What does it mean to be strong?
A person's strength has never been defined by raw power alone.
Temperament, resolve, and moral character are all essential.
If someone abandons everything for strength, if they turn themselves into a monster in pursuit of power, then how are they any different from Norman Osborn, whose mind has been corroded by the Goblin Serum?
Peter Parker still wasn't strong enough.
Even if he was the strongest Spider-Man, that truth would not change.
But the name Spider-Man already carried its own meaning.
Nolan grabbed Peter Parker's webline with one hand and yanked hard.
Both Mary Jane and the school bus on the opposite side were pulled upward with ease.
The Green Goblin was stunned.
Pulling up a single person was one thing. But that was a school bus filled with people.
Nolan's muscles swelled, every fiber humming with power.
He was savoring the strength coursing through his enhanced body.
This was the power of the Super Soldier Serum combined with the perfected Goblin Serum.
The original Goblin Serum came with terrible side effects.
But inside his virtual laboratory, Nolan had spent countless simulated trials reducing those side effects to an almost negligible level.
With the fortified serum supporting him, Nolan's strength had long surpassed the limits of human capability.
Before this, even though he was strong, without his armor he would almost certainly be overpowered by Captain America.
But now, he could overpower Captain America himself.
And with that strength came unshakable confidence.
When paired with the might of Mjolnir, Nolan felt power unlike anything he had ever known.
Sandman formed a massive fist of sand and hurled it forward.
Nolan turned and met it with a punch of his own.
A thunderous crack echoed across the bridge.
The blow shattered Sandman's body in an instant.
Nolan's gaze then shifted to the Green Goblin.
Hovering on his glider, the Goblin showed no fear even after witnessing Nolan's power.
"Nolan Lock…"
His voice carried something between laughter and murder.
At some point, the two drones Nolan had prepared had already been smashed apart by Sandman.
The two villains encircled Nolan, murderous intent thick in the air.
"Today is the day you die!" the Goblin roared, unable to contain his excitement.
He had no idea how ridiculous he looked in Nolan's eyes.
The next second, both of them rushed forward, intending to kill Nolan Lock and then Peter Parker. Once they did, no one in New York would be able to stop them.
Just as they moved, Nolan moved as well.
He drew the plasma blade from his back.
The moment it ignited, the blade flared with blinding light.
In a single motion, the blade swept across the Goblin's waist.
The three of them passed each other. Nolan looked back with calm indifference.
A heartbeat later, blood burst from the Goblin's waist.
Block it?
With what?
His armor was useless against a plasma blade.
Nolan had overwhelming strength and terrifying precision.
And in terms of battle experience, he had fought far tougher opponents than either of these villains.
The moment the Goblin chose to stand against Nolan, his fate had been sealed.
Sandman froze at the sight.
He remembered the first time he had attacked Nolan and how Nolan immediately activated the fire sprinkler system.
This man knew his weakness and would never hesitate to exploit it.
Still, Sandman believed one thing: even if Nolan understood his weakness, he couldn't kill him.
But Sandman no longer wanted to fight.
He had a daughter. He wasn't going to die here.
He wanted to get away. As long as he avoided Nolan, there were countless ways he could get the money he needed.
Fear had already gripped him.
But Nolan had no intention of letting him escape again.
Sandman's powers were troublesome, but only if someone didn't understand them.
Ever since the first ambush, Nolan had prepared for this.
He slashed Sandman repeatedly.
Every strike scattered Sandman's body and slowed his movements.
Sandman tried to fight back but found himself utterly powerless.
"You can't kill me, Nolan Lock!" Sandman roared.
The river was on both sides of the bridge, but he didn't dare jump.
He was made of sand. If he fell into the water, he would die for certain.
Nolan only sneered and continued his relentless assault.
Finally, a sharp whistling sound filled the air.
A dozen drones arrived, surrounding Sandman and unleashing flames.
Nolan knew water couldn't kill Sandman. It slowed him, weakened him, disrupted his structure, but it couldn't end him.
Fire, however, was different.
The intense heat melted Sandman's body into glass in seconds.
Sandman tried to flee, but it was too late.
Just before his head glazed over completely, Nolan spoke.
"I found your daughter, Penny."
Sandman didn't even have time to show fear or anger before Nolan continued:
"Lock Technology will make sure she receives the best care."
A moment later, Sandman solidified into molten glass.
The Goblin lay bleeding on the ground. Police sirens wailed across the bridge.
Nolan turned and left.
Spider-Man's identity was exposed.
There was no point pretending anymore. His life would never be the same.
Nolan hadn't lied to Sandman.
At his core, Sandman was more pitiful than malicious.
Even though he attacked Nolan, he was never a true threat.
Nolan had even considered recruiting him through Penny.
But Sandman's choices had destroyed that chance.
Even so, Penny was just a child who deserved help.
When Peter Parker woke up in the hospital and saw the ceiling above him, panic set in.
His identity was his greatest secret.
Even looking at Mary Jane too often had put her in danger.
He couldn't imagine what might happen to Uncle Ben and Aunt May.
Ignoring his injuries, he leapt out of bed and rushed out of the hospital.
Reporters swarmed the entrance, cameras flashing nonstop.
The moment they saw him, the frenzy grew.
Peter panicked, fired a webline, and swung out of the crowd.
"Uncle Ben, Aunt May, please be safe!"
His heart pounded as he raced home.
But when he opened the door, he found Uncle Ben, Aunt May, and Mr. Lock sitting together, chatting pleasantly.
Nolan nodded to him.
Peter forced himself to calm down.
"Peter, are you alright?" Aunt May rushed over.
"I'm fine, Aunt May."
It was the first time he had ever been exposed like this.
It left him uneasy.
Nolan continued chatting casually as if nothing unusual had happened.
Of the four people in the room, only Nolan looked relaxed.
After a while, they ended the conversation.
Nolan took Peter to a café downstairs, drawing curious glances along the way.
Nolan remained calm. Peter was tense.
"Are you scared?" Nolan asked.
Peter nodded. He couldn't hide it.
"Fear is normal. Now you have two options." Nolan's voice remained steady.
"You can give up being Spider-Man and live as an ordinary person. That would keep your loved ones safe."
Peter said nothing.
"Or you choose the second path," Nolan continued.
"You remain Spider-Man, but you stop being only Spider-Man.
If Spider-Man can't protect his family, then you become strong enough to do it."
Nolan knew this wasn't a decision Peter could make quickly.
He left him alone to think.
Peter struggled for a long time.
He understood responsibility, yet he feared for the people he loved.
He even considered taking off the mask forever.
Then Uncle Ben sat beside him on a park bench and talked with him quietly.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Hearing those words again made Peter's choice clear.
He would remain Spider-Man.
For the danger his family might face, he turned to Nolan.
This time, Nolan didn't hesitate.
He gave Peter a complete protection system, fully managed by Skynet.
Nothing could provide better security.
As everything settled into place, a strange spacecraft landed on Earth.
It carried no monstrous aliens, but from it emerged a swarm of shapeless black symbiotes.
They quickly found hosts and seized control of their bodies.
The strongest among them was Carnage.
He looked upon this blue planet with anticipation.
No one here could stop them.
They would soon rule this world.
"Where is Venom?" Carnage growled.
He was annoyed. Venom had summoned them here, yet Venom himself was missing.