["They're really too much!" First Gen Spider-Man grumbled.]
["Yeah!" Harry nodded, then noticed a spider in a glass case. "Hey, look at that spider!"]
["Some spiders change color to blend into their environment. It's a defense mechanism," First Gen Spider-Man explained.]
[Harry rolled his eyes. "Peter, what makes you think I care?"]
[First Gen Spider-Man blinked, genuinely confused. "Who wouldn't want to know?"]
[At that moment, a female researcher explained, "After five years of dedicated research, the Columbia University Genetic Research Center has successfully mapped the genetic blueprints of these spiders, making the impossible possible!"]
[Harry smirked, then nudged First Gen Spider-Man, nodding toward Mary Jane. "You want to go talk to her?"]
[Still feeling incredibly self-conscious at this time, First Gen Spider-Man immediately shook his head in panic. "Oh! NO! Come on! You go!"]
Watching the broadcast, Harry Osborn chuckled, turning to Mary Jane. "I remember this. Peter was too nervous to talk to you, so I went instead."
Mary Jane smiled slightly, recalling the moment. "I remember you telling me about how spiders could change color. That actually surprised me."
Hearing this, Harry's expression shifted slightly.
That memory… he suddenly realized something.
That spider fact—he hadn't researched it himself.
It was something Peter had told him first.
As the realization sank in, Harry covered his face in embarrassment. He had repeated exactly what Peter said back then, thinking it was his own smooth move. And now, thanks to the Sky Screen, the whole world knew about it.
This wasn't just Peter's awkward history—this was his awkward history too!
Luckily, First Gen Spider-Man didn't seem to mind. Their friendship wouldn't be affected by something so trivial.
[Harry walked up to Mary Jane, just as she muttered, "Ugh, that's disgusting."]
[Not wanting to miss a chance to agree, Harry immediately said, "Yeah! That's disgusting!"]
[But Mary Jane suddenly smiled and changed her tune. "Actually… I like it!"]
[Harry didn't hesitate. "Yeah! Me too! Did you know spiders can change color? It helps them blend into their environment!"]
[Mary Jane raised an eyebrow, slightly intrigued. "Really?"]
["Yeah! It's a defense mechanism!" Harry said confidently, repeating what he had just heard from First Gen Spider-Man.]
["How cool!" Mary Jane said, impressed—both by the spider fact and the fact that Harry knew it.]
[Behind them, First Gen Spider-Man stared blankly at Harry and Mary Jane. Harry turned his head slightly, shooting him a look that clearly said: "See? Learn from me!"]
George Stacy laughed as he watched the broadcast. "That's a solid move. Harry knows how to use what he's learned to his advantage. No wonder Mary Jane dated him after graduation."
His wife, Helen, emerged from the kitchen carrying plates of food. She nodded, glancing at First Gen Spider-Man.
Noticing her gaze, First Gen Spider-Man rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
Now that he was with Gwen, it was best for him to stay out of Mary Jane's affairs.
Helen, however, knew very well that he had harbored feelings for Mary Jane for years. But Gwen didn't seem to mind, and since Gwen didn't care, neither did they.
In fact, they all believed that losing First Gen Spider-Man had been Mary Jane's loss, not his.
Even so, they wished Mary Jane and Harry a happy future together.
["We used synthetic RNA to create an entirely new genome, combining it with three different spider species. Through gene design, we successfully created 15 super spiders!"]
[Mary Jane, curiously counting the spiders in the display case, suddenly frowned. "Wait… there's only fourteen."]
[The female researcher turned to her, puzzled. "What did you say?"]
["One is missing," Mary Jane repeated.]
[Harry glanced at the glass case and nodded. "Yeah, she's right."]
The researcher briefly checked, but she didn't seem too concerned. "A researcher probably took it for an experiment."
None of them noticed the spider dangling from a web right above their heads.
[Meanwhile, Harry continued showing off to Mary Jane. "Did you know? This is the largest electron microscope on the East Coast!"]
[Before he could keep bragging, their strict teacher appeared behind them with a frown. "You've been talking nonstop while she's presenting. Let's discuss how to listen properly."]
[With that, he dragged Harry aside for a lecture, while Mary Jane covered her mouth to hide her laughter.]
[Noticing that Mary Jane was now alone, First Gen Spider-Man took a deep breath, gathering his courage. He stepped forward, holding up his camera. "Hey! Can I take a picture? For the school magazine?"]
[Mary Jane, pleased that someone wanted to take her picture, smiled. "Sure!"]
[She posed, and First Gen Spider-Man adjusted his lens, carefully framing the shot.]
[But he was so focused on capturing the perfect angle that he failed to notice a super spider slowly descending from its web—landing right on his hand.]
[At that moment, Mary Jane's classmates called her away. First Gen Spider-Man lowered his camera and smiled at her. "Thanks, Mary Jane."]
[And just as he spoke—the spider bit down hard.]
[A sharp, burning pain shot through his hand. Instinctively, he flung his arm, sending the spider tumbling to the floor.]
[Dazed, he crouched down, staring at the small creature that had just bitten him. Then, standing up, he examined the wound on his hand.]
[Someone called his name in the distance, so he quickly turned and walked away. Behind him, a digital display flashed—the image showing three different genetic strands, red, green, and blue, successfully merging.]
[As if symbolizing the birth of Spider-Man.]
At Columbia University's Genetic Research Center, the broadcast only confirmed their suspicions.
When the Sky Screen first revealed that Peter Parker was Spider-Man, they had already suspected that it was linked to the missing spider from their lab.
Back then, after the school visit, they realized a spider was missing. However, when they later found a spider carcass on the roof, they dismissed any further investigation.
The timing had been too coincidental.
Peter Parker had visited that day.
A genetically modified spider had escaped.
And a new superpowered being—Spider-Man—had appeared.
Still, the researchers found it hard to believe. The odds were astronomical.
For that spider to escape, bite Peter Parker specifically, and somehow not kill him despite its highly lethal venom?
It seemed impossible.
And even if some researchers still believed the theory, none of them dared to test it.
Because the truth was…
The venom of these super spiders was terrifying.
Even a tiny dose could kill an elephant.
No one in their right mind would attempt human trials.
No one wanted to take the blame if something went wrong.
So in the end, their suspicions remained just that—suspicions.
There was no direct evidence to confirm that Spider-Man's powers came from their experiment.
At least…
Not until the Sky Screen revealed the truth.
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