บท 17: Chapter 17: Threads of Fate
The cold breeze of the New York night cut through the air as Alex perched on the corner of a skyscraper, his eyes scanning the city beneath him. The twinkling lights of the sprawling metropolis resembled a grid of opportunity—each alleyway, every hidden corner, and all the faceless people going about their lives held potential. He had tested his theory with Elektra, and it had worked. Thirty points in one night without even breaking a sweat. The system rewarded him not just for direct conflict but for influencing the events of this world, even from the shadows.
But as the high of success faded, something else gnawed at him. A part of him was unsettled. What exactly was he doing here? Manipulating people? Changing events from the background like some unseen puppet master? It felt… off. He was starting to treat this place like a game, but this was real—these were real people, real lives.
He shook his head, trying to focus. Survival first. Morality could come later.
His eyes drifted to the system panel in the corner of his vision, the glowing numbers tempting him. Points: 70/1,000. He had a long way to go before unlocking the Platinum Wheel, but the thought of having access to god-level powers sent a thrill down his spine. He couldn't afford to slow down now.
Still, the nagging feeling persisted. If he was going to keep manipulating people's lives, he had to make sure he was doing it for a good reason. Survival, yes, but something more. Something bigger.
He pushed the thought away and focused on his next move. Elektra had proven his theory, but he needed to expand his influence, test the limits of how far he could go without being detected. The key was staying in the shadows, nudging things in just the right direction without making himself a target. So, who next?
Alex's mind raced through the different characters in the Marvel world. Someone influential but not too dangerous, someone connected to larger players, but not one of the heroes directly. And then it hit him—Foggy Nelson.
Foggy, Matt Murdock's best friend and law partner, was the type of person Alex could get close to without attracting too much attention. He wasn't a superhero, but he was connected to Daredevil, who was connected to the Avengers. If Alex could somehow help him—maybe steer a case in his favor or protect him from a threat—he might earn more points, and more importantly, start weaving himself into the fabric of this world without raising any red flags.
He quickly pulled out his phone, doing a search on Nelson & Murdock. According to public records, they were representing a client in a high-profile case against Fisk Industries—Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin. That was a name Alex definitely knew. Fisk was a major player in the criminal underworld, and getting involved with him was a double-edged sword. He was dangerous, ruthless, and unforgiving, but if Alex could find a way to nudge the case without putting himself on Fisk's radar, it could pay off big time.
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The next day, Alex found himself standing across the street from Nelson & Murdock's modest office building. It was a far cry from the sleek corporate offices of the big law firms. The building had character, a worn-down charm that reflected the scrappy nature of the firm's two founders.
Alex waited patiently, hidden in plain sight among the people on the sidewalk. Finally, the door to the office opened, and Foggy Nelson stepped out, his briefcase in hand, looking as harried as ever. Alex's plan was simple: he would follow Foggy, keep an eye on him, and wait for an opportunity to intervene. If Fisk was involved, there was a good chance Foggy was in danger, whether he knew it or not.
Foggy started walking down the street, his pace brisk, his expression tense. Alex trailed him from a distance, moving through the crowds with ease, his Spider-Man-enhanced agility allowing him to blend in effortlessly.
As they walked, Alex noticed two men tailing Foggy from a few blocks back. They were too obvious, sticking out like sore thumbs among the morning commuters. They didn't have the precision of Hand operatives or the finesse of SHIELD agents, but they were definitely professionals. Probably Fisk's goons, sent to keep an eye on Foggy or worse—make sure the case against Fisk never saw the inside of a courtroom.
Alex's heart rate spiked. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for.
He quickened his pace, carefully maneuvering through the crowds until he was just a few feet behind Foggy. The two goons had closed the distance as well, one of them pulling out what looked like a syringe from his coat pocket.
A kidnapping attempt in broad daylight? Fisk must have been desperate.
Without hesitating, Alex shot a web at the syringe, yanking it out of the goon's hand and sending it skittering across the pavement. The man looked around in confusion, but before he could react, Alex shot a second web at his feet, tripping him and sending him crashing to the ground.
The other goon spun around, pulling a knife from his belt, but Alex was faster. He swung a web to a nearby lamppost, launching himself into the air and landing on top of the second man with a swift, silent takedown. The whole encounter lasted less than ten seconds, and Foggy never even noticed. He kept walking, oblivious to the danger he had just been in.
Alex quickly webbed up the two men, stashing them behind a dumpster in a nearby alley. They wouldn't be going anywhere for a while. He checked his system panel again, and sure enough, it blinked with a new notification.
Points earned: 15 Total Points: 85/1,000
Alex grinned. Fifteen points for a quick save, and Foggy didn't even know what had happened. Perfect.
But as he stood there, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins, a strange sense of unease washed over him. Was this what his life was going to be from now on? Pulling strings from the shadows, manipulating events, and controlling outcomes without anyone knowing? It was a far cry from the heroic image of Spider-Man swinging through the city, saving people with a smile on his face.
Alex leaned against the alley wall, catching his breath. He hadn't planned for this—this life of secrecy and subtle manipulation. It was exciting, sure, but it also felt… isolating. He couldn't talk to anyone about the system, about his powers, about where he came from. He was alone, moving pieces on a chessboard that only he could see. That felt quiet terrible.
But what other choice did he have? In this world, caution was survival. Recklessness was a death sentence. He couldn't afford to be careless, not with Fisk, not with the Hand, and certainly not with the Avengers lurking around.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the city, Alex pushed off the wall and started walking. He had made progress today, but he needed more. More points, more power, more control. The Platinum Wheel was still far off, but he was getting closer with every step, every decision, every life he nudged in the right—or wrong—direction.
But for the first time since he arrived in this world, Alex began to wonder: At what cost?
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