SHWICK!
Peter swung up to the ceiling using a web, performed a nimble 180-degree flip in the air, changing from head-up to head-down, then lightly pushed off the ceiling with his feet. His body dropped quickly. As he passed the beam where Noir and the others were standing, Peter extended both hands, gently pressing against the steel, executing another mid-air flip, and landed steadily back on the beam.
Clap, clap, clap—Spider-Ham, Gwen, and Middle-Aged Peter applauded.
"That was a very good performance!" Gwen praised. "Heh heh—" Peter blushed slightly, grinning.
He felt his progress over the last half hour had been incredibly fast. Moreover, the potential within his body was constantly being unlocked. Super-agility, superhuman balance, body coordination—all had improved dramatically. He didn't know why his powers had been dormant earlier and now experienced such a sudden change. It felt like a reservoir with a closed floodgate had finally been opened, and the water was rushing out furiously.
Just as Peter was basking in his self-satisfaction, Spider-Man Noir walked over to him. Noir was about the same height as Peter, but when Peter looked into his eyes hidden behind the goggles, he involuntarily felt smaller. It was a difference in presence and aura.
"It seems you are quite satisfied with your performance?" Noir asked grimly.
Peter looked puzzled: "Did I do something wrong? I feel fantastic right now, and my condition is excellent!"
"Hmph..." Noir scoffed softly. "Surprise attack!" He suddenly lashed out with a closed fist, smashing it squarely into Peter's chest.
Peter, completely unprepared for the sneak attack, took the full force of the punch. The beam was narrow. Hit by the blow, Peter was knocked straight off the beam.
It took him half a second while freefalling to register what had happened. "He actually sneak-attacked me?!" Peter was furious and reached out a hand, ready to swing back up and demand an explanation from Spider-Man Noir.
However, Noir instantly moved like lightning. THWIP— A web shot out from his hand and landed squarely on the web-shooter on Peter's wrist, gluing it shut. Peter was startled and quickly reached out with his left hand. He had a web-shooter on both the left and the right. Yet, another web shot out, sealing the web-shooter on his left wrist as well.
THUD! After those two hits, Peter was completely disabled from counterattacking. He had finished his freefall and landed heavily on the floor, kicking up dust everywhere. He wasn't wearing his mask, so he instantly inhaled a mouthful of dirt.
"Ptooey! Ptooey!" Peter stood up, spitting out the dirt, then rubbed his backside—he had landed squarely on his butt, and it hurt a little. "What are you doing?" After taking care of himself, he finally had the time to look up and demand an explanation from Noir.
WHOOSH! The response he received was not an explanation, but a descending kick from above! SMACK! Peter was kicked away again. This kick also landed on his chest, delivered with tremendous force, just centimeters from his heart. It left his chest feeling tight and breathless.
STEP—Spider-Man Noir quickly stepped down, looked at Peter sitting in the dust, and said coldly: "With that level of skill, you'll only be a liability to us. What is there to be so smug about?" With that, he shot a web to the ceiling and swung away.
"I..." Peter watched Noir swing away, opening his mouth, but nothing came out. He had been completely woken up. That feeling of self-satisfaction that comes with newly acquired power—the arrogant belief that the world is in your grasp—was thoroughly beaten out of him by Noir's precise punches and kicks. He felt a sense of deep shame.
"Oh—he looks genuinely upset," Spider-Ham jumped off the beam and landed next to Peter. "I have a hot dog here, which I asked Aunt May to make extra for me. How about I split it with you? You can take half to apologize to him? It's cold, but it still tastes great."
"Thanks, but no. I'll apologize," Peter mumbled.
Gwen and Middle-Aged Peter also jumped down. Middle-Aged Peter offered comfort: "Don't worry, you're already doing well. However, when we face enemies, we must always be extremely vigilant. We cannot be arrogant, or we will harm ourselves and others." Although he knew Peter might not appreciate a lecture right now, Middle-Aged Peter felt compelled to speak. He didn't want Peter to lose his life because of overconfidence!
Peter nodded earnestly and sincerely: "I understand. I know you're all doing this for my own good. I will remember this." Middle-Aged Peter smiled broadly and offered his hand. Peter took it and was pulled to his feet. Middle-Aged Peter helped brush the dust off his suit and then smiled: "Alright, in that case, let's head back."
Gwen also walked up to him. Unlike the Peters, who offered warning and instruction, she said to Peter: "Actually, many of your movements are quite practical; it's just that some of them are too flashy. You can try to eliminate the unnecessary parts."
Peter nodded. Those moves were indeed practical. Although the game he played was created with the help of effects and computers, many of the movements were designed with combat logic in mind and held inherent reference value. However, it was only "reference" material. To a true Spider-Man, those movements looked excessively showy. Especially to a utilitarian like Spider-Man Noir, Peter's movements were ludicrous, like a clown's act. And Peter had been entirely too pleased with himself. This was why Noir had been angry!
"But some of your movements resemble dance moves, like that aerial screw turn—it looks like something from ballet," Gwen observed. "Did you study ballet?"
Peter flushed. That move was used in the game to "build focus"—performing high-difficulty spins in the air accumulated "focus" for special abilities. Experienced players used it while traveling to fully charge the meter for easier combat. But there was no such thing as "focus" in reality, making the move flashy and functionally useless.
"No, no, I didn't. Would you believe me if I said that was a Taekwondo move?"
"Oh, it actually looks a bit like one." Gwen looked thoughtful.
Following that, the group left the abandoned warehouse and headed back to Aunt May's house. Before they even walked through the door, they heard Miles's slightly panicked voice:
"Listen to me, I discovered a huge secret! My uncle, my uncle Aaron, is actually The Prowler!"