Barry and Ben's mission this time was simple. They had come to invite Peter to become a hero.
But after seeing the examination results, the outcome wasn't what they expected. Even though Peter's performance was better than Flash's, it still didn't reach the standard of a true hero. The Spider-Man Reid had spoken about was nowhere to be seen.
"What do we do, Ben?" Barry asked with frustration, turning to his companion.
Ben looked just as helpless. "It's obvious. If Reid's words weren't wrong, then this kid is holding back. But what can we do? We don't have any reason to test him. What am I supposed to do, punch him in the face? Even if I wanted to, I'd still need a reason."
The simplest way to uncover Peter's real ability was to attack him directly. But they were heroes. Striking without cause could easily bring trouble to themselves.
America might be under LexCorp's heavy influence, but that didn't mean the company ruled everything. A number of independent hero agencies had risen in recent years, competing for popularity and clients. They might not openly oppose LexCorp, but if given the chance to lower the reputation of the Fantastic Four or the Flash and raise their own heroes in the process, they would gladly take it.
"I've got no clue," Ben admitted. Then he gave a half-joking smile. "Why don't you use that unbeatable Speed Force of yours to figure something out?"
The comment was meant in jest, but it suddenly gave Barry an idea.
"That's right. I do have the Speed Force."
As he finished speaking, yellow lightning flared around him, wrapping his body in crackling energy. Time itself seemed to slow in his eyes.
Within that stretched moment, he picked up Peter's examination report and began to study it carefully. The Speed Force gave him all the time he needed to comb through the details, searching for something that could justify testing the boy.
And then he found it.
LexCorp's equipment was thorough, capable of measuring nearly everything about a student. Peter had done well hiding his strength. His body density was higher than normal, but not by much. His muscle strength looked the same, stronger than average, but not extraordinary. There were plenty of heroes like that: not overly powerful, yet resilient enough to withstand bullets or blades.
None of this could be used as an excuse to test him. Unless, of course, they uncovered an ability he hadn't revealed.
That was when Barry noticed it: Peter's unusual neural signal transmission speed.
It was absurd.
The boy standing in front of them, whose top running speed was no more than twenty meters per second, had reaction times that nearly matched his own while using the Speed Force.
Barry's eyes narrowed. 'I need the Speed Force to reach that level. So what is this kid relying on?'
He lowered the report and let the lightning fade. To everyone else, not even a second had passed. Only Ben, through experience fighting alongside him many times, discovered the subtle change and realized he might have found a way forward.
Barry set the report aside and gave Peter a calm smile. "Your ability isn't fully developed, but you still have the potential to be a hero. What do you think? Want to join us?"
Peter was caught off guard. He had no intention of becoming a hero, but his nature made it hard for him to reject someone's expectations outright.
Then he remembered the incident years ago, when he had accidentally hurt one of his classmates. The memory hardened his resolve.
"With all due respect," he said firmly, "my data clearly shows I don't meet the standard of a hero. Even just now, Flash couldn't succeed."
What he didn't realize was that his words struck a nerve. In the distance, Flash, who had been observing, clenched his fists in fury. He had fought desperately to achieve recognition and failed, while Peter received the opportunity so easily, and then dismissed it as if it were nothing.
Peter didn't know that. Even if he did, he still had no choice. He needed to refuse Barry's invitation here and now.
Barry, however, wasn't ready to give up. He picked up the previous file and held it out. "According to the data, Peter, your neural reaction speed is faster than mine. And you know who I am, right? I'm the Flash."
He didn't give Peter time to reply. In a burst of lightning, he lunged forward.
Barry didn't use his full strength. A punch at light speed wasn't a test; it was a death sentence, something he would only use against Superman. Instead, he struck at the same pace he used when dealing with Hydra agents who wielded magic. At that speed, most opponents were knocked out before they even realized he had moved.
Not even seasoned street heroes could avoid it, unless their bodies were naturally invulnerable.
But Peter reacted.
His instincts kicked in before his mind did. His body moved on its own, raising a hand to block. Barry's fist stopped less than ten centimeters from his face.
"As I thought." Barry chuckled and lowered his hand. He could tell the boy hadn't consciously reacted. His fighting instincts weren't honed, but his body had sensed the danger and acted, intercepting the punch.
"You really are different, Peter," he said. "Your reflexes are faster than most heroes I know. And stopping my attack proves your strength is far greater than what your report suggests. Every super-powered individual is required by law to report their abilities honestly. So, let's run the tests again."
Peter finally realized what had happened. His instinctive reaction had exposed him, leaving no room to hide anymore.
By law, all superhuman powers had to be reported honestly. He had already stretched the rules during the first test. That was as far as he could go.
The new results soon came out.
His running speed wasn't too impressive, about twenty meters per second at full sprint. But his strength was another story. He could lift twelve tons, an incredible number for a sixteen-year-old whose body hadn't even finished developing. With proper growth and training, his maximum strength could very well reach fifty tons.
Yet more shocking than his power was his reaction ability.
Blindfolded, with his ears covered and mouth closed, Peter could still dodge attacks coming from any direction with ease.
When the tests ended, and his real abilities were revealed to everyone, Barry extended the invitation once more.
"I have to admit, Peter, your powers already surpass the majority of superheroes. And you have even greater potential. Hydra's threat to society grows worse by the day. We need your strength. I hope you'll choose to fight as a hero. Of course, this isn't mandatory. You still have the right to refuse."
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