[You resolved the New York artificial sun crisis as the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Restart count +10]
[You have received an invitation to the Resurrection Match!]
[You have entered the Resurrection Match scenario.]
[Scenario: Spider-Man Central Universe]
[Task 1: Join Hydra and help them conquer the world to earn 1 revival slot.]
[Task 2: Join Spider-Man's team and help defeat Hydra to earn 1 revival slot.]
[Additional Reward (Choose One): Hydra's Friendship / Spider-Man's Friendship]
[Participants: Charlie Parker, Wade Winston Wilson, Logan Howlett, Professor X, Steve Rogers x2, Bucky Barnes, Ophelia Sarkissian x2, Norman Osborn, Peter Parker x4, Sinister Six, Ebony Maw, TDK, Max Dillon, Loki.]
[Participants may freely choose their faction!]
[Death before task completion results in automatic elimination!]
[Restart Count: 45.]
[Time until task begins: 30 seconds.]
[Time until task ends: 24 hours.]
Atop the Empire State Building, Charlie glanced at the blazing sun overhead.
"Not nighttime, huh? This Resurrection Match is different… Well, duh, they're always different."
He counted twenty-seven participants, including himself, with Deadpool, Wolverine, and Professor X among them.
He understood why Wolverine and Professor X were here, but Deadpool? How'd that guy die?
Charlie scratched his head.
And the Spider-Man Central Universe—what Spider-Man's world was this?
The task hinted at a crisis similar to his own world's, which could help him solve the main world's threat.
Lost in thought, he waited by the spire for elderly Steve's arrival.
They'd agreed to meet, after all.
But before Steve arrived, his nano-device communicator buzzed.
After entering the Resurrection Match, his nano-suit had automatically "refreshed."
"Hm?"
Charlie frowned. Who could contact him from another universe? A crossed signal?
He tapped the device and heard a familiar voice.
"Charlie, can you hear me?"
"Carter?"
Charlie blinked. "How are you here? Your name's not on the participant list."
"I'm not dead, and I'm not in the Resurrection Match. I'm in this world…"
Carter paused. "To be precise, the Resurrection Match has descended on our world. You get what I mean?"
"What?"
Charlie's lips twitched, his built-up tension collapsing.
This meant he didn't have to clear it in one go.
With 45 restarts, he could easily tackle this world's crisis.
What the hell? He wanted the ultimate challenge, but the Resurrection Match wouldn't allow it?
Charlie was speechless.
But Carter's next words jolted him.
"One more thing—your identity's been exposed. Everyone knows."
Charlie took a deep breath. "Got it. Where are you?"
"We're heading to Bleecker Street. Your enemies will target your family first."
"I understand."
Charlie hung up, summoning the electric arc spider.
This Resurrection Match wasn't going to be easy.
Besides completing the task for a revival slot, mitigating the fallout from his exposed identity was critical.
He didn't want to revive only to face crazed fans or deadly enemies hunting him and his loved ones.
Zzzzt…
The arc zipped between skyscrapers, kicking up a violent gust.
Whoosh~
The wind swept the streets, lifting girls' skirts.
"Ahh!!"
Amid the screams, an aged, disheveled man pushed a wheelchair down the street.
He ignored the fluttering skirts, his mind elsewhere.
His brow furrowed, pondering what this Resurrection Match was.
The frail old man in the wheelchair signaled him to stop.
They paused before a shop's glass window.
The old man gazed at their reflection, a faint smile on his weathered face.
"Do you see it?" he asked.
The man nodded, touching his stubbled face in the glass.
"I see. I should trim my beard."
The old man chuckled. "You know what I mean."
The man's eyes deepened, a flicker of long-lost wildness and pride surfacing, then fading.
"What can I do now?"
He raised his scarred fists, shaking his head. "Nothing."
The old man looked at the broken man in the reflection, still smiling.
"I know everything about you. This world has miracles."
The man was silent, then said, "Immortality is a curse. I'm done."
"But what about Laura? She's cursed too, and she'll struggle alone."
The old man's words made the man tremble.
"At the end, I heard her… she called me Dad."
Recalling that moment, a faint smile crossed his face.
The old man nodded, satisfied.
"Is Wolverine back?"
"He's back."
In the reflection, their eyes met, a plan forming.
They looked up at a giant screen showing Spider-Man and Charlie's half-faces.
[Spider-Man is Charlie Parker!]
Scanning the text, Logan squinted.
"Are we joining Spider-Man's team? He's in deep trouble."
Professor X nodded. "Even for a revival slot, we stand with justice."
"Is he a mutant?" Logan asked.
Professor X closed his eyes, probing the minds of passersby for answers.
"He is, but he isn't. It's complicated. Some love him, others hate him."
Logan frowned. "Why?"
"Because he lives true to himself."
As Professor X spoke, his body convulsed, a psychic storm erupting, chaotic mental energy sweeping the street. Passersby clutched their heads, screaming in agony.
"Ahh!!"
"It hurts~"
"Help!!"
In an instant, hundreds of meters around were affected, blood seeping from their orifices. Only Logan could move, barely, in the psychic storm.
"Damn it, you shouldn't use your powers."
He injected a sedative into Professor X, stopping the storm.
Panting, Logan's aged body was far from its prime. An old Wolverine and an unstable Professor X stood little chance in the Resurrection Match.
Looking at the writhing passersby, he could only mutter an apology, then hurried Professor X away.
He could no longer save anyone.
Meanwhile, on Bleecker Street.
"Steve, I couldn't find his uncle or aunt."
Bucky emerged from a house, cradling an infant.
Hydra Steve frowned, eyeing the innocent-smiling baby.
"Is this his kid?"
The "innocent" baby Kingpin trembled.
What kind of eyesight do you have? Do I look like that guy's kid?
He prayed they wouldn't see through him, or he was done for.
Heart pounding, he stole a glance at Hydra Steve and Bucky.
Dead people revived? This had to be a dream.
Yeah, a nightmare caused by that guy.
He consoled himself.
Hydra Steve didn't harm baby Kingpin.
Whether this was Charlie's kid or not, it was tied to him.
A good hostage.
"Steve, it's that girl from the files."
Bucky spotted Mary Jane rushing out.
Hydra Steve smirked coldly. "Perfect. Spider-Man's girl. Stop her."
"Got it."
Bucky dashed forward, blocking Mary Jane.
"Who are you?"
Mary Jane eyed Bucky's odd attire and Hydra Steve, noticing the baby.
"You're kidnapping? Let him go, or Spider-Man will find you," she said, stepping back, her threat lacking force.
She'd just learned a shocking secret.
Charlie was Spider-Man!
She'd gone out to find him, only to run into these weirdos.
Wait, that guy looked familiar.
Staring at Hydra Steve, her face paled.
She remembered.
The former superhero, Captain America, Steve Rogers!
"How? You're supposed to be… dead…"
Startled, she tripped on a step and fell.
Hydra Steve sneered. "Dead, right?"
He advanced. "Thanks for remembering me, but sorry, I won't spare any of Spider-Man's friends."
Bucky frowned. "Use her as a hostage?"
Hydra Steve shook his head. "One hostage is enough. A baby's easier to control than an adult woman. Kill her."
In Mary Jane's wide eyes, a crimson tendril reflected in her pupils.
"No!!!"
Her scream cut off abruptly.
Neighbors hid, trembling, too scared to make a sound.
Captain America was back, cruel as a demon from hell.
He'd killed Charlie—Spider-Man's—friend. He wanted revenge.
Spider-Man was finished.
Soon, Carter and elderly Steve arrived.
"Mary Jane!"
Seeing her lifeless body, Carter's face darkened.
"They killed her. Tendril marks."
"It's Hydra Cap," elderly Steve gritted out. "Killing the little spider's friends? Cowards!!"
He blamed himself.
Too late.
He couldn't imagine the pain and guilt Charlie would feel.
Spider-Man's fate was loneliness.
Was it the little spider's turn?
Elderly Steve clenched his fists, rage boiling.
Zzzzt…
An electric arc shot in.
"It's Max!" elderly Steve exclaimed.
"No, it's Charlie."
As Carter spoke, the arc faded.
Charlie knelt by Mary Jane, seeing her terrified expression, and sighed.
"Too late. Sorry, MJ. Next time, I'll come sooner."
A hand rested on his shoulder.
Elderly Steve comforted, "I know you're hurting. Let it out. I know what losing a friend feels like."
"I can't cry."
Charlie stood, squinting toward the school.
"Split up. We can't let more people get hurt."
He might not stop them, but he needed more intel.
Carter moved out. "I'm going to Hell's Kitchen."
Elderly Steve pondered. "Where do I go?"
"Find an old lady. She's got the Time Tablet," Charlie said.
"Time Tablet?" Elderly Steve frowned. "What's that? Important?"
"Very," Charlie replied. "A relic that reverses aging. Important enough?"
"Hell yeah!" Elderly Steve exclaimed. "Where's this old lady?"
"Carter will tell you. I'm heading to school."
Charlie turned into an arc and vanished.
Watching him go, elderly Steve envied.
"I want that speed."
"Your speed was solid. Resurrection Match reward?" Carter asked.
"Yeah," elderly Steve nodded. "Good, but not like the little spider."
A flash lit the sky, and he paused.
"He's back? Forgot something?"
He moved forward, only to be struck by the electric bolt.
"No!!"
BOOM!!
Elderly Steve was slammed into a house, Max Dillon's arcs wrecking everything.
"Where's Spider-Man? Where is he?"
In the rubble, elderly Steve clutched his back.
"Buddy, this isn't his place. Wrong house."
"What?"
Max froze, seeing the destroyed room, and gulped.
"Where's the owner?"
"There." Elderly Steve pointed at Mary Jane's body.
Seeing her dead, Max relaxed.
"Hahaha, good. No need to pay damages."
He glared at elderly Steve. "I know you're Spider-Man's friend. If he's not here, you'll pay the price!"
"Sh*t, you don't play fair? Neither do I."
Elderly Steve roared, his muscles bulging.
"Come on! Hit me!"
BOOM!!
"Not the face!!"
Empire State University.
Dark clouds loomed over the building.
Below, students stared in terror at a massive spaceship emerging in the sky.
"My God, aliens are invading!"
"Look, who's that?"
"It's Gwen! She's been kidnapped by aliens!"
"No, my goddess, don't take her…"
"Shut up!"
A green brute with mechanical tendrils tore a student apart, blood spraying, as others collapsed in fear.
"Hmph, anyone else who won't shut up, this is your fate," Doctor Octopus sneered.
Vulture flapped his wings, snarling at the crowd.
"Tell me where Spider-Man is!"
"We… don't know…"
Under their menace, the students stayed put, cursing Charlie—Spider-Man—in their hearts.
"Gwen's Spider-Man's girlfriend. She must know."
A scheming Jenny raised her hand, pleasing Doctor Octopus.
"Good, but you only answered half."
His tendrils ripped Jenny apart.
"Enough playing. Something's coming."
Mysterio, on the rooftop, spotted an electric arc racing in.
"Max?" he wondered.
"No, Spider-Man," Vulture said, holding up his phone. "In this world, he's got Electro-like powers."
"What?"
The Sinister Six's faces darkened.
"He'll be trickier."
"Then what are we waiting for? Kill Gwen in front of him, then kill the damn Spider-Man."
"Yeah, let's do it!"
Mysterio eyed the calm Gwen with a sinister smile.
"Too bad you're not Spider-Man in this world."
He shoved Gwen off the building.
"No!!"
Wind roared in her ears as Gwen fell, her face pale with fear, gazing longingly at the sky, seeing figures she couldn't let go.
George…
And Spider-Man!
Zzzzt~~
An arc dove, Spider-Man appearing in her sight.
"Grab me!!"
Charlie reached out, hope flickering in Gwen's eyes.
Charlie Parker!
But her smile froze.
Whoosh~~
The piled sand below surged, forming a ten-meter-tall Sandman.
"SPIDER-MAN~"
The giant roared, its massive hand blocking the arc.
"No!!"
Before Charlie could break free from the sand, mechanical tendrils and hallucinogenic mist struck.
"Get lost!"
BOOM!!
Red-and-blue magic erupted, and Charlie shot downward again.
But it was too late.
Desperate, he fired a web at Gwen.
In midair, the web hit her, its end spreading into a net.
The net stretched like a hand seeking redemption.
"Got her!"
The web caught Gwen, and everyone's hearts clenched.
But before they could cheer, the web's elasticity pulled Gwen downward.
THUD!!
A muffled impact sounded. Gwen opened her mouth, blood choking her words.
The light in her eyes faded.
Charlie's vaunted Spider-Sense let him witness every moment of her death.
Hope shattered—her final farewell.
And…
I don't blame you.
Charlie stood frozen.
Was this Spider-Man's fate?
A repeating tragedy, an unchangeable lonely destiny.
Over and over, without end.