However, Peter quickly pushed the size issue to the back of his mind and impatiently pulled the red and blue suit out of the cabinet.
So what if it's small? No one else can see it anyway, but a cool suit is a lifelong matter!
Immediately, Peter performed a "banana New Year's greeting" for Lock on the spot, stripping down to his underwear before pulling the suit onto his body.
He and Lock had grown up together since they were toddlers, so he certainly wasn't embarrassed.
Once Peter put on the Spider-Man suit, a brand-new Spider-Man appeared before Lock, looking fresh and sharp!
With his hands on his hips, Peter couldn't wait to ask Lock, "How is it? Do I look cool in this?"
Lock stood to the side, chin in hand, sizing up Peter in the spider suit. He couldn't help but marvel, "Tsk tsk, cool. This suit really does look best on you..."
"Of course, you can't even fit into it!" Peter nodded as if it were obvious, unaware that Lock's words weren't meant literally at all.
This wasn't just because Peter was wearing the classic style, but also because Lock's temperament was fundamentally different from Peter's when wearing the suit.
Peter gave off a sense of security and friendliness at first glance.
But when Lock wore the suit, even if he didn't speak, he exuded an invisible sense of oppression and danger.
For example, when Peter wore the suit, he looked like the kind of kind-hearted superhero who would help an old lady cross the street.
But when Lock wore it, he looked more like a super bully who would throw dirt in someone's eyes!
In fact, that was indeed the case... but Peter had no idea he had misunderstood. He was currently immersed in experiencing the wonders of the spider suit.
That's right, the spider suit Peter was wearing was actually the same model as Lock's third suit, with only differences in pattern and color.
This was also a high-tech suit that Lock had spent tens of millions of dollars to customize for Peter.
With Peter's intelligence, he didn't even need Lock to explain much; he quickly figured out most of the suit's functions on his own.
While Peter was familiarizing himself with the suit's features, Lock also opened the third cabinet and changed into his own black and red suit.
The moment Lock pulled the mask down to completely cover his face, Peter, who had been familiarizing himself with his suit, suddenly reacted like a cat with its fur standing on end; the hair all over his body stood up!
After instinctively taking several quick steps back, Peter crouched slightly, assuming a wary stance!
This had nothing to do with Peter's conscious will; it was entirely his body's autonomous defense mechanism kicking in—all instinctive movements!
His consciousness hadn't caught up with his body yet. Only after reacting did Peter follow the inexplicable sense of danger to its source, only to find that the source was Lock, who had just put on the No. 3 suit!
And he wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but in Peter's eyes, the Lock wearing the black and red suit—already tall—now seemed even more imposing, with a larger, faint image of a tri-colored spider looming behind him!
"Hmm? Peter, what's wrong?"
It wasn't until Lock noticed something was wrong with Peter and took off his mask that the goosebumps and the sense of danger gradually faded as Peter looked at that familiar face!
Lock, of course, knew exactly what was going on with Peter's reaction.
Because he had it too—the Spider-Sense that could predict danger!
But what he didn't understand was that he had only put on the suit; he hadn't directed any killing intent or intent to attack toward Peter!
Why did Peter's Spider-Sense activate on its own?
Setting aside any special resonance that might happen between Spider-Men, Peter's reaction clearly wasn't that kind of mutual resonance.
This was clearly a perception of danger between predators!
Peter took a while to recover. He also took off his mask, panting heavily, and explained with lingering fear:
"I... I don't know. I just suddenly felt an inexplicable, intense sense of danger. I instinctively looked toward the source, and I didn't expect it to be you. You gave me a powerful sense of oppression, like a superior being looking down on an inferior one!"
"And... and I vaguely seemed to see... a spider behind you, a giant tri-colored spider!"
Lock narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.
A tri-colored spider?
Wasn't that the spider that had poisoned him to death in his previous life and supposedly gave him his Spider-Man powers after he transmigrated?
He had always thought that his current Spider-Man abilities were the full extent of what that spider had given him.
But now it seemed that spider wasn't quite that simple... And it was one thing for Peter not to say anything, but now that he mentioned that sense of oppression from a superior to an inferior, why did Peter look a bit "delicious" to him now?
Of course, it wasn't a deliciousness related to appetite, nor was it sexual; it was a feeling of wanting to crush Peter under his feet!
Moreover, he now felt a special sensation similar to Spider-Sense, as if, as long as he defeated Peter and stepped on him, he could gain something from him!
Lock was never one for guessing; if he felt something, he would usually test it on the spot.
So he cracked his neck and gave Peter a wide grin:
"Peter, you now have a powerful strength far beyond ordinary people, but it won't do if your mindset is still as fragile as before..."
"So you need to possess the corresponding ability to withstand pressure. Only then can you remain calm when facing any powerful enemy!"
Peter looked at Lock, whose smile seemed somewhat menacing in his eyes.
His inexplicable sense of danger was flaring up again, and he had an ominous premonition in his heart. He swallowed hard and asked Lock:
"Corresponding ability to withstand pressure? What should I do?"
Lock clenched his fists and walked toward Peter step by step. "Isn't it obvious? Real combat, of course. Nothing helps one grow more than personally experiencing the pressure brought by a powerful enemy!"
As Lock's last sentence fell, Peter's heart beat faster and faster, and that familiar sense of danger flared up completely!
He suddenly realized Lock wasn't joking; he was serious!
But you've got to be kidding!
He didn't want to fight his cousin, this monster!
He was just a hero who had just left the starting village. Why did he have to face his cousin, this Great Demon King, right now?!
So Peter decisively turned and bolted, darting out from the second basement level at a speed and agility he could hardly believe, returning to the gym on the first basement level.
---
A/N: Support Via Powerstone And Collections
Patreon: patreon.com/Narrator_San
