On the plaza's giant screen, a scientist invited by the host was enthusiastically discussing their vision for an artificial moon.
Under the neon lights, Gwen landed lightly on a billboard.
She gazed at the massive island rising in the night sky, her inverted triangular eyes narrowing slightly.
This was the new S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
With near-infinite energy, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base had become one of New York's iconic landmarks.
The technological breakthroughs from the artificial sun experiment were far more staggering than imagined.
Now, police officers equipped with high-tech weapons had rendered superheroes obsolete.
Ordinary super-criminals were no match for advanced tech.
George Stacy's life had been fulfilling lately.
As "Spider-Woman," Gwen hadn't caught a criminal in a week.
BOOM~
Her thoughts were interrupted by blaring sirens. A police cruiser converted into a sleek flier zipped between skyscrapers, its wake lifting Gwen's hood.
Watching the flier speed away, Gwen raised her hand but let it fall.
She couldn't keep up with its speed.
Swinging on webs was outdated.
And this was just the beginning.
Once aerial highways were completed, police response times would be even faster. Any vehicle would outpace web-swinging.
Gwen felt a pang of loss.
The world was changing too quickly.
It felt unreal.
Even if artificial sun tech drove progress, it shouldn't be this fast.
No process, just results!
The world seemed to no longer need Spider-Man.
So what was the point of her becoming Spider-Woman?
To protect herself?
Thinking of the black Spider-Man she'd encountered, Gwen's mind drifted.
I'll die.
Would she really?
Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted at the coast. A dazzling firework shot up from the sea, its radiant glow painting the night sky, as if celebrating something.
Swish~~ BANG!!
Fireworks bloomed, seven vibrant beams bursting outward. A massive spider totem spanned the sky, heralding Spider-Man's return.
"Spider-Man!"
Gwen's eyes gleamed, her heart inexplicably racing.
"He's finally back."
At the Daily Bugle office, a sleepless J. Jonah Jameson stood by the window, a faint smile crossing his haggard face.
In a new seaside villa, Otto awoke from a dream.
Gazing at the dispersing fireworks, a spark of anticipation lit his eyes.
"Spider-Man's back. Things won't be so dull anymore."
Ruth rose, resting her head on Otto's shoulder.
"Still thinking about that unfinished fight?"
"I'm no brute. I don't dwell on that."
Otto smiled faintly, gently touching Ruth's face.
"He saved you and showed me how much you mean to me. We're happy now, so Spider-Man deserves to be too."
Ruth shook her head helplessly.
"That might be tough. For a hero, losing the world's need for them strips away their purpose. Not everyone can handle that fall."
Otto's lip curled, his tone dismissive.
"Replace Spider-Man with those mass-produced weapons? Impossible."
Ruth rolled her eyes. "Spider-Man wouldn't want the world to revert to chaos. Peace is what matters."
"My dear, you're forgetting something."
Otto stood, staring into the night, eyes narrowing.
"The artificial sun brought infinite energy, true. Humanity won't wage wars over resources anymore.
But humans are selfish. War never ends, and crime will never vanish.
Most importantly—"
He turned to Ruth. "Evil people seize power more easily. Without Hydra, something worse will take its place.
Spider-Man's story isn't over."
…
Meanwhile, the dazzling fireworks faded. A red-and-blue figure shot webbing into the void, swinging to the spire of the Empire State Building.
Looking at the familiar yet alien city, Charlie scratched his head.
"No welcome party, fine, but why's the vibe all cyberpunk now?"
Flying cars everywhere, aerial highways under construction, towering tech skyscrapers, and a massive floating island reflected in Charlie's eyes.
He was stunned.
He'd only been gone forty days. Such drastic changes in so little time felt unreasonable, even for the Marvel world.
The tech revolution from the artificial sun was too extreme.
Was this another world?
He tapped his wrist device.
"Hey, Carter?"
"Charlie? You're back?" Carter's voice brimmed with excitement.
Charlie sighed in relief.
Good, he was back.
"Yeah, I'm back. Something feels off."
"I know what you're wondering. Come to me first."
Carter added, "See that island in the sky? That's S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new HQ."
Charlie glanced at the floating island, falling silent.
Then he said, "I think a Helicarrier suits S.H.I.E.L.D. better."
"That was the plan, but we got a huge investment, so we went with the island."
"Investment?"
"Yeah, Tony Stark's investment."
"Why?"
"He's trying to bury his dark past."
Charlie immediately recalled.
"Nice. I know about him and Red Skull. Guess I'm getting a big villa too." He grinned.
"Wait, I provided the artificial sun data. Where's my patent fee?"
"Mr. Spider-Man, if you're willing to reveal your identity to the world, the patent fee's no problem."
"Uh… never mind. I didn't invent it anyway."
Charlie ended the call, shot webbing, and swung toward the island.
BOOM~
A Bumblebee-styled civilian flier zipped past him.
"Hey! Midnight pajama runway Spider-Man! Long time no see."
A yellow-haired punk whistled mockingly. "Outdated hero, wanna race? If you lose, strip off that suit and bark like a dog."
His companions hooted.
"Hahaha, great idea!"
"Washed-up Spider-Man's useless now. He should be a clown comedian."
"I'm filming his pathetic moment. Title: Fallen Hero's Darkest Hour. It'll go viral."
"Yeah, do it!"
The delinquents jeered. Charlie glanced at them calmly.
"Forty days, and I'm already a has-been? Seems you forgot something."
"What?"
"It's a hundred meters to the ground. Hold on tight."
"What?!"
In the delinquents' eyes, the red-and-blue figure vanished in a streak of electricity.
Sparks burst from the flier's rear thruster. Billowing smoke, it plummeted toward the park lake.
"No!!"
"Help!!"
"Spider-Man, save us!!"
Amid their pleas, an arc flashed past the window, streaking into the night.
"No—"
BANG!!
The flier crashed into the icy lake. Alarms blared, and professional diving robots deployed.
On the floating island, the red-and-blue figure landed on the grass. Carter and the others were waiting.
"You're back and already causing trouble," Carter said, exasperated.
Charlie shrugged. "Spider-Man doesn't take losses."
He studied Carter. "You wear a suit for work. Why the skirt? Specially for me?"
He leaned against a tree, hand on his forehead, feigning exasperation.
"Can't do anything with you. Too business-like. Next time, try a floral skirt—more gentle," he teased.
Carter rolled her eyes. "Before, I dressed for action. Now, with fewer field missions, I wear what I like."
"Really?"
Charlie noticed the badge on her shoulder, his triangular eyes widening.
"You got promoted?"
Carter nodded, turning. "Yeah, let's walk and talk."
"Got my juice ready?"
"Two glasses."
"Thanks."
Charlie followed Carter. Passing agents gave him odd looks.
"They're less friendly than before," he noted.
Carter didn't turn. "You were a superhero before. Now, with tech upgrades from the artificial sun, superheroes aren't special to them anymore."
"Motherf— I'm really washed up." Charlie sulked.
"You swore."
Carter paused, glancing back. "Haven't heard that in a while."
Charlie: "???"
"Fury?"
"Yeah, he left S.H.I.E.L.D. voluntarily. I'm in charge now."
Carter smiled. "Hydra infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. so deeply, he couldn't face staying."
"Congrats, then."
Charlie paused. "And congrats to me. I'm the man behind S.H.I.E.L.D. now."
He leaned closer. "Approve some extra mission funds, yeah?"
Carter's cheek twitched. "Tony's dark past could fund you for life."
"Who'd complain about more money?"
"Fair point."
Carter led Charlie through the new S.H.I.E.L.D.
"This used to be a heliport. Now it's nuclear-powered fliers, courtesy of Tony."
"He's loaded."
"And this fountain? Below it's a mini nuclear reactor powering the island."
"That building under construction? I'm turning it into a drone warehouse. Most field missions will be theirs."
They entered the office building.
"Hey, buddy, glad you're back!" Harry, limping, gave Charlie a thrilled hug.
"Your injury's not healed?" Charlie eyed him.
Harry shrugged. "I was testing an upgraded hoverboard. Small glitch, you know."
"Yeah, I get it."
Charlie glanced behind Harry. Norman, in a sharp suit, approached.
"Hi, Spider-Man. Good to see you."
Norman shook Charlie's hand, leaning in to whisper, "Don't worry, Harry doesn't know your identity."
Charlie nodded. "Congrats on coming back, Mr. Osborn."
"And you."
Norman pointed to his badge, grinning. "I'm a Thunderbolt now. Still a criminal. Teach me a thing or two."
"Dad, Spider-Man's my friend. He'll help you," Harry said, arm around Norman, their rift long healed.
Carter turned to Norman. "How're the others?"
Norman shook his head. "Hydra Steve's black spine was swapped for a normal one. He's weaker but still dangerous. He hasn't agreed to join the Thunderbolts.
As for Ophelia, she's too risky. I'd rule her out."
Charlie caught Carter's intent.
"Then forget it," he told her. "Not every criminal fits the Thunderbolts. Don't rush, or you'll end up like Nick Fury."
Carter snapped to attention.
"You're right. I was too eager."
She rubbed her brow. "I get Fury's position now. Too desperate for results, you lose sight of reality."
She looked at Norman. "Stick to protocol."
"No problem."
Norman checked his files. "I've got enough evidence to keep him in prison for a millennium."
"Time served isn't the point," Charlie said seriously. "The key is, don't let them escape."
Villain jailbreaks—classic Marvel and DC tradition.
Carter was confident.
"Don't worry. Escape's not an option. They stay put or get sent to the reactor."
She raised a brow at Charlie. "I'm curious. If they die by my hand, can they still enter that place?"
Charlie's scalp tingled.
Menopause much?
They reached the office.
"I've updated your identity."
Carter handed Charlie a file. "You were gone too long. It was hard to cover with Harry, your uncle, and aunt. So, Charlie Parker's now a senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. That's your new cover.
Your absence was a secret mission to find Spider-Man.
Low-risk, easy to explain."
Charlie's eyes lit up.
"I get a salary? With benefits?"
Carter: "."
"You're that desperate for a paycheck? Fury would've paid more."
"Not the same."
Charlie flipped through the file. "In a place like this, no connections, no future."
See? With Carter in charge, he got senior agent status.
Fury? Probably a high-level temp job at best.
Poor Hawkeye was still on a temp contract, drowning in suburban villa loans.
Tragic!
"By the way, you didn't call me here just for this. What else?" Charlie asked.
Carter nodded. "Yeah. Something weird's happening with Tony. He asked for help, but I don't know how to assist."
"Weird? How weird?"
"Just… really weird."