The Dominator's muzzle flared with blinding light. A pulse screamed forward, slamming into the street and erupting in a thunderclap. Pavement cracked. Windows shattered. The circle of villains staggered back under the shockwave.
Doctor Octopus steadied herself on her writhing metal arms, smirking.
"Well. That's one way to say hello. Explosive greeting, Peter."
Her tentacles scraped sparks against the asphalt as she advanced.
Maximus Gargan twirled his tail like a whip, venom sizzling where it struck the ground.
"Jajajaja. Mira eso. Little bugs finally come out to play." His eyes locked on Gwendolyn. "I'm gonna crush you like cucarachas."
The fight erupted in chaos.
Noir's trench coat snapped like a banner as he dove headlong into Tombstone, trading bone-cracking blows. Spider-Ham leapt between Octavius's tentacles, squealing and spinning his mallet with cartoonish fury while Peter B. became a blur of fat and intent. Peni's mech fired suppressive plasma, forcing Gargan to whip his tail against the blast while Gwendolyn and Gwen were like lethal dancers, weaving deadly intent with stunning grace. Peter had no fixed targets he was blurring around and leaving hit with every chance he got.
And in the middle of the chaos
The Prowler.
His purple neon lit the noon air like a predator's eyes. Every movement was sharp, efficient, and aimed at one target.
Miles.
The boy ran, panic and desperation fueling every swing of his shaky webs. The Prowler followed without mercy, claws carving into brick, bike tires screeching up walls as if the street itself bent for him.
They clashed at the edge of a suburban rooftop, Kingpin in his car a little far away.
Miles's chest heaved. His voice cracked through the mask.
"Uncle Aaron… it's me. It's Miles."
For the first time, the Prowler hesitated. His claws retracted halfway. His breath caught inside the mask.
Prowler pulled off Miles's mask. His face was wet with tears, eyes wide, pleading.
"I'm Spider-Man uncle Aaron."
The neon visor flickered. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the roar of the city below.
Then Aaron's voice, raw and hollow, cut through the mask.
"…Miles."
His claws snapped shut. He grabbed Miles by the chest—
And shoved him away.
"Go."
But before Miles could move, a gunshot cracked through the noon air.
The bullet tore through Aaron's back.
Miles screamed as his uncle staggered, neon flickering and dying. From the opposite rooftop, Kingpin lowered the smoking pistol, his massive frame framed in the sunlight. His voice was cold.
"Should've finished the job."
Aaron collapsed into the alley.
Miles scrambled down, cradling him. His uncle's breaths came shallow, blood dark against the concrete.
Aaron's hand rose, trembling, touching Miles's mask one last time. His voice was a whisper.
"You're… the best of us. Don't… let them… take that from you."
The light left his eyes. His body fell still.
Miles's sob tore from his chest, but he forced himself up. His webs snapped taut as he swung away, grief and fire twisting in his veins.
Below, sirens wailed.
Jefferson Davis rushed into the alley, gun drawn. He froze when he saw the body. His brother.
He fell to his knees beside Aaron, hands shaking as he pressed uselessly against the wound.
"Come on… come on, stay with me, man."
But Aaron was gone.
Jefferson's radio crackled. He lifted it with numb fingers, voice breaking as he forced the words out.
"This is Officer Davis. We have… we have a body. And a new Spider-Man in the city. I repeat. A new Spider-Man."
His eyes lifted to the sky where Miles had disappeared.
With grief in his chest he looked at the figure if Spiderman with hatred.
The mask had claimed its cost. Again.
Read 39 chapters ahead on P.A.T.R.E.O.N
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