"What—!"
Norman's scream tore through the lab before he collapsed, convulsing violently. His veins bulged, skin turning a sickly shade of green, muscles twisting like something inside him was trying to claw its way out.
A guttural voice echoed in his mind.
"You pathetic worm. Weak. Worthless. All your brilliance, wasted."
"Who—who's talking?! Stop! Get out of my head!" Norman clutched his skull, writhing on the floor. His thoughts fractured under the onslaught of madness.
He didn't know it yet, but something monstrous had been born inside his mind—an entity born from rage, fear, and the unstable serum in his veins. The Human Enhancement Formula didn't just alter his body. It freed the darkness inside him.
"Remember me," the voice hissed. "I am Green Goblin. And you… are me."
Norman's scream twisted into laughter—high-pitched, hysterical, unhinged. His pupils dilated, then split, like the world itself was fracturing through his gaze.
"Now, get up," the Goblin ordered. "Burn. Break. Kill. Let the world tremble before us!"
Norman's grin widened. "Yes… yes, I'll make them all see. We'll show them!"
The man called Norman Osborn was gone. In his place stood the first whisper of a monster—the Green Goblin, his madness glowing behind a cruel, jagged smile.
He tore through his research, destroying every scrap of evidence, and began crafting his own weapons of chaos. His first target was clear.
Spider-Man.
Elsewhere in Manhattan, Ryuuto and Gwen were strolling down the street, their hands brushing.
A chime rang in his mind:
[Ding! New Mission Unlocked!]
[Assist Spider-Man in locating and defeating the villain "Green Goblin." Rewards: Massive EXP + Hidden Item.]
Ryuuto blinked. "Hah, perfect timing. Just when I was getting bored."
[Careful, Master,] Shion yawned lazily. [This one's not your average street punk. He's… weird. Very stabby energy.]
"Relax," Ryuuto said, flexing his fingers. "If he's got a green face, I'll just make him see red."
He turned to Gwen, flashing a grin. "Up for a little hero work?"
She smiled shyly, cheeks pink. "Anywhere you go, I'll follow."
Before Ryuuto could respond, an ugly voice cut through the air—mocking, sharp, and cruel.
"Tch. What a cute couple. Makes me sick."
Ryuuto's smile froze. He didn't even need to turn to know trouble had arrived.
From the rooftops, dozens of figures dropped down, weapons gleaming under the city lights.
At the front were three familiar faces—Lauf, the frost brute; Heimdall, the golden-eyed sentinel; and the Destroyer, armor gleaming with burning runes.
The crowd panicked instantly. Screams filled the street as civilians fled, scattering like leaves in a storm.
"Ryuuto!" Gwen stepped closer, tension rising.
He raised a hand. "Stay calm. They're just recycling old grudges."
Lauf sneered. "You thought you could hide among humans? Pathetic. We've come to finish what you started!"
The Destroyer clenched his fists, eyes blazing. "You humiliated me once. Never again!"
The street trembled as power flared from both sides—heat, frost, and tension crackling through the air.
Ryuuto sighed. "You guys never learn, huh? I was actually looking for the bad guy tonight, and you idiots volunteered yourselves. Touching."
Gwen snorted. "Maybe they're still dizzy from the last time you smacked them into the pavement."
He grinned. "That must be it. Poor souls."
"Enough!" Lauf bellowed, frost swirling around him. "Kneel or die, human!"
Ryuuto tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "Big words for someone who's about to be a popsicle."
He stepped forward, chakra flaring—crimson light wrapping around his arm like a living flame.
[Host Energy Surge Detected. Mode: Combat Initiated.]
The air snapped. Asphalt cracked beneath his feet. Gwen's hair whipped in the wind.
Ryuuto raised one hand, voice calm.
"Come on, then. Let's see who melts first."
And with that, the battle began.
...
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