Chapter 78: CHAPTER 77: Confrontation, Part 1
Sewer System – New York Underground
The Lizard stared intently at the dispersion device before him. The metallic casing emitted steam and pulsed slightly, indicating it was about to activate. Above the equipment, a holographic display projected a sequence of floating red numbers: 99%.
"It's almost complete…" he muttered, his voice hoarse and full of excitement.
His reptilian eyes, with vertical pupils, gleamed with a mix of ecstasy and madness. That machine represented the pinnacle of his evolutionary vision—a world where human weakness no longer existed.
Thirty minutes passed. The display flashed again, now reading: 100%.
"Perfect," he whispered with satisfaction. Without hesitation, he raised one of his claws and slashed the energized wires connected to the top of the device. Sparks danced in the air as the energy was redirected to the main unit.
With precise movements, the Lizard strapped the device to his back using reinforced hooks and belts. An automatic mechanism locked it in place, adjusting the weight to his body.
"Now… let the whole world join in the glorious evolution!"
With a twisted grin, he moved swiftly through the tunnels until he discreetly emerged from a maintenance entrance—located in the basement of the Freedom Tower. His movements were nearly silent, and he climbed up to the ceiling, hiding within the shadows and gaps of the metallic structure.
Any security personnel who got too close... didn't live long enough to raise an alarm. One or two guards vanished in silence, their deaths masked by the muffled sounds of sharp claws and breaking bones.
Step by step, the Lizard advanced toward the top floor—the perfect place to activate the device at full capacity.
---
Freedom Tower Exterior – 7:47 PM
George Stacy had kept his men on alert there for nearly twenty hours.
Despite all the surveillance and attention, no sign of suspicious activity had appeared—until now.
George looked at the towering building and sighed. It was getting hard to keep the team's morale up. Exhaustion and skepticism had started surfacing in muffled voices over the radio.
"Dr. Connors, are you sure Peter would begin his operation here?" George asked, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.
Beside him, Connors—still shaken and restless—nodded. "Yes... all the signs point here. He needs a structure capable of mass dispersion, and the top of the Freedom Tower is ideal for that. If I were in his place… I'd choose this location."
Even so, the lack of any concrete movement was causing the men to lose faith. George knew that some of them were only still there out of respect for his leadership.
The radio crackled. Complaints from other officers came through faintly:
— "We've been here for almost an entire day!" — "This guy doesn't even have a terrorism record, what's the big deal?" — "He's probably just another crazy lunatic!"
George frowned. He knew that even if the situation seemed calm, the storm could hit at any moment. And it did.
A new voice—different from all the previous ones—echoed through the radios connected to the building's security channel:
— "Alert. We've detected abnormal movement in the basement. Any nearby patrols, please investigate immediately."
George's eyes widened. The voice came from the WTC's internal security team.
(This is real. He's here.)
"Teams One and Two, block all sewer exits around the building! No one goes in or out!"
"Team Three, bring the containment weapons and follow me inside!"
Connors hurried after George, stepping out of the vehicle and putting on a bulletproof vest.
George handed him a pistol.
"You know how to use this?"
"Of course. As a military doctor, firearms training is mandatory," Connors replied—firm, though clearly afraid.
"Good. Stay sharp. Protect yourself at all costs."
Another, more urgent warning came through the radio:
— "The basement patrols… are gone!"
— "Wait… what is that—"
— "Gyaaaaaaah!"
The piercing scream was followed by a terrible sound of bones snapping... and chewing.
Everyone froze for a second. George clenched his jaw and pulled on his helmet.
"If Peter keeps this up… there won't be anything left of him to save."
He turned to the officers.
"Everyone ready?!"
"READY!"
"Then move! Let's go!"
The SWAT team and heavily armed police officers stormed through the building's main doors, while George issued orders to evacuate the civilians as quickly as possible.
Unlike the bureaucracy-ridden Oscorp, the Freedom Tower's security was much more cooperative.
George picked up the radio and announced clearly:
— "Attention, Freedom Tower internal security. This is the New York Police Department. An out-of-control mutant has been detected in your building. Begin immediate evacuation!"
The announcement hit like a bomb. The internal guards panicked at the word "mutant," but seeing the heavily equipped police forces moving in formation made them realize this was no joke.
George tightened his jaw. He knew this night would not end in peace.
---
POV – Gwen
Buildings blurred past as Gwen swung between them at full speed, her senses heightened and the new suit adapting perfectly to her body.
In front of her, Ruby's holographic projection continued to guide her, explaining the suit's functions with surgical precision through her mask's visor.
Gwen tried to absorb it all at once, but the number of functions was overwhelming. In her vision, a bright interface displayed dozens of commands, tactical readings, and action possibilities.
"Wow… that's way too much to remember all at once," Gwen muttered, frowning at the flood of information.
Ruby replied in a calm and reassuring voice:
[Don't worry, Gwen. During combat, I can activate the necessary functions myself. Just trust me.]
Gwen took a deep breath, relieved. "Alright, Ruby… let's take down that scaly freak together."
With renewed drive, Gwen launched herself into a ventilation shaft, her eyes focused and mind prepared. It was time to prove herself.
---
Arthur's House
Arthur and Jean stood by the window, watching the direction Gwen had taken.
Beside them, Gwen's old suit lay folded on the floor, abandoned.
Arthur picked it up carefully. She might never wear it again, but there was something symbolic about it—a piece of her effort, courage, and identity as a young hero.
"You're such a gentleman to Gwen, Arthur..." Jean said, her tone somewhere between playful and slightly irritated. There was a sour, almost jealous note in her voice.
Arthur raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Did I treat you badly or something?"
He stepped closer and wrapped an arm around Jean's waist, gently pulling her in. The intense and teasing look he gave her made Jean widen her eyes.
"Arthur… I haven't fully recovered yet… so you better not try anything."
Her tone was dramatic, almost theatrical—and clearly fake. No one there would believe she needed rest.
Arthur chuckled quietly but got the message. Jean was restless… for another reason.
"You're worried about Gwen, aren't you?"
Jean nodded, her expression softening.
"She's young. Smart, full of potential… but still lacks experience. Real combat isn't like a simulator or a school mission."
It was true. Jean, a veteran X-Men member, had faced many threats, hostile mutants, and painful losses. Gwen, on the other hand, was just beginning.
"Then let's go with her," Arthur suggested calmly. "We stay in the shadows. We don't interfere… unless it's absolutely necessary."
"If things go south, you step in. I'll cover you."
Jean hesitated for a second, then smiled. "You always know exactly what to say."
Arthur returned the smile with a nod.
"Let's go. This city's seen enough disasters. I won't let Gwen face a monster without some backup."
"Besides, it's been a while since Petshop got some exercise," he added.
Jean laughed as she headed to the bedroom to get changed. Even though she was still recovering, her determination spoke louder.
Before entering, she paused and looked back at Arthur with a smile and a playful finger wave.
Arthur laughed as he quickly followed her inside.
---
Freedom Tower Interior – Monitoring Room
George Stacy hurried alongside Dr. Curt Connors through one of the mid-level corridors. A police technician, surrounded by cables and makeshift setups, was typing frantically on his laptop. The security cameras were down—likely due to interference from Peter himself.
"Any updates?" George asked, voice steady.
"Almost… just a few more seconds, sir!"
The tension was thick in the air. Beads of sweat rolled down the technician's forehead as lines of code raced across the screen.
Suddenly, the monitor flickered, and multiple camera feeds started appearing one after the other.
"It worked! I've got the footage—"
The sentence was cut off by sudden silence.
The technician froze, eyes locked on the screen.
"He's… behind you."
George and Connors turned at the same time.
On the ceiling of the hallway, clinging to the metal beams, the Lizard watched them. His eyes glowed with a sinister red, and a feral grin spread across his mutated face.
"Long time no see, Uncle George. Dr. Connors…"
With a leap, he landed between them, the tremendous impact shaking the floor.
Claro! Aqui está a tradução para o inglês, com correção gramatical e fluidez natural para publicação:
---
George instinctively stepped back, placing his body between Connors and the monster.
"Peter…," Connors said, trying to control his breathing. "You don't have to go through with this. You can still come back."
"No, Doctor. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
"This isn't what you wanted. Stop now, before—"
"You forget, Dr. Connors…" the Lizard interrupted. "You were the one who said that if everyone could regenerate, pain and disease would disappear. I merely took that idea to its final conclusion."
George shot Connors a heavy look, and the scientist lowered his head in shame.
"You said that?" he asked.
"It was a long time ago," Connors admitted. "A moment of desperation… I didn't know Peter was listening. I didn't think he'd take it so seriously."
George pressed his lips together and took a step forward. Past mistakes didn't matter now. There was only one thing to do.
With a steady motion, he raised a 12-gauge shotgun—the weapon he'd taken from the SWAT emergency arsenal.
"Peter," he said, voice low and firm. "Drop this madness. Surrender now."
The Lizard looked at the weapon, then at George. And then… he smiled.
"You despise me too, don't you, Uncle George?"
George frowned.
"No. But that won't stop me from doing what needs to be done."
"It'll rain soon…" Peter muttered, glancing out the window. "The beginning of true evolution."
Then he attacked.
His claws gleamed for a moment—and in the next instant, he lunged at the three of them.
George reacted instantly, cocking the shotgun and pulling the trigger.
The deafening blast of the 12-gauge echoed through the floor. The shot exploded mid-air, unleashing a brutal shockwave that struck the Lizard square in the chest, hurling him backward and tearing a gaping wound across his torso.
Even with his mutated muscles reinforced, the impact sent him rolling across the floor, scraping his scales along the ground.
He rose with a furious growl, ripping off the remnants of his shirt as his chest began to regenerate.
"YOU'LL REGRET THAT!"
"If you keep pushing this insane plan, I won't hesitate," George replied, reloading with military speed.
He was confident now. He knew the 12-gauge could at least slow Peter down—buy them some time.
"Last chance. Drop the dispersal device. Or I shoot again."
But the Lizard had already heard the sound of boots echoing up the stairs—reinforcements were on their way. He didn't want to waste more time with George.
With a snarl, he grabbed an office desk and hurled it with all his strength.
George dove to the side, dodging it at the last second. The desk smashed through the window and plummeted down the floors below.
When George got back up, Peter was gone—already leaping through the metal beams toward the top floor.
More officers stormed in, weapons drawn.
George turned to the group. "Anyone with heavy weapons, come with me!"
"Those without ammo, stay here. Protect the civilians."
The message was clear.
Curt Connors stepped forward.
"Captain Stacy, please… let me go up with you. Maybe I can still reach him."
George looked at him, considering. But he said nothing. He simply turned and led the team up to the top floor.
---
Top of the Freedom Tower – Uppermost Floor
The storm was gathering in the skies.
Lightning flashed through the clouds, and the wind howled between the pillars. There, before a massive metallic cylinder, the Lizard was finishing his preparations.
"One push of this button… and the city is reborn."
The serum would be dispersed into the clouds as a gas. With the rain, everyone below would be exposed. And the mutation would begin.
A whisper in the air.
Instinct.
The Lizard spun mid-jump—just as a blue dart sliced through the space where his head had been moments before, embedding itself in a nearby tank.
The burst of vapor was minimal, but enough to alert him.
He growled, eyes scanning the shadows.
And then he saw her—balanced on a beam, the slender silhouette of Spider-Woman stared him down, her new suit gleaming under the flashes of lightning.
"Spider-Woman…"
"You move well. Do you have Spider-Sense too?"
"I won't let you finish this, Peter," Gwen said, her voice firm.
From the visor, Ruby spoke softly:
[Lungs stabilized. Temperature normal. Full support systems online.]
A bolt of lightning tore across the sky above. Rain began to fall gently.
And with it… came the decisive battle to end Peter's mad plan.
---
(End of Chapter)
Give me some power stones there you go~😉