After learning the truth behind how he had become Spider-Man, Charlie Parker finally felt a weight lift from his shoulders.
As for his missing father…
Or the dangers connected to S.H.I.E.L.D…
Those mysteries would reveal themselves in time.
For now, there was only one thing he could do.
Keep getting stronger.
Treasure the people around him.
And make the most of every day.
Of course, getting stronger meant taking plenty of reckless risks.
Better to rack up enough extra lives first.
With that thought, Charlie sprang into the air with a kip-up and a backward flip before landing lightly off the rooftop.
The instant his feet touched the ground…
A familiar voice greeted him from behind.
“Hey, kid from Queens.”
“You here looking for the Green Goblin too?”
“Hm?”
Charlie turned around.
Standing there in plain clothes were Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff, both giving him rather suspicious looks.
“Hey.”
Charlie feigned surprise.
“What are you two doing here?”
His Spider-Sense was annoyingly unreliable sometimes, making it impossible to tell how many agents were hiding nearby.
Steve stepped forward.
“We know Norman was the Green Goblin.”
“So we’re here for him.”
Charlie blinked.
“It took you two whole days to find this place?”
Natasha folded her arms with a faint smile.
“Mr.
Spider-Man, don’t underestimate our intelligence network.”
“This was simply the best time to move.”
Hearing that, Charlie knew there was no point pretending anymore.
“Alright.”
“So what can I help you with?”
“The best way you can help…”
Steve replied calmly.
“…is by staying out of this.”
He glanced toward the convoy of vehicles entering the mansion grounds before looking back at Charlie.
“We’ve confirmed Norman is dead.”
“We’ll take it from here.”
Charlie scratched his head.
“Fair enough.”
“I guess I don’t really have a reason to stay.”
“But you know how curious young people are.”
“The Green Goblin’s already dead, so why are you still here?”
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to confiscate his body.”
“That’s pretty inhumane.”
“And probably illegal.”
“As your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, I simply can’t allow—”
“…Alright, alright.”
“I’m leaving.”
He slowly raised both hands.
Then he looked at Natasha.
“Mind putting the gun down first?”
Natasha casually twirled the pistol in her hand.
“Interested in having a little chat?”
“What are you trying to do?”
Charlie immediately covered his chest dramatically.
“I just turned eighteen.”
“Can’t you let me off the hook, you old buzzard?”
“…No, wait.”
“Sorry.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I heard him call you that.”
“You should be pointing the gun at him.”
He pointed straight at Steve.
Steve looked completely dumbfounded.
“…What?”
Natasha slowly turned toward Steve.
Her smile disappeared.
“Steve…”
“Is that true?”
She absolutely hated anyone bringing up her age.
Steve usually acted like the definition of seriousness.
He didn’t seem like someone who’d say something like that.
But…
He had once been an American soldier.
And soldiers weren’t exactly known for refined manners.
Steve instantly sensed disaster.
He hurriedly raised both hands.
“No, that’s not true.”
“Let me explain.”
“Don’t listen to him.”
Charlie planted one hand on his hip and pointed accusingly at Steve.
“You can never trust what a man says.”
Steve gritted his teeth.
“Kid from Queens.”
“Don’t start trouble.”
“I swear I didn’t.”
Charlie blinked innocently.
“I’m just a kid.”
“Good kids don’t lie.”
“Spider-Man.”
Steve’s face darkened.
“You’re such a bitch.”
“See?”
Charlie pointed triumphantly.
“He’s getting angry.”
“I’m not—”
“Steve Rogers.”
Natasha crossed her arms.
“You owe me an explanation.”
“I am explaining!”
“I never said that!”
Charlie nodded confidently.
“He definitely did.”
“I swear on Spider-Man’s honor.”
“If he didn’t say it…”
“He at least thought it.”
The moment those words left his mouth—
Thwip!
A strand of web shot toward Natasha.
Her pistol was instantly yanked from her hand.
Another web flew toward Steve.
His vibranium shield shot upward and stuck to the edge of the mansion roof.
“What?!”
Both of them lost their weapons before they even had time to react.
A terrible feeling immediately settled over them.
The next second…
The red-and-blue figure rushed forward.
BOOM!!
Charlie’s punch exploded into Steve’s crossed arms.
Steve barely managed to block.
Then…
More than ten tons of force erupted through the impact.
Steve’s eyes widened.
Spider-Man…
is this strong?!
The overwhelming power blasted him straight through a nearby wall.
“Holy…”
Natasha’s expression changed dramatically.
Before she could even attempt her trademark grappling techniques…
Another web shot toward her.
It wrapped around her ankle.
A sharp tug later…
She was hanging upside down beneath the roof.
After finishing everything, Charlie clapped his hands.
“Sorry.”
“I’m actually a bad kid.”
With that, he fired another web and vaulted onto the rooftop…
Grabbing Steve’s shield on the way.
“Damn it!”
“That little spider’s way too sneaky!”
Steve climbed out through the hole in the wall, covered in dust and rubble.
Looking up at Natasha, he rubbed his aching arms.
“I seriously never called you that.”
“You believe me now, right?”
Natasha turned her head away.
“Even if you never said it…”
“You definitely thought it.”
“And thinking it is a crime too.”
Steve: “…”
Meanwhile…
Phil Coulson led a squad of agents into the mansion.
“Mr.
Harry Osborn.”
He presented his identification.
“Norman Osborn has been charged with eleven criminal offenses, including murder and endangering public safety.”
“We’re here to take custody of his body.”
“What?”
Before Harry could even react…
The agents had already rushed toward the bedroom.
“Wait!”
“You can’t do this!”
“He’s already dead!”
“You can’t—”
“I’m going to sue all of you!”
“I’m sorry.”
Coulson remained calm.
“We have the proper legal authorization.”
“You bastards!”
Harry threw himself in front of them.
He was shoved violently to the floor.
Blood vessels spread across his reddened eyes as he glared at the mysterious agents.
“I know exactly why you want my father’s body!”
He roared.
“He suffered from illness his entire life!”
“He was squeezed dry by his own company’s shareholders!”
“And now that he’s dead…”
“You still want to drag him into some laboratory for experiments?”
“Why can’t you just leave him alone?!”
“He’s dead!”
“He’s already dead!!”
He charged again.
The agents restrained him without hesitation.
“No…”
“Please…”
“I’m begging you…”
Pinned to the floor, tears streamed down Harry’s face as he watched his father’s body being carried away.
The feeling of utter helplessness nearly suffocated him.
Seeing this, even Coulson hesitated.
But…
Orders were orders.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s my mission.”
The moment he finished speaking—
A red-and-blue blur flashed past the window.
“Hey!”
“You guys the famous suit-wearing thugs?”
“Spider-Man!”
The agents’ expressions changed instantly.
Before anyone could react—
Thwip!
A web shot toward Norman’s body and yanked it away.
Coulson’s face darkened.
“Spider-Man.”
“Are you really going to oppose us?”
Every agent immediately aimed their weapons.
Charlie simply shrugged.
“Who cares?”
He glanced toward the battered Harry.
“If your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man steals your father’s body back…”
“Will you leave me a like in the comments?”
Hope instantly returned to Harry’s eyes.
“Thank you…”
“Spider-Man.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The next instant—
Gunfire erupted.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Charlie raised Steve’s shield in front of himself.
Bullets sparked harmlessly off the vibranium.
Using their impact as momentum, he hurled the shield aside, flipped backward with Norman’s body over his shoulder, and swung toward the nearby forest.
“After him!”
“Move!”
The agents immediately gave chase.
By then…
Spider-Man had already disappeared among the trees.
The wind howled past Charlie’s ears as he swung from treetop to treetop.
His mind raced.
How am I supposed to return Norman’s body to Harry without S.H.I.E.L.D.
getting involved?
Then—
A loud mechanical roar echoed from directly overhead.
His unreliable Spider-Sense gave him no warning.
But…
Every instinct in his body screamed one thing.
Death.
“Damn it!”
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion swallowed the forest.
Towering flames engulfed the entire area.
The violent shockwave erased every trace of Spider-Man’s existence.
High above…
A cold voice reported over the radio.
“Mission complete.”
“That troublesome Spider-Man…”
“…has disappeared forever.”
(End of Chapter)