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"Weekend treat you guys well?" Ned grinned, meeting Peter and Sylas at the school gate.
"Not bad," Sylas said. "What about you and Kate? Making progress?"
Ned's eyebrows danced. "Mission on target, sir!"
Peter groaned. "I swear, this guy needs a dating channel."
Sylas couldn't help smirking Ned's confidence was almost criminal.
---
Meanwhile — Midtown High Dormitory
"Thanks again, Claine," said Dr. Curt Connors, embracing his old friend.
"Don't mention it." Claine smiled. "You can stay here for a bit faculty perks. Once my house renovation's done, you can move in."
Connors nodded gratefully. They'd been high school classmates once one became a teacher, the other a scientist chasing miracles. When Connors found himself hunted and homeless, Claine was the only person he trusted enough to call.
"Gotta head to class. I'll grab you lunch from the cafeteria anything specific?"
"Anything's fine."
"Then hang tight. Back soon." Claine waved and left.
The moment his footsteps faded, Connors locked the door, set his case on the table, and flipped it open with trembling hands.
"New life," he whispered, smiling shakily. "It begins now."
He bit down on the cap of a syringe, drew up the Lizard Serum, and jabbed it into the vein of his upper arm.
For a heartbeat silence, Calm, Then—
"Ah—!" He doubled over as a white-hot pain tore through his stump. He bit down on a towel, muffling the scream.
Veins bulged. Muscles twitched, then regeneration.
Right before his eyes, bone and muscle grew, twisting, weaving, connecting. Within minutes his arm was whole again.
"My hand…" he whispered, tears streaking his face as he touched the regenerated limb with shaking fingers. "I did it, I really did—"
The triumph was shattered a moment later.
His skin rippled. Green scales erupted, spreading like wildfire. His hair fell out. Muscles swelled, bones lengthened, his spine bulged, and he tore through his shirt, forming a thick reptilian tail.
"No—no!"
The mirror cracked under his roar as he slammed a clawed fist into it.
The Lizard had been born.
He crashed through the dorm door and barreled down the hall, howling, shredding everything in his path. Luckily, most students were in class, for now.
---
Midtown High — Classroom 2B
"Something wrong, Sylas?" Peter whispered.
Sylas's skin prickled. His senses screamed. "Something's coming," he murmured.
The teacher, Mr. Claine, was mid-lecture when a thunderous noise ripped down the hall.
"What in the world—?" Claine stepped outside and froze.
Down the corridor, a hulking, green-scaled figure was charging toward him.
"Everyone! Run!" Claine shouted.
The class broke into chaos. Desks toppled, and Screams echoed.
"Lizard," Sylas muttered, eyes narrowing. The source of his unease is revealed.
Claine, brave but human, grabbed a chair and hurled it.
The Lizard's skull crashed through it like paper.
"Go!" Sylas yelled, grabbing Missy's arm and pulling her toward the exit.
"Claine…" the creature hissed, voice guttural, warped but still human somewhere deep inside.
Claine backed into a corner, trembling. "You… know me?"
The Lizard tilted his head, confusion flickering across his monstrous face, then rage took over. He lunged, claws outstretched.
Thwip!
A webline yanked his arm mid-swing, slamming him into a desk.
"Back off!" Spider-Man landed in the doorway, blue and red suit gleaming under the fluorescent lights.
Sylas exhaled, tension easing. Peter had arrived. He didn't have to reveal himself yet.
"Where'd you come from, bug?" the Lizard snarled, tearing the wooden wreckage apart.
"Neighborhood watch," Peter quipped and barely dodged a grab that dented the floor.
The Lizard caught him on the rebound, clamping both claws around Peter's torso and squeezing.
"Strong," Peter gritted, struggling to pry free. His spider-strength wasn't enough.
Clink!
A shuriken clattered against the Lizard's head, sparks flaring off the armored scales.
"Over here," a distorted voice said.
The Lizard turned seeing a black-clad figure step from the shadows.
"Hey—Sylas!" Peter gasped from the creature's grip. "Didn't know you had night vision!"
"Focus," Sylas said flatly.
The Lizard hurled Peter like a rag doll straight into a trash bin.
"Again with the garbage jokes," Peter muttered inside the metal can.
The air thickened as Sylas's shadow split open, spilling out his summoned Shadow Ninjas, faceless and silent.
"Another bug?" the Lizard growled. "This school's crawling with pests."
He charged, smashing through the first line of ninjas as they dissolved into smoke.
Peter swung beside Sylas, landing in a crouch. "Team-up?"
"Agreed," Sylas said. His voice echoed through the mask a low, mechanical dual tone.
"Dude," Peter said between breaths. "Your voice is awesome. Like a movie villain."
"Less talk." Sylas's eyes tracked the Lizard's movement. "He's not done."
The Lizard lunged again. Peter's webs caught both his arms.
"Got him!"
"Now pull!"
They hauled together but the Lizard simply braced, twisted, and charged forward, dragging them both like toys.
BOOM!
The impact sent Peter and Sylas flying through the ceiling tiles. Screams rang out from the upper floor as debris showered down.
"Students—!" Peter shot twin webs upward, catching two falling kids midair.
Below, Sylas's shadows surged upward, grabbing two more and whisking them to safety.
Pain bloomed across Sylas's ribs. His first real hit since awakening his powers.
"Guess even I can bleed," he muttered.
Peter landed beside him, grimacing. "You good?"
Sylas nodded. "He's faster than expected, We'll need a strategy."
"Good," Peter said, cracking his knuckles. "Because I was getting bored."
The Lizard's roar echoed through the halls, rattling lockers and windows alike.
The Campus Clash had begun.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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