Marvel: My Symbiote System

Today marked the start of a new school term, and Ethan was gearing up for his second semester as a sophomore. As usual, he sat at the dining table, happily savoring his breakfast.

He couldn't help but hum a tune between bites, his mood unusually light.

Watching their son eat with such enthusiasm, Mr. and Mrs. Ross exchanged a knowing look, their smiles warm and understanding. In their eyes, Ethan's excitement must surely stem from the thought of going back to school and catching up with friends—or perhaps making new ones.

In truth, though, Ethan's glee had little to do with any of that. It was his recent "gains" that had him riding high.

Over the past few days, he'd "possessed" several "muscle giants," drastically improving his physical fitness. The results were undeniable: he'd even grown two centimeters taller.

The most significant improvement lay in his strength, which now far exceeded that of an average human. His capabilities ranged from lifting 220 to 250 kilograms, earning him the nickname "Lil' Superman" in his own mind.

Of course, Ethan wasn't delusional. He knew he was nowhere near the level of a real Superman—or even Captain America. His speed, while slightly improved, still lagged behind his newfound strength.

Hana, his mother, sipped her milk and smiled warmly at him. "I took the morning off today. Your dad and I will take you to school."

Hearing this, Ethan shook his head, grinning. "I can go on my own, Mom. You don't have to worry about me."

Luke, his father, chimed in, his voice light. "Your mom just wants to spend some extra time with you."

Ethan smirked and raised an eyebrow. "And what about you, Dad? We haven't had our usual park hangout yet. Mrs. Emily's been asking about you."

The comment earned Luke a sharp glare from Hana, who clearly wasn't amused. Luke quickly defended himself, raising his hands as if to ward off an attack. "Oi! We agreed that our 'man talks' wouldn't involve other women. Besides, if I had free time, I'd rather spend it with your mother."

Hana rolled her eyes at his remark, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "What nonsense are you spouting in front of the child? No sense of propriety at all."

Luke could only chuckle awkwardly under her scrutiny.

Watching his parents' playful banter, Ethan felt like he was caught in a crossfire of pure PDA. He sighed, speechless. It was like a slap of affection right across his face.

---

After breakfast, Luke drove his wife and son to Midtown High School.

Ethan couldn't help but recall bits and pieces from Marvel movies he'd seen years ago. Based on those vague memories, this seemed to be the same high school that Spider-Man—Peter Parker—had attended.

His recollection of the films wasn't exactly crystal-clear, but the thought of being in Spider-Man's old stomping grounds didn't spark much excitement.

If anything, he was more intrigued by pre-Spider-Man Peter than the chance to meet a bunch of "beautiful chicks." From what little he remembered, Midtown High didn't seem particularly dangerous.

The only major villain he could recall was the Vulture, a guy with DIY mechanical wings. Definitely not world-ending stuff.

At the school, a staff member guided the Ross family through a tour, enthusiastically detailing the history, achievements, and facilities of Midtown High. Hana seemed genuinely pleased, her expression lighting up with each new feature introduced. She had meticulously researched schools before choosing this one, sifting through countless options to find the perfect fit.

Midtown High had an excellent reputation without the pretentious airs often associated with elite private institutions. Now, seeing it in person, Hana felt reassured that she had made the right decision.

After the tour, Hana and Luke—her "bag" as Ethan jokingly called him—prepared to leave. Before heading out, Hana reminded Ethan with motherly affection, "Get along with your classmates, okay? And don't forget to make some new friends!"

Ethan nodded with a smile, watching them drive away. With some time to kill before classes began, he decided to roam the campus and take in the environment.

As he wandered aimlessly, he couldn't help but notice the attention he was drawing. Students glanced his way, their curious stares lingering a bit too long. Ethan was well aware of the reason.

His neatly styled black hair, sharp and chiseled features, and deep black eyes gave him an air of mystery. Standing tall at 182 cm (around 6 feet), his athletic build further accentuated his masculine appeal. Dressed casually in a crisp white T-shirt layered with a jacket, fitted jeans, and spotless white sneakers, he radiated a striking yet approachable charm.

Ethan felt the gazes but remained indifferent. So far, no one on campus had particularly caught his attention.

That was until a girl—pretty but not quite his type—mustered the courage to approach him. She hesitated briefly before smiling and saying, "Hi there! Are you new here?"

Ethan glanced at her and couldn't help but think, 'American girls are bold—just casually approaching a stranger like that. I guess that's why dating here seems easier than in other places. Though… she's not really my type. I prefer someone… bustier.'

He gave her a polite smile and a nod but kept walking without saying a word, his cool demeanor leaving the girl standing awkwardly in his wake. As she watched him go, the metaphorical breeze of rejection swirled around her.

Unbothered, Ethan resumed his aimless exploration of the campus, his expression neutral as ever. Eventually, he glanced at his watch and realized it was almost time for class. Turning on his heel, he made his way toward the classroom he had just located earlier.

As he approached the classroom building, loud shouting caught his attention from a short distance away.

Seizing the chance to scope out his new classmates (and definitely not just out of curiosity), Ethan veered toward the commotion.

"Come on, Gordon!" a tall white boy yelled, holding a scrawny, nervous-looking kid upside down. "Hurry up and eat your food!"

The smaller boy, clearly distressed, struggled in vain as the taller boy forced him closer to the food on his plate.

The gathered crowd erupted in cheers, chanting, "Eat it! Eat it!"

The tall boy, clearly enjoying the attention, turned toward someone standing nearby and barked, "Parker! Take a picture of this with your camera!"

The boy named Parker shook his head firmly, his expression resolute. "No, Flash. I'm not taking a picture. Let him down."

Flash, irritated by Parker's refusal and his demand to stop, released Gordon unceremoniously, letting the smaller boy crumple to the ground. Then, his focus shifted, and he began walking toward Parker, his irritation simmering into something more menacing.

Flash grabbed Parker's camera with a grin that practically oozed malice. "Mr. Photographer, if you're not gonna take pictures for me, then say goodbye to your camera!"

Raising the camera high, he prepared to smash it against the ground.

Panicked, Parker lunged forward to stop him, but Flash's bulk and superior strength easily overpowered the slimmer boy. With a shove, Flash sent Parker stumbling backward. His irritation boiled over as he clenched his fist, now aiming it at Parker's face.

Just as Flash's punch was about to land, Ethan emerged from the crowd. Without a word, he grabbed Flash's wrist, halting the punch mid-air with almost casual ease.

Before Flash could even react, Ethan twisted his wrist sharply, forcing his fist back in the opposite direction.

Caught completely off guard, Flash staggered backward, nearly losing his balance. His confusion was palpable as he stared at Ethan, the unfamiliar face who had not only interrupted him but also displayed shocking strength.

Ethan, unimpressed, ignored Flash and turned toward Parker. "You okay?"

Snapping out of his daze, Parker stammered, "I-I'm fine… thanks…" Relief flooded him as he realized he'd narrowly avoided a punch.

The murmurs of the gathered crowd swelled, their whispers punctuated by occasional glances at Flash. The attention only deepened Flash's humiliation.

Furious and desperate to save face, Flash scowled. "I don't know who you think you are, but you've pissed me off!" He held up the camera, shaking it for emphasis. "If you don't apologize right now, I'll smash this camera!"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, staring at Flash as though he were looking at an exhibit of stupidity. 'Is this guy retarded? You're threatening me with a camera that isn't even mine? Wow, this kid's logic is next level.'

Ethan let out a cold chuckle, his tone mocking. "Your name is Flash, right? Let me guess—your grades must be pretty bad."

The crowd fell silent, confused by the sudden shift in conversation.

Ethan continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because you're not very bright. Seriously, you're trying to threaten me with something that doesn't even belong to me? If you want to break it, just break it. What's that got to do with me?"

Parker, who had been quietly wrestling with guilt over Ethan potentially suffering for his sake, was now completely thrown off. Ethan's blunt logic short-circuited his thoughts, leaving him utterly speechless.

Flash, however, was enraged by the insult. In a fit of anger, he hurled the camera toward the ground with all his strength. Yet the expected sound of shattering glass never came.

Stunned, Flash looked down and saw that Ethan had somehow crossed the distance and caught the camera mere inches before it hit the ground.

Ethan straightened, walked back to Peter, and handed him the camera as if nothing had happened.

Peter accepted it hesitantly, mumbling a quiet, "Thanks…" His emotions were a jumbled mess. Gratitude, guilt, confusion—everything swirled together. Within minutes, he had gone from feeling relieved to conflicted, unsure whether he even deserved to feel thankful anymore.

Ethan, unbothered by the internal drama playing out on Peter's face, turned back to Flash. "See? I was right. You're not very smart."

By now, Flash's face was a deep shade of red, his anger boiling over from the repeated humiliation. With a loud growl, he stormed toward Ethan, fully intent on teaching the new kid a painful lesson.

Ethan saw Flash's aggressive move and instinctively stepped forward, prepared to face him. While he wasn't one to actively cause trouble, it didn't mean he would back down from it.

Before either could make another move, a crisp, commanding voice rang out nearby. "Stop! Do you two want to get expelled?!"

A beautiful blonde girl strode confidently between them, placing herself in the middle of the brewing conflict. Ethan's attention was immediately drawn to her.

Her shoulder-length golden hair shimmered under the sunlight, framing a delicate and undeniably captivating face. Her deep blue eyes seemed as vast and piercing as the ocean, and the way her fitted black dress highlighted her curves left an impression.

Though she couldn't have been older than 17, her radiant beauty was almost arresting. Ethan thought she looked like a princess plucked straight out of a fairytale—if not for the fiery anger clouding her face at the moment.

Gwen's sharp gaze darted between Ethan and Flash. "Class is about to start. If you two keep standing here like bulls ready to charge, I'll go get a teacher. And you both know what the consequences will be."

Ethan was briefly captivated—not just by her beauty but also by the assertiveness that stood in stark contrast to her delicate appearance. Flash, however, seemed to shrink under her glare, clearly recalling some past unpleasant experience involving teachers.

But the faint smirk on Ethan's face reignited Flash's anger. Turning to Ethan, Flash snarled, "Hey, kid, don't leave after school. Meet me at the basketball court. We'll settle this once and for all."

He paused, narrowing his eyes and adding with a sneer, "Oh, and if you're scared you might shit yourself, just admit it now. Don't worry, I won't laugh. After all, it's normal for yellow monkeys to suck at basketball."

The tension crackled as Gwen's anger flared at Flash's blatant racism. "Flash!" she snapped, her voice sharp and filled with fury. She opened her mouth to say more, but Ethan raised a hand, cutting her off.

Ethan's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, unflinching stare. His gaze locked onto Flash, and the crowd seemed to hold its breath for a moment.

"Flash, right? You're awfully confident. That's fine, though. After school, I'll teach you what it means to respect others. If you don't learn the lesson the first time, I won't mind giving you a few extra classes. Be ready to lose."

The finality in his words left no room for doubt. Without sparing Flash another glance, Ethan turned and strode toward the classroom, his calm composure contrasting sharply with Flash's sputtering rage.

Gwen watched him leave, raising an eyebrow as if reevaluating this unexpected new student. She hadn't expected the situation to escalate so quickly, but at least they hadn't physically fought—yet.

Grabbing her red-haired best friend's arm, Gwen muttered something under her breath, and the two headed toward their classroom.

Peter Parker finally snapped out of his daze, as the bell rang and hurried off to his own class.

The crowd dispersed, each whispering their thoughts about what had just happened as they went their separate ways.