----
The moment Nolan gave the word, Peter snapped out of his awe.
What was left of his web fluid hissed from his launcher, splattering thick, reinforced strands around Rhino's legs. The specially formulated adhesive hardened the instant it hit the air, locking Alexei's feet to the floor like poured concrete.
"RAAAGHH!!" Rhino roared, trying to charge—but he couldn't even budge.
The behemoth toppled, shaking the ground as he hit the concrete like a felled tree.
Peter swung down nearby, chuckling. "That's game, big guy!"
He flicked his wrist, prepping to call in the police—but a hand rose to stop him.
Nolan.
"No need," Nolan said, already stepping forward. "This man broke into my company. He's my responsibility."
Peter blinked. "You mean... not prison?"
Nolan didn't answer. He pulled out a handful of silver, nail-like projectiles and flicked them through the air.
Thunk-thunk-thunk.
Each embedded deep into Rhino's skin with sharp hisses.
"Ha!" Alexei snarled. "My skin's invincible, idiot. You think some needles—"
WHAM.
The micro-injectors had vibranium tips—sharp enough to pierce tanks. They drove straight into his nerves, releasing a cocktail of near-pure ether into his bloodstream.
Alexei's world doubled, tripled.
Then: blackout.
---
Peter looked between the unconscious Rhino and Nolan.
He hesitated.
After all, Nolan was his boss. The man had taken a chance on him and respected him. But Peter had stopped Rhino. Didn't that count for something?
Then Nolan turned and met his gaze.
"Spider-Man," he said calmly. "Do you believe I'm wrong to keep someone who broke into my company? Someone who was clearly here to steal our research?"
Peter hesitated again.
That... wasn't wrong.
And technically, yeah—Alexei had smashed through private property. People were working late in the building. If things had gone just a little differently, someone could've died.
Still… it felt weird handing him over to someone, not the police.
Peter swallowed, trying to think of the right words.
"I mean... I kinda helped minimize the damage?"
Nolan raised an eyebrow.
"Minimize?" he repeated. "You broke at least eight walls and collapsed a staircase."
Peter glanced around. Yikes. The place was a wreck.
He opened his mouth to speak again, but Nolan cut him off.
"If I were you, I'd leave now. Before I find out who you really are and file a lawsuit."
Peter coughed awkwardly, lowering his voice a notch. "Yeah, uh… cool. Thanks for the talk."
Then, in typical Parker fashion, he sprinted across the room—straight through a broken window.
"Ahhhh—!"
CRASH.
"…He really just jumped?" Nolan muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No webs and still jumped…"
Behind him, Connors and Norman approached.
"What do you want us to do with him?" Connors asked, motioning to the unconscious Rhino.
"Forget sedation. Cut his motor tendons," Nolan said flatly. "No regeneration. I want him compliant."
---
Just then, a burst of blue lightning crackled outside, and Max Dillon—a.k.a. Electro—phased into the room.
"Boss! Mission complete. Seven down. Fifteen captured."
Nolan smiled. "Excellent. Go to payroll and collect your bonus."
Max blinked. "I don't need a bonus, sir."
He stood a little straighter. "I'm the head of Oscorp Security now. This is just part of my job."
Nolan nodded with quiet approval. "How's your mother?"
"She's doing better. Less moody lately."
"Good."
Nolan watched Max leave, satisfied. A soldier is loyal not out of ideology or guilt but by choice. Max didn't care about justice. He just wanted respect.
And that was much easier to manage.
---
Later that night, Nolan returned to his lab, dragging Rhino's limp body behind him.
He passed Bullseye's scorched remains and kicked the decapitated head out of the way.
"I'll deal with you later."
Then he paused.
His gaze shifted to the sealed case containing the Dragon Bone.
The piece of skeletal remains that once belonged to a divine serpent.
"Sōulào's Chi," Nolan whispered, "...Dragon's Breath."
He knew it wasn't a coincidence that this artifact radiated Chi identical to the Iron Fist. Maybe this was the key to mastering its full potential.
But there was too much to study: demon physiology, Chi-based martial arts, gene fusion theory, mutant biology…
Even his mind had limits.
Where can I find more minds like mine? he wondered.
People like… Octavius, Beast, Doctor Doom…
Doctor Doom is too risky...
A name popped up on his screen.
Otto Octavius.
"Time for a meeting, Doctor," Nolan said, eyes gleaming.
He looked at the Dragon Bone once more.
Then shut the case.
----
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