Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 96: Into the Shadows

Peter's heart raced as he stood face-to-face with Mister Negative, his mind trying to process everything that had just happened. The air around them felt charged, thick with the tension of impending battle. Mister Negative's presence was suffocating, as if the very darkness around him had a life of its own.

"I know who you are, Spider-Man," Mister Negative said, his voice smooth and cold. "I've seen the way you've tried to stand against the tide. But you are just one man, and even you can't fight fate forever."

Peter's fists clenched. He was no stranger to taunts and threats, but this felt different. Mister Negative wasn't just threatening him physically—he was trying to wear him down mentally. And it was working. Every part of Peter's body screamed at him to run, to find a way out, but he knew there was no escape this time.

I can't run from this, Peter thought, shaking his head. This isn't just about me anymore. This is about everyone. About stopping him before he does even more damage.

"Who's pulling the strings, Negative?" Peter demanded, his voice edged with desperation. "What do you want? What's your endgame?"

Mister Negative tilted his head, as if amused by the question. "You're too naive, Spider-Man. The game has already begun. And as for the endgame… it's already in motion."

Before Peter could respond, the armored mercenaries closed in, their movements synchronized and precise. The Shocker, still standing nearby, aimed his gauntlets, ready to unleash another blast.

"You don't have to do this," Peter said, his voice steady, but the weight of the situation was pressing down on him. "This isn't who you are."

The Shocker's grin widened. "Don't waste your breath. We're past talking now."

The ground beneath Peter's feet trembled as the mercenaries moved closer, their weapons charging up. His spider-sense screamed, a warning so intense that it felt like his entire body was on fire. He dodged a blast just in time, launching himself into the air to gain some distance.

He flipped onto a nearby rooftop, only to see Mister Negative following with ease, his shadowy figure moving like a wisp of smoke.

"You can't escape me," Mister Negative said, his voice echoing as if it were everywhere at once. "There is nowhere you can hide."

Peter barely had time to react before another wave of energy blasted from the Shocker's gauntlets. He swung to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the force still sent him crashing into a nearby wall. Pain shot through his side, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through it.

"I've had enough of this," Peter muttered, rolling to his feet. With a fluid motion, he shot webs at the mercenaries, trying to restrain them. The webs connected, but the mercenaries were quick to break free, using advanced technology to sever the strands.

Peter had faced many threats before, but nothing like this. He was fighting more than just physical opponents now—he was up against an entire network of people who knew how to counter his every move.

"You can't win," the Shocker said, his voice almost triumphant. "You're out of your league, Spider-Man."

Peter glanced at the Shocker, then back at the mercenaries, and finally at Mister Negative. The realization hit him hard—this wasn't just a battle for survival. This was a war. A war that was only beginning, and it was being fought on a scale he wasn't ready for.

I can't do this alone. The thought echoed in Peter's mind, and for the first time in a long while, he felt truly vulnerable.

"I'm not alone," Peter whispered to himself, his voice a promise.

With a surge of adrenaline, he swung toward Mister Negative, landing a powerful punch that sent a shockwave through the air. But Mister Negative absorbed the blow with a grim smile, his body seemingly unaffected by the force of Peter's strike.

"You still don't understand, do you?" Mister Negative said, his tone cold as ice. "I've seen the future. And you are nothing but a fleeting moment. A speck in the grand design."

Peter's eyes narrowed. Future? What the hell is he talking about?

Mister Negative's expression darkened, and with a flick of his wrist, he released a blast of negative energy. Peter's spider-sense blared, and he barely had time to react as the blast hit him, sending him sprawling across the rooftop. The force of the impact left him breathless, his body aching from the strain.

"You are weak," Mister Negative continued, his voice cold and detached. "And in the end, even you will fall."

Peter pushed himself up, his body screaming in protest, but he refused to give up. He knew what was at stake. He couldn't let Mister Negative—or anyone—win.

"You're wrong," Peter said, his voice steely. "I won't fall. Not today. Not ever."

With a burst of energy, Peter shot a web at the Shocker's gauntlets, ripping them away from his wrists. The Shocker stumbled back in surprise, but Peter wasn't finished yet. He leaped into the air and aimed a powerful punch at the Shocker, knocking him out cold.

But the battle wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

The mercenaries charged, and Peter had to think fast. He shot a web to the side, swinging past them with incredible speed. As he flew through the air, he took out his web-shooters, firing a barrage of webs at the two mercenaries, momentarily trapping them in a sticky cocoon.

"Not bad," Peter muttered to himself, but his victory was short-lived. Mister Negative had already disappeared into the shadows, leaving Peter with a lingering feeling of unease.

I have to find him, Peter thought, as he checked to make sure the mercenaries were incapacitated. I have to stop him before this gets worse.

As Peter swung through the city, his mind raced with the information he had just learned. Mister Negative had something bigger planned, something involving the future—a future that Peter didn't quite understand yet, but he knew it couldn't be good.

Why does he keep talking about the future? What does he know that I don't?

Peter's thoughts were interrupted as he heard a familiar voice over his earpiece.

"Peter, you there?" It was Harry.

Peter took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Yeah, I'm here. You got something?"

"I've been digging into Mister Negative's background," Harry said, his voice filled with urgency. "I found something. Something big."

Peter's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"

Harry paused. "It looks like Mister Negative's operation isn't just about money or power. He's after something else… something dangerous. I think he's trying to manipulate time itself."

Peter's stomach churned. "What? Time manipulation? That's insane."

"I'm not sure how yet," Harry said, "but I'm still looking into it. You need to be careful, Pete. If he can manipulate time… who knows what he could do?"

Peter's mind raced as he processed this new information. Time manipulation? If Mister Negative can control time…

The implications were terrifying.

"Thanks, Harry," Peter said, his voice hardening. "Keep digging. We need to stop this before it goes any further."

As he ended the call, Peter's resolve only grew stronger. Mister Negative had to be stopped. No matter what the cost.

End of Chapter 96