[Harry immediately clutched his neck with his right hand, gasping for breath. Peter knew this wouldn't work. His eyes darted upward, spotting the gears above Harry's head. Without hesitation, he shot a web toward them.]
[The web wrapped around Harry's neck twice, tightening as the gears at the back began to rotate. The force immediately constricted Harry's throat.]
[Peter finally found a moment to glance downward, just as the stick wedged in the gears lost its grip, causing the mechanism to lurch forward by another notch.]
[The iron rods supporting the structure bent and snapped entirely, crashing down below as if foreshadowing Gwen's impending fate…]
[The sound of gears grinding filled Peter's ears, and as he realized they were about to turn again, he twisted his body, wedging his foot between them. The sudden force nearly severed the spider web holding Harry.]
"Oh no… this isn't good!" the First-Gen Spider-Man muttered anxiously. He clenched his fists as he watched the scene unfold, his concern growing by the second.
Beside him, First-Gen Gwen huddled closer, her eyes locked onto the screen. "She'll be fine! She has to be! Peter Parker will save her!" she murmured repeatedly, almost like a prayer.
Hearing this, the First-Gen Spider-Man placed a reassuring hand over hers, signaling her to stay calm. Maybe—just maybe—this child could be saved.
"Jarvis!" Tony snapped, his eyes narrowing. "If Gwen falls, can Peter Parker save her? Run the calculations!"
"Sir, based on the estimated height, if the Second-Gen Peter Parker moves fast enough, he can catch her before she hits the ground," Jarvis responded smoothly. "However, he would need sufficient acceleration to reach her in time."
"Like how the First Peter Parker saved the First-Gen Gwen?" Tony pressed, his fingers drumming on the table.
"Correct. If Peter can use falling debris to gain momentum, he may be able to intercept her mid-air and slow her descent safely."
Tony's jaw tightened. "And if he doesn't have enough acceleration?"
"Then his only option would be to catch her using his web. However, due to the high altitude and velocity of the fall, there is a high probability that Gwen's cervical vertebrae will fracture upon impact."
The room fell silent for a moment.
"If the web has enough elasticity," Jarvis continued, "it may cushion her fall sufficiently to prevent fatal injuries. But the risk remains—she could still hit the ground before the web takes full effect."
"FUCK!" Tony swore, slamming his fist onto the table.
Banner, standing nearby, frowned deeply. The situation looked grim. Gwen's chances were dwindling with every passing second.
There was nothing left to do but hope for a miracle.
[Peter, his foot still wedged in the gears, found himself locked in a stalemate with Harry. The massive clock hands outside the tower trembled violently. Below, Gwen gazed up, her voice trembling as she screamed, "Peter?!!"]
[A spark suddenly flickered within the gears. A shift. Peter's foot, which had been holding everything in place, slipped free. The last strand of web that had been keeping Gwen suspended—snapped.]
[She plummeted.]
[The hands of the clock outside spun wildly as Gwen let out a breathless gasp before plunging downward. The web strangling Harry yanked at the gears, dislodging several components, sending a shower of debris crashing below. Harry, flung backward by Peter's kick, slammed against the wall, unconscious.]
[Peter's gaze snapped downward, locking onto Gwen's falling figure. Without hesitation, he leapt off the structure, diving after her. His mask reflected the horror etched across her face.]
[His Spider-Sense sharpened, making every moment stretch painfully long. Gwen's eyes—wide, tear-filled—looked up at him. She already knew. She understood her fate. At this velocity, a direct web catch would be fatal.]
[She closed her eyes, surrendering to the memories flooding her mind. Every moment with Peter flashed before her in an instant…]
[A web shot from Peter's wrist. The strand extended forward like a reaching hand, skillfully weaving through the chaotic ruins of the collapsing tower.]
[Gwen's speed increased. The wind howled past her ears, tears streaking down her cheeks. The moment she felt the tug of Peter's web, she barely had time to react before—]
[Impact.]
[The web latched onto her. Peter yanked at the railing mid-air, creating tension to absorb the shock. The elasticity prevented the web from instantly snapping Gwen's spine…]
[But it wasn't enough.]
[Gwen's neck snapped on impact.]
[Her body jerked violently before hanging limply just a meter above the ground.]
[A rain of shattered gears and debris crashed around her, framing her still form like a tragic painting. Outside, the grand clock's hands froze—stopping at exactly 1:21 AM.]
[Peter, breathless and desperate, secured his webbing before dropping to the ground.]
[His hands trembled as he knelt beside Gwen, his mind screaming in denial. He ripped off his mask, his expression one of sheer disbelief. He gently cradled her in his arms. "Hey… hey? Gwen?!!"]
[Peter tore the last remnants of the web from her body, shaking her slightly, pleading for any sign of life. "Come on, Gwen! Open your eyes!"]
[But she didn't. Her body remained motionless. Her lips, once so full of warmth, were now still. Blood trickled faintly from her nose.]
["Gwen???" His voice cracked. Desperation clawed at his throat. He held her tighter, his entire body trembling. "Breathe! Gwen!"]
[But there was nothing.]
[His hands moved to her face, cupping her cheeks as if his touch alone could will her back. His eyes, red and swollen with tears, searched hers for any flicker of life. "You're okay… Gwen… you're okay…"]
[But she wasn't.]
[The reality shattered him. He let out a ragged cry, burying his face into her shoulder. "No… no… please… please!"]
[He begged. Begged for this nightmare to end. Begged for time to reverse. Begged for Gwen to gasp, to breathe, to open her eyes, anything.]
[But she never did.]
[The camera slowly zoomed out. There, in the silent ruins of the clock tower, Peter wept—holding the woman he loved as the world around them stood still. Outside, the clock remained frozen at 1:21 AM, marking the moment Gwen Stacy was lost forever.]
"FUCK!" Tony roared, knocking his wine glass off the table. His worst fears had come true. Just as Jarvis had predicted—Gwen was dead. Whether from the fracture or the impact, it didn't matter.
She was gone.
Banner silently drained his drink, his expression heavy with regret. The Second-Gen Peter Parker had just lost the love of his life.
Nick Fury exhaled slowly. "We all saw this coming," he muttered. "But that doesn't make it any easier."
Harry covered his face with shaking hands. "I… I'm sorry… Peter… I'm so sorry…" His voice broke with guilt, shame swallowing him whole.
Peter, standing frozen, shut his eyes tightly. The words from the screen echoed in his mind. The narrator had warned him. He was supposed to learn from his mistakes. But it was too late.
Beside him, Gwen leaned against his shoulder, whispering softly, "Oh, Peter… it's okay. I'm still here… I won't leave you."
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