Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 109: Shadows in Motion

The wind howled through the narrow alleyways of Manhattan as Peter Parker perched on the ledge of a towering building, his mask half-lifted while he caught his breath. It had been a long night—longer than most.

The city felt… uneasy. Ever since Venom's defeat, Peter had tried to convince himself that things would slow down, that the chaos would take a break. But deep down, he knew better.

And tonight was proof.

A series of break-ins had been occurring all over the city, but not the usual kind. Someone was targeting tech companies, not for money, but for specific equipment. Oscorp, Stark Industries, and even Horizon Labs had all been hit in the past two weeks. Each time, security footage showed nothing but empty corridors. No culprits. No leads.

But Peter had his suspicions.

And right now, he was about to confirm them.

A quiet vibration in his mask signaled an alert—another break-in. This time, at a lesser-known research facility on the outskirts of the city. It wasn't on the level of Oscorp or Stark, but it housed prototype weaponry, experimental AI, and other dangerous tech. The kind of place criminals would love to get their hands on.

Without hesitation, Peter pulled his mask down, aimed his web-shooters, and launched himself into the cold night air.

By the time he reached the facility, the crime was already in motion.

The guards were unconscious—no signs of a struggle, no alarms tripped. Peter crouched on the ceiling near the entrance, scanning the darkened halls below. His spider-sense tingled faintly, but it wasn't the overwhelming warning of immediate danger. No, this was something else.

Something… calculated.

He moved silently along the ceiling, keeping to the shadows. Then he saw them.

Two figures, dressed in tactical gear, moved methodically through the lab. They weren't your average street thugs—these were professionals. One was slicing through a security panel with a laser cutter, while the other extracted a glowing, cylindrical device from a reinforced case.

Peter narrowed his eyes. That device looked familiar.

Arc reactor tech? No, not quite. Something more advanced.

His mind raced through possibilities, but he didn't have time for theories. He had to stop them now.

Peter dropped from the ceiling, landing between the thieves. "Hey there," he quipped. "You know, most people ask before they borrow expensive tech."

The thieves barely hesitated. The one with the security cutter spun, drawing a compact firearm—modified, likely energy-based. Peter dodged before the shot even fired, flipping backward as a beam of light scorched the air where he'd just stood.

"Whoa! Energy weapons? Come on, guys, are normal bullets too outdated now?"

The second thief lunged at him with surprising speed. Peter ducked, grabbing their arm and flipping them over his shoulder, slamming them into a nearby table. The first thief fired again, but Peter webbed the gun out of his hands before leaping forward and delivering a solid kick to his chest, sending him crashing into the reinforced glass.

The alarms finally blared to life.

"Little late, guys," Peter muttered under his breath.

As he secured the two thieves with webbing, he crouched down to inspect the stolen device. The label read: Prototype Zero-Point Field Generator.

Peter frowned. "Zero-point energy? That's… not good."

Before he could process it further, his spider-sense flared—this time stronger.

He barely had time to react before the reinforced doors at the back of the lab slammed open, revealing a new figure.

Peter's stomach twisted.

He recognized that suit.

That mask.

The piercing, cold eyes staring back at him.

"Ah," Peter muttered. "And here I thought tonight couldn't get worse."

The newcomer stepped forward, his presence radiating authority. His voice was calm, controlled.

"You're interfering in matters beyond your understanding, Spider-Man."

Peter sighed, flexing his fingers. "Yeah? Funny thing, I do that a lot."

The figure didn't react to the joke. Instead, he raised his gauntleted hand, and the air crackled with energy.

Peter braced himself.

This was going to be a long night.

End of Chapter 109.

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