Kapitel 6: Webs and Claws

Gwen swung in a graceful arc, using her momentum to deliver a powerful kick to the lizard's chest. The impact sent the beast flying several feet, crashing into the asphalt with a deafening thud.

Not giving it a chance to recover, she deftly swung around, shooting webs at the lizard to pin it down. The creature thrashed violently, tearing through the strands, but Gwen kept up her assault.

As she swung by, she couldn't help but marvel. 'Organic webbing?'she thought.

Peter's voice echoed in her mind. "It's part of the symbiote's ability, I awaken your ability to shoot web out of your waists. Now you can shoot webs as much as you want and It'll only get stronger with time."

Gwen smirked, "Stronger and unlimited? Guess I don't need those web cartridges anymore," she quipped as she dodged a swipe from the lizard's massive claws.

The lizard roared and continued swiping at her with its massive claw. Gwen nimbly flipped backward, avoiding the strike with ease. Swinging on a web, she delivered a powerful kick to the creature's jaw, the impact sending it reeling.

The lizard recovered quickly, lashing out with its tail. Gwen ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow, and fired another web at its legs. The sticky strands wrapped around its ankles, and with a sharp tug, she yanked it off its feet.

"Down, boy!" she teased, landing on a nearby car.

But the lizard wasn't done. It tore through the webbing with sheer brute strength, roaring in frustration. Charging at Gwen, it slammed a car that is in its way and throws at her.

She dodges it as the vehicle flipping end over end before crashing into the side of the bridge.

"Okay, you're strong," Gwen muttered, leaping into the air to avoid being flattened by its charge and in a mid-swing she firing a web at its face.

The lizard roared as the web covered its eyes, thrashing wildly to rip it off. Gwen used the distraction to shoot webs at its legs again, this time pinning them to the ground.

"Let's see how you like being tied up," she said, landing in front of it.

But the creature wasn't giving up. With a guttural snarl, it flexed its powerful muscles, breaking free from the webbing in one swift motion. It lunged at Gwen, claws extended, forcing her to backflip out of its reach.

She kept toying with it, firing webs while tossing out sarcastic jabs about its lack of hygiene and questionable wardrobe choices. Her antics bought time for the police to complete the evacuation of civilians.

Tired of her games, the lizard swung its tail with precision, catching her mid-air and sending her crashing into a car. Gwen groaned as she got to her feet, the symbiote already healing her bruises.

"Okay, that one hurt," she admitted, cracking her neck.

Then she heard Peter's voice in her mind, "you gonna stop holding back Gwen."

She nodded and then the lizard roared again, charging at her.

Gwen stood her ground, waiting until the last moment before leaping over its head. As she flipped, she fired a web at its back, using it to swing around and deliver a hard kick to its side.

The creature stumbled but quickly retaliated, slashing at her with its claws. This time, Gwen caught its arm, using her enhanced strength to hold it back. The lizard roared in frustration, trying to overpower her.

Gwen didn't back down but began to overpower the lizard. That's when the tail came again, aiming for her midsection.

Before she could react, a black tentacle sprouted from her back, intercepting the tail and slicing it clean off with a razor-sharp edge.

Gwen's eyes widened in surprise. "Did… did you just—"

"You're welcome and I think you should finish the guy right now." Peter said smugly.

Gwen then toke advantage of the lizard's momentary shock, she spun around and delivered a powerful kick to its chest, sending it flying into a parked car. The impact crushed the vehicle, leaving the lizard stunned.

Not wasting a second, Gwen fired a barrage of webs, pinning the creature to the wreckage. This time, Peter added his own symbiotic webbing, reinforcing the webs further.

The lizard thrashed, trying to break free, but the combined strength of their webs held it in place.

As it continued to struggle, Gwen noticed the black tentacle from her back extending toward the severed tail. It wrapped around the dismembered limb, absorbing it into the symbiote.

"Uh, Peter? What's going on?" Gwen asked, she is both curious and a little freaked out.

"I'm analyzing it. Let's see what we can get from this thing."

The lizard roared, its tail already beginning to regenerate. Gwen sighed. "This thing really doesn't know when to quit." She shot another web to cover its face and body, further restraining it.

------

> "Predator ability activated. Processing the sample…"

>"Analysing completed... New abilities acquired."

> Abilities obtained:

Enhanced Regeneration: The ability to regenerate damage at a faster rate, similar to the lizard.

Scale Armor: The symbiote can now form tough, scaly plates for enhanced durability.

Cold Resistance: Adapted from the lizard's reptilian biology, making the body more resistant to freezing temperatures.

Ferocity Boost: A short burst of increased strength and agility during combat.

------

"Not bad," Peter commented.

Gwen felt the symbiote's subtle changes, her body brimming with renewed energy. "Well, looks like we've got some cool upgrades. Thanks, big guy," she muttered as she glanced at the still-struggling lizard.

"Now, let's finish this," she said with determination to finish the fight.

Just as Gwen prepared to web up the defeated lizard, the sound of shuffling feet and clattering weapons drew her attention. She turned to find herself surrounded by police officers, their guns trained squarely on her.

"Ghost Spider, put your hands up and surrender!" George Stacy's firm voice echoed through the tense atmosphere.

Gwen frowned, her mask hiding her disbelief. "Seriously? I just saved everyone from this overgrown iguana, and this is the thanks I get?"

Some officers hesitated and their weapons are wavering. Gwen sighed, raising her hands slightly in a gesture of mock surrender. "Alright, let's talk about this like civilized people—"

Her words were cut off by the sound of a gunshot. A jittery officer, startled by the lizard's sudden movement, had fired his weapon. The bullet ricocheted off the lizard's tough hide and struck the petrol tank of the car it was tied to.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion erupted as the car was engulfed in flames. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the bridge, shattering nearby windows and throwing several officers off their feet.

Just before the blast Gwen's spider-sense flared, and she leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the explosion. The heat was intense, even though she stands a few feet distance, and she felt her strength faltering.

"Peter, is this the weakness you mentioned?" she asked as her voice strained as she stumbled back.

"Yeah… High sounds and extreme heat. We don't do well with those," Peter replied in a weak voice.

As the flames subsided slightly, Gwen squinted through the smoke. The lizard, its regenerative abilities already kicking in, had freed itself from the weakened webbing.

It roared with its body still smoldering, before leaping off the bridge into the dark waters below.

"Great, now it's gone," Gwen muttered, her frustration evident.

"And we should go too," Peter advised. "You're not in any shape to stick around."

Before Gwen could respond, the officers began to regroup, their weapons once again aimed in her direction.

"Don't move!" George shouted, stepping closer.

Peter didn't wait. He activated the symbiote's camouflage ability, shrouding Gwen in a seamless blend of her surroundings. To the officers, she simply vanished.

"What the hell... She disappeared?" One of the officer exclaimed and others have the same reaction. But George is seriously looking at the place she vanished.

Gwen stared at herself in amazement. 'Whoa. This is… incredible.'

'Yeah, yeah, save the compliments. Let's get out of here before they decide to fire blindly,' Peter said.

Using the cover of invisibility, Gwen silently scaled the bridge's structure, slipping away from the chaos.

Deep within the dark, damp confines of the sewer, the lizard staggered into the dimly lit tunnel. Its monstrous green scales began to recede, shrinking and peeling away as if shedding a grotesque skin.

The creature groaned, its clawed hands trembling as they reverted to human fingers. With each step, its hulking frame diminished, the powerful tail retracting into the base of its spine.

"No… no… not yet…" the lizard growled, its deep, guttural voice softening into something more human.

Within moments, Dr. Curt Connors stood hunched over, panting heavily. He is naked and his face was a mask of desperation. His one remaining arm clutched at his chest, his body shivering as beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

"It's not enough," he whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling with frustration and fear. "I need more... This can't be a temporary fix. It has to be permanent!"

He leaned heavily against the slimy wall, his mind racing. "The serum—it's flawed. The regeneration should last longer. Why does it keep failing?"

Connors clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm. His desperation was palpable. He had been so close to achieving his dream—a cure not just for himself, but for anyone suffering from debilitating conditions. Yet every attempt only brought him closer to losing his humanity.

"I need more data," he muttered, pushing off the wall and limping deeper into the sewer. The echoes of dripping water and the distant scurrying of rats were his only companions.

His thoughts turned to the Ghost Spider. That black figure—its strength, its abilities—what was it? And how had it managed to overpower him so easily?

"She's the key," he realized, his eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and envy. "Whatever that... thing is, it's far beyond anything I've seen. If I could study it... harness it..."

Connors's resolve hardened. He would find the answers he needed, no matter the cost. With a determined step, he disappeared into the shadows of the sewer, a man teetering on the edge of genius and madness.

Inside her room, Gwen climbed through the window, landing gracefully before collapsing onto her bed. Her costume began to shift and ripple, the black and pink fabric morphing seamlessly into comfortable sleepwear.

A small, black tentacle emerged from her shoulder, and moments later, Peter materialized beside her on the bed.

She glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "That's a neat trick."

Peter smirked. "Glad you like it."

Gwen examined her sleepwear with intrigue. "I have to admit, the costume upgrade is impressive. Makes my old suit feel like ancient tech. And you can consume the DNA of others to make yourself and me strong. That's a very cool power to have."

Peter leaned back against the headboard and began grinning. "Well, you're welcome. It's part of the perks of being my host."

She rolled her eyes, and soon her eyes turned serious, "What do you think of the lizard monster we fight tonight."

Peter looked at her for few seconds, "I think I got an idea about it's origin and identity."

She looked at him as if to tell her about it but he decided against it, "But that's the story for another day as tomorrow we have school. So, let's go to bed."

She rolled her eyes again, but her expression softened. "Speaking of which, why are you still here? Shouldn't you be heading home?"

Peter shrugged casually. "Home?" He gestured to her with a faint smirk. "Gwen, my body's literally inside you. So… you are my home."

Her jaw dropped slightly, speechless at his bluntness. "You're impossible," she muttered.

Without warning, Peter leaned over, pulling her into a hug with one of his tentacles. Before Gwen could protest, they tumbled back onto the bed, the tentacle flicking up a blanket to cover them both.

Gwen gave him an incredulous look as he pretended to settle in. "You can't be serious."

"Why not? Aunt May's out for the night, and my avatar isn't needed in an empty house," Peter explained nonchalantly. "So I'll be sleeping here. My house. Goodnight, Gwen."

He closed his eyes, feigning sleep as Gwen stared at him, caught between amusement and exasperation. She let out a resigned sigh, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Goodnight, Peter," she murmured, shifting to get comfortable.

As she wrapped her arms around him, sleep quickly found them both, the room falling into a peaceful silence.