Chapter 6: Threads of Power

Ethan stood before the mirror in his small dorm room, adjusting the leather jacket that had become part of his new persona. The jacket was dark, with a hood he could pull over to hide his features when needed—a blend of style and practicality. His look was simple but effective: dark jeans, sturdy boots, and the ever-present jacket. The hood helped cast shadows over his crimson eyes, a subtle precaution against unwanted attention.

His fingers lingered on the worn leather for a moment. It was strange how something as simple as clothing could serve as both armor and disguise. The world outside his door was filled with gods, monsters, and heroes, but right now, all he needed to be was Ethan—the quiet student, the unassuming observer.

He knew the Marvel Universe was vast, a sprawling world where power could be found in hidden corners and ancient artifacts. There were gods and monsters, mutants and magic—all threads in a tapestry he intended to unravel. The Crimson Code provided structure, but Ethan had no intention of being a slave to the system. He would forge his own path, collect power from alternative sources, and create his own destiny.

Ethan blended into the bustling crowd of students preparing for the Oscorp field trip. His mind, however, was leagues ahead. He wasn't just here for the tour—he had his own agenda. His crimson eyes, concealed beneath the guise of an ordinary student, darted around, taking in every detail. He moved with an easy, practiced grace, each step calculated to avoid attention.

The city beyond the bus windows was a churning sea of life. Yellow taxis weaved through traffic, pedestrians flowed along sidewalks, and towering billboards flashed with vibrant colors. Ethan's enhanced senses picked up snippets of conversations, the hum of engines, the distant wail of a siren. Beneath it all, he could hear the steady thrum of blood—the subtle, intoxicating chorus of life that he had learned to tune out.

Ethan already knew the significance of this day. Peter Parker would be bitten by a radioactive spider, setting him on the path to becoming Spider-Man. But while the Crimson Code remained eerily quiet—perhaps not seeing the immediate vampiric gain—Ethan's own ambition filled the gap. If that spider could give someone powers, why not him?

As the tour wound through Oscorp's sterile hallways, Ethan stayed close to the group. His enhanced senses allowed him to remain alert, waiting for the exact moment when fate would play its part. His patience was rewarded when Peter Parker reached into the display, the fateful spider sinking its fangs into his skin. The commotion started almost immediately—Peter stumbling back, clutching his hand.

Ethan's opportunity came when the chaos of teachers and students swarming around Peter created a perfect cover. The spider, dislodged in the confusion, crawled onto a nearby surface. With practiced ease, Ethan moved, his motions so fluid and natural that no one noticed. He allowed the spider to bite him, a sharp sting followed by a rush of warmth.

Instead of simply healing the bite, Ethan felt a ripple through his body. His vampiric nature wrestled with the arachnid venom, adapting, assimilating. His Crimson Code interface flickered, as if confused, before stabilizing. A smirk touched his lips—if the system didn't see this coming, then maybe, just maybe, he could forge his own path.

Ethan remained with his classmates as the chaos continued—Peter Parker looking pale and sweaty. Ethan offered him a lazy grin. "Not feeling too good, Parker? I guess not everyone can handle a field trip." His quip masked the satisfaction bubbling within him. He wasn't just following the system's breadcrumbs—he was laying his own path, one step ahead.

On the bus ride back, Ethan felt the changes settling in. His senses were sharper, his reflexes a hair's breadth faster. It wasn't a full transformation, not like Peter's impending metamorphosis, but it was something. More importantly, it was his. The Crimson Code remained silent, almost sullen, and Ethan basked in the small victory.

He stared out the window, the city rolling past in a blur of steel and glass. His fingers drummed idly against the seat, a rhythm only he knew. Tomorrow, the world would change for Peter Parker. But for Ethan? It was just another step toward true freedom—the kind earned through blood, ambition, and defiance.