At the very top of the Empire State Building, one of New York's most iconic landmarks, the wind screamed like a living thing.
More than four hundred meters above the ground, Batman clung to the cylindrical tower with one hand. His body remained perfectly still despite the violent air currents trying to tear him away. Through the narrow slits of his mask, his gaze swept across the city below.
Traffic flowed endlessly like glowing veins. New York never slept.
Yet in the distance, one building stood out.
The Osborn Group headquarters was completely dark.
No lights.
No activity.
No signs of life.
That alone made it suspicious.
With a controlled shift of his arm, Batman pushed away from the tower.
His body tilted backward—
—and he leapt into the void.
The city rushed upward as he fell.
A Batarang shot out, anchoring to the top of the Osborn Building. Batman's descent slowed instantly as he swung toward the structure and began descending along the exterior wall, floor by floor.
---
Yesterday, Batman had gone straight to the second underground laboratory.
It had been empty.
Later, he checked the twenty-fifth floor, where he found only a group of scientists arguing over simulation data. Norman Osborn had been nowhere in sight.
That absence bothered him.
Tonight, Batman adjusted his approach.
He started from the top—the sixtieth floor, Norman Osborn's private domain.
Silent.
Empty.
He moved downward methodically.
When he reached the twenty-fifth floor again, the same group of scientists was still there. Their discussion was heated, voices sharp with tension.
Batman watched from the shadows for a moment.
Then he moved on.
Floor after floor passed with no sign of Osborn.
Finally, Batman withdrew.
With no usable intel and no opportunity to plant listening devices, he headed toward Hell's Kitchen, unwilling to waste time.
---
Thirty minutes later, a black car pulled into the Osborn Building's private garage.
Norman Osborn had arrived.
He exited the vehicle, his expression rigid, jaw clenched tight. Without acknowledging anyone, he stepped into the elevator and rode it straight to the twenty-fifth floor, where the scientists were still locked in debate.
"Enough," Norman said coldly.
The room fell silent.
"Prepare for human trials."
The words hit like a hammer.
A bald researcher swallowed nervously.
"Mr. Osborn… all previous subjects are dead. Have you acquired new test candidates?"
Every pair of eyes turned toward Norman.
"No," he replied calmly. "And I won't."
A pause.
"To prevent General Ross from using this as leverage against me…" Norman continued, "…I've decided to enter the experiment myself."
The room erupted.
"But that's insane!"
"There's still time before the deadline!"
"You don't need to take this risk!"
Norman raised a hand, silencing them.
"Spider-Slayer has been arrested. Spider-Man is missing. I can no longer rely on anyone else."
His eyes hardened.
"Hurry up. If anyone still has objections, speak now. Otherwise, don't waste my time."
No one dared argue further.
The researchers followed him into the elevator.
As it descended, a masked researcher finally spoke.
"Mr. Osborn… why are you so obsessed with General Ross's Super Soldier project? Is it really just about business cooperation?"
Norman didn't get angry.
These people had been with him since the company's founding.
Instead, he answered.
"Do you remember our slogan?"
He looked at them one by one.
> 'Human Evolution, Achieved Through Science.'
"That slogan isn't marketing," Norman said quietly. "It's my life's purpose."
"For years, we focused on genetic technology—modified crops, altered organisms, incremental progress."
"But true human evolution?" He shook his head. "We were crawling."
The elevator passed the first basement floor—where powered armor and gliders were tested.
Then the second—where failed human experiments had taken place.
It didn't stop.
It continued downward.
The doors finally opened on the third underground level.
---
This was the true human trial facility.
The space was small and sealed, dominated by a transparent octagonal chamber large enough to hold one person. Inside it stood a heavy metal frame designed to lock a body in place.
Four tanks were connected to the chamber.
A control console faced it directly.
Norman removed his shirt and stepped inside the cage.
Cold metal clamps locked around his limbs.
The sensation made him gasp.
"General Ross showed me my mistake," Norman said, forcing himself to breathe evenly. "His vision was small. He wanted soldiers."
"I want salvation."
"If this serum works—even imperfectly—it could cure any disease."
"Cancer. Genetic disorders. Degeneration."
"The Osborn Group would change the world."
He clenched his jaw.
"Trading the lives of a few homeless people for the lives of millions…"
"…Even God would forgive that."
A pain-dulling mouthpiece was placed between his teeth.
He bit down hard.
"Start."
The chamber sealed.
The metal frame tightened.
Then—
Green mist filled the cage.
It thickened rapidly, swallowing Norman's body.
His screams echoed through the chamber.
Data spiked wildly on the monitors.
An elderly researcher with white hair pressed his hands against the glass.
"Norman! Can you hear me?!"
The screams grew weaker.
"Stop the experiment!" the old man shouted. "He won't survive!"
The researchers hesitated.
Then a hoarse voice emerged from the mist.
"…Continue."
"Norman!"
"I said—continue!"
The mist intensified.
Minutes passed like hours.
Then slowly—
The green vapor began to fade.
Silence followed.
"Check his vitals!" someone yelled.
The monitors beeped.
A heartbeat.
"He's alive…"
"Did it work?"
"…He looks stronger."
The cage was opened.
They moved to free him—
—
Norman Osborn's eyes snapped open.
They were bright green.
With a roar, he tore the metal frame apart like paper.
Before anyone could react, he struck.
One slap.
The old man's head separated from his body, spinning through the air.
Blood sprayed across the chamber.
Screams filled the room.
But they didn't last long.
Minutes later, the third basement floor was silent.
Bodies lay everywhere.
Walls were painted red.
And Norman Osborn was gone.
---
That night—
A monster was born.
The Green Goblin had entered New York.
------------------------------------
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