Marvel : Web Of Evolution-Chapter 55: Goblin’s Burden

Inside a dimly lit chamber of Kamar-Taj, that smelled like burning incense and old parchment, Peter sat cross-legged on the floor, his fingers absentmindedly tapping his knee in a rhythm.

His UMF suit was worn in the form of casual clothes, making him feel like Superman on laundry day. Beside him, Felicia Hardy lounged with the grace of a lazy cat, twirling a strand of platinum hair around her finger and looking like she'd rather be anywhere else.

Before them stood a serene and composed Ancient One, like Yoda. You know, because they are both bald and wear robes.

"The oldest magic is language," she said, her tone soft but commanding, like a bedtime story that could accidentally summon a demon if pronounced wrong. "To understand the world, you must first understand its words. The ancient tongues are the key."

Peter's brain immediately shifted gears.

Ancient languages? Great, I signed up to be a wizard and now I'm stuck in Duolingo: Sorcerer Edition. Where's the fast-track course for shooting laser beams?

Felicia's hand shot up lazily, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, uh... when do we actually get to the 'abracadabra' part? Maybe throw a fireball or two? Boom?"

The Ancient One smiled patiently, as if this wasn't the hundredth time she heard that. "Only after you've studied the beginner's books."

Peter groaned theatrically. "Man... I thought graduating Midtown meant I'd left homework behind."

Felicia smirked and nudged him with her elbow. "Relax, Tiger. It's just like Hogwarts, but fewer cardigans and more kung fu."

Peter's grin widened. Hogwarts with bald monks and portals? I'd read that fanfic.

Suddenly, CELESTE's voice chimed smoothly in his head.

["Sir, at your normal pace you should complete the whole magical curriculum in the next 10 days."]

"Great. So for the next 10 days, no social life and raccoon eyes, got it."

["Sir, statistically, you don't have much of a social life and the YouTube channel doesn't count."]

"Uff!"

***

The Kamar-Taj library felt like it was stuck in a time loop from 500 BC. Towering shelves stretched high, packed with scrolls, grimoires, and books so old they probably had dinosaurs doodle in the margins.

A stern librarian stood before them, adjusting his perfectly symmetrical goatee. The guy looked like he took his grooming tips from ancient Chinese generals or Himalayan goats.

He slammed a heavy stack of books onto the wooden table in front of them. "Beginner's manuals," he announced. "Core principles, rune alphabets, basic energy manipulation. Enjoy."

Felicia's head thudded onto the table. "Yay... reading," she mumbled, muffled by the wood.

Peter picked up one of the tomes, scanning the ancient symbols etched on the cover. "Looks like IKEA instructions if IKEA sold cursed furniture."

Felicia laughed. "Please, like you don't love this stuff. Admit it, nerd."

Peter grinned. "Guilty."

As they started settling in, Peter noticed a sharp-faced man nearby, returning several dark, leather-bound books. His golden robes glowed faintly under the candlelight. The librarian gave a polite nod.

"Thank you, Kaecilius."

Peter froze internally. Kaecilius. Mr. "Let's-make-a-pact-with-Dormammu" himself. I'm sitting two feet away from a future reality-breaking cultist. Awesome.

CELESTE's voice whispered,

[" Sir, why the sudden rise in your heart rate? Shall I mark him as a Class-A threat? Or would you like him flagged under the "Probably Gonna End the Universe" list?]

Yes, Celeste, Peter whispered, and file him next to Dormammu and anyone who spoils movies on opening weekend.

Kaecilius gave them a subtle nod before gliding out of the library, oblivious to Peter's intense side-eye.

***

Time flew by as they flipped through pages filled with ancient glyphs, complex runes, and illustrations that looked suspiciously like they belonged in The Legend of Zelda. Peter was surprisingly focused, absorbing the magical theories like a sponge. Felicia, however, was slouched across the table like a deflated balloon.

Felicia groaned, eyes drooping. "Peter, you're enjoying this. Admit it. This is your natural habitat."

Peter smirked. "It's like reading cheat codes for reality."

Felicia sighed dramatically. "I get it now. Magic is basically math, but worse."

Peter leaned back. "Hey, patience, grasshopper. We gotta level up before we unlock the cool spells."

Felicia quirked an eyebrow. "Don't you dare quote The Karate Kid at me."

Peter grinned wider. "Fine, how about With great power comes great study hours?"

Felicia chuckled. "Alright, but I've this strange feeling that I've heard a slightly different version before."

Peter softened. Felicia's trying, even though magic isn't her style. Especially, this library grind. She prefers the 'kick, steal, disappear' kind of mission. Yet, she stayed because he was here.

He closed the book and leaned closer. "Hey, how about we take a break from sorcery boot camp this weekend? Apply to Empire State U on Saturday morning, then we go out on a real date that night?"

Felicia's smile returned, sly and teasing. "Saturday, huh? Why not tonight?"

Peter stretched and scratched the back of his neck. "Uh... bros' night with Harry. Haven't hung out with him in a while."

Felicia rolled her eyes playfully. "Fine. Bros before... well, you know."

"But Saturday, for real. We'll dress fancy, eat overpriced food, and I'll pretend to understand the wine list." Peter kissed her, "and thanks for being the best girlfriend ever."

Felicia winked. "Don't you forget it, Tiger."

As they returned to their books, CELESTE chimed again.

["Reminder: Relationship milestone achieved. Probability of successful long-term bond has increased by 8%."]

'Wow, Celeste, reading emotions now?', Peter whispered.

["I'm multi-tasking while you're focusing on runes."]

'I don't like your sass today.'

["Blame the Ancient One, Sir. She wrote the syllabus."]

Peter chuckled softly to himself as Felicia leaned against him while pretending to read. Magic school, snarky AI, future supervillains... yep, this is shaping up to be one heck of a life.

***

Harry Osborn's POV

The weight machine groaned as Harry pushed with everything he had. The simulated weight was nine tons. The strain in his legs felt like burns from molten metal, but the changes made from taking the Goblin Regenerix serum made it all possible.

Was this stuff really worth it? Harry thought, sweat dripping down his forehead and pooling on the gym mat below. Sure, I can squat a truck now... but at what cost?

***

His mind drifted back to that night, the last time he saw his father alive.

"You'll need this, Harry," Norman had said, voice low but firm as he handed over the serum. Around them, guards were stationed at every corner of the residential floors, unusually tense.

Harry remembered thinking Dad's just paranoid again... worried about the board. But when he voiced it, Norman only chuckled.

"The board? Son, I can always take back the position in the board." Norman's smile was sharp, weary. "I've never walked a path lined with roses. But this... this is about the Osborn legacy. And it'll come for you, whether you want to or not. When the time comes, you'll realise this is the only way out."

Harry hadn't understood then, how serious his dad was. Not until later. Not until his father's body was found cold, bloodied, and torn to pieces, lost among other corpses, in one of Oscorp's hidden labs.

The funeral was small, no, it was empty. Not a single guest. Nobody was informed, truth be told, he wanted a funeral in peace. Just Harry, his butler and the priest, standing in the rain, staring at a headstone.

Peter should've been there. But he was in hospital bed, resting after just waking up from the coma.

He sighed, shaking the memory away, but the weight in his chest remained.

"If you cared, why wait till the end, Dad?" he muttered.

***

Then his mind flashed back to that gruesome night with the Human Fly.

It was an afternoon, few days ago. The news channels were exploding about how the city was under attack from superpowered villains. Without any hesitation Harry suited up as the Green Goblin, flew to the city on top of his glider, watching all the chaos down below.

The Human Fly was a nightmare on two legs. His costume was torn and his face was barely human under all the grotesque insect like mutations. He lunged at a cop, tearing into the officer's arm like a rabid animal. The cop screamed, stumbling back, blood spraying onto the cracked pavement.

"GLORFF!" The Fly let out a wet, guttural sound as he spit acid on the rest of the cops.

Harry grimaced behind his Goblin mask. This is worse than Silence of the Lambs.

He rocketed down, throwing a pumpkin bomb. "Hey, Flyboy! Why don't you pick someone your size?"

The bomb exploded near the Fly's feet, sending him tumbling backward. Smoke and green sparks filled the air. Civilians screamed and scattered.

The Fly hissed like a wild animal and flew at him. Harry met him halfway, fist connecting with the Fly's jaw. The impact sent Fly into a parked car, denting it.

"You're disgusting, you know that?" Harry muttered. "I mean, lets finish this fast."

Fly lunged again, this time biting into Harry's armored shoulder. Sparks flew from the suit but held strong thanks to it's upgrades. Harry gritted his teeth, grabbed the Fly by the head, and flipped him over his back, slamming him into the ground with a thud.

Harry sneered. "Have a taste of the pavement!"

Fly scrambled away into an alley, but Harry was faster. His glider zoomed forward, cutting off the Fly's escape route.

GLORFF! The fly spit acid again.

"Now be a good bug and stay still," Harry muttered while dodging and lauched another pumkin bomb.

This one was a gas bomb. The Fly coughed violently as green vapor filled the air. He stumbled and fell unconscious, right into the arms of the approaching NYPD, who wasted no time cuffing and sedating him.

"Who are you?" a thick moustached cop asked, gripping his pistol tight.

Harry's sound came from behind the mask. "The Green Goblin."

"Not the best name," The cop raised a brow. "But you have our thanks, Goblin."

Harry gave a small nod, then launched into the night sky on his glider.

***

Back to Present

Harry rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly, remembering the bite. Yeah, this gig's getting messy too fast.

His phone buzzed. "Hey dude, I'm downstairs," Peter's voice came through.

Harry let out a long breath, pulling himself up. I'll figure all this out later... maybe. "Coming."

***

Still Harry's PoV.

The smell of old paper and cheap coffee filled the office. Matt Murdock sat behind his desk, a calm but sharp expression on his face. Next to him was Foggy Nelson, all smiles. Karen Page was in another room, typing away at her computer and often peeking inside, to get the juicy details.

Peter sat next to Harry, casual as ever. Man, how does he stay so calm?

Matt's head tilted slightly. "So, you're Harry Osborn."

Harry gave a small smirk. "In the flesh."

Foggy leaned forward. "OsCorp money must buy you a whole lotta hair gel."

Harry chuckled. "Best money can buy."

Peter grinned beside him, looking like he was holding back a laugh. Of course, he loves this banter.

Matt folded his hands. "Well, Harry, we went through the contracts you sent earlier. From what we understand, they're offering you 300 million."

"That's less than a sneeze compared to his dad's shares in OsCorp," Peter chimed in. "Which, if I'm right, is about 9.9 billion."

Harry sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "They're trying to squeeze me out. Typical boardroom garbage."

Matt nodded slowly. "We've dealt with this before. Classic hostile takeover."

Foggy leaned back. "The 'we're doing this for your own good' routine. There was a similar case recently, involving Danny Rand, the heir to the Rand Corporation."

Matt: "That's right. Danny was also undervalued and misled by the corporation's board."

Foggy: "And we know how that turned out. The court ruled in Danny's favor, and he was able to reclaim his rightful inheritance."

Harry: "So, you're saying I have a good chance of winning if I take the board to court?"

Matt's voice broke through his thoughts. "We can fight this. Legally, you've got more cards than you think."

"And if they go dirty, we've got experience in that too." Karen's voice was heard from the other room.

Harry turned and glanced at her through the doorway, impressed. "Tough office."

They all shared a laugh. Harry relaxed into his chair. Alright, maybe I needed this. Some normalcy.

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Matt stood and offered a handshake. "We've got this under control."

Harry shook it. "Thanks. Seriously."

As they left, Harry leaned in to Peter. "Are you sure this guy's blind?"

Peter smirked. "He's got good instincts."

***

The car hummed as they cruised past the streets of Hell's Kitchen.

"You ever miss the old days?" Harry asked, turning to Peter. "Pizza, bad movies, and rating girls walking by?"

Peter grinned. "Absolutely. We're doing that tonight."

Harry laughed, genuinely. "God bless America."

He's changed, Harry thought as they drove. But... so have I. And maybe that's not all bad.

Still... do I tell him everything? About the serum? About the Goblin suit?

Harry stared out at the city lights. Maybe I should just focus on the present. And probably text Gwen later and see how she's doing...

========

Well, you know the drill. Hand over the power stones, this is a robbery!

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