Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 106: The Fractured Multiverse

The day after the diner conversation, Peter could barely concentrate on his classes. His mind kept wandering to the strange rifts Ned had mentioned. The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he became. These rifts didn't seem like some random phenomenon; they felt… deliberate. Almost like the universe itself was unraveling.

Sitting in chemistry class, Peter absentmindedly stirred a beaker of chemicals, his gaze fixed on the periodic table in front of him. He had barely noticed that his teacher, Mrs. Jensen, was talking until her voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Parker," she said sharply, causing Peter to look up. "Can you explain the chemical reaction we're observing here?"

Peter blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Uh, sure! It's a basic acid-base reaction—when you mix these compounds, you get a neutralization that produces water and salt," he said quickly, trying to cover up his distraction.

Mrs. Jensen didn't look convinced. "I hope you're actually listening, Parker. Chemistry is a subject that requires focus."

Peter nodded sheepishly, though his mind had already drifted back to the rifts. It wasn't long before the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Peter grabbed his books quickly and rushed out of the room, making a beeline for the school exit.

MJ and Ned were waiting outside, as they always did. But today, they seemed more on edge than usual. MJ was the first to speak.

"So, Peter," she said slowly, "I heard something… unusual last night. There were reports of strange occurrences all around the city. People talking about… disappearing and reappearing at random. That's why I didn't hear from you last night. You were probably dealing with that, huh?"

Peter's stomach sank. He had hoped the rifts were just a coincidence, but now it seemed like something much darker was at play.

"Yeah," Peter muttered, glancing around the school grounds. "Something's going on. I don't know exactly what, but I've got this… feeling. I think it's connected to the damage we did to the multiverse. Kang might be gone, but whatever he set in motion isn't finished."

MJ and Ned exchanged worried glances, their faces showing signs of concern. They had always been supportive of Peter's dual life, but the multiverse was a concept even they had trouble wrapping their heads around.

"Well, whatever it is," Ned said, clapping Peter on the shoulder, "we'll be here for you. You don't have to handle this alone."

Peter gave a small smile, appreciating his friend's support. But the smile quickly faded as he turned toward the skyline. Somewhere, deep down, he knew that things were far from over.

Later that night, Peter was in his room, doing his best to avoid the inevitable. He had been Spider-Man for so long now that it almost felt like second nature, but that didn't mean the constant battle didn't wear on him. After everything with Kang, he was hoping for a break, a chance to catch his breath.

But the city had other plans.

A sudden crackling noise echoed from outside, snapping Peter out of his thoughts. He stood up quickly and rushed to the window, peering out into the night. What he saw made his blood run cold.

A rift—no, more like a tear—had appeared in the sky. The air around it shimmered with unstable energy, distorting everything in its vicinity. As Peter watched, the rift seemed to pulse, a faint light flickering inside it. It was like a tear in the very fabric of reality.

Before he could react, there was a sound behind him. A soft scraping noise—like claws against metal.

Peter spun around just in time to see a shadow move across the floor of his room. His spider-sense went off, and he was already in motion, leaping to the side just as a large claw slashed through the air where he had been standing.

Landing on the floor, Peter barely had time to process what had happened before he saw it: the creature before him was unlike anything he had faced before. It was humanoid in shape but covered in scales, its eyes glowing a menacing red. It had sharp claws and teeth, and its presence filled the room with an unnatural chill.

"Who are you?" Peter demanded, readying himself for a fight.

The creature hissed, its voice low and guttural. "I am nothing, yet I am everything. I am the harbinger of what is to come. You, Spider-Man, have opened the door. And now, you will face the consequences."

Peter's mind raced. This wasn't a normal villain. The mention of "opening the door" seemed like a direct reference to the rifts—and somehow, Peter was connected to it all.

Before he could respond, the creature lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air. Peter dodged nimbly, but the creature was fast, much faster than any opponent he had fought before. He managed to land a punch, but it barely seemed to faze the creature. It grinned, an unnerving smile that only made Peter feel more uneasy.

Suddenly, the creature let out a bone-chilling laugh. "This is only the beginning, Spider-Man. You have no idea what you've unleashed."

Peter's eyes widened. He hadn't just been dealing with a random villain. This was something far worse. The creature wasn't just another petty criminal—it was a manifestation of the chaos Kang's meddling had caused.

"I didn't—" Peter began, but the creature was already gone, vanishing into thin air before he could finish his sentence. Peter stood in his room, panting, his mind reeling from the encounter. What the hell had just happened? And more importantly, who—or what—was that?

The next day, Peter could barely bring himself to focus. His mind kept returning to the strange encounter. He knew the rifts weren't just random. Something far more dangerous had emerged. But he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the creature wasn't alone. There were more of them out there—more harbingers of chaos that would stop at nothing to see the multiverse crumble.

Peter looked over at MJ and Ned during lunch, their voices fading into the background as his mind churned with possibilities. He had to stop whatever was coming. The rifts weren't just an anomaly; they were a warning.

But who would he be facing next? And more importantly, how could he stop it?

As if to answer his question, a shadow seemed to fall over their table. Peter looked up, his senses tingling as he saw a familiar figure approaching from across the cafeteria.

It was a figure from his past—one he never thought he would see again.

End of Chapter 106