Marvel: Ned the Master of Mystic Arts

"Hey, Ned, I'm back!"

Huang Xiwén dashed into Ned's room after returning home, only to see a holographic projection playing the latest hit movie above Ned.

"Wow!"

Huang Xiwén wasn't unfamiliar with holographic technology, but she was certain that her home didn't have such equipment. So, how did Ned make this happen?

Her intuition told her that the floating phone-like device in mid-air had something unusual about it.

"How did you do that?" Huang Xiwén exclaimed in amazement.

"This is a phone given to me by a friend. Honestly, I don't know how it works either," Ned replied truthfully.

"Oh my gosh! I guessed it was a phone, but… but… that's anti-gravity technology! And it's being used on a phone?" Huang Xiwén marveled.

"Alright, let's not talk about the phone anymore. Why did you come back so late? And let me tell you, don't even think about eating barbecue," Ned said abruptly.

"Barbecue? Of course not! Gwen invited me over for dinner, and we spent the day shopping," Huang Xiwén replied, puzzled as to why Ned specifically warned against eating barbecue.

"Okay," Ned nodded, then suddenly asked, "Have you noticed anything strange about Peter Parker recently?"

"Parker?"

Huang Xiwén's heart skipped a beat when she heard Ned's question. She had just promised Gwen not to reveal Peter's secret as Spider-Man. And now, Ned was asking about Peter the moment she got home...

"If there's nothing unusual, that's fine. But if there is, you need to leave school immediately," Ned said seriously. "I can't explain everything, but trust me on this."

"Uh…"

Huang Xiwén recalled Ned's identity as a sorcerer. Could it be that he already knew Peter was Spider-Man? Was that why he said this?

"Cough, cough!"

Ned's sudden coughing interrupted her train of thought.

"Ned?"

Huang Xiwén looked at him nervously, only to find that he didn't seem to be in any distress. Instead, he was smiling and said, "I'm hungry."

"You…"

Huang Xiwén blushed at his words. Even though she had done this once before, doing it again was still embarrassing.

"Here."

Huang Xiwén held a bowl of porridge in one hand and a spoon in the other. She scooped some up and brought it to Ned's mouth.

Ned opened his mouth slightly, sipping the porridge with a look of pure bliss.

The happier Ned looked, the redder Huang Xiwén's face became, and her heartbeat quickened. By the time Ned finished the bowl, her face was as red as a ripe apple, making Ned want to pinch her cheeks.

"You… you should rest. I'll go wash the bowl," Huang Xiwén mumbled, then lowered her head and hurried out of the room.

Ned's smile widened as he watched her leave.

...

The next day, after feeding Ned breakfast, Huang Xiwén headed downstairs for school, her face still flushed.

She finally calmed down as she reached the bottom floor.

"Annoying Ned," she muttered shyly, patting her cheeks before adjusting her mood to wait for the school bus.

A regular school day passed uneventfully. By the evening, as Peter and Gwen were talking in the hallway, a commotion erupted near the restroom.

"Ahh!!"

At the same time, Peter's Spider-Sense went into overdrive, warning him of imminent danger.

Peter had a good idea of what was coming. He grabbed Gwen's arm and said, "Run! Go find Huang and escape with her!"

"Got it!"

Gwen, knowing she wouldn't be of much help, nodded and ran toward the area where she often found Huang Xiwén at this hour.

With Gwen gone, Peter had no more distractions. He grabbed his backpack containing his Spider-Man suit and ran toward the source of the chaos, against the flow of fleeing students.

"ROAR!!"

"Peter Parker!!"

As the hallway emptied, Peter and Dr. Connors—now the Lizard—finally faced each other. The Lizard roared and charged at Peter.

"Hah!"

Knowing he was physically weaker than the Lizard, Peter used his agility to his advantage. Just as the Lizard's claw was about to strike him, Peter flipped backward and kicked the Lizard hard under the jaw.

"Bang!"

The Lizard stumbled back a few steps from the impact, then roared and lunged at Peter again.

"Hah!"

"Bang!"

"Ahh!"

Peter tried to repeat his maneuver, but the Lizard caught him mid-air and hurled him across the hallway, sending him crashing into a laboratory.

"ROAR!!"

The Lizard, seeing an opportunity, stormed toward the lab. But just as he reached the door, Spider-Man—having quickly donned his suit—kicked him back out.

"Bang!"

Fueled by primal instincts, the Lizard grew stronger as the fight progressed. He absorbed the blow and swiped at Peter's head with his claws.

Peter ducked to avoid the attack and leaped up to punch the Lizard in the throat.

"Bang!"

"What?!"

To Peter's shock, the Lizard's throat—normally a weak spot—was now incredibly tough due to his mutations. Unaffected by the punch, the Lizard grabbed Peter with both hands, tightening his grip to prevent any escape.

"Peter Parker," the Lizard growled, "you shouldn't have interfered. I'll bring evolution to humanity!"

"No," Peter choked out, his face reddening as he struggled in vain to break free.

"Stubborn Peter Parker!" the Lizard sneered. "For the sake of human evolution, your death will be a noble sacrifice!"

The Lizard's tail coiled around Peter's neck, tightening with lethal intent.

"Go help him!"

Hiding nearby, Gwen clutched Huang Xiwén's arm, pleading, "Please… do something!"

"Gwen, calm down," Huang Xiwén said, trying to reassure her while removing her backpack. She hurled it forcefully at the Lizard.

Gwen, remembering Peter's words about the extraordinary items in Huang's backpack, turned to watch.

"Bang!"

The backpack flew over ten meters and struck the Lizard squarely, staggering him.

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