《Marvel’s Ultimate Connector》 Chapter 1: Ghost-Spider? I Didn’t Expect You to Be This Kind of Gwen! Chapter 1: Ghost-Spider? I Didn''t Expect You to Be This Kind of Gwen! Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City. Through the morning mist, sunlight filtered into a small attic studio. In front of an easel, a young man with an effortless charm leisurely painted the image in his mind. A war scene soon took shape on the canvas¡ªa glowing blue portal loomed atop a skyscraper, monstrous soldiers swarmed like an endless tide, and colossal warships cast shadows over the city¡­ "Ethan! Breakfast is ready! Hurry up and come down!" A voice called from downstairs. "Got it, Jessica. Just a minute." Ethan Lee responded casually, finishing the last stroke before covering the painting with a white cloth. The Battle of New York hadn''t happened yet, so it wasn''t the right time for anyone to see this particular piece. Yes, Ethan Lee was a transmigrator. From the presence of Stark Industries and Oscorp, he had already deduced that this was the Marvel Universe. And after realizing that he was just an ordinary person? He made the wisest decision possible¡ªlying low and living comfortably. Save the world? That was the superheroes'' job. But there was one thing worth mentioning¡­ While Ethan might be an ordinary person, in terms of connections, he was anything but. For example, his next-door neighbor to the left was George Stacy, the New York City Police Commissioner. George''s daughter, Gwen Stacy, was just a few years younger than Ethan, and they had been close since childhood. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Then, there was the neighbor on the right. That house belonged to Ben Parker and May Parker. And, of course, their nephew, Peter Parker. That''s right. Spider-Man. Ethan never expected that one of his favorite characters from his past life would grow up right next door to him. But that wasn''t even the craziest part. The girl who had just called him for breakfast was Jessica Ye¡ªfull name Jessica Campbell. She was Gwen''s high school friend, whose family had tragically died in a car accident. Back when they were kids, Ethan, acting on impulse, had taken her in as his adopted sister. It wasn''t until later that he realized something shocking¡ªher life story matched that of Jessica Jones. Superhero connections? Fully stacked. And as everyone knew, being a friend or relative of a superhero was not great for life expectancy. Yet somehow, Ethan had managed to survive unscathed so far. Maybe that was only because Peter and Jessica hadn''t become superheroes yet. --- Downstairs By the time Ethan came down, two girls were already seated at the dining table, casually enjoying breakfast. Jessica and Gwen. Both dressed in stylish yet comfortable casual wear, both effortlessly beautiful¡ªone with long, flowing black hair, the other with shoulder-length blonde locks. The contrast between the two, a dark-haired beauty and a radiant blonde, was stunning to say the least. "Morning, Gwen. Didn''t expect to see you here," Ethan greeted as he took his seat. Gwen shot him a playful wink. "The breakfast Jessica made using your recipe is amazing." So she was just here for the food. "Ethan, sit here." Jessica patted the chair between her and Gwen. A spot specifically reserved for him. There was no need to guess what that meant. "Jessica, it''s Lee, not Li," Ethan corrected jokingly as he sat down. He picked up a soup dumpling and placed one on each of their plates. "We''ve lived together for so long. I''ll be heartbroken if you keep saying my name wrong~" "Ugh, Chinese pronunciation is too hard," Jessica complained, curling her tongue playfully. She tried again, "Lee¡­ Lee." "Lee~" Gwen pronounced it effortlessly. Jessica turned to her in surprise. "Hey! That was really good!" Gwen smiled. "I''ve been learning Chinese lately." "Seriously? That sounds difficult." "My brother teaches me occasionally, but I still can''t get it right," Jessica admitted. Ethan chuckled. Jessica had a natural talent for cooking, but languages? Not so much. "You should start with pinyin first," Gwen suggested. "Here, I''ll show you a good website." She pulled out her phone, tapped a link, and leaned past Ethan to show it to Jessica. "This one. Try it." Without hesitation, she pressed close to Ethan, her delicate figure practically brushing against him. Jessica and Gwen started chatting excitedly, while Ethan simply got used to the close contact. It wasn''t the first time, after all. A beautiful woman by your side made breakfast taste even better. Before long, the dumplings and egg drop soup were all gone. --- Huh? Jessica, still browsing her phone, suddenly gasped. "Whoa, check this out!" She turned the screen toward Ethan. "A superhero! How cool is that?" Ethan glanced at the screen. The headline read: "Mysterious Masked Hero Appears in New York" A photo was attached. His brows furrowed. Wait¡­ Peter already debuted? Something didn''t seem right. Frowning, he enlarged the image. And then¡­ he froze. The figure in the photo had an unmistakably curvy silhouette. The suit was black and white, accented with purple. And instead of the usual Spider-Man mask, this one had a white hood. ¡­Ghost-Spider? Gwen Stacy? Ethan blinked, then looked at Gwen''s unmistakable blonde hair. Something felt off. A lot of things, actually. I didn''t expect you to be this kind of Gwen¡­! Chapter 2: Knight Spider Chapter 2: Knight Spider With mixed feelings, Ethan Lee turned to Gwen on his left, wanting to see her expression. But as soon as he turned his head, something soft pressed against his face, momentarily blinding him. It turned out that Jessica and Gwen were standing and bending over to read the news on their phones, while Ethan was the only one sitting. When he turned around to wash his face¡­ "It''s okay, Ethan." "I-I know you didn''t mean it." Gwen''s fair face flushed slightly as she placed her hands over her chest. You''re so understanding so quickly. I haven''t even said sorry yet. Ethan was momentarily speechless. Since Gwen is Spider-Woman, she must have spider-sense. So she didn''t avoid it on purpose. Still, the sight of a flustered young girl in love was quite endearing... Just as he was admiring Gwen''s reaction, a cold and indifferent voice suddenly rang in his ears. [The Extraordinary Relationship System has been loaded.] A system? Ethan kept his expression neutral, resisting the urge to react too strongly. As a time traveler, it was only a matter of time before a system showed up. Quickly processing the information given by the system, Ethan grasped its core functionality. To activate the system, he needed to achieve the status of an [Extraordinary Relationship User], after which the system would issue specific tasks. The term "Extraordinary Relationship" referred to individuals closely connected to superheroes¡ªpeople like Pepper Potts for Iron Man, Ned for Spider-Man, or even Uncle Ben, who instilled Peter Parker''s heroic ideals. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. In essence, only by forging strong bonds with superheroes could someone be considered a "relative" of one. Once a relationship was established, the system could trigger a corresponding task¡ªbluntly named "XXXX''s Relationship Task." These tasks were generally related to a superhero''s concerns. Completing these tasks would grant Ethan rewards. So, in simple terms, the system wanted him to grow stronger by deepening his connections with superheroes. Fortunately, thanks to his existing relationship with Jessica, Gwen, and the others, he already met the system''s requirements. Now, he just had to wait for a mission to trigger. "Deliberately?" Jessica glanced up. "Did you do something, Gwen?" She had been absorbed in scrolling through the news on her phone and hadn''t noticed the brief close contact between her brother and her best friend. Gwen casually put her hands down. "Ethan just bumped into me accidentally." With a vague explanation, she swiftly changed the subject. "Jessica, are you interested in Ghost Spider?" "Yeah, I think she''s cool!" Jessica grinned, holding up a striking photo of Ghost Spider and positioning it next to her face. She winked playfully at Gwen. "Don''t you think so?" Gwen stifled a laugh. "Besides being cool, my dear Jessica, is there anything else?" "Oh¡­ and she has a nice figure." Jessica stroked her chin, giving Gwen a once-over. "Honestly, she looks a little better than you, Gwen." Ethan watched Gwen''s face twitch slightly. It was clear she was struggling to hold back a reaction. It must be a strange feeling¡ªto have someone unknowingly praise you right to your face. "Ethan, what about you?" Gwen turned to him with an expectant gaze. "What do you think of Ghost Spider?" Go ahead, praise me~ That was definitely what she was thinking. Having recently become a superhero, she was eager for validation¡ªespecially from her childhood friend and neighbor. Oh wow, you really want me to compliment you? Ethan had the same thought. The two of them were in sync in more ways than one. "I think you have a better figure, Gwen." Ethan spoke with a straight face. "Ethan, what are you even saying? That''s so embarrassing¡­" Gwen''s ears turned pink. She wasn''t looking for that kind of praise¡ªthough she couldn''t deny feeling a little pleased. Ethan feigned innocence. "Didn''t you ask for my opinion?" "I meant in other ways!" Gwen pouted. [Novice Benefit Activated.] [The system will select two superheroes nearby and merge their abilities.] [After fusion, you will gain corresponding powers.] A novice benefit? Ethan, who was about to respond to Gwen, paused. Among the superheroes nearby, the closest were obviously Gwen and Jessica. Sure enough, the system continued its broadcast: [Selected: ''Knight'' Jessica Lee. Copying extraordinary template¡­] [Selected: ''Ghost Spider'' Gwen Stacy. Copying extraordinary template¡­] "Ethan?" Gwen tilted her head. "What''s wrong? Is that question really that hard to answer?" "Oh¡­" Ethan quickly snapped out of it. "Well¡­ Ghost Spider has extraordinary power and uses it to help the weak. I think that''s really admirable." How could it not be? The powerful Miss Gwen was about to grant him part of her abilities... "Admirable?" Gwen blinked in surprise. She had originally used her powers just to test them out¡ªmaybe rough up a few criminals here and there for fun. Of course, her father''s strict upbringing as a police officer had also played a role in shaping her sense of justice. But she hadn''t expected Ethan to view her actions in such a noble light. Is that how you see me, Ethan¡­? A mix of shyness and excitement bubbled up within her. Jessica, meanwhile, thoughtfully flexed her fingers. [Copying of ''Knight'' Jessica''s extraordinary template complete.] [Copying of ''Ghost Spider'' Gwen''s extraordinary template complete.] [Fusion loading: Novice Extraordinary Template¡ªKnight Spider.] [Acquired Extraordinary Ability: Knight-level physical enhancement.] [Acquired Extraordinary Ability: Spider-Man-level physical enhancement.] [Acquired Extraordinary Ability: Flight.] [Acquired Extraordinary Ability: Spider-Sense.] [Acquired Extraordinary Ability: Static Adhesion.] [Bonus Suit¡ªKnight Spider Armor: Super-strength defense, automatic repair, absolute concealment, information isolation¡­] [Research knowledge related to spider silk launchers included.] [Template Notes: Physical enhancement abilities will stack exponentially. However, the effect of a lower-tier enhancement will be reduced when combined with a significantly stronger one.] Ethan felt a surge of power coursing through his body. And just like that, his journey as an "Extraordinary Relationship User" had officially begun. Chapter 3: Gwen Checks the Body! Strange is a Chatterbox! Chapter 3: Gwen Checks the Body! Strange is a Chatterbox! Power surged through his body, an overwhelming force flooding every fiber of his being. A refreshing sensation coursed through him, leaving him feeling invigorated. Silently, a black bracelet materialized on Ethan Lee''s wrist. This was the Knight Spider suit in its dormant state. At the same time, newfound knowledge about spider silk launchers surfaced in his mind¡ªdetails of their mechanics, potential modifications, and tactical applications. Yet, Ethan found them unnecessary. After all, if he wanted to, he could simply take off from the ground at will. Just then, Gwen suddenly placed a hand on her chest. A strange tremor had just rippled through her heart, unprovoked yet undeniable. "Gwen, what''s wrong?" Jessica asked, noticing her unease. "I don''t know¡­ I just had a sudden palpitation," Gwen frowned. "Are you feeling sick?" Jessica''s concern deepened. She turned to Ethan and nudged him. "Hey, don''t just stand there like a statue. Help Gwen." Ethan sat down beside Gwen, wrapping an arm around her shoulders for support. A thought crossed his mind¡ªwas it possible that his own spider sense had triggered Gwen''s reaction? He spoke gently. "Gwen, do you need to see a doctor? I can take you to Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Strange is a friend of mine¡ªhe''ll arrange a checkup right away." "This¡­" Gwen hesitated. She thought back to the moment her abilities first manifested. It had happened not long ago, during her summer internship at Oscorp. She had entered a research lab filled with experimental spiders, one of which had bitten her. She left the lab hurriedly, but soon after, she discovered she had extraordinary powers. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Now, a lingering doubt gnawed at her. Was something wrong with her body? Ethan noticed her unease. "It wouldn''t hurt to get checked out," he reassured her. "At least for peace of mind." Before she could protest, he swept her up in his arms, carrying her princess-style. "Come on, don''t be stubborn," he said with a grin. "Ethan! I can walk, you know." Gwen didn''t know whether to laugh or be exasperated. It was a strange contrast¡ªGhost-Spider, a dignified superhero, being treated like a delicate patient. Yet, there was something oddly comforting about it. --- Presbyterian Hospital, New York City A sleek, customized car¡ªflashier than most sports cars¡ªpulled up in front of the hospital. Ethan, Gwen, and Jessica stepped out. Bringing someone here just for a routine checkup felt like overkill, but who cared? Connections had their perks. "Did we make an appointment, Ethan?" Jessica asked. "We don''t need one," he replied. Ethan led them through the hospital halls, bypassing the front desk. The staff seemed to recognize him and didn''t stop them. Inside one of the departments, a sharply dressed doctor with a neatly trimmed beard greeted him with an air of arrogance. "Well, well, the great artist graces me with his presence. What happened? Cut yourself with a paint scraper?" Dr. Stephen Strange¡ªthe brilliant surgeon and future Sorcerer Supreme¡ªsmirked at him. His arrogance rivaled that of Tony Stark''s. Ethan, unfazed, sat down casually. "Cut the nonsense, Stephen. I messaged you earlier." Strange waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. It''s all taken care of. My colleagues will handle it." He slid a document across the desk. "Here''s the test list. Just register her info, and they''ll take it from there." Ethan handed the paper to Jessica. "Take Gwen for her checkup. I''ll catch up with Strange for a bit." Jessica sighed dramatically. "Wow, Ethan. Instead of sticking with Gwen during this rare bonding opportunity, you''d rather chat with another man? You''re too straight." "Jessica!" Gwen protested, pulling her away. Ethan watched them leave, shaking his head. Of course, he wasn''t avoiding Gwen¡ªhe had another motive for staying behind. If he was lucky, talking to Strange might trigger a hidden mission or even earn him a Supreme Sorcerer template. Strange leaned back, eyeing him. "You know, Ethan, I''m at work. I don''t offer casual chatting services." "Yet here you are, chatting anyway." Strange scoffed. "Last time I swung by Sunnyvale Manor, I planned to take one of your paintings. But the place was locked up tight. Did you move out?" Ethan sipped his coffee. "Too quiet over there. I prefer the Lower East Side, so I moved back." "You? Prefer noise?" Strange arched a brow. "If you''re struggling financially, I could buy a portrait from you." Ethan rolled his eyes. "Do I look like I''m struggling? Besides, I only paint portraits of beautiful women. You don''t qualify." Strange smirked. "So, nude portraits?" "Professional art, Stephen," Ethan corrected. "I have standards." "Sure, sure." Strange slid him a cup of coffee. "So, really¡ªwhy''d you move back? Don''t tell me it''s because of those two girls." Ethan gave a nonchalant shrug. "Maybe." Strange sipped his coffee thoughtfully. "Are they even adults? Ethan, I won''t cover for you." Ethan nearly choked on his drink. "...Seriously?" Chapter 4: Gwen’s Thanks & Nightfall Chapter 4: Gwen''s Thanks & Nightfall Ethan Lee and Stephen Strange sat together, casually chatting and teasing each other. With Strange''s current wealth, most people didn''t need him for consultations or surgeries, so they talked for a while. But despite all the effort Ethan put into the conversation, talking until his lips were nearly worn out, there was still no response from the system. Is it because Strange hasn''t become the Sorcerer Supreme yet? "Ethan," Strange said as he entered some data into his computer, "you seem to be expecting something." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Stephen, are you thinking of becoming a psychologist now?" "Oh, no. I hate those ghost-like guys the most." Strange pressed the Enter key and smirked. "You just looked distracted." He turned the monitor toward Ethan. "Your girl''s test results are in. She''s in perfect health¡ªstrong, even. Not that you''d guess from how slim she looks." He chuckled and leaned back. "Honestly, you should work out more. Otherwise, you might not be able to keep up with younger girls." Ethan scoffed. "I''m strong enough, Stephen." He stood up, ready to leave, but before walking out, he casually reminded Strange, "Remember to be careful when driving." Strange waved him off. "You always say that, like an old woman." Well, you''re on your own. --- Outside the hospital, Jessica practically bounced with excitement, waving Gwen''s test report in the air. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "No problems at all, Gwen! You''re in great health!" Gwen smiled, visibly relieved. "Yeah, I saw. Thanks, Jess." As they stepped out of the hospital, Gwen immediately spotted Ethan leaning against his car. With a bright smile, she hurried over to him. Ethan watched as she approached, her eyes shimmering under the city lights. Without hesitation, she leaned in, closed her eyes, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against his cheek. "Thank you, Ethan~" she whispered. Ethan reached out, running his fingers gently through her smooth, golden hair. "You''ve been worried about something lately," he noted. Gwen tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. "Just a little confused about something." She then leaned her head into his palm. "But it''s all sorted out now." Ethan smiled and pulled her into a warm embrace. Their figures intertwined under the city lights. "Ugh~" Jessica made a face. "You guys are really overdoing it." She dramatically covered her eyes but peeked through her fingers anyway. The kiss lasted long enough that Gwen, slightly embarrassed, finally pulled away. "Ethan, that felt nice~" she teased, her face flushed. She stuck out her tongue playfully, looking both excited and mischievous. Ethan, slightly regretful, thought, Actually, I could''ve gone a little longer. But suddenly¡ª Buzz! His Spider-Sense flared. Danger! Ethan reacted in an instant, grabbing Gwen and rolling to the ground just as a figure with metal wings swooped past them. CLANG! Sparks flew as the figure scraped against Ethan''s car before crashing to the ground a short distance away. Luckily, Ethan had anticipated the dangers of New York City and had a specially modified car. Despite the impact, there was only a scratch¡ªno real damage. Gwen, still sitting in his arms, touched her head in confusion. Why didn''t my Spider-Sense go off? Did I get distracted by the kiss? Ethan turned his gaze toward the downed figure. His mind quickly pieced together the identity of the attacker. Adrian Toomes. A former electronic engineer turned supervillain. Framed and imprisoned by corrupt capitalists, he eventually became the infamous "Vulture" using his homemade flying armor. But something was off. He didn''t just malfunction and crash¡ªhe was hit. By whom? Ethan''s sharp eyes scanned the area and landed on a nearby building. A tall, bald man in a suit¡ªhis muscles unnaturally thick beneath the fabric¡ªstood in front of a shattered window. Without hesitation, the man turned and walked away. Jessica came running up. "Ethan! Gwen! Are you okay? That scared the hell out of me!" Gwen finally snapped out of her daze. "We''re fine, Jess. Thanks to Ethan." Ethan leaned in and whispered to Gwen, "We should get out of here." She nodded. "Yeah, let me get up first." As she sat up, her eyes landed on the Vulture, now taking off again. She clenched her jaw. I should be the one protecting Ethan! She puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Just wait till I change into my suit! That guy''s going down! Meanwhile, Vulture had already set his sights back on his real target. "Kingpin¡ª!!" Ignoring the bystanders he nearly killed, he roared toward the building and launched himself forward, wings roaring with renewed fury. Ethan narrowed his eyes. Vulture. Kingpin¡­ --- Nightfall That night, atop a towering, brightly lit skyscraper, a dark figure stood still, his silhouette sharp against the city skyline. Ethan was clad in his Knight Spider suit. The suit''s color scheme closely resembled Venom Spider''s, but with an added touch¡ªan outer hooded trench coat. It gave the impression of a couple''s version of Ghost-Spider''s suit, though that wasn''t the intention. Inside the mask, a custom BGM played, setting the perfect mood. Why does this feel like I just walked onto the set of Kamen Rider? Ethan exhaled and gazed over the city. Time to move. Chapter 5: I Am Spider-Man! Special Rewards! Chapter 5: I Am Spider-Man! Special Rewards! "Alright, let''s see where you are." Ethan Lee floated up from the rooftop, his battle suit''s built-in detection system and enhanced spider-sense quickly pinpointing the Vulture, who was in the middle of robbing a bank. If he and Gwen weren''t enhanced, the earlier battle between Kingpin and this guy would have crushed them both. He wasn''t about to let that slide. He''d settle accounts with Vulture and Kingpin¡ªone at a time. Following the sound of rushing wind, he swiftly arrived at the scene of the robbery. But someone had gotten there before him. Ghost-Spider. Gwen. Ethan saw her already engaged in battle with the Vulture. Gwen was still new to the superhero life, and her inexperience showed. Her movements were cautious, her attacks restrained. Every time she shot her webbing, the Vulture''s razor-sharp metal wings sliced through them with ease. Worse, she had to keep breaking away from the fight to protect bystanders. She was stretched too thin. And it was only a matter of time before she got hurt. "Nosy little spider!" The Vulture''s metallic claws swiped at her, missing her arm by mere centimeters. In that instant, a shadow dropped from above. A powerful kick struck the Vulture midair, sending him crashing into the pavement with a loud thud. Sparks flew from the device on his suit, the impact causing it to short-circuit. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The crowd gasped. The sheer force behind that kick was terrifying. Ethan landed smoothly, his coat billowing behind him. The knight''s enhancements combined with the spider''s abilities weren''t just added together¡ªthey multiplied. If he hadn''t held back, the Vulture would be dead. "Who is that?" The bystanders, who had fled to a safe distance, murmured in confusion. They recognized Ghost-Spider, the rising hero, but who was this dark, shadowy figure dressed in an all-black Spider-Man suit? Was he her partner? No, clearly not. Gwen, still catching her breath, was just as baffled. "Who¡ª?" She hesitated before stepping forward. "Who are you?" Her mind was racing with questions. This guy¡­ looked like he was from the same series as her. Had someone ripped off her whole aesthetic? Ethan activated his voice modulator, his deep, altered voice ringing through the air. "You can call me Spider-Man." Just like that, he shamelessly claimed the title. Gwen''s eye twitched under her mask. Excuse me? Not only did this guy blatantly copy her look, but now he was stealing her name too?! If he hadn''t just saved her, she would''ve had a few choice words for him. "You bastard!" The Vulture groaned beneath Ethan''s boot. Ethan remained silent, simply applying more pressure. The Vulture immediately got the message. "Ahhh¡ª!" He gasped. "I was wrong! I give up! Have mercy!" Ethan glanced at Gwen. "I''m taking him." He hooked his foot under the Vulture''s body, flipped him up, and caught him effortlessly. "Wait! Where are you taking him?" Gwen called out. "You should hand him over to the police!" "I''m not a vigilante." With that, Ethan shot a webline and disappeared into the night. "Hey¡ª!" Gwen huffed, watching helplessly as he vanished. She had no chance of catching up now. --- An empty rooftop. Thud. Ethan dropped the injured Vulture onto the cold concrete, crossing his arms. "Where''s Kingpin?" The Vulture¡ªAdrian Toomes¡ªfroze. So that''s what this guy was after? His mind raced. Damn that Kingpin. He''s the reason I''m in this mess. "Answer me." The cold voice cut through the silence. Toomes hesitated. "Why are you looking for him?" Ethan tilted his head slightly. "To teach him a lesson about littering." What? For a moment, the Vulture thought he had misheard. Littering?! Was this guy some kind of eco-warrior? What was next? Was he going to start handing out recycling pamphlets? Toomes had no idea that by "trash," Ethan meant him. Finally, the Vulture sighed. "If I tell you¡­ will you let me go?" "My patience is running out." Ethan cracked his knuckles. "Alright, alright!" Toomes exhaled sharply. "You''re a real hard-ass, you know that?" He wiped some blood from his mouth. "Look, I''ve got a grudge against Kingpin too. I can take you to him¡ªbut I need time to recover first." Ethan scoffed. "So you don''t know where he is." A chill ran down the Vulture''s spine. "No! I do! I do!" he blurted out. "I have a few locations. He moves around, but if you act fast, you might catch him." Ethan committed the locations to memory. Satisfied, he turned to leave. Then suddenly¡ª A notification appeared in his mind. --- Congratulations! You have defeated Gwen Stacy''s destined enemy. As her [Relationship], you may choose one of the following rewards: 1. Monetary Reward: $1,000,000 2. Random Reward: Captain America Collectible Figure 3. Servant Reward: Transform Adrian Toomes into an absolutely loyal subordinate. --- That last option caught Ethan''s attention. He glanced back at the Vulture, who was still groaning in pain on the ground. Turning him into a loyal servant, huh? Interesting. (If you want to read chapters in advance and support me here I leave you my patreon: Vin_cent1) Chapter 6: Deal with the Vultures! Keep Fishing! Chapter 6: Deal with the Vultures! Keep Fishing! Are there rewards for taking down supervillains? You''ve got to be kidding me. I''m just a guy with connections to superheroes. Shouldn''t my role be that of an ordinary person¡ªpowerless, running errands under their shining glory, or maybe providing a warm, cozy haven for them? So why does it feel like I''m the one playing hero here? Ethan Lee, who had just taken down the Vulture, pondered this thought without much hesitation. Imagine if Iron Man was suited up for battle, only for Pepper to say, "Hey, Tony, I''ve already dealt with all the enemies. Stop playing with your Iron Suit and get back to work." Oh god. In that case, the Iron Man movie would have to be renamed Iron Woman. This Extraordinary Relationship System doesn''t seem all that serious. It feels like I''m constantly being dragged into other people''s business. Even as he complained, Ethan still checked his rewards carefully. Hmm¡­ maybe it''s like the difference between completing NPC quests in an online game versus grinding in the wild. Compared to the rewards from Gwen and the others'' missions, taking down villains on his own didn''t seem to pay as well. One million dollars? Nice for an average person, but money wasn''t exactly a concern for him. A Captain America collectible figure? Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably love that. Absolute loyalty from the Vulture? What was he supposed to do with an old man''s unwavering devotion? Still, having another assistant to run errands didn''t sound too bad. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. After some thought, Ethan made his choice. [Option 3] At the very least, Toomes was a former electrical engineer¡ªfar more useful than the other two options. --- The Vulture, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, tensed up again when he saw Ethan suddenly stop and turn around. "You¡­." Just as Toomes was about to speak, his vision blurred. A moment later, both he and his battle suit transformed into a stream of data before vanishing. "What the¡ª?" Ethan glanced at the system notifications and opened the control panel on his suit. Curious, he pressed a button. The data stream reformed, and Toomes reappeared, armor intact. ¡­This wasn''t what I expected. So "absolute loyalty" basically turned him into a summonable entity? --- A Few Days Later Ethan sat in front of his laptop, casually browsing the latest news. That night, Fisk had shifted his operations, just as the Vulture had warned. Ethan had searched several locations Toomes mentioned but found nothing. Annoying. Since Fisk wasn''t an immediate threat, Ethan decided to leave him alone for now. He could deal with the so-called underground king later. After all, they hadn''t even crossed paths yet, and Ethan didn''t feel particularly vengeful. "Oh, you''re reading about this too?" Jessica leaned over his shoulder, glancing at his screen. She carried a small black shoulder bag and had a mischievous glint in her eyes. "The Black Spider that appeared a few days ago looks a lot like Ghost-Spider. Do you think they''re a couple or something?" Ethan sighed. He had explicitly called himself Spider-Man. How did the media end up labeling him Black Spider? He wasn''t Miles Morales. Jessica kept talking beside him. "But he''s so mysterious! The super-criminal Vulture disappeared right after fighting him, and some people think Black Spider killed him!" "I heard from Gwen that her dad is pissed about it. He says criminals should be handed over to the police and that vigilantes have no right¡ª" "Jessica, if you don''t leave now, you''re going to be late for school," Ethan interrupted, raising his wrist to show the time on his black ring. Jessica tilted her head and tapped a finger against his watch. "Nice watch," she remarked. Then, she leaned in, lightly patted his cheek, and grinned. "Anyway, don''t forget about the party tonight! Gwen''s coming too~" "Yeah, yeah, I''ll be there," Ethan waved her off. Once Jessica left, he turned back to his screen, skimming the news. "Stark hasn''t even become Iron Man yet, and there are barely any supervillains these days." No worthy opponents for Gwen or Jessica, either. Ethan sighed, disappointed. Maybe he should give up the whole fighting villains for rewards thing. Why bother taking down supervillains when he could just befriend future superheroes, take on a simple mission, and ride the wave of their success? Yeah. That sounded way easier. Maybe it was just the habit of playing the lazy route in video games catching up to him. --- Midtown High School "Gwen, you look kinda off today," Jessica observed. "Do I?" Gwen took out a small mirror and examined her reflection. She smiled. "I look perfectly fine. Not sad at all." "It''s your appetite," Jessica pressed. "You''ve been eating way more than usual. Even more than me. I heard people overeat when they''re stressed." Gwen scoffed. Fighting crime takes a lot of energy. What''s wrong with eating a little more? Jessica smirked. "Just don''t go overboard at the party tonight," she teased. "Wouldn''t want you ruining your figure." Gwen rolled her eyes. She was innocent. What was wrong with eating more when crime-fighting was such hard work? Chapter 7: Ethan Lee! Jessica’s Trick! Chapter 7: Ethan Lee! Jessica''s Trick! But she couldn''t say it. Thinking of something that had been bothering her recently, Gwen said, "Jessica, you must have seen the reports about the Black Spider. Because of him, my dad doesn''t like Ghost Spider very much anymore." "What does that have to do with you?" Jessica slung an arm around Gwen''s shoulders, smirking. "Are you a fan of Ghost Spider or something?" "Fan? ¡­Uh, I guess." Gwen replied hesitantly. Admitting to being your own fan¡ªit was just too embarrassing. Jessica, however, had an idea. If Gwen was a fan of Ghost Spider¡­ She quickly typed a message to her brother. --- Fifth Avenue, Manhattan A Luxurious High-End Studio "Dr. Banner, coming to the studio from home isn''t a long trip for me." Ethan Lee sat calmly across from his visitor. "I usually only come here once or twice a week, so I hope you''re not joking. Do you really want to learn painting from me?" The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. That''s right¡ªthe man sitting before him was none other than Bruce Banner, the Hulk. Although Ethan was confident he could handle Hulk in his current state, he still had no intention of testing that theory. A rampaging green giant was the last thing his studio needed. This was precisely why he had arranged the meeting here instead of at home. After all, he had only agreed because of the system. To be honest, he was already regretting it. The Hulk template was undeniably powerful, but it wasn''t exactly subtle. Not only did it ruin clothes, but it also¡ªwell, turned you green. Besides, getting the system to recognize Banner as his "extraordinary relative" would take time. Without that prerequisite, Banner''s mission wouldn''t trigger. "Yes, Mr. Lee." Banner''s expression was weary. "I''ve heard that painting can be calming. I want to give it a try." "If you''re struggling with emotional control, you should probably see a doctor." Ethan leaned back, unconvinced. "Painting can be therapeutic, but it can also drive people mad." "Take Vincent van Gogh, for example¡ªeveryone knows his story." "Dr. Banner, do you need me to give you more examples?" Banner nodded. "I know this might not work," he admitted, "but I''ve tried everything else. No harm in trying this too." No harm for you. But for me¡­ Ethan was about to reply when his phone buzzed. Only Jessica and a few others had notifications set, so he checked it. A message from Jessica: [Ethan, I want to start a Ghost Spider fan club! ] [You like Ghost Spider too, right? Can you design a poster for us??] [I''m announcing it at the party tonight.] [Oh, and guess what¡ªGwen''s a fan too! I can''t wait to see her reaction.] Ethan smirked. She''s definitely going to freak out. Turning to his computer, he opened a design program. "If you''re serious, Banner, then I agree." He glanced up while adjusting the screen. "You can assist me for now. At least until you decide this isn''t for you." Banner smiled. "Thanks, Ethan." No problem. Might as well make use of free labor. --- Midtown High School Back in class, Gwen and Jessica were seated near the front. The man at the podium was a middle-aged professor with a missing arm¡ªDr. Curtis Connors. His expertise in biology made him an engaging lecturer, guiding the class effortlessly through complex topics. Gwen listened attentively. She had interned under Dr. Connors at Oscorp over the summer and respected his knowledge. Jessica, on the other hand, was absentmindedly typing on her phone. Ethan: [I''m already working on the poster. I''ll bring it tonight.] Jessica: [Wow, for once, you''re not being lazy, brother.] Ethan: [I have a great helper. A genius, actually. Learns fast.] Jessica: [Thanks for the effort! I''ll even save you a spot as vice president of the club.] Ethan: [Wait¡­ aren''t you supposed to be in class?] Jessica: [Uh¡­ (??)] Ethan: [Put your phone down, Jessica. Or else.] Jessica groaned. Damn, my brother is so sneaky! She quickly pocketed her phone, fearing the consequences later. Gwen, watching her, chuckled. "Jessica, Dr. Connors doesn''t lecture often. You should pay attention." She tilted her chin toward the front. "Look at Peter¡ªhe''s hanging onto every word." Jessica scoffed. "Tch." She pouted. "That nerd? Please. I had to save him from Thompson''s bullying once." Chapter 8: The Party Begins! American Bullying! Chapter 8: The Party Begins! American Bullying! After Class Peter Parker ran up to greet Dr. Connors. "Dr. Connors, I didn''t expect you to be teaching at our school! That''s great!" During his summer internship, Peter had studied under Dr. Connors and performed even better than Gwen. "Peter, I''m glad to see you too, but I think you misunderstood," Connors said with a smile. "I only give occasional lectures, not permanent classes. After all, I have ongoing research projects at Oscorp." "Oh? How''s the latest progress?" Peter asked eagerly. "Peter." Gwen walked over at that moment. "I don''t think it''s a good idea to discuss Oscorp''s research projects here at school." "Hey, Gwen," Peter greeted her shyly, scratching the back of his head. "It''s fine, Gwen. It''s not a classified project." Connors picked up his briefcase and said self-deprecatingly, "Regrowing lost limbs by transplanting lizard DNA sounds too far-fetched for most people. They''ll probably just dismiss it as a joke." "If it''s you, Dr. Connors, I''m sure you''ll make it work," Gwen encouraged him sincerely. Although she had only a vague understanding of Connors'' research, she didn''t think it was as unrealistic as others might. After all, she herself had gained incredible superpowers. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Peter chimed in, "Yes, Doctor! I can help you." Connors chuckled. "I should probably decline your offer¡­ but I do need your help. You''re a genius, Peter." Peter''s intellect, even in this version of events, surpassed his Spider-Man counterpart. At Oscorp, he had not only learned but had also given Connors several valuable insights. "My lab is always open to you." With those words, Connors prepared to leave. Before he did, Gwen extended an invitation. "Dr. Connors, there''s a party tonight. Interested?" "That''s a young people''s event, Gwen. I''ll sit this one out." "Alright, take care." After seeing Connors off, Gwen turned to Peter with a grin. "Peter, don''t try to skip the party tonight. There''ll be plenty of girls there. Maybe I can introduce you to someone." Peter had been her neighbor since childhood. Though she didn''t have romantic feelings for him¡ªher heart belonged to Ethan Lee¡ªshe still hoped her friend would be more outgoing. "Uh¡­ okay, I''ll definitely go, Gwen!" Peter stammered before quickly dashing away as if making an escape. "Hehe~" Jessica appeared behind Gwen, smirking. "Gwen, there''s a special event planned for the party~" "Special event?" Gwen asked curiously. --- That Evening The party was held at Ethan Lee''s Sunivel Manor. Jessica was one of the organizers, alongside Harry Osborn, the heir to the Oscorp fortune. By the time Ethan arrived in his flashy modified car, the party was already in full swing. Let''s see how Gwen reacts to this, Ethan thought with a mischievous glint in his eye. He pulled out an absurdly long scroll from his trunk, grabbed two small gifts, and walked straight inside. --- "Mr. Lee?" "Even though Jessica didn''t say it, I figured you''d show up." It was Harry Osborn who greeted Ethan first. For a time, Ethan had tutored him in art classes. "Harry, it''s been a while. Have you been keeping up with your art studies?" Ethan asked. Harry, dressed in a casual suit, looked relaxed¡ªclearly, he hadn''t yet experienced the Green Goblin incident. Hmm¡­ has Norman Osborn already turned into the Green Goblin? Maybe I should pay him a visit sometime, Ethan mused. Unaware of Ethan''s thoughts, Harry chuckled. "Between classes and learning how to manage a company, I barely have any free time. I don''t have a brain as sharp as Peter''s." "Peter?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right. Speaking of him, he''s not exactly having a great time right now." Ethan pointed across the room. The party was in full swing, but at the entrance, Peter, holding his camera, was being blocked by a burly blond guy and his group of followers. "Hey, look who showed up." Flash Thompson, Peter''s classic school bully, sneered at him. "What are you doing here, Parker? This is a party, not a charity event." A guy in a black jacket chimed in, "Yeah, we don''t let trash in here." Flash smirked, waving a hand dismissively. "Go home, Parker. Or stick around and do my homework for me." "I''m here for the party, Thompson! You can''t stop me!" Peter shot back, his hands tightening around his camera. He wanted to swing it at Thompson''s head¡ªbut he couldn''t bring himself to do it. "Oh? And who invited you, nerd?" Flash mocked. "A lot of people!" Peter insisted. "Gwen, Jessica, Harry¡ªthey all invited me!" "Yeah, Thompson, Peter''s on the guest list," Harry said, stepping forward with a frown. "You better step aside." "Heh, still hiding behind other people, huh, Parker?" Flash scoffed, but seeing that one of the party''s hosts had spoken up, he decided not to push it further. Muttering under his breath, he shot Peter one last disdainful look before turning away. Peter let out a breath, adjusting his grip on his camera. Maybe this party wouldn''t be so bad after all. Chapter 9: Jessica’s Mischief! Gwen’s Real or Fake Cosplay? Chapter 9: Jessica''s Mischief! Gwen''s Real or Fake Cosplay? But when Flash turned around, he was met with a kind smile. "Mr. Thompson, where are you trying to go?" Ethan glanced toward the manor entrance and gestured. "Just a reminder¡ªthe exit is that way." "Huh? What do you mean?" A subtle pressure radiated from Ethan. "I mean¡ª" Snap. Ethan snapped his fingers. A few seconds later¡­ "Hey! You can''t do this! Hey!" Thompson flailed his thick legs as two burly men in suits grabbed him by the arms and dragged him away. His lackeys met the same fate, struggling in vain. "Alright, let''s not waste any more time here." Ethan raised the rolled-up poster in his hand, an amused smile playing on his lips. "I still have a surprise for Gwen." Harry, who had been watching, finally relaxed. Glancing at the poster, he asked, "Is this the teacher''s new masterpiece? For Gwen?" "Something like that." Ethan turned to him. "Where is she?" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Knowing Gwen''s personality, there was no way she''d sit back and let Peter get bullied without stepping in. "Jessica was dragging her upstairs earlier. She took her to a room on the second floor for some reason." Harry shot Peter a reassuring look, trying to ease his overactive imagination. "Got it. I''ll go find them. You take Peter inside." Ethan gave Peter a quick nod. "Just have fun and don''t overthink it." Peter mumbled a response, lost in thought. Seeing this, Ethan didn''t press further. Peter was a grown guy, not a kid¡ªno need to coddle him. Let Harry handle his fragile heart. ¡ª Humming a light tune, Ethan carried the poster over his shoulder and made his way up to the second floor. A quick scan of his surroundings, and he pinpointed the exact room Gwen and Jessica were in. "Oh, Room 201. Here I come." Inside Room 201¡­ "Hnnn~" Gwen, pinned down by Jessica, trembled as an all-too-familiar sensation washed over her. "What''s wrong, Gwen?" Jessica paused, concern flickering across her face. "Did I hurt you?" She wondered if she had lost control of her strength. "No, Jessica¡­" Gwen touched her chest, confused. "It''s the same feeling I had a few days ago. But it''s weaker this time. It''s like¡­ someone''s tugging at my heartstrings." Jessica raised an eyebrow. Hadn''t they already checked this last time? She suspected Gwen was just making excuses. "Tugging at your heartstrings?" Jessica scoffed. "What, are you saying that after getting flustered, you thought of Ethan, and now he''s magically coming to rescue you?" "W-What?! No way!" Gwen covered her face in embarrassment. Okay, maybe she had thought of that handsome guy~ Jessica smirked, convinced she had caught Gwen in a lie. She quickened her movements. "Heh~ Gwen, stop struggling. You''re not getting away." "Oh no, Jessica! Why am I wearing this¡­?" "Mhm~ Perfect fit!" "Come on, you love Ghost Spider, don''t you? Just put it on already." As Jessica grew more excited¡ª Ahem! A familiar voice rang from outside the door. "Jessica, are you in there? I''m coming in~" Jessica: (?) Gwen: (?) "Ah¡ª" Jessica glanced down at Gwen beneath her¡­ A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. Loudly, she called out, "Come in, Ethan! The door''s open!" Click! Ethan swiftly unlocked the door and stepped inside¡ªonly to freeze. It wasn''t just because of Gwen''s alluring state¡ªhalf-dressed, her porcelain skin exposed, golden strands of hair falling messily around her moist, wide eyes¡­ Okay, maybe that was a factor. But more importantly¡ªwhy was Gwen wearing a Ghost Spider suit? Had she been found out? Seeing Ethan''s stunned expression, Jessica assumed he was simply fooled by Gwen''s uncanny resemblance to the real thing. Grinning, she placed her hands on Gwen''s shoulders and playfully pushed her forward. "Look what I found, Ethan¡ªGhost-Spider!" Gwen immediately waved her hands in denial. "I''m not! I didn''t! Don''t listen to her!" Her expression was pure innocence¡ªso much so that she didn''t even care about how much of her body was exposed. Then again, maybe that was because she didn''t mind Ethan admiring her. Ethan, still staring, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm¡­ I think this needs verification. A thorough verification." "Woo~ Ethan, Jessica''s bullying me~" Gwen pouted and stretched out her arms for a hug. Of course, Ethan indulged her, pulling her into a warm embrace. Her soft yet firm body pressed against him. "Jessica, don''t bully Gwen," he scolded lightly. "En¡ª!" Jessica''s eyes widened in outrage. Her cheeks puffed up like a goldfish. "Tch! You completely forgot about me the moment she acted cute!" Chapter 9.1: Side Story(1) [Note: There will be more such side stories, but at my Patreon page.] Chapter 9.1: Side Story(1) Gwen, still clad in the tight-fitting Ghost Spider suit, giggled and squirmed playfully in Ethan''s arms. "Aww, thank you for sticking up for me, Ethan! I knew you''d understand." She tilted her head back, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she gazed up at him. "But you know, I don''t think Jessica is actually bullying me. I kind of like it when she gets all rough and tumble with me." Ethan raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Oh, really? So you''re saying you want Jessica to keep pinning you down and dressing you up in costumes?" Gwen bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. "Mmm, maybe... There''s just something so exciting about being at Jessica''s mercy like that. It''s like... a forbidden thrill." She wriggled her hips suggestively, rubbing herself against Ethan''s body. "I mean, I definitely wouldn''t mind if you wanted to join in the fun too..." Ethan let out a low chuckle, his hands roaming over Gwen''s curves appreciatively. "Careful what you wish for, Gwen. Once I get started, I don''t know if I''ll be able to stop myself from ravishing this hot little body of yours." Gwen''s breath hitched, a shiver of anticipation running down her spine. "Please... I want you to ravish me. I want you to claim every inch of me, mark me as yours..." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. She captured Ethan''s lips in a searing kiss, her tongue eagerly tangling with his. Ethan groaned into her mouth, his hands sliding down to grip her ass possessively. "Fuck, Gwen," he growled against her lips. "You drive me crazy. I don''t know how much longer I can hold back." Gwen moaned, arching her back to press her chest more firmly against his. "Then don''t hold back," she panted. "Take me right here, right now. Make me scream your name until the whole house knows who I belong to." Ethan''s eyes darkened with lust, a primal hunger burning within them. He knew he should slow down, should make sure Gwen was truly ready for this step. But the way she was writhing against him, begging for him to take her, was too tempting to resist. With a low growl, he spun her around and pinned her against the wall, his hips grinding against her ass. Gwen cried out, her hands scrabbling for purchase on the wall as Ethan attacked her neck with biting kisses. "Oh god, yes!" she gasped, pushing her hips back against his. "Harder, Ethan! Make me yours!" Ethan''s hands slid under the tight fabric of her suit, cupping and kneading her breasts roughly. Gwen whimpered and arched into his touch, her nipples hardening under his palms. "Look at you," he purred, his voice low and husky. "So desperate for my touch, so ready to be fucked senseless. You''re my perfect little slut, aren''t you?" "Yes!" Gwen sobbed, her whole body trembling with need. "I''m yours, Ethan! All yours!" Ethan chuckled darkly, one hand sliding down to toy with the edge of her suit. "You want me to fuck you so bad, baby? You want me to shove my cock inside this tight little pussy and make you scream?" "Please!" Gwen begged, pushing her hips back against his hand desperately. "I need it, Ethan! I need you to fuck me so hard I can''t walk straight!" Ethan groaned, his cock straining painfully against his pants at her wanton words. He knew he needed to slow down, to make sure they didn''t go too far too fast. But Gwen was so hot and eager and perfect in his arms, and he just couldn''t resist giving her exactly what she wanted. "Alright, baby," he growled, his fingers delving into her dripping wet folds. "I''m going to fuck you so hard you''ll never forget who you belong to." Just as they were about to indulge in their carnal desires, Jessica¡ªwho had been completely ignored¡ªinterrupted them, saying, "Hey, stop it, you two. We have a performance in a few minutes." At her words, Ethan and Gwen quickly composed themselves, fixing their disheveled clothes. Still, a spark lingered in their eyes as they glanced at each other. Jessica, noticing this, rolled her eyes and ushered them downstairs. Ethan then remembered something and playfully pinched Jessica''s nose. (If you want to read chapters in advance and support me here I leave you my Patreon: Vin_cent1 Chapter 10: Gwen Acts Like a Spoiled Child! Jessica Gets Punished! Chapter 10: Gwen Acts Like a Spoiled Child! Jessica Gets Punished! Ethan Lee held Gwen in one hand and gently pinched Jessica''s nose with the other. "Don''t pretend with me. I still haven''t settled the score with you for playing on your phone in class." "Oops, that was an accident! I got distracted and didn''t notice the time," Jessica protested. She glanced at Gwen, who clung to Ethan like a koala. "I''m not usually like this, am I? Gwen?" "Hmm?" Gwen blinked innocently, saying nothing. "Gwen, you''re holding a grudge, aren''t you?" Jessica huffed, realizing Gwen was getting back at her. Ethan looked at Gwen, who was dressed in a tight uniform and teasingly nestled against him. Unable to resist, he leaned in and kissed her snow-white neck. "Hnn~" Gwen let out a soft sound and continued to act coy. "Jessica forced me to wear this outfit, Ethan. You have to teach her a lesson." She turned to Jessica and smirked. "Punish her~!" "Hey, you can''t do this!" Jessica protested, knowing she had to act fast before she got ganged up on. Thinking quickly, she zipped up the unfastened back of Gwen''s outfit, revealing a complete Ghost-Spider costume¡ªminus the mask. "I have to admit, this cosplay is pretty accurate," Jessica mused, admiring her handiwork. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Then, with a mischievous smile, she posed beside Gwen and held up two fingers in a "V" sign. "Look, Ethan! Doesn''t Gwen look just like Ghost-Spider? Your favorite. Double the happiness, right?" "Jessica, what are you doing¡­?" Gwen''s face turned red with embarrassment. The situation was now¡­ unusual. Ethan sat on the edge of the bed with both girls in his arms¡ªGwen facing him, pressed against him by Jessica, who was behind her. An interesting pose. "Double the fun, huh, Jessica?" Ethan grinned wickedly and suddenly pulled Jessica into his embrace. "I think you should be part of the happiness, too." His arm wrapped easily around both girls'' slender waists. "Ethan, you can''t! I''m your¡ª" "Hmm? It''s just a little lesson. Isn''t it natural for me to teach you both a thing or two?" "Ah?" Jessica froze. Wait¡­ just a lesson? No¡­ wait! That means I''m the one getting punished! Smack! "Ah¡ª!" "Well done, Ethan~" Gwen clapped joyfully. Their so-called friendship crumbled in an instant. Smack! "Ahh¡ªow! Ethan, why did you hit me?!" "Oops¡­ Gwen, that was an accident." A while later¡­ Jessica sat with her hands covering her sore backside, eyes filled with resentment. "Hmph!" Still, her curiosity got the better of her, and she reached for the poster Ethan had left on the table. "Let me see the real reason I got punished." Unfolding the large poster, she had to stretch her arms to hold it up properly. "Oh wow, this is really good. I guess my suffering was worth it." The poster showcased a neon-lit New York skyline, with an agile silhouette swinging between towering buildings. Under Ethan''s design, the black, white, and purple suit popped vividly, and the striking pose made it impossible to look away. At the bottom, bold lettering spelled out: Ghost-Spider. It wasn''t just artistic¡ªit was cool. Perfectly in tune with young people''s tastes. "A Ghost-Spider poster? What are you planning?" Gwen narrowed her eyes. Jessica, still grinning, gave a thumbs-up. "Gwen, I''m starting a Ghost-Spider fan club! And I''m announcing it tonight!" Gwen blinked. "Huh?" --- Downstairs, the Party Heats Up The party had reached its peak. At the far end of the room, someone had set up a temporary stage. One by one, socialites eager for attention took turns performing¡ªdancing, rapping, beatboxing¡ªanything to stand out. The energy surged as someone even suggested a striptease. Harry Osborn, however, shut that down immediately. "We''re not of age for that," he declared. The crowd groaned, especially the boys, who shot him looks of pure betrayal. So boring, Harry! Harry, however, had other concerns. His eyes drifted to Peter Parker. At the moment, Peter was casually chatting with Mary Jane Watson from Jessica''s band. If things got too wild, he''d definitely feel awkward. Just then, Mary Jane''s phone buzzed. She read the message, then smiled at Peter as she stood up. "Peter, I have to go. See you later." Peter watched her leave, reluctant. "MJ¡­" A chubby boy plopped into Mary Jane''s seat with a smirk. "Peter, looks like your game isn''t as strong as you thought. But hey, on the bright side¡ªat least Thompson got what was coming to him today." Chapter 11: To the End! Gwen is Filled with Emotion Chapter 11: To the End! Gwen is Filled with Emotion "That was Lee''s work, not mine." Peter was much more cheerful towards his best friend. "Ned, where did you go just now?" "There was this girl named Cindy Moon¡ªshe was so pretty, and her skin tone matched mine." Ned spread his hands dramatically. "But she seemed to be in a bad mood and ignored me." Peter fiddled with his camera. "Lee once taught me a Chinese phrase. How did it go? ¡­ ''We are the same.''" "Oh, Peter, she really is an angel!" Ned sighed dreamily. "Her position in my heart is comparable to Ghost-Spider!" "Come on, Ned. That''s exactly what you said the last time you saw Betty." As the two continued chatting, the stage curtain suddenly closed. The lively, bustling crowd in the audience immediately quieted down, murmuring in confusion. "What''s going on?" "Why are they pulling the curtain down? We were having fun!" "Is this the finale?" "Quiet, quiet." Harry stepped onto the stage as the host, announcing, "Up next, we have a performance from the Mary Janes Band!" Excitement rippled through the audience. "Betty and the others are performing? That''s awesome!" "Oh wow! Come on, Mary Jane!!" "Will Stacey show up? I didn''t see her earlier. Is she not coming?" "Jessica! Jessica!" Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The Mary Janes were a well-loved band at school, and Jessica, in particular, was incredibly popular. Not only did she have a large fanbase among the guys, but many girls admired her as well. However, when the curtain reopened, it wasn''t the band that appeared on stage. Instead, a strikingly handsome man stood there, holding an electric guitar. His warm smile was enough to make the girls in the audience unable to look away. A short-haired girl in the crowd frowned. "Who is he? Where''s my Jessica?" "He''s really handsome," another mixed-race girl nearby said with a grin, then called out, "Come on, handsome guy!" The short-haired girl crossed her arms. "Skye, I admit he''s good-looking, but I still want Jessica. I refuse to be swayed!" Murmurs spread through the crowd. "I think I saw him earlier, heading up to the second floor with a big stick." "Oh, I remember now! Isn''t that Professor Ethan Lee?" "He''s given a few lectures at the school. He has a PhD in art at such a young age!" "Oh my god, freshmen might not know him, but how do you seniors not recognize him?" "Hey, he only came a few times! How was I supposed to remember?" Backstage, Gwen, dressed in her cosplay costume, had a complicated expression. How did things end up like this? Her emotions were tangled like a spider''s web¡ªanxiety, excitement, awkwardness, and happiness all at once. It turned out that her friends, her classmates, even Ethan, were all supporting her. "Gwen, don''t hesitate. Get ready!" Jessica pulled a hood over Gwen''s head. "My brother''s out there stalling for us, buying time. They say art students are tone-deaf¡ªI''m not sure if he''ll pull it off." Out on stage, the crowd was getting rowdy. "Handsome, play another song!" the girls cheered. The boys clapped enthusiastically. "That was amazing!" Ethan made an OK gesture. "Thank you for the invitation. I''ll perform another song¡ª''To the End''!" The audience buzzed with excitement. As the curtain fell again, they barely had time to react before it was drawn open once more. And this time¡ª Several girls stood on stage, surrounding Ethan with their instruments, exuding the confidence of seasoned rock stars. It was none other than Jessica, Mary Jane Watson, Betty Brant, Gloria Grant, and the rest of the Mary Janes band. "My God, he''s so cool!" Ned exclaimed. "Lee is still amazing," Peter agreed, lifting his camera to capture the moment. Then, he frowned. "Wait, where''s Gwen? Wasn''t she the drummer for the band?" Jessica stepped forward as the host. "Good evening, everyone!" she said confidently. "I know you''re all excited for the performance, but before we begin, I have an announcement¡ªsomething really important for this party!" Someone in the audience shouted, "Jessica! Do you have a boyfriend?" "Hey, shut up!" another student scolded. "Let her talk!" Jessica smirked and pointed dramatically to the side of the stage. A large poster unfurled. "I''m officially starting a Ghost Spider Fan Club! And everyone''s welcome to join!" The audience gasped. "A Ghost Spider fan club?! That''s awesome!" "I didn''t know Jessica was a fan of Ghost Spider too!" "This is so cool!" Teenagers had little resistance to superheroes¡ªespecially one as stylish and graceful as Ghost Spider. The crowd erupted into cheers. Jessica grinned. "Now, let''s get this show started!" Ethan nodded and strummed the first chord. "It starts with one¡­" "¡­It''s so unreal (Like a dream without consciousness)" "Didn''t look out below¡­" As the song built up, the stage lights shifted¡ª And then, beneath the glowing beams, a figure appeared at the drum set. Ghost Spider. The moment her drumsticks hit the surface, the beat fused perfectly with the melody, injecting soul into the music. The audience went wild. "Oh my god! It''s Ghost Spider!" The screams were deafening. Gwen smiled beneath her mask, feeling a swell of emotion in her chest. The frustration over her father''s disapproval seemed to fade away. Right now, on this stage, surrounded by her friends, she was exactly where she was meant to be. Chapter 12: The Club is Established! Skye Appears! Chapter 12: The Club is Established! Skye Appears! After the performance, Gwen stepped to the front of the stage, pulled back her hood, and shook out her golden hair. "Thank you for your support~" The audience erupted in excitement. "So Gwen is Ghost Spider?!" "Oh my god, my two favorite girls are actually the same person!" "You''re getting too into character¡ªthis is just an act. But Gwen''s cosplay is seriously spot on!" "I used to think Jessica was the best, but now I''m all about Gwen!" "Didn''t you say Ghost Spider was your favorite?" "I meant at school." "Come on, only kids choose sides!" The party buzzed with chatter and excitement. Meanwhile, Ethan and his group headed toward the dressing room to change out of their performance outfits. Inside the Locker Room The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The moment they stepped in, Gwen threw herself into Ethan''s arms, pulling him into a passionate kiss. "Ohhh~" "Gwen is really feeling it tonight~" "Must be the excitement from the performance~" The girls changing nearby giggled and teased her, completely unfazed by Ethan''s presence. They didn''t mind changing clothes in front of him¡ªafter all, they were still wearing underwear, and Ethan was not just any guy; he was exceptional. Ethan let out a soft breath. "Gwen, you were absolutely dazzling tonight." "All thanks to you~" Gwen grinned, standing on tiptoe to steal another kiss. As Ethan responded, he reached behind her to help unzip the back of her costume, while Gwen did the same for him. With practiced ease, they quickly changed back into their normal clothes. Watching them, the other girls felt a little flustered¡ªthese two were way too natural at this. Jessica crossed her arms. "Gwen, weren''t you hesitant about the performance before? Why are you so excited now?" Gwen beamed and leaned in to kiss her as well. "Thank you too, Jessica, my dear friend~" "Ugh, Gwen!" Jessica wiped her face in exaggerated disgust. "I might have female fans, but I''m straight, okay?!" Mary Jane giggled behind her hand. "So, Jessica, what''s next for the club?" "Next, we need to recruit members," Jessica said after a moment of thought. "And the person in charge of that will be¡­ the vice president!" "Who''s the vice president?" Ethan asked absentmindedly while still wrapped up in Gwen. Jessica smirked. "You, obviously!" "Wait, what?" "What do you mean ''what''? You''re the only one with enough free time, brother!" --- The Next Day Ghost Spider Fan Club ¨C Member Registration Office Ethan lounged lazily in his chair, looking utterly unmotivated. "Name?" he asked, not even bothering to straighten up. "Uh¡­" The chubby boy holding his backpack hesitated. "Ned. Ned Leeds." Peter, standing beside him, gave Ethan a look. "Ethan¡­ we''re not criminals. Maybe try sounding a little friendlier?" "Huh? What''s the problem, Peter?" Ethan barely lifted his eyes, looking half-asleep. "I''m not the one who wanted to start a fan club." Peter sighed. Ethan yawned, flipping to the next page on the sign-up sheet. "Age?" Peter: "..." Ned: "..." Despite Ethan''s half-hearted attitude, the two eventually filled out their forms and officially became members of the Ghost Spider Fan Club. "Alright, next." Ethan knocked on the table. A mixed-race beauty stepped forward, gracefully taking a seat across from him. She leaned in slightly, a playful smirk on her lips. "Hi~ handsome." Ethan didn''t even look up. "Name?" "Handsome, I saw your performance at the party," she continued with a teasing tone. "You were amazing~" "Oh." "Name?" The girl blinked. "... Skye." Chapter 13: Coulson is Confused! Gwen Fights Two! Chapter 13: Coulson is Confused! Gwen Fights Two! "¡­My name is Skye. So, the handsome guy is called Ethan Lee?" Although Ethan seemed harder to approach than she expected, Skye still attempted to start a conversation. "I heard you also teach classes at school. Should I call you ''Professor''?" "Skye?" Ethan immediately sat up straight, now fully attentive to the stunning woman in front of him. After confirming her appearance, he smirked. "Tell me, are you interested in becoming a superhero?" Seeing that Ethan was finally engaged, Skye flipped her hair with a playful smile. "Is this some kind of entrance quiz for joining the club?" Both of them became increasingly absorbed in their conversation, the chemistry between them undeniable. However, the people waiting in line grew impatient. "Oh, looks like we''re hogging the spotlight," Skye said sheepishly, glancing at the irritated onlookers. She handed Ethan a small slip of paper with her contact number and mimed a phone call gesture beside her ear. "Let''s talk later, Ethan~" "I have a better idea¡ªwhy don''t you wait in the lounge for a bit?" Ethan suggested before heading back inside the club. Inside, Peter and Ned were curiously inspecting various Ghost Spider-themed costumes. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Ethan clapped his hands together, grabbing their attention. "Hey, Peter, Ned. Since you both just joined the club, you must be eager to contribute, right?" "Of course, Ethan! What do you need?" Peter replied enthusiastically, raising his camera. "I could take pictures of Ghost Spider in action!" Ethan shook his head. "No, no, no. That''s way too dangerous. Wherever Ghost Spider appears, criminals follow." He patted Peter''s shoulder. "I have a much easier job for you. And Ned, you too." A few minutes later¡­ Peter and Ned found themselves sitting at the registration desk, exchanging helpless glances before turning to face the next applicant¡ªa middle-aged man. Peter: "Name?" Ned: "Age?" Coulson: "¡­" Agent Coulson had come to investigate Skye''s interest in the club, but now he was second-guessing the legitimacy of this whole operation. Could these kids really be serious about recruiting members? Or was something else going on behind the scenes? His instincts as a seasoned agent told him there was more to this club than met the eye¡ªespecially considering its connection to Ghost Spider. He made a mental note to dig deeper. --- A Cozy Caf¨¦ Encounter "This place is nice¡­ it has an intimate vibe," Skye observed, looking around. Ethan had brought her to an upscale caf¨¦ with an artistic atmosphere. A soft piano melody played in the background, and the walls were adorned with framed paintings. Leaning in closer, Skye whispered, "I know this might be a little rude to the caf¨¦ owner, but I have to ask¡ªdo you think those paintings are real or fake?" Ethan chuckled. "The ''Morning in Vienna'' painting, framed behind bulletproof glass in the corner, is the real deal. Same with ''The Moon'' in the main lobby and ''The Bat'' behind the front desk." He gestured around. "The rest? Just decorative replicas. It''d be foolish to leave real masterpieces hanging by the window¡ªjust asking for thieves to make a move." "As expected from a PhD in Fine Arts," Skye teased, taking a small bite of her cherry cake. "You figured all that out at a glance¡ªimpressive~" She was clearly charmed. Ethan smirked and waved over the pianist. "Let''s change the tune to something more romantic." As the melody shifted, he casually added, "By the way, I own this caf¨¦." Skye blinked in surprise, then scooped up a spoonful of cake and fed it to him. "You''re mean, Ethan. Were you just waiting to mess with me?" Ethan was about to respond when suddenly¡­ [ALERT: Gwen Stacy''s nemesis, "Green Goblin" Norman Osborn, detected nearby.] [ALERT: "Rhino" Aleksei Sytsevich detected nearby.] "¡­What?" Before he could react, a massive figure crashed through the caf¨¦''s glass door. Shaking his head in frustration, Rhino bellowed, "SPIDER! Damn it!" before charging straight out again. Skye gasped, covering her mouth. "Oh my god, that''s Rhino! He''s all over the news!" Ethan sighed. "Looks like we''ll have to reschedule our conversation." Skye clutched her purse. "Do you want me to call the police?" she asked quickly. "Ethan, maybe we should just leave¡ªit''s not safe here." Call the police? As if George Stacy could handle this. Ethan had already spotted Gwen swinging between the buildings in the distance, Norman Osborn''s Goblin glider hot on her tail. Seemed like she had more than one problem to deal with today. Chapter 14: My Sister Wants to Be a Hero Too! Use Villains to Defeat Villains! Chapter 14: My Sister Wants to Be a Hero Too! Use Villains to Defeat Villains! Norman Osborn, Harry''s father, was the owner of the Osborn Group. He should have been focused on expanding his business empire, but his family''s genetic disease forced him to seek a cure. The Green Goblin serum and armor were his own inventions, intended to solve this issue. However, not only did they fail, but they also gave him a sinister split personality¡ªthough, truth be told, his character wasn''t particularly good to begin with. The recent appearance of Ghost Spider had given Norman Osborn a new target. If he could obtain a blood sample from Spider-Woman, he might be able to refine the Green Goblin serum. This was why he was hunting Gwen now. "The little bug is so slippery. That idiot Rhino can''t even catch her," the Green Goblin sneered, eyes gleaming with malice. A wicked idea struck him. He aimed several pumpkin bombs at the crowded streets below and let them drop. Ghost Spider, don''t you call yourself a hero? Let''s see how many people you can save! "No!" Gwen''s pupils shrank beneath her mask. With incredible agility, she twisted in the air, swiftly calculating the best position. She shot out multiple webs in rapid succession, snagging all the grenades and flinging them skyward in one fluid motion. A burst of fire and smoke exploded above, momentarily relieving the danger for the pedestrians below. However, Gwen now found herself in peril. Because she had been so focused on saving the civilians, she had no time to grab onto a building with her webs. She was now plummeting toward the ground. The Rhino, still charging through the streets, saw his opportunity and roared with triumph. "I got you now, bug! Hahaha! Time to squish you!" You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Gwen''s heart pounded. If it were just Rhino, she could have evaded him with ease, but the Green Goblin was also diving toward her. She only had time to dodge one of them. "Gwen''s in trouble." Hovering in the air, Ethan Lee was about to activate his bracelet when he suddenly saw a figure rushing out from a nearby alley. Judging by the silhouette, it was a well-built woman. She wore a metal mask, a black jacket over a simple white T-shirt, and stretch jeans. Her speed was far beyond that of an ordinary person. She shouted as she ran, "Ghost Spider! Let me help you!" Ethan''s forehead twitched. Damn it¡­ isn''t that my sister?! She had even told him earlier that she didn''t have time to come to the club today¡ªyet here she was, out playing hero instead! Jessica charged forward and delivered a powerful Iron Mountain Kick to Rhino, knocking him back and successfully saving Gwen. "Ow, that hurts!" Jessica gritted her teeth and rubbed her shoulder. The Rhino''s armor was still ridiculously tough. "Where the hell did this little brat come from?!" Rhino staggered backward, shocked that this seemingly ordinary girl had so much strength¡ªperhaps even more than Spider-Woman. "Big guy, your opponent is me!" Jessica grinned, giving Ghost Spider a thumbs-up. "Ghost Spider, I''ll handle things down here! You take care of the sky!" Though a novice, she understood the importance of strategy¡ªshe couldn''t reach the Green Goblin in the air, so she focused on the ground battle instead. Unlike Ethan, Jessica couldn''t fly yet; her airborne abilities still needed development. "Then I''ll leave it to you!" Gwen responded, dodging an attack from the Green Goblin. She didn''t recognize Jessica at first but judged that anyone brave enough to take on the Rhino must be on her side. "You picked the wrong opponent, kid." The Rhino raised a massive fist and swung it toward Jessica with overwhelming force. "Say your name! It''ll be the last time anyone hears it!" Jessica leaped onto a nearby streetlamp and launched a sidekick mid-air. She may not have been able to fly, but her jumps were impressive. "I''m the Knight! And I specialize in riding dumb rhinos like you!" She easily dodged the Rhino''s punch¡ªone that cracked the pavement¡ªbefore landing squarely on his head. "Being a hero isn''t that hard~" Jessica smirked. However, her moment of triumph was short-lived. The Rhino''s long horn hooked onto her foot, causing her to lose balance. "Wha¡ªhey! Hey, hey, hey!" She tumbled to the ground, and her metal mask clattered to the side. Ethan groaned, covering his face. "You had that coming, Jessica." It was her first time fighting a supervillain, so failure was inevitable. "Jessica?!" Gwen froze when she saw Jessica''s face. Her momentary distraction proved costly¡ªthe Green Goblin seized the chance and rammed into her with his glider! "Ugh¡ª!" She barely managed to shield herself with one arm, but the glider''s razor-sharp spikes tore through her suit, leaving a gash on her forearm. Blood splattered in the air. On the other side, Jessica, still recovering from her fall, was about to face a follow-up attack from the Rhino. Ethan dived down, quickly donning his Knight Spider suit and tapping his wrist. There was no hesitation about who to save first. Vulture! [Summoned!] The Green Goblin, preparing to strike Gwen again, suddenly heard the sharp sound of something slicing through the air. He barely had time to react before a pair of massive metal talons clamped down on him. SNAP! A mechanical vulture seized the Green Goblin in its powerful grip, wrapping him in its wings as they plummeted toward the ground. Chapter 15: Punch to the Flesh! Norman Osborn Exposed! Chapter 15: Punch to the Flesh! Norman Osborn Exposed! Jessica was utterly confused¡ªnot just because her mask had fallen off. Why had Ghost Spider just called out her name? And why did the voice sound so much like¡­ Gwen? "It turns out she''s just a little devil!" The Rhino didn''t wait for her to react. With a roar, he charged forward, aiming to smash her into the ground. "You should have listened to your mother and stayed home, but it''s too late now!" Mom¡­ For a brief moment, Jessica froze. Those words hit deeper than expected. Her original family was long gone. "Hahaha! I''m so scared!" The Rhino grinned, thinking her hesitation was fear. His massive fist was only 0.01 centimeters away from her¡ªanother second, and her skull would be crushed. BANG! A black fist blurred through the air¡ª With a forceful uppercut, the Rhino''s jaw snapped upward, sending him spinning 180 degrees before he crashed onto his back! "Has no one ever taught you to be polite when you speak?" Ethan Lee flexed his wrist. This guy was tough¡ªstill breathing after that punch. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Meanwhile, the Rhino''s vision swam with stars. His head felt like it had been shattered into pieces. He could barely register what was happening. On the other side, Jessica clenched her fists. I have to survive! I haven''t repaid my brother yet. I won''t die here! When Ethan struck the Rhino, Jessica barely paid attention to the scene. Instead, she staggered back and suddenly screamed, "You bastard! Don''t bring up someone''s mother so casually!¡ªWait, huh?" As she shouted, she caught sight of the Rhino sprawled on the ground, with a black-clad figure stepping on his chest. "Black¡­ Black Spider?" "Why are you yelling like that?" Ethan mocked her mercilessly. "What, are you trying to go Super Saiyan?" Jessica was instantly embarrassed. I had already built up my emotions, and then you go and ruin it?! She cleared her throat and asked, "Did you kill him?" "Hmm¡­" Ethan mused. "Doesn''t seem like he''s moving. Should I just toss him in the river?" "Uhh¡­" The Rhino groaned weakly in response. A grin spread beneath Ethan''s mask. "Oh, you''re still alive? That''s good!" BANG! "AH¡ª!" BANG! "AH¡ª!" BANG! "Ah¡­." One punch after another, Ethan''s brutal strikes rained down, each hit weaker than the last as the Rhino''s screams gradually faded. Jessica and the distant onlookers were left speechless. What¡­ the hell? How is he more ruthless than a supervillain?! This was pure, unfiltered brutality! All of Ethan''s pent-up frustration¡ªbeing tricked into joining that club, dealing with all the chaos¡ªwas unleashed in every punch. He finally stopped when the Rhino stopped making noise. "Damn it!" The Green Goblin let out a furious snarl, kicking the Vulture off him with a powerful blow. With his enhanced strength from the Goblin Serum, that kick sent the Vulture flying. Wait¡­ isn''t this the Vulture who disappeared some time ago? Why is he suddenly attacking me?! Confusion flickered through Norman Osborn''s mind. Then, his gaze landed on the Rhino, whose body was practically in shreds after Ethan''s relentless beating. His pupils shrank. What¡­ what the hell?! That was brutal! Norman''s mind was already unhinged, and the black figure before him looked like a demon in his eyes. "HAH!" Before he could react, a swift figure swung in on a web¡ª SMASH! A fierce kick struck him square in the face! This time, it was the Green Goblin who was caught off guard. The force of the kick, amplified by inertia from the spider silk, sent him reeling. His mask cracked¡ªthen fell off. Norman Osborn''s true face was revealed to the crowd. Instantly, an uproar erupted. "Norman Osborn?!" "The chairman of Oscorp is a terrorist?!" "Oh my god!" Reporters who had rushed to the scene wasted no time snapping pictures and recording videos. Some even started livestreaming. Meanwhile, at the Ghost Spider Fan Club¡­ Harry Osborn had just arrived and was helping organize some Ghost Spider merchandise. Ned, who had been scrolling through his phone, suddenly gasped. "Hey, Harry, you need to see this!" --- PS: The protagonist and Harry aren''t particularly close¡ªEthan only taught him art lessons. I never said they were good friends, so stop making weird assumptions. Chapter 16: A Heart-to-Heart Between Two Girls! Jessica Gets Beaten Again! Chapter 16: A Heart-to-Heart Between Two Girls! Jessica Gets Beaten Again! "Alright, there''s just one left!" After taking down the Rhino, Ethan Lee landed in front of Norman Osborn, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him off the ground. He was about to finish the job when Gwen intervened. "Black Spider, thank you for helping me again, but please don''t be impulsive. We should at least¡ª" Snap! Before she could finish, Norman Osborn''s head lolled to the side. He was dead. "You¡ª!" Before Gwen could get another word out, Ethan vanished into the night. She stomped her foot in frustration. "Again?! Can you at least let me finish my sentences?" Still fuming, Gwen turned her thoughts to Ethan. Meanwhile, Jessica ran up to her, eyes wide with disbelief. "Gwen? Is that you?" Seeing reporters beginning to swarm the area, Gwen quickly lowered her voice. "It''s me. Keep it down. I''ll get us out of here first." She wrapped an arm around Jessica''s waist, shot out a strand of webbing, and swung them both away from the crowd. High Above the City This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Jessica''s heart pounded as they soared between the buildings. "Oh my God! It really is you, Gwen!" Gwen pulled back her hood and grinned. "Surprised?" Now that she had been discovered, there was no point in denying it. Besides, Jessica wasn''t exactly the type to make a big deal out of things. A few minutes later, they landed on a rooftop. Jessica was still in shock. "So much happened today, Gwen¡­" Gwen chuckled. "Yeah, I didn''t expect you to have powers too." "Superpowers, huh¡­" Jessica murmured, her expression darkening. She hesitated before continuing, her voice quieter. "I got these abilities after the car accident. But the price I paid was losing my entire family¡­" She exhaled slowly. "I never knew what to do with these powers. Maybe I was lucky to have my brother¡ªhe gave me a chance to live a carefree life again." Then she turned to Gwen with a determined look. "But when I saw you¡­ Ghost Spider¡­ I realized something. If someone like you had been there during my accident, maybe things would''ve been different. So, I thought¡ªmaybe I could be a hero, too. Maybe I could stop what happened to me from happening to someone else." Gwen listened closely, then gave a warm smile. "Jessica¡­ Ethan would be proud of you." Jessica snorted at the mention of her brother. "Him? Please. I know his temper too well. He doesn''t care if I''m a superhero or not. If anything, he''d just get mad at me for making his life more complicated!" Gwen giggled. Jessica''s entire demeanor changed whenever she mentioned Ethan¡ªit was cute, in a way. If Jessica hadn''t met Ethan, she would''ve been a completely different person. He really is a good brother¡­ Gwen thought to herself. --- Lower East Side "Hey, Jessica!" Ethan Lee stood with his phone in hand, displaying a news article featuring a close-up of a girl''s face¡ªJessica''s face. "If you''re gonna play superhero, at least be a little more careful. I don''t want my peaceful life being ruined." Jessica, now wearing a black silk miniskirt, stood awkwardly before him, her fingers twisting nervously. She subtly shifted her stance, as if trying to move her backside out of his line of sight. "Uh¡­ it was an accident! I didn''t mean for this to happen¡ªit''s all that big rhino''s fault!" she stammered, avoiding eye contact. Ethan arched a brow. "Right. The guy who''s already been torn to pieces, and he''s the one to blame?" Ignoring him, he read aloud from his phone: "According to reports, a battle between super criminals and superheroes erupted in Queens¡­ blah blah blah¡­ The identities of Black Spider and Ghost Spider remain unknown. However, a girl calling herself the ''Female Knight'' reportedly tripped during the fight, causing her mask to fall off¡ª" He paused, then shot her a look. "Tripped? Seriously? Could you be any dumber?" "Ughh¡­!" Jessica pouted and whined dramatically. "B-Brother¡­ I like you the most, you know that~?" Ethan smirked. "Still trying to weasel your way out of this?" Seeing no other way, Jessica went for her last resort¡ªshe lunged forward, throwing herself into his arms. "Brother, I love you!" This was her final gamble. If this didn''t work, nothing would. Ethan scoffed. "Oh, please. You really think that will work on me?" Without hesitation, he caught her mid-air, spun her around, and dropped her across his knee. Then, with practiced ease, he lifted her pleated skirt. "Ah¡ªNo!" SMACK! Chapter 17: Beautiful Legs in Black Stockings! Flirting with a Good Sister! Chapter 17: Beautiful Legs in Black Stockings! Flirting with a Good Sister! Jessica covered her backside and scurried off to cook dinner. Meanwhile, Ethan Lee received a call from Peter. Peter: "Ethan, something big happened! Have you seen the news? Harry¡ª" Ethan: "Peter, slow down. Take a deep breath and explain." Peter: "It''s¡­ It''s about Harry. His dad¡ª" Flashback ¨C Ghost Spider Fan Club "What''s up, Ned? I''ve got things to do. I''m leaving as soon as I finish organizing this." Harry Osborn moved closer, holding a flyer for the club. Ned hesitated. "Uh¡­ Harry, I don''t know how to say this. Just look for yourself." He handed over his phone cautiously. Harry glanced at the screen¡ªand his pupils shrank in shock! Wait¡­ My billionaire dad is a terrorist?! And he was defeated by Ghost Spider¡­ and then killed by Black Spider?! "No! No way! I don''t believe it! This isn''t true¡ª!!" Harry screamed hysterically and flung the flyer from his hands. Papers scattered like snowflakes. At that moment, a background melody played: This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. [Snowflakes are falling, the north wind is howling, and the world is vast¡­] [A plum blossom, isolated in the snow¡­] Harry froze. Why did it feel like this song was mocking him? "Who the hell is playing a Chinese song?!" "Ah! Sorry," Mary Jane apologized. "Gwen''s been into Chinese music lately and recommended a few songs to me." She lowered her head, scribbling a slogan, then looked up. "If you don''t like it¡­ huh? Harry, what''s wrong?" Harry didn''t answer. Instead, he bolted out the door. "Harry! Where are you going?" Peter chased after him, but all he saw was Harry jumping into his Rolls-Royce Phantom 88 and speeding off. "Black Spider! Ghost Spider! I won''t let you get away with this!" As Harry sped down the street, his emotions ran wild. To him, Black Spider¡ªthe one who killed his father¡ªwas the murderer. And Ghost Spider? An accomplice! Did Norman Osborn attack Ghost Spider first? So what? That was his father! He couldn''t face that reality! His driver and confidant tried to reason with him. "Sir, the details aren''t clear yet. Let''s get to the scene first." Harry exhaled sharply, forcing himself to think. "¡­Jessica was there too. I didn''t expect her to be involved." "She was taken away by Ghost Spider. Maybe she knows something." Back at the Club Ned knelt on the floor, reaching for his damaged phone with trembling hands. "Oh no! My love¡­ my pocket money¡­" [Snowflakes are falling¡­] "Mary Jane! Turn off your damn music!" Peter sighed. "Hey, Ned, be gentle with the girls." --- Back at Ethan''s Place After hanging up the phone, Ethan¡ªthe very reason for all this chaos¡ªhad an odd expression. Why does everything sound so dramatic, yet strangely hilarious? Just then, Jessica stormed out of the kitchen, barefoot and flustered. "Ethan, that weird thing you were cooking is making noise! I poked at it for a while but couldn''t figure it out." "Jessica, that''s called medicinal food. Let me handle it." Ethan put down his phone, went to the kitchen, and adjusted a few things. Moments later, he walked out, carrying a steaming pot of herbal soup. In his other hand, he held a bowl. "Here, this one''s for you. I''ll take the rest to Gwen." He placed the bowl on the table and gestured for Jessica to come drink. Jessica leaned in and sniffed, wrinkling her nose. "Ugh, it smells weird! I don''t want it. Just give all of it to Gwen." Ethan sighed and poured her portion into the thermos as well. Jessica narrowed her eyes, suspicious of his expression. "¡­Cooking some mysterious soup for two girls to drink? Ethan! You''re not up to something shady, are you?" She leaned in, whispering dramatically, "I heard there are strange herbs from the East that can make women lose control¡­" Ethan raised an eyebrow and smirked. Jessica looked up just in time to catch his amused expression. In her black mini skirt and the kitchen apron tied around her waist, she had an unexpectedly domestic charm. Especially those long, slender legs wrapped in sheer stockings¡ª Damn. Feeling mischievous, Ethan leaned in, lightly stroking the silky material covering her thighs. His voice dropped into a playful whisper. "Jessica¡­ how about sleeping in my room tonight?" "W-What!?" Jessica''s face instantly turned red. She squeezed her legs together, rubbing them against each other in embarrassment. Clutching the hem of her skirt, she stammered, "T-That''s not a good idea¡­ Gwen would be mad¡­" Ethan chuckled, pinching the soft flesh of her thigh. "It''s fine. I just want to play with your legs." "¡­My legs?" Jessica instantly realized she was being teased. Her embarrassment turned into frustration. She slapped Ethan''s hand away and kicked at him in mock anger. "Get lost! And go deliver that soup already!" Chapter 18: Sending Medicinal Food! The Charm of Oriental Creations! Chapter 18: Sending Medicinal Food! The Charm of Oriental Creations! Ding Dong~ The doorbell at Gwen''s house rang. Ethan Lee stood outside, holding a steaming pot of medicinal food. The door opened quickly, revealing Gwen''s mother, Jenny, who peeked outside before stepping back to let him in. "Oh, Ethan, come in. No reporters outside, are there?" Ethan stepped inside, shaking his head. "Not yet, but it''s only a matter of time. Jessica is really stirring up trouble. She might have to move back to Sunnyvale¡ªthere''s no room for security detail here." Jenny sighed with a knowing smile. "So, you''ve seen the news. Jessica''s always full of surprises." She handed him a warm drink. "George is handling it. He''s making sure reporters don''t harass you too much." Ethan appreciated the effort but knew that even George''s position as Chief of the NYPD couldn''t stop all the press. "I brought some special oriental medicinal food for Gwen. It''s great for skin nourishment and overall health." He didn''t mention its primary function¡ªrestoring blood and helping with wound healing. Jenny''s eyes lit up. "Oh? Skin care, you say? That sounds like a magical oriental creation! Gwen is upstairs. She''ll be thrilled." "Let me serve you a bowl first," Ethan offered. Jenny hesitated playfully. "Oh~ I couldn''t possibly! You brought this for Gwen." "I''m sure she won''t mind," he said with a grin. Their conversation wasn''t exactly quiet, and Gwen, upstairs in her room, heard everything. She groaned internally¡ªher mother was way too easy to win over. How could she just let a boy into her daughter''s room so casually? This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Not that Gwen minded. She trusted Ethan completely. After all, she''d even given him a spare key to her room. However, right now, she was hurriedly finishing up bandaging a wound on her forearm. Thanks to her unique physiology, it had already mostly healed, but it still needed to be covered. If her parents saw it, she''d be in big trouble. Downstairs, Ethan, having successfully won over Jenny, headed up to Gwen''s room. Finding the door locked, he knocked lightly. "Gwen, can I come in? I brought you some food." Her voice came through the door, teasing, "You have a key, don''t you?" "Alright then, here I come." Ethan retrieved the key from his pocket, unlocked the door with ease, and stepped inside. Gwen was sitting cross-legged on her bed, wearing cute long-sleeved pajamas adorned with a chibi-style spider pattern. Ethan smirked. "Oh, my sweetheart, were you waiting for me?" Gwen shot back playfully, "Come here, you bastard!"¡ªin Chinese. They both burst into laughter. Setting the pot down on her desk, Ethan handed her a package. "Jessica asked me to bring this for you." Gwen took it, tilting her head curiously. "What is it?" Ethan spread his hands. "She said you needed¡ªuh¡ªsanitary napkins?" Gwen froze. "¡­What?" Her face turned crimson. She did remember Jessica saying she''d bring her some bandages and antiseptics, but apparently, this was the cover story. Quickly stuffing the package behind her, Gwen cleared her throat and changed the subject. "So¡­ what did you bring me to eat?" She eagerly lifted the lid of the pot. "I have no idea what''s in it, but it looks delicious." Ethan chuckled, explaining the ingredients and their benefits. As Gwen started eating, her expression brightened. She was much more cooperative than Jessica, who was still a picky eater. Satisfied, Ethan leaned back slightly, letting the conversation flow naturally. Today had been eventful, and there was plenty to talk about. "I saw the news," Gwen said between bites. "I can''t believe Green Goblin was actually Harry''s father. Norman Osborn¡ªof all people! Harry must be going through hell right now." Ethan wasn''t particularly sympathetic. "He''ll handle it. I''m more concerned about Jessica. The media and government agencies will be all over her. She''s too careless. I''m already considering moving back to the manor and hiring extra security." It wasn''t paranoia. Superhumans weren''t common yet, and any newly revealed superhero would attract dangerous attention. Unless, of course, a bigger name emerged to steal the spotlight. Ethan thought about one man¡ªTony Stark. If Stark was already on his Middle Eastern "vacation," it wouldn''t be long before he made his grand return as Iron Man. That would shift the media frenzy. Gwen paused, her spoon hovering over her bowl. "Ethan¡­ If you move back, I''ll miss you." Ethan softened. "I''d miss you too. That''s why I''m considering all the options." "Actually, Dad''s been talking about moving to a better neighborhood." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Why don''t you all move closer to me? My house is huge." She smiled. "Dad wouldn''t want to live in someone else''s house. But¡­ if it''s nearby, I think he''d consider it. I''ll talk to him." Time passed quickly. A single man and a single woman in a room together. As their conversation went on, they naturally inched closer¡ªuntil they were side by side, lost in each other''s company. Chapter 19: Gwen is Angry! Chapter 19: Gwen is Angry! "Gwen¡­" "Hmm~?" "Jessica is right. The medicinal food tastes weird¡­" Gwen pouted. "Ethan, you actually despise me!" "Maybe I put too many herbs in it. The smell is a bit strong." "Then should I take care of it?" "It''s okay, we can skip this step~." "Ethan~ Mom is still downstairs," Gwen protested, stopping him from taking another step forward. However, she still wanted to make amends for her beloved. A mischievous idea formed in her mind. "Let''s try another way~." --- Early the Next Morning Chief George looked at his wife in surprise. "Why does Gwen look so radiant? Did you buy some nutritional supplements recently? If you have, give me some as a gift¡ªI need to check on Jessica''s situation." Jenny smiled. "It''s the medicinal food Ethan made for Gwen yesterday. It seems to be very effective. It worked so quickly, but¡­ there''s a small problem." George raised an eyebrow. "Small problem?" Jenny chuckled. "Gwen has a sore throat. She said the herbal medicine was too strong. But it''s nothing serious." George nodded approvingly. "That''s good. Ethan is a very sensible and caring boy." --- Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. In the Room Ethan Lee woke up next to Jessica. Last night¡­ Memories of yesterday flashed through his mind¡ªafter returning from Gwen''s, Jessica had taken his words seriously and obediently followed him into the room¡­ His gaze shifted to the black stockings thrown carelessly beside the bed, now bearing unmistakable stains. He felt refreshed. After all, last night had been quite the experience. Though not direct, in some ways, it was even more exciting. Just then, Jessica stirred awake. "Damn it, brother!" she blurted, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She recalled flashes of last night and grabbed Ethan''s shoulders, shaking him. "I thought playing with legs was just a little teasing, but I didn''t expect it to go that far!" Ethan smirked. "Jessica, it was clearly you¡­" Jessica froze. "Beast! I''m your sister! Even if we''re not blood-related¡­ Wait, what did you just say? It was me?" She paused, rubbing her head as if piecing the night together. "Wait¡­ it does seem like I started it¡­" Still, she huffed, crossing her arms. "Hmph! That''s only because you touched me first! You''re still a beast!" Ethan leaned back lazily. "I didn''t really do anything." He had simply been too stimulated after his time with Gwen, and Jessica had shown up at the perfect moment. Well, all he really did was leave a mess on her stockings. "Don''t be mad. I''ll help you wash them later," he offered, stretching. "But you''ll have to clean the spot on your leg yourself." Jessica kicked him playfully. "Go away~!" She grabbed her clothes, baring her teeth at him. "I don''t want those anymore! I''m buying a new pair!" Ethan''s gaze shifted to her smooth legs. "I can help you choose~." Jessica shuddered under his stare. "Ew, you''re so gross." --- Despite the shift in their relationship, the two still got up and went about their morning routine as usual. Later, Chief George arrived with small gifts, hoping to check on Jessica. He looked Ethan in the eye and said firmly, "Ethan, make sure to keep an eye on your sister. Don''t let her run around trying to play hero again." It was a simple message¡ªJessica had no place in the dangerous world of superheroes. Ethan nodded. "No problem, George." He ruffled Jessica''s hair. "Jessica is very well-behaved. She''ll listen to me." Jessica sat next to him, smiling innocently like a model student. But in her heart, she was pouting. Gwen is the most famous superhero in New York right now. I wonder what Uncle George would say if he found out. --- "George, before you go, take these." Ethan handed him a bag of butter cookies. "Jessica baked them. Why don''t you share them with your colleagues at the station?" "Haha, great!" George accepted them happily. "Jessica has always been sensible. I trust she''ll understand what I said." Ethan kept his polite smile. Yeah¡­ she definitely didn''t hear a word of it. --- System Rewards After seeing George off, Ethan opened his system panel. He hadn''t claimed yesterday''s reward yet. Defeating someone still counted as victory. [You defeated Gwen Stacy''s fateful enemy. Choose one of the following rewards:] 1. Monetary Reward: $1,000,000 2. Random Reward: Weather Control 3. Servant Reward: Transform Alexei Mikhailovich Sytsevich (Rhino) [You defeated Gwen Stacy''s fateful enemy. Choose one of the following rewards:] 1. Monetary Reward: $1,000,000 2. Random Reward: Refreshing Coke 3. Servant Reward: Transform Norman Osborn (Green Goblin) The choices were easy. Ethan picked [2] and [3]. The moment he made his decision¡ª Norman Osborn''s corpse, which had been under strict surveillance, suddenly disappeared. The person in charge of watching it nearly jumped out of his skin. "Master! Master! He''s gone! Master Norman is gone!" --- Elsewhere, a dark figure stood over an empty coffin. Helios clenched his fists, his face darkening. "Damn it¡­ Turn on the surveillance cameras immediately."