Chapter 5: Hardcore Training

I walked into the school's gym, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. I had been training hard for weeks, and I was eager to test my skills against some of the other students.

As I began to warm up, I noticed Peter Parker - aka Spider-Man - watching me from the sidelines. He was a fellow student at Midtown High, and we had become friends over the past few weeks.

"Hey, Darius," Peter said, sauntering over to me. "I've been meaning to ask you, what's with all the intense training? You're not trying out for the school team or anything, are you?"

I chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Nah, nothing like that. I just like to stay active, you know?"

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Active? You're like a machine, dude. I've seen you take down some of the toughest guys in school without even breaking a sweat."

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just trying to stay in shape, I guess."

Peter grinned. "Well, you're definitely in shape. I've been thinking of sparring with you sometime. Want to see if I can take you down?"

I laughed, feeling a bit intimidated. Peter was Spider-Man, after all. But I was also curious to see how I would match up against him.

"Sure, why not?" I said, trying to sound confident. "But don't expect any mercy."

Peter chuckled. "Don't worry, I can handle myself. But just so you know, I'm not going to go easy on you just because we're friends."

I grinned, feeling a bit excited. "I wouldn't expect anything less from Spider-Man."

We began to spar, and I was quickly impressed by Peter's skills. He was fast, agile, and had some serious strength behind his punches.

Spider-Man's Stats:

Strength: 22 (growth)

Speed: 25 (growth)

Agility: 28 (growth)

Endurance: 24 (growth)

Intelligence: 140 IQ (in high school 250 potential)

Charisma: 33 (growth)

As we fought, I realized that Peter was holding back. He was still a teenager, and he wasn't yet in his prime as Spider-Man.

But even so, he was still a formidable opponent. I found myself struggling to keep up with his pace, and I was grateful when we finally called it quits.

"You're not bad, Darius," Peter said, grinning. "But I think I still have the edge."

I chuckled, feeling a bit winded. "Yeah, I think you're right. But I'm not giving up yet. I'll be back, and next time, I won't be so easy on you."

Peter laughed. "I'm looking forward to it, Darius. Let's do it again soon."

As we parted ways, I couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for Peter. He was a great guy, and an even better superhero.

And I knew that our friendship was only just beginning.

Ryu Template: 40%

I continued to train and spar, increasing my skills and my Ryu template. I was getting closer to my goal, but I knew that I still had a long way to go.

But with Peter's help, I knew that I could do it. We would push each other to be our best, and we would become an unstoppable team.