Confrontation: Advent of The Goblin

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(Norman Osborn's P.O.V)

He shouted my name out loud. Which means it's only a matter of time before he comes for me. Not to mention someone stole my last batch of the Goblin serum. This has already set me back enough! The threat from Valiant is especially daunting. I can feel the shadow of death hanging on my neck. I can't die! Not yet. I still have a lot more to do. That spiderguy...he was enhanced too just like Valiant. 

And the way Valiant was distraught after I snapped his neck...could their powers be a family thing? Maybe. The other vigilante followed a spider gimmick. The webs were proof enough to support that theory and his strength...it was superhuman too. Luckily I managed to get his blood. It will take too long to synthesize a whole new formula from that d.n.a though...

But why do that? I still have access to Dr. Connor's files before he died in that plane crash while journeying to Indonesia for the Komodo Dragon expedition. If I remember correctly he came up with a way to harvest and incorporate a lizard's regenerative trait into other species. The only thing he couldn't deal with was stabilizing the process to prevent unwanted mutations. The Goblin serum in its essence bombards the subject with a benign energy processed from Valiant's d.n.a. This comes with an adaptive physiology on top of the increased physical parameters.

All I need to do is combine the three together and my adaptive physiology will hopefully be enough to stabilize my body. It's risky but I need the power to survive what comes next. After Valiant is dead, then the world will welcome, the Advent of the Goblin. The Goblin King.

(Brian's P.O.V)

"We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news. An unknown creature is wrecking havoc at the city center. The police, national guard and paramedics have mobilized to stop the rampage as the death toll increases to the double digits. Our top reporter Kennison is live at the scene. Kennison what is the situation there?"

The image on the screen cut away from the news anchor to show a reporter filming in a chopper. Below him was complete devastation. Vehicles were over turned and sections of a building were burning. Smoke rose over the scene as people ducked for cover or ran away in terror. The authorities were already setting a cordon. Army jeeps drove through to the smoke, soldiers decked in full gear at the back. The chopper dived closer and the reporter as well as other occupants flinched away at the sounds of gunshots.

The chopper suddenly swerved to the side to escape a huge projectile coming for it.

"Oh god oh god!"

Someone screamed before the camera fell from the hands of the camera man. The last thing we saw was a huge green hand followed by shouts of terror before the screen instantly went blue with the news stations logo. 

The news anchor's face showed on the screen looking scared. The same feeling I had inside me. That green hand…was it? No the hulk didn't exist in this universe so that was impossible. That leaves the other alternative which is also kinda scary. 

"Suit up Pete. You're on civilian duty."

"What? Why? I can help you fight him!"

He sputtered indignantly.

I switched channels a couple of times and paused on a live footage of a 7 foot green monster. He had a double chin and huge trunk like arms. Resembling the hulk in bulk and a cruel glint in his eyes as he tore apart a chopper. 

"That's why. With the ease that he's tearing apart that metal he must be stronger than you. You almost died a few days ago. Take a breather first before jumping into action. Now let's go."

Peter nodded hesitantly and we suited up. My mind was in turmoil however. It had been four days since saving Peter's life and although I had wanted to do nothing more but jump into the fray and destroy Osborn, I'd spent the few days recuperating from the backlash of destroying my cultivation. Now I wish I'd gone after him regardless. He must have heard my unintentional outburst that I was not only coming for him but also knew his secret identity. In true villain behavior, instead of seeking redemption he went on ahead to enhance himself even further. I had little doubt it wasn't Osborn. Dammit, this is going to be a headache.

I had ki, so for the last few days I'd tried my best to learn how to fly but all I could manage was floating a little and adding force to my jumps. I channeled ki to the rooftop underneath my step to harden it before springing forward. Ki was especially suitable for reinforcing not only my blows but other things too hence I was now free from my unintentional vandalism by leaving cracks whenever I jumped. 

We quickly made way to where the now enhanced Goblin was going on a rampage and Spiderman broke off to start helping the police evacuate the injured. The Goblin noticed and he rounded up to look at Spiderman. He let out an animalistic yell, which resulted in a sudden wind blast. 

Spiderman nimbly dodged a jeep that still had soldiers inside. The occupants screamed as they went sailing straight for Spiderman. I didn't waste time and started running right at the same time that the Jeep was tossed.

"Spidey! Get the soldiers I'll handle the big guy."

A few webs plucked the soldiers inside the vehicle and a spun webbing arrested their fall. 

Goblin snarled in rage and jumped, I came in from the side, caught his outstretched hand, used his momentum and sent him back to the ground. A huge impact rang out and a dust cloud rose from the crater his body formed. A dip in my ki reserves brought about annoyance in me. That was almost a quarter of my ki! This was all due to my atrocious control. I still wasn't used to ki manipulation.

Following a dip in my ki reserves, a ki blast exploded from my feet sending me shooting down in a blur. I turned my feet to fall first, landing with a loud crack on The Goblin's solar plexus. The hole underneath him got bigger and I jumped out. 

"Get back! I'll handle this, you can't beat him."

I instructed the soldiers around me and they marshalled fast to fall back.

I turned my attention back to the hulk knock - off and barely blocked a huge fist on my forearm. My bones rattled in pain shocking me. I still couldn't use Reverse Echo so I felt the full force of the blow. I performed a judo throw, smacking his back onto the ground before me. An axe-kick fell on his head cracking the tarmac below him. His neck lengthened and sinews of muscles burst apart and blood sprayed from the bursted veins.

Right before my eyes the neck regenerated and his skin gained a grayish tint. 

"Rraaaaarrrrghhh!"

"Well apparently he can regenerate now."

My hands rose up to shield my eyes from the dust overturned when he jumped back up again. He howled out at me and the wind blew my shirt air back. 

"Do you ever brush your teeth?"

He must have understood me and taken offence to that.

I ducked the first swing and danced around the other blows as I observed him and his fighting style. He knew how to throw a punch but his stance was all over the place. Something that could be attributed to the crazed look on his face. He wasn't aware of his actions though. I could tell it from his eyes. The force accompanying his blows sent wind at me whenever I dodged. He was almost as strong as me. 

A smile worked it's way onto my face. I hadn't had an opponent who could match me blow for blow so I was a little excited at finally letting go.

I crossed my forearms and tanked the huge fist. 

"Let's see if you can take this."

I clenched my fingers and my fist shot forward, hi jaw dislocated and teeth were sent flying. Then I gripped his left hand and broke the elbow, bending the huge limb the wrong way. I followed that attack with an echo empowered kick.

His body dug a groove through the tarmac and hit an abandoned mini-van on the road completely caving it. Spiderman landed on the ground next to me.

" Is he down?"

An even louder furious howl sounded from the downed creature and right before our eyes his size grew even bigger confirming some of my thoughts. What did you do Osborn?

"You have your answer. Is everyone evacuated?"

He nodded.

"Yeah. We're gonna have to work together. He looks even stronger now."

He was right. I activated True Reveal and instantly I saw a swirling mass of life-force within him. He was stronger than me now.

"It seems he grows stronger whenever injured so he's gonna be a bitch and a half to deal with. There's only one solution to deal with someone like him. Either hit him hard enough he gets knocked out...or kill him."

Spiderman turned to look at me in shock.

"We can't kill him! That's crazy."

"And you're being naive. He's escalating rapidly to adapt to what we're throwing at him. We're going to be weaker than him before he hits his peak." I almost shouted at him. "Pete, he's already physically stronger than me." That part I said softly. 

He was silent for a while.

"Ok. We try knocking him out first. There's still a chance of changing him back."

"And if that fails?"

I asked.

"Then we do what's necessary. Lives have...have already been lost. Let's prevent the number from increasing."

I smiled a little.

"You're in support. I can tank his blows so distract him for me and I'll try to put him down." He nodded and we readied ourselves.

In true movie fashion, the Goblin sprang back up again right after our talk. He looked bigger, meaner and grayer. Standing at 8 feet now, I wondered just what the hell would bring this thing down.

"This is not how I wanted to spend my afternoon."

Spiderman snorted.

I reached out to my ki and reinforced my body. A light blue light encased my form before fading away.

"Let's rumble you dumb oaf."