Chapter 46: One Night! The Growth of Two Girls!
"Leave!!"
Ethan Lee was falling rapidly through the air.
Without hesitation, Gwen leapt after him.
Isn't this going a bit too far? Ethan thought. Maybe we could've used a more tactful approach…
Just before he hit the ground, Gwen fired a webline, expertly sticking it to him. But due to the elasticity of the web, Ethan was still plummeting downward—
—
The scene reminded him of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, where Spider-Man tried to save Gwen. The web's elasticity had been too much, and despite catching her, she'd hit the ground—too late to survive.
But Ethan Lee wasn't that fragile. Even if he hit the ground, he'd survive. Still, it didn't come to that.
Seconds before impact, he suddenly felt lighter and found himself caught in a warm embrace.
Jessica had caught him mid-fall, a silver-white glow radiating from the soles of her boots as she floated in the air.
She could fly.
"Huh? I can fly?" Jessica blinked in surprise, only just realizing that her panic had triggered the ability.
Ethan heard her sweet, slightly confused voice—it was the same Jessica as always… if you ignored the green blood splattered across her metal mask.
"Thanks, Jessica!" he said, grateful.
Gwen landed beside them with a relieved sigh. "That was close… I might not have been able to stop your fall in time."
Ethan frowned slightly. This whole improvisational "dramatic rescue" had felt a little rushed in hindsight. He blurted, "Sorry…"
"Sorry for what?" both girls asked in unison, confused.
Ethan froze.
Wait… what was I apologizing for?
Thinking quickly, he went with the flow. "I didn't finish what I was trying to tell you earlier… about that saying: 'With great power comes great responsibility.' There's a second part."
Jessica tilted her head, curious. "There's more to it?"
"Ahem…"
Ethan cleared his throat and said solemnly, "With great power comes great responsibility… and great rights. I believe you both—Gwen, Jessica—have the right to judge your enemies."
"A trial…" the girls echoed thoughtfully, recalling the events of the night. The chaos, the danger, the decisions they were forced to make.
That night, the two girls matured—just a little more.
——
Back on the rooftop.
On the way up, Jessica had caught Harry trying to flee.
With Gwen's help, she'd given him a thorough beatdown and dragged him back.
"What do we do with this guy?" Jessica asked, tossing Harry to the ground like a sack of potatoes. "I can't believe he followed in his dad's footsteps. Seriously disappointing."
Harry's mask had been knocked off, revealing a face swollen beyond recognition.
Jessica handed Gwen the lightsaber. "Wanna be the judge this time?"
"Ah?" Gwen hesitated. Her hands trembled, but from the momentum of the earlier fall, she reflexively took it.
To eradicate evil… to ensure no one could harm their loved ones again… it made sense.
But… this was a former classmate. Gwen had never taken a life before.
At that moment, a hand gently clasped her wrist.
Ethan reached out, closed the lightsaber, and took it back.
"Don't force yourself," he said softly. "Just follow your heart."
"Ethan…" Gwen was touched. He was still the gentlest one of them all.
Jessica pouted. "That's not fair. I accidentally killed Dr. Connors…"
Ethan glanced toward the pile of green meat still lying on the rooftop. Accidentally? That lizard's in several pieces...
"Just think of it as…" he tried to console her, "slaying a big lizard."
"How is that the same?" Jessica rolled her eyes. "But I'm glad you're okay, bro…"
"What about Harry—the Green Goblin?" Gwen asked, glancing at the groaning figure on the floor. Harry's face was so swollen he couldn't even speak, only whimper pitifully.
"Call Captain George," Ethan said casually.
Harry had learned his lesson, and he might be useful for rewards later. No need to make Gwen or Jessica deal with him personally.
"I'm still here, by the way!"
A voice cried out from the other side of the rooftop.
Peter, who was still lying there battered and bruised after being demolished by Venom, shouted in misery, "Did you guys forget about me? Help!!"