[Revised Physique Scale Understanding:
1.0 = Average human
3.0 = Olympic athlete
5.0 = Peak natural human (Captain America base)
7.5 = Enhanced human (current status)
10.0 = Spider-Man level (estimated post-bite)
15.0 - 20.0+ = Beyond Spider-Man]
He'd passed peak human weeks ago. Now he was in enhanced human territory. Not through serums or genetic modification. Just through training. Absurd amounts of training compressed into subjective years.
His body had adapted. Grown. Evolved. His unique genetics allowing faster progress than should be possible.
'And I'm not done yet,' Peter thought.
---
*August 20th.*
Peter stood in his dimensional training complex. Final assessment before school started.
[Current Status: August 20th
Age: 16 years, 0 months, 17 days
Physique: 10/10
Mind: 10/10
Spirit: 10/10
Martial Arts Mastered: 347 distinct styles
Scientific Knowledge: PhD-equivalent in 12 fields
Engineering Expertise: Master level in 7 disciplines
Languages: Fluent in 25 languages
Skills: 43 different skills at advanced or master level
Net Worth: $142 million
Assets: Hidden base in Queens, dimensional training complex, distributed investments
AI Assistant: FSIS fully operational
Equipment: Advanced suit prototype 85% complete
Contingencies: Multiple backup plans for various scenarios]
He'd done it. Surpassed peak human in every category. Become something beyond what normal training could achieve.
He had literally maxed out his current body's potential. A super boost is needed, an external factor to go beyond this.
But he'd done it through thousands of subjective hours of work. Real work. Earned capability.
Peter looked at his hands. Callused from training. Steady and controlled. Capable of incredible precision or devastating force.
'I'm ready,' he thought. 'Whatever comes next, I'm ready for it.'
---
*September 4th. First Day of Senior Year.*
Peter walked into Midtown High with confidence that radiated from every movement. Sixteen years old. Final year of high school. Everything was about to change.
He looked different now. Not just the haircut from before. His entire physicality had shifted. Muscle definition visible even through his clothes. Posture perfect. Movement efficient and predatory.
Students noticed immediately.
Conversations stopped. People stared.
Flash Thompson jogged up to him. "Dude. DUDE. What the hell happened to you over summer?"
"Training," Peter said simply.
"That's not training. That's a transformation. You look like you could be in movies or something."
Harry Osborn approached from the other direction. "Parker, seriously. Did you hit puberty twice? You're like a completely different person."
"Just grew a bit. Worked out a lot."
"A lot is an understatement," Harry said. He circled around Peter like examining a science project. "You've got to be in the best shape of anyone in this school. Including the seniors who've been training for years."
Peter shrugged. "Hard work pays off."
Down the hallway, MJ, Gwen, and Felicia had all stopped to stare. All three wore similar expressions. Surprise mixed with something else. Appreciation. Interest.
Peter caught each of their eyes in turn. Gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
MJ recovered first. Walked over with determined strides. "Peter Parker. We need to talk. Coffee. After school. No excuses."
"I'll be there," Peter agreed.
Gwen approached next. "The science fair project is due next month. We should finalize our presentation. Library. Tonight. Seven PM."
"Works for me."
Felicia was last. She didn't ask for anything. Just walked up close. Studied him with those green eyes. "You've been busy. Very busy."
She smiled. "I approve. Let's do something fun this weekend. Surprise me with plans."
"I'll think of something," Peter said.
All three girls walked away. Flash and Harry stared at Peter with expressions of mixed awe and envy.
"How?" Flash asked. "How do you have three girls all interested in you?"
"I honestly don't know," Peter admitted.
"Well figure it out and teach me," Flash said. "Because that's magic or something."
Peter laughed. "I'll let you know when I figure it out myself."
Classes started. Peter moved through them with ease. His enhanced Mind made every subject trivial. He helped struggling students. Answered questions teachers posed. Made teachers feel useful while actually teaching himself through their lessons.
Between classes, he worked on his actual projects. FSIS monitored his phone. Provided updates. Managed his schedule. Filtered communications.
"Peter," FSIS said through his earpiece. Discrete. Hidden. "Tony Stark's flight manifests just updated. He's confirmed for departure to Afghanistan on September 8th. Demonstration scheduled for September 10th."
"Understood. Keep monitoring. Alert me of any changes."
"Acknowledged."
Four days. Tony had four days before everything changed for him.
---
*September 8th. Morning.*
Peter's phone rang. Tony Stark's personal number.
"Parker," Tony's voice came through. "Heading to the airport. Just wanted to check if you sent those notes I asked for."
"Sent them three days ago. Check your encrypted SI email."
"Right. I'll review them on the flight." A pause. "Thanks, kid. For the insights. The modifications you suggested might actually save lives someday."
'More than you know,' Peter thought.
"Be careful out there," Peter said aloud. "Afghanistan isn't a joke."
"I'll be fine. Got the best security money can buy." Tony sounded confident. "I'll call you when I get back. We'll do a proper collaboration session. Face to face. Really dig into some projects."
"Looking forward to it."
"See you in a week, Parker."
The call ended.
Peter sat in his room. Stared at his phone.
One week from now, Tony would be missing. Presumed dead. The world would think Iron Man died before he even existed.
But Peter knew better. Tony would survive. Build the first suit. Escape. Become Iron Man.
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