"Hahaha! He couldn't hold back after just over half an hour? He really is an active kid!"
"Does he have ADHD?"
Many people focused on Spider-Man's energetic personality, while others saw a resemblance to the original Peter Parker.
"He seems to have some self-esteem issues, just like the original Peter Parker!"
"Come on! Third-generation Peter Parker, you are Spider-Man!"
The audience cheered for him, unaware that this Spider-Man was only nine years old and wasn't even in the same school as Liz.
Rhodey smirked and nudged Tony. "Maybe you should teach him some of your experience in picking up girls."
Tony leaned back with a smug grin. "My experience isn't something just anyone can learn. After all, not everyone is Tony Stark!"
"If I were as rich as you, I'd have just as many girls chasing me," a female voice chimed in.
"Yeah!" Tony nodded instinctively, then suddenly froze. That voice sounded… familiar.
He turned around and found Pepper standing at the doorway, arms crossed, staring at him. Without a word, she spun on her heel and walked away.
Tony cursed inwardly, blaming both Banner and Rhodey for not warning him. Now he had no choice but to go and coax Pepper.
Rhodey shrugged at Banner, who was barely holding back his laughter. "He deserved it," Rhodey muttered.
[Spider-Man did a backflip off the container and landed on the ground, eagerly rummaging through Vulture's backpack. "There's gotta be something useful in here!"]
["Okay! Let's see…" He rummaged through the bag and pulled out an Ultron robot head. "Whoa, that's cool!" he said before tossing it aside.}
[Then he picked up a glowing object. "Ah! Hey! This looks like that thing from before!"]
[Karen's voice responded through his suit, "That glow is from an explosive Chitauri energy core."]
["Whoa! Whoa! Are you saying we've been carrying a bomb around?!" Spider-Man's eyes widened as he quickly threw the core away.]
[Karen replied calmly, "It requires radiation to activate its explosive mode."]
[Spider-Man immediately grabbed his backpack and fumbled for his phone. He dialed Ned's number, but there was no signal in the warehouse.]
["NONONONONO!" Realizing the call wasn't going through, he sprinted toward the door, knocking furiously. "Hey! Somebody! Let me out! Please!"]
[He slammed his fist against the door, but there was no response.]
[Turning to the control panel, he muttered, "Karen, you gotta help me override this timer lock!"]
George frowned as he watched. "This is bad. That thing might have radiation and could explode. I didn't expect it to actually be a bomb!"
"Damn it, he's been messing with something that dangerous?" Uncle Ben clenched his fists. "And he's dragging Ned into this?"
The second-generation Spider-Man smiled awkwardly, sneaking a glance at Gwen beside him.
Gwen unconsciously rubbed her nose. She had done something similar more than once in the Sky Dome, knowingly stepping into danger to help. But with the second-generation Spider-Man around, she had always managed to get through safely.
Even so, she knew it was reckless. Sometimes, courage and skill weren't enough—luck played a role too.
[As time passed, the sky brightened, and the sun began to rise. Back in the hotel, Ned anxiously checked his watch.]
[Liz knocked on their door, calling out, "Ned? Peter? We're gonna be late! Come on! Let's go!"]
[Ned panicked. "O-Okay! Hold on! One sec!" He hurriedly grabbed the Chitauri energy core and stuffed it into his bag.]
[Meanwhile, Spider-Man was still trying to break out of the warehouse. He entered a new password into the control panel.]
["Karen, start the 247th test!"]
[This time, the door unlocked with a click. Spider-Man's eyes widened in surprise. "It worked! Yes!"]
[Wasting no time, he shot out a web and swung out of the warehouse, latching onto a passing truck for a quick escape.]
[On the other side, the Academic Decathlon had begun. The host reminded everyone, "Please turn off your phones before we start."]
[Ned handed his phone to the inspector, who sealed it in a white plastic bag.]
[At the same time, Spider-Man crouched behind a truck loaded with cement pipes, frantically calling, "Karen, get me to the Academic Decathlon, fast!"]
["Understood. Provide the exact location."]
["It's right across from the Washington Monument!"]
[The call finally connected, but it was too late—Ned had already entered the stadium. The voicemail prompt played: "This is Ned, please leave a message!"]
["Ned! Call me back! That thing is a bomb!"] Spider-Man yelled into the phone.
[Inside the stadium, Ned was focused on his test, unaware that the Chitauri energy core in his pocket was pulsing with a faint purple glow.]
["There's a vehicle approaching on your right!" Karen warned Spider-Man, who immediately leaped onto the pipes and dashed forward, jumping onto a moving car.]
[Back in the competition, the final round began. "We now enter the tiebreaker! The first team to answer correctly will be the champion!"]
[Flash was sweating bullets. Everyone else looked tense. Then, Michelle Jones suddenly rang the buzzer.]
[All eyes turned to her as the host asked, "Midtown High?"]
[Michelle Jones answered without hesitation. "Zero."]
[The host checked the answer and nodded. "Correct! Midtown High wins the championship!"]
[Cheers erupted. Ned and the team rushed to hug Michelle Jones. Even Flash, despite having done nothing, started running around excitedly.]
[Outside the stadium, the team stood across from the Washington Monument, still celebrating.]
["Wow! We actually won! Guys, I'm so proud of you!" Ned beamed.]
[Flash, never missing an opportunity, smirked. "Told you! We didn't need Parker."]
[Abraham shot him a look. "Flash, you didn't answer a single question."]
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