"What—!"
The instant Harry injected the cold spider venom into his veins, a searing pain shot through his entire body.
The icy liquid turned boiling the moment it entered his bloodstream, as if molten iron was being poured into his veins. The agony was indescribable. Only in that pain did he realize—he had forgotten to put on the Green Goblin armor. Without the armor's self-healing system, there was no way his body could survive the venom's rampage.
Fortunately, the armor was just within reach.
"Haah—"
With trembling hands, he activated its healing function. The suit hummed to life, repairing cell after cell, and Harry let out a long breath. It was a narrow escape from death—one that made him vividly aware of how precious being alive truly was. But alongside that relief came a rising, violent fury, a burning urge to destroy everything around him.
Ding dong.
The system screen flickered open before his eyes.
"Just as I thought," Harry muttered, reading the data displayed.
Name: Harry Osborn
Age: 21
Physical Condition: Unhealthy
Abilities: Mental Rage (affects self) (30), Body Alienation (caused by non-variable gene) (30)
Item: Goblin Armor (30)
As he suspected, the spider venom hadn't cured his genetic illness—it had only strengthened his body while wrecking his sanity. Still, that was fine. He had accomplished what he came for.
"System, convert Mental Rage and Body Alienation into points."
Ding dong. Ding dong.
"Oh—" Harry groaned in relief as the pain and madness melted away. His strength dipped slightly, but his body finally felt whole again—healthy for the first time in his life. The fog in his head lifted, replaced by a cool, crisp clarity. The Osborn family curse was broken.
Name: Harry Osborn
Age: 21
Physical Condition: Healthy
Abilities: None
Item: Goblin Armor (30)
That was his new status.
"System, acquire Peter Parker's Body Enhancement and Static Cling abilities," Harry ordered.
He had always admired Spider-Man since childhood—and now that power could be his.
Heat surged through him again, but this time it wasn't agony. It felt like he was breaking free from invisible chains.
Removing the Goblin armor, Harry wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"A brand-new me," he murmured, brushing a hand over his newly defined abs—eight perfect muscles where none had been before. With his former frail body, this was unthinkable.
"Haah… haah~"
He clenched his fists and threw a few punches, his movements fast and fluid. Then, with a sudden leap, he clung to the ceiling.
Laughing, Harry crawled across the walls and roof, playing like a child with his new powers.
After a while, he stopped, leaning against a glass wall to catch his breath. His fogged reflection revealed something else—an armored suit gleaming behind the glass.
"This is…" he said softly. "Rhino Armor."
He opened the case and laid a hand on the massive armor.
Ding dong.
Unowned item detected: Rhino Armor (30). Exchange for points?
"Exchange."
The armor vanished instantly, and the system updated—his points had increased by thirty.
Harry grinned. "Looks like trading items for points might be the best way forward."
He moved to another display case—this one containing several metal tentacles.
Ding dong.
Unowned item detected: Smart Octopus Tentacles (30). Exchange for points?
"Exchange," Harry said again.
Finally, he turned to the last case—a sleek pair of metallic wings.
Ding dong.
Unowned item detected: Vulture Wings (30). Exchange for points?
"Exchange."
His mood soared as the last of the items dissolved into light.
"Ninety points—not bad."
"Now… System, acquire Peter Parker's Spider-Sense ability."
The system chimed, and his ninety points dropped to forty.
The most powerful thing about Spider-Man was his Spider-Sense—the uncanny instinct that warned him of danger before it struck. It was that ability that let him dodge bullets, blades, and death itself.
And now, Harry felt it too.
His vision sharpened, sounds grew vivid, and a strange intuition pulsed in the back of his mind—a sixth sense that painted the world in new light.
"Now I'm like another Spider-Man," Harry said softly.
For the first time, he truly felt secure—empowered enough to face whatever came next.
He destroyed the remaining spider venom and sealed the Goblin armor back into its case. Then he straightened his clothes and left for his office.
"Felicia, come to my office," he called. Plans were already forming in his mind.
Felicia arrived within minutes.
"Sir, what can I do for you?" she asked.
"I'm holding a press conference about Dr. Connors's case tomorrow morning at ten. Make the arrangements," Harry said.
"Yes, sir. Anything else?"
Harry paused, looking up at her thoughtfully. "Do you have any plans tonight?"
"No, sir. Why do you ask?"
"Good. I'll take you to dinner. You should be honored," Harry said with a playful smile. "And you can brief me on the Osborn Group's operations."
Felicia hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."
After she left, Harry leaned back in his chair, still thinking about her—not out of attraction, but because her name stirred something familiar. Felicia… and Spider-Man. Together, they reminded him of only one thing—the Black Cat.
That evening, Harry took Felicia to a restaurant on Frode Street. He chose it because it was close to Times Square—where, according to his memory, Spider-Man and Electro would have their first showdown tonight.
Harry didn't care much for Western food, but since Felicia preferred it, they ordered the standard fare.
"Felicia," Harry asked between bites of steak, "what kind of man do you think Norman Osborn was?"
"Mr. Norman was a great entrepreneur," she said sincerely. "His medical innovations saved millions of lives, and he was a philanthropist."
"No," Harry interrupted. "I don't mean his public image. I mean his management style."
Felicia hesitated, then said, "A devil. Yes… he ruled like a devil."
"The devil, huh?" Harry smiled faintly. "A fitting description."
She nodded. "Mr. Norman was like a dictator. Even the board could hardly oppose him. But… he had vision. I'll give him that." She smiled sweetly.
Harry chewed another bite, then pushed the half-eaten steak away. The bloody red meat turned his stomach, and Felicia was barely eating either—too careful about her figure. They paid and left soon after.
"Almost time," Harry thought to himself as they stepped outside.
"How about a walk to Times Square?" he suggested.
"Sure," Felicia said.
Neither of them—and none of the people already crowding Times Square—had any idea what was about to happen.
Unseen above the glittering lights, the storm was already gathering.