Peter and Harry walked into the campus, beginning another day of school.
The morning went by fast, ending almost like Harry's personal showcase in class.
But the real highlight wasn't the morning. This afternoon, the school had no regular classes. Instead, it had prepared a special event, one that even in a place overflowing with prodigies like LexTech High, was especially popular.
It was the superpower test, held for every student who had reached the age of sixteen.
This was a society of heroes. Over the past seven years, the Hero Association had become firmly rooted in every part of daily life. The word "hero" had seeped into nearly every corner of human society.
Heroes earned their title because they possessed talents beyond what ordinary people could achieve. Even high-ranking government officials, those who held important positions, were often registered with the Hero Association. Their abilities and their records as heroes symbolized both their competence and the trust people placed in them.
Because of that, society always paid close attention to the superpower test that awaited every young person at the age of sixteen.
Yet that wasn't the true reason these teenagers looked forward to it. The real attraction was that the examiners weren't just anonymous staff members. They were often well-known, active heroes, admired by the public.
And for students at LexCorp's own high school, the expectations were even greater. As the company that had essentially built the hero era, LexCorp always invited the biggest names. For the students, the chance to meet their idols face-to-face and perhaps receive advice from them was more thrilling than Christmas morning.
"Peter, do you know which hero is coming for the test this time?" On the way over, Harry asked with eager curiosity.
Although Peter disliked standing out, both because of his experiences and his personality, he still had to participate in the test. Registration of abilities was written into law long ago.
"I don't know," he replied, shaking his head.
People often assumed that because he held shares in LexCorp, he would naturally know all sorts of inside information. But only he knew the truth: he had no say within the company. His five percent stake gave him nothing more than annual dividends.
"Still, I guess it'll be someone from the major cities," he added quietly.
The hero society had grown at an astonishing pace in just seven years. Many companies had sprung up, similar to Vought, profiting by offering full services to heroes or managing teams of them. But as the leader of the industry, Vought still held unmatched power. All of the world's top-ranked heroes belonged to them.
So it was safe to assume that today's examiners would also be drawn from that group of immensely popular heroes.
"Hey! Spider-boy! Didn't expect to run into you here!"
As the two talked, a loud voice suddenly cut in.
"Flash! What are you doing here?" Harry frowned, instinctively moving a little in front of Peter.
Flash Thompson was a boy who had, through years of strict training and regular doses of Vought's body-enhancement serum, stepped midway into the realm of superhumans. He was determined to become a hero.
But his relationship with Peter was far from good.
The enhancement serum was marketed as a path for ordinary people to become heroes. Still, it wasn't as simple as just drinking it. The user had to keep training relentlessly, year after year. Even then, there was less than a one percent chance of awakening a superpower that matched their body.
In that sense, Flash was the symbol of effort. His power had come not by luck, but by years of grueling work.
And people who struggled so hard often held resentment toward those who were born with talent. Especially toward those who wasted it.
Flash wasn't a bad person at heart, but he despised how Peter, who in the eyes of outsiders seemed to have innate gifts, lived timidly. He never trained, never reached out, barely even talked to others. His cowardice irritated Flash, and that was why he always went after him.
"Nothing much," Flash sneered. "Just came to check out our genius here. But looks like today you're still the same coward, huh, Peter?"
Peter lowered his head and stayed silent. He didn't try to argue back.
That sight caught the attention of Gwen, who was walking some distance behind them. She felt disappointed watching him act so timid. She couldn't understand why someone like Harry, a recognized genius, would choose to be friends with Peter.
She had heard the stories about how in elementary school Peter had been just as dazzling as Harry. But looking at him now, she couldn't see how he was capable of standing at Harry's side.
Flash quickly grew bored of mocking him. Flexing his muscles, he showed off the ability he had gained: strength enhancement. It wasn't flashy, but it was the result of countless nights of sweat and training, all culminating in that one-in-a-hundred chance. That was why he took pride in it.
"Forget it. After today, you'll be on the Hero Association's blacklist anyway. Without the chance to be a hero, there's no point in talking to you."
With that, Flash strode into the testing venue.
Harry glanced worriedly at his friend, afraid he might be hurt by those words.
But Peter wasn't shaken. He had endured years of ridicule, after all. The once-brilliant boy who failed to live up to expectations had long since grown used to it.
He simply shook his head calmly. "I'm fine, Harry. Flash is right. I'll probably just register my ability and leave. Being a hero isn't something that suits me."
"Peter…" Harry wanted to say more, but his friend was already heading inside. Left with no choice, he found a spot nearby where he could watch the testing without standing out.
Unlike Peter, he wasn't planning to take part. Though he technically could, Harry had no intention of recording his information in LexCorp's database. He hadn't forgotten his own goal: to one day overthrow that company and take its place. He would never hand over his personal details so easily.
"Hi there."
While Harry kept an eye on Peter in the testing line, a gentle tap on his shoulder pulled him back.
He turned, and to his surprise, found Gwen standing there.
"Oh, hey," he responded, flashing a smile when he realized it was a girl. His hatred of LexCorp didn't mean he lived only for revenge. He still enjoyed simple pleasures, and the attention of a pretty face could make him forget himself for a moment.
"The genius Harry Osborn, runner-up of the tech competition. Nice to meet you," Gwen greeted. "I'm Gwen Stacy, third place finisher and inventor of the police exoskeleton suit."
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