"Alright, Yuri! I'm a few meters from Ozukopu Industries. How long ago was this break in?"
Spider-Man was currently swinging to the very place where the enhanced spider was originally from, and if he was being honest… He really didn't think he would ever return to this location at all, especially since he carried the venom of the very spider that place created, which is running through his veins.
Just thinking of that very place, reminds him of that day when the spider first bit him. And the day after what led to…
But after getting a frantic phone call, literally tonight on his birthday. While his other self is being celebrated by everyone at his aunt and uncle's place. Heck, he can already see from his eyes the other side of him with Nijika, Seika, and Senatsu. His friends Usagi and Rei. And he thinks he just saw Yor arriving as well.
If Spider-Man is being honest… It would have been better if Arawareru was… Just seeing his picture reminds him that everything he is doing, saving people, is making him proud. Heck, he would have definitely done something just to make Sekinin laugh.
Shaking his head at the thought of what his other half is doing at the moment. Spider-Man focuses on the frantic voice of Yuri.
"[It was unknown, especially since the power was cut off, but the emergency power was put on. There is also the fact that Ozukopu was not all willing to call the authorities for help as they obviously pride themselves upon being a well-secured place. Only until the so-called 'small' break in became a massive breach in the industry.]"
Spider-Man rolled his eyes at the mention of not informing the authorities. As if the sheer chaotic mess that happened just for an enhanced spider was caused by its glass breaking by an idiot. But a break-in? They view it as a minor issue they would have easily handled but escalated.
"Guess I'll just handle the intruder myself then. Is there anyone else in the building, Yuri?"
"[From what I'd gathered from the fleeing staff, it seems there was only one intruder. The person would have already been dealt with, but it seems that person snuck in, took something, and injected themselves with it just as the alarms were beginning to siren that something was missing. By the time security attempted to grab the intruder it seemed whatever they injected caused them to gain strength just to take down security.]"
Something like a serum or something? Because Spider-Man couldn't think about anything other than someone having the sense of injecting themselves with something.
Anyways, Spider-Man was almost there as he could see police cars and the sirens, as well as the building being on lockdown.
"Hey, I'm about to arrive. Is there a way I could enter the building without being spotted?"
"[Well, there is the roof. But the lockdown ensures no one gets in or out. Even the glass windows are covered in metal walls so that the intruder wouldn't be able to escape. I doubt they would tell me if there is a secret way in as my forces are just surrounding the building.]"
Spider-Man sighs as he ends the phone call and secretly swings to the roof to avoid detection as it is still obvious that not every cop trusts him. And he felt like he made this comment a lot if he is being honest.
Anyways, Spider-Man manages to swing by the police without being detected and wall-climbs his way up to the roof as he inspects the walls and the metal walls. Got to the roof, and did a little search around as he managed to find a convenient human-sized air duct as he pulled it open, and climbed inside.
Thanks to his wall crawling he was able to silently enter the air vents without making any noises. After a few seconds, he was able to find a spot where he could see the inside of the building. So far just darkness, well he could see some light but still nearly pitch black. Then he noticed something, out of sheer curiosity he carefully ripped open the air duct and entered.
Spider-Man looked around and realized exactly where he was. The spider section, out of all areas where he would have entered, was of course this very area. Spider-Man looked at the exact spot where the glass case that held that jumping spider used to be. It was no longer there, as if it was never there in the first place.
This shows just how far they were willing to hide an incident of the escape of an experimental spider. Spider-Man stared at the empty spot for a moment before shaking his head as he swore he felt his chest felt like it was being tightened.
He looked around and jumped to the ceiling and continued to wall climb as he exited the spider section. He crawled around for a while, trying to see if this intruder had done any damage so far. But strangely, nothing so far. Which just makes this even creepier.
Spider-Man also tried to see if he could sense something but again… Nothing so far. Eventually, Spider-Man was able to reach the very spot of the building where… He first met that bastard face to face. Just recalling those faint dark six-star eyes…
He looked up, well down, however the saying goes when you are sticking to the ceiling, to the top where the glass ceiling should have been to see the sky but was covered by metal. Honestly, at this moment he should have been able to see… Stars.
"Wait a minute…"
Spider-Man whispers as he continues to stare at the ceiling. Only to realize that the glider that he saw back on that very field trip… that was hanging in the air with strings… Was now gone.
This made Spider-Man wonder if this intruder was planning on making a getaway on a glider. But, would that work? Or even fly. Because he recalled that the scientist said it was still a work in progress, then again… It's been 4 months.
Spider-Man did a quick text to Yuri explaining that the intruder had definitely taken the glider, before explaining it was something he saw on his field trip. And how he was sure the person would use it as a getaway to avoid capture.
Spider-Man suddenly felt his chest start to close in, as if his own body slowly began to have trouble breathing. Only for it to calm down. As if that worse feeling he got earlier today wasn't enough.
He decided to just continue his investigation on foot while avoiding possible detection.
Spider-Man was able to discover other areas and sections he didn't notice at all during his field trip. Something that just kept making his stomach feel like it was slightly suffocating him.
It was a place for researching other things, like creatures or non-living things. Like an octopus, sand, a vulture, eels. Other things that just made his body feel tighter and tighter with every slow movement. Spider-Man was wondering why his entire body was trying to escape or something. Well, not escaping as he would say, but the urge to destroy everything he was seeing so far. He held back, because right now he didn't know why he had this urge to do such a thing.
To the point that he felt like throwing up as he decided to run away from the whole section entirely and just ran around blindly. To where his stomach was able to calm down. Only to notice that he was in another section of the building. But this one, this one just looks different than the rest.
But the sheer difference was… The room looked like it held a massacre. Five bodies. Three suffered extreme injuries while two looked like they were just beaten unconscious. Spider-Man checked the two bodies and felt relief that they were still alive, slightly breathing and their hearts still beating.
But the three others… Spider-Man now wondered what kind of monster did that much damage to those three. Before recalling what Yuri said about how security was trying but didn't stop the intruder. Not to mention three dead bodies. Unless even Yuri wasn't aware of them.
Meaning these industries cover up casualties that happen within their building and business. If so, then this is one hell of a dark place to be a person working here. Still, perhaps Spider-Man can find clues of what kind of serum this person stole and injected themselves with to see if there was anything he could find.
Upon jumping across a literal crime scene, Spider-Man was able to find and notice the computer that was used as if it was left on. Which it definitely was. He quickly looked through the files and caught something in his left glance. He saw a broken glass case of vials. Some with different colors but one obviously missing. Must have been that missing serum.
Spider-Man went back to searching the computer and found listed files that he wasted no time in plugging into a personal USB of his when he brought with him as he inserted in one of the plus as he started downloading the files as it began loading. He shook his head as progress bars could not be slower than ever.
He was scouting through some of the files just to see if there was anything related, possibly to that serum. To his surprise, he found a file that describes what was used on that enhanced spider. Obviously, it shows the status as "Still missing!" What interested him was that it seems the project for that particular spider was funded by an unclassified individual trying to achieve something by having the industry test on spiders. Spider-Man looks further and notices that it shocks him to the core.
The spider never had a dual consciousness ability, it was actually a special effect on the glass case that was meant to attract more attention from tourists. And information shows that the cleanup crew that thought they caught the spider was the special effects that fooled them into thinking they caught it. Even scientists said a spider couldn't be experimented on to have that kind of ability.
If that was the case… Then how come he managed to do that exact ability? The very ability that was actually just making belief the entire time? How on Earth could he manage to make a duplicate of himself that actually does what he normally does and acts? Before he could have a possible crisis, Spider-Man noticed something.
He accidentally touched the next arrow button as the file turned to another file. He saw something titled "G" which shows a still-developing project of a serum that can enhance a person's strength, ability, and some other things too. The color of the serum is green, and it shows it is completely unstable to begin any human or animal testing.
Suddenly, Spider-Man instantly began to sense something. His spider-sense was going off, but unlike others… This one, this one felt… Strangely personal. He quietly took off the USB, put it away, and turned off the computer. He carefully walked out of the section as he started to hear someone.
Someone who is… Singing a tune? Spider-Man followed where it was coming from. He found a pathway towards the tune's growing volume, a tune that just made him cringe. The itsy bitsy spider song. If this intruder assumes that he is here and is mocking him with this song then Spider-Man will say congrats as it's working.
That did not stop his stomach from becoming upset again. Just as he got close to the tune, he saw a shadowy figure in the distance. In a calm tone of the way he was running that song. Spider-Man put his hand on his chest as his heart beat was beating so much it almost became unbearable to ignore.
"And the itsy bitsy spider… Arrives within the dark."
The figure finishes as he walks a step toward Spider-Man and stops. As if that was meant to be dramatic. Spider-Man looks at the person for a moment, upon the little he sees, the person is wearing some kind of mask, a strange mix of green and purple sweater. And in the person's right hand, he is holding an empty vial with a needle. A little green liquid was still left in there but a tiny bit.
"The little spider has arrived. My what a lovely way to be able to stand face to face against each other."
"…Sheesh, are you a little creepy."
Spider-Man said as his eyes never looked away from the person.
"What's wrong, Bug? Is there something wrong here? I'm just on my way out now only to… Well, get my stuff here. I'm sure you'll understand."
The person made an attempt by taking a step forward. Only for Spider-Man to stop him.
"Sorry, sad fashion sense guy! But you are clearly breaking and entering. Even stealing! I don't count as clearly…"
Spider-Man stretched out his arms and shot two web balls out from both of his wrists as they hit the guy's feet leaving him trapped in webbing.
"I'm here to stop you."
The person didn't seem unbothered, but Spider-Man saw more lightning and felt entirely worried when this guy smiled like this was just the beginning.
"If the little spider wants to play, then I shall start the game. Let us play a game of catch!"
With no warning, he threw a round object with his left hand as Spider-Man felt the spider-sense slow down time. The danger was coming from that object. Spider-Man didn't waste any time and did a few backflips just in time as an explosion erupted from that small sphere object.
Spider-Man wondered if this industry was making dangerous weapons in the size of small objects. But before he could actually question it, he saw two more spheres being thrown at him as Spider-Man instantly dodged both of them.
Spider-Man instantly used the wall as cover as he could hear the person chuckling but not the genuine kind of chuckle.
"What's wrong, Spider? Are you supposed to be a man? Come out and face me head-on."
Spider-Man climbed back up to the ceiling as he stealthily used the shadows to his advantage. Once he was sure that the guy didn't stop him, he instantly did a stealth takedown.
But the moment he slammed the guy's head to the ground. The chuckle was still heard, and it was slowly turning into a twisted laugh.
"Is that all?"
Spider-Man tried to move back, but was too late as a punch to the face caused him to see stars slightly and was launched to the wall. Spider-Man was able to stand back up but was in time to block another punch with his hands.
"Hehehe, it seems the spider finally has an equal."
Spider-Man didn't retort, or make a quip. Because his stomach was aching like crazy. Then—
—
…Zzz
"Hmm… Ugh…"
Sekinin slowly woke up only to feel someone tackle him. He turned and saw Nijika, hugging him and she looked absolutely terrified and worried. Standing next to her was Rei who also looked extremely frightened.
"H-He's going to be alright, right!?"
"Hold on, I'm almost done."
Sekinin blinked before realizing he was in his bedroom as it seemed Rei was tapping his forehead with her finger. And that was enough that Sekinin now felt the ofuda on his head as it seemed Rei put it on.
"Wha… What just happened?"
Sekinin tried to stand up from his bed but found his body sluggish all of a sudden. He tried to recall what happened as clearly the other him was having a massive pain in his stomach. Which by contrast was so much that it even transferred to him, and on his birthday on top of that. Which possibly led to him going unconscious if he woke up in his room.
"Sekinin, count my fingers! How many can you count?"
This definitely confused Sekinin, but he answered that she was holding up three fingers.
"Sekinin, did you recall what you just did?"
Rei asked him but Sekinin shook his head no.
"Sekinin, you acted like you had a seizure. One second you were just about to blow out the candles, then suddenly you zoned out completely. Staring blankly, wasn't aware of yourself as you began to violently shake then collapse on the ground. Then as if someone was throwing your body, you were jerking your body across the dining room. It got so bad that Yor had to accidentally knock you out as it turns out she was just trying to hold you from hurting yourself but she accidentally hit your stomach."
Nijika explained as Rei closed her eyes and tried to feel if Sekinin didn't have anything possessing him. Only for her to open her eyes in pure confusion.
"Sekinin, did something happen to you earlier today, because I'm sensing nothing."
Sekinin shook his head, mainly he possibly had a thought of what just happened, but he didn't hear it. Then as if he asked Nijika to let go of the hug, cupped his face.
"I'm going to get Aunt May and Uncle Ben. They need to know you're awake. I need to get them. Oh and Yor too, she felt so guilty putting you unconscious for an hour."
Sekinin's eyes widened because he was unconscious for an hour. Nijika then left his room as Rei stood by him and asked the question again as Sekinin sighed.
"Rei, did Yuri call?"
"He did, and I think he is on his way here at the moment. Did the other one get knocked out or something? Because Yuri said before the building was allowed to have the police swarm in. Yuri mentions they were this person flying out in the sky with a glider that clearly belongs there. But Yuri said his coworkers swore there was a bit of blood coming from that guy. Did… Did it happen while you were facing that?"
Sekinin now couldn't answer her question, because he was confused himself. He blacked out again, and whatever happened… Clearly shows that he utterly hated whoever that person was. And if so, then who the hell did he meet to hate so much that he went unconscious again? With the rage that rivals Kamiki?
"Sekinin, there's something else too… Yuri asks if… If you had some conflict with that mysterious guy, thankfully Ozukopu Industries believes the intruder is responsible for this, but, did you destroy everything in your path when you blacked out? Yuri wondered just how much rage you had for this guy for destroying possibly thousands or more of yen of research that are lost."
Once again, Sekinin didn't have an answer. Because unlike his last blackout, there was no aftermath of where he was at because he is currently gone unconscious. And it was unclear what exactly happened after whatever berserk thing and damage he did that could have possibly happened back there.