Chapter 94: Of Gods and Mortals (Patreon)

After walking for a while, Jessica, Kara, and Wendy reached a forest clearing.

Wendy led the way. The moment she hacked through the last bush and stepped into the clearing, someone shot at her. Her machete flashed, striking the incoming bullet and sending it ricocheting into a nearby tree.

Kara took cover behind Wendy and directed the eagle through their mental connection. The eagle launched from her shoulder and flew toward the source of the gunshot. It spotted a glassy-eyed cop among the trees and dove toward him. It raked its talons across his gun hand. He cried out and dropped the weapon. The eagle swooped down again, seized the fallen gun in its talons, and flew away.

Jessica sprang forward and charged toward the trees on the right. Several glassy-eyed men and women waited among the trees, armed with machetes, spears, and clubs. They barely had time to react as Jessica charged toward them. Before they could raise their weapons, Jessica had already knocked two of them down.

A man shouted and thrust his spear at her back. However, the spear failed to penetrate even her combat shirt, let alone her highly durable skin. The man pulled back the spear and looked at its tip in disbelief. Jessica turned toward him and grabbed the shaft. With a flick of her wrist, she snapped it in two and knocked him unconscious by striking him with the blunt end of the broken weapon.

Two more cops opened fire on Wendy. She had already tossed aside her chipped machete and drawn the twin katanas from her back. Her expression turned focused. One katana flashed, splitting the first bullet. The second followed immediately, cutting another in half. The cops continued firing, but Wendy didn't retreat. Her blades flashed repeatedly, splitting every bullet that came her way. The cops emptied their magazines, but not a single bullet struck Wendy.

Still sheltered behind Wendy, Kara directed her pheromones toward the two cops. As the pheromones reached them, their eyes flashed purple for a moment. To her surprise, neither cop fell under her control. Their movements became jerky and sluggish, but they continued reloading their guns.

“What happened?” Wendy asked.

Kara stared at the cops in confusion. “Whoever's controlling them has a much stronger hold over their minds than I can establish. I can't break it or take control myself.” She frowned, clearly dissatisfied. “Is it because his power is divine in nature?”

“Why the long face, girl?” Wendy said. “He's only winning because he's wearing some god's fancy jewelry. Give it time, and you'll leave him in the dust.”

She refocused on the attackers. Her pheromones couldn't override their mind control, and sending the jaguar or caiman against them risked seriously injuring or killing the innocent victims. That left the eagle.

The eagle swooped down, raked its talons across one cop's gun hand, and carried away the weapon he dropped. But the second cop had finished reloading and opened fire again. Wendy stepped in front of Kara, her katanas flashing as she intercepted the incoming bullets. Just as Kara prepared to send the eagle after him, a red beam struck the remaining cop's arm. He cried out and dropped his gun.

“I had it covered,” Wendy complained.

“I was just trying to help,” Cyclops said calmly.

Jessica emerged from the tree line, holding a man by the neck in one hand and a woman in the other. She bashed their skulls against each other and dropped them as she continued walking. She used only enough strength to knock them unconscious.

“We didn’t need it,” Jessica said as she arrived at her teammates’ side.

“We didn't say you needed it,” Angel said, leaning against a tree as a deliberate grin spread across his face. “We just wanted an excuse to get this close to you.”

“Are you seriously flirting right now?” Kara deadpanned.

“Flirting?” Angel raised an eyebrow, his smile turning playful. “I prefer to call it appreciating beauty. But if it's working, I won't complain.”

Cyclops turned to Angel. “Angel, stay focused on the mission.”

Angel's smile faded. He looked ready to argue but apparently thought better of it. “Whatever,” he muttered, looking away.

Beast and Iceman emerged from the trees and joined the others.

“How did you do that?” Iceman asked, leaning forward with wide eyes. “You sliced every single bullet!”

“So this is what it feels like to have a fan.” Wendy grinned at Iceman. “Eat your veggies, kid. Maybe you’ll be able to do that too.”

“Hey!” Iceman protested. “I'm not a kid. I'm seventeen! I'll be eighteen in a few months!”

“Sure, whatever, kid,” Wendy said, waving her hand dismissively.

Iceman opened his mouth to argue, but Cyclops's look silenced him.

“May I know what you all are doing here?” Beast asked calmly.

“Official business,” Jessica replied.

“And what sort of business would that be?” Beast asked.

“That’s none of your business,” Jessica said curtly.

Before Beast could say anything else, Cyclops cut in.

“Are you all mutants?” Cyclops asked.

“Ah, here we go again.” Wendy sighed.

“That's none of your business either,” Kara replied.

Cyclops didn’t back down. “If you are mutants, then you should come with us. We need to know whether your powers could put civilians at risk,” he said seriously.

“Wow,” Wendy said. “He's like the poster boy for responsibility.”

“Your invitation is appreciated,” Kara said. “But we’re not interested.” The jaguar by Kara’s side stepped forward and growled in warning.

Cyclops narrowed his eyes but didn't press the matter. He decided to discuss the three women with the Professor later. From what he'd seen, one possessed superhuman strength and durability, another had extraordinary reflexes, and the third could control animals. There might be more to their abilities, but he'd learned enough to warrant a conversation with the Professor.

“Cyclops, I don't believe they're hostile,” Beast said, attempting to defuse the tension.

He turned to Jessica, apparently recognizing her as the leader. “I take it you're also here to deal with the man controlling these people?”

“You could say that,” Jessica replied vaguely.

“Then we have the same objective,” Beast said. “We've fought him before, and he's extremely powerful. Working together would give us a better chance of defeating him.”

Jessica turned to Kara and Wendy. Kara thought for a moment and nodded. Wendy just shrugged.

“Sure,” Jessica agreed.

“By the way, don't you have a fifth member too?” Kara asked.

“Yeah,” Iceman said. “She’s busy somewhere else, so she couldn’t come.”

Unlike Cyclops, Jean Grey, also known as Marvel Girl, kept studying after graduating from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. She had recently enrolled at Metro College to pursue a bachelor's degree. Her classes prevented her from accompanying the X-Men on every mission, including this one.

“Seriously?” Wendy said incredulously. “An exposition dump in the middle of the scene?”

The X-Men stared at Wendy in confusion before turning to Jessica and Kara, their expressions questioning.

Kara sighed. “Ignore her.”

The newly formed group headed toward the Mayan pyramids, subduing more mind-controlled civilians along the way. At the foot of the largest pyramid, they finally found their target, who was already waiting.

“Those witless fools are useless,” the man said, watching his remaining mind-controlled minions fall one after another. “I shall deal with the intruders myself.” He wore the ceremonial attire of an ancient Mayan chieftain. His skin gleamed like polished gold.

“So, that’s El Tigre,” Jessica said softly. Her gaze shifted to the pendant on his chest. “And that should be the Pendant of Kukulcán.”

“Now it’s time for exposition,” Wendy said. The X-Men looked at her weirdly, but Jessica and Wendy ignored her.

Juan Meroz, also known as El Tigre, was a treasure hunter. During an expedition to a Mayan ruin, he discovered one half of an ancient pendant. The pendant granted him various superpowers, including mind control. The pendant guided him to New York City, where its other half lay dormant in a museum. Once Juan acquired the missing half, the pendant became whole and transformed him into an avatar of the Mayan god Kukulcán. He then returned to the Mayan ruins, determined to restore the Mayan Empire's glory.

During his visit to New York, Juan used his mind-control powers on a taxi driver, forcing him to take him to a hotel. He didn’t realize the taxi driver was Kevin, who was immune to mind control. Kevin used his system to investigate Juan and the pendant, then planned to send Jessica and the agency on a job.

“And that’s why we’re here,” Wendy said suddenly.

The X-Men stared at her, confused. Even El Tigre seemed momentarily distracted.

Cyclops, standing closest to the trio, had overheard Jessica mention the pendant. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Wendy. “Are you here for the pendant?”

“Huh? What?” Wendy blinked.

Cyclops regarded her suspiciously but decided not to press the matter. They still had El Tigre to deal with.

“You think you can take my pendant?” El Tigre asked disdainfully. “You overestimate yourselves.”

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, El Tigre stepped to the right, effortlessly evading Angel as he swooped down from behind to snatch the pendant.

“Impudent pest,” El Tigre said. “Do you think it is so easy to best Kukulcán?”

Scorching blasts erupted from his palms, streaking toward Angel. Angel twisted and banked through the air, narrowly avoiding the blasts thanks to the rigorous training he'd undergone at Xavier's.

While Angel kept El Tigre distracted, Beast slipped behind the golden-skinned man. El Tigre spun around to face him. The pendant on his chest erupted with blinding light. Beast cried out and covered his stinging eyes. El Tigre's fist glowed red-hot as he punched Beast in the face, sending him flying. El Tigre launched another heat blast at Beast, but Iceman intervened and raised a wall of ice between them. The ice melted almost instantly, but it bought Beast enough time to retreat.

“I grow weary of this pointless battle,” El Tigre said. He began shining even brighter, radiating intense heat. “Surrender now, and I may yet show you mercy.”

“The X-Men never surrender,” Iceman growled. But it was false bravado. Under the extreme heat, the ice coating his body melted faster than he could replenish it. He had no choice but to pull back.

“Damn it,” Iceman muttered, crouching farther from the battle and breathing hard. Is this really what fighting a god is like? Are we that far out of our league? What, do we need Thor to handle this guy?”

Gunshots interrupted his thoughts.

Wendy had opened fire on El Tigre, but a wall of flames shielded him. Every bullet melted the instant it struck the wall of fire. Wendy holstered her pistols and drew her katanas. She charged straight toward El Tigre, both katanas drawn.

“Foolish woman,” El Tigre said. “Why can you not accept the inevitable? Surrender, and I shall grant you and your companions the honor of becoming my concubines.”

Wendy smiled brightly. “Go suck a dick.”

El Tigre snorted in disdain and fired heat blasts at Wendy. She twisted aside, but one blast still caught her across the waist. Her expression didn't change as the blast burned through her side. Some of her internal organs were charred black. Charred intestines hung from the gaping wound.

El Tigre's triumphant grin froze as Wendy kept attacking without flinching, swinging a katana toward his neck. He barely dodged the first katana before the second came sweeping toward him. Unable to dodge again, he caught the second blade in his bare hand. The blade melted, but not before leaving a deep gash on his palm.

El Tigre looked at his bleeding palm in disbelief. He turned toward Wendy, who seemed far more concerned about her ruined katana than the gaping wound in her waist.

“My sword! I named that one! Mr. Slicey is dead, and it's all your fault! Do you feel good about yourself? Because I'm filing a property damage claim against your face!” Wendy said.

El Tigre, however, was in no mood for jokes.

“YOU DARE?!” El Tigre roared. “You dare draw the blood of Kukulcán?!”

Angel swooped down, scooped Wendy into his arms, and carried her away from El Tigre.

“Just so we're clear, saving me doesn't mean you're getting into my pants. Not that I needed saving,” Wendy said as Angel set her down beside Iceman.

Iceman stared at Wendy's horrific injury, his face turning pale. Even Angel didn’t have a flirty comeback. Neither had expected to see someone still standing after an injury like that. The sight reminded them just how easily one of their teammates could be killed, and the danger of what they did truly sank in.

Then Wendy's wound began to close. Wendy casually shoved her intestines back into her abdomen as charred tissue sloughed away and fresh flesh regenerated beneath it. Already exhausted from the fight, Iceman turned pale at the gruesome sight. He stumbled toward a nearby tree and threw up.

Even Angel felt his stomach churn. Eager to get away, he flew back toward El Tigre.

Beast was fighting El Tigre. He leaped from side to side, using his powerful legs to evade El Tigre's heat blasts. Angel joined the fight, and the two began attacking El Tigre from different directions—Beast from the ground and Angel from above.

Cyclops moved behind El Tigre, waiting for an opening. He opened his visor and fired a red optic blast. El Tigre had noticed Cyclops before, so he maneuvered so that when Cyclops fired his optic blast, Angel was in front of El Tigre. But from that angle, Cyclops didn’t realize Angel was there. Angel cried out in pain and plummeted toward the ground. Beast caught him before he hit the ground, but he had already lost consciousness.

“Such is the fate of those who dare oppose a god,” El Tigre declared disdainfully.

At that moment, his expression changed. His gaze snapped toward a huge snake statue in the distance. At its summit was a glowing golden stone, roughly spherical and nearly three meters in diameter. Jessica had climbed the statue and was repeatedly punching the stone's base where it met the serpent sculpture. With each strike, pieces of the statue broke off and fell.

“Stop this instant!” El Tigre bellowed.

Jessica pretended not to hear and kept punching the statue. El Tigre raised his hand to unleash another heat blast, but Kara's eagle swooped down at him. He dodged, but the talons still left a gash on his shoulder. As El Tigre turned toward the eagle, Kara's jaguar lunged from the side, sank its fangs into his thigh, tore away a chunk of flesh, and retreated. El Tigre screamed in agony.

“Are you trying to kill him?!” Cyclops shouted.

Kara stared at him incredulously, wondering if she'd heard him correctly.

Jessica shouted and struck the statue one final time. The massive stone broke loose. She touched the stone and suddenly disappeared. The X-Men stared at the empty space in disbelief. Even El Tigre seemed momentarily stunned.

“Return it!” El Tigre roared. He unleashed another heat blast, but it was noticeably weaker.

Jessica returned a few moments later, but the stone was gone.

“Give it back!” El Tigre roared and fired another heat blast at Jessica. But the attack was slower than before, and she easily dodged it.

With the power source gone, El Tigre's power continued to weaken. His heat blasts grew feebler, and his movements became sluggish. Beast seized the opportunity, lunged forward, and tore the pendant from his neck. El Tigre returned to his human form. Iceman bound him with some vines he found nearby.

With El Tigre defeated, the temporary alliance suddenly teetered on the edge of collapse. On one side stood Jessica, Kara, and Wendy. Opposite them stood Cyclops, Iceman, and Beast, with the unconscious Angel lying nearby.

“Hand over the stone,” Cyclops demanded.

Jessica raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“That artifact is dangerous. We can't let it fall into the wrong hands,” Cyclops said firmly.

“And yours are the right hands?” Kara asked with a laugh.

“Hey, Boy Scout,” Wendy said. “Why don’t you mind your own damn business?”

“We're trying to make sure no one uses it to hurt innocent people,” Cyclops said with an edge in his voice.

“Good for you,” Jessica said. “We're taking it anyway.”

Cyclops narrowed his eyes. “I don't think you understand.”

“No, I understand perfectly,” Jessica interrupted. “You think that just because you're the good guys”—she made air quotes with her fingers—“you have the moral authority to decide who gets to keep it.”

Before Cyclops could respond, Angel groaned.

Angel struggled to open his eyes. When he spotted Cyclops, he raised a trembling hand and pointed an accusing finger.

“What are you talking about, Angel?” Cyclops frowned. “It was an accident. I'm sorry, but I didn't know you were there.”

“You're lying,” Angel muttered weakly. “You did it because of Marvel Girl. Because you're in love with her too.”

Then he passed out again.

“And the plot thickens,” Wendy commented.

“I think you should sort out your own issues before poking your nose into our business,” Jessica said with a smile.

“Let's go, Cyclops,” Beast said. “Angel needs medical attention.”

Cyclops narrowed his eyes, silently weighing their chances against the three women. But his gaze fell on Wendy's waist. There was only smooth skin visible. The only evidence that she was injured was the singed clothing near the previous wound.

“Let’s go,” Cyclops said. “This isn’t over,” he warned.

“Sure,” Jessica said. She pulled a business card from her jacket and held it out.

Cyclops stared at it. “What's this?”

“Our card,” Jessica said. “Alias Solutions. Investigations, security, asset recovery, and a few other things.”

“You're seriously advertising your services right now?” Iceman asked.

“Why not?” Jessica said. “You guys seem like the type who could use a good private investigator.”

Wendy leaned over Jessica's shoulder. “And don't forget to leave us a five-star review!”

Cyclops looked down at the card, then back at her. “You realize we're going to investigate your agency?”

“Figured you would,” Jessica said easily. “Saves me the trouble of introducing ourselves twice.”

Cyclops gave Jessica one last look, then turned and left with the others.

“We're not taking the pendant?” Wendy asked.

“Forget it,” Jessica said. “The pendant was just a bonus. We've got what we came for.”

Wendy nodded.

The next day

“Is the serum complete?” Silvio asked.

“We've synthesized it, but we're still testing it,” Curt replied, holding up a test tube.

Silvio's eyes widened. “You did it? At last! Give it to me. Quickly!”

“Wait!” Curt said hurriedly. “We haven't properly tested it yet. We don't know what it'll do to you.”

Silvio scoffed. “At my age, what do I have left to lose? Give it to me!” He snatched the test tube.

Silvio stared at the liquid inside. “For years, I've studied the legends surrounding that tablet. And now, at last, the secret of life itself is within my grasp.”

“But the formula is still experimental,” Curt insisted. “We have no idea how your body will react. It could be dangerous.”

“Danger?” Silvio said disdainfully. “What is a little danger compared to the humiliation I endure every day because of this failing body? In my prime, I could have humbled Caesar Cicero and a dozen men like him with a single blow. But soon… I’ll be able to do it again.”

“Boss,” Marko said, “what if they've poisoned it?”

“Silence, Marko.” Without another word, Silvio raised the test tube to his lips and drank.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then an intense pain tore through Silvio's body. The test tube slipped from his fingers and shattered against the floor. Silvio screamed and collapsed.

“Marko... Mar—”

His voice died in his throat, and he went still.

“You killed 'im!” Marko snarled, grabbing Curt by the collar. “Thought killin' the boss would save your skin, did ya? I'll show ya how wrong you were!”

“Don’t,” Curt said weakly. “Don’t do it, Marko. You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

Marko's face twisted with rage, but before he could strike Curt, a voice called out from behind him.

“Let him go, Marko!”

The voice was calm—and unmistakably young.

Marko’s eyes widened as he turned around.

“No... It can't be,” Marko whispered. “Boss? You're alive? But... you look young!”

“Of course I am,” Silvio said with a broad smile. “That was the whole point.”

Silvio no longer resembled the frail old man who had been nearing death just moments earlier. He looked like a young man in his early thirties. His clothes fit tightly around his new, muscular body.

“I was right,” Silvio declared. “I gambled everything, and I won.”

“I told you I didn’t kill Silvermane,” Curt said. “Now let me go!”

Marko didn’t care about Connors as he let him go. His focus was entirely on Silvio.

“Silvermane? No, that can't be.” Marko stared at Silvio in disbelief. “Nobody becomes young again by drinking some strange liquid! You're working with Connors, aren't ya? Tell me what you've done with Silvermane, or I'll tear you apart!”

“Marko, you ignorant fool,” Silvio said. “Do you see anyone else here? It's me, you idiot! Don't tell me you can't even recognize your own boss! I am Silvermane, and I am still your boss! Only now, I have the youth and strength to become the greatest leader the Maggia has ever known!”

Marko remained suspicious, but the young man before him bore an unmistakable resemblance to Silvermane. And with no sign of the old man anywhere, he reluctantly accepted the impossible explanation—for now.

Silvio and Marko noticed that someone was missing.

“Looks like Dr. Connors slipped away while we were distracted,” Silvio remarked dismissively.

“How can a one-armed punk leave this joint on his own?” Marko said disdainfully. “Besides, we've still got his wife and kid. He ain't going anywhere.”

A short while later, Caesar headed toward Silvermane's office.

‘Each passing day brings Silvermane closer to his death,’ Caesar thought. ‘All I need to do is wait and play my cards right. Soon, I'll lead the Manfredi family. No—the Cicero family.’

Caesar opened the door and saw a young man sitting in Silvermane’s chair.

“Come in, Caesar,” Silvio said, smiling. “I've been waiting for you.”

“No!” Caesar exclaimed. “It can’t be! This is madness!”

Unlike Marko, Caesar recognized Silvermane immediately. Somehow, the old man had regained his youth.

“It’s the tablet, Caesar,” Marko said. “He got younger because of it.”

“Marko, it's a trick! That's not Silvermane. The cops must've sent an impostor to trap us!” Caesar said.

“That’s what I thought,” Marko muttered.

“Don’t let him fool you, Marko,” Caesar said. “Take him down before he does something!”

“Don't worry, Big C. I'll take care of this impostor,” Marko said, advancing toward Silvio.

‘I don't know how Silvermane pulled this off, but if these two destroy each other, there'll be no one left to stand in my way,’ Caesar thought.

“You brainless, muscle-bound bungler,” Silvio roared. “I am Silvermane.”

He easily dodged Marko’s punch.

“The Silvermane who fought his way to the top of the Maggia, leaving behind countless bodies.”

He drove an uppercut into Marko’s chin.

“Despite your bestial strength, you don’t have the speed or skill to match me.”

Silvio tilted his head aside, letting Marko's fist slam into the wall behind him.

“That is why I lead this family! And with the secret of the tablet, I shall remain its leader—young, strong, and powerful—FOREVER!”

He seized Marko by the collar. Despite Marko's towering height, Silvio forced him to his knees and looked down. Intense fear flashed in Marko’s eyes. Marko recognized the terrifying authority that had always surrounded his boss. Only now was it far more terrifying than Marko remembered.

“Now speak, Marko. Swear your loyalty to me once again. I can see in your eyes that you finally recognize your boss. Say it! Say that I am Silvermane!”

“B-but how?” Marko stammered. “It's like magic!”

“Then just consider it magic,” Silvio said, smiling. 

“You’re Silvermane?” Marko asked. “The tablet did it? You look even younger than me.”

Silvio merely smiled.

Before Marko could say another word, a red-and-blue figure crashed through the window.

“Where are Dr. Connors and his family?” Spider-Man demanded.

“Spider-Man,” Silvio sneered. “I knew you'd come poking your nose into my business.” He turned to Marko. “Marko, take him down.”

“Sure thing, Silvermane,” Marko said.

Silvio smiled, satisfied that Marko had finally accepted him as his boss.

‘Silvermane?’ Spider-Man thought. ‘That can’t be him! He should be at least eighty years old.’

Marko saw this as his chance to prove his loyalty to Silvermane. Spider-Man easily dodged Marko's punch, grabbed his outstretched arm, and hurled him into the wall.

“I'm... still getting younger?” Silvio muttered.

“Huh, what?” Spider-Man asked, turning toward him.

‘He looks even younger than before,’ Spider-Man thought.

Silvio burst into wild laughter. “The formula exceeded my wildest dreams! I'm in my early twenties now—the true prime of my life!”

Meanwhile, Curt watched Spider-Man and Silvio confront each other through the door Caesar had left open, then slipped in from behind when Spider-Man arrived.

‘This is my chance,’ Curt thought. ‘I’ve got to find Martha and Billy and get them out of here.’

He hurried off to find his family, but a sudden spasm seized his body. “No, no, no! I can't turn into the Lizard now!”

His missing arm throbbed as a new one grew. Green scales spread across his skin as his body swelled and twisted into its reptilian form.

“What am I doing here?” Lizard wondered.

“Who are you?” demanded a Maggia enforcer who came to investigate the commotion, raising his gun at Lizard.

Lizard ignored the warning and charged. The man opened fire, but the bullets bounced harmlessly off the thick scales.

“All you need to know is that I am the Lizard,” he snarled, slashing at the man's hand. The man screamed and dropped his gun, deep claw marks running across his hand. Lizard left.

While several Maggia enforcers rushed to confront Spider-Man, Caesar gathered his loyal men. He felt that if Spider-Man was here, the cops weren’t far behind. And he didn’t want to be caught red-handed with the kidnapped scientist and his family.

Among them was the enforcer who had encountered the Lizard.

“What do you mean, a giant lizard walking like a man?” Caesar demanded, grabbing the enforcer by the throat. “Are you playing games with me?”

“Boss, I'm not lying,” the man gasped. “He was dressed like a human, but—”

Caesar tightened his grip. “Lies! Silvermane must've put you up to this. Admit it!”

Back in Silvermane's office, Spider-Man hurled the rejuvenated crime boss into his desk, then leaped to the ceiling to dodge the Maggia enforcers' gunfire.

While Spider-Man fought the Maggia enforcers, Caesar peeked through the doorway.

‘This is my chance to finish Silvermane once and for all,’ Caesar thought and sneaked in.

A figure lay motionless beside the desk. Caesar recognized Silvermane's clothes immediately.

“Has someone beaten me to it?” Caesar muttered, grabbed the fallen man by the shoulder, and turned him over. “You won't rob me of my victory, Silvermane.”

But the moment Caesar saw his face, the blood drained from his own.

“No! He's getting younger? This is impossible!” Caesar exclaimed.

Spider-Man had knocked Silvio unconscious by hurling him into the desk. Now, Silvio slowly regained consciousness.

“What happened?” Silvio said groggily. His eyes suddenly widened. “What happened to my voice?”

He glanced into a nearby mirror. Instead of the young man he'd been moments earlier, a teenage boy stared back.

“What is happening?” Silvio said, confused. “When will it stop?”

“It won't stop...” Silvio whispered. “I wanted eternal life! I wanted power! But not this. Not this!”

“NOT THIS!” he screamed, then fled.

Spider-Man spotted a child-sized figure fleeing through the doorway.

“That kid?” Spider-Man muttered. “Wait... Those are Silvermane's clothes! What's going on?”

Spider-Man knocked out the last enforcer and raced after Silvio.

Silvio kept running, growing younger with every step. His clothes hung loosely from his shrinking frame. Within moments, he was no longer a teenager but a small child, stumbling beneath the weight of his oversized clothes.

Soon, he could no longer run. He dropped to his hands and knees and crawled forward, his body continuing to shrink.

By the time Spider-Man reached him, only a pile of clothes remained.

Spider-Man stared at Silvio's abandoned clothes for a few moments. Then a commotion elsewhere in the building caught his attention, and he hurried away.

A few minutes later, a figure wearing a white mask entered the room and glanced at Silvio's abandoned clothes.

—

Yet another man died in the quest for eternal life.

I looked at the clothes with disdain. That’s what you get for using an incomplete formula.

Of course, strictly speaking, Silvio wasn't actually dead. But that wasn’t really my problem.

I left the room and headed straight to the lab. Spider-Man was busy fighting the Lizard and had already taken care of most of the Maggia men. With most of the guards down, I moved through the corridors without much concern. Still, I remained hidden. There was no need to announce my presence.

Inside the lab, I picked up the Lifeline Tablet fragment—the one these fools believed was the entire tablet. I put it in my inventory. Then I surveyed the rest of the lab. One by one, I transferred everything that wasn't bolted down into my inventory. 

Once I was done, I left the lab and searched the rest of the building. There wasn’t much to grab. I did find the armory, though. As expected, most of the weapons were gone, but a few remained. Plenty of ammunition remained, though. Naturally, I took it all.

I searched for a safe or anything else worth taking. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one, and I didn't have enough time to comb through the entire building. Satisfied with my haul, I headed for the exit.

As I slipped outside, I spotted Spider-Man and the Lizard battling their way up the building's exterior wall. I gave them one last glance and slipped away.

*********************

[Author’s Notes]

NO! Mr. Slicey!

By the way, a new arc begins next chapter. Time for a road trip!