The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

The Green Goblin heard the alarm from the glider, indicating that he had reached the machine's maximum altitude.

After glancing at the hospital's location and ensuring Peter wouldn't be caught in the blast, the Green Goblin decided not to linger.

He reached his right hand over to the right wing, and a palm-sized sphere popped out, which he grabbed.

"Taste some fresh candy!"

Activating the switch, the Green Goblin immediately hurled the sphere towards Gwen.

"Beep beep beep beep!"

The sphere emitted rapid beeping sounds, and green light leaked from the cracks in its casing.

"That definitely doesn't sound delicious."

Gwen narrowed her eyes and shot a web at the incoming sphere, ensnaring it securely. Using her web-shooters, she spun in the air and flung the sphere away.

The sphere detonated immediately after being thrown, and the resulting blast even affected Gwen's balance.

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Gwen spread her arms wide, struggling to regain her balance.

"Don't be picky! This is my masterpiece; it has a very spicy flavor!"

The Green Goblin cackled maniacally, not stopping his assault as he launched two more bombs.

"Thanks, but I prefer sweet things."

Gwen held her arms out, making a gun gesture with both hands simultaneously, causing her suit to transform.

Her pink gloves turned black, covered in green circuitry. Energy flowed through the circuits, converging at her index fingers, and finally, she shot two beams of green laser.

The lasers pierced the bombs, detonating them prematurely. The explosions overturned the glider, causing the Green Goblin to lose his grip and fall from the sky.

The Green Goblin didn't panic; he quickly pressed a button on his belt with his right hand, attempting to recall the glider, while his left hand pulled a ripcord hidden in his shoulder armor.

Two armor plates on his back popped open, and a parachute deployed from within, slowing his descent.

"Looks like you need some help."

Before the Green Goblin could catch his breath, Gwen flew to his side, crossed her arms, and slowly descended with him.

"Oh, you're so thoughtful. How should I repay you?" The Green Goblin's voice was filled with gratitude, as if he wanted Gwen to save him.

"How about a bullet?"

Before the words were even finished, the Green Goblin pulled out a uniquely shaped mini-pistol from his belt, pulled the trigger, and a bullet flew towards Gwen.

Gwen dodged the bullet with a pirouette, like a ballet dancer. Her spider-sense had been warning her since the Green Goblin started talking, making a surprise attack nearly impossible.

The Green Goblin fired two more shots. To maintain concealment, this mini-pistol had a reduced magazine capacity; three bullets were its maximum.

However, the Green Goblin's goal wasn't to kill Gwen; the pistol was only to buy time for the glider to return.

The bullets ran out, but the Green Goblin still hadn't seen the glider return.

What was happening? At the glider's speed, it should have returned long ago. That level of explosion shouldn't have been enough to damage it.

The Green Goblin couldn't help but turn back and look in the direction of the glider, only to witness a shocking scene.

A humanoid figure composed of lava, engulfed in flames, was floating not far away. Beneath its feet was a cloud of burning fire, and his beloved glider was clutched in its hand.

The surface temperature of that thing appeared extremely high, not only because the Green Goblin saw the flames burning on its head and shoulders,

but also because the surface of his glider was already melting under its grip, liquefied metal constantly dripping down, vaporizing as it fell into the cloud of fire beneath its feet, looking terrifying.

"Don't worry," Yang Le, now in his Flame form, noticed the Green Goblin's gaze and said to him.

"I definitely won't compensate you for it."

"What the hell is that thing?"

The Green Goblin muttered to himself. Compared to this guy, he seemed like a normal person.

"Alright, now your last resort is gone too." Gwen took the opportunity to fly to the Green Goblin's side, snatching the pistol from his hand, grabbing the parachute cords, and controlling him in the air.

"Let's see who you really are."

Gwen reached out to remove the Green Goblin's mask, but he stopped her.

"Instead of wondering who I am, you should worry about your partner." The Green Goblin looked at Gwen with a sinister grin.

"My glider still has plenty of bombs inside. Your hot-tempered friend better be careful not to ignite them, oh dear, that would be beautiful!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud bang rang out, followed by an astonishing blast that sent Gwen and the Green Goblin spinning wildly before they finally regained their balance.

"Hahahahaha!"

The Green Goblin laughed maniacally, believing he had eliminated one enemy.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart, looks like you'll need to piece your friend back together, if there's anything left of him."

Gwen looked at the laughing Green Goblin without any emotion, simply moving her hands to turn his head.

The Green Goblin's laughter abruptly stopped, as if someone had grabbed his throat.

Yang Le floated unharmed in front of him, arms crossed, looking down at him.

"How is this possible? That amount of explosives, how could any living thing survive?"

Everything that had happened today exceeded the Green Goblin's understanding. He originally thought this equipment would allow him to run rampant, but he never expected to capsize on his first outing.

"Obviously, I'm not a normal creature." Yang Le snapped his fingers, creating a shower of sparks.

Even the explosion of a spaceship couldn't kill a Flame Being; these few bombs couldn't even brush off a layer of ash.

"By the way, the flames from the explosion were eaten by me. If you want them, I can spit them out for you."

After saying that, Yang Le opened his mouth, and a few flames fell from his mouth, landing on the Green Goblin, scaring him into frantically beating out the fire.

"What species are you? How could nature produce something like you?"

The Green Goblin wanted to ask more questions, but Gwen pulled him to the same level.

"You ask too many questions." Gwen frowned and held out her other hand.

"Given your lack of cooperation and your terrible laughter, the jury has unanimously decided that you should take a nap."

"Thump!"

The Green Goblin, after receiving a forehead flick from Gwen, slumped like a puppet with its strings cut, limbs dangling weakly, head tilted to the side, and passed out.

"Are you sure you didn't turn him into an idiot?"

The Green Goblin's helmet had a dent in it, even showing cracks.

Yang Le looked at Gwen with a face full of black lines. That sound was definitely not the sound a forehead flick should make; it sounded more like knocking on a wooden fish.

"His laughter was too terrible."

Gwen emphasized again, while also shaking the Green Goblin in her hand.

"Okay." Yang Le raised his hands in surrender.

"Let's go back to the secret base. I have a feeling we might have caught a big fish."