Spider-Man: A New Spiral

Full story at:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium

***

Wild Earth.

A few days later.

Peter Parker.

To be fair, my story about the strange appearance in the cave was believed. I also told them about the mutation and its nature, but I didn't go into detail. The locals still wrote off science and terms as magic and witchcraft gibberish, and they didn't call mutation anything but a curse that had fallen on my head.

Everyone except Ka-Zar. The chief of this tribe did not doubt my story, as he was the son of a man from the "Big Earth", who was also a scientist.

In turn, the blond initiated me into his own story, about the fate of his parents, how he came to be here, his growing up in the Wild Land, battles, unification of tribes, wedding, birth of a son.

Whether it was my face or his grief at having his wife kidnapped, Ka-Zar told me everything.

I was glad that we were stuck somewhere in Antarctica, because then we could signal and get out, but the chief saddened me. Just a few weeks ago there was an event that cut off almost half of the Wild Earth territory and transferred it to some unknown space, enclosed by an invisible impenetrable dome.

Now that was serious.

Then Ka-Zar had to get back to business, rebuilding the settlement from the attackers, examining the wounded and dead, checking who had been kidnapped, and so on.

All the while I was trying to be useful to the community I'd suddenly become a part of: clearing debris, rebuilding damaged houses, and discovering that my biological web was an excellent temporary building material, since, unlike the artificial web, it took much longer to decompose and was much stronger. The guy I wrapped up couldn't be freed with any cutting tools, not even the famous Ka-Zar blade. He's been tied up for three days now. I'll have to apologise.

Surprisingly, my most unexpected talent came out again - children were drawn to me, and because of the fact that I had six arms, everyone somehow thought I'd be a great babysitter. What was in these people's heads, since they trusted yesterday's stranger to look after their offspring? One word, savages.

There was a bright spot in my new duties, though. I don't know, maybe because of the circumstances of my rescue, or the fact that I look very cute with kids in my arms, but some young girls started making eyes at me, even though I had extra hands.

Or maybe some were just additionally attracted by this fact?

In any case, controlling my libido became very, very difficult, in my head now and then there were pictures of me bending one or the other female, or maybe several at the same time, as I actually like.

And at that moment, when I realised that I perceived the girls making eyes at me, not just from aesthetic point of view or at the worst as a means for steam release, but as partners for reproduction, I understood that it was urgent to solve the issue of mutation, and the images of thinking like "offspring" or "female", only additionally hinted at it.

Trying to distract myself, I started coming to the training ground, trying to blow off steam at least here. Alas, the locals were mostly used to either simple, artless fist fighting or fighting with weapons. Few people had heard of fighting in any fighting style, and only a few knew how to fight that way. So I was either sparring alone against ten or encouraging everyone to fight against me with weapons in their hands. The mutation regeneration reduced the risk of bleeding out and healed even serious injuries from cold or crushing weapons almost instantly.

Four days passed like that, until I adjusted to my surroundings, my condition, and decided it was time to do something about it

Walking out of the tent on the outskirts of the village I'd been assigned, I almost ran nose to nose with Ka-Zar.

- Oh, I was just on my way to see you," I greeted the blond.

- So, geniuses think alike, please follow me," the God of the Hidden Jungle gestured at me.

We pass through the whole settlement. The inhabitants greet their leader respectfully and nod at me with a nod of thanks. Looking after the children and fixing the houses have played their part.

When we reach Ka-Zar's hut, we go inside.

- In the process of rebuilding the settlement, my men searched the whole village," the chief said, sitting down at the table and inviting me to do the same, "and they found something.

The wild guy slid me a small wooden box.

- I thought you showed me something similar.

I open the box and see a metal sphere inside. Exactly like the one I found in the cave.

I take the device in my hand and activate it.

There is also a message inside:

"The cure is in the temple.

- Temple," I repeated thoughtfully, "do you have a temple here? - I check with Ka-Zar.

- Perhaps, it means an abandoned pyramid, near the borders of the south of the Wild Land, - the blond man answers thoughtfully, - there are no other such buildings here.

Then that's where I'm going.

Switching off the orb.

- I didn't call you here just to show you this mechanism," the chief says with concentration.

- I'm listening," I replied, tucking the device into my pocket.

- We've been examining the bodies of those who have fallen in battle, especially those with the creatures you called symbiotes on them.

- So?

- Many of these warriors belonged to the Igeo, Waho or Gazo tribes.

- And that means....

The man sighs, stroking his tame saber-toothed tiger on the head.

- Representatives of these tribes are located in close proximity to Sauron's hideout.

- The one from Middle-earth?

Ka-Zar didn't get the reference.

- No, the mutant Pteranodon, the monster who declared himself king of the Wildlands and my enemy. Most likely, he sicced monsters on us and kidnapped people," the blond stopped stroking Zaba and clenched his hands into fists, "including Shanna.

- There's a rescue mission planned," I nodded understandingly.

- And we could use the help of a talented warrior like you," the savage looked at me penetratingly.

- I understand everything, Ka-Zar, but - I raise my hands, - as you see I have a little problem with mutation.

- I understand, but please, we need your help! - The blond leans back in his chair tiredly," I need it badly," he adds quietly.

Zabu moves closer and tries to catch his master's hand as if comforting him.

Ka-Zar's example shows how hard it is to be a ruler. Protecting the settlement, missing people, the woman he loves, it all hit him hard.

I sigh.

I can't just leave him and go off to deal with my own personal problems. Besides, who knows what I'll find in that tomb or what state I'll be in after I take the serum.

It's not likely to be worse, and yet...

- All right," I decide, "I'll help.

The blond boy looks up at me in surprise.

- Really?

- Yes," I shrug calmly, "I'm kind of a superhero, saving people, all that.

At the same second the savage jumps up from his seat and runs up to me, hugging me.

- Thank you, my friend!

- Come on, it's okay," I pat the guy on the shoulder, a little embarrassed.

He's so emotional.

- Then I'll order the squad to get ready and we'll move out," the blond said belligerently.

- Wait, you're coming, too? - I specify.

- Of course I am," the chief nodded. - Why, is something wrong?

- No, it's just that you're not the leader of your people and shouldn't stay to look after them? - I fold my hands behind my back. - Besides, your son will be all alone.

I've had time to babysit little Matthew, too.

- That's just it," Ka-Zar said, his fists clenched, "not only did I fail to protect my men, but I let the woman I love be kidnapped. Tell me, how will I be able to look my son in the eye if something happens to Shanna?

- I understand, but--

- No buts! The blond guy looks me right in the eye. - Tell me, Spider, would you trust anyone but yourself to save your beloved?

Yes, the answer is obvious.

- I hear you, Mowgli.

- All right, let's go.

***

Sauron's castle.

Dr Carl Lykos.

The man woke up in the lab and tried to figure out what was going on.

Again, he's lost control again.

The damned lizard was getting stronger and stronger.

When Carl was doing research on his blood and discovered the X-gene, he was terrified. Lycos didn't want to lose his human nature, himself, change and become a monster. So he began to invent.

Carl created a machine that would destroy the damn genome in him. But things didn't go according to plan.

"Giving into self-defeating thoughts again?"

A mocking voice made Carl raise his head sharply.

- You.

The man looked into the nearest reflective surface and saw the most hideous creature of all - a mutated self.

"Yes, me," the pteranodon said smugly. - "And you, still clinging to your miserable existence, humanoid.

- Oh, I'm not done with you yet," the man spat angrily.

- Who are you talking to?

The sudden sound of a melodious female voice made the scientist jump.

Karl turned his head and saw a blonde woman dressed as one of the tribes of the Wild Earth. After a moment he managed to recognise her as Shanna, Ka-Zar's wife.

The girl was chained: her arms were raised and clasped above her head, her legs were in the same position, and a looser chain was attached to her neck.

It looked like she had just woken up.

- What...are you doing here? - Lycos clarified.

- Sauron," the young woman seemed to spit the name. - That monster must have brought me here.

"Nice female, eh?" - Carl heard the much-hated voice. - "I can't wait to get inside her."

How lewd those words sounded made the man cringe.

- She's married.

'Like I care,' the pteranodon snorted.

- 'If you think I'm going to give up so easily and let my self be destroyed, I suggest you think twice, lizard.

Lycos began frantically checking his equipment. Good thing, when they change appearance, they are completely oblivious to each other's plans and intentions.

Most likely even these conversations are the spawn of his insane, split in two mind.

"You are but a weak shell," the mutant continues to press on. - "A rusty vessel. Your time is gone, I am the future, and you are but a past beating in agony."

- Shut up! - shouts the scientist furiously.

- But I was silent," the blonde says quietly, realising that she is trapped chained to the wall, alone with the madman.

***

A few hours later.

Peter Parker.

Eventually, Ka-Zar gathered his men, the plan was settled, and they set off ahead towards Sauron's fortress.

At this point, our squad was forcing its way through a pack of velociraptors that had appeared in the way. I could have killed all the lizards myself, but it would be more logical not to be a bailout wand for each and every one of them, but just to sleep nearby and snatch the most unlucky ones from the jaws or claws of the ancient reptiles.

Finally, we've sorted out the individuals and moved on.

- So, what can you say again about this Sauron not from The Lord of the Rings? - I'm approaching Ka-Zar.

- He's an intelligent dinosaur of the Pteradactylidae family. Long ago, he managed to discover remnants of technology that the Elders say once belonged to representatives of the aliens from the stars. Sauron captured the ancient fortress and has since used his technological advantage in the war for control of the Wildlands.

- Interesting, but if he's so advanced, why hasn't he subjugated everyone yet? - I clarify, clearing away the interfering branches.

- It's simple, Spider-Man, even the tightest member of the Waha tribe understands that Sauron is an autocrat and his rule will ruin the Wildlands, that's why they don't rush to his bow, even though his sorcerous abilities to take control of people's minds have spoilt our lives more than once.

- Either something has changed, since the symbiotes had as carriers, as you say, members of tribes living near this dinosaur, or he has forcibly turned the Carnages against them.

- Anything's possible, my friend.

We walk on and I turn round to see our fearless leader's 'secret weapon' - a squad of five warriors armed with large drums. And I would only laugh at the thought that the blond boy is serious about fighting the symbiotes with musical instruments. Reds are afraid of loud sound, but not that much.

However, the God of the hidden jungle was much more astute and revealed that these instruments are smelted from a rare ore of the Wild Earth called anti-metal. The Ka-Zar's main weapon, the metal knife, is also made of this substance. It is rare to see metal weapons here, at most spears with stone tips, stone clubs or axes made of stone, and bows and arrows also made of stone. The only iron weapons I saw were those of the savage chief himself, his right hand Vatek and the guy I tied up, who must have been a big shot. I'll apologise, though.

Yeah, well, it's my fate, just a week ago I was fighting an alien armour from Asgard, then against scientists with sonic cannons, and now I'm back in the Stone Age.

After an hour, we did make it to Sauron's hideout.

What can I say? It's impressive. It's obvious that this place has seen better days, I can tell from the thickets, but you can sense that it reeks of technology even from here.

The infiltration plan was simple, the problem was the location. This "castle" was embedded in a huge sheer cliff, and it was possible to climb only from the top, and we have no aeroplanes, of course, or to climb by hand.

Oh, I wish we had a couple of Quinjets up here.

But I'm not complaining, crawling on vertical surfaces wasn't a challenge for me before, and now after mutation and appearance of two more pairs of arms it will turn crawling into a walk in the park.

Which is more than I can say for my companions.

- Guys, how about I take your drums for the duration of the climb?

No one said anything against the offer, so I crawled upstairs wrapped in five anti-metal instruments. Good thing nobody writes this one.

The climb came out easy enough, and there was absolutely no resistance. If Sauron is exactly as Ka-Zar describes him to me, then the arrogant idiot has no idea that he might be stormed.

Which is happening now.

While the boys began their undoubtedly long journey to the summits, I decided to waste no time and reconnoitre the situation.

I crawled through the structure of this half-locked, half-spaceship and crawled into something like a ventilation shaft, which by the way is quite wide, even the drums can be dragged behind me. I hope there won't be some clever alien defence system to keep out pests like me. Though considering how many years ago this place was ordered to live.

The process of crawling around the huge complex gets really uncomfortable. There is absolutely no one in this huge structure. It's completely empty. It's like a ghost town, brrrrr.

During forty minutes of careful exploration of the surroundings I realise that this place is fuelled by energy sources that are technologically far ahead of our level of technological development, because the lights are on, the door automation works, and no one has changed anything here for what feels like a hundred years.

Eventually, I began my journey to the top of this fortress. I visited various abandoned living quarters and ended up on the prison level.

The caged prisoners were frightened by my appearance. Strange, they don't remember me trying to rescue them or anything?

- It's okay, people, calm down, breathe steady, wait a little while and then.....

I don't get to finish my monologue because my Spidey Sense kicks in. It's so heightened that I manage to jump to the ceiling, three minutes before the door to the prison wing opens.

Three carnage-like symbiotes run in on all fours. They, clearly not with good neighbourly intentions grabbed the bars of the cages and pulled their paws towards the frightened humans. When one of them crawled to the levers, I realised there was no point in waiting any longer.

- Hey, dogs, where's the packmaster? - I shouted, jumping from the ceiling.

The symbiotes are immediately distracted from their obvious intentions to devour these humans and rush at me.

In the process of regal dodges, I notice something strange happening. The bloody ones are trying to get me, but I notice faint silhouettes appearing next to each of them. It's not until ten minutes into the fight that I realise it's not some invisible half-symbiote or hallucination or anything like that, but the movements of these things that I can predict in advance.

Is this the effect of the mutation on Sense?

Have I become capable of predicting the actions taking place?

Without distracting myself with third-party considerations, I smoothly, methodically and professionally knock out the symbiotes and, brazenly ripping them off the bodies of the hosts, burn them with the help of "Bite".

- Okay, that's cool.

I turn around, and for the first time there's relief and a hint of hope on the faces of the terrified people.

- It's going to be okay, people, your leader Ka-Zar is on his way.

Their faces practically glowed with hope after the name was spoken, almost everyone smiled.

I, on the other hand, decide to move on and finish off the main threat of this place.

My gut literally leads me to Sauron. I walk through the lab and encounter several Carnages on my way, but I immobilise and eliminate them all with no problem. The thought even flashes through my mind that they are all just pale copies of the real Karnage.

Eventually I kick open the door of one of the last untested rooms. I walk in and see Shanna chained to the wall and a man working on some kind of device. It's an oil painting.

- "Who are you?" exclaims a man in a tattered scientist's dressing gown.

- I can ask you the same question," I turn to the blonde, "rejoice, lady, I'm from your husband, we're getting you out.

- From Ka-Zar?! - her eyes literally lit up. - Really?

- There's no point in me lying," I shrug lightly and move closer when Spider Sense kicks in.

I turn and see the scientist clutching his head.

- No, not now!

Before my eyes, the man turns green and scaly, his arms transform into clawed paws with webbed wings, his tail flares out, and his face elongates into a pointed muzzle.

- At last this sucker has stopped whimpering! - exclaims the pteranodon.

- I assume you are Sauron? - I clarified, getting into a spider stance.

- That's right," the reptile tilts its head, "but tell me, half-mutant, what's stalling your evolution? It's clearly not a completed form.

- Do you know? - I ask in shock.

- Of course, I specialise in studying the genetics of evolutionary relics and their transformation into representatives of the new stage - mutants.

I see. Another nutcase.

- I'm sorry, Professor, but your experiments are over.

I'm shooting webbing at the enemy.

- Interesting substance," the pteranodon said, looking into my eyes, "you don't want to fight me.

His eyes glow with violet-green flashes. I feel my mind being affected, but I shrug it off after a second.

- I apologise, lizard, after meeting a certain duo, the 'these aren't the droids you're looking for' tricks don't work on me anymore. At least not at your level.

- Didn't work? - the reptile wonders. - Then we'll try something else.

The enemy swings his arms sharply and cuts my web.

- Listen, you should get a manicure.

The pteranodon itself turns to some sort of mechanism.

- Idiot Lykos, really thought he could fix everything, get rid of me and didn't even realise that I was using the only part of him that wasn't useless, - Sauron assembled a high-tech gun and inserted a power cell, - his genius.

The dinosaur turned in my direction.

- Let me help you assume your perfect form," the mutant spoke, pointing the gun at me.

I feel my Sense ringing and try to dodge, but my feet feel like they're stuck to the floor.

A purple-yellow flash shoots out at me.