Chapter 71: With Great Power… Comes Great Responsibility

Once again, Peter's eyes closed and everything around him disappeared, plunging him back into that absolute void. Then the voice returned, deeper and more oppressive than ever, as though it were trying to pierce through his mind and reach the deepest part of his being.

— "Kill them. Kill them all… KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!"

The voice grew louder and louder, hammering against his mind without giving him even a moment of relief. Peter pressed his hands against his ears, desperately trying to block out the creature's words, but it was useless.

The voice wasn't coming from outside… it was echoing directly inside him. And around Peter, the void itself began to change. The darkness, motionless until now, gradually took on a living, almost organic form.

The entire black mass began moving strangely around him as eyes and mouths filled with teeth slowly appeared within the darkness. Peter now felt as though he were standing inside a monster itself.

The symbiote's black mass then began to gradually consume his body. It first covered his feet, climbed up his legs, then slowly continued its ascent.

Peter, meanwhile, seemed completely lost and desperate. He wasn't even trying to fight anymore. As though he had finally given up, he fell to his knees and simply remained there, motionless, waiting for the thing to completely swallow him.

Just as the dark mass was about to consume him entirely, a hand suddenly rested gently on his shoulder. Peter froze. Behind him, a familiar and soothing voice spoke:

— "You must never forget. Remember, Peter: with great power… comes great responsibility."

At that exact moment, something seemed to tear through Peter's mind with overwhelming force. But this time, it wasn't the symbiote, the voice, or anything negative. It was his memories. All of his memories.

Everything he had experienced throughout his life suddenly came rushing back to him: all the good he had done, all the people he had saved and helped as Spider-Man, but also as Peter Parker. His battles, his losses, his suffering… but also the terrible mistakes he had made.

Everything came back at once, like a bucket of ice-cold water thrown straight into his face. The fog that had clouded his mind from the beginning finally seemed to fade away, leaving behind a clarity he had almost thought he'd lost.

Having finally regained full control of himself, Peter gently placed his hand over his uncle's. Immediately, the black mass covering his body began to slowly retreat, as though the symbiote itself could feel that something had profoundly changed within its host's mind.

— "Everything okay, kiddo?" Uncle Ben asked.

Peter slowly stood back up. This time, there was no confusion left in his eyes. No hesitation. His gaze had become harder, deeper, filled with a determination he had never felt with such intensity before.

— "...Yeah. I'm better now."

— "How…? How is this possible?!" the symbiote exclaimed, completely caught off guard.

— "It was a good attempt. One last mental manipulation, altering my memories and trying to bring me over to your side by making me believe your methods were what was best for me. You really are one clever life-form. But you lost, symbiote. It's over."

— "Over? Over?! But why? Why?! We were so good together! Gwen and May were saved because of us! We stopped the Beetle, and you liked having me with you. We were—"

— "Shut up! I don't want to hear you anymore! At first, I took the easy way out and blamed everything on you… but deep down, I know the truth. I wanted them dead too… I had that anger inside me too. All you did was amplify it… that's all. I'm responsible too."

As the memories of his actions returned to him, Peter's expression darkened. He couldn't run away from what he had done, nor could he pretend that the symbiote alone was responsible. Behind him, however, Ben simply gave him a gentle, encouraging nod. He didn't need to say a word: that simple gesture was enough to make Peter understand that he was there, supporting him.

— "But you and me? We were nothing. Absolutely nothing! If I'd known what you really were, I never would've kept you! And I think deep down, you know that."

Peter slowly stepped forward until he stood in front of his uncle, almost instinctively placing himself between Ben and the presence surrounding them. His entire demeanor had changed. He was no longer trying to run away or understand what was happening to him. Now, he was preparing to face whatever stood before him.

— "As much as I wish it weren't true, we're still connected, and I can feel it… you're angry at my uncle."

A frustrated, furious growl echoed around them. The entire void began to tremble, as though the symbiote's emotions were spreading directly through the space itself.

Then, a few meters away from Peter and Ben, something began taking shape on the ground. A figure slowly emerged from the black mass until it became perfectly recognizable: Spider-Man, wearing the black suit.

— "You… you can't reject me!"

The figure took a fighting stance, ready to attack at any moment. Peter didn't back away. He simply glanced over his shoulder for a few seconds at his uncle standing behind him.

— "Stay back, Uncle Ben. I won't let it touch you."

— "I know, kiddo. Show this creature what you're capable of."

At those words, Peter felt a familiar warmth fill his chest. A soft smile briefly appeared on his face as he turned his attention back toward his opponent. Just a few simple words from his uncle had been enough to make him feel as though he had regained all the strength in the world.

TO BE CONTINUED.