Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 13: Beneath the Surface

Peter stood at the edge of the Oscorp building, staring out at the ominous tower that was now rising from the earth. His mind raced as he tried to process what he had just witnessed. Oscorp wasn't just building weapons or creating monsters anymore. This was something different—something far more dangerous. He could feel it in his bones, that this was the beginning of something bigger than he could comprehend.

Norman Osborn's words echoed in his head: "The world has already begun to change." The looming structure in the distance was proof of that. Whatever Osborn was planning, it was happening now—and Peter was running out of time.

His spider-sense was still on high alert, every fiber of his being telling him that danger was coming. He knew Osborn wasn't done with him yet. If anything, this was just the start of a much larger game. But how could he fight something like this? A tower of unknown purpose, powered by whatever dark energy Osborn had unlocked… Peter didn't have all the answers, but he knew one thing: he couldn't let Osborn win. He couldn't let the world fall into the hands of someone so twisted.

I have to find a way inside, Peter thought. His mind flicked back to the creature—the one that Osborn had called Project Chimera. If that was any indication of the kind of power Osborn was playing with, then Peter was seriously outmatched. But the one thing he had on his side was time, and the more time he had, the better his chances of stopping whatever Osborn was planning.

He pushed away from the window, taking a deep breath. He had to act. The longer he stayed here, the more likely it was that Osborn would find a way to get rid of him. Peter wasn't about to make that easy for him.

He turned to face Osborn, who had been silent for the last few moments, his hands folded behind his back in that same calculating, detached way. "I'm going to stop this, Osborn," Peter said, his voice steady but tinged with a sense of urgency. "Whatever you're doing, whatever that tower is, I'm going to destroy it."

Osborn didn't flinch. He just stood there, watching Peter with a gaze that held no fear, only disdain. "You've already failed, Spider-Man. You've been running in circles, trying to stop something that's already in motion. The machines are already turning."

Peter clenched his fists. He hated hearing Osborn talk like this, like he was untouchable, like he had already won. But Peter couldn't afford to lose focus. He couldn't afford to let Osborn get into his head.

"Then why don't you show me how it ends, Osborn?" Peter retorted. "Because if you think you're just going to walk away from this… you're wrong."

Osborn's eyes gleamed with malice. "You'll see, Spider-Man. You'll see how it all ends."

Peter's spider-sense flared again, a warning that danger was close, but before he could react, a series of high-pitched whirring sounds filled the room. A blur of motion caught his eye, and he spun just in time to dodge a barrage of energy blasts that ricocheted off the walls and floor. The force of the blasts shook the building, and Peter was thrown off balance as the shockwaves reverberated through the room.

The source of the attack emerged from the shadows—an armored figure, sleek and menacing, with glowing red eyes and a dark suit that looked like it had been forged from some kind of alien material. The figure moved with incredible speed, and in the blink of an eye, it was upon Peter, aiming another blast straight at his chest.

Peter's instincts kicked in, and he dove to the side, the blast missing him by mere inches. He shot a web at the ceiling and swung out of the way, narrowly avoiding another blast. As he landed, he quickly assessed the situation.

The figure didn't move like a human. It was faster, stronger, and seemed almost… unnatural. Whatever Osborn had created, this wasn't just some hired goon. This was something much worse. The creature—or whatever it was—flicked its wrist, and more energy blasts flew toward Peter, forcing him to dodge and roll across the floor to avoid the incoming attack.

"Who the hell is that?" Peter muttered under his breath.

Osborn, seemingly unfazed, stepped forward and clapped slowly. "Ah, yes. You've met Exo, my latest… addition." His voice was filled with dark pride. "A prototype of the new breed of soldier I plan to deploy across the globe. The future of warfare. The future of humanity."

Peter's blood ran cold. Exo wasn't just some regular soldier—it was a weapon. And Osborn had sent it after him without hesitation.

"Exo's primary directive is simple," Osborn continued, his voice now a chilling monotone. "Eliminate Spider-Man."

Peter's heart raced, and his spider-sense screamed again. He barely had time to react as Exo charged forward, fists raised. Peter jumped backward, launching himself off the walls to gain distance, but Exo was already closing in on him.

He barely dodged another energy blast, the blast grazing his shoulder and sending a shockwave of pain through his body. Gritting his teeth, Peter steadied himself. This wasn't just a fight against a person. This was a fight against something engineered to beat him.

Peter shot webs at Exo's joints, attempting to slow the creature down, but Exo tore through the webbing with brutal efficiency, swiping at Peter with his armored fists. Each punch felt like a freight train hitting Peter's body. He could feel his ribs cracking under the force, but he refused to let up. He wasn't just fighting for his own life—he was fighting for the lives of everyone in the city.

Peter had faced powerful foes before, but something about Exo felt… different. There was no personality, no weakness, just cold, calculated movements designed for one thing: killing Spider-Man.

He needed a plan. Fast.

Peter's mind raced, searching for any way to outsmart Exo. He couldn't rely on brute strength. He had to use his environment. He shot a web at the nearby control panel, triggering the emergency lights to flash in rapid strobe patterns, momentarily disorienting Exo. It was enough of a distraction for Peter to close the gap, landing a solid kick to Exo's midsection, sending the creature staggering backward.

But before Peter could make his next move, Exo spun around, delivering a devastating backhand to Peter's chest. The blow sent him crashing into a nearby wall, his vision blurring as the impact rattled his brain. He groaned in pain, struggling to stay conscious. He couldn't let this thing win.

With his last bit of strength, Peter shot a web at Exo's face, blinding it momentarily. He quickly followed up with a spinning kick to the back of Exo's head, knocking the creature off balance for a split second. That was all he needed.

He shot another web to the control panel behind Exo, flipping the switch and activating the building's emergency power systems. Sparks flew as the floor beneath them began to rumble. The blast doors began to lower, and Peter knew that if he didn't act quickly, he'd be trapped.

Using the distraction, Peter shot webs to the ceiling and swung into the air, gaining enough height to land a final, powerful punch to Exo's helmet. The impact sent the creature sprawling, its armor cracking under the force.

"Not today," Peter muttered to himself, breathing heavily as Exo slumped to the floor, motionless.

Peter wasn't sure if Exo was completely out of commission, but it was enough of a victory for now. He had to move fast. He didn't know how much time he had before Osborn unleashed his next wave of chaos.

Without wasting another second, Peter turned and sprinted for the exit, his mind already planning his next move.

The city needed Spider-Man now more than ever.

End of Chapter 13