Dr. Connors was not malicious by nature. Otherwise, he would never have stopped his employer when human experimentation was proposed in the first place.
However, much like the Hulk, once he transformed into the Lizard, Dr. Connors underwent a complete shift in personality.
In other words, the Lizard form was not something Dr. Connors could consciously control at will.
Inside the laboratory, something occurred that even Yuzhou had not anticipated.
In the original timeline, the gene-conversion serum only appeared much later in the story. Yet now, Dr. Connors had already completed it ahead of time.
And at this very moment, having transformed into the Lizard, Dr. Connors was heading toward the tallest tower in the city center, intending to release a toxic mist—
One that would turn the entire city's population into Lizard-men.
---
"Why hasn't Peter come back yet?"
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Aunt May stood anxiously at the doorway, repeatedly looking down the street, waiting for Peter to appear.
Time passed, but there was still no sign of him.
Yuzhou also stepped outside. Seeing Aunt May waiting nearby, he remained silent.
Peter coming home late was nothing unusual. After all, being Spider-Man meant that defending justice took time.
Just then, however, the television inside Aunt May's house broadcast a breaking news report.
After hearing it, Aunt May hurried over to Yuzhou, her voice trembling as she pleaded.
"Mr. Yuzhou, I know you possess extraordinary abilities. Please, save Peter! He's my only family now!"
The news reported that the Lizard had appeared at the tallest tower in the city center, where Spider-Man was already on the scene, preparing to confront him.
Worse still, the police who rushed in not only failed to subdue the Lizard, but had also fired their weapons—injuring Spider-Man in the process.
Upon learning that Peter had been shot, Aunt May was understandably frantic.
"I'll go take a look," Yuzhou said calmly.
After hearing the situation, he immediately set off for the scene.
In the original storyline, this incident was supposed to happen at the very end. Clearly, his earlier interference had caused events to unfold ahead of schedule.
---
City Center.
The shredded remnants of a white lab coat on the Lizard's body clearly marked Dr. Connors' former identity.
Yet at this point, his consciousness had been completely overtaken by the Lizard persona.
Strapped to his waist was a satchel containing the Lizard gene-conversion serum.
His destination was the top of the tower, where he planned to release the serum and spread it across the entire city—
Turning everyone into Lizard-men.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Gunfire erupted, muzzle flashes flaring. In an instant, the Lizard was riddled with bullets and collapsed to the ground.
The police officers cautiously surrounded him, preparing to wrap things up and move on to apprehend Spider-Man.
Then something horrifying happened.
The wounds on the Lizard's body began to heal—on their own.
The Lizard's eyes snapped open as he flew into a frenzy, sending police officers sprawling in all directions. In the chaos, traces of the gene-conversion serum leaked into the air as a fine mist.
Almost immediately, green scales began forming on the officers' bodies. Their genes were already starting to change.
Before reinforcements could arrive, the Lizard leapt upward and began climbing.
Once the serum spread throughout the city, everyone would be transformed.
At that critical moment, Peter—Spider-Man—swung in on a web and slammed into the Lizard halfway up the tower.
The two crashed to the ground together. Reacting swiftly, the Lizard swung his arm and struck Spider-Man.
With a sharp crack, the already-injured Spider-Man was sent flying before he could react.
Clutching his chest as he lay on the ground, Spider-Man looked up at the Lizard.
"Dr. Connors… maybe we can talk this out."
Despite everything, Peter still held onto a shred of hope for his father's old friend.
But the rational Dr. Connors was gone. What stood before him was a creature devoid of human emotion.
"I will force humanity to evolve beyond this inferior form!" the Lizard roared.
"Look at these powerful limbs! These developed muscles! This terrifying strength!"
"This is what humans should possess!"
Hearing such madness, Peter realized that words were useless.
The only option left was to stop the Lizard from installing the serum into the dispersal device atop the tower.
Otherwise, the city would be doomed.
Although an antidote could theoretically be created, it would take time.
In the original timeline, Peter succeeded only with the help of his girlfriend, Gwen, who assisted him in developing and releasing the cure.
But now, Gwen's storyline did not exist at all.
Which meant one thing—
The gene-conversion serum had no cure.
"Dream on!"
Gunshots rang out once more, bullets tearing fresh holes through the Lizard's chest.
Peter turned toward the source of the gunfire, stunned.
It was Captain George Stacy—his future father-in-law.
"Captain, guns won't work on him! Get out of here!" Peter shouted urgently.
"Peter."
George spoke his name, causing Peter to freeze. "Protecting civilians is the duty of the police."
"You… you know?" Peter blurted out in shock.
George had never seen his face beneath the mask—yet he knew.
"If I couldn't figure that much out, I wouldn't deserve this badge," George replied with a faint smile, continuing to fire.
Unfortunately, conventional weapons were completely ineffective. Worse still, they only enraged the Lizard further.
"Die!"
Ignoring the gunfire, the Lizard charged straight at George and grabbed him.
Peter reacted instantly, firing several strands of webbing in an attempt to restrain the monster.
But the Lizard's strength was overwhelming. The webs barely slowed him down before being torn apart.
After slamming George to the ground, the Lizard rushed Peter and smashed into him head-on.
Peter felt as if his internal organs had been violently displaced. A metallic taste rose in his mouth.
The Lizard tore off Peter's mask, revealing blood trickling from the corner of his lips.
Seemingly repulsed by the web-shooters, the Lizard crushed both of Peter's wrists. The web devices shattered instantly.
Then he discarded Peter like trash and climbed unimpeded toward the top of the tower.
"No… I have to stop him…"
Peter lay on the ground, barely conscious, desperately trying to get up.
Only then did he realize—his wrists had been dislocated.
He couldn't move.
George, bloodied as well, forced himself to his feet and emptied his magazine upward.
It was useless.
The Lizard reached the summit and smoothly inserted the gene-conversion serum into the dispersal mechanism.
Green mist immediately began spreading through the air.
"So this is how it ends…"
A voice suddenly echoed beside Peter and George without warning.
Both exhausted men turned their heads toward the sound.
To be continued.