Chapter 131: Inner Demon - part 1

Right in front of me stood Michelle, wearing a red mask.

That mask… it had been destroyed two years ago. It shouldn’t even exist anymore.

"…Michelle, why—"

The moment I tried to call out, the red mask lunged at me. A fist wrapped in vibranium armor came straight at me—

"…!"

I dodged and put some distance between us. Michelle didn’t follow up, only staring straight at me.

…Wait, is it really Michelle? It only looks like Redcap’s form, but the chances it’s someone else are high. That red mask shouldn’t exist anymore.

…And yet, the way it fights is just like her.

Black haze. The substance Mister Negative conjured was covering this whole floor.

The scenery warped, taking on an unreal shape.

Shattered chunks of concrete floated in midair. Windows hung from the ceiling. The floor was on the wall. Desks sprouted sideways out of surfaces. The elevator was flipped upside down.

Everything I saw defied reality. And yet, I could still feel the solid floor beneath my feet.

My hyper-spider-sense was detecting too much danger all at once, so much that I couldn’t make sense of it.

…Is this reality? Or just an illusion? My head was spinning.

Up and down twisted around, the ground beneath me swaying. And in that moment, Redcap launched off the floor.

"Could you maybe just… wait a second…!"

No response. No time to think, either.

…There’s no choice but to fight. But I—

"Ugh!"

A flying kick came for me. I blocked with my arms… and sure enough, the weight was real. My bones creaked with the sound of strain.

This wasn’t like Mysterio’s illusions, the kind that only tricked the eyes. It felt real, solid… painfully real.

Redcap pulled back a few steps, then kicked off the ground. She bounded through the air, kicked off a wall, and came at me again.

Her arm clamped around my torso.

"Uwah!?"

She slammed me down against the floor, mounted me, and raised her fist—

"Da—damn it…!"

I twisted, rolling us over. In an instant, we had switched, me straddling her instead.

I drew back my fist—

Fist raised—

Higher—

"………!"

I couldn’t bring it down.

The memory surged back. The night I learned who she truly was. The night I struck the face of the girl I loved.

Beneath the shattered red mask, Michelle’s bloodied, tear-streaked face came flooding back.

Her expression, despair carved deep into it, as blood and tears mixed while she looked up at me.

It was these hands that hurt her. And I swore I’d never do it again. Never let myself harm her again.

So—

Even if this red mask isn’t really her—

Even if it’s not real—

There’s no way I can bring my fist down.

Even if this is just an illusion, I can’t hurt her. I can’t be certain it isn’t Michelle. I can’t be certain this isn’t reality. Even if I were 99% sure it wasn’t her, that 1% terrifies me.

My vision distorted.

"Haa…hah…"

My breath escaped, ragged and uneven.

Even as I breathed, it felt suffocating. My lungs and throat ached.

I leapt off Redcap and landed shakily. My steps faltered, my legs nearly giving out. Strength wouldn’t gather in my body, like I could collapse at any second.

When I looked up, Redcap was rising to her feet, slowly closing in.

…This is my trauma. The wound in my heart I’ll never forget.

It felt like a knife being driven into that old scar. Pain flared sharp and deep.

I brushed my side—where, long ago, she had stabbed me with a knife. The scar had faded, but the pain returned all the same.

Redcap ignored me, stepping closer.

Don’t come. Don’t come… please don’t come any closer.

I don’t want to fight you.

"Haa… haa…"

I forced myself to suppress the urge to run. Smacked my trembling legs, and faced Redcap head-on.

If this was Mister Negative’s illusion, it was a cruel, vicious attack.

…But then, a contradiction. Mister Negative couldn’t possibly know about my past.

This scene—only Stephen Strange, Michelle, and I knew about it. And even if anyone else had, Mephisto had erased their memories.

Which means… the source of this illusion couldn’t be Mister Negative.

This was created by me… by my own mind?

The one hurting me… is me?

Redcap approached, a black knife in her hand.

A hit from that would be fatal.

…I can’t afford to lose here. No matter who I lose to, I cannot lose to my past.

"…That’s right. I can’t… stay stuck here."

I have to stop Mister Negative. I have to stop Martin Li. I have to stop Devil’s Breath, so no one dies. I have to help Michelle.

So I can’t lose. I can’t stop now.

I knocked aside the stabbing knife—

"You—!"

My fist struck Redcap in the face. Or rather… it landed.

The red mask cracked—revealing beneath it the face of the one I love. Michelle’s face, ruined with blood and tears, filled my vision.

…This isn’t real. This isn’t real, this isn’t real, this isn’t real!

Even as I told myself that, the sight before my eyes tortured me. My body chilled, bile rising sharp and sour in my throat.

The worst feeling imaginable.

"Michelle…!"

As Redcap—no, Michelle—collapsed, I reached out to her. Even knowing this wasn’t real, my hand stretched out.

I grasped her arm. But… it began to crumble, rotting away.

"Wh—what… why!?"

Her body melted like sludge, spilling across the ground, her form dissolving.

This isn’t Michelle. It’s an illusion.

I know that. I know it. And yet—

"Ugh…!"

Nausea hit me.

"…Nn…hah… it’s fine… this isn’t… real…! It’s not…!"

I forced it down, enduring it. To steady my warped vision, I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again.

Immediately, a kick struck me from behind.

"Argh…!?"

My hyper-sense was numb. My reaction too slow.

I slammed my foot into the ground, spinning around.

And there it was… a green goblin mask.

"…This time, Norman?"

Norman Osborn. The Green Goblin. He shouldn’t be alive—Michelle killed him. Harry’s father.

He sprinted straight at me.

"Spidey, Spidey Spidey!"

He seized my neck and dragged me. I tried to resist, but strength wouldn’t gather in my body.

"Don’t—ngh—yell in my ear…!"

Norman’s voice, echoing directly in my head, shook me to the core.

"I died because of you! Because you failed to stop him! You left Harry alone!"

"Ghh—!"

A knee slammed into my gut. His grip around my throat tightened.

"You let him sin! You forced the sin on him!"

"…Damn you…!"

I kicked the Goblin away, sick of his rambling. Leaning against a wall, I sucked in deep breaths.

Dizziness overtook me—whether from ragged breathing, or from my mind fracturing under pressure, I couldn’t tell.

"You’re useless! You’re meaningless! You can’t do anything! You can’t save anyone!"

"…Shut up!"

I punched the Goblin across the face. The mask cracked—beneath it was nothing but a hollow void of darkness.

『That’s how you’ve always forced down anyone different from you—with violence! Nothing’s changed. You haven’t changed! Not since back then!』

My vision flickered black-negative, white-positive. The scene warped, reflecting my past.

"Ugh…!"

『That’s right, Peter Parker! You’ve always been selfish! Always… from the very beginning!』

What appeared before me… was the hallway of an arena. I was counting the money I’d earned, thinking maybe I’d buy something nice for home… a little something to make my family happy.

A voice rang out from far away.

『That’s a thief! Stop him!』

A man ran across my path. A security guard gave chase… but the thief I let go escaped into the elevator. This building only had one. There was no way they’d catch him in time.

『Why didn’t you stop him!? If you’d just stuck out your foot, you could’ve stopped him!』

A voice condemning me.

『Sorry, but that’s not my job. That responsibility isn’t mine.』

Trying to dodge the hassle, that’s what I said back then. With my newfound power, I’d grown arrogant… betraying my uncle and aunt.

The scenery shifted.

Now it was Aunt May’s house in Queens. Outside—countless police cars. Aunt May’s voice, crying in grief.

I dropped the cake I was holding, and rushed inside.

There, on the living room carpet stained red with blood, was Uncle Ben’s body.

"Uncle Ben! Uncle Ben!"

"Kid, stay back! Get away!"

The police pulled me away, tearing me from my uncle’s side.

My family… reduced to a silent corpse. Rage consumed me.

『I’ll never forgive you… I’ll make you pay!』

I eavesdropped on the police radio, and before long I reached the one who killed Uncle Ben—faster than they did.

I tackled the man in the black ski mask.

『Why… why did Uncle Ben have to die at the hands of someone like you!?』

Driven by rage, I struck him again and again. My first time hitting a human. The awful sensation burned into me, but anger drowned reason out.

『Uncle Ben’s never coming back! Aunt May is suffering! Because of you… because of you!』

I kept hitting him. Over and over, until he bled. Finally, I tore off his mask—

『The thief I let go…!?』

It was the same man. The one I’d let slip away at the arena.

In the end, it was my fault. I’d drowned in power, refused responsibility.

But that’s not me anymore. I’ve changed.

With great power comes great responsibility.

I learned that. I’m not the same person I was.

…I shouldn’t be. And yet—

『No! You haven’t changed! Nothing’s changed!』

The ground gave way beneath me. I fell.

『You’re nothing but a self-righteous man, calling yourself a good guy while crushing villains underfoot!』

『Mysterio』, face hidden behind a fishbowl helmet, blasted me away. I tumbled across the ground, slamming against a wall. The air burst from my lungs.

『Hypocrite!』

『Vulture』, armored for flight, kicked me down. I slipped from the rubble and hit the ground, my bones creaking all over.

『You claim it’s for others? Don’t lie!』

Lightning-wreathed 『Electro』 struck me. Electricity surged, my body convulsing, vision flickering.

『You just want to look good! You just want praise!』

『Rhino』, in his armored suit, pummeled me. A kick sent me flying. My body tingled, numb, refusing to move as I wanted.

『You only want to escape your guilt! You only want to believe your existence has meaning!』

The green tail of 『Scorpion』 stabbed me, venom burning through my body.

"N-no! I—"

Scarlet tendrils wrapped around me, hoisting me up.

『“Friendly Neighborhood?” You’re nothing but a coward who just wants to run away!』

『Carnage』 slammed me against the floor. Shards of broken concrete tore into me.

『Yes… in the end, you can’t save anyone.』

A pitch-black armored suit strangled me. The red mask—Redcap—loomed close.

『A coward… a hypocrite… worthless… Peter Parker is—』

My consciousness blurred. Pain wracked my body.

『Self-righteous… only able to validate himself by saving others… you are—』

My head spun. Nausea churned.

『Unable to save anyone.』

I no longer knew which way was up, which was down. Pitiful groans escaped me. All I could do was struggle weakly.

Laughter rang in my ears. Jeering voices. Condemning voices. Mocking me.

Even when I covered my ears, I couldn’t shut them out.

I… I—

No more──

『Spider-Man』

I hear a voice.

『……Peter』

I hear a voice.

『Peter, wake up』

I hear a voice.

『Believe in yourself』

A gentle voice.

『You are not worthless』

Trying to pull me out of the darkness.

『I believe in you. So──』

My consciousness rises.
The black haze covering my mind is rapidly lifting.

『Wake up, “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.” Save me』

I open my eyes.

I shoot out webbing.
That’s right, I am the “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.”

Even if I’m not acknowledged.
Even if I’m despised.

I will save someone.
That’s what great power is for.

I yank 『Vulture』 toward me and smash him with a punch.
He shatters like black crystal and dissipates into mist.

No matter what I am, no matter how weak I may be… I will still help others.
I will fight for someone.

I kick 『Carnage』 away, and strike 『Rhino』.

Helping others at the cost of myself—even if that’s called hypocrisy… it’s still “good.”
Just like Uncle Ben, just like Aunt May… being able to fight for someone else is a wonderful thing.

I grab 『Scorpion』’s tail and hurl him.
He crashes into 『Mysterio』, sending him flying.

With great power comes great responsibility.
That is the duty of those with power.

I will not run from that responsibility.
Even if I falter, even if I lose my way, even if I don’t understand, even if it’s sad and painful──

I will fight.
Because that’s who I am.

Helping people—that is where I belong.

『Spidey!』

"Enough! I’m sick of that tasteless mask of yours!"

I strike 『Green Goblin』 and shatter him into pieces.

And then, the only one left──

『…………』

"Michelle"

The red mask stares at me.
A moment later… without a word, her false image begins to crack.

And just like that… it crumbles──

"Peter"

What’s there now… isn’t the red mask.
It’s Michelle, unfolding a black mask to reveal her true face to me.

"…Mi, chelle?"

She was holding me, letting me rest on her lap.

But… something is a little different.
Amidst the black haze, her eyes glimmer faintly.

"…Awake?"

She looked at me with gentle eyes.

I glanced around.
…The same scene as when I first entered.

The black haze covers the entire room.
There are no wounds on my body.
…Had I not moved an inch this whole time?

"Michelle, I…?"

"You were put to sleep."

Michelle helped me to my feet.
I staggered a little… but yeah, I’m fine now.

"Mr. Negative’s power… that energy drags out the demons within others."

"The demons within?"

"…It stimulates people’s psychological trauma and reshapes them into villains."

"…I see."

So I was completely caught in it.
As my brows lowered slightly, Michelle pulled me into an embrace.

"I have these ‘eyes.’ So it’s okay… Being able to see all parallel worlds means I can see things objectively…"

I hugged her back.
…My heart, which had been racing like a drum, gradually calmed down.

Little by little, I regained my composure.
And then, I spoke.

"Michelle, what about ‘Devil’s Breath’?"

"The activation switch was pressed… If we don’t inject the antidote ampule within the next hour, it’ll be irreversible."

I frowned.

"What about the other S.H.I.E.L.D. members?"

"They escaped. Coming into this situation would only have added more trouble to save them. I told them to run."

"…That makes sense."

If being a burden is what you mean, then I’m the same.
After all, I’d just been knocked out.

Whether she knew my thoughts or not, Michelle continued.

"But we haven’t gotten the Maggia members out. It wasn’t possible to let them escape."

"…Then we need to save them."

"…Yeah."

Michelle reached into the pouch at her waist and took out a small container.

"This. I duplicated it from the ampule we got from Black Cat… and increased the concentration. If we inject it directly into 『Devil’s Breath』, it’ll be neutralized in one shot."

"…That’s amazing."

"『Devil’s Breath』 is a toxic compound that manipulates genes… S.H.I.E.L.D. has scientists who specialize in genetics."

I nodded.
Then, with a faintly hesitant expression, she spoke.

"One of us has to inject the ampule into 『Devil’s Breath』, while the other fights Mister Negative. So, Negative──"

"I’ll fight him."

Michelle met my gaze.
…Her expression still showed a little hesitation.

"It’ll be fine… I mean, sure, I was knocked out by hallucinations earlier, so maybe that’s not convincing."

Right.
I had just been overwhelmed by Mister Negative’s illusions.

That’s why she’s worried.
If I collapse in front of him again… who knows what could happen.

But Michelle shook her head.

"No… Peter, you broke free on your own. That’s why I’m not worried about that."

"Not on my own… I heard your voice. Telling me to ‘wake up.’"

When I said that, Michelle frowned slightly.

"…You heard it?"

"Yeah. Thanks to you, I made it back."

She gave me a small, embarrassed smile… then nodded.

"Then, Peter… please. Stop Mister Negative—stop Martin Li."

"Yeah. I’ll stop him."

I slapped my own cheek to sharpen my focus.
Michelle stepped closer and hugged me softly.

Then, closing her black mask, she looked straight at me.

『I’m counting on you, Spider-Man』

"Of course. Leave it to me, Nightcap."

Her fist pressed lightly against my chest… and then we split, heading in different directions.

I shot webbing upward, scaling the open atrium of the building.
…On the way, I spotted several collapsed figures.

『Maggia』 members.
Mister Negative—Martin Li’s revenge was about to be carried out.

『Maggia』 weren’t innocent civilians.
They were mafia.
They had even gone after my aunt.

But I still had to stop him.

Helping them… that wasn’t all.
There was one more person I had to save.

Running along the wall, pulling on my webs… I reached the top floor.

…『Devil’s Breath』 wasn’t here.
But the one I came for was.

『…You would interfere with me, Spider-Man』

Seated in a chair, hands clasped, head hanging low—Mister Negative.

"I’ll interfere. Because I can’t allow what you’re trying to do."

『…Why?』

Mister Negative rose, turning to face me.
The black haze covered him.

…So that’s it. I hadn’t noticed before, but he looked like a photo of Martin Li reversed in negative.

His face, twisted by rage.

『They are villains. People who deserve to die!』

The room was swallowed in black.
The haze materialized his trauma.

A young Martin Li, strapped to an operating table… and his parents, probably.

『Maggia』 scientists injected something into them.

『I alone survived! Only me!』

His parents writhed… then went still.
Martin Li broke free of his restraints… and slaughtered the scientists around him.

He must not have been able to control his powers yet.
Stabbing with scalpels from the table, bludgeoning with chairs… even when bullets hit him, he didn’t stop──

『This is the “responsibility” entrusted to me! I must see it through!』

Martin Li’s revenge… it wasn’t only for himself.
It was for the family that had been killed.

But──

"Even so, you can’t do this…!"

『So, that’s it! You intend to save them? You still haven’t realized—they aren’t worth saving!』

"I…!"

I did hate 『Maggia』.
I couldn’t honestly say I wanted to save them.

But whether they should be saved or not—that’s not for me to decide.
They should live, and face justice under the law.

I never thought I was someone great enough to judge others.

And above all──

"The one I want to save… is you, Martin Li!"

『…Me?』

When I called him by his real name, his eyes wavered, looking away in confusion.

"Earlier… 『Maggia』 attacked the 『F.E.A.S.T.』 building."

『…What?』

His reaction—shock, concern—showed clearly on his face.
…Just as I thought, he didn’t know.

That attack wasn’t Martin Li’s will.
It was someone else’s scheme.

He… isn’t a pure villain.

"It’s okay. I went there. No one was hurt!"

『…So what! That has nothing to do with me!』

He hardened his expression and glared at me.

"It does matter! That place—you built it!"

『You’re… trying to confuse me!』

Mister Negative drew a sword.
It flexed like a whip, its blade dyed pitch black.

"That place is kind! Someone who could build a place like that… can’t be doing this!"

『Silence! It’s I who will cleanse 『Maggia』!』

He swung his sword.
The ground split apart, white and black sparks scattering.

…If that hit me, I wouldn’t walk away.
I fired webbing and vaulted to the wall.

"You can’t give in to your hatred!"

『I must have my revenge!』

"Even so, killing is wrong!"

The sword lashed out at where I’d been.
The wall split apart, fragments flying through the air.

『I know my parents won’t return with revenge! But even so, it must be done!』

"I just… don’t want you to kill anyone else!"

『Stay out of my business!』

The black haze swirled violently around Mister Negative.
He was preparing something.

…Damn. Maybe we’ve passed the point where words can reach him.

But from what we’d talked about earlier… Mister Negative still carried Martin Li inside.
That kindness was real.

Just like Uncle Ben, just like Aunt May—he was someone who could fight for others.
That’s why I couldn’t let him sink deeper into sin.

I had to pull him out from the demon nesting in his heart.

…The black haze swelled, forming a massive body.
From the floor, only its upper half rose—a demon.
Its face resembled the masks worn by the 『Demons』.

『If you insist on standing in my way… then die, Spider-Man!』

The moment Mister Negative gave the command, the massive demon lunged for me.

"I can’t die! I won’t let you become a murderer… and I promised I’d make it back safely!"

With a roar, Martin Li’s inner demon—the 『Inner Demon』—closed in on me.
I clenched my fists tight.