Marvel: Pay to Win Gambling 16

 Chapter 16: The Spider-Man and the Man

I swear, I don’t look for trouble—trouble finds me.

Even now, standing between an agitated green Lizard and a battered, confused Spider-Man, I hadn’t meant to walk into the middle of it. I just… ended up here.

But if I’d walked away, the friendly neighborhood spider might’ve ended up buried in the neighborhood cemetery.

[Name: Curtis Connors]

[Age: 35]

[Nickname: The Lizard]

[Race: Mutate]

[Ability: Humanoid Lizard Physique, Regenerative Healing]

[Name: Peter Benjamin Parker]

[Age: 18]

[Nickname: Spider-Man]

[Race: Mutate]

[Ability: Spider Sense, Superhuman Strength, Durability and Reflexes, Wall Crawling, Accelerated Healing]

“What. Are. You?” the Lizard hissed, turning his head with an almost childlike curiosity while rubbing the back of his shoulder with his tail.

Kinda convenient, actually. Must be nice to scratch your own back with that thing.

“Get out of here,” Spider-Man warned, pushing himself up. “It’s dangerous for civilians.”

Civilians? Either he was playing it down… or he didn’t see me use my powers earlier.

Still, I played along. Took a few steps forward with a smile.

“Well, I don’t suppose a civilian can do this.”

I lifted my hand, tiny sparks dancing across my fingers as I formed a small orb of crackling electricity. Spider-Man’s lenses widened—probably a raised eyebrow under there too.

“What are you?” he asked, his voice low with curiosity.

Before I could answer, the Lizard snarled, “Get. Lost.”

No warning. Just rage. The monster ripped a mailbox clean out of the sidewalk and hurled it straight at me.

If this wasn’t a deserted alley, there’d be a screaming crowd by now.

Luckily, it was metal.

And following in Magneto’s footsteps, I stopped it midair. Froze it inches from my face, then sent it flying back at the Lizard twice as fast.

He barely dodged—but that worked for me. He didn’t notice the electric sphere streaking in from the side.

Spider-Man flung himself onto a wall with his webbing, watching from a distance as the orb hit the Lizard square in the shoulder.

The creature roared in pain. The scales there charred black, smoke rising in tendrils. I could’ve fried the whole arm off if I wanted.

But I didn’t.

The Lizard was strong. Stupid strong. But he was still a physical brawler—no range, no finesse. Against most mutants, he was nothing. And I wanted to fight, not one-shot him.

“Just stay there, Spider-Man,” I said casually. “I’ll test my skills on this lizard tonight.”

My body had been itching for a fight ever since that bar scene. And no, I don’t usually pick fights—but gaining a bunch of powers in a short span makes you want to use them. Often.

That’s why I didn’t end it right away. I needed to learn. Refine. Not just rely on brute force and explosions.

“No—careful!” Spider-Man shouted, seeing me walk forward.

And he wasn’t wrong.

The Lizard was down a shoulder, but his tail was still very much alive. While one hand clutched his wound, the tail lashed out—fast and vicious.

It would’ve snapped my neck if I hadn’t been ready.

I didn’t have super strength or durability, so I kept my defenses up. Always.

“You… weird monster…” the Lizard groaned, thrashing as his tail suddenly stopped moving.

Tentacles. Mine. I had the tentacle zone active around me from the moment I stepped forward, and the second the Lizard’s tail entered their range—they sprouted and struck. Coiled. Locked it in place.

He tried to punch me. I let him try. More tentacles surged forward, wrapping his arm mid-swing.

Didn’t matter how strong he was—there’s no limit to how many I can summon.

Within seconds, his entire body was bound. Immobilized.

“You—”

“Hush.”

Another tentacle clamped his snout shut.

I turned to Spider-Man. He was stuck to the wall, eyes wide behind those lenses.

“So, Spidey,” I said, dusting my hands off. “What do you usually do after you beat someone like this?”

He blinked, clearly still processing, before stammering out, “I—I usually drop them off near a police station…”

That’s really stupid.

“But with superpowered ones like the Lizard… I end up calling S.H.I.E.L.D.”

S.H.I.E.L.D., huh?

Not sure I want to deal with them just yet.

“Then I’ll have to ask you not to call them,” I said, watching Spider-Man stiffen. “Don’t worry—he’s not going anywhere.”

The tentacles had no time limit. As long as I was within a kilometer, they’d hold. Indefinitely.

But that didn’t seem to reassure him.

So, I turned it up a notch.

“Alright,” I said, stepping closer to the bound Lizard. “Since you’re still unsure, let me really assure you.”

I placed my hand on the Lizard’s chest. Spider-Man tilted his head, confused—but the Lizard? He understood instantly.

It shuddered. Power surged in its limbs—muscles bulging, body straining, the tentacles beginning to rip.

Spider-Man tensed. “What’s happening?!”

“Relax,” I replied, calm as ever. “I just increased his sensitivity to the max. And by sensitivity, I mean pain.”

The Lizard screamed—no, screeched. The burn on its shoulder must’ve felt like hellfire now. Every fiber of its body was a live wire of agony.

I don’t know what it felt—but judging by the way it thrashed, foamed at the mouth, and spasmed…

It was probably begging for death.

And just for good measure, I summoned more tentacles—thicker, tighter. They crushed down around his limbs, sealed his snout completely. No movement. No voice. Just muffled, pitiful wailing.

He couldn’t cry out. Couldn’t fight. Couldn’t even twitch.

And finally… he couldn’t stay conscious.

His body twitched violently once more before going limp. The scales around his skin turned pale. His eyes rolled back.

“Don’t—!” Spider-Man stepped forward as I began unraveling the restraints.

“Relax,” I said again, unfazed. “He fainted.”

The pain broke him. Body and maybe mind too.

“You—” he started, then stopped. Even Spider-Man, the wisecracking kid in red spandex, was at a loss for words.

I’m guessing he’s new to the game. A few months, tops. Still has that idealistic spark. Still thinks justice means mercy.

He looked at the Lizard’s unconscious body, then back at me as I casually walked past.

“Who—no… what are you?”

A good question. Valid, even.

Hero or not, if he thought I was looking for trouble, he’d fight me. Even injured.

“Well,” I said with a grin, “how about I help you first—then answer?”

“What do you—”

He didn’t get to finish.

I activated the Healing Sphere—a soft golden aura encased him in light. He staggered, stunned by the warmth flooding through him. His mouth snapped shut mid-sentence.

[Moolah System: Healing Sphere Activated]

Thanks, System. This ability might just be one of the best.

[Moolah System: We provide the best rewards.]

Yeah. I don’t doubt that.

…

…

—Peter Benjamin Parker “Spider-Man”—

He couldn’t quite figure out what the man in front of him was.

Electricity. Tentacles. Pain manipulation. Healing.

Peter had never met anyone with so many powers bundled into one person. It was a first. And though this guy had helped take down the Lizard, Peter wasn’t sure if he could trust him—or what his real intentions were.

But for now, he was grateful. Deeply.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely, relieved that he wouldn’t have to limp into a hospital or come up with a ridiculous lie for Aunt May. “You even healed my bones…”

That part still felt surreal. Sure, he’d read about people with insane regeneration, but healing others? That was new.

And lucky for him, this one wasn’t a villain. At least, not from what he’d seen so far.

“Well, that should bring you back to your original state,” the blond said with a calm smile. “Though, fair warning—I only heal physical damage. You’ll still need some rest to get your energy back.”

Peter scoffed lightly, sinking onto the pavement with a tired sigh. “This? Please. I’ve gone two days straight on three hours of sleep. This barely counts.”

He leaned back, letting the cool night air hit his face through the mask. “Seriously, though. I probably would’ve died if not for you.”

He glanced at the unconscious Lizard, then back at the stranger. ‘No probably about it. I would’ve died.’ That thing had him dead to rights. And this man—this ridiculously powerful man—had shut it down like it was nothing.

Even now, even knowing the guy meant no harm, Peter couldn’t shake the quiet realization: ‘If this man wanted to, he could kill me. Instantly.’

There was no scenario where Peter could win that fight.

“So,” he asked, cautiously but curiously, “who are you?”

Finally, the man answered.

“Daniel. Daniel Hayes.” He extended a hand. “Apparently, I’m a mutant. Just found that out recently.”

‘Mutant?’ Peter blinked behind the mask. ‘No way. That’s a first.’

He’d heard about mutants, even seen a few headlines here and there—but this was his first time actually meeting one.

And thank God this one was on the friendly side.

“Spider-Man,” Peter said, shaking his hand awkwardly. “Though, I guess you already figured that out.”

Daniel smirked. “What gave it away? The webs? The wall crawling? Or maybe the giant spider on your chest?”

Peter rubbed the back of his head, sheepish. He liked his costume… but yeah, it wasn’t exactly low-key. Especially not to someone who clearly didn’t bother with secret identities.

From what he knew, most mutants didn’t.

He’d read that once, a long time ago, mutants had to hide—stay out of sight or risk being hunted. But after some massive protest-slash-near-civil-war, they’d won their freedom. Now, they walked openly among humans.

Still, not everyone accepted them. So many kept their powers under wraps, blending into the crowd.

“So, you’re a hero, huh?” Daniel asked. “Guess we need people like that. Cops are too busy with pickpockets and drug dealers. Gotta have someone with powers to deal with the other guys with powers.”

Peter nodded—then paused. “Wait… What about you? Aren’t you a hero?”

Daniel burst out laughing. “Me? No way. I’m the furthest thing from a hero. I don’t go out of my way to help people. Honestly? I only stepped in because I was walking down the same street.”

Peter didn’t argue. Not everyone saw responsibility the same way. For Peter, it meant helping where he could. For someone like Daniel, maybe it just meant not using his powers to hurt innocent people. And that was still a form of responsibility.

He’d once heard something similar from a certain schizophrenic, moon-worshipping vigilante. ‘If he counts as a hero…’

Right now, Peter was just glad he didn’t have to fight this guy.

After all, he had a bigger enemy to deal with:

His stomach.

Growl.

Daniel chuckled. “Hungry?”

God, yes. Peter hadn’t had dinner, hadn’t even eaten all day thanks to his class project. He was starving.

“There’s a good restaurant a few blocks from here,” Daniel pointed west. “Had shawarma from there this morning. If you want, we can grab something.”

“We?” Peter blinked, surprised.

Daniel shrugged. “I’ve only had a few drinks today. I’m hungry too. Besides, I’d like to learn a little about you—your powers, the whole hero-villain culture around here.” He smiled. “I’m new in town.”

“Oh?” Peter raised an eyebrow. “Where are you from?”

Daniel laughed. “How about we talk over food? I can hear your stomach crying.”

Peter nodded, thankful the mask hid his blush.

“…Okay.”

And just like that, something quietly began.

An unlikely friendship. Between three people:

A mutant, a mutate, and a schizophrenic.