"The match got delayed? That's never happened before."
"I think it's great. Deadpool vs. Wolverine is boring anyway—most likely a draw."
In the audience stands, spectators whispered among themselves.
On the altar, as the red-and-blue figure appeared, Wade, spotting Charlie, hoisted baby Kingpin and cheered wildly.
"Spider-Man! Spider-Man! I love you~~"
Wade's shrieks annoyed the surrounding crowd.
They wanted to snap at him, but a swarm of Deadpool projections appeared, and they wisely shut up.
No chance in a fight, even less in an argument.
On the other side, Charlie muted the noisy stands, leaving only rhythmic metallic clanging.
Clang~ Clang~ Clang~
Scattered repair tools littered the altar. By a crude workbench, a man's lonely silhouette stood out.
He swung a hammer, striking metal parts, the crisp clangs echoing the forging sounds from the Ten Rings' cave.
The birthplace of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The start of Iron Man's heroic journey.
Sensing something, Infinite Tony paused, frowning slightly.
"Another fight so soon?"
Hours earlier, his armor took damage in battle, and his nano-metal hadn't replenished.
Starting now left him no time to prepare.
But turning around, he saw an opponent unlike what he expected.
"Peter? Or Charlie Parker?" Infinite Tony's mood sank as he faced Charlie.
"Whoever got tricked into coming here, it's not good news."
He sighed, shaking his head. "Or maybe you're not the Spider-Man I know." His gaze locked onto Charlie.
Charlie shrugged. "Long time no see. The Titan mission to save Thanos went well."
Tony's eyes flickered, a smile creeping onto his face.
"So, Mephisto didn't trick you here?" He seemed to guess something.
Charlie crossed his arms, puzzled.
"What'd he trick you with?" he asked.
Tony set down his tools, sitting on the ground, expression helpless.
"Technically, Mephisto only makes deals with humans—not exactly tricking, but there's deception involved."
Charlie glanced at the time, staying silent, listening.
Tony continued, "I went back to see my father, but I never got to say a proper goodbye. Mephisto offered me that chance."
"You agreed?"
Charlie's look was odd. "You shouldn't fall for his nonsense."
Tony chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, the old me wouldn't have bothered.
But after meeting you, I realized death isn't the end."
Charlie's mouth twitched.
Classic Iron Man—most of Tony's crises came from his own recklessness.
He said, "If it's just meeting Howard, it shouldn't require your soul."
Tony nodded. "Mephisto's not that dumb. He promised I'd see my father's soul but didn't specify when."
Charlie got it.
"So you can't leave Hell until you see Howard."
"Exactly. As long as I don't meet him, I'm stuck here forever."
Tony looked at Charlie. "That's my contract with him."
Charlie mused, "Is your father's soul definitely in this Hell?"
"Not sure."
"Alright, I know what to do."
"So your mission is to save me?" Tony finally voiced his suspicion.
Charlie shrugged. "Yep, and not just me—your teammates are here too."
"They're dead?" Tony's heart tightened.
"You mean Natasha and Steve?" Charlie smiled.
Tony froze, then laughed. "Okay, my question's pointless."
He scanned the familiar figures in the stands. "What's your plan?"
"Find Howard. Once you meet, the contract activates, and you're free."
Charlie looked at the stands. "Mephisto won't let Howard show up here."
Tony nodded, his expression grave.
"There's even a chance my father's soul isn't in Mephisto's Hell."
"That issue…"
Charlie thought, then grinned. "We'll just ask."
"Ask who? Mephisto?" Tony frowned.
"To see him, you'd need a contract—"
He stopped, shocked. "No way."
But Charlie's response crushed his hopes.
"Yep, to see you, I cut the line."
Charlie grinned. "If I lose this time, I'll meet Mephisto when he comes for my soul."
Tony facepalmed, exasperated. "That's reckless."
"You're one to talk about reckless. What're you doing here?"
Charlie's jab made Tony want to crawl into a hole.
"Buddy, let's drop this topic."
Tony took a deep breath. "I've got chances to lose. Later, I'll let you win. Leave and don't come back. Find my father's soul, get him to the stands, and we've won."
Charlie side-eyed him. "You'll let me win? You sure?"
"Of course."
"I mean, you can't beat me."
"We'll see."
"I beat Thanos. Solo," Charlie said suddenly.
"What?"
Tony was stunned. "Which Thanos?"
"The one who wiped out half the universe."
"He's here too?"
"Yep."
Charlie checked the time. "Alright, time's almost up. Ten minutes left. I need to see that guy now."
"Ten minutes?" Tony slapped his forehead, exasperated. "Invincible Spider-Man, we're doomed. Ten minutes isn't enough."
"Iron Man, believe in miracles."
"Miracles… Right, your superpower is—"
"Shut it!"
Charlie shot a web to gag Tony, then pulled a pair of white underwear from his crotch, conceding defeat.
Instantly, under shocked gazes, hellfire erupted from the altar's cracks, engulfing Charlie.
"No!!"
Tony gasped, but then realized something.
This guy did it on purpose!
The stands erupted in boos.
"This Spider-Man surrendered?"
"Those white undies are unique."
...
Meanwhile, Charlie arrived in a space filled with endless hellfire.
Molten lava churned beneath. An elegant figure emerged from black smoke.
"Charlie Parker, you failed. Your soul is mine."
A kindly old man smiled, adjusting his black tuxedo with full ceremony.
"I was wondering how to trick you, but you delivered yourself. The ancient god behind you shouldn't interfere with our contract."
He stepped forward, reaching to strip Charlie's flesh.
He wanted to turn Charlie into another Ghost Rider.
No, a Ghost Spider-Man.
Charlie remained calm, though inwardly nervous.
Becoming a Ghost Spider-Man would skyrocket his power, but it meant becoming Mephisto's slave.
As Mephisto moved to act, Charlie stepped back.
"Wait."
"Scared?"
"No, I just want to know where Howard's soul is."
"I'm not obligated to tell you."
"So you only know cheap tricks?"
"What?"
"I said, you're just a con artist."
Charlie scoffed. "No wonder other dimensional gods look down on you."
"You—"
Mephisto's face darkened, clearly stung.
"Spider-Man, that's what your ancient god told you?"
"Of course, but I didn't fully believe it before."
Charlie shifted tone, softening. "To me, Mephisto is Hell's mightiest lord, who seized Satan's throne from countless Hell lords. His power reaches countless multiverses, one of the strongest dimensional demons.
The only reason ancient gods dismiss you is one thing."
Under Mephisto's expectant gaze, Charlie spoke firmly.
"They're jealous!"
"Exactly, jealous!" he said confidently.
Mephisto gave an awkward smile, quickly turning cold.
"Spider-Man, good eye, but I must honor the contract."
His mood seemed better, his face less grim.
Charlie noted the subtle shift.
A being who toys with humans wouldn't fall for flattery so easily.
Among Hell lords, Mephisto was the slyest, most cunning demon.
But Charlie's goal wasn't to gain his trust through flattery.
He just needed to keep him talking.
He sighed, "But now, you're not the Mephisto I imagined. You seem petty."
Mephisto's smile was playful, unruffled.
"Good, Spider-Man, you've piqued my interest. Honestly, Howard's soul isn't here. Give up."
"Where is it?"
"Somewhere you'd never guess…"
Mephisto's words cut off as the mission timer ended, and Charlie blinked back to the cosmic web.
Surveying the familiar web, Charlie clenched his fist.
"Yes! The Resurrection Match's priority trumps Mephisto."
Escaping Mephisto's grasp proved everything.
But he wondered if Mephisto would catch on.
He clicked retry.
In his sixth Resurrection Match, entering the altar space, the defeated Charlie faced Mephisto again.
"Charlie Parker, you failed. Your soul is mine."
Mephisto's lines were the same. Charlie rubbed his chin, studying him.
"We've met before, haven't we?"
"What?"
Mephisto paused, surprised.
"You knew I was targeting you?"
"Looks like it."
Charlie shrugged. "You must know the Resurrection Match's secret, so here's a friendly warning—"
"You're threatening me?" Mephisto's face darkened.
Cutting off Charlie's "warning," he coldly unleashed endless hellfire.
"Become my Ghost Rider, Spider-Man!!"
Buzz~
The hellfire vanished, and Charlie returned to the cosmic web.
Soul strength up 1%, Charlie stretched lazily.
"Perfect. Mephisto didn't notice a thing. No more worries."
He clicked retry, continuing the Resurrection Matches.
One person's strength was limited, so to plan finding Howard, he consulted Old Steve, the others, and Infinite Tony.
After wasting several retries, he reached a conclusion.
Hell's Arcade.
Old Steve said, "Option one: use unbeatable strength to shatter Hell's dimension. Take Tony, let him meet another universe's Howard, and the contract activates. Mephisto can't claim Tony's soul again."
Charlie considered, then dismissed it.
"The Spider-Men I've summoned aren't stronger than me. Breaking Hell's dimension is impossible."
Natasha mused, "Take Tony out of the altar space. Strange will cover us."
Charlie shook his head. "The altar space is Mephisto's domain. Breaking it is no different from breaking Hell itself."
In his fight with Thanos, though the altar broke, he only saw another "challenger." It wasn't truly breaking the space.
Even Takuya Yamashiro's War Soul Sword didn't destroy the altar space. Charlie knew he couldn't.
Barton had an idea.
"The Sorcerer Supreme can open portals to Hell's dimension. Find Howard in another universe, bring him here to meet Tony, and it should work."
"Other universes…"
Charlie shook his head. "Too time-consuming. We can't do it quickly, and soon Mephisto will notice you all. If he prepares, getting back here will be harder.
Even if we re-enter his Hell, Tony will likely be moved elsewhere."
Finally, Peter Parker's words sparked inspiration.
"Mr. Strange said the multiverse and Hell's dimension are similar spaces, sharing a common hub.
Enter the hub, bypass Hell's lockdown, and get Mr. Stark out."
"The hub?"
Charlie's eyes lit up, and he smiled.
"Perfect. I think I've got a plan."