"Now?" Carter asked.
"Of course."
Charlie flashed a slight smile, waving his hand to spark a burst of magical embers.
In Mephisto's Hell or the Quantum Realm, he couldn't open a mystic portal.
But here? No problem.
Carter caught on, her face darkening. "You can clearly use a portal, yet you still borrowed my quinjet. So you're not planning to return it, are you?"
Charlie paused. "Uh… you caught me. Haha, how embarrassing. Wait, what'd you say? I didn't hear."
Playing dumb, he stepped into the portal.
The quinjet, meanwhile, was programmed to head to the Eisen apartment.
Commander Carter's ride had to be pricey.
Big win.
With that thought, Charlie stepped through the portal into a dim underground chamber.
In the center stood a towering pyramid, over a hundred meters tall.
The guards around it spotted Charlie and shouted in alarm.
"Spider-Man!"
"Damn, how'd he find us?"
"Sound the alarm!"
The guards were horrified, but before they could act, Charles emerged from the crowd.
"The master already knows. Stand down."
With a slight wave, the guards exhaled in relief.
They glanced at Charlie, then retreated, leaving the two alone.
Watching their backs, Charlie's eyes flickered with faint blue light.
"Looks like Apocalypse's forces have been thriving. These mutant guards aren't weak," he said.
Charles nodded. "Yes, he has the power to unlock mutants' potential. Even the weakest mutants grow strong here. That's one reason Erik follows him."
He paused, then added, "How'd you find this place? Magic?"
"Yup."
Charlie raised a hand, fingers twitching, sparking faint mystic embers.
"Just say your name, and I know where you are. As long as you're still on Earth."
Charles looked envious. "Pretty cool superpower."
"It's magic," Charlie corrected.
"Right, pretty cool magic."
Charles stepped aside, gesturing. "Come on, I know you're not here for me."
Charlie didn't waste words. He strode openly into the pyramid's vast interior.
Charles followed. "You know the way?"
"Nope."
"Then why are you walking ahead?"
"Frontline superhero, gotta lead the charge."
Charles: "…"
He quickened his pace, guiding Charlie through the maze-like structure.
"Got a plan to beat the master?" he whispered suddenly.
Charlie raised a brow. "Of course not."
Charles didn't buy it, giving a knowing look. "I get it. Not safe to talk here."
Seeing that expression, Charlie's own look turned weirder.
"You okay? Oh, I get it—you're a double agent."
He mentally groaned. Apocalypse's biggest problem wasn't lack of power—it was trusting the wrong people.
His current Four Horsemen? Barely any were truly loyal.
Too little time to build trust.
Still, Charlie did have a plan to deal with Apocalypse.
Barring any surprises…
Before he could think further, a golden corridor shimmered with faint light. Wanda and Pietro stepped out of a metal door, running right into Charlie.
"Spider-Man!" Pietro gasped.
Wanda frowned. "The master summoned us because Spider-Man's here." She glanced at Charles.
Charles nodded. "Probably. He foresaw Spider-Man's return after his resurrection."
Wanda's frown deepened. "We might have to fight you again," she said, locking eyes with Charlie.
Charlie shrugged. "Relax, I'm here to surrender. No resistance."
Wanda shook her head. "That's bad news."
Then Erik appeared from a corner.
He glanced at them, urging, "Hurry up! The master's waiting."
His gaze lingered on Charlie, thoughtful.
Last night, he hadn't seen Spider-Man do anything too wild.
No way to gauge how much stronger he'd gotten.
But coming straight for Apocalypse? That screamed absolute confidence.
Trouble.
Erik mulled over his next move.
Soon, they entered a golden hall.
On a golden throne, a blue-gray figure loomed, gazing down imperiously.
Charlie leaned toward Wanda. "Is he always like this?"
Wanda blinked. "What?"
"I mean, sitting there so late. Doesn't he have a room?"
Wanda: "…"
Apocalypse, naturally, overheard.
He clenched a fist. "Spider-Man, have you made your choice?" His voice, slow and majestic, echoed through the hall.
Charlie rubbed his ear. "Choice about what?"
"The moment of our final battle."
"Nah, I'm here to surrender."
His words stunned not just Apocalypse but Wanda and the others.
Wanda's face darkened.
She'd warned him—Apocalypse wanted his body. Surrendering was pointless.
Charles and Erik exchanged glances, sensing something off.
Pietro, carefree, patted his chest. "Great, no need to fight Spider-Man."
From his throne, Apocalypse scanned Erik and the others, then fixed his cold gaze on Spider-Man, a smirk curling his lips.
"Surrender? The invincible Spider-Man surrenders?"
"Of course."
Charlie shrugged. "Anyone who's been Spider-Man's pal knows he's got no shame."
Apocalypse: "…"
Charlie's bluntness made him wary.
Strong warriors have pride—they don't surrender so easily.
He knew that well.
But Spider-Man? Maybe not.
From what he'd learned, Spider-Man was a superhero, but never a serious one.
Still, this sudden surrender felt wrong.
Apocalypse pondered briefly, then reined in his thoughts.
"Spider-Man, I accept your surrender."
Charlie clapped, grinning. "Awesome, we're buddies now! What do you want me to do? I'll obey without question."
Apocalypse's face lit with a faint smile. "Invincible Spider-Man, your task is simple: help mutants defeat humans. Should be easy for you."
"How exactly?"
"I think you should storm S.H.I.E.L.D. and kill all the superheroes."
"Uh, they're my friends. That'd be super awkward."
"So you're not truly joining the mutants' side."
Apocalypse's eyes narrowed, glowing white. The stone floor beneath Charlie turned to sand, instantly swallowing him up to his waist.
Charlie didn't resist.
Come on, come on, take my body already!!
He was practically begging inside.
But the next second, the sand collapsed, freeing him.
"Spider-Man, I forgive you," Apocalypse said suddenly.
Charlie: "???"
"What?"
"I forgive you. You don't have to betray your friends," Apocalypse said with a smile.
Everyone knew Spider-Man was the slyest guy around.
Something this odd? He had to be up to some secret scheme.
As the mutant progenitor who once ruled the world, Apocalypse wasn't falling for it.
Proud of his caution, he didn't notice Charlie shaking his head in frustration.
If he could lure Apocalypse to take his body, Charlie's soul strength might give him a fighting chance.
But Apocalypse didn't bite. As expected.
His performance had been a bit too crude, too exaggerated.
Charlie pulled out the golden orb. Apocalypse instantly raised a shield.
"Spider-Man, you finally—"
Before he could finish, the orb opened a golden portal.
"Come with me. You'll want to know the secret of resurrection."
Without wasting time, Charlie stepped into the portal.
Behind him, Wanda and the others exchanged curious glances.
Apocalypse didn't speak, so they didn't dare act.
Staring at the portal, Apocalypse's expression shifted.
"Let's see this so-called resurrection secret."
He rose, the stone floor turning to sand, carrying him toward the portal.
Wanda and the others followed.
As they entered, the portal closed.
The next moment, the golden orb released another portal.
Buzz~
Charlie leaped out, gripping the orb.
The portal shut. He spread his arms, embracing the silent, vast hall.
"Finally fell for it," he said, savoring the victory.
Using the Time Tablet to send Apocalypse to another universe was a clever way to deal with him.
Apocalypse couldn't cross multiverses. He wasn't coming back.
Soul magic or the Time Tablet—both ensured villains wouldn't enter a Resurrection Match to cause trouble.
This time, he'd easily handled the so-called mutant progenitor. His confidence soared.
He could already picture his perfect future.
Can't win? No problem. Just yeet them to another universe, and this world's Spider-Man would never die again.
"Hahaha, retirement time!"
Ecstatic, Charlie raised his hands in cheer.
But behind him, a rectangular golden barrier appeared. Apocalypse and his crew stepped out, staring at the self-satisfied Spider-Man, utterly speechless.
Charlie's spider-sense screamed that something was wrong.
He turned slowly. Seeing Apocalypse tuck a metal box into the void, Charlie stumbled, clutching his chest.
"Why? Why'd the invincible Spider-Man fail again?" he muttered, half-mad.
This wasn't how he pictured it.
Apocalypse smirked mockingly.
"I saw through your plan. Too bad, I'm back."
He returned to his throne.
"Not long ago, maybe because of the Time Tablet's power, I woke early. Some strange soldiers found me, claiming they'd erase me. Their weapons were odd, but I killed them."
He reached into the void, pulling out the metal box.
"The Time Variance Authority's device lets me cross universes—and return to this one. So, Spider-Man, if that was your plan, you failed."
Charlie's mind raced, piecing it together.
"Erik and Charles aren't from this world. You brought them from other universes," he said.
Apocalypse nodded. "Yes, I needed reliable allies. They've got great potential."
Charlie's eyes flickered. "You can return here with that device. Why obsess over ruling this universe?"
Apocalypse's eyes narrowed. "This is my home."
"No, I think it's your only option."
Charlie crossed his arms, smirking. "You didn't take Charles's body right away because you had a better choice—me. But I bet there's more to it."
Pointing at Apocalypse, he turned slightly. "There's only one truth! You're cautious because you've seen other versions of yourself fail in other universes. Not every universe has mutants, and you want to lead mutants to rule, not a world where you're the only one. Your choices are limited. You've realized there are far stronger beings in the multiverse. You're too scared to invade their worlds. Most importantly, that device of yours is faulty. Something happened during your multiversal travels, and now you can't freely hop universes. Otherwise, you'd keep pulling mutants from other worlds instead of recruiting Four Horsemen here. And finally, you haven't touched me—not because your power's not ready, but because you're afraid. My ability to grow stronger after death is beyond your comprehension. You even doubt it's a superpower, because you know I'm not a mutant."
Every word darkened Apocalypse's expression.
Behind him, Wanda and the others reacted variably.
If Spider-Man was right, the legendary mutant progenitor wasn't as mighty as they thought.
They'd assumed this world's mutant gene resurgence was because of Apocalypse.
Now they understood.
It wasn't mutants choosing Apocalypse—it was Apocalypse choosing a world with mutants.
Sneaking glances at his face, they grew certain.
Apocalypse hadn't expected Spider-Man to deduce so much from a few words.
Worse, Spider-Man seemed to know more about the Time Variance Authority than he did.
Each word hit like a hammer to his heart.
His body trembled.
The more he knew, the more he feared.
The more he feared, the more he hesitated.