The early morning sun filtered through the windows of Midtown High, casting golden rays across the bustling hallway. Peter Parker leaned against his locker, nervously glancing at his phone. Liz Allan, Gwen Stacy, and Mary Jane Watson gathered around him, their faces tense with anticipation.
Gwen, clutching her laptop, spoke in a hushed tone. "I've analyzed the tracker data. The Vulture's next target is Oscorp's main research lab. The pattern is too clear to ignore."
Liz's eyes sparkled with determination. "Then we have to be there. This is the story of the year, and I'm not missing it."
Peter frowned, worry etched across his face. "Liz, it's dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt."
She smiled, brushing off his concern. "Relax, Peter. Gwen, MJ, and I will stay in the lobby. You can 'cover the story' from a safe distance, right?"
Peter forced a smile, but his mind raced with anxiety.
Oscorp: The Calm Before the Storm
The group arrived at Oscorp, feigning interest in a school science project. Security was tighter than usual, but Dr. Toomes—unbeknownst to them, the Vulture—was already inside, blending in with the staff.
Peter's spider-sense tingled, a warning he couldn't ignore. "I'll be right back," he said, slipping away toward a deserted corridor. In moments, he was gone—replaced by Spider-Man, hidden in the shadows.
Meanwhile, Liz, Gwen, and Mary Jane waited in the lobby, exchanging nervous glances and texting Peter updates. The air was thick with anticipation.
Suddenly, alarms blared, echoing through the marble halls. Chaos erupted as the Vulture, clad in his menacing suit, smashed through reinforced doors into the secure lab. His mechanical wings sliced through the air, scattering scientists and guards. Glass shattered, and the prototype energy core glowed ominously on its pedestal.
Spider-Man swung in, landing between the Vulture and the core. He crouched, arms wide, blocking the villain's path.
"Going somewhere, Toomes?" Peter called out, his voice echoing with bravado. "Or are you just here for the free samples?"
The Vulture's helmeted head snapped toward him, eyes narrowing. "You never know when to quit, do you, Spider-Man?"
Peter shrugged, web-shooters at the ready. "Hey, I tried quitting once. Turns out, I'm not very good at it. Like you with retirement."
The Vulture lunged, wings slicing at Spider-Man, who flipped backward, landing on the wall. "Careful! You'll poke someone's eye out with those things. OSHA would have a field day."
The Vulture snarled, his voice fractured by his warring personalities. "You don't understand, Spider-Man. I have to do this! Oscorp owes me everything!"
"Yeah, yeah, we all have bills to pay," Peter quipped, dodging a razor-sharp feather that embedded itself in the wall behind him. "But most people just get a second job. Ever tried pizza delivery?"
The battle spilled into the corridors, sending Oscorp staff and students scrambling for safety. Liz, Gwen, and Mary Jane sprang into action, guiding people toward the exits and shouting directions over the din.
Liz caught a glimpse of the Vulture's face beneath his helmet. Recognition dawned, and her breath caught in her throat. But she pushed the shock aside, focusing on helping Gwen and Mary Jane shepherd terrified students to safety.
Spider-Man darted and weaved, using every ounce of agility to keep the Vulture away from the energy core. The villain's rage made him unpredictable, his attacks wild and destructive. The Vulture fired a barrage of metallic feathers, each one whistling through the air.
Peter somersaulted over a desk, webbing two feathers together mid-flight. "You know, Toomes, you should really consider a new hobby. Birdwatching, maybe? Less property damage."
The Vulture roared, slamming his wings into a support beam. The structure groaned, and a cascade of debris tumbled toward a group of students—including Liz.
Spider-Man reacted instantly, firing a web to catch the falling rubble and swinging in to shield the students. He landed beside Liz, their eyes meeting for a brief, electric moment.
"Are you okay?" he asked, voice softening for just a second.
Liz nodded, awe and suspicion mingling in her gaze. "Thank you, Spider-Man."
He winked behind his mask. "All in a day's work. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go ruffle some feathers."
The Vulture, growing more unstable by the second, tried to escape with the stolen tech. Spider-Man fired a web, anchoring the energy core to the floor. "You want it? You'll have to go through me," he challenged.
The two clashed in a dramatic aerial battle through Oscorp's vast atrium. The Vulture swooped and dove, talons slashing, but Spider-Man was faster, flipping and twisting through the air.
"Nice suit, Toomes! Did you get it on sale at Bird-Brains R Us?" Peter taunted, firing a web that snagged the Vulture's wing.
The Vulture screeched, spinning out of control. "You think you're so clever, Spider-Man! But you're just a kid playing hero!"
Peter grinned, swinging around a support column. "Better than being a grown man throwing a tantrum in a bird costume!"
With a final burst of speed, Spider-Man targeted the Vulture's suit with a precise web shot. Sparks flew, and the villain spiraled out of control, crashing to the ground in a heap. The energy core clattered harmlessly across the floor.
Spider-Man landed lightly beside the defeated Vulture, hands on his hips. "You know, Toomes, you r