"Alright, alright—I won't sacrifice my luck. No need to make it sound so terrifying."
Peter shrugged.
He understood that the system wasn't exaggerating. Luck—flip it around, and it was simply probability, fortune.
People often joked that when someone's luck was bad, even drinking water could get it stuck in their teeth.
But that was just the mild version.
What if your luck was truly terrible?
Choking to death while drinking water.
Getting hit by a car the moment you step outside.
Missing a step and falling to your death.
Or worse—ever seen someone struck by lightning out of nowhere? Sitting on the toilet, and suddenly a meteor drops from the sky?
Ridiculous?
Maybe.
But that was exactly the point.
The system's message was clear—
Never touch luck as a sacrifice… unless you're strong enough to survive the destruction of the universe itself.
"Peter! Are you done yet? If you don't come out now, you're going to be late for school!"
Uncle Ben's deep, booming voice echoed from downstairs.
Snapping back to reality, Peter quickly got up. But having just gained his powers, he still couldn't control them properly—one careless movement later, and his room was a complete mess again.
"I'm coming! Be right down!"
After a great deal of effort, he finally cleaned everything up, cautiously restraining his strength. Once dressed and with his backpack ready, Peter managed to leave the house without accidentally tearing it apart.
Walking down the street, his thoughts continued to churn.
What should he sacrifice?
Or more importantly—
What did he currently lack?
"Ah, right… faith."
His eyes lit up.
"Faith is classified as a high-tier offering. If I can gather it myself… wouldn't that make this a sustainable system?"
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Looks like I need to get myself a suit and start swinging around the city."
Truthfully, Peter had no real desire to become a superhero.
First—there was no money in it.
Second—he didn't believe a single superhero could truly change the world.
Even someone as powerful as Superman hadn't turned Earth into some perfect utopia.
If you really wanted to change the world, you had to come from the people—and return to the people. Without the masses, nothing could truly be accomplished.
Swinging between skyscrapers, flying across the skyline…
Sure, it looked cool.
People might admire you. They might imitate you.
But would that make them improve their lives? Become kinder? Work together to build a better society?
Peter seriously doubted it.
Still…
Even if he didn't want to be a superhero, becoming one seemed like the fastest and most efficient way to gather offerings.
Before long, he arrived at the school bus stop. A few kids from nearby neighborhoods were already waiting.
No one spoke.
The old Peter had always been socially withdrawn—a top student buried in books, with little in common with these kids who lived carefree lives and would likely end up doing manual labor in the future.
The entire day passed quietly.
Even during classes, Peter remained lost in thought.
Only now, his focus had shifted—
From whether to become a superhero…
To what kind of suit he should wear.
Spider-Man's classic skintight suit?
Honestly—it felt a bit… embarrassing.
But if he didn't wear a tight suit, it would hinder his movements. His agility demanded flexibility; bulky armor loaded with gadgets would only slow him down and become a burden.
And besides—
He had no better alternative in mind.
Although he was nearing graduation, Midtown High still maintained a relatively relaxed schedule. Classes ended early—before 4 PM.
There were after-school club activities, of course. But Peter's debate club rarely had actual debates, leaving most days as free time.
And so—
Distracted and wandering aimlessly, Peter didn't even realize how far he had walked.
By the time he snapped out of it, he was already standing by the Hudson River.
"…Damn. How did I end up all the way out here?"
It was no short distance from Midtown High to the Hudson.
Normally, walking this far would leave anyone exhausted.
But Peter quickly understood why.
"Right… my stamina's been massively enhanced."
After being bitten by that spider, his body had undergone a complete transformation. This distance meant nothing to him now.
A grin crept onto his face.
"Well, since I'm here… might as well test my abilities."
The year was 2008.
Along the riverbanks stood numerous abandoned factories—a stark reminder that the financial crisis spared no world.
After a bit of searching, Peter found a suitable spot. It was relatively clean, and across the water, he could clearly see one of New York's most iconic landmarks—
The Statue of Liberty.
Dropping his backpack and shrugging off his jacket, he looked around at the rusting machinery scattered throughout the factory. Steel beams, heavy equipment… plenty to work with.
"Alright… let's start by testing my strength."
People often thought of Spider-Man as an agility-based hero.
But in reality—
Strength was his most terrifying attribute.
Strong enough to rival the Hulk in his normal state.
Capable of casually lifting cars.
Able to stop the Winter Soldier's mechanical arm with ease.
At his peak, even holding up an entire building.
Knowing all this, Peter was eager to see—
Just how strong he was now.
"This machine… let me check…"
He examined the faded label on a rusted piece of equipment, then pulled out his phone to look up its specifications.
Soon, he had his answer.
"Two tons? Not bad."
Grinning, Peter wrapped his arms around the massive machine.
He planted his feet, tightened his core—
And exerted force.
BOOM!
A thunderous crash echoed through the factory.
Peter stared at the hole smashed through the wall… and stuck out his tongue.
"…Okay, that was definitely too much."
He had only intended to apply a bit more strength, given the size of the object.
Instead—
He had launched the two-ton "iron lump" like it weighed nothing.
"Alright… maybe let's test speed instead."
Clearly, his control over strength needed work. That kind of testing required a more controlled environment.
So he switched gears.
Moments later, Peter began mimicking the parkour stunts he'd seen in movies and TV shows, dashing through the chaotic maze of the factory.
This time—
Everything went smoothly.
His body moved like it had been designed for this.
Leaping, flipping, sprinting—
Soon, the once-silent factory echoed with his excited shouts.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
Peter Parker felt it.
Not fear.
Not uncertainty.
But pure, exhilarating freedom.
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T/N:
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