Capítulo 13: Chapter 13: Into the Fray
Alex soared through the air, the cool night breeze cutting against his face as he swung effortlessly between the towering skyscrapers of New York City. He could still barely believe it. The sensation was surreal. The kind of thing he had only ever dreamed about back in his old life, sitting behind a desk, lost in fantasies about what it would be like to live in a world full of heroes and villains. Now, though, this wasn't some dream. It was his reality, and the powers he now possessed were no joke.
The city below him was alive with movement—taxi cabs honking, the murmur of conversation from crowded streets, the distant wail of a police siren. For most people, it was just another night in the city that never sleeps. For Alex, it was something else entirely.
His Spider-Sense was still buzzing in the back of his head, that strange, persistent hum that urged him forward. He wasn't sure exactly what was setting it off, but he could feel that something was wrong. Something nearby needed his attention.
He landed gracefully on a nearby rooftop, crouching low as he scanned the streets below. His enhanced senses picked up everything—the clink of bottles from a nearby alley, the rhythmic thump of a bass-heavy club, the distant bark of a dog. But none of that explained the nagging feeling in the back of his skull.
"Alright, Spider-Sense," he muttered under his breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in his head. "What is it? Where do I need to be?"
Just then, a flash of motion caught his eye. Below, down a narrow side street, three figures were moving quickly, one of them dragging another—a woman—by the arm. They weren't just walking. They were running. And the way the woman struggled told him everything he needed to know.
His heart skipped a beat.
"Trouble," Alex said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
He didn't hesitate. Instinct kicked in, his body reacting almost on its own as he launched himself off the rooftop, swinging down toward the scene below. The wind rushed past him as he descended, and for a split second, he wondered if he was really ready for this. He had never actually fought anyone with these powers before. Swinging through the city had been fun, but this—getting involved in real danger—was different.
But there was no time to think. Only to act.
He landed on a lamppost with perfect precision, crouching as he took in the scene before him. The three men dragging the woman were dressed in dark clothes, their faces obscured by hoodies and baseball caps. They hadn't noticed him yet, too focused on getting away quickly with their victim. The woman looked terrified, her eyes wide with panic as she struggled to free herself from their grip.
"Let her go!" Alex shouted, his voice strong and commanding despite the nervousness bubbling inside him.
The men froze, their heads whipping around in unison to look up at him. For a moment, there was silence, the only sound the distant hum of the city around them.
One of the men, the tallest of the group, sneered up at Alex. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Alex jumped down from the lamppost, landing lightly on his feet, his muscles tensed and ready for anything. "Doesn't matter who I am," he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through him. "You're going to let her go, and you're going to walk away. Now."
The three men exchanged glances, and then the tallest one laughed—a low, ugly sound. "You've got a death wish, buddy."
Alex's Spider-Sense flared just as the man reached into his jacket, pulling out a gun. Time seemed to slow down as the world around him sharpened. He could see every movement, every detail—the glint of the streetlight on the barrel of the gun, the subtle shift in the man's stance as he prepared to fire.
Without thinking, Alex moved.
Before the man could even squeeze the trigger, Alex was on him. His body moved faster than he ever thought possible, his enhanced reflexes kicking in as he dodged to the side, grabbed the man's wrist, and twisted. The gun clattered to the ground, and Alex followed up with a swift punch to the man's gut, sending him sprawling to the pavement.
The other two men reacted instantly, one of them pulling out a knife, the other charging at Alex with a growl. But Alex was ready. His Spider-Sense guided him, alerting him to every attack before it even happened. He ducked under the man's wild punch, then jumped up, twisting in mid-air as he kicked the knife-wielder square in the chest, knocking him back into a stack of garbage cans.
The third man barely had time to react before Alex was on him, delivering a quick series of jabs that left him dazed and disoriented. A final kick sent him tumbling to the ground, groaning in pain.
It was over in less than a minute.
Alex stood there, breathing heavily, his fists still clenched as he looked down at the men sprawled on the pavement. They wouldn't be getting up any time soon. His heart was pounding in his chest, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He had done it. He had actually done it.
The woman, who had been frozen in place during the fight, finally seemed to snap out of her shock. She stumbled forward, her voice trembling. "T-thank you. Oh my God, thank you!"
Alex turned to her, offering a reassuring smile. "It's okay. You're safe now."
She looked at him, her eyes wide with gratitude, but also confusion. "Who are you? I've never seen you before… are you a hero?"
Alex hesitated. He hadn't thought about what he'd say in situations like this. He wasn't Spider-Man, not really. And he certainly wasn't a Hero. But he couldn't exactly explain to her that he was from another world, that he had been dropped into this universe by some bizarre cosmic lottery.
"No," he said finally, shaking his head. "Just… someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time."
The woman nodded, still looking shaken but clearly relieved. "Thank you," she repeated softly. "I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up."
"Just stay safe," Alex said, his voice gentle. "Get somewhere safe."
She nodded again, then hurried off, glancing back at him once before disappearing down the street.
Alex stood there for a moment, watching her go, the reality of what had just happened starting to sink in. He had just saved someone. He had used his powers to stop a crime, to protect someone who couldn't protect themselves.
It felt… good. Really good.
But at the same time, it also felt dangerous. He had put himself out there, drawn attention to himself in a way that he had sworn he wouldn't. Luckily he had covered his face although not entirely but this kind of thing could get him noticed by some people—the Avengers, the villains, the authorities. And that was a risk he couldn't afford.
As the adrenaline began to fade, a familiar notification popped up in his vision.
Points earned: 5
Five points. That was it? He had just fought three armed men, saved a woman from being kidnapped, and all he got was five points?
Alex let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. It wasn't much, but it was something. He had taken a step forward, both in terms of his powers and his points. It was progress.
But as he stood there, looking down at the unconscious men at his feet, he realized something else. This wasn't just about points or powers anymore. He had crossed a line tonight. He had gotten involved. He had become part of the story even if he wanted to be cautious and be in the shadows.
And there was no turning back now.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder