Brooklyn Bridge.
"Beep beep~"
At this moment, the bridge was clogged with vehicles, horns blaring incessantly.
A hot-tempered guy wearing sunglasses poked his head out of his car window, cursing at the vehicles ahead.
"F*** you, you little punks up front, what are you doing? Move your cars, or I'll shove your heads into your second mouths!"
"Damn, wearing sunglasses at night? Freak."
"What did you say?"
"I'm talking about you, you big dumbass in sunglasses."
"You're dead, you jerk!"
In the gridlocked section, road-raging drivers got out of their cars to confront each other, making the scene even more chaotic.
"BOOM!!"
The next moment, a vehicle ahead was suddenly hurled into the air by a tremendous force, leaving everyone on the scene wide-eyed.
"Oh my God, the car's flying!"
"Run, that's no flying car!"
"RUN!!"
People scattered in panic as the hurled car crashed down with a thunderous boom, engulfing another vehicle in surging flames.
"My car!"
"Waaah~ I should've bought a flying car!"
"BOOM~"
In the sky above the bridge, a flying car streaked past at breakneck speed.
In the driver's seat, Daredevil, now suited up in his battle gear, piloted the flying car toward the other end of the bridge. There, a black monster swung a car with a wave of its hand, smashing it toward some pesky insects.
"No!!"
"BANG~"
Webs spread out, cushioning the force of the incoming car. Then, a graceful red figure flipped over the car atop the webbing, landing with an elegant yet agile somersault, simultaneously shooting several strands of webbing to bind the monster's ankles.
"BOOM!"
"BANG BANG BANG~"
Under the red figure's forceful swing, the black monster was flung back and forth, crashing into the bridge's iron framework.
"Damn insects!!"
Suddenly, the monster grabbed the iron framework with sharp claws, slicing through the webbing at its ankles and leaping into the air.
Under the moonlight, a black-and-red cape fluttered in the wind. Mark finally got a clear look at the creature's face.
A pale, ghostly face, blood-red eyes, a bat-like flattened nose, and terrifying fangs.
"A vampire?"
Mark frowned, then glanced at the red phantom swinging across the bridge with webbing.
"A second Spider-Woman?"
Mark's frown deepened.
But since he was here, he couldn't just stand by.
It was clear who the evil one was.
In a flash of thought, he piloted the flying car into a dive toward the vampire.
"VROOM~"
"BOOM!!"
"BANG BANG!"
The sudden appearance of the flying car struck the vampire midair. With a furious roar, the vampire tumbled and crashed onto the bridge.
"Damn it!"
"SWOOSH~"
As the vampire cursed, the red phantom launched herself forward with a web-slingshot, rapidly closing in on the falling vampire.
Witnessing this, Mark froze.
"Web-slingshot!!"
Anyone familiar with Spider-Man knew he loved using this move.
And this mysterious Spider-Woman knew it too.
She must be a Spider-Man fan, no doubt.
The next moment, the red phantom slammed into the vampire's abdomen like a cannonball. With a deafening boom, shockwaves rippled out, and the vampire shot toward the sea like a missile.
"No~~"
"BANG!!"
The sea erupted in waves as the red phantom swung back to land on the bridge's iron framework.
Perched high above, she gazed down at the figure vanishing into the sea, her wine-red hair dancing in the wind.
"He got away?"
G'iah frowned slightly. "Still not experienced enough. This could be trouble."
"WHOOSH WHOOSH~"
Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind roared from above, and her lace eye-mask was swept away by the sea breeze.
The next second, a portal bloomed behind her, and the eye-mask fell into Charlie's hands.
"I told you, a superhero wearing a lace eye-mask is just asking for trouble. You should've made your own suit like the other guy."
Charlie's voice rang out, and G'iah spun around, her face lighting up with surprise.
"It's you!"
At that, Charlie rolled his eyes.
"It's me? You sound surprised."
"No, I'm just too excited."
G'iah instinctively stepped closer to Charlie but stopped herself after a couple of steps.
She quickly suppressed her body's "instinctive urges." "What are you doing here?" she asked.
Charlie shrugged. "He said you turned into Spider-Man, so I came to check."
"You're late. That vampire got away."
"Taking on a vampire right after getting your hero license? That's bold."
Charlie didn't care much about the so-called vampire.
That guy definitely wasn't an Inheritor, or Mary Jane wouldn't have been able to drive him off.
Probably just some mutant or an unlucky soul mutated by a lab accident.
A low-tier threat like that didn't interest him.
But the Mary Jane in front of him felt… off.
Even though she'd become Spider-Man, his spider totem didn't react at all.
It seemed she'd only gained the abilities, not truly become Spider-Man.
Charlie studied her, then asked, "What happened? How did you end up like this?"
G'iah was ready with an explanation.
"Not long ago, I got bitten by a weird spider, and that's how I got these powers."
"A mutant spider?"
Charlie frowned. "Didn't think there were any mutant spiders left uncleaned. What a hassle."
With that, he pulled a small spider from his pocket.
G'iah: "…"
Why would Mary Jane fall for a guy like this?
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Charlie held up the small spider. "Obviously, I'm turning you back to normal. Being a superhero is dangerous. You don't want to get nabbed by some villain and used to threaten me, do you?"
If he were a villain, a superhero in lace like her would be a gift from the heavens.
It'd probably turn into some soap-opera-level drama.
Pure chaos.
But G'iah didn't resist at all.
She extended her hand, letting the small spider bite her.
"BUZZ~"
A faint magical glow flickered on the spider's back, and G'iah felt the mutant cells in her body being drained.
"All done."
Charlie recalled the spider and turned to open a portal.
Seeing him leave, G'iah's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively called out.
"Wait, you're leaving already?"
"What else?"
Charlie turned back. "They're waiting for me to grab some late-night snacks. Wanna come?"
"I…"
G'iah hesitated, then suddenly shot out a web.
"I'm not done yet."
Charlie: "???"
"Oh, come on, you're slacking off."
He summoned the small spider again and flicked its head.
"SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK"
The spider hugged its head with its legs, its big eyes brimming with tears.
Charlie's mouth twitched. "What's with that look? I'm not apologizing. Suck it up."
He placed the spider on Mary Jane's hand, and it tearfully took another big suck.
"There, that should do it."
"Nope, still not fixed."
G'iah shot out another web, leaving Charlie speechless.
"Again."
"Suck!"
"Done."
"Still not fixed."
"Again!"
"Still not fixed."
"No!! These mutant cells are weird!!"
Charlie clutched his head, wondering if the spider was retaliating.
Seeing his frustration, G'iah couldn't help but laugh.
As long as she had the base mutant genes, a Skrull could endlessly replicate identical mutant cells.
No matter how much the spider drained, G'iah could infinitely regenerate Spider-Man's mutant cells.
The Skrull gene bank held Spider-Man's early mutant genes, making it easy for her to replicate them.
Unfortunately, the current Spider-Man had grown stronger through multiple resurrections, nearly invincible, so no one could defeat him to collect his current genes.
But that didn't matter.
G'iah only wanted to use Spider-Man's identity to join the Avengers, to get closer to Charlie.
Mary Jane could restrain herself, but G'iah's personality was different.
If she wanted something, she'd go for it.
Despite having Mary Jane's memories, she still didn't understand.
Why did Mary Jane hold back her impulses?
Spider-Man's fate was to be alone, with everyone around him leaving.
G'iah didn't believe that at all.
It wasn't scientific.
Even if it were true, she wasn't afraid.
If she couldn't escape Mary Jane's influence, she'd embrace it.
It was kind of fun.
With that thought, G'iah's smile widened.
"The spider that bit me must be special, so just give up. It's not changing."
Charlie glanced at her. "Fine, if that's how it is. You still remember what I taught you, right?"
"Yes."
G'iah smiled. "I used what you taught me to beat that vampire. Am I qualified to join the Avengers now?"
"You want to join the Avengers?"
Charlie's expression turned odd. "You're not scared?"
"Scared of what?"
G'iah spread her arms, letting the sea breeze hit her.
"I've got the power to protect myself now. I won't die that easily because of you."
Charlie: "…"
Before he could respond, G'iah added, "Besides, it's been so long, and I haven't seen any Avengers die because of you. I bet that legend about Spider-Man's curse is fake."
Charlie's mouth twitched. "That's because I'm always the one taking the hits."
"That makes sense, but I don't buy it."
G'iah suddenly stepped closer, grabbing Charlie's arm.
"So what are we waiting for? Open your portal. I can't wait to join the Avengers."
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? This could cause a misunderstanding."
Charlie quickly pulled his arm free and stepped back. "A girl's gotta have some self-respect. Being too forward means no one will value you."
"I know, you've said that before."
"When did I say that?"
"A long time ago."
"Oh, I forgot."
With that, Charlie opened a portal.
He glanced at the guy in the flyer, nodded slightly, and stepped through.
G'iah followed closely behind.
She squinted at Charlie's back, Mary Jane's memories surfacing unbidden.
At every key moment in Mary Jane's life, Charlie was always there.
When she was six, her family moved to Bleecker Street. Lonely and quiet, Mary Jane's first friend was Charlie.
They were the same age, but Charlie was far more mature.
Whenever her parents fought, she'd go hungry at home. Only Charlie would bring her to his place for a proper meal.
Eventually, she couldn't stand the home filled with arguments and betrayal.
As a child, she wanted to run away and even tried.
In a cold corner, it was Charlie who found her, nearly starving.
"You can't run away until you're at least eighteen. That's all I'll say. This is the last time I'm helping you."
It was the first time Mary Jane saw Charlie's face so cold.
She was scared.
So she behaved.
After that, their friendship seemed to fade a bit.
Only when she was hungry would Charlie bring her home to eat.
As she grew older, she became more self-sufficient.
Even when her parents weren't around, she could cook for herself and avoid hunger.
But her poor household always lacked food.
The only person she could rely on was Charlie.
As she entered her teens, she made new friends at school.
Those friends took her to bars to make money.
They were bad people, but Mary Jane didn't know that then.
She just thought it was fun, cool.
But when she saw their true colors, it was too late.
Drunk, they planned a "fun" game.
And the game's star was Mary Jane.
In a deserted corner, facing a pack of greedy, ravenous beasts, Mary Jane felt despair again.
But a passing Charlie gave her hope.
"Hey, she's mine. You little punks can scram."
Under dim lights, Charlie's toy gun glinted faintly.
The bad crowd sobered up instantly and fled in panic.
Under Mary Jane's expectant gaze, Charlie tossed the toy gun aside and slapped her.
"Why'd you hit me?"
"Because you're stupid. That's your lesson."
"It wasn't my fault."
"I know. It's just to make you remember today. I don't usually hit girls."
Charlie glanced at Mary Jane's swollen ankle and, without hesitation, hoisted her onto his back.
Just like when she ran away as a kid, Charlie found her and carried her home like this.
On his back, Mary Jane cried in grievance.
Charlie didn't care.
As he walked, he said, "Remember what I taught you?"
Clinging tightly to Charlie, Mary Jane sobbed, "I forgot."
"Study hard, improve every day."
Charlie's tone was scolding. "Reading isn't the only way out, but for a family like yours, it's the only way.
If you're gonna make friends, make rich ones.
Like me, I only hang with Harry."
Mary Jane: "…"
Before she could speak, Charlie continued, "If you don't shape up, this is the last time I'm helping you."
Hearing that again, Mary Jane felt instinctual fear.
Anxiety and unease filled her heart.
Because she knew only Charlie would help her in times like this.
She'd learned some things from those bad friends.
To salvage this irreplaceable bond, she clung to Charlie's neck and leaned closer.
"Darling…"
"Shut up!"
Charlie's face darkened. "Don't pull that crap. You're not even grown yet!
Sure, this stuff might be normal around here, but I'm telling you, a girl's gotta have self-respect. If you don't value yourself, no one else will.
That's all I'll say. Go home and reflect.
Yes, I'm just that positive a guy. It's normal to feel ashamed. If you marry rich someday, just send me some monthly cash as thanks."
"Charlie…"
"No need to apologize. I'm pissed and won't forgive you."
"No, I mean, you're going the wrong way."
"I know, no need to remind me."
Charlie shouted, then turned around, muttering as he walked.
"She's like a ghost, popping up everywhere. Can't shake her. All because I'm too kind…"
Under the streetlights, their close shadows stretched longer.
…
Mary Jane's memories stopped there.
Because G'iah had returned to her room.
"Aren't we going to S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
G'iah seemed to realize something, turning away, her hands nervously picking at her nails.
Did aliens and humans have reproductive isolation?
Probably not!
She remembered a big black guy who married a Skrull.
Oh no, they didn't have kids.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Charlie's voice.
"I've been busy lately. No time to arrange your rookie evaluation. Stay home, don't wander around. I'll deal with those Skrulls first."
Skrulls!
G'iah's heart skipped a beat. She asked casually, "What are Skrulls?"
"An alien race."
"You're going after them?"
"Of course. Those guys are always stirring up trouble. Annoying as hell."
G'iah's heart raced.
"Not all aliens are bad," she said, head lowered.
Charlie glanced at her. "How do you tell the good from the bad?"
"I…"
"Can't say, huh?"
Charlie's tone turned serious. "To them, Skrulls who can rule Earth are the good ones.
To us, Skrulls who want to rule Earth are the absolute bad guys."
"But they just want a quiet place to live."
"How do you know?" Charlie looked at the Mary Jane before him, suspicious.
"You seem to know a lot about Skrulls."
"No, I just heard about them," G'iah hurriedly explained.
Charlie grinned. "Good. You noticing Skrulls shows you've got potential to be a superhero.
Alright, it's late. Get some rest!"
With that, he leaped out the window, slipping into the room next door.
That's the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Because he literally lived next door.
As Charlie closed the window, a trace of worry crossed G'iah's face.
Spider-Man targeting Skrulls was bad news.
Should she tell her father?
She thought it over and decided to check things out herself.
Spider-Man wouldn't target Skrulls for no reason. Something must've happened she didn't know about.
She carefully closed the window and slipped out into the night.
On the rooftop, a red-and-blue figure watched Mary Jane leave.
"Interesting."
Charlie gazed at the sneaky Mary Jane, a slight smirk on his lips.
No, too sleazy.
He rubbed his face. A devilish grin would lose him fans.
When he mentioned Skrulls, her heartbeat was off.
With his heightened senses, he picked it up easily.
Coupled with Mary Jane's odd behavior, this guy…
His eyes narrowed, and he stepped into a portal.
Not long after, Charlie donned Conqueror Kang's tech armor, using its holographic imaging to alter his facial features.
Looking at "Conqueror Kang" in the mirror, Charlie shook his head.
"Ugly as hell, but perfect for this kind of thing."
Touching his face, Charlie stepped through another portal.
…
Staten Island, New York's southernmost point.
"BOOM~"
A flyer landed gently by a seaside village.
G'iah stepped out, shedding Mary Jane's appearance for that of a short-haired girl.
"G'iah's back."
Villagers greeted her warmly, but G'iah only nodded briefly before hurrying to her father's courtyard.
"Hey, G'iah's back."
Under the pavilion in the courtyard, Talos smiled at Nick Fury across from him. "You've met my daughter, G'iah."
Nick Fury gave G'iah a cold glance. "Looks like she's got something to tell you."
Talos chuckled. "She rarely gets like this."
He stood, but G'iah cut in sharply, "What's going on? Why is Spider-Man targeting Skrulls?"
"What?"
Talos and Nick Fury's expressions shifted.
"Spider-Man's targeting Skrulls?" Talos's face darkened.
He instinctively looked at Nick Fury. "Did you know about this?"
Nick Fury frowned. "Spider-Man knows about Skrulls? That's impossible."
"I heard it myself," G'iah said, staring at Talos. "Spider-Man wouldn't target us for no reason. Someone must've done something bad."
Talos grew nervous, pacing with a grim expression.
"We've kept a low profile on Earth. Hardly anyone knows we exist. Someone must've acted out."
Nick Fury's face tightened.
"Spider-Man's a tough opponent. Getting on his radar is bad news."
"I know, I'm working on it."
Seeing them ignore her, G'iah finally snapped.
"Are you even listening to me? What's going on?" She slammed the table, shattering it.
Talos's face grew grimmer.
"You copied human superpowers?"
"So what?"
"You should've told me."
"A rebellious girl doesn't need to report everything to you."
"Here, you're a girl. To humans, you're ancient."
"No need to remind me."
"I have to. Mary Jane's memories are affecting you too much. You can't go near Spider-Man. It'll ruin you—and all of us."
"I can handle myself."
"You're gonna kill me with this."
"Good, I hope you keel over."
Their argument made Nick Fury step back.
Poor old guy. Even unluckier than him.
No, he wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D.'s commander anymore. He was free.
The unlucky one was Carter.
Well, Commander Carter now.
He smirked at the thought.
Retirement life was sweet!
But G'iah's words brought a wave of frustration.
Spider-Man targeting Skrulls meant he had to step in.
Years ago, he promised to find a home for the Skrulls.
He hadn't kept that promise, leaving them hiding in the shadows.
He felt guilty but more worried.
Talos didn't blame him, but other Skrulls weren't so forgiving.
Some would inevitably act against humans, aiming to take over Earth.
It was only a matter of time.
But he didn't expect it so soon.
Skrulls excelled at disguise and could even copy human memories, making them more dangerous and harder to detect than Hydra.
If they lost control, it'd be a catastrophe.
He pondered where to start.
But a sudden burst of energy cut his thoughts short.
"What?"
A flash of light struck, and Nick Fury's instincts screamed danger. He dove aside.
The next moment, his former spot exploded.
"BOOM!!"
Blue energy surged, and Talos instinctively shielded G'iah, then looked up at the terrifying figure speeding toward them, rallying nearby Skrulls.
"Enemy attack!!"
"Hide!"
"What the hell is that?"
The village descended into chaos as Charlie—Conqueror Parker—in his tech armor hovered above the courtyard.
He glanced calmly at the disheveled Nick Fury, unbothered.
His gaze settled on Talos and G'iah.
Seeing G'iah still in Mary Jane's clothes, he confirmed her identity.
"Well, well, Skrulls. Your reckoning's here."
Charlie flashed a devilish grin, raising a hand as energy flickered.
"BUZZ!!"
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!"
The courtyard was engulfed in energy blasts, explosions swallowing it in raging flames.
Floating midair, Charlie unleashed a barrage of explosions with a wave of his hand.
Ranged attacks were just too good.
He was loving this.
"BUZZ~"
Suddenly, the flames in the courtyard froze, icy white frost spreading. A petite figure shot out.
"Whoa, Spider-Man."
The red phantom launched from a web-slingshot, a dangerous glint in Charlie's eyes.
Where was Mary Jane?
Was she dead?
"BOOM!!"
In his thoughts, he curled his fingers, a gravity field enveloping the incoming G'iah.
"Urgh!"
Under the crushing gravity, G'iah grunted, blood seeping from her mouth as she glared at the figure, her eyes blazing with red heat vision.
"BOOM!"
Charlie blocked the searing energy with a hand. That heat couldn't dent his tech armor.
Before he could act, a pillar of flame roared toward him.
"BOOM~~"
Engulfed in flames, Charlie casually tossed G'iah aside.
"BANG!"
G'iah hit the ground like a ragdoll. Talos, covered in frost energy, roared in fury.
"You bastard, don't hurt my—"
"CRACK~"
Charlie cut him off, telekinetically gripping Talos's throat and lifting him into the air.
Conqueror Kang's armor was really something.
Seeing Talos's green face turn red, Charlie smirked.
"Where are the people you took?"
"What… we didn't—"
"Still lying."
A sharp glint flashed in Charlie's eyes.
With a flick of his fingers, Talos shot into the ruins like a cannonball.
"Father!"
"Old man!"
Nick Fury, trembling in the corner, stared at the terrifying figure in the sky, fumbling for his phone.
"It's me, send help—"
Before he could finish, Charlie glanced over, and Nick's phone exploded.
"BANG!"
Shrapnel grazed his face, making Nick look ferocious.
"What do you want?" he roared.
Charlie crossed his arms. "Wanna play some cotton-candy games with me?"
"What?"
"Don't wanna play? Then shut up."
With a flick of his finger, Nick was slammed into the ruins by a gravity wave, his fate unknown.
Seeing this, Talos in the ruins panicked.
Who was this guy, and why was he so powerful?
But G'iah wasn't backing down.
She stood, facing Charlie, fully activating every mutant gene in her body.
"BOOM!"
Her arms swelled, exaggerated muscles bringing unmatched strength.
"Whoa, Hulk?"
Under Charlie's playful gaze, G'iah erupted in flames, soaring upward.
"Captain, no—Human Torch."
Charlie stretched, raising an energy shield to block the surging flames.
The flames obscured his vision, but the shield shook violently as G'iah, with her monstrous arms, hammered it relentlessly.
Sadly, even Charlie struggled to break this shield. G'iah had no chance.
Charlie watched her frantic attacks, then suddenly struck through the shield, hitting her.
"BUZZ~"
In an instant, G'iah's soul was ripped from her body—but it wasn't a Skrull's form.
"Hm?"
Charlie frowned. Not a Skrull?
The next second, G'iah's soul returned, and a large hand gripped her throat.
"Where's Mary Jane?" Charlie was done playing games, cutting to the chase.
His portal magic couldn't sense Mary Jane earlier.
Something was really wrong.
"Mary Jane?"
G'iah's eyes widened. "How do you—"
"Tell me!"
Golden light flashed in Charlie's eyes, arcs of electricity surging from them, enveloping G'iah in current.
"Argh!!"
G'iah screamed. Talos rushed forward, only to be slapped away by Charlie.
"One more chance."
Charlie tightened his grip, G'iah's eyes rolling back.
"Dying already?"
Charlie frowned, but soon, thunderclouds gathered above him.
"Storm?"
He was growing more surprised. Skrull abilities were just too broken.
No, she hadn't taken any serum.
So… a Super Skrull!
As Charlie marveled, the thunderclouds unleashed a torrent of lightning.
"BOOM!"
"BOOM BOOM!!"
The sky roared, bolts striking down. Charlie activated his energy shield to withstand the onslaught.
Thankfully, Conqueror Kang's armor held strong, the shield showing no signs of breaking.
But his hand felt empty. G'iah, now like a rubber man, slipped from his grasp, manipulating the earth's magnetic field. Metal surged from the ground, forming massive blades that shot toward Charlie.
"CLANG CLANG CLANG~"
"BOOM!!"
The blades collided with the shield, its energy trembling as if it might collapse.
"Who are you, and why are you looking for Mary Jane?" G'iah demanded from above.
Charlie smirked coldly, not answering.
"Nice. Magneto's powers. Too bad it's your first time using them."
A golden orb appeared in his hand.
"BUZZ~"
Under the tech armor's control, the orb spun rapidly, the Time Tablet shooting a golden beam. Charlie vanished into it.
The next moment, he appeared behind G'iah.
"What!!"
With a cry, G'iah fainted from a single chop.
"It's not just invincible Spider-Man who uses portals."
Charlie caught G'iah and stepped into the golden beam.
"G'iah!!"
Her father's anguished cry echoed as Talos, injured, screamed. Nick Fury, limping, approached.
"The commotion's too big. S.H.I.E.L.D. will find this place soon. You need to move."