Ultraman Noah from Marvel

19. Ben's Destiny

Peter Parker has been having a great time these days. After being bitten by that strange spider, he has gained unparalleled superpowers: super strength, agility, and he can even drink milk from the ceiling.

Thompson, the school bully who used to harass him and other students, was also taught a lesson by him, and he felt that he had reached the pinnacle of his life.

But he also has the troubles that come with his age. Because he missed picking up Aunt Mei from get off work, he had an argument with Uncle Ben and said some hurtful things. Now he is wandering aimlessly on the street.

However, Peter regretted it soon after leaving the house. He suddenly remembered the Chinese man who knew kung fu who helped him when Thompson forced him to take those photos that day.

The Chinese man said a few ambiguous words to him.

With great power comes great responsibility.

Never hurt the person who loves you the most.

What else can't you use spider silk to save someone?

Peter thought the Chinese man was a strange person; he disappeared after saying those words.

But after saying those things to Uncle Ben today, Peter felt that there must be some deeper meaning behind what that Chinese man said. Now he regretted it and realized he shouldn't have hurt Uncle Ben.

But his pride prevented him from going home.

"Coo coo coo".

The rumbling in his stomach made Peter walk toward the convenience store next door.

"Here is two dollars and seven cents."

"I don't have two cents in change..."

"Get out if you don't have money! Don't block the way! Your father..."

The convenience store clerk's cursing and mockery made Peter's nerves twitch. He resisted the urge to retaliate, gathered up the crumpled change, and prepared to leave the convenience store.

"Hey kid, here you go." The man in sunglasses standing behind Peter, waiting to pay the bill, tossed him a bottle of milk.

Peter caught it easily with quick reflexes, and then saw the man in sunglasses taking money out of the cash register.

Peter glanced at the sales clerk who was mocking him, then at the sunglasses-wearing robber who had given him the milk.

He lowered his head and slowly moved out of the convenience store.

"Hey! You brat, I bought you a bottle of milk, you shouldn't treat me like this." The man in sunglasses said painfully as Peter pressed him to the ground with his superhuman strength.

Yes, Peter is back.

He was thinking that perhaps Uncle Ben was right.

If you are able to do good, you have a moral obligation to do it. It's not a choice, but a responsibility. So Peter came back, and he chose his responsibility.

"Hey buddy," Peter looked up at the sales clerk, "I think you should tie the robber up and call the police."

"Oh, yes, yes, thank you." The saleswoman's fat body moved quickly, and a sturdy nylon rope tied the man in sunglasses tightly.

"Brother, I apologize for what I said earlier. This is on me," the sales clerk said, handing Peter a bottle of milk.

Peter smiled and took the milk: "It's alright, buddy, I'm used to it."

Peter walked away from the convenience store step by step, looking at the bottle of milk in his hand. For some reason, he felt a sense of relief, as if something had changed.

Peter slowly walked towards home.

He hadn't walked far when he ran into Ben Parker, who had come out looking for him.

"Peter, I think we need to have a good talk. I know you must be having a tough time lately," Ben said kindly.

"Uncle Ben, I shouldn't have said those things to you. I apologize," Peter said.

Upon seeing Uncle Ben, Peter suddenly felt an urge to cry, as if they hadn't seen each other in a long time.

"Alright, Peter, this is a mistake that every young kid might make. You just acted impulsively, don't blame yourself. Let's go home," Ben said, patting Peter on the shoulder.

"Okay, Uncle Ben..."

"Boom!"

Before Peter could finish speaking, a sudden punch sent him flying to the side. The wall crumbled like a freshly baked cookie. When the smoke cleared, Peter was found embedded in it, his limbs broken and blood gushing from his mouth.

"Peter!" Ben roared angrily, turning to look at the culprit.

A muscular, pale-skinned figure, nearly two meters tall, stood upright directly in front of them, dressed in extremely noble attire.

Two blood-red eyes, gleaming with savage fury, were set in deep-set eye sockets. A scarlet tongue licked sharp fangs, and the look in its eyes as it gazed at Peter was filled with hunger.

"Truly...pure totem power..."

"Who are you?"

The crushing pressure from a higher level of existence almost suffocated Ben, but his love for Peter helped him overcome this fear. He picked up a stick and stood in front of Peter, just as he had once sheltered him from the wind and rain.

"No... Uncle Ben, run!" Peter felt an unimaginable weakness, and the blood overflowing in his mouth prevented him from uttering a coherent sentence.

Hearing Peter's painful cries behind him, Ben felt a pain so intense he could barely breathe. His steps became even more resolute, his eyes glaring at the monster ahead, like a lion protecting its cubs, refusing to yield an inch.

The monster extended its long, scarlet tongue, licking Peter's blood from its fist, and revealed a morbid smile: "No matter which universe you're in, there's always a Ben Parker trying to protect our little Spider-Man. It's truly touching, but alas..."

Five fingers extended sharp claws, flashing with a blinding cold light. With extreme power, a sonic boom resounded in the air as the claws swung fiercely toward Ben's head.

"No!" Peter roared.

Countless Peter-like wails seemed to echo in the void.

At the same time, two words suddenly popped into Peter's mind: destiny!

It was as if someone was whispering in his ear that only by passing the trial called loss could he truly become a qualified inheritor of the power.

"To hell with your trial!"

Just as Ben was about to die under the claws, light appeared.

boom!!!

It was as if a meteorite had fallen to earth, kicking up dust several meters high. A ring of transparent air rippled outwards, blowing onlookers to their knees. As they fell, the onlookers pulled out their camera equipment.

It was a fist, wreathed in an eternal, undying light.

A silver giant, radiating a peaceful light, crouched in the street, his right fist deeply embedded in the ground. He slowly pulled his fist out; the monster from before was now a pile of minced meat, but its deep red eyes were still fixed on the silver giant before it, and fear spread through the pit.

The monster's flesh and blood healed rapidly, and it instantly regained its human form. Ignoring Peter beside it, it used its hands and feet to scramble out of the pit in a disheveled state, determined to escape.

To Peter and Ben's astonishment, the monster soared into the sky.

The silver giant raised his head, placing his hands, one above the other, at his waist. Blue arcs of electricity gathered between his palms, and his arms crossed in a cross shape. The vast orange-red light emanated from him, like a flowing galaxy, moving forward relentlessly.

"Cross Storm!"

The starry sky dimmed, the earth lost its color, and an unparalleled beam of light blasted the monster apart, illuminating the entire city of New York with a dazzling display of fireworks.

Ultraman, reappear!