Dark clouds loomed over the city, thunder rumbling.
Boom!!
In a flash of white light, the Leech Totem surged skyward, transforming into a colossal creature swirling within the clouds.
The embryonic beast's shadow writhed in the darkness, dotted with glowing blue streaks, illuminating the city sky with specks of light.
Beneath the Web of Life and Destiny, these specks moved like chess pieces across the heavens, converging into a single beam, spotlighting Charlie in his quinjet.
No one could see the giant leech in the clouds, but the blue specks were real.
Countless citizens gasped.
Below Stark Tower, Erik and Charles stared at the mysterious figure atop the Empire State Building, eyes wide with shock.
"Such over-the-top effects!" Charles exclaimed.
He tried probing the figure's mind, but an invisible web in the void blocked him, halting his telepathy.
"This is…"
He clearly saw the web, a bad feeling creeping in.
"It's got something to do with Spider-Man."
"Spider-Man?" Erik frowned. "Looks like a terrifying enemy. If Spider-Man dies, then we—"
He didn't finish, but Charles understood.
"Look at that light," Charles said, eyeing a beam at the city's far end. "That's where it's happening."
"Let's go."
"Alright."
They abandoned their mission on Tony Stark, racing toward the beam's landing spot.
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Commander, that guy's at the Empire State Building."
In the command room, Coulson handed Carter his tablet.
"Magnetic field data near the Empire State Building says he's another universe's hunter after Spider-Man. A dangerous one."
"Spider-Man's nemesis…"
At the command console, Carter stared at the main screen, her heart racing inexplicably.
"Something's off. This guy's different from the last Inheritor. He's scarier. His arrival's even messing with the city's weather. Is this a warning for Spider-Man?"
She fixed her gaze on the figure atop the Empire State Building, waving a hand. "Alert everyone. Prepare to move."
"Everyone?" Coulson blinked. "Commander, is that necessary?"
"Hm?" Carter frowned.
"No offense, but if Spider-Man can't handle him, neither the Avengers nor the Thunderbolts stand a chance."
Carter shot him a look. "I know. You handle civilian rescue. As for backing Spider-Man…"
She took a deep breath. "Get Dr. Banner. If Spider-Man can't win, we've got no choice."
"What?" Coulson gasped. "You mean let Dr. Banner…"
"Reed's made progress on controlling the Hulk with gamma experiments. It's our only shot."
Carter added, "But that's the worst-case scenario. Spider-Man will be fine."
She turned to the screen, where the beam landed, her heart still pounding.
This guy was trouble.
…
The quinjet descended within the beam.
Nanotech suit fully equipped, Charlie stepped out.
Staring at the massive Leech Totem in the clouds, his chest's spider totem thrummed with unease.
But more than that, it was eager, ready to leap out and tackle the giant leech.
After his Resurrection Match, his eight spider totems feared no so-called "natural enemy."
The blue beam could suppress an ordinary Spider-Man, but for Charlie, it was just a minor hassle.
Whoosh~
From nearby skyscrapers, Gwen swung in on a web, landing on a billboard.
"Hey, what's happening? I can barely breathe."
The Morlun family's arrival filled Gwen with intense dread.
As she approached, the blue beam split, a sliver of light surging toward her.
At the same time, the figure atop the Empire State Building moved.
Buzz!
Clang!!
In an instant, a red trident sliced through the air, piercing Gwen's body with the Morlun family's unique power.
Pfft!
"Urgh~"
In the blue light, blood sprayed from the petite figure's abdomen. The trident's impact sent her tumbling off the billboard.
"How…"
Pain surged as Gwen, in free fall, stared in shock.
This guy was too strong—she couldn't react.
Buzz~
The next moment, mystic sparks flared, and Gwen landed in Charlie's arms.
"You okay?"
Seeing the gruesome hole in Gwen's abdomen, Charlie's brow furrowed.
"I… I'm fine…"
Gwen gritted her teeth, clutching the wound. Symbiote cells writhed, sprouting tissue, and the injury healed instantly.
On the other side, the red trident embedded in a wall flew back under an unknown force.
The mysterious figure atop the Empire State Building leaped, grabbing the trident midair.
Then, like a meteor, he plummeted hundreds of meters.
Boom!!
With a deafening crash, he landed on the street like a cannonball.
Dust billowed. He half-knelt, cracking the pavement, debris flying as panicked citizens fled.
Soon, the chaotic street fell silent.
The figure rose, eyeing the two Spider-Men. His diving helmet's visor glinted with traces of crimson.
"Two. Perfect."
With that, his red trident glowed crimson again.
Buzz~
Boom!!
A blur shot forward. Fear flashed in Gwen's eyes.
Such speed. Such terrifying presence.
"Careful!"
In a flash, a mystic spark circle flared. Gwen and Charlie vanished into a portal.
Before it closed, the red trident jammed into the spark's edge.
Zzzzt~
Crack crack crack
As the figure pried the trident, the strange force kept the portal from closing.
"Spider-Man, you can't es—"
Mid-sentence, a red-and-blue figure burst from the portal.
Boom!!
The street shook as the two collided, crashing into a nearby shop.
Boom!!
Fists clashed, unleashing a massive force. The shop exploded.
Boom!
Windows shattered under the mystic energy's impact. A figure tumbled out, plowing through the street, smashing parked cars.
Beep beep~
Bang bang bang
Car alarms blared. Explosions followed the figure's path.
Fire spread to a street corner a hundred meters away. Citizens hiding in nearby buildings watched, terrified yet hopeful.
Finally, the battered figure stopped after snapping a fire hydrant.
"It's not Spider-Man!"
"Great! This guy's no match for Spider-Man!"
The crowd sighed in relief.
At the corner, the figure dusted off his coat.
"Interesting," he said calmly, summoning the red trident from the shop's ruins.
A mystic portal bloomed before him.
Charlie stepped out.
Looking at the unscathed Inheritor, he crossed his arms, smirking. "You're interesting too. I mean your coat—dragged through the dirt and still intact. I want one."
The figure gripped his trident, making an odd, gentlemanly gesture.
"Morlun family, Karn. I'll take your power—for the family's glory!"
With a final roar, Karn raised his red trident. A strange magnetic field spread from him, the Leech Totem in the clouds writhing, its massive suction enveloping them.
Charlie's body stiffened, his chest's spider totem twisting as the force tried to rip it away.
Compared to the previous Inheritor, Kalen, this one was far more terrifying.
Not just in strength, but in his totem-draining power, unmatched by Kalen.
As one spider totem was torn from Charlie, the Leech Totem grew ravenous.
It eagerly moved to devour the totem.
But soon, its greed turned to surprise, then shock, then fear.
Buzz~
Another spider totem flared in Charlie's chest, breaking free and soaring toward the giant leech.
Then a third, fourth… up to the eighth.
The eight spider totems swelled as they rose, diving into the clouds, tangling with the Leech Totem.
Seeing this, crimson flickered wildly in Karn's visor, his voice thick with shock.
"Impossible! Eight spider totems? That's impossible!!"
With the Leech Totem restrained, Charlie's body relaxed.
"Hey, Karn, buddy, come hit me!"
Charlie beckoned, then lowered his head, the blue light in his eyes fading.
"Hm?"
The odd scene made Karn wary.
A Spider-Man with eight totems? He'd never seen that.
Even if the guy seemed asleep, Karn stayed on high alert.
But…
He glanced at the sky, sensing something, puzzled.
Something's up there.
No matter. Killing a Spider-Man with eight totems would ensure his return to the family.
With that, he raised his trident. The Leech Totem sprinkled specks of light.
Buzz!
The light merged with the trident, and a blinding crimson laser shot out.
Boom~~
The beam swept the street, toppling lampposts, its searing heat slicing through building walls. Nothing could stop it.
Yet Spider-Man dodged with a slight crouch, his movements minimal and precise.
"Hm?"
Karn sensed something wrong.
Missing, he leaped, trident in hand.
"Argh!!"
With a roar, the trident slammed down.
But the red-and-blue figure dodged with the simplest move, evading even the flying debris.
"What?"
Light flashed in Karn's eyes. Unconvinced, he pressed forward, his trident whistling, striking from tricky angles. Yet each attack was anticipated.
No matter his speed, he couldn't touch Spider-Man's coat.
Buzz~
The trident fired energy again. The red-and-blue figure tilted its head, dodging the beam, then hung its head, moving like a zombie.
Karn gripped his trident, halting his futile attacks.
He knew this was Spider-Man's unique spider-sense.
But he'd never seen one so sharp.
Under the Leech Totem's suppression, other Spider-Men were helpless, their senses dulled, useless.
Even without the totem, those Spider-Men were no match, their senses never this extreme.
Guided to this universe by a strange force, this Spider-Man was a shocking surprise.
But the bigger the surprise, the greater the challenge.
To return to his family, he had to kill this guy!
He plunged his trident into the ground. A terrifying suction spread from his visor.
He'd figured out this Spider-Man's deal.
All dodge, no attack.
Perfect for draining his power.
With a thought, Karn's helmet unleashed even stronger suction. The Morlun family's power spread, and the dazed Spider-Man couldn't escape.
Crack~
The red-and-blue figure crouched, radiant light pouring from its body, surging into Karn's helmet.
As Charlie's body was restrained, the spider totems in the clouds stiffened.
The Leech Totem counterattacked, poised to devour the eight totems.
Watching from the void, Charlie had no choice but to return his soul to his body.
Physical attacks were easy to dodge, but this weird force was tougher.
Buzz~
As his soul returned, Charlie's eyes flared with blue light.
His body's power was draining fast. Ignoring it, he formed a mystic seal.
Buzz~
Brilliant magic rained from the clouds. Arms extended from behind Charlie.
Cloning technique!
"Brothers, someone's trying to suck us dry. What do we do?"
"Beat him! Beat the crap outta him!"
"I'm up first—Friendly Neighborhood Invincible Windmill!"
"Friendly Neighborhood Lightning Dragon Drill!"
"Friendly Neighborhood Serious Punch…"
Instantly, eight clones darted across the battlefield. The street quaked, magic exploding.
Boom!!
Karn was hurled into a shop by the blast, then a spinning lightning bolt tore through, shredding the ruins.
"Get lost!"
With a furious roar, Karn's trident impaled a clone in the debris.
Before he could counter, blue light rained down. Endless webs surged, burying him. Each punch landed with 200 tons of force, pushing his body to the brink.
"Brothers, step back. Time for me to shine."
"Friendly Neighborhood Rising Dragon Fist!!"