The next morning, Lynn was organizing his course materials as usual. When he woke up from his light sleep, Jessica was still sleeping on the sofa in the fried chicken shop, curled up just like the night before.
Lynn didn't wake her up. There was money in the cash register of the fried chicken shop anyway, so he went directly to Midtown High. Most of the campus was filled with a clear yet foolish youthful atmosphere, which seemed completely at odds with Lynn's demeanor.
"Mr. Sidis!"
"Miss Ayala, is there something you don't understand? Though looking at your past grades, they've always been quite good."
"It's not about understanding something. Do you remember what I asked you the other day?"
"Ah, seeing how healthy you look, I suppose it's not what you mentioned. What is it? Have you made some new discoveries?"
"Mr. Sidis, do you think... that New York vigilante who's been flying around these days, does it really have no effect on the body? Or rather, when he's flying in the sky, is he still himself? Could he be controlled by someone else, or..."
The girl appeared deeply concerned. Lynn could roughly guess what she was thinking from her words.
He looked carefully at Ava. Though he wanted to use his spiritual energy to examine the girl's body to see what she was hiding, he ultimately didn't do so to avoid encountering any unusual mystical items.
Lynn couldn't quite remember who she was. Midtown High was full of talented students, and there were quite a few troublesome characters surrounding one particular notable figure.
Looking at this student named Ava Ayala, Lynn could only see a tall, athletic Hispanic student with a youthful, beautiful face. Lynn couldn't guess which troublesome character she might be.
"Have you been to the hospital?"
"Um... I personally feel the hospital probably can't solve my problem."
"Well, if modern science hasn't detected any physical illness, then you really don't need to worry too much. Look at that New York vigilante, isn't he still running around energetically?
Miss Ayala, just focus on being yourself. The next class is about to start, and if you don't want Mr. Stone to deduct points for being late, you'd better head over soon."
Lynn saw that Ava still seemed hesitant, apparently wanting to get some kind of answer from him. She probably didn't have anyone to confide in.
"Have you told other teachers about your condition?"
"Um, they told me to focus on studying, saying my grades could get me into a public university. The school nurse said she could recommend a psychologist. She said I'm just too envious of that freak who's different from everyone else. All young people are like this nowadays. Just take some antidepressants and I'll be fine. Not everyone can swing between skyscrapers."
"Sounds like their style."
There was indeed a hint of weariness between her eyes, though Lynn felt that weariness probably came from others' lack of understanding rather than from whatever superhuman item she had mentioned.
Now Lynn guessed that the item she had obtained was probably some kind of transformation device. This type of hero wasn't common in his memory.
However, looking at Ava before him and thinking about what he had seen earlier that morning, Lynn thought for a moment, gazing into her somewhat confused eyes.
"Listen, Miss Ayala, compared to you, what do you think most of our teachers here lack?"
Ava seemed surprised that Lynn would suddenly say such things. She asked confusedly, "Youth?"
"Hmm... I'm not that old yet, not quite at the level of envying your age, but you're right, I do envy your youth. Who doesn't want to be younger?" Lynn said with a smile.
"But that's not it."
Lynn had almost finished organizing the materials on his desk. He had one more class in the afternoon, though most of the students were undisciplined. Harry and Peter were the type who wouldn't mind missing his class anyway, so Lynn had plenty of time now.
As he spoke, Lynn extended a finger in front of Ava.
"What you possess is a heart full of curiosity and a quest for knowledge, as well as a youthful mindset that hasn't been bound by common sense and experience.
Considering you've sought me out twice to discuss this matter, I'm not entirely sure what interesting thing you've encountered recently.
But since you're still able to stand here talking to me and seeking my opinion, doesn't that mean you have enough control over yourself?
So why hesitate?"
In fact, Ava probably already had some ideas of her own; she just wanted someone to give her a push.
"I..."
"Well, think about it yourself. I'm not very good at guiding others. Besides, Miss Ayala," Lynn glanced at his watch.
"You're about to be late for your next class."
"Huh? It's been that long! Thank you, Mr. Sidis. I'll think carefully about what you said."
Watching Ava leave his classroom, Lynn relaxed. The friendly smile he had used for marketing purposes disappeared from his face, and his entire demeanor underwent a dramatic change. He took off his glasses, blew on them, and wiped them with his sleeve.
"I have no recollection at all. This world feels so chaotic. It's somewhat similar to movies I've seen, but also completely different..."
Just as Lynn was about to leave the classroom to get something to eat, he suddenly stopped.
"So soon?"
After that, the entire school began to fill with students' exclamations.
Lynn quickly walked to the classroom window, lifted the venetian blinds, and looked at Midtown High's playground, though he shook his head as he watched.
He could guess who had arrived—who else could it be but Dr. Curt Connors? However, Connors's appearance was somewhat unexpected. He was nothing like the little lizard-man from the two movies.
"From a distance, he looks just like a Hulk. Interesting—the spikes on his back, the muscle tissue density of his body, and his overall coordination are all quite good."
By now, Lynn had unconsciously taken out a small notebook and started taking notes. He had unconsciously developed this habit.
At this moment, Peter appeared in the students' view. This might be his first encounter with a superhuman, and from the current situation, one who was quite powerful.
This Dr. Connors, rather than being some bizarre lizard-man with a human face, looked more like a large humanoid lizard with powerful, knotted muscles, covered in thick scales, with numerous spikes growing from his back, and extremely developed upper limbs.
His massive claws left deep gouges in the concrete ground with each swing.
"Peter Parker's homemade suit can't withstand that kind of attack."
Lynn was right. Spider-Man wasn't having an easy time dealing with Connors. His current suit wasn't made of high-tech composite materials but was entirely handcrafted from ordinary materials.
It couldn't provide much protection against the Lizard's enormous claws.
Fortunately, the Lizard's several attacks had only caused flesh wounds to Spider-Man. Although the suit had been slashed open in several places, at least there was no life-threatening danger.
Lynn watched them fight and decided to change his position. The view here was too limited; he needed to get closer to gather more useful information.
Putting away his small notebook, Lynn pushed open the classroom door and immediately saw a large group of students who should have been evacuating still gathered around the windows in the corridor, watching the Lizard and Spider-Man battling below.
This wasn't good.
"I'm talking to you all, stop spectating and leave the school immediately."
But if only these troublemakers could be so easily persuaded to leave...
——
While Lynn was busy dealing with a group of fearless problem children, Ava Ayala was clutching a jade amulet, hiding behind a pillar. Her chest rose and fell slightly due to her rapid breathing as she alternately looked back at Spider-Man fighting the Lizard and at her jade amulet.
"Connors! Wake up! What you're doing now has nothing to do with a better future. Look at what you've done! What you're doing now isn't—"
Peter was clearly still trying to awaken Dr. Connors's consciousness, but the side effects of the formula he developed were evidently too severe. The gene binder had fundamentally altered his way of thinking. Perhaps he could understand what Peter was saying.
But he definitely couldn't comprehend it.
"ROAR!!!"
Now he seemed to have temporarily lost his human speech ability and could only emit monstrous roars while swinging his claws wildly at Peter.
"Hey, Connors, I remember the first time we met, you said you wanted to see your daughter, right? How can you see her like this? She likes the dad who brings her ice cream cones."
Obviously, these words had no effect. Family affection and moral principles were incomprehensible to Connors now. All that drove him were animal instincts and cold-blooded thinking.
Connors let out another rough roar, with all the muscles in his body tensing up. He launched from his position like a cannonball, the process so quick that Peter didn't have time to react.
All Peter saw was a huge green figure appearing before him, and then everything went black as Connors rammed into him, sending him flying.
Peter had tried to hold his ground, but the concrete beneath his feet didn't have the same strength as his body. It immediately gave up, instantly collapsing.
Having lost his footing, Peter became a red silhouette flying through the air, crashing into a nearby school building.
The next second, Peter launched himself toward the dust cloud. Amid the concrete dust and debris, Peter seemed a bit dizzy. This was his first time fighting a superhuman with such immense strength.
Since he knew the opponent was Curt Connors, he hadn't even used his full strength, still hoping to awaken his consciousness.
He felt that Connors was just sick due to side effects, not completely transformed into something else.
But Connors didn't think so.
Just as he was gathering his thoughts and regaining consciousness, a large hand helped Peter return to awareness, though clearly with ill intent.
A tremendous force pressed in from all around him as Connors grabbed Peter, intending to crush the small figure in his hands.
Throughout the process, he didn't say a word. No one knew what he was thinking. The Lizard's strength was clearly more than Peter could bear.
By this time, Lynn had finally dealt with those annoying problem students. Though his methods were somewhat rough, there would presumably be no evidence left. On such an extreme day, who could say clearly who had bumped into whom?
"The situation is indeed not good."
Lynn now stood on the top floor of the school building, quietly observing Peter's situation. His spiritual energy concealed his presence, making it difficult for ordinary people to detect his tracks.
"Though I personally feel he won't be in danger, judging from the current situation, it really doesn't look good."
Lynn briefly assessed the current state, feeling that the whole situation might be getting out of Peter's control. Did he need to play a certain role in this world to prevent certain things from happening?
But before Lynn could do anything, a white figure had already appeared in his vision, striking the Lizard's jaw at extremely high speed.
Connors winced in pain and instinctively loosened his grip on Peter. With just a slight release of pressure, Peter escaped from Connors's restraint.
By now, the white figure was already entangled with Connors. Unlike Peter's disorderly fighting style, the white humanoid figure was clearly much more proficient in combat and confrontation. Her fighting techniques were quite skilled and clean, like a master who had trained for years, without any superfluous flashy movements. Each move seemed designed to create killing opportunities.
Even though her physical strength might not match Spider-Man's, the flickering green electricity in her fists compensated for the lack of power.
Moreover, she had no reservations about dealing with Connors, launching each attack with full force. In her eyes, Connors was just a huge non-human lizard.
Connors's massive body had many advantages when attacking, but it proved quite clumsy when defending.
He quickly became enraged again. His huge tail swept wildly, instantly creating distance between himself and the white figure.
Afterward, he sniffed the air, seemingly detecting an uncomfortable smell. He quickly dug into the ground, leaving a large hole as he retreated from Midtown High.
But the woman who had just repelled Connors clearly wanted to continue pursuing him. However, Peter grabbed her hand from behind.
"He's gone for now. There's no need to chase him. He moves very quickly in the sewers, and the police are coming soon. We'd better escape quickly. They're not very friendly—not exactly protectors of freedom and democracy. Honestly, Captain Stacy isn't very likable."
After saying this, Peter took a moment to observe the person who had helped him.
She appeared to be a woman wearing a white tight-fitting combat suit that outlined a powerful female figure. The suit had tiger-like patterns, and the phantom image of a jade amulet shone brightly at her waist.
Before the two could exchange any words, the sound of police sirens dispersed all the atmosphere that was about to form.
"Well, I think we'd better split up. Some people don't like me very much, and I'd rather not drag you into my personal grudges."
"Um... actually..."
"It's okay, I know what you want to say. Next time we meet, I'll treat you to the best fried chicken in New York. But for now, we'd better separate temporarily. Until next time!"
"I was trying to tell you my name..."
Ava scratched her head, watching as the cars with flashing police lights gradually appeared at the street corner. She finally remembered to flee.
With that, Peter swung away on his web, though he didn't notice that reporters had arrived before the police and were furiously photographing him.
Lynn stood on the rooftop, taking it all in.
"The sewers. Perhaps in a couple of days, he'll appear at Osborn Tower.
I can't let the little spider deal with him like this. I need to act first. A good person full of flaws and tortured by conscience."
Lynn's lips curled up involuntarily.
"No need to go to prison like that, right?"