On the Bus
The school trip to Osborn Industries was underway, and the bus was alive with chatter and laughter. Teenagers were scattered across the seats, some playing games, others napping, and many engrossed in their own conversations. In the last row, two couples seemed entirely disconnected from the chaos around them. Aadi and Maya sat together, lost in their own world. Maya was perched on Aadi's lap, her arms wrapped comfortably around his neck as she appeared to sleep peacefully. Nearby, Peter and Gwen were holding hands quietly, exchanging soft glances and whispers.
As Aadi held Maya close, his thoughts drifted to what might happen today. Is this the moment Peter gets bitten by the mutant spider? I need to be part of the scene when Spider-Man is born—what kind of reward will the system grant me for that?
Gently opening his eyes, Aadi glanced at Maya. Her serene face was illuminated by the warm sunlight filtering through the window, and her lips curved slightly in a dreamy smile. Assuming she was content in her sleep, he reached out to brush her cheek softly. What he didn't realize was that Maya wasn't actually asleep—she was pretending, lost in her own thoughts. His scent is so comforting, and sleeping on his shoulder feels so safe and peaceful. But the fact that I can't read his mind anymore frustrates me. Maya had long realized that Aadi's strength had grown to the point where he could sense any attempt she made to peer into his thoughts.
Feeling Aadi's hand caress her cheek, Maya decided to "wake up." When her eyes met his, Aadi leaned in closer, their faces mere inches apart. Without hesitation, their lips met in a tender kiss that quickly deepened, their affection evident to everyone on the bus. Maya hesitated briefly, aware of the curious gazes around them, but eventually reciprocated fully, much to Aadi's delight.
Peter and Gwen's Moment
Peter and Gwen, sitting nearby, watched Aadi and Maya with amusement. Gwen nudged Peter gently and whispered, "Hey, look at those two. They're so bold—kissing on the bus like they own the place. Why don't you kiss me too?"
Peter blushed furiously, his face reddening at her suggestion. "Uh… Gwen… can we not? There are so many people around. I'm… I'm not like them."
Gwen's face turned sour, and she let go of his hand in frustration. "You're always so shy, Peter. Sometimes it's really annoying." She crossed her arms and turned to stare out the window, her irritation evident.
Peter, though flustered, couldn't help but find her adorable even when she was annoyed. Resolving to make up for his hesitation, he checked to ensure no one was watching—they were all focused on Aadi and Maya. Taking a deep breath, Peter gently cupped Gwen's face with both hands and leaned in for a soft kiss.
Gwen's initial surprise melted into shy happiness as she reciprocated. Her annoyance faded entirely, and a small smile spread across her face. When Peter pulled away, he asked nervously, "Are you happy now?"
Gwen's radiant smile answered him completely. "Very happy," she replied, her irritation transformed into gratitude.
Arrival at Osborn Industries
The teacher's voice broke the intimate moments between both couples. "Alright, everyone," Mr. Edward announced, "we've arrived at Osborn Industries. Grab your backpacks and be ready to enter the lab."
Embarrassed by their public display, Aadi and Maya broke their kiss, their faces flushing as laughter erupted around them. The other students teased them playfully, but the couple couldn't help but laugh along. Peter and Gwen also seemed to enjoy the lighthearted atmosphere as the group filed off the bus and entered the lab.
The Birth of Spider-Man
The group was led into a large room containing various experiments and displays, including a section showcasing genetically modified spiders. Scientists explained how the spiders had been engineered to possess unique abilities, detailing their potential uses in research.
Curious, Peter wandered off toward a smaller room that housed additional specimens. He immediately noticed something unusual about one of the enclosures. "Sir," he called out to the scientist, "one of the spiders is missing."
The scientist hurried over to inspect the enclosure, his face tightening with alarm. "You're right," he said. "Everyone, please exit the lab immediately. These spiders are highly venomous, and we can't take any risks."
As the students began filing out, Peter turned to leave, but the missing spider crawled onto his neck unnoticed. Before he could react, it sank its fangs into his skin, delivering a potent dose of venom. Feeling the sharp sting, Peter slapped at his neck instinctively, thinking it was just a bug. The spider, however, leapt away unharmed, quickly slipping into Gwen's open backpack, where it remained hidden.
Aadi's System Activation
As the spider bit Peter, Aadi's system responded instantly.
[The birth of the Spider-Man scene has been detected. Does the host wish to sign in?]
"Yes," Aadi replied without hesitation.
[Congratulations! The host has acquired all production methods for Spider-Man suits and has unlocked the Silver Superman template as an additional reward.]
Aadi smiled, thinking, Brainiac will find the suit designs useful for creating something exceptional for Peter. As for the Silver Superman template... merging it with my own abilities could open new possibilities.
[The system has detected that the host and template are of the same type. Would the host like to merge them?]
"Yes," Aadi said.
The merge completed seamlessly, granting Aadi a 10% boost in strength—a substantial increase for someone at Tier 1.
Heading Home
Peter began feeling unwell after the incident. Turning to the teacher, he said, "Sir, I feel dizzy. I need to go home."
Concerned, the teacher nodded. "Aadi, can you take Peter home and make sure he gets some rest?"
Aadi agreed, helping Peter off the bus as the rest of the students returned to school.
At Home
Aunt May greeted them at the door, her expression shifting to concern. "Why are you home so early? Did something happen?"
Aadi reassured her. "Mom, Peter's not feeling well. He's just a little dizzy—it's nothing serious. He'll be fine after some rest."
Aunt May nodded, her worry easing. "Alright. Let him sleep. Aadi, make sure he's comfortable."
Later, as Peter lay in bed, Aadi used his extraordinary vision to examine him. He observed the genetic changes taking place within Peter's DNA, the spider's venom rewriting his genetic code. Fascinated, Aadi decided to let the process run its course, knowing that Peter's transformation into Spider-Man was imminent.
Meanwhile, in Gwen's room, the escaped spider remained hidden in her bag, waiting for its next opportunity to emerge…
The Author's Note
Hey, everyone! Thanks for waiting patiently for updates. Last week was hectic—I had exams, assignments, and college events keeping me busy. Writing this longer chapter feels like redemption, and I'm planning another one tonight if we hit 10 power stones.
Your support means a lot—keep adding the story to your collections and sending those stones my way!
Take care, and I'll see you in the next chapter!