Chapter 38: The Green Goblin’s Rage
The tower was an architectural relic, built in the last century, standing tall with its stone façade and iron accents. Within its upper floors—lavishly decorated with antique furnishings—sat a man whose mind was unraveling faster than his legacy.
Norman Osborn.
In the dim light of a grand study, Osborn sat silently behind a mahogany desk. A stock trading interface glowed on the computer screen before him. It displayed live transaction data, numbers constantly updating.
But he wasn't the one executing the trades.
He was only watching.
Watching helplessly as someone else purchased massive quantities of Oscorp stock.
His company.
Norman clenched the arms of his chair.
He was buying shares too, but his funds were nearly depleted. He could barely afford scraps, while someone else seemed to have unlimited capital, swallowing the market whole.
"Who is this bastard?" Norman growled, his voice a low snarl. "Snatching up my company... my legacy…"
Years of obsession had drained him. He had invested everything into the superhuman enhancement serum—resources, time, reputation.
And it had failed. Spectacularly.
Without tangible results, Oscorp became a money pit. Profits dried up. Military contracts vanished. The board of directors turned on him. Eventually, they ousted him, declaring his vision reckless and unsustainable.
He had no income now. His only lifeline had been Oscorp's internal reimbursements. Personal savings? Gone. His every dollar had been poured into that serum.
And now, as he sat watching the hostile takeover unfold, something inside him snapped.
"This isn't just a business move…" he muttered, standing abruptly. "This is war. Someone's trying to destroy me."
He slammed his fist into the desk, knocking over a heavy iron cup.
BANG!
The metal dented from the sheer force. His knuckles bled slightly, but he didn't notice.
His mind boiled with fury.
"I built Oscorp with my bare hands! And now someone wants to steal it?"
His voice twisted into a guttural growl. "I will find you. I will kill you."
But then—he froze.
A war was being fought inside his mind.
His face contorted, rage battling restraint. "No… no, I won't kill. That's wrong. I can't lose control. I have to do this the right way…"
And then, as if a switch flipped—
His eyes glazed over. A cruel smile spread across his face.
"Why not kill?" he whispered, voice lower now, venomous. "They're enemies. Thieves. Vermin. Haven't we already taken care of those cowardly shareholders? That was fun, wasn't it?"
A moment of resistance. "No… I won't become that…"
Another grin. "You already are. Without me, you're nothing. Weak. Powerless. But together? Together, we can reclaim what's ours."
His reflection in the screen twisted and distorted.
He wasn't arguing with himself anymore.
He was arguing with the Green Goblin.
Osborn turned back to the trading screen.
The stock acquisition continued, fast and aggressive.
"I don't know who you are... but I will. I will find you. I'll tear you limb from limb."
His face now fully transformed—lips curled in fury, pupils dilated, expression manic.
"No one takes Oscorp from Norman Osborn and lives to tell the tale."
His fingers tightened into fists.
He glanced to his right.
There, on the desk, lay a folded piece of paper. An address was scribbled on it.
The final shareholder. The key to everything.
Osborn's lips curled.
"Tonight, I claim the last 20% of shares. Once that's done, I'll be the largest stakeholder. I'll have the power again. Total control."
"And you—whoever you are—will be nothing but a memory. A name carved into a tombstone."
He rose from his chair.
Walked to a nearby bookshelf.
His fingers traced the spine of an old volume labeled Alchemy & Transformation. He pulled it.
Click.
The bookshelf swung open, revealing a hidden chamber.
Inside, hung the armor of the Green Goblin.
A full-body combat suit, glimmering green with reinforced plating. Next to it, a silver glider, menacing in design, like a bat crossed with a missile.
Osborn stepped into the room, eyes wide with reverence.
"This... this is how I win."
He reached out, brushing his fingers over the metallic shoulder of the suit.
"You may think you're clever, hiding in the shadows, buying stock and moving silently." His voice echoed. "But I am Norman Osborn. I see everything. And I am coming for you."
Laughter followed. Cold, twisted laughter that filled the secret chamber.
---
Meanwhile, across the city, in a quiet safehouse, Nathan sat at his terminal.
His eyes flicked between the glowing interface and the final data on screen.
Stock acquisitions were ongoing. Oscorp shares were being bought at record speed.
Suddenly, his inbox pinged.
An encrypted message.
He opened it.
The sender: Klaus.
The message was warm, casual even—something Nathan hadn't felt in days. Klaus checked in regularly. Sometimes with tips. Sometimes just to see if he was still breathing.
This time, Klaus shared an update.
HYDRA had backed off. No leads, no pressure. Their search was growing cold.
He even mentioned a small outing with a girl named Yi. Apparently, she had been cooped up in the mountains too long and needed a breath of air. They went to an amusement park. Yi had a blast, it seemed.
Nathan smiled softly at the screen.
A rare moment of peace.
He replied immediately: "All good here. Busy, but safe. Keep staying low. And thanks."
After sending the email, Nathan turned back to his trading interface.
His account balance was dangerously low.
From $20 million, he was now sitting at less than $200,000.
Despite Oscorp stock being nearly worthless on the open market, Nathan had purchased so many shares that he was almost tapped out.
He leaned back, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm close. So close."
He currently held 28% of Oscorp. Once he acquired the final 20% from the last major shareholder—and a few scattered public shares—he'd hit 51%.
Controlling interest.
It was within reach.
But now, he had a problem.
He had no cash left.
To secure that final piece, he needed leverage. A plan. Something powerful enough to close the deal without needing to drain more money he didn't have.
He looked up. Toward the Oscorp tower.
"Time to improvise," he whispered.
Nathan's transformation was almost complete.
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