The Spider-Grind

Ethan spent the better part of the week buried in research. He had spent countless hours in the lab, poring over materials science papers, rare element databases, and theories on electromagnetic shielding. The whispers of Psylocke—a telepathic mutant—had shaken him more than he cared to admit. It wasn't fear; it was preparation. If he was going to interact with someone who could delve into his thoughts, he'd ensure his mind was shielded.

"This has to work," he muttered to himself as he delicately mixed elements in the high-temperature furnace he'd cobbled together in an abandoned warehouse.

The result of his efforts was something remarkable: NeuroShield Alloy (NSA). It was a composite of five metals—tungsten, niobium, rhodium, osmium, and mercury—all chosen for their unique properties to counteract psychic intrusion. The idea was simple: the alloy would line the inside of the masks worn by him, Peter, and Gwen, acting as a reflective and absorbent barrier for telepathic probes.

Ethan held up a small piece of the newly forged alloy. It gleamed faintly under the flickering lights, its silvery surface almost mesmerizing. He smirked. "Let's see if Psylocke can read through this."

After cooling and forging the alloy into thin, flexible sheets, he meticulously lined the interior of the trio's masks. When he called Peter and Gwen to the warehouse to explain, they were both impressed—albeit for different reasons.

"Dude, you made a telepathy-proof alloy?" Peter said, examining his mask's new lining. "You're like Tony Stark without the billionaire playboy part. Or... are you holding out on us?"

Ethan smirked. "Yeah, Parker, I've got billions tucked away in a secret vault. Focus, will you? This isn't just for Psylocke. If anyone out there tries to mess with our heads, this keeps us one step ahead."

Gwen ran her fingers along the lining of her mask. "Impressive work. You've really thought this through."

Ethan shrugged. "It's what I do."

---

The city had become a war zone. Armed patrol trucks roamed the streets, and mercenaries scouted rooftops and alleyways. Kingpin's network was flexing its muscle, flooding the streets with weapons and drugs while cracking down on anyone who dared to oppose him.

Ethan, Peter, and Gwen kept a low profile, only coming out at night to strike at key points in Kingpin's operations. But they all knew it was only a matter of time before Fisk's mercenaries came after them directly.

That moment arrived sooner than expected.

---

It was just past midnight when Ethan's senses flared. The trio had been perched on a rooftop, observing a heavily guarded shipment of arms being unloaded from a convoy of trucks.

"Something's off," Ethan said, his eyes scanning the scene below.

Peter quipped, "What gave it away? The guys with rocket launchers or the fact that they're wearing enough body armor to stop a tank?"

Gwen cut in, her voice tense. "No, he's right. This feels too... deliberate. Like they're baiting us."

Ethan's enhanced senses suddenly picked up movement. From the shadows of the adjacent buildings, three figures emerged: The first was a tall, imposing figure.

It was Taskmaster, clad in his signature skull mask and carrying his iconic shield. His reputation preceded him—a man who could mimic any fighting style he observed, making him a deadly opponent.

Beside him stood Silver Sable, a highly skilled mercenary known for her precision and ruthless efficiency. Finally, there was Sabretooth, his hulking frame and predatory grin enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

Ethan's jaw tightened. "It's an ambush."

Sabretooth roared, his animalistic presence sending a chill down their spines. Taskmaster unsheathed a sword, its edge gleaming under the moonlight, while Silver Sable loaded her high-tech rifle.

"Split up!" Ethan barked.

Peter made his concern heard,"Uh, guys? I think we've hit the villain jackpot."

"Stay quiet, Peter," Ethan hissed.

Taskmaster spoke to the two behind him. "We've got orders from Fisk. The spiders are a problem. We eliminate them—quick, clean, and public."

Silver Sable smirked. "You mean we make an example out of them."

Sabretooth growled, his claws extending. "I like the sound of that."

Ethan's mind raced. But they couldn't back down now.

"We need to split them up," Ethan said quietly. "I'll take Taskmaster. Gwen, you handle Silver Sable. Peter, keep Sabretooth busy and try not to get mauled."

"Wait, wait, wait," Peter whispered back. "Why do I get the big, scary, clawed guy?"

"Because you're fast and annoying. Use that to your advantage."

Peter gave a mock salute,"Fair enough!"

---

Sabretooth lunged at Peter with feral speed, claws slashing through the air. Peter flipped backward, firing webs to slow the mutant down. "Wow, someone skipped anger management class!" he quipped, dodging another swipe.

Ethan, meanwhile, faced off against Taskmaster. The mercenary moved with precision, mimicking Ethan's every strike and countering his attacks with ease.

"You're good," Taskmaster said, his voice muffled by his skull-like mask. "But I've seen it all before."

"Then you'll love this," Ethan shot back, adapting his movements mid-fight. His strikes became unpredictable, forcing Taskmaster to adjust on the fly.

Gwen darted around the battlefield, engaging Silver Sable in a game of cat and mouse, acrobatics and skill. Sable's rifle fired high-energy rounds, each shot narrowly missing as Gwen used her acrobatics to stay one step ahead. Silver Sable's precision was matched by Gwen's agility, the two exchanging blows with near-perfect timing.

"You're quick," Sable admitted, reloading her weapon.

"And you're persistent," Gwen replied, launching a webline to disarm her.

---

As the fight dragged on, Ethan's body began to adapt. Taskmaster's copied techniques were no longer effective as Ethan's strength, speed, and reflexes evolved to match the challenge. With each passing moment, Ethan's strikes hit harder and faster, forcing Taskmaster onto the defensive.

"Not so cocky now, are you?" Ethan taunted, landing a powerful blow that sent the mercenary stumbling.

Taskmaster growled, retreating momentarily. "You're full of surprises."

---

Peter's fight with Sabretooth was a chaotic dance of speed and ferocity. The mutant's claws tore through walls and metal alike, but Peter's agility kept him out of harm's way.

"Seriously, do you ever trim those things?" Peter quipped, firing a web that temporarily bound Sabretooth's arms.

The mutant snarled, breaking free with brute strength. "Keep talking, kid. Let's see if you're still joking when I rip you apart."

"Oh, I'll keep talking," Peter shot back, flipping over Sabretooth's head and landing a kick to his back. "It's kind of my thing. But is this your full power? I've seen cats at the zoo more intimidating than you!"

Sabretooth roared in frustration.

---

As the battle raged, Ethan's senses flared again. He felt a presence—a pair of eyes watching them from the shadows. His gaze darted to a nearby rooftop, where he caught a fleeting glimpse of a woman with purple hair and a piercing gaze.

She stood silently, observing the fight with an air of calm confidence. Before Ethan could react, she faded into the shadows, disappearing as if she had never been there.

Ethan shook off the distraction and refocused on the fight.

---

With their combined efforts, the trio managed to turn the tide. Gwen disarmed Silver Sable, wrapping her in webs before delivering a knockout punch. Peter outmaneuvered Sabretooth, using his webs to immobilize the mutant long enough to land a barrage of blows.

Ethan finished off Taskmaster with a final, devastating punch that sent the mercenary sprawling.

The three regrouped, breathing heavily but victorious.

"Nice work, team," Ethan said, his tone authoritative.

Peter grinned. "I'm just glad we survived."

Gwen added, "But did anyone else notice we were being watched?"

Ethan nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. And I have a feeling whoever it was isn't done with us yet."

As they left the battlefield, Ethan couldn't shake the image of the mysterious woman. If the rumors were true, Psylocke had just made her presence known. And he had a feeling their paths would cross again soon.