"Coward! How long do you plan to hide? Going to live the rest of your life like a turtle in its shell? Pathetic!"
"Shut up! This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, I'd never have sunk this low—never have committed such unforgivable sins!"
The other voice echoed in Norman Osborn's head, low and mocking. The Green Goblin's laughter rattled inside his skull like broken glass. Norman clutched his head and fell to his knees, shaking as tears cut through the grime on his face.
"Hah! Don't blame me, Norman," the Goblin sneered. "I didn't create your madness—I just gave it form. I'm your truth. I'm the hunger you kept chained up. Now… let's go find that brat and his spider friend. Burn their world. Tear down this filthy city!"
Norman's breathing grew ragged, his eyes twitching. The more the Goblin spoke, the faster his sanity unraveled until it finally—snapped.
A twisted grin spread across his face. "Ha… hahaha! My Green Goblin is back! Ryuuto, Spider-Man… I'll crush you both with my own hands!"
He jumped onto his latest glider—a monstrosity armed with missile racks and plasma thrusters—and roared into the air, laughter echoing through the broken lab.
Then a calm, mocking voice sliced through the noise.
"Honestly, with your current state, you'd barely last a minute against that kid."
The Goblin froze mid-motion. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
He scanned the shadows, eyes bloodshot, every nerve on edge.
From the dim doorway, a metallic figure stepped into view. Silver armor glinted under the flickering lights. The smirk on his face was unmistakable.
"Still so paranoid, Norman? You really haven't changed," Ultron said, voice smooth and venomous.
"It's you," the Goblin spat. His hostility wavered into suspicion, then annoyance. "Didn't we have an agreement? I told you not to interfere."
Ultron gave a lazy shrug. "Relax. I'm not here to break deals. I'm here to improve them."
"I don't need your help," the Goblin hissed, hopping back on his glider. "Leave. Now."
Ultron chuckled. "You really should listen first." He tossed a metal sphere to the corner—it began ticking ominously.
"See that?" Ultron said, red optics gleaming. "That's a time bomb. You don't have long. If I were you, I'd take this chance to go wild—loot, destroy, let New York burn. You like that sort of thing, don't you?"
The Goblin's voice turned sharp. "What the hell are you planning, machine?"
Ultron turned his back, speaking almost idly. "Simple. That brat, Ryuuto, is on his way—with Spider-Man. If you stay here, you'll die. But if you leave now… someone else might just keep them busy for you."
"Hah! Why should I believe you? Green Goblin fears no one!"
Ultron's smirk didn't fade. "Then prove it. Survive."
As Ultron vanished into the shadows, Norman's body trembled with fury. His nails dug into his palms so deep that blood dripped down his wrists.
"Ryuuto… Spider-Man… I'll kill you both," he growled, veins bulging in his forehead.
Ultron's fading voice echoed in the room like a curse.
"Face it, Norman. You're not their equal yet. Crawl if you must. Live long enough to hate again."
Norman's jaw clenched. His thoughts spiraled into chaos—rage, shame, pride, all gnawing at once. Then, slowly, he lifted his head, eyes burning green.
"One day," he whispered, "I'll kill them all… including you, Ultron. Only I will rule this world!"
His gaze snapped toward the bomb's blinking timer. A snarl split his face. He mounted his glider and shot through the shattered windows like a demon unchained, the explosion blooming behind him.
Above the city, his manic laughter merged with the wind.
"Everything's going exactly as I planned," Ultron murmured from a nearby rooftop, watching the chaos unfold. His grin was pure malice. "Showtime begins now. Don't mess it up."
Behind him, two massive figures stirred.
The Destroyer, armor glowing molten red.
Lauf, the frost giant warlord of Jotunheim, sneering with contempt.
"You better be right," Lauf rumbled. "If that brat slips through again, I'll tear you apart next."
Ultron just tilted his head, unbothered.
Below them, legions of robotic soldiers and towering ice giants waited in silence—an army hiding in the ruins of New York, ready for the coming war.
And somewhere far away, on a telephone pole high above the street, a brown ninja hound suddenly froze. His ears perked. His nose twitched.
"Huh?" Parker muttered, sniffing the air. "Something's off…"
"Did he find something?" Gwen whispered, leaning closer. Her fingers tightened around Ryuuto's hand.
Ryuuto's eyes narrowed. "Yeah," he said quietly. "The city's about to wake up in fire."