Gwen and Cindy found themselves alone in the dimly lit spider base, the silence pressing down on them like a heavy weight.
Peter was gone.
Neither of them had noticed him leave, and now, in the unfamiliar surroundings of his hidden headquarters, they were left wondering why he had disappeared without saying a word.
"Where did he go?" Cindy muttered, crossing her arms as she glanced around the empty space.
Gwen frowned, scanning the room with her enhanced senses, hoping for some clue, but there was nothing—just the quiet hum of the technology Peter had installed.
Before either of them could say anything more, a soft voice cut through the silence.
"You are inside the mental realm," the voice said smoothly. "This is all inside your mind."
Gwen and Cindy's heads snapped toward the source, their heightened awareness immediately leading them to a tiny spider perched on the table.
It wasn't an ordinary spider.
It was small, sleek, and somehow radiated presence—its body an inky black with faintly glowing patterns resembling an intricate web. Its eight eyes gleamed with intelligence, and despite its size, it exuded an aura that sent shivers down their spines.
"Who are you?" Gwen asked cautiously, tensing as she instinctively prepared for a fight.
"You can call me Yami," the spider replied, her voice unreasonably charming for a creature so small. "I am the source of Peter's power and the connection between you three. Otherwise, well… let's just say without Peter in the mix, you two would be enjoying a girl-on-girl show in public."
Yami chuckled as Gwen and Cindy's faces reddened in shock.
"What?!" Cindy blurted out.
Gwen, regaining herself, narrowed her eyes. "Wait… you're the immortal?"
Instead of answering directly, Yami tilted her small body in amusement.
Cindy, still reeling from the earlier comment, stared at the spider with a fascinated look. "Why do you look so cute?" she blurted out.
Gwen turned to her in shock. "Cindy?!"
Cindy shrugged unapologetically. "What? I like cute things. Got a problem with that?"
Yami laughed, a melodious sound that made them both feel strangely at ease. "No offense taken."
She scuttled closer, her tiny legs moving with graceful precision, before continuing, "Yes, I'm an immortal, but I'm not my father—the one Peter spoke about."
Both girls stiffened at the mention of Peter's mysterious benefactor.
Yami continued without pause, "Normally, I wouldn't need to appear here, but you need my help. You can't stay away from your families for days without them noticing, and I'm not about to babysit you. So, I'll give you the basic control over your strength so that you don't end up accidentally killing someone with a handshake."
Before they could react, a pulse of energy surged from Yami's small body, washing over Gwen and Cindy like an invisible tide.
Their bodies tingled, a strange warmth settling in their muscles, and suddenly, everything felt different.
Gwen flexed her fingers, clenching her fists experimentally. The overwhelming, foreign power that had once made her feel like a stranger in her own body now felt natural—as if she had always been this strong.
Cindy gasped, stretching her arms. "Whoa… I can feel it."
Gwen nodded in amazement. "Yeah… it's like my body is actually listening to me now."
Yami observed them with a knowing smirk in her many-eyed gaze. "That should help you adjust, but before you decide whether you want to join Peter, you need to understand something."
The air around them darkened as the spider's voice took on a grave tone.
"Being a hero means leaving whenever something comes up," she said. "It could be your loved one's birthday, a wedding, an important moment in your life… even a funeral. You could die at any moment, and not even for yourself—but for strangers who will never know your name. You will not be rewarded. You will not be thanked. You may even be hated for it."
As she spoke, images flooded their minds—horrific, sickening visions of heroes falling in battle, their bodies crushed, their blood painting the ground.
A masked figure being beaten to death by an angry crowd that once cheered his name.
A family torn apart because a hero's identity was exposed.
A villain laughing as they executed someone the hero failed to save.
Gwen and Cindy gasped, the overwhelming sensation making them stumble back, their stomachs churning.
They had both thought of being heroes as something exciting, something fun.
But this?
This was real.
This was the cost.
Their lives would never be the same. They would sacrifice everything—for people who may never even care.
Their families could be put in danger.
Yami's gaze was cold, her voice steady. "That is what it means to be a hero. If you can't handle it, walk away now."
For the first time since they had been bitten, Gwen and Cindy felt fear—not of their powers, but of what they would mean for the rest of their lives.
Yami observed Gwen with her many unblinking eyes, gauging the depth of her conviction.
The mental realm was silent for a moment.
Cindy, still shaken by the images Yami had shown them, glanced at Gwen, her expression uncertain. But Gwen—she looked unshaken, her resolve like steel.
The weight of reality had crashed down on her shoulders, and yet she stood firm.
"That is not enough to scare me away," Gwen said, her voice steady despite the heaviness of the moment. "We are in danger of dying every day. Nobody knows when death will come for them."
Yami tilted her head, intrigued.
Gwen continued, "A healthy person can die in their sleep without any warning. A car accident, an illness, a freak disaster—life is unpredictable. And what about villains? They don't wait for people to be ready. They don't care who they hurt. Their attacks can come at any moment, destroying lives in an instant.
"So tell me—how are we any safer by not fighting?"
Cindy's eyes widened slightly, taking in Gwen's words.
Gwen's expression hardened, her fists clenching at her sides. "Right now, we're only alive by chance. We could die just as easily—by chance. But now? Now, we have a choice. We have a way to fight back.
"Unlike before, when we were just normal girls, we actually have a chance to make a difference—to stop these things before they happen. I don't want to just stand by and let fate decide my life for me. If I have the power to prevent even one tragedy, then it's my responsibility to try."
Yami remained still, processing Gwen's words.
Cindy, standing beside her, hesitated before speaking. "…You really believe that?"
Gwen turned to her. "My father is a great cop. He risks his life every day because he believes in protecting people, even if it means putting himself in danger."
There was pride in her voice, a deep admiration for the man who had raised her.
"He would understand why I'm taking this path," Gwen said with certainty. "So, I'll tell him. I won't hide it—I'll face it head-on.
"And as for everything else…" She took a deep breath, then exhaled. "I'll put my trust in Peter. If anyone has a plan for handling something like this, it's him."
The conviction in her words reverberated through the mental space.
For the first time since their conversation started, Yami smiled.
She was still in the form of a small spider, but her energy pulsed with a subtle warmth.
"…Heh," Yami chuckled softly. "You might actually have a spine. Good."
Gwen met her gaze, unflinching.
Cindy, still looking a little uncertain, took a deep breath before stepping forward.
Gwen nodded, squeezing Cindy's hand in reassurance.
"I get it," she said. "It's a big decision, and you should take your time."
Cindy sighed, running a hand through her dark hair. "Yeah… but it's not just about me, y'know? My parents would never let me do this. I'd have to hide it from them."
Gwen understood. Unlike her, Cindy's family was incredibly strict. They wouldn't just worry—they'd forbid her from taking risks like this. It was a different kind of pressure.
Even if Cindy understood Yami's point, the reality was terrifying.
Before today, she lived a normal life. Sure, she could have died any day—an accident, an illness, a random attack—but she never had to face it so directly. Becoming a hero meant running toward danger instead of away from it.
It meant tempting fate every single day.
Cindy took a deep breath, shaking off the anxiety creeping into her thoughts.
Yami observed them quietly before speaking again. "I'm impressed by your courage, Gwen. You made the right choice."
A soft glow formed in the mental realm, and suddenly, a suit appeared in Gwen's hands. The sleek white, black, and pink design was instantly recognizable—it was Spider-Gwen's suit from another reality.
"This is your basic suit for now," Yami continued. "Peter can help you improve it later."
Gwen ran her fingers over the material, marveling at how light yet durable it felt.
Cindy, however, remained hesitant. "…I need more time to think about it."
Yami narrowed her many eyes.
"You will be hunted sooner or later," she warned. "There are people out there who hunt Spiders, and you've already been marked. Events are already being set into motion—events that will lead to massive death.
"So tell me—are you fine with risking your normal life?"
Cindy swallowed hard. She wanted to say yes.
She wanted to believe she was ready for this.
But the truth was… she didn't know.
Her hesitation must have been expected because another suit appeared before her—a black and white design, reminiscent of the Silk suit from the comics.
"Even if you're unsure," Yami continued, "you'll need training. If nothing else, Peter can help prepare you for what's coming."
With that, Yami vanished.
A heavy silence filled the space between the two girls.
They had no reason to believe Yami was lying. Everything about her screamed confidence—like she already knew what was going to happen.
Cindy let out a long breath before grabbing the suit, rolling the material between her fingers. She wasn't like Gwen—she didn't have a noble reason for fighting.
She wasn't some cop's daughter, raised on justice and duty.
But still… she found the idea of being a hero fun.
Maybe that was enough for now.
Gwen noticed Cindy's conflicted expression and gave her a reassuring smile. "You don't have to decide right away. You can just train with us and go back to your normal life after. We'll protect you."
Cindy let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "No… I'll think it over while we're training." She smirked. "And let's see what our leader/master has to say."
Gwen chuckled. "You can trust Peter. He's a smart guy—really smart. And he's kind, too. He won't forget about your well-being."
Cindy raised an eyebrow, giving Gwen a playful nudge. "You sound like you really believe in him."
Gwen smiled softly. "I do."
Cindy sighed, stretching her arms. "Alright, alright. For now, let's focus on something way more important."
Gwen tilted her head. "Like what?"
Cindy placed a hand on her stomach dramatically. "Food. I feel like I could eat a whole cow."
Gwen laughed, the tension finally breaking. "Then let's get something to eat before we pass out."
With that, the two girls left the mental realm, ready to face the next step in their journey.
The scent of sizzling meat filled the air as Gwen and Cindy emerged from their rooms, still groggy from their deep sleep. The exhaustion from the night before had settled into their bones, but now, a new hunger clawed at their insides—an insatiable craving, unlike anything they had ever experienced.
As they stepped into the common area of the Spider Base, their eyes widened at the sheer amount of food laid out before them.
Mountains of steak, grilled ribs, roasted chicken, and even several plates of burgers were spread across the long table. There was enough meat here to feed a small army—or, more accurately, two super-powered teenage girls with newly enhanced metabolisms.
"Holy crap," Cindy whispered, taking in the absurd amount of food. "Did you seriously cook all this?"
Peter, who was standing near the table with his arms crossed, gave them a sheepish grin.
"Well… yeah," he said. "You're gonna need a lot more food now that your bodies have changed. Your metabolism is insane—if you don't eat enough, you're gonna feel weak and sluggish." He pointed toward the stack of ribs. "This? Barely a day's worth for you now."
Gwen blinked. "Wait—a day's worth? You're telling me we have to eat this every day?"
Peter chuckled. "Welcome to the Spider Life."
Before they could respond, another voice cut in.
"Better get used to it."
Gwen and Cindy turned, only to see a new figure standing beside Peter—a tall woman clad in a red and gold armored suit with a pure white mask covering her face.
Wonder Woman.
Everyone in the city already knew that Wonder Woman and Black Cat were part of Spider-Man's team, but few knew who they actually were.
Jessica Jones, hidden behind her signature mask, nodded toward the girls in greeting. "Welcome to the team."
Gwen and Cindy exchanged quick glances, neither recognizing Jessica behind the mask. To them, she was simply Wonder Woman, the mysterious and powerful heroine who had joined Spider-Man's growing alliance.
Jessica, for her part, intended to keep it that way—especially from Gwen.
Even though they were teammates now, Jessica saw Gwen as a rival in a much more personal way.
The game of love.
She had felt it the moment Gwen got her powers—the shift, the subtle tension in her heart. Peter might not have been fully aware yet, but Jessica could see the growing connection between him and Gwen.
She didn't want to admit it, but…
It made her feel threatened.
She had spent so much time thinking she was the only one who could stand by Peter's side. Now, Gwen had entered the picture—and with powers similar to his, no less.
Jessica wasn't ready to give up her place.
Not now. Not ever.
But she wouldn't make a scene. Not yet.
Instead, she smiled under her mask and gestured toward the food.
"You girls should eat," she said casually. "You're going to need the energy for training."
Gwen and Cindy hesitated for only a second before hunger overpowered any lingering thoughts. They quickly took seats at the table and dug in, realizing just how starved they truly were.
Peter and Jessica watched in amusement as the girls devoured the food at an almost inhuman pace.
Jessica glanced at Peter from the corner of her eye.
'She might be my rival,' she thought. 'But for now, she's my teammate. Let's see how far she can go.'
With that, she silently joined them, preparing for the days ahead.