly reverting to that of a normal human.
With great effort, he raised his arm and looked at his hand—as it turned human again, his eyes showed no more regret.
"My dear... Gwen, you did the right thing... with great power... comes great—"
His loving gaze told her everything—he finally approved of all the choices Gwen had made.
ROAR!
But just as he was about to say those famous words—
A deafening roar shattered the moment.
The monster that had been ignored until now came charging at them out of nowhere.
"Gwen... run!"
In that split second of crisis, his concern for his daughter gave George one last burst of strength.
He stood up, slowly but steadily. As a man—no longer a monster—he faced the incoming beast with zero fear.
The dim moonlight cast a pale glow over his hunched figure, making the moment feel even more tragic.
To Gwen, that bent back looked impossibly tall and strong.
"Dad... no!"
Gwen's desperate scream seemed to reach him.
Just as the monster lunged toward George—someone appeared in front of them like a flash of light.
That powerful silhouette felt like a merciful god had descended.
His cape fluttered in the wind, sweeping away the fear in the air.
"Alright, I guess I'm not as heartless as I thought…"
With a casual punch, he reduced the monster to a cloud of bloody mist. Peter slowly turned to face George and Gwen.
"Thank goodness…"
Seeing Superman arrive, George finally let go. His body collapsed to the ground, his last ounce of strength spent.
The pale moonlight washed over his broken body, like even the moon itself was mourning.
"Dad…"
At that moment, Gwen felt no joy at the monster's defeat—only the pain of losing her father.
"Here. It might have some side effects. Whether or not to use it... that's up to you."
Peter looked on calmly, but in the end, he couldn't walk away. He pulled out a glowing green vial and tossed it in front of Gwen.
Then, without hesitation, he shot into the sky and vanished.
"What is this…"
Gwen picked up the glowing vial, wanting to ask what it was.
But the moment she looked up, Superman was already gone.
"Side effects...?"
She stared at the vial, then looked at her father's lifeless body—and her eyes suddenly turned resolute.
Slowly, she raised her hand...
Meanwhile, Peter reappeared just seconds later—this time, in the middle of a remote desert.
The area was supposed to be uninhabited for hundreds of kilometers.
But beneath his feet sat a massive military base.
"Everyone down there, listen up. Drop whatever you're doing and evacuate the base immediately."
"You have ten minutes. And don't even think about taking research data with you—or deal with the consequences."
Every person inside the base suddenly heard his commanding voice in their ears.
The entire facility erupted into chaos.
"Who the hell is this?! Who dares trespass on a military installation?"
An older general with silver hair and stars on his shoulders barked at the soldiers around him.
"Sir, we believe it's... Superman," a subordinate said, after confirming the figure above through satellite and surveillance.
"General, what should we do?"
The name "Superman" sent a wave of silence through the room.
"…Do what he says. Start evacuating immediately. Make sure the scientists are protected."
The general paused, face grim, then reluctantly gave the order.
"And remember, no one is to take any research materials with them…"
"....."