"Hurry, hurry! Lads! You're going to be late!" a middle-aged man with pale hair and an ordinary appearance shouted from the living room.
"Got it, Uncle!" Peter Parker called back as he ran down the stairs, shrugging into his jacket before dropping into his seat at the dining table.
Ben Parker reached over and straightened Peter Parker's collar. "Where's that Zayne kid?"
"I don't know, maybe he's still… sleeping…" Peter Parker said, choking slightly on a piece of bread before patting his chest and gulping down some milk.
"Still sleeping? That brat!" Ben Parker grumbled as he strode upstairs, gripping the handrail. "Zayne!"
Upstairs in the bedroom—
"Hmm? Someone's calling me, I think?" Zayne Parker muttered as he slowly sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
It had been sixteen years since he arrived in this world. He had become Peter Parker's biological younger brother and had grown up under Ben Parker's care.
As a transmigrator, Zayne knew the plot like the back of his hand. Soon enough, Peter Parker would become the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
And Ben Parker would die in an accident, leaving behind one final lesson: with great power comes great responsibility.
But now that Zayne was here, Ben Parker would definitely not die.
Zayne wasn't some cold-blooded bastard. Ben had raised him for over a decade. If he couldn't repay that kindness, then what kind of person was he?
As for his confidence in saving Ben Parker—it came from the System.
A year ago, the System had finally activated and granted him a New Player Gift Pack along with a Main Quest.
[Main Quest: Seize the reactor and activate the System.]
Without completing it, the System would remain locked. And in the Marvel Universe, surviving without a cheat was basically suicide.
Especially when the Purple Sweet Potato Head decided to snap his fingers one day. Zayne had zero intention of gambling his life on luck.
After opening the New Player Gift Pack, Zayne gained the ability to control the Shadow Realm, and a black tattoo manifested across his body.
He had tested its limits. At most, he could summon ten Shadow Ninjas. Space traversal was still out of reach, as if some restriction remained in place.
Click—
The door opened, and Ben Parker stepped inside, yanking off Zayne's blanket. "Get up, or you'll be late, Zayne."
"Oh! I'm up!" Zayne jumped out of bed, quickly throwing on his clothes before heading to wash up.
By the time he finished and rushed downstairs, Peter Parker was already wolfing down breakfast.
"Hey, Peter, you didn't even wake me up," Zayne complained.
"I did. You were clearly still dreaming," Peter Parker shot back as Aunt May handed them their school bags.
They exchanged a few more words before Peter grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
"Hey! Wait!" Zayne snatched a piece of bread, stuffed it into his mouth, grabbed his bag from Aunt May, and chased after him.
"Slow down! Do you want another glass of milk—?" Aunt May called out, but the front door had already slammed shut.
She shook her head helplessly as Ben Parker walked downstairs.
"They're gone?" he asked.
"Yes, but Zayne didn't even drink his milk," Aunt May said worriedly.
Ben wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. "It's not the first or second time he's done that."
"I'm worried he'll choke," she sighed.
"He'll be fine." Ben released her, sat down at the table, and picked up the newspaper. "Perfect, I'll drink the milk."
On the way to school—
"Hey! Why are you rushing?" Zayne grabbed Peter by the sleeve.
"Because if we don't hurry, we'll be late," Peter Parker replied flatly.
"Relax. Based on my many years of experience, we absolutely won't be late at this time," Zayne declared confidently.
At school—
"I can't believe you, Peter, would also be late?" Mr. Jedek said as he adjusted his glasses, clearly surprised.
"Yes, sir. I'm late," Peter Parker admitted awkwardly.
Fortunately, Mr. Jedek didn't make things difficult for him. It was Peter's first time being late, and he was one of the top students.
"Don't let it happen again."
Peter quickly took his seat.
"I can't believe even a good student like you would be late," Ned Leeds whispered as if he'd discovered a new continent.
"This is all Zayne's fault. I believed him when he said we wouldn't be late," Peter muttered while putting away his bag.
"Zayne? Incredible. He's the legendary King of Lateness. You actually trusted him? Haha~" Ned couldn't stop laughing.
"That student, do you have something to say about my class?" Mr. Jedek's sharp gaze locked onto Ned.
Ned instantly covered his mouth and shook his head.
In another classroom—
"Very good, Zayne. Only one minute late this time," Teacher Kraven said, glancing at his watch with faint approval.
Zayne shrugged. He hadn't expected to miscalculate. Did that mean Peter was late too?
"Go in," Kraven said, already used to this routine.
Zayne slid into his seat. The moment he did, Ms. Barron behind him poked his back with a pen.
He turned around. "What?"
"Not bad. Only one minute late this time~" she teased.
Ms. Barron was youthful and beautiful, with a striking figure that attracted plenty of attention.
"Sigh. Still miscalculated by one step~" Zayne leaned back casually.
The school day passed quickly.
Ms. Barron leaned closer, her voice brushing against his ear. "Tomorrow's the weekend. Want to go out and have some fun together?"
"What kind of fun?" Zayne asked with interest. He wasn't like Peter. Studying wasn't his entire life.
"Amusement park. My treat," she said, twirling a strand of flaxen hair.
"Sounds good. What time?"
"Ten in the morning. Meet at the park. We'll stay until evening."
Zayne flashed an OK gesture. "Don't worry. I'll be on time."
"Really? You're the King of Lateness."
"That's different!" Zayne slung his bag over his shoulder. "Just wait. I'll be punctual!"
"I'll be waiting!" she called after him.
In the hallway—
"Hey! Nerd Peter, sorry!" Flash Thompson sneered as he deliberately bumped into Peter Parker before walking off with his friends without a shred of sincerity.
"They're really annoying, huh?" Ned muttered.
Peter sighed. Flash and he had been clashing for a long time. But what could he do? He couldn't exactly win in a fight.
"Peter!" Zayne spotted him and jogged over.
"Hey, Zayne, no club activities?" Ned asked.
"Nope. I hate that stuff. Too troublesome," Zayne replied.
"I heard you were late too, bro," Zayne said, slinging an arm around Peter's shoulder with a grin.
Peter slapped his hand away. "If I hadn't believed you, I wouldn't have been late."
"Relax, it was just a small accident," Zayne said, scratching his head.
After all, he had dragged Peter into pulling an all-nighter the night before.
"Peter, any weekend plans?" Ned asked.
"Same as usual. Staying home," Peter replied.
"How about the robot exhibition tomorrow? I heard they've got some crazy new tech," Ned suggested.
"Sounds good." Peter then looked at Zayne. "You coming?"
"I'll pass. I've got a date." Zayne wasn't about to ditch a beautiful girl to stare at machines with two grown men.
As the three of them crossed the lawn, a baseball suddenly flew toward Peter's head.
Without hesitation, Zayne's right hand shot out like lightning toward the incoming ball.