Peter Parker stared at the holographic interface projected from his suit, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Five hundred and seventy-six.
The number echoed endlessly in his mind.
For more than a month, he had possessed spider powers.
For over half that time, he had been building and refining his own web-shooters, experimenting whenever he could, constantly improving his formula through trial and error.
Yet despite all that effort, he had only managed to develop a handful of practical applications for his webbing.
And now Karen was casually informing him that the Spider-Man suit Tony Stark had built contained 576 scientifically optimized web combinations.
Peter suddenly felt like someone had kicked him in the stomach.
“No way…”
The holographic menu floated before him.
He scrolled down.
And down.
And down.
The list seemed endless.
His eyes widened as he read the names.
Web Grenade.
Split Web.
Electric Web.
Rapid-Fire Web.
Ricochet Web.
Impact Web.
Web Parachute.
Web Mine.
Web Shield.
Web Cluster.
Each one had a detailed description attached.
Each one solved a specific combat or rescue problem.
And each one made Peter feel increasingly inadequate.
A few minutes later, he was forced to accept two painful truths.
First.
His beloved homemade web-shooters were officially outdated.
Second.
Science was terrifying.
Tony Stark didn’t even use webbing as part of his normal combat style.
Yet somehow he had analyzed, categorized, optimized, and improved web-based combat beyond anything Peter had imagined.
Peter leaned back in his chair.
The deeper he dug into the database, the more amazed he became.
Take the Ricochet Web, for example.
At first glance, it sounded simple.
Then Peter read the explanation.
By modifying the density and adhesive properties of the web cartridge, the web projectile could rebound off surfaces without immediately activating.
This allowed Spider-Man to strike targets hiding behind obstacles.
Walls.
Corners.
Barricades.
Anywhere enemies thought they were safe.
Peter’s jaw slowly dropped.
“That’s genius.”
Karen immediately responded.
“Thank you.”
Peter blinked.
“You invented it?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“It was designed by Mr.
Stark.”
Peter wasn’t even surprised anymore.
Of course it was.
Tony Stark probably invented new laws of physics for fun.
Then Peter opened another file.
Web Grenade.
His eyes immediately lit up.
This cartridge contained an enormous amount of compressed web fluid.
Upon activation, it expanded instantly into a massive web structure capable of trapping large objects.
Peter sat upright.
His imagination immediately began racing.
He remembered the traffic accidents he had stopped over the past month.
Cars skidding out of control.
Vehicles falling from elevated roads.
Runaway trucks barreling toward crowded intersections.
Normally, he had to physically stop them.
The process worked.
Mostly.
But it wasn’t exactly elegant.
Sometimes the road cracked.
Sometimes a bumper got ripped off.
Sometimes he accidentally crushed part of the vehicle while trying to prevent a disaster.
The people were saved.
But property damage still happened.
Peter always felt guilty afterward.
Now, however…
Things were different.
With a Web Grenade, he could instantly deploy a giant web net around a falling vehicle.
The impact would be absorbed.
The vehicle would remain suspended.
And he could carefully lower it afterward.
No destruction.
No collateral damage.
Just a clean rescue.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.
Every web type had practical applications.
Every design solved a different problem.
Even without studying the tutorials in detail, Peter could already envision dozens of situations where they would be useful.
Eventually, he opened the rest of the training menu.
Some sections remained locked.
A large warning message appeared.
TRAINING LEVEL INSUFFICIENT.
FEATURES CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE.
Peter narrowed his eyes.
“Karen.”
“Yes, Peter?”
“What happens if I try opening these anyway?”
“Access denied.”
Peter clicked anyway.
Nothing happened.
Karen sounded almost smug.
“Access denied.”
Peter clicked again.
Still nothing.
“Access denied.”
Peter sighed.
“You’re no fun.”
“I have been informed that my humor rating exceeds ninety-three percent.”
Peter stared at the ceiling.
“Mr.
Stark made you, didn’t he?”
“Correct.”
“That explains everything.”
The more time Peter spent exploring the suit, the more he appreciated its true value.
The advanced fabric was impressive.
The built-in artificial intelligence was incredible.
The enhanced durability was amazing.
But none of those things were the suit’s greatest treasure.
The real treasure was knowledge.
Tony Stark hadn’t simply handed him equipment.
He had handed him years of experience.
Research.
Analysis.
Countless lessons distilled into a form Peter could learn from.
For the first time, Peter truly understood how much effort Tony had invested in him.
This wasn’t a random gift.
This wasn’t charity.
Tony had genuinely wanted him to succeed.
A warmth spread through Peter’s chest.
He looked down at the suit.
“Thank you, Mr.
Stark.”
The words were quiet.
But heartfelt.
One day, somehow, he would repay this kindness.
Unfortunately, gratitude quickly transformed into excitement.
And excitement led to terrible decisions.
Specifically—
Testing everything immediately.
A few minutes later, Peter was swinging around his hotel room like a hyperactive monkey.
Thump!
He bounced off a wall.
Thump!
He launched another web.
Thump!
He landed upside down on the ceiling.
Karen’s voice echoed calmly.
“Peter, I would advise caution.”
“I’m being cautious!”
“Your heart rate suggests otherwise.”
Peter ignored her.
Another web shot across the room.
Then another.
Then another.
Soon, webs covered nearly every available surface.
The ceiling.
The corners.
The furniture.
The curtains.
Even the television.
Peter was having the time of his life.
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
He froze.
His spider-sense didn’t activate.
Strange.
Peter quickly flipped toward the door and peered through the peephole.
Nobody.
“Huh?”
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound came again.
This time from behind him.
Peter turned around.
The connecting door between hotel rooms suddenly opened.
Happy Hogan stepped inside.
Silence filled the room.
Happy looked at Peter.
Peter looked at Happy.
Then Happy slowly looked upward.
And upward.
And upward.
At the countless webs decorating the room.
A muscle twitched in his face.
Another one followed.
Peter smiled nervously.
“Hi?”
Happy closed his eyes.
Took a deep breath.
Then opened them again.
“You are Spider-Man.”
“Yep.”
“Not Spider.”
Peter blinked.
“What?”
“Definitely not a giant spider.”
Peter glanced around.
The entire room resembled a nest.
“Oh.”
Happy pointed toward the ceiling.
“Because this looks like a giant spider lives here.”
Peter scratched his head awkwardly.
“That’s fair.”
Happy continued scanning the destruction.
“Do you have any idea what housekeeping would do if they walked in here?”
Peter’s smile vanished.
“Oh.”
“And do you know what happens if they start asking questions?”
“Oh.”
“And do you know what happens if your identity gets exposed?”
“…Oh.”
Happy nodded.
“Now you’re getting it.”
Peter immediately began tearing down webs.
Happy sighed.
“Stop.”
Peter froze.
“What?”
“I’ll handle it.”
“You will?”
Happy rubbed his temples.
“I’ll extend the reservation another day.”
Peter blinked.
Happy continued.
“I’ll arrange for special cleanup personnel.”
Peter’s eyes widened.
“You can do that?”
“I work for Tony Stark.”
“Right.”
Happy pointed a finger at him.
“But no more web experiments indoors.”
Peter raised both hands.
“I promise.”
Happy looked unconvinced.
“Karen.”
“Yes, Mr.
Hogan?”
“Help me monitor him.”
Peter gasped.
“Traitor!”
“Monitoring protocol activated.”
Happy smiled for the first time all evening.
Then he left.
Peter stared at the closed door.
“Karen?”
“Whose side are you on?”
“Mr.
Stark’s.”
Peter collapsed dramatically onto the bed.
Life was unfair.
Eventually exhaustion caught up to him.
The battle at the airport.
Rhodey’s accident.
The emotional roller coaster.
The endless suit training.
Everything combined into overwhelming fatigue.
Without realizing it, Peter drifted off to sleep.
And then he dreamed.
A strange dream.
A dream unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Darkness stretched endlessly around him.
Within that darkness appeared countless figures.
Spider-Men.
Hundreds of them.
Thousands.
One wore a black suit and possessed a massive, muscular frame.
Another wore a sleek white suit unlike anything Peter had ever seen.
One carried advanced mechanical spider legs.
Another wore a futuristic armored exoskeleton.
One looked like a medieval knight.
Another resembled a ninja.
One was made entirely of glowing energy.
Then—
Peter blinked.
A pig.
A spider-themed pig.
“What?”
The pig waved.
Peter decided not to ask questions.
The dream continued.
More Spider-Men appeared.
Different worlds.
Different lives.
Different destinies.
Yet all connected somehow.
Invisible threads stretched between them.
An enormous web.
A web so vast that Peter couldn’t see its edges.
At its center sat a mysterious figure.
Watching.
Waiting.
Silent.
Peter tried to move closer.
Tried to see its face.
The figure slowly lifted its head.
Then—
Everything shattered.
Peter woke with a start.
Morning sunlight poured through the hotel window.
His heartbeat thundered.
The dream already felt distant.
Like water slipping through his fingers.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember the figure’s face.
Only the giant web remained clear.
A web connecting countless Spider-Men.
And somehow…
Peter felt certain it had been real.
Later that morning, Happy received a message.
Tony Stark wasn’t coming.
At least not yet.
Something else had happened.
Something involving Captain America and Bucky Barnes.
Something in Siberia.
Something personal.
Happy didn’t elaborate.
Neither did Tony.
The only thing Peter knew was that the situation had ended badly.
Very badly.
By noon, they were boarding Stark’s private jet back to New York.
Peter spent most of the flight staring out the window.
Thinking.
Wondering.
Growing.
By the time they landed, he finally saw Tony again.
But something had changed.
The billionaire genius looked exhausted.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Whatever had happened in Siberia had left wounds deeper than any injury.
Tony never explained.
Peter never asked.
Some questions didn’t need answers.
During the drive back to Queens, Tony finally broke the silence.
“Kid.”
“Yeah?”
“Focus on school.”
Peter sighed.
Here we go again.
Tony continued.
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
“No superhero nonsense.”
“Uh-huh.”
“No getting into trouble.”
“Sure.”
“No fighting dangerous criminals.”
“Okay.”
“No risking your life.”
“Got it.”
Tony narrowed his eyes.
“You aren’t listening.”
Peter grinned.
“You noticed?”
Tony groaned and leaned back in his seat.
Peter laughed.
For the first time in days, the atmosphere lightened.
Yet even as he smiled, Peter’s fingers unconsciously tightened around the Spider-Man suit resting beside him.
Because he knew something Tony didn’t.
The moment he had put on the mask…
The moment he had chosen to become Spider-Man…
There was no going back.
And somewhere deep inside, Peter could feel it.
The giant web from his dream.
The countless Spider-Men.
The unseen figure watching from the center.
Something was coming.
Something bigger than he could imagine.
And whether Tony liked it or not—
Spider-Man’s journey had only just begun.