Peter pursued Dr. Lizard through the sewers, while Barry prepared to head back to find Gwen.
But in the corridor, Barry spotted Gwen around a corner, clutching a bench and peering cautiously.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah!" In the quiet hallway, Gwen jumped at the unexpected touch of a bear paw on her shoulder.
Turning around, she sighed in relief upon seeing it was Barry.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with the principal?" she asked, puzzled.
"I heard screams and was worried about your safety, so I came over," Barry shrugged. "But everyone else ran away. Why are you still here?"
Instead of answering, Gwen asked about Peter.
"And Peter? Did you see him? Also, there's this huge lizard monster with green skin..." She gave more details, fearing Barry might not understand.
"Peter and I just fought the lizard, but it got away. He's chasing it through the school's sewer. I came back to find you and let you know."
"Okay, so let's wait here. Taking you outside might cause a scene," Gwen nodded and led Barry to a nearby study room.
Outside, police had arrived, and all students were gathered outside. Taking Barry out would indeed be problematic.
The study room bore signs of a recent struggle, with two gaps in the wall where Barry and Peter had busted through earlier. Gwen took a seat, looking anxious.
"Are you hurt?" Gwen asked once they settled in.
Barry picked up a book, flipping through it casually as he answered.
"No, but Peter seemed slightly injured before. Given his resilience, he should be fine."
"Thank goodness... Just come back safely," Gwen sighed with relief, pulling out her phone and waiting anxiously for news.
With the lizard scare, the building was deserted, leaving only the sound of Barry flipping pages to break the silence.
Under normal circumstances, Gwen might have been curious to see Barry reading a book, but her focus was solely on her phone, waiting for Peter's call.
---
A sudden vibration broke the silence, snapping Gwen's attention to her phone.
Seeing the caller ID, she brightened and quickly answered.
"Hey, Peter, are you okay? Where are you now?" she asked eagerly.
"I'm fine. I'm tracking him in the sewers. I need to stop him before he causes harm, but we'll need an antidote. Do you know how to make a serum?" Peter asked, his voice echoing through the dim sewer.
"Yes, I've been working on it," Gwen confirmed.
"Great! I need you to go to Oscorp and find the cross-species file. It's the blue serum, file..."
"Got it! I'm on my way!" Gwen hung up decisively and stood.
"Where are you going?" Barry asked, setting the book aside.
"To Oscorp! Can you take me there?" Gwen asked urgently.
"Uh... I don't know the address well, but I can carry you, and you can direct me," Barry offered, trying to recall Oscorp's location.
"It's easy to find. Let's go."
---
Manhattan, Guineas Street Station.
Located on Seventh Avenue near Broadway, Guineas Street Station was an old, dimly lit area even during the day.
Police in special gear surrounded the station entrance, using their vehicles as barricades, rifles aimed ahead.
The area was silent, evacuated of all civilians.
Finally, with a sound like massive footfalls, a towering figure emerged from the station's shadows.
It was the lizard man with a cross-sand grey backpack and tattered outerwear—Professor Lizard.
Bang! Without much negotiation, a special ops officer fired, the bullet striking the professor's shoulder.
Staggered, Dr. Lizard's terrifying visage twisted with anger as he eyed his attackers.
Drrrr... Following the initial shot, others joined in, the street echoing with gunfire.
Thud, thud... Bullets tore into Professor Lizard, driving him back under their force.
"Roar!!" He clutched his head, roaring in pain like a prehistoric beast, and collapsed.
Seeing him fall, the police advanced cautiously, rifles still trained.
After some time, with Professor Lizard lying still, the gunfire ceased, and officers approached him.
Examining the motionless lizard with his shredded clothing, a policeman cautiously prodded him with his rifle.
Seeing no response, the officer relaxed. But as he turned, his teammates' horrified expressions stopped him cold—they were staring behind him!
Sensing danger, he tried to react, but a powerful force sent him flying.
"Roar!!" A furious roar erupted, followed by a spreading green smoke.
Professor Lizard, now standing, had retrieved a smoke bomb from his backpack, unleashing its contents around him.
Bang! Bang! Officers were tossed aside like ragdolls, no match for his strength.
Coughing violently in the smoke, police clutched their throats, faces contorted as if suffocating. Green, scale-like skin began to appear as the smoke altered their cells, the lizard genes infiltrating their bodies and initiating a transformation.
EXTRA CHAPTER IS AVAILABLE IN PATREON
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