Chapter 7: Fight
Just when the black-suited Spider-Man thought the original had finally figured things out, Spider-Man shot out a web and pulled Black Spider-Man back.
"You're not going to New York to become some murderous rampage machine. Not happening."
The black counterpart glanced down at the web stuck to him. Veins bulged in his forehead.
"Spider-Man, you're unbelievably stupid."
He grabbed the web with one hand and yanked hard.
The webbing's other end snapped forward, dragging Spider-Man directly in front of him.
The Black Spider-Man raised his fist and landed a punch, sending Spider-Man flying.
Spider-Man hit the ground hard, his vision spinning and bursts of light flashing in front of him.
The dark counterpart didn't give him a second to breathe and charged toward him.
Spider-Man quickly regained his senses thanks to his superior physical abilities. His spider-sense buzzed, urging him to move. He ducked low, letting the black-suited Spider-Man's strike sweep over him.
He countered with a rising uppercut aimed at the duplicate's jaw.
The black-suited Spider-Man didn't bother dodging. He took the hit head-on.
Spider-Man's punch barely fazed him.
The duplicate seized Spider-Man's fist and hoisted it upward, holding him in place.
Spider-Man wrestled against his grip, but it was useless.
"Look at you. Pathetic. You hold back every time you fight criminals because you're scared you'll kill someone. Me? I know exactly how to use this power."
"You've suppressed yourself so long that you've forgotten how terrifying your real strength is," he added, almost sounding like he pitied him.
"Try this." Spider-Man shot a web with his other hand, obscuring the Black Spider-Man's vision.
His legs then snapped forward, driving a double kick square into the black-suited Spider-Man's chest.
The impact hurled the dark version backward, forcing him to release his grip.
"Wow… the other me really packs a punch," Spider-Man muttered, flexing his sore hand with a sharp inhale.
"Not bad," the black-suited Spider-Man remarked as he rose from the ice.
From that first exchange, Spider-Man could tell the duplicate's strength was at least equal to his own. Which meant he no longer had to hold back.
Both Spider-Men shot webs at the same time. The strands collided midair, twisting and knotting together.
They pulled hard from opposite ends, their webs swaying back and forth in the air.
The strain built until the webbing snapped. Both Spider-Men staggered, nearly losing their footing.
Spider-Man steadied himself and glanced at the web-shooter on his wrist.
It sputtered with sparks, releasing a messy flood of half-hardened webbing.
He tore the malfunctioning device off and looked toward the black-suited Spider-Man.
His counterpart's shooter was in the same condition, fried and useless.
Both Spider-Men sprinted forward, launching into a brutal hand-to-hand fight.
The ground cracked under the force of their steps.
Spider-Man slipped to the side, reaching for his counterpart's wrist.
The black-suited Spider-Man's spider-sense flared. He twisted away just in time.
He reappeared at Spider-Man's right flank, sweeping in with a sharp roundhouse kick.
Spider-Man raised his arm to block, and the impact sent both of them sliding across the ice for several meters.
Every movement demanded effort. They had to fight the slick ground beneath them, and each punch was slowed by the weight of their bulky thermal suits. Their spider-sense kept blaring warnings, but on the treacherous ice, even knowing what was coming didn't guarantee the body could react in time.
At first, Spider-Man managed to keep pace with his dark counterpart, but as the battle dragged on, his stamina dwindled. The Hameno Stone had drained too much of his power. He was fighting on sheer will alone.
Black Spider-Man seized the opportunity and tackled Spider-Man to the ground. They rolled across the ice, shattering a cluster of fragile ice crystals.
"You've lost," the dark version growled, pinning him down.
"I don't think so." Spider-Man drove his knee up into Black Spider-Man's abdomen, flipped him over, and pinned him to the ice.
"Why won't you just stay down!" the black-suited Spider-Man roared.
He slammed his forehead into Spider-Man's chest, knocking a pained grunt out of him. The moment Spider-Man loosened, the black counterpart hurled him aside.
Spider-Man rolled helplessly across the Arctic floor. His body had nothing left to give.
The dark version strode toward him and grabbed his head.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
He smashed Spider-Man's head against the ice again and again. The mask tore open at the corner, revealing part of his mouth.
Each blow sent a spike of searing pain through Spider-Man's skull.
Blood seeped down his face, trailing to the corner of his lips before dripping onto the ice.
His thoughts blurred, consciousness slipping.
Cracks spider-webbed beneath him with every impact.
Crack.
The ice finally gave way.
The black-suited Spider-Man seemed unsatisfied. He forced Spider-Man's head down, plunging him into the freezing water.
The shock of the frigid seawater snapped Spider-Man awake.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Bubbles rushed past his face as he struggled wildly, slapping at the ice with both hands.
With one hand, the dark counterpart pinned his wrists together. With the other, he kept Spider-Man's head submerged.
Five minutes later, once he judged the limit had been reached, he hauled Spider-Man up from the water.
Spider-Man collapsed onto the ice, gasping.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
"Don't get in my way again," the black-suited Spider-Man warned coldly.
With that, he turned and walked off, leaving Spider-Man behind.
The Arctic storm intensified, reducing visibility to near nothing.
The black-suited Spider-Man scanned the surroundings. Only endless white greeted him.
Black Spider-Man lacked the ability to travel long distances quickly. His body could survive the Arctic, but getting to New York on foot would take far too long.
"Let those criminals enjoy their little victory for now," he muttered bitterly.
His only thought was returning to New York to punish the wicked. But every minute wasted here could mean innocent lives lost back home.
Then it hit him: the Iron Spider Armor Spider-Man wore when he first arrived.
He and Spider-Man were essentially the same person. If Spider-Man could use the suit, so could he.
His gaze shifted toward the mechanical backpack lying nearby. Before the fight began, Spider-Man had set the Iron Spider Armor aside to avoid interference.
"He's not completely useless after all," he muttered.