Chapter 878

Get out of there quickly! Otherwise, we'll shoot!

In front of a shop in New York, several police officers stood between patrol cars, guns aimed at a man inside a bakery—a white man in his forties or fifties, looking like a father picking up his daughter from school, his shoulder slung with a pink backpack far too small for his age.

He kept waving his hands backward, signaling his daughter inside to stay put, and raised his hands, saying, "Officers, what's going on? What happened? What crime have I committed?"

"We received a tip that you're using your mutant abilities to endanger the safety of children at the local elementary school. Now put down what you're holding, squat on the ground, and don't move—we're going to search you!"

"Mutant abilities?" The man gave a look of utter disbelief. "My only ability is producing a little glue on my fingernails. How could that possibly be dangerous?"

"Dad, I picked out the bread. Can we go now?" Behind him, a little girl in a dress tried to walk over. The man immediately shoved her back. "Yin Lisha, wait! Don't come out! I need to talk to them!"

"Officers, you've got it wrong. I don't have any powerful mutant abilities, and I could never harm any child. Today is Open School Day, so I went to my daughter's school to help her with a craft project…"

"Shut up! Put your hands on your head and squat down! We've received reports from other parents that you endangered their children. Get in the car!"

Before they could act, another police car pulled up. Chief George stepped out and asked the officers, "Which precinct are you from? Do you have an arrest warrant? Who's your superior?"

Though elderly, George's years of service gave him an unshaken presence, like a lion still fierce in his prime. He scanned the faces of the officers. "Without a warrant, what right do you have to arrest him?!"

"We received a tip—"

"A tip justifies immediate arrest? What did they teach you in the academy? Let him go right now! Don't make me call your superiors!"

At that moment, George heard a shutter click. Several reporters burst from the crowd, thrusting microphones toward the people on the scene. The man squatting on the ground was the first to be questioned.

"Sir, are you a mutant? How do you respond to the tip against you? Did you get approval from the school and other parents before using dangerous mutant abilities on campus?"

"But I didn't—" The man hadn't finished when another reporter cut in: "The police say other parents reported you. Have you considered the harm this might cause your daughter?"

"Yin Lisha, you're Yin Lisha, right?" Another reporter dashed into the bakery and asked the girl, "Why did other parents report your father?"

The little girl clutched the bread she'd just chosen. Clearly, she'd never faced such a scene. From her clothes, she was plainly a child from an ordinary working-class family, with no elite education—so she had no idea how to answer the reporters. She simply said:

"Today was Open School Day. Our teacher asked parents and students to make a small craft together. Because my dad's fingernails secrete glue, he's always really good at crafts. So we came to school together…"

"So you mean your father used his mutant ability to cheat at school, finishing the craft early, which caused other parents to report him?!"

"No, no! We just built a little house. There was no cheating… What does that even mean?"

"Has your father never explained his mutant ability to you? Has he been hiding it from you all along?"

Chief George immediately stepped inside and told the reporters, "All of you, get out. Don't crowd here. You're disrupting public order…"

"We're just reporting the truth. Officer, are you trying to stop journalists from monitoring your law enforcement?"

"I'm not—"

George tried to explain, but the reporters' words had already spread. People watching nearby whispered among themselves—some accusing the father of undermining school fairness, others suggesting he might be poisoning the water…

The remaining officers pressed closer. George had to handle the reporters' questions flawlessly, avoiding any slip-ups they could exploit, while simultaneously preventing the officers from taking the man away. He was quickly becoming overwhelmed.

After pleading for minutes, the father noticed the police were focusing on his daughter. Panic surged. He instinctively stood up—only to be instantly slammed to the ground by three officers.

The brutal force made him cry out in pain. But George, surrounded by reporters, couldn't reach him. Just as the man's head struck the pavement, a commotion erupted from the corner of the street.

Everyone turned—and saw a black monster with sharp fangs and a gaping mouth standing at the corner.

Its entire body was pitch black, save for a white spider emblem on its chest. George, who had worked the streets of New York for years, immediately shouted its name: "Venom!"

!

George immediately raised his gun and fired. Venom dodged nimbly, leaping between the buildings on either side. Then a strand of web swung through the air—Spider-Man swooped overhead, shouting: "Evil Venom!"

Stop!

I won't let you endanger New York!

!

The police and reporters, moments ago so authoritative, screamed and scattered. The officers seemed to have forgotten they held weapons, instinctively diving into the bakery. George quickly pulled the little girl close, patting her back to soothe her.

Unfortunately, Venom landed right at the bakery's entrance. The man on the ground, trembling at the sight of the giant monster, was ignored by Venom—whose gaze was locked on Spider-Man across the street.

Venom opened his mouth again, roaring, then ripped up a nearby lamppost and swung it like a club. Spider-Man didn't back down—he shot a web at a parked car, lifted it, and used it as a shield to block the lamppost.

As the two clashed violently, debris flying everywhere, the police fled out the back door of the bakery, shouting: "We need backup!"

We need backup!

The reporters had vanished entirely. The crowd, already kept at a distance by the officers' guns, scattered the moment Venom appeared. Now, the entire street held only George, the father and daughter, and the battling Venom and Spider-Man.

Seeing nearly everyone gone—even windows on upper floors shut tight—Venom roared again: "Spider-Man, next time you'll regret this!"

!

Then he turned and fled. Spider-Man gave chase, yelling: "Don't run! Venom! I won't let you go!"

Their figures vanished into the New York skyline. George helped the man to his feet and shook his head. "Lately, New York's had two strange developments. First, police and the military have suddenly started targeting mutants—and the reporters have followed like locusts."

"Second, weird monsters and Spider-Men keep appearing. That Spider-Man's suit pattern… it looked slightly different from the one I saw this morning."

Meanwhile, Venom, fleeing for his life, heard Peter's calm voice through his communicator:

"Turn right at the next intersection, 100 meters ahead—two fire drill vehicles. All occupants are military. Their target is the owner of a clothing store on the commercial street. Reporters are hiding in the second and third alleys along this road…"

"Cut in from the southeast. Watch your landing—don't hit anyone." Matt's voice came through the earpiece next. "See the lamppost to the right of the clothing store? That's your next weapon. Oh, and it's afternoon—the light's changed. Remember: land in direct sunlight. Otherwise, they won't see your fangs or drool."

"Stop giving me advice!" Venom growled in a hoarse voice. "What you should be coaching is the idiot behind me—the Spider-Man. If I don't slow down, he's going to lose me!"

"Can't help it—he's a rookie," Peter's voice replied. "In his universe, he's only been Spider-Man for a few days. He can't even operate his web-shooters properly…"

As they spoke, Venom arrived at the target. He leapt again from the rooftop, roaring: "Aaaah!"

"Cough! Cough!" He doubled over, coughing. Eddie's voice came through: "You okay? I heard your voice is gone…"

"Cough… You've screamed eighty times in two days too! Cough… I asked for throat lozenges, and you didn't buy them—you coward… Cough… cough…"

"Those aren't throat lozenges! You wanted chocolate! That'll make your throat worse!"

"Shut up! Spider-Man, I am EVIL VENOM! I'm going to eat every head on this street! Cough… cough…"

"Watch your teeth! Show your teeth!"

"Shut up! I know!"

Thin strands of web, glittering in the sunlight, sparkled like jewels. Below the glittering points, another gloved hand emerged.

Spider-Man swung between the buildings, chasing his target, shouting: "Doctor Octopus! Abandon your evil plan! I won't let you succeed!"

The fleeing Doctor Octopus had eight signature mechanical tentacles behind him, now flailing in rotation.

The only odd thing? He was wrapped far too tightly. Even as New York's weather turned colder, there was no need for a trench coat, boots, scarf, mask, and hat—all worn together. This outfit revealed nothing but a vaguely humanoid shape.

Doctor Octopus swung on his tentacles, crashing down with a cloud of dust. He turned to Spider-Man and said: "Spider-Man, you're doomed. I will destroy all of New York!"

Hearing this, Spider-Man didn't rage—he paused. He murmured quietly: "Didn't I hear those exact words a few minutes ago?"

Seeing Doctor Octopus run again, Spider-Man gave chase. One web strand stuck to one of the tentacles.

This Spider-Man differed from others—he didn't wear web-shooters on his wrists. The webs shot directly from his body.

He yanked hard on the web. Doctor Octopus stumbled and fell. One tentacle, caught on a streetlamp, snapped with a metallic crack—sparks flew as it went limp. Spider-Man heard a cry:

"Ahh! Spider-Man! You're doomed! I will destroy all of New York!"

Spider-Man released the web, staring at Doctor Octopus in confusion. Inside the doctor's earpiece, frantic voices erupted:

"We're done! He figured out it's a robot!"

"…JARVIS, switch his line! What? Language system frozen? Then make him run—he's coming!

"Hurry! Activate the electric shock module! Drive him off! Pikachu, stop pressing buttons—we're about to get caught!"

"Zzzzt! Electric module activated! Run!"

！」