"Run! The monster's out—run for your life!"
"Help!"
The once-bustling shopping mall had become a nightmare. Screams filled the air as terrified people crawled and stumbled in every direction, desperate to escape the carnage.
A man sprinted for the main exit, breath ragged, eyes locked on the glass doors just meters away. But before he could reach them—
Slash!
A claw tore through his shoulder, blood splattering across the floor.
Behind him stood a towering figure—half-human, half-lizard. The creature dragged the man back into the mall with terrifying strength. There wasn't even time for him to scream again before those claws plunged into his chest and ripped out a still-beating heart.
"Ahhh!"
A scream came from the corner—a mother clutching her child.
The lizard man froze, blood still dripping from its mouth. Its pupils glowed a cold, reptilian gold as it locked onto them like prey.
"N-no… stay away!"
The woman's whole body trembled, but she forced herself to stand firm. Instinctively, she pushed her child behind her, covering his eyes with one hand and whispering comfort even as her own voice shook.
But the creature only grew more excited. Its tongue flicked out, licking the blood off its lips with a sound that made her stomach twist. It gave a guttural, animal shriek—and lunged.
She screamed and pulled her child tight against her chest, closing her eyes in terror—
BOOM!
A deafening crash split the air as the mall's glass doors shattered into a storm of shards.
The lizard man, mid-leap, froze and looked back—just in time to see several white webs shooting toward him like lightning.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
In a blink, the webs wrapped around its limbs and face. One hit square across its eyes, slamming it back into the wall. The impact cracked the plaster as its body was pinned, twitching, to the surface—like a bug nailed to a board.
"Haha—nice shot, Gwen! You're getting faster than me."
Ryuuto and Gwen landed side by side, the smell of gunpowder and smoke curling around them.
The mother blinked, realizing she and her child were still alive.
"Mommy, look!" The boy's eyes lit up with joy. "It's Spider-Man!"
"Yeah… Spider-Man saved us."
She nodded quickly, tears glimmering as she mouthed a silent thank you toward the masked pair.
But before relief could settle—
RRRAAAH!
The lizard man roared, its muscles bulging. With a violent jerk, it tore through the webs restraining it.
Ryuuto raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Still got some fight left in you, huh? Guess this upgraded freak's not all bark."
The creature—once human, still wearing scraps of a torn lab coat—snarled, eyes glowing red with mindless fury.
Gwen clenched her fist. "I'll handle this one. For the people you killed… you're not getting away!"
Without hesitation, she charged.
The monster's roar shook the broken windows as it met her head-on, claws slicing through the air.
"You're not even human anymore, beast!" Gwen shouted, dodging a swipe and driving her fist up into its chin. "This is for everyone you slaughtered!"
Her punch hit like a thunderbolt—sending the creature flying upward before it crashed back down with a bone-shattering thud.
Ryuuto stood a few meters away, scanning the mall littered with corpses and wreckage. His fists tightened, anger simmering under his calm expression. This wasn't just an accident… this thing was made.
He glanced at the trembling mother and son nearby. "Hey, you two—do you know where it came from?"
She shook her head, still pale. "We were just shopping… then this thing appeared out of nowhere. It—it killed so many people…"
"Got it." Ryuuto's tone softened slightly. "Go. Outside's clear for now—police are sweeping the streets. You'll be safe there."
"Thank you… thank you so much!"
The woman bowed deeply, clutching her son as they hurried out through the shattered entrance.
Ryuuto exhaled, dragging over a chair and sitting casually, one leg over the other. "Alright, Gwen. Show me what you've got."
His eyes followed every move, evaluating her like a teacher watching a promising student. She's getting stronger… but her form still leaks too much emotion.
"Take another one, monster!" Gwen shouted, charging back in with fiery determination.
She unleashed a flurry of punches—each one cracking like thunder. The creature stumbled backward, disoriented.
Finally, Gwen drew back her arm for one last strike, energy coiling in her shoulders. "This one's for everyone you hurt!"
BAM!
Her final punch crashed into the lizard's skull, twisting its neck with brutal force. The monster's eyes rolled white as saliva burst from its mouth.
It hit the floor so hard the tiles cracked beneath it.
Convulsions. Foam. Then silence.
The mall was still again—only the broken glass and Gwen's heavy breathing remained.
Ryuuto stood, clapping once. "Nice. You didn't even need me this time."
Gwen turned, flushed but smiling under her mask. "Heh… well, I had a good teacher."
Ryuuto grinned faintly, gaze lingering on the corpse. Still… this thing didn't act on instinct alone. Someone made it.
And in the depths of the mall's shadow, unseen by either of them—a pair of yellow eyes blinked open.