"These lost souls, I can save them. You should not stop me!" Professor Lizard declared angrily, his voice a mix of frustration and conviction.
"Huh? You can talk! Then why didn't you answer me last time?" Barry's eyes widened in surprise. "But up close, you're really ugly and, frankly, disgusting. You look sticky," he added with distaste.
"Roar!!" Enraged by Barry's words, Professor Lizard no longer found the panda endearing and charged at him with a fearsome roar.
"Barry, don't provoke him. We might be able to reason with him," Peter called out, shooting webbing to wrap around Professor Lizard's feet, tripping him to the ground.
Peter, now in his Spider-Man suit, emerged from the shadows, crouching on a nearby table like a spider.
"Professor, calm down. You're confused," Peter pleaded, trying to reach Dr. Connors beneath the beast.
"I can feel he's lost his mind. Your words won't help," Barry said, flipping onto the table, skeptical of Peter's attempt.
Sure enough, Professor Lizard ignored the plea, lunging at Barry again.
Peter intervened, grabbing the lizard's tail to restrain him. "Professor, wake up! This isn't you."
But before he could finish, Professor Lizard shrugged him off, sending Peter flying with a flick of his tail.
"Ugh, that's gross," Peter muttered, tossing aside the still-twitching tail he'd caught.
Professor Lizard lunged for Barry, claws extended.
Barry dodged, watching the table splinter under the lizard's strike, impressed by his agility. "Wow, you're much faster than last time. You've improved a lot. Want to learn martial arts from me?"
"Roar!!" Feeling mocked, Professor Lizard charged again.
This time, Barry skillfully evaded, with Spider-Man providing cover, making it impossible for the lizard to land a hit.
"Remember when you wanted to compensate your principal? Well, fighting off this monster should suffice!" Barry quipped as he and Peter shot webbing to contain the lizard.
"Compensate? Why?" Peter asked, perched above the web-entangled professor.
"Well... you'll find out later," Barry replied, kicking Professor Lizard to the ground.
As the lizard fell, Barry and Peter worked like a team, ensnaring him in webbing.
"Do you think he'd eat us if he caught us, since lizards eat spiders?" Barry mused aloud.
"No, we're just humans with altered genes, not actual animals," Peter assured him.
"But he's not in his right mind," Barry pointed out.
".....Okay, maybe it's possible," Peter conceded after a pause.
"Watch out!" Barry suddenly shouted, quickly retreating.
With the warning, Peter leaped away.
Professor Lizard, now frenzied, tore through the webbing, his claws gouging the floor with a forceful blow, denting the cement.
Luckily, Barry and Peter had moved just in time.
"Too brutal!" Barry remarked, eyeing the bloody gashes on the lizard's chest. But they healed rapidly, knitting together before their eyes.
"Talking things out would be nice," Barry sighed, realizing how long this could take.
"There might've been a chance earlier, but not now," Peter said, eyeing the red-eyed lizard as he steadied himself.
"Why's he here? Looking for you?" Barry asked, curious despite the tension.
"Yes, he knows my identity and wants to take me down. He didn't know yours, but he does now."
"If he can talk, he still has some sense. So what will he do?"
By now, Professor Lizard lunged again, targeting Barry with a swipe.
Feeling the rush of air, Barry didn't dodge. Instead, he adjusted his stance, grabbed the lizard's claw joint, and executed a flawless throw, twisting with his waist and legs.
Bang! Professor Lizard's massive body flipped and slammed to the ground, shaking the corridor.
"Oh my God, that was awesome! You have to teach me that!" Peter exclaimed, landing beside Barry in awe.
Barry was about to respond when a siren blared outside.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Professor Lizard sprang up, swiping Barry and Peter aside with a powerful swing, breaking through the wall.
"Sneaky! Attacking a young panda," Barry grumbled as he and Peter emerged from the rubble unharmed.
"He's escaping! Let's go!" Peter called, spotting Professor Lizard disappearing around a corner.
Barry quickly followed.
But as they pursued, Barry sensed something amiss. The air's stench and Peter's continued chase hinted at an unpleasant realization.
---
Barry and Peter stood in a bathroom, Barry staring at a gaping hole with a complex expression.
"No wonder he smelled so bad. He came up through the toilet. I wish I hadn't touched him!"
"I'll chase him. You find Gwen. If anything happens, I'll call," Peter said, accustomed to the sewer stench from his previous encounter.
"Okay!" Barry, still hesitant, agreed.
Peter nodded, then dove into the pit, while Barry leaned over. "Stay safe!" he called, then turned to leave.
EXTRA CHAPTER IS AVAILABLE IN PATREON
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