Chapter 17: The Birth of Heroes
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That night, after leaving Mary Jane's room, Leo set out to find Peter and guide him toward his destiny.
He arrived near Peter's house and waited outside, knowing Peter would sense his presence.
Sure enough, Peter's Spider-Sense activated almost immediately. Peter climbed out his window quietly, tracking Leo's whereabouts.
However, Peter hadn't yet made his battle suit, so he couldn't travel far.
Therefore, Leo didn't lead him too far — only to a secluded, abandoned factory nearby.
"Wait! Who exactly are you? What is your purpose in bringing me here?" Peter called out, landing on the factory floor.
Leo had no intention of hiding anymore. "Peter Parker. Long time no see."
Peter felt that this voice was different from before — perhaps this was Leo's original voice. However, this voice seemed a bit familiar.
Leo's battle suit receded, revealing his face.
Peter was shocked. "Leo!?"
"How can it be you? You're that superhero?"
Leo shrugged. "A very obvious answer."
Peter quickly calmed down. This revelation didn't seem too difficult to accept. Considering that Gwen had also gained superpowers, and Leo had helped Gwen master them, it all became understandable.
It turned out Leo was also a super-powered individual.
"You found me. What is your purpose?" Peter asked.
"To help you. To guide you. To become Spider-Man."
Peter was confused. Leo continued, "In many parallel universes, Peter Parker was bitten by a mutated spider and gained superpowers."
"Because of Uncle Ben's death, out of anger and self-blame, he put on a self-made Spider battle suit and began his path of fighting crime."
"Subsequently, through various incidents, he began to understand the phrase 'with great power comes great responsibility,' gradually becoming the true Spider-Man."
"If Aunt May had suffered the same fate tonight, you would very likely, out of regret, anger, and self-blame, also have started on this path."
"Of course, having lost all your loved ones, you might also take a more dangerous, more evil path."
"So I stepped in and saved Aunt May."
"The purpose is simple: I hope you genuinely want to become a superhero. I hope you become Spider-Man out of your own will, and not because of regret and self-blame."
"Do you understand?"
Peter was a bit confused. Parallel universes, and even a feeling of foreknowledge — it was all overwhelming.
"To be honest, I'm a bit confused," Peter admitted.
"Don't be nervous. You still have time to think slowly. Think about whether you want to use your abilities to save others. Think about whether you want to become Spider-Man."
Peter looked at his hands and fell into deep thought.
Having superpowers, could he really do nothing?
Uncle Ben once said, *with great power comes great responsibility*.
I have gained this ability, so what about my responsibility?
Watching robbers commit crimes and even escape right before my eyes, leading to Aunt May's injury?
Thinking of this, Peter made a decision.
"I will become Spider-Man."
"No, no, no!" Leo rejected Peter. "You're answering too quickly. You haven't considered everything."
"You don't know what you will face by taking this path."
Peter indeed hadn't thought that deeply. "Face what?"
"You will face a multitude of criminals. These criminals are something you will never be able to completely eliminate in your lifetime, because evil never truly dies."
"You will face evil and powerful super villains who possess extraordinary intelligence, advanced technology, or superpowers."
"Furthermore, you must be prepared for injuries — not just to yourself, but also to those around you."
"You have superpowers, but what about Aunt May? She is just an ordinary person. Can you ensure that those criminals, those super villains, won't harm her?"
"I can't always save her either."
Peter was shocked. Yes, he had gained superpowers and could deal with criminals. Even if he encountered a villain with superpowers, he could handle it.
But what about Aunt May? She was just an ordinary person. Being dragged into this would be incredibly dangerous.
This time, Leo saving Aunt May was good luck for him. But in the future, Leo had no responsibility to save Aunt May. He was the one who must protect her.
"Not only that, you've also overlooked something," Leo said.
Peter hastily asked, "What is it?"
"This mission is difficult and unpaid. You must be mentally prepared, because becoming a superhero might make your life, your work, a mess."
"Criminals won't wait until you get off work to do evil!"
"Super villains won't wait until you finish your date to destroy the world!"
After saying all this, Peter completely hesitated. It turns out that being a good superhero was not simple.
Peter suddenly thought of Leo. Leo was a superhero, and he seemed to handle it very well.
"Leo, how do you handle it? You seem to manage it very well. Can you teach me?"
Leo didn't expect Peter to ask this question. "Do you think I'm very busy?"
"Actually, no. I've only appeared three times."
"The first time was to stop criminals, which was captured on the internet. That was because the person in danger was Pepper, my girlfriend."
"The second time, I saved Gwen from criminals."
"This time is the third time — to guide you to become Spider-Man."
"Spider-Man in other parallel universes, most of the time, tries to protect the entire city by himself, which is why he's so busy."
"If you choose to only act against the evil you see, then it should be much easier."
"In fact, you can also try to do that, because in this world, you are not the only superhero. You can also trust the law enforcers in uniform. They are also protecting this city."
Peter had not yet made a decision, as this decision concerned his entire future.
"Leo, why do you know so much about parallel universes? Are you from another universe? Someone who gained similar spider superpowers?"
"A very crucial question. I am from another universe. However, I am not Spider-Man."
"Peter, go back and think about this question carefully. Oh, and this is a gift for you."
"What gift?"
Peter received a piece of paper. On the paper was a drawing.
The content of the drawing was, of course, the appearance of the Spider-Man battle suit.
"So this is Spider-Man?" Peter said, staring at the design.
"I should go back to Mary Jane now. Oh, and Peter, don't use your superpowers to eavesdrop."
"What? I would never do such a thing!" Peter protested.
However, Leo, without waiting for Peter to explain, had already opened a portal and returned to Mary Jane's room.
---
Early the next morning, Peter was woken by his alarm.
He quickly washed up and went downstairs, finding Aunt May in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
Peter ate quickly and went to school.
Upon arriving at school, Peter found Leo and asked him a few more questions about becoming Spider-Man.
---
That evening, Peter returned to his bedroom, pondering Leo's words. He fell into a dilemma.
Becoming Spider-Man would mean facing so many problems.
However, deep down, Peter increasingly wished to become Spider-Man.
"I forgot to ask one question: if I become Spider-Man, will I save many people?"
Peter stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought. "Perhaps I don't even need to ask. I already know the answer."
"Yes, if I become Spider-Man, I will definitely save many people."
"But Aunt May and the people around me could all be in danger."
Although Peter was still hesitating, the scales had inadvertently tipped toward one side.
Because he was pondering this question, Peter suffered from insomnia that night.
---
The next day at school, Peter approached Leo again.
"There's one more question," Peter said.
"What question?" Leo asked.
"I, or rather, the me in other parallel universes who chose to become Spider-Man — did they regret becoming Spider-Man when they encountered these problems?"
Leo paused. "That's a difficult question to answer. Let's take two examples."
"One Spider-Man's life, love, and work were affected, and his girlfriend even chose to leave him. He was devastated by this and lost his superpowers, becoming an ordinary person."
"However, when crisis descended, he still unhesitatingly became Spider-Man to protect everyone."
"In another universe, he lost his girlfriend. Because she fell from a great height, Peter caught her with his web. Due to inertia, her neck broke."
"After that, Spider-Man became depressed and broken."
"However, when new super villains appeared, he also chose to fight."
Peter was deeply shocked after hearing this.
"I understand," Peter said quietly.
"Take your time to think about it. You still have time, but not much left."
"What do you mean?"
"Because this is the era of superheroes, super villains will also appear one after another. It shouldn't be long now."
Peter felt the pressure. "I understand."
---
Meanwhile, in the laboratory of Oscorp Tower, Professor Connors was extremely happy.
The gene therapy serum had achieved simulated success and had been injected into lab mice. However, the final results had not yet been observed.
Only after this stage was completed could the next stage of human testing begin.
But the people at Oscorp had already run out of patience.
A man in a suit approached Professor Connors. This man was none other than Norman Osborn's assistant, Nels.
"Professor Connors, Mr. Osborn is very pleased to learn that your research has made progress," Nels said smoothly.
"Now, human trials can proceed."
Professor Connors was worried. "What? Human trials now?"
"We've only achieved simulated success. Although the lab mice have been injected with the serum, we are not yet sure if there are any side effects."
"Moreover, the next step should be primates, not human trials."
Nels reminded him, "Professor Connors, Mr. Osborn can't wait any longer. He doesn't have much time left."
Professor Connors was still unable to accept it. After all, this was a semi-finished product. Once human trials were conducted, if unknown changes occurred, there was no telling what terrible consequences might arise.
"Even if we do human trials, where will you find people willing to volunteer for them?"
Nels looked calm, examining a vial of the serum. "What does it matter? They won't know what this is. To them, it's just ordinary cold medicine."
"I know a place. A veterans' hospital."
Professor Connors was furious. "Are you kidding me? The results from the lab mice aren't even out yet, and you're doing human trials? And keeping it a secret from the people being tested?"
Connors picked up the research materials and prepared to leave, but Nels grabbed Connors's severed arm.
"I don't think so. Because all pharmaceutical companies do it this way."
Nels continued to persuade him. "How righteous you sound. If it were 15 years ago, it would be more convincing."
"Richard Parker was in his prime then, while you were in rags. And you still are."
Connors became flustered. "This has nothing to do with me."
"Is that what you told his son?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't know, or you don't want to know? Let me remind you — the one who chose to refuse back then was Richard Parker, not you."
Professor Connors had already lost the argument. Nels added, "Time is running out, Professor Connors."
Connors hesitated, looked at his severed arm, and finally made up his mind. "I won't do it."
Nels didn't hesitate either. "Very well. Then I officially inform you."
"Your laboratory is closed. All research results belong to Oscorp Corporation. You cannot take anything with you."
"Also, your severed arm, I'm afraid, won't be able to regenerate like this lab mouse's."
Nels left arrogantly, leaving Connors alone in the laboratory.
Connors sat silently, staring blankly at his research, at his severed arm. He fell into a kind of madness.
Finally, making up his mind, Connors began to produce the gene therapy serum.
Before nightfall, Connors injected himself with the freshly made serum, waiting for it to take effect.
At the moment the injection was completed, Professor Lizard was born.
---
At Pepper's house, Leo and Pepper were intimate for a short while. Pepper was energized but thought of work again.
"Leo, I should work," Pepper said reluctantly.
"I'll stay with you for a while."
Pepper couldn't refuse Leo, so she let him stay.
---
On the other side, Gwen was at home, as usual.
Although she had gained superpowers and a nanotech suit, she hadn't had the chance to use them yet.
Tonight, her father George was also home.
Suddenly, George received a call. "What? A tall green monster, like a lizard-man, appeared on the bridge?"
George's home was not far from the bridge, so he naturally had to rush over immediately.
"Helen, I have to go out," George said.
"Be careful," Helen replied.
Gwen was incredibly excited to hear this news. She knew her chance had come.
She immediately said goodbye. "Mom, I'm going back to my room. I might rest early."
"Okay," Helen said.
Gwen quietly returned to her room and locked the door. She immediately called Leo.
"Leo, on the bridge, a lizard-man monster has been discovered. My father has already gone, and I'm going to act now too."
After hanging up the phone, the nanotech suit instantly covered her body. Then she climbed out the window.
She traversed between skyscrapers, her speed no slower than George driving.
---
Leo, at Pepper's house, was stunned the moment he received the call.
Professor Lizard had appeared, seemingly a bit early. Peter was probably still making his suit right now.
"Forget it. I won't worry so much. I'll go take a look first. If possible, I'll just let Gwen catch Professor Lizard."
"Pepper, I might have something to do and need to leave first," Leo said.
Pepper didn't ask much. She just bid Leo farewell with a kiss.
"Be careful."
"I'll be back tonight."
Before Pepper finished speaking, Leo had already activated his suit and disappeared through a portal, arriving at the bridge.
---
Professor Lizard had completely transformed into a humanoid lizard. In order to find Nels, he began wantonly destroying the bridge.
"Professor Lizard. It's good to let Gwen practice on him," Leo thought.
When Leo appeared, Professor Lizard had already begun to wreak havoc.
Vehicles were jammed on the bridge, and people could only abandon their cars and flee in panic.
Some vehicles were overturned. Others were damaged. Most of the vehicles were empty.
Fortunately, Professor Lizard's target was not these ordinary people, but his assistant, Nels.
Nels was currently in his car, preparing for the next phase of his plan: to move the gene serum into human trials.
Professor Lizard's goal was simple: to prevent Nels from taking everything from the lab.
Gradually, Professor Lizard began to lose control. He even started throwing vehicles into the river.
Leo knew he couldn't wait for Gwen and had to start the rescue himself.
Leo deployed his nanotech suit's webs, catching the vehicles that were about to be thrown into the river.
Professor Lizard also noticed Leo's presence, but at this point, Professor Lizard was almost insane and didn't care. He continued his relentless pursuit of his target, Nels.
Leo rescued several people who were about to fall, and Gwen finally swung into the scene with her webs.
"I'm here! What should I do?" Gwen called out.
"Save people, and then stop that lizard monster," Leo said.
Gwen was eager to try. Leo had told her a few things about what superheroes should do. Of course, Leo also trusted Gwen.
Gwen possessed both the character and the ability to become an excellent superhero.
Leo rescued passersby, while Gwen took the initiative to engage and block Professor Lizard.
"Hey, lizard monster! I can't let you continue this destruction," Gwen said.
Professor Lizard had already developed a bestial personality. When Gwen appeared, Professor Lizard seemed provoked and immediately counterattacked.
Gwen's reaction speed was quick, and she immediately blocked the attack.
However, Professor Lizard, nearly 3 meters tall, was larger and stronger.
Leo quickly scanned Professor Lizard with his system.
---
Name: Curtis Connors
Race: Human Mutation (Lizard Hybrid)
Strength: 12.3 tons
Speed/Agility: 16 m/s
Abilities:
- Super-Strength: Can lift ×45 of his own weight
- Super-Speed: Can move ×5 of his body length per second
- Regenerative Healing Factor: Can rapidly regenerate and heal damaged tissues; can fully regrow severed limbs
- Wall Crawling: Microscopic hooks on hands and feet allow adhesion to almost any surface
- Reptilian Telepathy: Can communicate with and command all reptiles within two miles
- Primal Instinct (Passive): Highly resistant to fear; perception heightened to track prey by scent and body heat
---
System, copy Regenerative Healing Factor, Reptilian Telepathy, and Primal Instinct.
[Copying... Successfully completed.]
Integrating...
[Integration Complete.]
Leo felt sudden changes in himself. His body's healing ability increased dramatically. He gained an instinctual connection to reptiles. His senses sharpened further, giving him an almost predatory awareness.
---
This was Professor Lizard's first transformation, and his physique and strength hadn't reached their peak, but he was still stronger than Gwen.
Gwen realized this immediately. A direct strength comparison would certainly not favor her.
Fortunately, Gwen was very clever. She began to use agility and strategy instead, dodging attacks and striking at weak points.
Leo watched from a distance, helping to clear civilians from the area.
Soon after, George arrived with a group of police officers.
He saw the scene on the bridge and also saw Leo and the others.
"What the hell is this?" George muttered.
"Are you sure this isn't a sci-fi movie?" one officer said.
"I knew it. Lizard-men are real. This must be an alien conspiracy," another said.
George looked at his subordinates, somewhat speechless.
"Hands up! You are surrounded!" George called out.
George's target wasn't Professor Lizard, but Leo — because Leo was blocking their way.
"Chief George, this monster is not something you can handle," Leo said calmly.
George still had a good impression of Leo, the mysterious superhero, as Leo had saved Gwen before. However, he didn't believe Leo's words at all.
"This is our duty. We should handle it."
"I'll say it again — put your hands up and surrender immediately. Otherwise, you will also be our target."
Leo was unmoved. "Chief George, there are always some things beyond your comprehension, and always some things beyond your capabilities. Therefore, you should leave this matter to more capable people."
George's attitude was firm. "I haven't received any news from above, and you haven't received any authorization."
"I'll say it one last time — hands up, now! Otherwise, I'll open fire."
Leo was very helpless. "You can try. You should have interrogated those criminals, and you should know that bullets are ineffective against me."
"Not just against me, but against them too."
Chief George still didn't believe him and directly pulled out his pistol, emptying the magazine.
However, no matter where he shot, it had no effect.
At such close range, without dodging, Leo simply took the bullets.
George stared in disbelief. The bullets had flattened harmlessly against Leo's suit.
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