"Spider-Man? Great!" Gwen's eyes gleamed with excitement, her blonde hair flicking as she spun toward Ryuuto. "I love that name! From now on, I'll be the one protecting New York and upholding justice!"
Ryuuto grinned and snapped his fingers. "Then do it. I believe in you, Gwen."
He dug into his pocket, pulled out his modified phone, and called someone who'd definitely owe him a favor.
"Yo, Iron Man. You busy? I need a favor."
Tony's voice came through immediately, warm with smug amusement.
"Heh, definitely free! Ryuuto, my man — you actually called me? This must be big."
"It's simple. I need a custom superhero suit — female size. I just sent the design specs to your phone. Don't cheap out on the material."
Across the table, Gwen was trying not to fidget, eyes darting between Ryuuto and the phone, her nerves and excitement barely contained. Ryuuto shot her a relaxed, confident smile.
"No problem," Tony replied instantly. "I'll make it happen. Give me an hour."
"Thanks, Stark. You're the best — when you're not drunk in your lab."
Ryuuto hung up, then turned to Gwen with that calm, teacher-like tone that always managed to sound both reassuring and teasing. "The suit will be here soon. Focus on your reflexes for now. Don't force your abilities — let them settle naturally."
Gwen nodded sharply. "Got it! I'll work hard!"
Under Ryuuto's training, she practiced tirelessly — wall climbs, web shots, acrobatics — failing, learning, and improving with each swing. Between laughs and arguments, their connection grew, steady and genuine.
But while they trained under the sun, darkness was spreading elsewhere in the city.
Inside a research institute downtown, the quiet hum of machines was shattered by an earth-splitting BOOM! The alloy door exploded off its hinges, alarms screaming as sparks rained from the ceiling.
Through the smoke emerged a towering figure — scales glistening, claws scraping metal, and eyes glowing a murderous red.
The Lizard had returned.
"Monster! Run!"
Researchers in lab coats scattered, crashing into tables and chemical racks, terror drowning the sterile air.
At the center of the chaos, Dr. Connors — or what was left of him — sneered, fangs flashing in a twisted smile.
"Heh… pitiful humans. Evolution waits for no one!"
A helpless researcher screamed as his claw closed around her throat. The sound of breaking glass and collapsing metal drowned her cries.
Moments later, silence. Only the hiss of chemicals burning on the floor.
Connors' reptilian tail lashed through the wreckage as he began smashing containment units, collecting vials of gene fluid. "Perfect… soon this city will shed its weak skin. New York will evolve under my rule!"
With one final swipe, he ignited the lab's fuel lines — a violent firestorm blooming behind him as he vanished into the smoke, carrying stolen serums into the night.
Hours later, the city's streets glittered under neon signs and honking traffic.
No one noticed the shadow leaping from the roof of a two-hundred-meter skyscraper — not until a bright silver strand shot from her wrist.
A web line!
Gwen swung in a graceful arc between buildings, hair whipping in the wind, heart pounding with exhilaration.
"Ha! Ryuuto, I did it! This is amazing!" she shouted mid-air, landing on a rooftop beside him.
She was radiant — clad in a sleek red-and-blue suit with a white spider crest gleaming across her chest. It fit perfectly, balancing power and elegance.
Ryuuto crossed his arms, smirking. "I saw. You did great."
Gwen's laughter bubbled as she impulsively hugged him. "Thank you!"
He chuckled, ruffling her hair. "As expected from my student — the real Spider-Man… or should I say Spider-Woman."
The night wind swept around them — the city lights below, the stars above — and for a moment, all the noise of chaos and monsters faded away.
But far across the skyline, a reptilian silhouette moved in the shadows.
The game had only just begun.