Chapter 3: “The Glitch in Reality”

[SYSTEM STATUS: ACTIVE]

Host: Peter Benjamin Parker (a.k.a. Ethan Grey)

Level: 3

EXP: 450/1000

New Ability Unlocked: Adrenaline Surge – Temporarily boosts strength and reflexes by 20% when HP drops below 50%.

Quest Log: "The Ripple Effect" (In Progress)

Anomaly Identified: Unknown Entity (Codename: "Glitch")

Late Night - Queens Rooftop

Ethan sat perched on the edge of a rundown rooftop, the distant hum of New York City below acting as a faint white noise against the storm of thoughts racing through his mind. The cool night air did little to calm the heat thrumming in his veins—the aftermath of adrenaline, confusion, and something he couldn't quite name.

I saved Uncle Ben… but what the hell did I break in the process?

The encounter with the anomaly—Glitch—still played on repeat in his head. A kid who shouldn't exist. A fight that felt like reality itself was glitching. And that final warning:

"You're not supposed to be here."

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Quest Update]

Side Quest Unlocked: "Ghost in the Machine"

Objective: Track the Anomaly's energy signature.

Reward: +250 EXP, Ability Unlock Opportunity.

Failure Penalty: Increased Multiversal Instability.

Ethan groaned. "Yeah, no pressure or anything."

Morning at Midtown High

The next day felt surreal, walking the same halls as if nothing had changed, while knowing the universe itself was unraveling.

Flash Thompson was still being an arrogant jerk. Teachers droned on about algebra and history, blissfully unaware that time anomalies and cosmic threats lurked just beyond the school walls. It was almost funny, in a cosmic joke kind of way.

Ethan's enhanced senses kept him on edge, scanning for anything—anyone—out of place.

Then he saw her.

A new face in the crowd. A girl with sharp green eyes, raven-black hair tied in a messy bun, and a confidence in her stride that didn't fit the typical high school demeanor.

But what really caught Ethan's attention wasn't her looks.

It was the fact that his Spidey-sense went haywire the moment she walked past.

[SYSTEM ALERT: Energy Signature Detected – Similar to Anomaly "Glitch"]

Recommendation: Observe and investigate.

Great, Ethan thought. Another anomaly. And here I was hoping for a normal day.

Lunch Break: The Confrontation

Ethan found her on the rooftop—same spot where he'd fought Glitch. She was leaning against the rusted railing, staring out at the city like she owned it.

Ethan didn't bother with small talk. "Who are you?"

The girl didn't even flinch. She glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "You're direct. I like that."

Her voice was calm, but there was something in her tone—like she wasn't from around here.

"I'll ask again. Who. Are. You?"

She finally turned fully, crossing her arms. "Name's Nova."

Nova? Definitely not from Peter Parker's original storyline.

"And you're not really Peter Parker, are you?" she added, tilting her head slightly, like she was studying him under a microscope.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his face neutral. "What makes you think that?"

Nova shrugged. "Because I can see it. You don't belong here. Just like me."

[SYSTEM ALERT: Warning – Entity Identified as Multiversal Displacement Agent.]

Threat Level: Unknown

System Override Protocol: Blocked (???)

Blocked? Ethan's stomach twisted.

Nova stepped closer, her piercing eyes locked onto his. "You're causing ripples, Peter. Big ones. And the people who sent me? They don't like ripples."

Ethan's fists clenched. "I didn't ask to be here."

"Doesn't matter. You're here. And that's a problem."

Before Ethan could respond, Nova moved.

Fast.

Not as fast as Glitch, but fast enough that he barely had time to react. Their fists collided mid-air, a shockwave of force rippling outward, shattering the old rooftop tiles beneath them.

They fought—a blur of punches, kicks, and near-misses. Ethan's Spidey-sense screamed at him, guiding his dodges by instinct alone.

But Nova was good. Too good.

She moved with precision, like someone who'd been trained to fight people with powers. She wasn't just brawling—she was studying him, testing his limits.

[SYSTEM ALERT: Critical Combat Detected]

Skill Activation: Spider's Resolve (Boost Active)

Bonus: +10% Reflex Speed, +10% Willpower

With the boost, Ethan managed to land a clean hit, sending Nova skidding backward. But instead of being angry, she just grinned.

"You're better than I thought."

Ethan panted, sweat dripping down his face. "You done testing me, or do we have to break more rooftops?"

Nova chuckled softly. "I'm not here to kill you, Peter. Not yet, anyway."

"That's so comforting."

She stepped back, her grin fading slightly. "I'm here to deliver a message."

Ethan's muscles tensed. "From who?"

Nova's eyes darkened. "From the people who own the timeline."

She flicked her wrist, and a small, metallic device appeared—a sleek, black cube with glowing blue veins pulsing across its surface.

She tossed it to Ethan, who caught it instinctively.

"Open that when you're ready," she said, backing toward the rooftop's edge. "But just know this: every choice you make from now on? They're watching. And they don't like mistakes."

With that, Nova leapt off the edge, disappearing into the city below.

Later That Night

Ethan sat on his bed, staring at the cube. It felt heavy—not physically, but in a way that made his chest tighten.

What the hell did I get myself into?

[SYSTEM ALERT: Quest Updated – "The Ripple Effect"]

New Objective: Open the device. Discover the origin of the anomalies.

Reward: +1000 EXP, System Upgrade Potential.

Penalty for Failure: Timeline Collapse Probability Increased (Severity Level: Moderate to High).

Ethan sighed, his fingers tightening around the cube.

"Yeah… no pressure."

With a deep breath, he pressed the center of the device.

It began to glow.

[End of Chapter 3]