The Spectacular Spider-Men: The Great Web

CHAPTER-8: Clash Of The Titans

THIRD-PERSON POV:

Arush Kumar swung through the cityscape of New York, his senses alert as he scanned for any signs of Vermin. Beside him, Ritvik Anand matched his pace, their coordinated movements a testament to their years of fighting together. The city was their battleground, and tonight it felt like they were fighting a losing war.

"We're close." Arush said, his voice tense through the comm in his mask. "I can feel it."

Ritvik nodded, eyes sharp. "Just ahead. There, by the manhole."

The ground shook as Vermin, a grotesque hybrid of man and rat, burst out from a nearby alley. His eyes were wild, and his claws gleamed under the streetlights. He snarled, a sound that was more animal than human, and lunged at them.

Arush dodged to the side, shooting a web to snag Vermin's arm and yank him back. Ritvik followed up with a powerful kick, but Vermin was relentless. He shrugged off the blow, swiping at them with his razor-sharp claws.

"We have to wear him down!" Arush shouted, dodging another swipe.

Ritvik nodded, shooting webs at Vermin's legs to slow him down. "We need to contain him before he causes more damage."

Their battle raged through the streets, each attack calculated to corner Vermin and minimize civilian casualties. The creature's strength was formidable, and his desperation made him even more dangerous.

Suddenly, a familiar figure swung into the fray. Agrim Sharma, now recovered from the neurotoxin, landed between them and Vermin.

"AG!" Arush exclaimed, relief flooding his voice.

Agrim gave a curt nod, his expression focused. "Let's finish this."

With renewed vigor, the three Spider-Men coordinated their attacks. Arush distracted Vermin with rapid web shots, while Ritvik used his brute strength to pin the creature down. Agrim, with precision and speed, delivered the final blow, a potent web bomb that encapsulated Vermin in a cocoon of webbing.

"We got him!" Ritvik panted, his chest heaving from the exertion.

As they began to secure Vermin, the creature's eyes darted around wildly. In a sudden, frenzied burst of strength, he broke free from the webbing and dove into an open sewer grate.

"No!" Arush yelled, reaching out in vain as Vermin disappeared into the darkness below.

The three Spider-Men stood there, catching their breath and contemplating their next move.

Agrim wiped sweat from his brow, the adrenaline of the fight still coursing through him. "We need to go after him."

Arush shook his head, his face etched with exhaustion. "We can't do it now. We're all running on fumes. We need a break."

Ritvik agreed, placing a hand on Agrim's shoulder. "He's right. Whelan's dangerous, but if we go down there now, we might not come back out."

Agrim wanted to argue, but he knew they were right. They had been pushing themselves to the limit, and they needed to regroup and recover. He took a deep breath, nodding reluctantly.

"Alright..." Agrim conceded. "But we can't let him get too far. We rest for a bit, then we go after him. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Arush and Ritvik echoed.

The three of them made their way back to their hideout, their thoughts already on the next battle. They knew the fight against Vermin was far from over, but for now, they needed to gather their strength and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile...

Vermin scuttled through the damp, dark tunnels of the New York City sewers, his senses on high alert. The overwhelming scent of decay and filth was almost comforting, masking his own scent and making it harder for anyone to track him. He needed a place to hide, to recover from his recent battle with the Spider-Men. His mind was a chaotic mess, the remnants of Edward Whelan's consciousness battling with the feral instincts of Vermin.