Peter watched the city, the distant glow of neon lights reflecting in his mask's lenses. Wonder-woman stood beside him, sharp-eyed as always, scanning the streets below. The wind was cool at this height, carrying with it the distant sounds of a city that never truly slept.
His body was still thrumming from the battle at Oscorp, but his mind was elsewhere.
The enemy had taken the serum.
That fact alone told him that tonight's events weren't over—far from it. The Lizard had been strong, yes, but not strong enough to be a real threat to him. One Lizard wasn't the problem.
An army of them? That was a nightmare.
An armed army? Even worse.
Peter knew his enemies weren't fools. They were constantly watching, adapting, finding new ways to counter him. And as long as they kept improving, he needed to stay ahead.
His strength alone would never be enough—not in this world. If he stopped, if he slacked off, if he left things to other heroes…
What if they were late?
What if they failed?
It only took one failure for a city block, or an entire city, to be erased. He refused to let that happen.
This city was his priority. He would make it clear to all villains: New York was not safe for them.
He needed to be stronger.
Not just himself.
He needed a team.
A familiar voice echoed in his mind.
'Congratulations on the successful mission. I am impressed by your skills. You really are a fast learner, Peter.'
Yami.
Peter felt a small smile tug at his lips as he crouched on the water tower. He had just finished dropping Connor off with his family, making sure the professor was safe before heading back to patrol. He even stopped to take a picture with Billy before leaving.
Now he was back on the hunt.
Peter responded, 'Thanks for the compliment. I was wondering though—how strong can I actually get? I know you're supposed to be ridiculously powerful, but what about me?'
A moment of silence, then—
'Guess your mind finds it hard to accept this reality. Just as you expect, with my powers, you can reach at least 10% of my strength if you continue fighting and improving. You are my avatar in this world, so there is no way I would allow weakness.
'We are strong. We allow no weakness. We never lose to any outsider. We always come back with vengeance.'
Peter felt a chill run down his spine—not out of fear, but out of something else. Determination.
Power.
10% of Yami's strength…
That was insane.
He had been having doubts, wondering if he could really become that strong. If he wasn't dreaming too big.
But now—
Now he knew.
He had a goal.
'Thank you for clarifying it. It sounded too ridiculous, but now I know it's possible. Do you think I should try out the test?'
Yami hummed in thought before answering.
'Hmm… let's wait for another week. From now on, I will train you every day in the dream world.
'No, it isn't the same as normal training. This will improve your skills, not your body, since it is a dream. But you will only get a day's worth of training inside.'
Peter's eyes lit up. 'That's more than enough! Can the girls join in too? It would really make things easier.'
'They can. Since all of them are connected to you now.'
Peter grinned. 'Thank you, Yami. You're the best.'
'Hmph! I am always the best.'
Yami's voice was full of pride, and Peter could almost imagine her puffing up her cheeks in a cute, smug expression.
He chuckled.
Tonight had ended peacefully.
But the real battle was just beginning.
The night passed peacefully in the real world, but for Peter and the girls, it was a relentless battle of life and death.
Inside the dream world, 24 hours felt like an eternity.
Yami didn't hold back.
She hunted them down again and again, her attacks swift, brutal, and merciless. But each time she cut them down, she gave them advice, tactics, and insights into their weaknesses.
It wasn't a gentle learning experience. It was survival.
For Peter, this kind of training wasn't new. Naruto had done the same, but on an entirely different level. Back then, it was controlled yet incredibly painful. Yami was skilled, but she couldn't match her father's level. Not that anyone in the group could even tell—they were nowhere near strong enough to judge.
Despite the brutality, they improved.
Fighting Yami forced them to adapt.
It gave them a taste of what a real battle against overwhelming power felt like.
And, for the first time, they started working as a team.
Jess, Gwen, and Cindy each had their strengths, but Gwen improved the fastest. She already had a strong combat background, and watching Peter fight gave her new insights into how to approach Yami.
Had it been a normal dream, this experience would have broken them. The sheer hopelessness of facing someone so far above them—getting killed over and over—would have shattered their minds.
But Yami had no interest in creating brain-dead warriors.
She protected their minds while pushing their instincts, skills, and reflexes to their absolute limits.
By the time they woke up in the real world, they weren't masters—far from it.
But they could finally fight.
And that was only the beginning.
J. Jonah Jameson's Editorial: "Spider-Man vs. The Metal Menace – A Necessary Battle?"
By J. Jonah Jameson
Once again, New York found itself in the middle of a robotic nightmare. A swarm of high-tech killer machines tore through the city last night, spreading destruction and endangering innocent lives. Their origins? Unknown. Their creator? A mystery. But their purpose was clear—to hunt, destroy, and wreak havoc.
And who was there, in the middle of it all? Spider-Man.
Now, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: wherever Spider-Man goes, trouble follows. But I'll give him this—this time, the trouble wasn't his fault. These mechanical death traps weren't police drones, weren't military experiments gone rogue, and they sure as hell weren't city property. Which means they were illegal.
Who built them? The Kingpin? The Goblin King? Some other masked lunatic trying to stake his claim on this city? We don't know yet, but one thing is for certain: whoever sent them didn't have good intentions.
And while I hate to admit it… Spider-Man did the right thing taking them down.
I've always been critical of his reckless methods, and I stand by that. He swung through the city, engaged these machines in open combat, and caused his fair share of destruction. Webbing up collapsing buildings doesn't mean they weren't about to collapse because of his fight in the first place. But—and it pains me to say this—he made sure to get civilians out of the danger zone first.
Reports confirm that before engaging the machines, Spider-Man focused on evacuating the area. He pulled people out of crushed cars, webbed up falling debris, and made sure no one was caught in the crossfire. He didn't just fight—he protected.
And that's the part I can't ignore.
For once, I can say this: Spider-Man was not the problem—he was the solution.
Don't get used to it, web-head.
—J. Jonah Jameson
Editor-in-Chief, Daily Bugle
The morning news cycle was set on fire as multiple media outlets broadcasted a shocking video of Spider-Man rescuing the monstrous Lizard from an Oscorp facility. The footage, provided by Oscorp sources, painted a picture of Spider-Man not as the city's savior, but as an accomplice.
The questions came fast and loud:
Why was Spider-Man helping the Lizard escape?
Where is the Lizard now?
Is Spider-Man orchestrating these events?
Conspiracies ran wild. Some claimed Spider-Man staged attacks to make himself look like a hero. Others suggested he was working with the Lizard, protecting him from those who would stop him. Even with countless past examples proving Spider-Man's heroism, the public couldn't ignore the suspicious nature of this particular event.
Oscorp's influence over the media ensured that the story spread rapidly.
But not everyone was buying it.
Despite his long-standing criticism of Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson refused to run the story without verifying its legitimacy.
"You want me to trust proof handed over by a mega-corporation like Oscorp? The same company that's been at the center of multiple disasters, secret experiments, and corporate cover-ups? Ha! Try harder, Osborn!"
Jameson called the video highly suspicious, questioning the convenient timing of its release. He pointed out that Oscorp has been trying to paint itself as a clean, responsible company, yet mysterious, high-tech monsters and disasters always seem to trace back to their door.
"What's more likely? That the web-head, who's saved this city more times than I can count, is suddenly a criminal mastermind? Or that Norman Osborn, who's been caught red-handed in more shady dealings than a used car salesman, is trying to cover his own behind?"
While Jameson refused to praise Spider-Man, he made it clear that he wasn't trusting Oscorp either.
With Oscorp's media push, a significant portion of the city was now skeptical of Spider-Man. Protesters emerged in some areas, demanding answers about the Lizard's whereabouts. Meanwhile, Spider-Man's supporters defended him, claiming this was a corporate smear campaign meant to distract from Oscorp's own failures.
One thing was certain: Spider-Man's reputation had taken a hit.
And Norman Osborn wasn't done yet.
Sitting on the edge of a rooftop, Peter Parker clenched the latest edition of the Daily Bugle in his hands. He had planned to meet with Jameson later, but after seeing the way the media storm was snowballing, he knew he couldn't afford to wait.
Oscorp's doctored footage had ignited public suspicion. If he didn't get ahead of this, Norman Osborn might just succeed in turning the city against him.
But there was one thing in Peter's favor—J. Jonah Jameson wasn't an idiot.
The old-school journalist might rant and rave about Spider-Man, but he wasn't a corporate puppet. Unlike the other media outlets, he hadn't fully framed Spider-Man as a villain. Instead, he had asked the right questions, forcing people to think rather than just blindly accept Oscorp's version of the story.
That was enough for Peter.
For all his loud-mouthed theatrics, Jonah Jameson was one of the last true journalists in New York.
He had fought for fair wages for workers.
He had called out government corruption when no one else dared.
He had written truthful articles on mutants—defending the innocent and condemning the guilty.
He understood one thing better than anyone: Power corrupts, no matter who wields it.
And Oscorp was power.
Jameson wasn't fully on Spider-Man's side, but he wasn't blindly on Oscorp's either. That meant Peter still had a chance to turn this around.
With that thought, he made his decision.
It was time to pay J. Jonah Jameson a visit.
Peter left Jessica to practice alone, knowing she already had a solid grasp of her training. They would spar in the dream world later, so for now, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
It was 9 a.m., and Peter arrived at the Daily Bugle in full Spider-Man attire. He had known for a while that Norman Osborn would try something like this—it was only a matter of time before Oscorp weaponized the media against him.
But the speed at which the story had spread was alarming.
The internet had become a wildfire of speculation. Miserable people who thrived on negativity were spreading theories like venom, twisting events in ways that played right into Osborn's hands.
Spider-Man, the mastermind behind New York's chaos.
It was absurd, but Peter couldn't afford to ignore it.
He needed to act fast before the city turned against him.
Scaling the Daily Bugle's towering structure was child's play. Peter slipped inside from the rooftop, bypassing security like a shadow.
Inside the editor-in-chief's office, J. Jonah Jameson sat at his desk, flipping through articles.
The man was in his mid-forties, his brown hair streaked with white. Years of stress and determination had left their marks, but despite his age, he was in excellent shape. He worked out daily, maintained a strict diet, and even took firearms training for self-defense.
This wasn't just paranoia—Jameson had made powerful enemies.
Peter knew that Jonah wasn't foreign to killing in self-defense. The man had faced more than his fair share of criminals, and his journalism had put him on many hit lists.
As Spider-Man dropped from the ceiling, landing effortlessly in the middle of the room, Jonah's reaction was immediate.
His hand shot toward the alarm and his gun.
"Sorry, Can't Let You Do That."
Before Jameson could trigger the alarm, Peter closed the distance in a blur, stopping his hands mid-motion.
In the next second, he lifted Jameson effortlessly, carried him across the room, and set him down on the guest sofa.
Jameson grunted but didn't resist.
He quickly realized something—the alarm hadn't gone off, and no one had come running.
Spider-Man had planned for this. He was in control of the situation.
The journalist studied him with sharp eyes.
This was the new face of New York's vigilante scene.
To some, Spider-Man was a hero, the city's guardian. To others, he was a menace, an unknown variable who played by his own rules.
Or worse—a villain pretending to be a hero.
Jonah didn't know which category he fell into. But if Spider-Man was here, in his office, then the masked vigilante wanted something.
"If you're here to make me change my words…" Jonah leaned back, crossing his arms. "Then you should realize that's not happening."
His voice was steady, unwavering.
Peter raised a brow behind his mask. Impressive.
The man wasn't even shaken by what had just happened. Most people would have been terrified if Spider-Man disarmed them and dropped them onto a couch in seconds.
But J. Jonah Jameson wasn't most people.
For the first time in this encounter, Peter felt a small twinge of respect.
The man might be a loud, stubborn pain in the ass—but at least he had a backbone.
Peter locked the door before settling into the chair opposite Jonah. His body language was calm, his voice even.
"I'm not here to change your words, because you're not wrong," he admitted. "My purpose is unknown, and Lizard is gone. It's only natural for people to question it."
Jonah studied him for a moment, intrigued. The young hero had just admitted that the scrutiny was justified. That was rare. Most costumed vigilantes reacted defensively, lashing out at him for his articles.
This was different.
"I see you're better than I expected," Jonah said, leaning forward. "But what's your endgame? Why are you here?"
Peter didn't hesitate.
"I want to work with you, Jonah," he stated. "The Daily Bugle is the biggest media outlet in New York. If we work together, you can cover my actions, interview me, and help the people know me—really know me."
Jonah raised a brow. No hero had ever suggested something like this.
Peter continued. "I don't want people to fall for criminal lies. My goal is to clean up this city—just like you want."
A bold move. A new strategy.
For the first time, Jonah felt excited.
But excitement wasn't trust.
"And how do I know you're serious?" Jonah asked, arms crossed.
"You'll figure that out yourself," Peter said confidently. "I'll give you a real interview, answer what I can, and you can watch me every day as I work."
Jonah smirked. Clever. He liked seeing things with his own eyes.
"Alright," Jonah leaned back. "Then tell me—what happened to the Lizard?"
Peter didn't flinch.
"I fixed him, with the help of Dr. Reed Richards," he answered. "It was an accidental transformation from unstable experimental chemicals. You can check with Reed—I went to him last night. But I can't reveal the person's identity."
Jonah tapped his fingers on the desk. A good answer.
"I get it. If his identity got out, people would hunt him down," Jonah said, his voice gruff. He had seen it before—mutants, enhanced individuals, innocent people who were different, ostracized and even killed.
Jonah wasn't a cruel man.
"Alright, I won't dig into it," he said. "I'll confirm with Reed, but I understand the situation."
Peter grinned beneath his mask. "You're better than I expected, Jonah. I look forward to working with you. Let's make this city a better place."
He leaned forward, his voice lowering slightly.
"How about I dig up some dirt on Norman Osborn and Kingpin for you?"
Jonah's eyes widened slightly before a slow smile spread across his face.
"I'd like that very much, Spider-Man."
Jonah picked up his cell phone and dialed a number.
The phone rang for a moment before Reed Richards answered. The scientist was enjoying breakfast with his family, but the news had already reached him.
"Jonah," Reed greeted, his voice professional.
"I take it you've seen the mess on the news," Jonah said.
"I have," Reed admitted. "I was already planning to fix the narrative."
"Good. Then let's set the record straight. Was the Lizard really an accident?"
"Yes," Reed confirmed. "An unstable chemical reaction. Spider-Man brought him to me, and we managed to reverse the transformation. The man is fine now."
Jonah exhaled, satisfied.
That was all he needed to hear.
"Thanks, Reed. I'll handle it from here."
After ending the call, Jonah turned back to Peter.
"I'll work with you," he said firmly. "But if you step out of line, I won't hold back."
Peter chuckled. "Wouldn't expect anything less."
Reaching into his suit, he placed a small object on Jonah's desk. A communication necklace, inscribed with fuinjutsu seals.
Jonah picked it up, studying it.
"You're a magician too?" he muttered. "Guess that explains why you didn't just use a phone."
"Phones can be hacked. This can't. You can talk to me just by wishing for it."
Jonah nodded, appreciating the gesture.
Grabbing his desk phone, he called his secretary.
"Get me a morning broadcast slot at 10 a.m.," Jonah ordered. "We have an exclusive interview with Spider-Man."
Peter smirked.
It was time to tell his side of the story.