461-465

Chapter 461: Bearing the Burden

On the screen.

The robber noticed Peter’s distraction. His pleading expression turned menacing as he re-aimed his gun at Peter’s forehead, grinning savagely.

At that moment, Peter finally understood that some evils are unforgivable. The confusion and struggle in his eyes were completely overwhelmed by a surge of anger.

Peter quickly grabbed the robber’s right hand and twisted it. The wrist bent like a pretzel. Realizing he had hit a dead end, the robber retreated in fear and panic after Peter let go, stumbling and falling out of the window, plummeting to his death.

Despite avenging himself, Peter felt no satisfaction.

Peter did not return home but instead sat on a gargoyle perched on a skyscraper, bathed in moonlight, quietly gazing at the serene city below.

The hazy moonlight outlined his silhouette, and a sense of closure and sadness spread across the big screen.

In one scene, the Green Goblin made his appearance, crazily attacking a military research base, leaving no survivors.

In another scene, Peter finally realized the lesson his Uncle Ben had tried to teach him: With great power comes great responsibility. He decided to put on his suit again and fight crime in New York.

Wherever there was crime, Spider-Man would appear.

In no time, Spider-Man became a hot topic.

Although many considered him a hero, others saw him as a troublemaker. Maybe he was just seeking attention, staging crimes himself. Perhaps he was a criminal after all—why else would he wear a mask?

Public opinion was divided, putting Spider-Man in the spotlight.

But remember, this is a coming-of-age movie, not a superhero film. Peter’s real life continued.

After graduating from high school, Peter and Harry found an apartment in Manhattan. They became roommates, entered society, and started looking for jobs.

Peter hoped to become a photojournalist, but it was clearly not easy, especially without a college degree. The situation was even tougher.

Unexpectedly, Peter ran into a hurried and gloomy Mary Jane on the street. He effortlessly recognized her.

They chatted on the street. At first, Mary Jane tried to cover up, saying she was challenging herself as an actress, but was soon exposed by her coworker—

Actually, she was currently waiting tables.

But Peter’s attitude remained unchanged. He continued to encourage Mary Jane to pursue her dreams and believed she could become an actress.

Bright, sunny, and resolute.

Mary Jane’s exhaustion and disarray gradually eased in front of Peter.

However, when Peter learned that Mary Jane was dating Harry, his expression darkened slightly, a hint of bitterness showing in his blue eyes.

To find a job, Peter had to figure out how to take photos of himself as Spider-Man. Relying on these photos, he found a job as a photojournalist at the Daily Bugle. Life seemed to slowly fall into place.

Normally, after graduating from school, people enter society and get gradually shaped by work and reality into a standard, monotonous form, eventually becoming what they once despised.

However, an unexpected event occurred—

The Green Goblin appeared, causing chaos in a dramatic fashion.

The movie briefly slowed down before immediately diving into a whirlwind of crises, one after another.

Norman—Harry’s father—was in trouble.

A rival’s acquisition proposal had successfully caught the board’s interest, but on the condition that Norman could no longer be CEO.

So, the board voted to remove Norman and planned to sell the company at its peak stock price.

Norman was about to be ousted from the company he founded and invested all his energy in. This decision would be announced after their company’s world carnival.

Then, the Green Goblin made his appearance—

Ignoring the innocent crowd below, including many children, he threw bombs at a high-rise building on the side of the plaza. Debris and stones rained down, causing chaos among the densely packed crowd below.

But this didn’t stop the Green Goblin.

His attention was solely on the VIP lounge where the board members were, including Harry and Mary Jane.

Harry had always refused to let Mary Jane meet his father, fearing his father would find fault with her and use her as another reason to dislike him. For this world carnival, he finally mustered the courage to bring Mary Jane and meet his father.

However, they didn’t wait for Norman. Instead, they faced a disaster.

The Green Goblin threw another bomb at the VIP lounge, instantly turning the board members into skeletons and destroying the balcony, creating further chaos.

Amidst the screams and cries for help, Harry was knocked unconscious by falling debris, and Mary Jane was left hanging from the precarious balcony, in grave danger and completely alone.

Peter, who had come to the world carnival to take photos for the Daily Bugle, witnessed everything and had no reason to stand by. He once again became Spider-Man—

Although Mary Jane was in imminent danger and Peter was frantic, he managed to control himself and had to stop the Green Goblin. After a fierce battle, he managed to blind the Green Goblin with webbing and force him back, but he couldn’t prevent the balcony from collapsing, causing Mary Jane to fall from a great height.

Gasp.

The entire theater held its breath.

At the critical moment, Peter leaped in a diving pose, catching Mary Jane just before hitting the ground and rescuing her at the last second.

Then, Peter tightly held Mary Jane and swung through the city, finding a rooftop garden bar and bringing Mary Jane safely to the ground.

Though Mary Jane was very curious about Spider-Man’s identity, Peter didn’t reveal it. He left with a wave of his sleeve, leaving only his silhouette behind.

It was a sleepless night.

Mary Jane couldn’t sleep, Harry couldn’t sleep, and probably only Peter could get a good night’s rest.

Of course, Norman too.

Norman slept fitfully until dawn, with no memory of the previous day and no idea what had happened, only a voice in his mind—

An evil voice.

Looking at the evil persona in the mirror, Norman realized he was the Green Goblin. He had personally killed the board members, and no one could stop him.

Norman was also torn. He tried to resist the Green Goblin’s temptation and regain his sanity, but ultimately, he embraced the darkness like a fallen angel:

Maybe only one person could stop him; but what if that person was willing to join him?

Then, together, they could rule the world!

Thus, the Green Goblin appeared again.

—At the Daily Bugle’s editorial office.

The editor-in-chief was confronting Peter.

Clearly, the editor-in-chief believed that the Green Goblin and Spider-Man were in cahoots. The world carnival was just a staged performance, a well-orchestrated show by the two of them.

No matter how Peter defended Spider-Man, he couldn’t change the editor’s mind. The editor was convinced that all these masked figures were villains.

Then, the Green Goblin interrupted this conversation, capturing the editor-in-chief and demanding to know who took Spider-Man’s photos. He tried to use the photographer to catch Spider-Man.

At that moment, Spider-Man arrived to rescue the editor-in-chief.

The editor exclaimed, “Look, you are indeed in cahoots.”

But the Green Goblin took advantage of Spider-Man’s distraction to block the editor’s mouth and shot him with tranquilizer gas, knocking Spider-Man out and taking him away.

The theater: ??? Is that it?

*Chapter 462: The Clash of Good and Evil*

"You’re truly incredible, Spider-Man. You and I are so similar."

"I'm different from you. You’re a murderer."

"Well, it's just a difference in expression."

The story unfolds with a bit of a surprise—

Who would have thought that the Green Goblin and Spider-Man would have a calm conversation?

Peter's drug-induced state hadn't worn off yet, leaving him powerless and slumped on the ground. Even if he didn't want to talk, he had no choice but to respond.

Norman, the Green Goblin, looked down at Spider-Man with increasing admiration and satisfaction, feeling that they were a match made in heaven.

"I chose my path, and you chose to be a superhero."

"People have only a fleeting interest in you. What they really want to see are heroes' failures, downfall, and death."

"No matter how many good deeds you do for them, in the end, they’ll only hate you. So why bother?"

The auditorium fell silent.

This time, it wasn't due to shock but to contemplation—

In reality, the editor's viewpoint was a form of reality. Despite people's denial, resistance, and disdain, no one could deny that this was the reality.

Never underestimate human nature; cruel reality always resets the baseline repeatedly.

But Peter remained steadfast. "Because it's the right thing to do."

The Green Goblin approached, affectionately patting Spider-Man on the head, lying down beside him in a friendly manner, counting stars while having a heart-to-heart—

If the atmosphere changed slightly, this would be a romantic movie.

The Green Goblin said, "This is how reality is."

"New York has eight million citizens, and their only purpose is to support a few outstanding geniuses, like you and me."

"Of course, I could crush you with a single step, but I’m giving you a choice…”

The Green Goblin grabbed Spider-Man’s jaw, turning his drooping head to face him, locking eyes, with a slight smile visible beneath the mask.

"Join me."

"Imagine the great things we could accomplish together, the future we could create, or... the destruction we could wreak."

"Is it worth it, to sacrifice innocent civilians for your so-called ideals, until we both fall? Is that what you really want?"

"Think about it, hero!"

And then, the Green Goblin walked away.

The next day, the "Horn Herald" headline read, "Spider-Man and Green Goblin in Collusion," and issued a wanted poster for Spider-Man, putting Peter in a tough spot.

Various signs seemed to confirm that the Green Goblin was right.

However, the new member of society still had his own troubles and quickly went to find Mary Jane, to cheer for the girl he secretly admired—

He learned that Mary Jane had a chance for an audition.

Unfortunately, Mary Jane didn’t get the part.

Originally, Peter planned to invite Mary Jane to dinner, saying, "I’ll treat you to a burger, with a limit of $7.84." His self-deprecating tone successfully won Mary Jane’s smile, but unfortunately, she was already set for dinner with Harry.

Peter noticed that after the World Carnival, there had been problems between Mary Jane and Harry. He subconsciously asked about it.

Mary Jane immediately saw through him, "Why do you care so much?"

Under Mary Jane’s gaze, Peter was instantly nervous, "I don’t."

Mary Jane asked, "You don’t?"

"Uh, why should I care?"

"I don’t know. Why do you?"

Mary Jane looked at Peter, raising an eyebrow slightly with a hint of teasing, making Peter somewhat embarrassed, his cheeks flushed.

"I, uh, cough, I don’t know."

Peter wasn’t sure what he was saying. Although he had many thoughts in his mind, his tongue was tied. On one hand, he tried to express his true feelings, but on the other hand, he hesitated at the critical moment.

In the end, he said nothing.

Mary Jane didn’t press further. "It’s a pity you can’t join us."

Peter could only stand there, feeling like the same bookish kid from high school, watching Mary Jane leave. He noticed a group of thugs eyeing Mary Jane and stealthily following her with malicious intent.

To make matters worse, a heavy rain began.

Peter hurriedly transformed into Spider-Man, rushing to save Mary Jane in the nick of time.

In the rush, Peter didn’t even have time to put on his mask, just using the dim light of the alley to quickly take down the thugs. After completing his hero duties, he was eager to leave, but Mary Jane stopped him.

Peter put on his mask and descended like a spider, seemingly regaining his confidence and joking, "You seem to have a habit of getting into trouble."

Mary Jane was startled and turned to see Spider-Man, joking back, "You seem to have a habit of saving me. Do I have a superhero stalker?"

Peter replied, "I was just nearby."

Mary Jane said, "You’re really something."

Peter responded, "Not everyone thinks so."

Suddenly, Mary Jane remembered the "Horn Herald" headline, "But you really are amazing."

Peter said, "It’s nice to have admirers."

Mary Jane asked, "Can I thank you this time?"

Peter was stunned—

In the pouring rain, both of them were drenched, even shivering slightly, but Mary Jane still carefully pulled up Spider-Man’s mask, not fully removing it, just lifting it halfway.

Then.

On tiptoe, she cupped his face and pressed her lips to his.

Oh.

In that moment, in that brief instant, the entire auditorium melted, with people sighing with their hands over their hearts. It was like a marshmallow in hot chocolate, with blissful, rosy bubbles filling the entire room.

Robert: ???

Just a moment ago, Robert was praising Sam Raimi’s direction. In sci-fi and action films, camera work is crucial for audience immersion and excitement. So far, Sam's direction had been fluid and breathtaking, providing an incredible viewing experience.

Moreover, the scene involved rain and dark alleys. If not carefully managed, it could end up being a dark blur, making it hard for the audience to see the fight scenes.

But Sam, coming from a horror film background, handled the scene with a black-and-white visual presentation, fully utilizing the actors’ limbs in the fight choreography. The collision of lines created a comic effect in the dim light.

Fantastic!

Such details are often overlooked by the audience, but from a viewing experience perspective, they are key to creating impact and appeal.

Robert was willing to applaud Sam.

Of course, Anson was also impressive. The fight scenes were clean and well-executed, even long panoramic shots held up well, showing solid fundamentals.

However!

Who would have thought that the auditorium would become stirred up because of a kiss scene?

Robert was somewhat amused. The gravity-defying kiss scene was indeed… innovative, fully utilizing Spider-Man’s abilities and expanding on the comic book’s imagination. But Robert couldn’t quite understand women’s perspectives.

However, Hollywood movies are all about dream-making, so a little exaggeration isn’t a problem.

Robert was curious if this scene would, like the "Titanic" bow scene, unexpectedly open up the film and eventually become a classic.

*Chapter 463: Moment of Fragility*

A kiss, yet it wasn’t a promise—

In the darkened theater, the audience knew Spider-Man was Peter Parker, the bookish guy who had secretly loved Mary Jane his whole life. But Mary Jane didn’t know that.

And then there was Harry.

Yes, Harry. The Green Goblin was his father, causing chaos and targeting Spider-Man, making the situation a tangled web of complexity.

So what would happen next? When would Mary Jane clear her thoughts? When would Peter muster the courage? What would happen to Harry?

As expected, the worst scenario unfolded.

Spider-Man continued to play the role of New York’s good neighbor, helping as much as possible. During a fire, he did everything he could to rescue a baby and, upon discovering there were more people inside, rushed back into the flames. Unbeknownst to him, it was a trap set by the Green Goblin.

Green Goblin wanted an answer—

When Peter refused, Green Goblin attacked without hesitation, catching Peter off guard and injuring his left forearm.

Amidst the blazing inferno, Peter maneuvered and leaped with agility.

This scene was unlike any previous fight. Slow-motion and close-ups interspersed with dizzying camera angles pressed the audience firmly into their seats, making them feel the searing heat as if it was right in their faces.

The immersive experience caused murmurs of astonishment to ripple through the theater.

After a grueling battle, Peter managed to escape before the fire consumed the scene, leaving Green Goblin to be engulfed by the flames.

Or so it seemed.

The next shot revealed Norman’s sweat-drenched, disoriented face. Without his armor, Norman was slipping into a state of madness, his rationality eroding as he fully transformed into the Green Goblin, losing all reason.

After the fire, Norman attended Thanksgiving dinner at Peter and Harry’s apartment, where Aunt May and Mary Jane were also present. Harry finally introduced Mary Jane to his father.

However, Norman scrutinized Mary Jane with a critical and disdainful gaze. Clearly, he disapproved of her, seeing her as no different from other materialistic girls.

The dinner was uncomfortable, filled with an eerie, tense atmosphere.

Norman discovered Peter’s injured forearm.

Suddenly, Norman recalled Peter’s tardiness and the strange occurrences in the house, connecting the dots and realizing: Peter Parker was Spider-Man.

In a rush, Norman left the dinner. Harry chased after him, trying to salvage the situation, but Norman was indifferent, berating Mary Jane harshly. Harry stood silently, unable to defend her.

Mary Jane, devastated, left the house, while Harry took out his frustration and anger on her.

The evening ended on a sour note.

Norman left hastily because he felt his rage boiling inside. Realizing Peter was Spider-Man nearly pushed him to act out violently. He had to leave before he lost control.

Back home, Norman struggled to suppress and control himself, battling with the Green Goblin’s persona in his mind. Ultimately, he failed, and the Green Goblin took over once more.

That night, the Green Goblin went to Aunt May’s place, threatening her as a warning to Peter—if he didn’t cooperate, there would be worse to come.

Though Aunt May was unharmed, she was terrified, lying in bed, screaming about “those horrifying yellow eyes.”

Peter, piecing things together, realized, “He knows who I am!”

He spent the night wrestling with his thoughts.

The identity of Spider-Man and his powers were pulling him into a storm. If he continued to resist, those around him might get hurt—first Uncle Ben, now Aunt May. What next?

But if he gave in to the Green Goblin, would it mean more innocent lives would be harmed?

Peter struggled deeply.

He was just a kid, freshly graduated, new to the world, worried about his job, and his heart racing for the girl he loved. He only wanted to use his powers to help, but now he faced harsh real-world decisions.

So what should he do?

The next day, Peter stayed in the hospital room, where Mary Jane came to visit.

They chatted, and Mary Jane mentioned she seemed to have developed feelings for Spider-Man but felt it was absurd to be so captivated by someone she had never met. Peter quickly reassured her not to worry.

Peter pretended he “knew” Spider-Man and had spoken about Mary Jane. Mary Jane, anxious, asked what Peter had said.

Peter looked at Mary Jane, mustering his courage for the first time in his life.

“I said.”

“Spider-Man, Mary Jane’s greatest quality is that when you look into her eyes, and she looks back at you, everything… becomes special.”

“Because you feel stronger, yet more vulnerable; you feel excited, yet scared.”

“The truth is, you don’t know what that feeling is, only that you want to become the kind of person who can make it happen.”

“It’s like achieving an unattainable dream, yet being utterly unprepared for it.”

Calm, gentle, yet resilient.

Mary Jane gazed at Peter, stunned. His words revealed a deep understanding of her true self, her hidden vulnerabilities, laid bare before him. Peter didn’t mock or belittle her, he simply stood by her side.

For the first time, Mary Jane truly saw Peter.

Her eyes showed a flicker of emotion.

But—

Gloria’s gaze remained fixed on Peter—

Those clear, bright eyes, like the starry sky, gentle and serene, hiding the bitterness and turmoil within the night’s darkness. The vast, deep universe made one want to explore it further.

Mary Jane saw herself in Peter’s eyes, and Peter saw himself in Mary Jane’s.

No one knew what the future held. He had the dream powers he had always wanted but was unprepared. Choices and dilemmas lay ahead, and he had no answers. What he knew was what kind of person he wanted to be, the final lesson from Uncle Ben.

So he knew what he had to do.

Despite the difficulties and uncertainties, he had chosen his path.

Just as the Green Goblin said, they had made their choices and would carry their burdens forward.

In his deep blue eyes, a hint of determination shone through.

*Chapter 464: The Train Dilemma*

Thump.

Thump.

Gloria could clearly hear the heavy thumping of her heart against her chest, slow yet powerful, calm but surging, as if she could feel every pulse vividly, her blood seething and splashing with intensity.

In those eyes, she saw vulnerability but also resolve; she saw Peter’s quiet dedication to Mary Jane and his second growth amidst chaos and turmoil.

The first growth came with Uncle Ben's death.

The second came with Aunt May's injury and Mary Jane's inadvertent encouragement.

At the start of the movie, that shy, timid boy was gradually becoming a towering figure, not just because of his superpowers but because he finally understood the weight of responsibility that came with them, facing that burden with courage.

At this moment, a single glance made the blood boil.

Robert: “Unexpected! Beautiful, but unexpected.”

It was astonishing how this indirect confession scene played such a pivotal role. What was initially just Peter’s romantic confession, a moment found in many teen or romantic films, was enriched and deepened by the nuanced performance, expanding the film's depth and breadth.

The beauty referred to both the character arc and the actor's interpretation.

Unexpected though it was, this scene elevated the film to a new level, providing more interpretive space for both teen and superhero genres. Peter Parker’s character became richer and more three-dimensional.

Curiously, Robert wondered how the third act would unfold, especially how Peter’s character arc would conclude.

Of course, Hollywood popcorn movies often end on a high note, and "Spider-Man" would likely be no exception. But the intriguing part was Robert’s anticipation of how Sam Raimi and Anson would handle it.

The entire theater buzzed with excitement.

This scene was not just seen by the audience in the cinema; it was also witnessed by Harry, who came to visit.

As Harry pushed the door open, he saw Mary Jane holding Peter’s fingertips, her eyes shining. Although Peter did not reciprocate, merely gazing at Mary Jane, it was enough.

Moreover, as soon as Harry entered, the two quickly withdrew their hands, looking guilty. Mary Jane even avoided his gaze, while Peter looked up and greeted him but couldn’t continue the conversation.

It was all too clear, wasn’t it?

Harry left, dejected, heading back to the mansion—

Not to his and Peter’s apartment, but to his father’s grand estate.

Harry confessed his mistakes to his father, acknowledging that his judgment about Mary Jane was correct; Mary Jane loved Peter.

However, Norman’s attention was not on Harry. He zeroed in on the key point, “Does he love her?”

Harry replied, “He’s had a crush on her since fourth grade.”

Harry knew all along that Peter had feelings for Mary Jane, yet he continued to pursue her and flaunt himself in front of Peter.

Standing there, Harry appeared soulfully lost.

Norman finally noticed Harry, apologized, and hugged him. Harry clung to his father with all his might, savoring this moment of warmth. He had long yearned for his father’s attention, and now, he finally received it.

Yet, the warmth was fleeting, and Harry and Norman’s expressions diverged into different worlds.

When Aunt May awoke, she advised Peter to seize the opportunity, knowing Peter’s feelings for Mary Jane, encouraging him to be brave.

Peter, motivated, finally gathered the courage to call Mary Jane.

But he was too late.

The Green Goblin had already kidnapped Mary Jane.

When Mary Jane came to, she found herself in pajamas on a bridge, with the Green Goblin flying around in his glider.

Nearby, a cable car was filled with children, who had become the Green Goblin’s hostages, all part of his plan.

The Green Goblin began destroying the bridge, drawing Spider-Man into the scene, and severed the cable car’s cables, waiting high above for Spider-Man’s arrival, looking down on the world.

“Spider-Man, this is why only a fool would choose to be a superhero.”

“Because you never know when some lunatic will present you with a cruel dilemma: letting your beloved die or letting innocent children die?”

In his left hand, Mary Jane. In his right, the cable car.

The Green Goblin posed the ultimate version of the train dilemma.

“Make your choice, Spider-Man. Being a hero comes with a cost.”

Peter froze, even though his face was hidden behind the mask, his body and voice revealed the desperate struggle.

“Don’t do this, Green Goblin!”

It was both a reprimand and a plea.

But the Green Goblin was beyond sanity, and the more he saw Peter’s struggle, the more exhilarated he became, releasing his grip and sealing the fate of the innocents.

Peter was paralyzed—

His eyes could clearly see the scenes on either side: the cable car on the left, Mary Jane on the right, both being pulled down by gravity.

In an instant, the entire theater was stunned.

Among the premiere audience were some familiar with the comics, who had come for their love of "Spider-Man." This scene made their hearts sink:

In the original comic, Peter Parker’s first love was Gwen Stacy. Later, Peter and Gwen broke up because of Mary Jane.

In 1973, in comic issue #121, the Green Goblin forced Spider-Man to choose between the cable car and Gwen. Spider-Man chose to save the cable car and used his web to grab Gwen’s leg, but the immense inertia from the fall snapped Gwen’s neck.

This became one of the darkest and most despairing pages in Spider-Man’s story, “The Death of Gwen Stacy.”

Originally, comic fans felt mixed emotions about the film choosing Mary Jane over Gwen as the main character, partly because Gwen was not the focus and partly relieved not to see Gwen’s death.

However—

The plot twist brought this scene back!

It was easy to predict that the film’s release would spark protests from comic fans, accusing the film of mishandling the script and grafting Gwen’s storyline onto Mary Jane.

Wasn’t Sam Raimi a comic fan?

Damn!

At this moment, the mind was blank, completely unable to think, as the dark notion of “Gwen’s Death” tightened its grip on the heart:

Breathless.

The theater was silent.

Regardless of whether they were comic fans or not, even those unaware of “Gwen’s Death” could see the peril of the train dilemma—

What should Peter choose?

The air seemed to freeze, forgetting to breathe.

Then—

Peter moved.

*Chapter 465: The Ultimate Showdown*

The air seemed to freeze, as if everything had shifted into slow motion, ten times slower.

In the nick of time, Peter moved.

He took a step and, leaping like a diver, rushed toward Mary Jane, pulling her into his arms.

Then, he shot out a web to grab the bridge, using inertia and centrifugal force to swing his body through the bridge arch, executing a difficult 360-degree loop.

In a flash, he appeared on the side of the cable car.

Peter and Mary Jane were rising, while the cable car was descending. They crossed paths, their faces illuminated by the light from the cable car windows, narrowly missing the Grim Reaper.

Peter shot another web to grab the bridge with his left hand, and with his right hand, he grabbed the cable car's rope.

Peter had done it—he saved Mary Jane and the cable car, or at least temporarily alleviated the crisis. The cable car was still stuck, unable to move.

The tugging from both sides stretched Peter to his limit. The weight of the cable car and gravity continued to pull him downward—

Snap. Snap, snap.

The webbing was loosening.

Although a garbage barge was approaching the Hudson River below, trying to help, the Green Goblin, like a golden flying thief, hovered in the air. His sinister laughter echoed, and a ticking time bomb seemed to dangle overhead, testing their nerves.

“Listen, I need you to climb down,” Peter said. It was the only way.

Mary Jane didn't even dare to look down. “I can't do it.”

“Yes, you can.” As soon as Peter finished speaking, the webbing loosened further. They fell like they were bungee jumping but then braked abruptly in mid-air, their hearts racing dangerously.

“Mary Jane.”

Peter's voice carried a note of determination and strength.

“You can do it.”

“You have to!”

Mary Jane looked at the face hidden behind the mask, and that determined voice continued, “Trust me.”

Mary Jane, without realizing it, slightly nodded.

Then, she slid down Peter's body and arms to the cable rope.

The Green Goblin’s mischievous streak flared up.

He dove down, slamming into Peter. The cable car spun rapidly, causing Mary Jane to sway dangerously.

With a sudden stop, the Green Goblin landed a punch square on Peter’s jaw. Peter spun 360 degrees in the air, and his right hand let go.

The cable car began to plummet.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Gloria's heart soared with Peter, tumbling and briefly experiencing weightlessness. Instinctively, she grabbed the armrest, her body tense, eyes fixed on Peter as he completed his spin and the cable car continued to fall. Her fingers quickly swept the cable rope, regaining a grip.

In the theater, gasps of shock, relief, and fear collided in a chaotic mix. Every audience member was pinned to their seats by the vertiginous terror.

Mary Jane was thrown out.

By a stroke of luck, she hung outside the cable car, holding onto the bar on top with one hand.

The Green Goblin reappeared, “Time to die!”

He sprinted at full speed, diving low.

As the Green Goblin seemed about to pierce Spider-Man’s chest, Gloria even closed her eyes in fear, not daring to look directly, but unwilling to miss the movie. She peered through a small opening and saw objects “raining” from the sky—

Stuffed dolls. Clothes. Baseball bats.

Various items rained down, hitting the Green Goblin and disrupting his flight path, allowing Peter to escape.

“Get away!”

“Don’t mess with Spider-Man! You’re dealing with someone saving children!”

“If you mess with Spider-Man, you’re messing with all of New York!”

On the bridge, people who had just evacuated because of the explosion witnessed everything and, putting their fear aside, stepped up to help.

In that brief moment, Peter slowly released his grip, lowering the cable rope, allowing the cable car to land safely on the garbage barge.

Mary Jane and the children were saved.

However, the enraged Green Goblin seized the opportunity, throwing a rope to bind Peter's waist, and then flew away.

Peter was violently thrown into a derelict building—

Gloomy. Horrifying. Like a bat cave.

Robert in the theater smirked, no longer surprised by the terrifying elements Sam had inserted. Yet the smile remained at the edge of his lips.

Peter managed to avoid a series of dangers and land in the wreckage. The Green Goblin then threw a bomb, which exploded right in front of Peter’s blue eyes.

Boom, boom, boom.

The mask. Blood. All were thrown, destroyed, and blasted away in the explosion's fire.

Everything quieted down, a shiver ran from Peter’s feet to his scalp, uncontrollably trembling. From momentary relief to the impact of despair, it dawned on him that his palms were already soaked with cold sweat, without warning, his palms felt chillingly itchy, uncontrollably shaking.

The Green Goblin reappeared.

Blow after blow, the Green Goblin pummeled the severely injured Peter as if he were a punching bag. Peter, battered and retreating, had no means of defense.

This was a one-sided crushing. Despite Peter’s attempts to resist from the cracks, the Green Goblin's storm of attacks continued to pummel him into the ground.

Finally, the Green Goblin stomped on Peter's wrist and choked his neck, rendering him unable to shoot webs.

“You’re finished. Spider-Man.”

“If you hadn’t been so selfish, I’d have given your little girlfriend a quick death, but now that you’ve angered me, I’m going to slowly torture her to death.”

Bloodied and battered, Peter reignited his energy amidst pain and weakness. His eyes, hidden beneath burns, looked up at the Green Goblin with stubborn defiance.

No snarl, no distortion, but those deep blue eyes grew darker, calm yet turbulent, clearly revealing a trace of murderous intent.

The Green Goblin noticed. He wasn’t afraid; rather, he enjoyed this moment, “Mary Jane and I will have a great time.”

The Green Goblin raised his trident-like weapon to stab Peter.

Weak Peter grabbed the blade, not only holding on but also unleashing incredible strength to counterattack. He overwhelmed the Green Goblin with a furious assault, pounding his face until the Green Goblin begged for mercy.

The Green Goblin revealed his identity—Norman, Harry's father.

Peter was stunned, unable to believe his eyes, completely caught off guard.

Norman, sweating and crying, begged for mercy, saying that the Green Goblin was trying to control him, that he needed Peter’s help, and that he was trying to stop the Green Goblin but was failing.

“I will never hurt you.”

Norman’s sweet talk distracted Peter, temporarily convincing him, but secretly, Norman prepared his flying device to ambush Peter from behind.

“...Be like my son,” Norman opened his arms to Peter.

Gloria bit her lower lip, shaking her head: Don’t be fooled, Peter, don’t!

No one in the theater was unaffected; even the experienced Robert felt a pang of anxiety, fully immersed in the movie.

Peter wasn’t deceived. He shook his head, creating distance, “I only have one father, and his name is Ben Parker.”

This statement further enraged Norman, who showed a cruel smile. “Farewell, Spider-Man.”

Norman activated his flying device.

Peter, alerted in time, executed a backflip in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the flying device.

As a result, the flying device impaled Norman, blood gushing from his mouth.

Norman looked up at Peter, pain etched on his face, “Peter... don’t tell Harry.”