"Grab my hand!" Charlie shouted, diving at breakneck speed.
The magical energy dissipated, replaced by a blazing electric arc.
Zzzzt~
Just as their hands nearly met, a massive sand fist swiped through the air, followed by mechanical tentacles.
Charlie was ready.
Buzz~
A dazzling portal opened, and he vanished inside.
The sand fist missed, crashing into the school building.
Below, another portal bloomed, and Charlie shot out, catching Gwen mid-fall.
"Wow, a princess carry—so romantic…" Wade, watching, spun in circles.
He seemed to see pink bubbles everywhere, prompting a song.
"Only you~"
Meanwhile, wind roared as Charlie landed, bending to absorb the impact.
Seeing Gwen unharmed in his arms, he exhaled.
So, you really can't use webs to save people.
Before the Sinister Six could strike, Charlie carried Gwen through a portal.
No time to waste.
...
Osborn Tower.
Bang!!
A monstrous figure burst into the office, the six-armed Spider-Man tossing Harry inside.
"Gagaga, Harry, my good friend, we meet again."
The strange Spider-Man removed his mask, revealing a sickly pale face.
"Who… who are you?"
Harry struggled to his feet, face grim.
The guy's strength was terrifying—he had no chance.
Peter Parker's smile was feral. "You don't know me?"
"No, you don't know me, because we're no longer friends."
Near madness, Peter advanced on Harry, muscles trembling as eerie bone spikes protruded.
"You see, this is all your fault."
Peter glared. "When I needed you most, you were out with Mary Jane. I waited in your lab.
I hoped you'd help suppress my mutated cells, but you didn't take me seriously.
So everything went as you wanted. I became a monster, the Avengers killed me.
Now, no one will fight you for Mary Jane. Happy now?"
"What?"
Harry gritted his teeth. "I don't understand you. I don't have a friend like you."
"No, you never saw me as a friend, or you wouldn't have stolen Mary Jane, knowing she was the love of my life."
Roaring, Peter's muscles mutated, more spikes sprouting as his body swelled into an upright spider monster.
In Harry's horrified gaze, the monster lunged.
"I'm thrilled to see you again, so I can kill you myself and make you pay!!!"
"No!"
Harry cried out, but the window shattered, an electric arc sweeping the monster into the hallway.
BOOM!!
The wall crumbled, debris flying as the monster flailed its spider legs.
Skree!
Thwip thwip~~
Sharp legs pierced walls effortlessly, employees fleeing in panic.
Zzzzt~
Lightning flashed. Despite the legs' speed, they couldn't touch Charlie's suit.
"Argh!! Damn it, stop, I'll tear you apart…"
The monster attacked everything in sight, but Charlie gauged its strength.
Over fifty tons, but no threat to him.
His thoughts shifted, the arc fading, replaced by magical energy.
Finally seeing his foe, the monster's eerie eyes gleamed.
"Spider-Man, Spider-Man, you're Spider-Man, then who am I? WHO AM I?!"
Amid its anguished roars, sharp legs stabbed wildly. Charlie dodged, firing webs, but the monster's maw devoured them.
Charlie retreated, crouching, his right fist glowing with magical light at his waist.
"Friendly Neighborhood Meteor Punch!"
The monster charged; the meteor fell.
BOOM!!
Magical energy exploded, the massive spider monster hurled through walls, then out the skyscraper.
"Oh sh*t, who's throwing stuff from up there? So dangerous!!"
Lizard Parker, heading to Empire State University, scrambled away.
Bang!!
The monster crashed into the street, Charlie descending after.
He stomped its head, brains splattering in a gruesome scene.
Lizard Parker, hiding behind a pole, saw Charlie and exclaimed.
"You useless bug again."
Charlie turned. "I'll give you one chance to rephrase." He raised a fist.
Lizard Parker: "…"
His face soured, then he joined the cheering crowd.
"Ohhh, Spider-Man, you're awesome, I love you~~"
Charlie: "…"
Gross.
"Gwen's on the roof with Harry. Take them to Hell's Kitchen."
He gave the order, then opened a portal and vanished.
"So useless, unlocking another cheat," Lizard Parker muttered, envious.
...
Okinawa Airbase.
The artificial sun's glow intensified.
Soldiers eagerly awaited the experiment's success.
But an uninvited guest sparked tension.
Buzz~
A dazzling portal opened, a magical meteor streaking down.
"No! What's that?"
"It's… I know, Spider-Man!"
"Spider-Man?"
"New York's superhero."
"Damn it, is he here to stop the artificial sun experiment?"
"No way! This is the empire's hope. We can't let him ruin it!"
"Stop him!"
Soldiers opened fire, bullets flying, modern weapons targeting the plummeting meteor.
The commanding officer remained calm.
He watched the meteor, silently activating a device.
As it entered range, he pressed the button.
BOOM
The artificial sun swelled, chaotic energy obliterating the base, engulfing Charlie.
...
Cosmic web. Charlie woke, scratching his head.
"So they had a contingency plan?"
He zoned out, chin in hand.
If Spider-Man appeared at any base, Hydra would detonate the sun early to eliminate him.
One sun for one bug.
Worth it.
Time for a sneaky approach.
...
Seventh Resurrection Match.
Okinawa base, bathroom.
Buzz~
A portal opened in the restroom. Charlie shed his nano-suit.
Out of respect, he took a quick pee.
Then he picked a random soldier to cosplay.
Soon, in a military uniform, Charlie stepped out.
Guided by spider-sense, he moved discreetly toward the most dangerous area.
But the base's complexity surprised him.
Within three minutes, soldiers swarmed, surrounding him.
"Your walk isn't a soldier's," the lead officer barked.
Charlie: "…"
"Ever heard of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man?"
Webs flooded the area, and Charlie slipped into a portal.
At the artificial sun site, he struck first.
Bang!
A punch smashed a critical component, disrupting the current, causing the sun to destabilize.
A hidden device flashed dangerously.
The sun blazed, swallowing Charlie instantly.
"Ahh, another bust," he groaned.
...
Eighth Resurrection Match.
This time, Charlie avoided targeting the suns.
No matter what, Hydra had ways to make them self-destruct with him.
He had to admire their leadership.
Even with Spider-Man dead, their plans were flawless.
Never underestimating a bug.
That's why Hydra survived since last century, amassing power in the shadows.
Those who underestimated bugs were long gone.
En route to Hell's Kitchen, Charlie pondered.
Soon, the group reunited.
With the dragon bone fossil, Professor X rejuvenated.
His global psychic sweep led to a conclusion.
"To stop the artificial sun experiments, we must detonate them early. If they don't have enough energy for black holes, it won't cause a greater disaster," he said.
"Only detonation?"
Charlie frowned. "That means sacrificing thirteen teammates for thirteen suns.
We don't have enough people, and even if we did, stopping Hydra this way…"
He didn't finish.
Barton asked, "What about long-range attacks?"
If he could get near a sun, he was confident in hitting it to trigger an early explosion without harm.
Professor X shook his head. "Their plan's perfect. You can't exploit any gaps.
Your arrows can't pierce the sun's shield. Even if they could, Hydra has countermeasures."
Silence fell.
Wade swung leisurely on a web.
"Baldy, just do it. Alter everyone's memories, and no one will know mutants exist or who did it."
Eyes lit up.
"That's the simplest way," Carter said eagerly.
Professor X hesitated, then sighed.
"Sorry, I can't. No power is flawless. This world has too many strange things.
If I do, it'll get worse."
He looked at Charlie. "You know what I mean."
Charlie nodded thoughtfully. "I think so."
This time, Professor X's refusal differed.
He'd discovered something.
In the Marvel multiverse, Earth was the story's origin.
Big players watched Earth.
Hydra's world domination was a minor historical event.
But if Professor X altered all human memories, it'd disrupt history.
The big players wouldn't allow it.
If that happened, this Resurrection Match would collapse.
Charlie wasn't sure if he was right, but he'd take the advice and drop it.
He had enough chances to experiment.
Opening a portal, he arrived at Kamar-Taj.
In the ruins, Wong rummaged in a corner.
"Where's my new robe?"
"Not burned, right?"
"No, that won't do. The Ancient One told me to greet Spider-Man. I can't be rude—I need new clothes!"
"And a bath."
Wong muttered, unaware of Charlie behind him.
Hearing him, Charlie understood.
No wonder Wong looked pristine the first time, despite the battle.
That damn sense of ceremony.
Charlie chuckled, stepping into a portal.
The battle was over; no need to stay.
He portaled to a ruined villa.
Before the wreckage, Otto held Ruth, their expressions complex.
"We failed. Hydra's artificial sun experiments can't succeed either," Otto sighed.
Ruth nodded. "They know that, so they started this."
"When did you join Hydra?" Otto asked suddenly.
Ruth hesitated. "From the start, I was Hydra."
Otto's eyes showed disappointment.
"So young you approached me for my artificial sun paper?" His face was bitter.
Ruth shook her head. "No, you're my husband, always."
She gazed at him. "They sent me to you, but I chose to marry you. You know what that means?"
Otto paused, still downcast.
"I know, for the mission—"
"No, Otto, my love, you're charming, always have been."
Ruth hugged him, whispering, "For years, I nearly forgot my identity.
I was happy, and I know you were too.
I didn't want to ruin our peace, but then I got the organization's message.
No one knows their cruelty better than me.
They have ways to kill you, us. I had no choice.
I'm sorry, so sorry, I betrayed you. This apology is late.
But this world is cruel. To survive, to live with you, I'd pay any price, even losing your trust, as long as we live, it's worth it."
Her voice weakened. Otto trembled, returning her embrace.
"Yes, as long as we live together, it's worth it."
Ruth went limp in his arms.
"Ruth, my wife…"
Blood coated Otto's hands.
A dagger in Ruth's abdomen. His eyes reddened, tears forming.
"I forgive you. Please live. I forgive you, don't die, please…"
He clutched her cooling body, murmuring in despair.
Behind, Charlie watched quietly.
"She ended her life, knowing you might not forgive her, despite your efforts to protect her.
But you both know there's a rift now, not what she wanted," he said.
Otto didn't turn.
"But now, I fully forgive her," he sobbed.
Charlie crouched, patting Otto's shoulder.
He spoke, disabling his nano-voice modulator.
"The Time Tablet. It can save Ruth. I need your help."
Hearing the familiar voice, Otto spun around.
"Charlie?"
"It's me, Doctor Otto."
Charlie tapped his spider emblem, his nano-mask retracting, revealing his young face.
"With great power comes great responsibility!"
"Doctor Otto, let's save the world, save Ruth, save me, and save yourself."