Chapter 104: The Amazing Spider Man

Spider-Man is a name just about everyone knows, not only in Marvel but across all of comics. Even people who aren't into superheroes have probably heard of him.

Back in elementary school, Chu Cheng and his friends were obsessed with Batman. But when Chu Cheng tried to share his love for Batman, his neighbor scoffed and said, "I know him. He got superpowers from being bitten by a bat. Just a rip-off of my favorite hero, Spider-Man."

That little debate quickly escalated into a full-on wrestling match on the playground, showing just how passionate kids can be about their favorite heroes.

Spider-Man's origin story is so well-known that even a quick summary is enough. Peter Parker, a young, smart guy, gets bitten by a radioactive spider and gains incredible superpowers.

There's a saying in the superhero world that parents have a way of shaping their kids' futures, especially when they're absent.

Peter Parker's story includes Uncle Ben, who taught him, "With great power comes great responsibility." This motto drives Spider-Man but also weighs heavily on him. It often pushes him into situations far beyond his control, but it also leads him to save countless lives.

With Uncle Ben's death and his new abilities, Peter Parker becomes Spider-Man, balancing school, work, and hero duties—all while trying to get a love life.

Chu Cheng got really excited when Spider-Man joined his little team of heroes. It made him feel like his squad just leveled up, bringing him closer to his dream of building an unstoppable hero team.

Back when Chu Cheng was a kid, he watched Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man for the first time at his neighbor's house, and it instantly made an impression on him. Spider-Man became a childhood favorite, and his abilities were something Chu Cheng always admired.

Spider-Man's superhuman reflexes make him nearly untouchable. He can dodge bullets, dance through a barrage of enemy gunfire, and avoid getting hit by the most powerful weapons.

Unlike martial arts heroes who rely on being faster than the gunman, Spider-Man's agility lets him dodge everything, even a rain of bullets from a Gatling gun.

He's got super strength, too. Normally, he can lift 15 to 25 tons with ease, and in extreme situations, he's been known to lift hundreds of tons. Though he's more of an agility hero, Spider-Man could even give the Hulk a run for his money. With that kind of power, he can stop a speeding train, making sure his mom doesn't have to worry about him not hitting the brakes.

Spider-Sense. Imagine Spider-Man as a spider in the center of a web, with the air around him acting as that web. Every little vibration alerts him to danger. From another perspective, it's like dealing with an annoying AI that always knows what you're doing. You could be hiding behind a wall, and it would still know where you are.

It's impossible to list all of Spider-Man's abilities, especially in the comic world where his power levels can be all over the place. Sometimes, his Spider-Sense might not work when the plot needs it to fail. Even his strength, which should be able to lift 20 tons, might suddenly seem weaker. But usually, his abilities live up to their hype.

So, when a new Spider-Man game came out, Chu Cheng was excited to take it for a spin.

The Spider-Man games are some of the best in the superhero game world. Sony has had the rights for years, so even though Spider-Man missed out on joining the Avengers early on, he's got plenty of great games.

Chu Cheng has played a lot of Spider-Man games over the years, from the early movie tie-ins with basic graphics to the later ones like "Marvel's Spider-Man." He's familiar with all the different combat systems and controls, so getting into this new game felt like second nature.

The thrill of swinging and diving through a city full of skyscrapers is amazing, especially with the ultrarealistic graphics. The gameplay is nearly unmatched.

The game uses a control system for Spider-Man that has been refined over the years. There are two main ways to move around the city: swinging and web dashing.

First, there's swinging between buildings, just like in the movies. This is the fastest way to move when there are tall buildings around.

Then there's the web dash. Spider-Man shoots a web at a specific spot, and with his super-strong arms and the tough, stretchy spider silk, he can launch himself across the city. It's similar to Batman's grapple gun and is great for quickly climbing or crossing rooftops.

Chu Cheng got hooked on this experience quickly. It felt like the entire city had become a giant steel playground.

After swinging around for a while, a lightning bolt symbol representing Spider-Sense suddenly appeared on-screen, followed by an exclamation point nearby.

Chu's excitement grew.

The action was about to begin.

The Spider-Man he was controlling immediately turned around and shot two webs in that direction. As he reached the highest point, he flipped through the air, shot another web to the top of a nearby water tank, and landed smoothly on the rooftop right next to the exclamation mark.

Chu Cheng, ready to jump into action, looked closer and realized the source of the alert: a white cat stuck in a tree, meowing helplessly, too scared to climb down.

Chu Cheng: "..."

Really? As a "friendly neighborhood" hero, I'm actually supposed to rescue a cat from a tree? 

Well, that's definitely something Spider-Man would do.

...

Two days ago, somewhere underground in Jiangdu.

In a dimly lit room, a long wooden dining table was set up. It was loaded with cold cuts, roasted turkey, golden suckling pig, and colorful fruit platters.

The harsh, cold light from incandescent bulbs made the room feel unsettling. Men in black suits or flashy silver and gold chains stood around the table like stiff robots.

Each side of the table had a chair, with a powerful figure sitting in each one.

These were the leaders of the four most powerful underground forces in Jiangdu. They were the uncrowned kings who controlled the city's underworld and had vast resources and connections within the Police Department. Each of them held immense power in the city.

In the past, if these four decided to work together, there was almost nothing they couldn't accomplish in this city.

But times have changed. Today, they're facing something extraordinary.

"Alright, everyone's here. I think we all know why we're meeting today, so let's skip the small talk and get straight to business."

At the end of the table, a man with a scar on his face spoke in a deep, commanding voice.

"We're here to discuss something of vital importance, something that affects all of us and the future of our families.

Today, we gather for one common goal."

He paused, his scarred face showing a hint of cruelty, and then he delivered the next line slowly and deliberately:

"Take back our city."