Chapter 105: The Strange Brown Fur
"Based on the formula book Connors left behind, I found that Connors made one step incorrectly, and it was that error that caused Connors to become the Lizard."
"I thought to myself, if I could re-calculate the formula, could I succeed?" Klein explained.
Peter interrupted, "So, Teacher, you went and did it?"
"Yes, but I was very cautious. The gene serums I created were small doses, so they wouldn't affect the entire body."
"I initially chose ant genes. An ant can lift over four hundred times its own weight, and ants are very common, so they seemed like a good first experimental target."
Because Connors' Lizard transformation left a significant psychological shadow on Klein, he didn't directly use Connors' Lizard Serum formula. Instead, he used the formula as a template to derive the genes of an ant and fuse them with his own.
"Later, I successfully developed the ant serum. Because it was a small dose, I boldly injected it."
"The unexpected result was that a pair of long mandibles grew out of my mouth."
Klein pointed to his mandibles. "Fortunately, the mandibles can retract freely, leaving no trace. My strength was boosted, but not to the astonishing level of an ant. I can, at most, lift twice my own weight."
"Then what about you now, Teacher?" Peter asked.
Silas said exasperatedly, "Peter, let the Teacher finish first, okay?"
"Got it," Peter immediately shut up.
Klein laughed. "It's alright, Peter."
"The ant gene failed, so I turned my attention to the mantis. I specifically bought a praying mantis online to study."
"Later, I succeeded again. But this time was different; I injected a full-version serum," Klein stated.
Silas asked, confused, "But ants and mantises don't have this brown fur?"
The brown fur clearly belonged to a mammal, but Klein only mentioned two insects. Where did the brown fur come from?
"I'm not sure," Klein genuinely wasn't lying. Since both sides had come clean, there was no need to hide anything else.
No! There was one thing Klein hadn't mentioned: that he had eaten the hearts and brains of four people.
"I see," Silas said, having finished his juice. Silas now understood the whole story. So, this was all a misunderstanding?
"But Silas, how did you two become Spider-Man and the Black-Clad Man?" Klein asked, feeling a little envious. They possessed great power but still looked completely normal.
Silas and Peter exchanged a glance and told him everything truthfully. Peter generously confessed that he was bitten by a spider. Silas explained that he inherited the knowledge of a great magician. He didn't mention being bitten by a spider himself.
"You guys have truly good luck," Klein said with a wry smile. Why did he have to turn into a monster?
Silas stood up. "Since we've cleared things up, I'll head back now, Teacher."
"Why the rush to go back?" Klein asked.
Silas rolled his eyes. "Teacher, you still punished me to write a written promise."
"Haha~ Alright, you don't need to write the promise. You were always late because you were saving citizens, weren't you?" Klein rationalized to himself. He finally understood why Silas was frequently late—it was due to fighting crime.
"That's right, Teacher, I can't believe you guessed it," Silas went along with Klein's explanation. Does this mean he could use this excuse whenever he was late in the future?
"Then we'll be going now, Teacher." Seeing Silas leave, and since it was getting late, Peter figured he'd hang out for a bit and then go home to play video games with Silas.
"Mhm, you boys are still growing, so make sure you get plenty of rest," Klein advised.
Silas noticed the mess in the house. He immediately summoned a dozen Shadowkhan ninjas and said, "Teacher, these people will clean the house thoroughly. Once the house is spotless, they will return on their own."
"Thank you, Silas," Klein said gratefully. It would take him ages to clean it all up himself.
Peter was about to leave, but remembering Klein's current appearance, he asked, "But Teacher, what are you going to do tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? I'm not sure. You might have a new teacher," Klein said resignedly. How could he go to school to face the students looking like this?
"Although, I actually turned into this form yesterday, too, but I turned back for some reason," Klein mentioned.
Peter paused for a moment, then jumped out the window and swung away on a web. Silas nodded to Klein and went home.
Watching Silas and Peter leave, Klein fell into deep thought. He couldn't believe his students were Spider-Man and the Black-Clad Man. The two people he revered as idols were his students? And he had punished his idol by making him write a promise?
"The world truly is interesting," Klein sighed.
Silas's Room
"What a strange thing that happened tonight," Silas said, taking off his black costume.
Little Black emerged from the Shadow Realm. Master, the task you assigned me has been completed.
"Mhm," Silas replied.
After seeing Big Black make a huge mistake, Silas ordered Little Black to find the resurrected Big Black and turn him back into black smoke. Since Big Black had "sacrificed" himself on a mission this time, Silas directly revived him, but now he decided against leaving him alone, making Big Black learn his lesson. He still blamed himself, though: Big Black's intelligence was low; he should have had Little Black scout first and then let Big Black go in as the sacrifice once the situation was clear.
"The power the Teacher acquired this time is truly impressive," Silas said, lying on his chair.
Big Black's laser sword couldn't cut Klein's arm, only leaving behind charred brown fur. In the fight with Big Black, Klein had also easily sliced through the thrown shuriken with his bone blades.
Silas also noticed the antennae on Klein's forehead. That detail must have some use, even though Klein hadn't demonstrated it.
Little Black sat beside Silas, writing a report about Klein, recording his abilities.
"Little Black, later, take the Tara Mask and go fight Klein. I need the Teacher's data." Silas instructed.
Although Klein currently held no malice toward him and was a very kind teacher, that didn't stop Silas from taking precautions. Klein now possessed this power, and his and Peter's identities had been exposed. If Klein were to undergo any future changes, such as a shift in personality or becoming consumed by this power, then a fight would be inevitable. Knowing one's enemy allows one to win every battle, and that was better than knowing nothing.
Less than ten minutes later, Peter arrived in Silas's room and started playing video games with him.
Morning
The Parker brothers ate breakfast and arrived at school, slightly nervous. Had Klein turned back to normal or not?
As the students settled back into their seats, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
"Good morning, students."
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