Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 74: The Heart of the Web

Peter's chest rose and fell with each strained breath. He could still feel the remnants of Morlun's power, the invisible force that had slammed into him with a ferocity that left him reeling. His body was bruised, and his mind was racing to catch up with everything that had just happened. Morlun—this ancient, monstrous being—was a predator, and Peter was his prey.

But Peter wasn't about to let this be the end. He had fought through impossible odds before. He had faced some of the worst villains the world had ever known. He wasn't going to let this one take him down without a fight.

His senses sharpened. The world around him was still heavy with tension, thick with the dark energy that radiated from Morlun. It wasn't just the air that felt different—it was the very fabric of reality, bending and warping around him.

Morlun had spoken about the "web" before. The "web" of life, the web that connected every Spider-Totem. Peter had always thought of himself as just a guy in a suit, doing what he could to protect the people he loved. But Morlun made it clear—Peter was something more than just a man in a mask. He was part of something ancient, something far greater than he could ever understand. The web of life was real, and he was tangled in it, caught at the center of it all.

Peter shook his head, trying to dispel the growing sense of dread that threatened to overwhelm him. His mind needed to focus. He needed to survive.

"Is this really it, then?" Peter muttered to himself. "Am I really just some thread in a web that Morlun can tear apart?"

His spider-sense flared, and he instinctively ducked just in time as Morlun's form lunged toward him, faster than he could react. The blow landed with the force of a freight train, slamming Peter into the ground, his body rattling with the impact.

The dark figure loomed over him, eyes glowing brighter as he knelt down to meet Peter's gaze. "You're weak, Spider-Man. You're nothing more than a fading light in a dying web. And I will consume that light."

Peter grit his teeth, trying to push past the pain. "I won't let you. I'm not some… thing for you to hunt. I'm more than that."

Morlun's lips twisted into a smile that was anything but comforting. "You are not the first to say that. You are the latest in a long line of failures. The others—other Spider-Totems—they too thought they could escape their fate. But they all fell before me. And now, so will you."

Peter's breath was shallow, but he wasn't going to back down. He pushed himself off the ground, webbing his wrist and using the momentum to spring forward. He launched himself toward Morlun with everything he had left, fists flying. He knew he couldn't overpower Morlun—he'd tried that already, and it didn't work. But he wasn't just going to stand there and let the monster win. He had to outsmart him, find his weakness.

Morlun countered with speed that was almost supernatural, dodging Peter's every move with an ease that sent a chill down his spine. It was like the man—or creature—was able to predict every one of his attacks.

"Pathetic," Morlun growled. "Your speed, your strength—none of it matters. You cannot defeat what has been here since before your kind even existed."

Peter stumbled back, his head spinning. There had to be something he could do, some advantage he could exploit. He had one weapon left—the one thing Morlun couldn't predict: his unpredictability.

Peter's eyes darted around the room. The chamber was filled with old stone, crumbling pillars, and remnants of an ancient civilization. There had to be something—anything—that could give him the edge he needed.

In a split second, Peter made his decision. He shot a web to one of the stone columns, yanking it down with all his might. The pillar collapsed with a deafening crash, falling toward Morlun. The villain's eyes widened in surprise, but he was too slow to avoid it.

The pillar smashed into the ground, just inches from Morlun. The shockwave from the impact reverberated through the room, creating a momentary distraction. Peter didn't waste it.

He launched himself toward the fallen pillar, his webs now flying in rapid succession, creating a barrier between him and Morlun. His heart pounded in his chest as he ran, his mind desperately trying to find an opening, a weakness.

Morlun growled in frustration. "You think this is enough to stop me, Spider-Man?"

"I don't know," Peter said, panting, "but it's better than just sitting here waiting for you to tear me apart."

Morlun's eyes glowed brighter as he advanced, but this time, Peter was ready. The room around him was still trembling from the force of the fallen pillar, and Peter used that to his advantage. He ducked behind a pile of rubble and fired a web at a nearby metal beam. With one powerful tug, he sent the beam flying toward Morlun, catching him off guard.

For a moment, Morlun stumbled back, throwing up his arm to deflect the attack, but the distraction was enough. Peter was already on the move again, swinging from the webs and launching himself high into the air.

"You're not getting away," Morlun spat, his voice growing louder, more enraged.

Peter's mind raced. He had to keep Morlun off balance. If he could just buy enough time… If he could just figure out how to weaken him.

Suddenly, it clicked.

Peter had been thinking of Morlun as a physical threat—someone to overpower, someone to outfight. But Morlun wasn't just a physical being. He was an entity, tied to something far older, far darker. If Peter was going to stand a chance, he had to think beyond strength and speed.

The webs—Peter's webs—had always been tied to the concept of life itself. The web of life, the way everything in the universe was connected. If Morlun was the predator, then Peter was part of the web's fabric. But what if Peter could sever that connection, weaken the bond between Morlun and the web?

Peter paused for a brief moment, his mind locked onto the idea. He reached into his utility belt, pulling out a small device that Doctor Strange had once given him. The device was a stabilizer, a tool designed to disrupt magical energy and distort unnatural connections. It wasn't the most powerful weapon, but it might be enough to sever the connection Morlun had to the web.

"Time to end this," Peter muttered.

He pressed the device to his chest, activating it with a press of the button. The device hummed to life, and an ethereal energy surrounded him, rippling through the air like a pulse.

Morlun snarled as he felt the shift in the air. "No! What have you done?"

Peter smiled grimly. "I'm not just a thread in your web, Morlun. I'm the one who's going to unravel it."

End of Chapter 74