บท 108: Chapter 108 Norman Request!

Michelangelo crash into the wall left a visible crack, a testament to Spider-Man refusal to hold back.

His three brothers wore the same shocked expressions as the yellow-masked turtle.

They looked Peter up and down, examining his seemingly scrawny frame, unable to comprehend how such a physique could produce such terrifying power.

The turtles knew full well the strength Michelangelo possessed.

If Peter could send Mikey flying with one punch, he could just as easily do the same to them.

"This is insane!"

"Is he even human? How can a human be that strong?"

"I think he a robot in disguise!"

The three turtles exchanged uneasy glances.

Even Splinter, who had been prepared for this outcome, couldn't hide a flicker of surprise.

Although he had anticipated Peter strength, seeing it in action left him genuinely impressed.

"Come on," Peter said with a mischievous grin, motioning for Michelangelo to get back up. "This time, I won't need you to hold back!"

"That exactly what I wanted to hear!"

Michelangelo flipped to his feet and charged back toward the ring.

That punch hadn't done much physical damage, but it had wounded his pride. He was determined to regain his dignity against the kid.

When Michelangelo got serious, he was indeed a formidable opponent—especially against Peter, whose raw strength was unmatched, but who lacked the refined techniques of a seasoned fighter.

Though they were evenly matched in strength, Michelangelo rich experience and martial arts prowess put Peter on the defensive.

Peter relied on his agility to dodge attacks and occasionally countered, but the yellow-masked turtle shell provided unparalleled defense. Peter attacks, no matter how strong, barely fazed him.

Before long, Peter found himself at a disadvantage.

Frustrated, he finally resorted to his webs, shooting strands from his wrists to entangle Michelangelo.

In doing so, Peter inadvertently revealed his secret.

The turtles and Splinter immediately recognized him as Spider-Man. It also became clear why Anton had brought him to their dojo.

"Well, I guess I don't need to make introductions anymore," Anton said with a shrug and a chuckle. "Strictly speaking, this isn't your first meeting."

The turtles had indeed crossed paths with Spider-Man at the tail end of the Green Goblin incident.

"So he Spider-Man!"

The turtles exclaimed in unison, finally putting the pieces together.

Splinter eyes gleamed with interest as he sized up Peter, now more impressed than ever. Anton had delivered an extraordinary student to him.

With his webbing, Peter managed to regain control of the fight and eventually turned the tables on Michelangelo.

However, both Anton and Splinter could see that Peter still had a long way to go.

"He got potential," Anton remarked to Splinter. "Train him well. That kind of talent shouldn't go to waste."

"I will," Splinter replied with a knowing smile.

Anton couldn't help but smirk at Splinter expression, imagining Peter grueling future training regimen. It seemed the young hero would soon have little time for dates.

The match concluded soon after.

Michelangelo was cocooned in a massive web, resembling a giant silkworm chrysalis.

"Mmph! Mmph!" Michelangelo muffled protests came from inside the webbing.

"Looks like Mikey finally shut up for once!"

The other three turtles burst out laughing, showing no sympathy for their brother and instead reveling in his misfortune.

Peter collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.

The sparring session had drained him of energy.

Glancing at the other three turtles waiting by the sidelines, Peter finally understood why Anton had brought him here.

The pride he'd been nurturing since gaining his powers began to fade, replaced by a deeper awareness of his limitations.

"Peter," Anton called out, addressing him firmly from the sidelines. "From now on, make time every week to train here. Your teacher will be Master Splinter. He trained the Ninja Turtles you see before you and is the best teacher in the world. Don't let me or Master Splinter down."

"I understand. I won't let you down!" Peter vowed, determination shining in his eyes.

Peter felt a surge of excitement.

The thought of fighting in the future with the skill and precision of the Turtles—or even Batman—stirred his enthusiasm. He envisioned himself as more than just the bouncy "Spider-kid" everyone knew. He could hardly wait to train.

Tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps sounded behind Anton and Splinter.

It was Connors.

"Norman knows you're here. He wants to see you," Connors said, addressing Anton. "I just gave him an injection to stabilize his mind."

"Alright," Anton replied, heading toward the area where the Turtles had built a makeshift cell for the Green Goblin.

This temporary prison was where Norman was confined.

While Norman enhanced body could easily break out of the rudimentary cell, Connors had developed a suppressant based on his knowledge of the human enhancement serum. One injection temporarily nullified Norman abilities, rendering him an ordinary man for a few days.

However, the suppressant couldn't address the mental side effects of the serum. It could only dampen his aggressive tendencies. Resolving his split personality would require Connors to develop a new, improved enhancement serum.

Today marked the end of the current injection effects, necessitating another dose.

Only during these brief moments of respite could Norman Osborn reclaim his true self, free from the Green Goblin influence.

"Anton."

Norman expression was complex as Anton entered. After a moment of silence, he asked, "How is Osborn Industries doing?"

"It in bad shape. Harry is fighting for it," Anton said bluntly.

"He must have figured it out by now," Norman muttered, his voice dry. "If he went to the Osborn estate, he should have pieced together the truth... He a smart kid."

"You're a real father, that for sure. He came to see me today," Anton replied. "Don't worry. He seemed in good spirits. Learning you're alive has reignited his determination."

"Help him," Norman said, his tone earnest as he looked at Anton. "I'm begging you, Anton!"

"I can't get involved with Osborn Industries," Anton replied, shaking his head. "Norman, you know as well as I do that your company isn't just backed by politicians—it has ties to the military."

"At least keep Harry from being threatened!" Norman gritted his teeth. "I know those people. If they want something, they won't hesitate to use any means necessary. Osborn Industries is a massive prize... Harry is just a kid. Holding onto Osborn Industries won't be easy for him."

He paused, then added in a low voice, "Help me, Anton. Help him. I'm not asking you to interfere in the company affairs—just ensure his safety. Leave everything else alone. Tony Stark was 21 when he took over Stark Industries. Harry may be younger, but I know he just as capable."

"If you really want what best for your son, my advice is to have him give up on Osborn Industries," Anton said.

"Even if Harry were willing to walk away, they wouldn't let him go," Norman replied bitterly. "Besides, if it weren't for you, I'd want him to give up everything and live a normal life."

What this supposed to mean? Am I a babysitter now?

Anton narrowed his eyes, about to refuse, when Norman continued, "No matter the outcome, the Osborn family will always be your staunchest ally. Think about it, Anton—I'm begging you!"

It was clear that by "Osborn," Norman wasn't referring to the company but to the family itself.

"I have a private armed force. You can think of them as a personal mercenary unit," Norman explained. "If Harry uncovered the truth at the Osborn estate, it means he already made contact with my people."

Despite the worry in his expression, there was a glimmer of pride in Norman eyes.

"I understand Harry resolve. You know as well as I do that it not about me wanting him to give up—it about his determination to keep going!"

Anton studied Norman intently.

In his eyes, Anton saw genuine fatherly love and faith in his son. His impression of Norman softened slightly.

"I can assure you, Harry safety will not be an issue," Anton said after a moment of contemplation. With that, he turned and left.

"Thank you!"

Norman eyes lit up, his voice tinged with emotion as he called after Anton. "Thank you, Anton!"

Anton waved a hand dismissively as he exited.

In truth, Anton had always held a favorable impression of Harry. As Peter friend, Harry safety was something Anton would have been willing to ensure without Norman plea.

Besides, Anton now had a clone he could deploy as needed.

With Green Arrow growing fanbase, he could sustain brief outings under that identity.

If that were the case, why not let Green Arrow name resonate more throughout New York?

After all, Batman had to maintain his enigmatic air and couldn't involve himself in every little issue.

Green Arrow, however, was perceived as a lower-tier, fame-chasing version of Batman. Having him protect Harry and handle some Osborn-related matters wouldn't diminish his standing.

Otherwise, when the Battle of New York arrived and the Justice League made its public debut, people would question why no one had heard of Green Arrow before.