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Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: The Empty Grave and the Dark Parade

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The vast, silent cemetery on the outskirts of New York received three unusual visitors today. They arrived not by the front gates, but from the gray sky above: Harry Osborn on his Green Goblin Glider, Peter in his sleek Nanoscale Liquid Metal Suit, and Gwen swinging gracefully on a strand of webbing. They landed in unison before a solemn tombstone. Etched into the cold granite was a single name: Norman Osborn.

"My father is buried right here," Harry said, his voice a mixture of stubbornness and lingering grief. "I witnessed the funeral with my own eyes. It couldn't possibly be a trick."

Gwen crossed her arms, looking at the disturbed earth. "Even if he was buried, Harry, someone with enhanced strength could easily break out of a coffin and return to the surface. He might have escaped the moment the mourners left."

Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Peter interrupted, handing him a pair of high-tech metal frames.

The X-Ray Revelation

"Put these on," Peter instructed. "These are my Multi-Spectrum Detection Glasses. They feature ultra-long-range optics, infrared thermal imaging, and most importantly for us right now—X-ray vision."

Harry slid the glasses onto his face. The world shifted into a monochromatic landscape of skeletal structures and hidden densities. He looked at his own hands, seeing the pale glow of his finger bones.

"Incredible technology," Harry whispered. He finally understood Peter's plan. He didn't need to dig; he just needed to look.

Gathering his courage, Harry focused his gaze downward, peering through the layers of soil and the reinforced concrete vault. His heart skipped a beat.

Result: The mahogany casket was perfectly intact.

Status:Empty.

A complex storm of emotions swept across Harry's face: fury at being deceived, regret for his misplaced vengeance, and a tiny, flickering spark of hope. He handed the glasses back to Peter, his resolve hardening.

"Thank you. I've made my decision," Harry said. "I'm going to find my father and bring him back—to apologize to Spider-Man."

Peter nodded, satisfied. "Finding your father is important, but there's a more immediate crisis. The Peter Parker of this world is losing himself to the symbiote. He needs his best friend."

"Then let's go," Harry said. "I won't let Peter fall."

The "Bully" of Fifth Avenue

3:00 PM. Fifth Avenue, New York.

The street was alive with the hum of the city, but one man stood out. Tobey Maguire (this world's Peter Parker) walked with an arrogant, predatory confidence. He wore a dark, evil-and-charming smile, convinced that he had just eliminated the Sandman in the sewers.

The intoxicating influence of the Symbiote Suit had completely suppressed his natural humility. Every glance from a passerby felt like a tribute to his newfound "perfection." He had already visited a salon for a stylish, dark three-seven split hairstyle and was now eyeing high-end suits.

From a rooftop one kilometer away, Peter, Gwen, and Harry observed the scene through their detection glasses.

Technical Insight: Peter had discovered that Spider-Sense only triggers upon the intent to harm or imminent danger. By observing from a distance of 1,000 meters without hostile intent, they remained completely invisible to Tobey's radar.

Suddenly, Tobey exited a suit shop. He didn't just walk; he emerged with a flamboyant, hip-wiggling swagger. Under the bewildered stares of the New York public, he began to perform an incredibly eye-catching, rhythmic dance right on the sidewalk. He swayed his hips toward passing women, snapping his fingers with an ego that was almost tangible.

"Impossible..." Harry gasped, watching his best friend's bizarre behavior. "How could Peter do such a thing? He's completely lost his mind."

Gwen was equally stunned. "He's... he's too flamboyant! He's actually winking at them. Oh my God, symbiote cells are terrifying. I never want those things near me."

She turned to Peter, only to see him holding a high-definition camera, meticulously recording the entire performance.

"Peter? What are you doing?"

Peter didn't look away from the viewfinder, a small, mischievous smile on his face. "This is a classic 'bully' scene, Gwen. It's a once-in-a-lifetime recording. Imagine Tobey's face when I show him this video after he gets rid of the suit."

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