Connelly Estate.
Arthur Connelly hung up the phone with General Ross. His face was pale.
The young man in the black hoodie walked into his living room, casual as a tourist.
Vincent Hall. The Billionaire High Schooler. The Ice Demon.
Despite the central air conditioning, Connelly was sweating profusely.
"Mr. Hall," Connelly bowed his head, his pride shattered. "I did not coordinate with the military. I swear."
He was like a dog who had peed on the carpet, begging for mercy.
"My dear Connelly, how could I blame you?" Vincent sat on the luxury sofa, crossing his legs. "You are my chosen partner. As for the military... that was just my post-dinner exercise."
Connelly forced a smile, terrified.
"Was that General Ross?" Vincent asked lightly.
"Yes. Do you need his dossier?" Connelly offered eagerly, desperate to be useful.
"Not yet. I'm just curious about the man who created the Hulk and the Abomination," Vincent chuckled.
Connelly stared blankly. Abomination? Who is that?
"Is the contract ready?"
"Yes! My lawyers just sent it over."
"Excellent. That's the best news I've heard all night."
Connelly felt a pang of loss. His Oscorp shares were his life's work. But his life was worth more.
"Don't worry," Vincent added, sensing his despair. "I'm buying your shares at market value."
Connelly blinked. He expected to be robbed.
"But I need you to stay," Vincent continued. "I need you to wrest control of the company from the Osborns. Clean house. I want Oscorp to be a fortress when I officially take over."
Connelly's eyes lit up.
He couldn't beat Harry Osborn on his own. But with the Ice Demon backing him? Harry stood no chance.
"Mr. Hall, I will purge every Osborn loyalist. I will make Oscorp yours."
"Ten days," Vincent said. "In ten days, contact Mr. Smith at Commonwealth Bank. He will support your bid for Chairman."
A lawyer arrived with the papers. Vincent scanned them with his enhanced processing speed and signed.
"Pick up your check at my villa tomorrow."
Vincent stood up to leave.
Connelly collapsed onto the floor as soon as the door closed.
"Luca," he gasped. "Get me a drink."
Oscorp Underground Lab.
"Do you feel it, Peter?" Dr. Connors looked up at the ceiling.
"My Spider-Sense is screaming," Peter Parker replied, his face shadowed. "A cold wave... The Ice Demon is flexing his power."
Connors' reptilian pupils narrowed. "He is a threat to our plan. If we don't finish the God Gene project, we can't stop him."
"We're moving too slow," Peter said, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Harry is weak. He's a prisoner in his own company."
"What do you propose?"
"We kill his rivals," Peter smiled, revealing sharp teeth. "If Connelly dies, Harry takes full control. Then we have free rein of the labs."
Connors nodded. "Connelly is the main obstacle. He's trying to pivot to energy, shutting down bio-genetics. He must go."
Peter stood up. "I'll handle it."
Connelly Estate.
Vincent paused at the gate.
His Hydro-Kinesis picked up a massive, distorted bio-signature approaching fast.
Peter.
"Still on the warpath after killing Norman?" Vincent shook his head. "Looks like Connelly is the next target."
[System Alert: New Mission!]
[Mission (Red): Martial Arts Beatdown.]
[Objective: Defeat Peter Parker using ONLY Martial Arts. Do not kill him. Ensure Connelly survives.]
[Constraint: No Ice Fruit. No Hydro-Kinesis.]
[Reward: Red Blind Box.]
"Martial arts only? Against a mutated Spider-Man?" Vincent scoffed. "And I can't kill him? System, you're demanding."
[Accept within 10 seconds.]
"Accepted."
Vincent turned back to the villa.
"Luca," he ordered the head of security. "Take your men to the perimeter. Do not come back inside, no matter what you hear."
Luca nodded and scrambled away.
Vincent walked back into the living room.
"Mr. Hall?" Connelly jumped. "Did you forget something?"
Vincent tossed the contract onto the table.
"Watch this closely. I sense you're in danger."
"Danger?"
Crash!
The skylight shattered. A figure in a red and blue suit swung in, landing in a crouch.
"Hello, Mr. Connelly," Peter Parker sneered under his mask.
"Who are you? Ghost Spider?" Connelly gasped.
"He's a guy, Connelly. Ghost Spider is a girl," Vincent said calmly, taking off his hoodie to reveal a physique carved from steel.
Peter froze. He stared at Vincent.
Vincent Hall. Gwen's boyfriend.
The jealousy and hatred boiled over. This was his chance. If he killed Vincent here, he could blame it on the "Spider-Beast" persona. Then Gwen would be free.
"There's only one spider allowed in New York," Vincent flexed his muscles. "I know who you are. And I know you want to kill me."
"But I don't care," Vincent grinned. "Tonight, we fight. If you win, you can have Connelly."
"Mr. Hall?!" Connelly shrieked. "You said you'd protect me!"
"I said I'd beat him," Vincent corrected. "With my bare hands."
Thwip!
Peter fired a web at Vincent's face and launched himself forward. His suit ripped open, revealing eight sharp, organic spider-legs from his back.
He moved faster than the eye could see.
Vincent didn't use magic. He didn't use ice.
He engaged his Dragon Elephant Wisdom Technique.
The air around him hummed with power.
"Come on, bug boy."
Now Get The FULL NOVEL at Once!
Get 40% OFF for limited time only.
@patreon.com/Authorizz/shop