"What now?" Peni asked.
Charlie opened a portal. "Sending you home."
Peni: "???"
"What about you?" she asked.
Charlie rubbed his chin, eyeing the giant soul merging into the monster's body.
Mephisto likely knew he could use soul magic, so no matter how Charlie probed, simple soul magic wouldn't find Mary Jane's soul.
Since he couldn't guess Mephisto's game, he'd treat it like a hell-level challenge.
So…
"I'm coming with you," Charlie said.
Peni blinked. "That's it?"
"Yup, that's it."
Charlie led Peni through the portal.
"BUZZ~"
In a flash of light, they returned to normal size.
"The Octopus Monster in the school's park lake isn't dead. Tell Norman to capture it," Charlie told Peni.
"Uncle Norman's probably already on it."
"Then we're good."
After sending Peni off, Charlie sat in his room, deep in thought.
He occasionally bowed his head, lost in contemplation.
In the control room, Norman watched Charlie's odd behavior, unsure of his intentions.
But since he was here, it was time for this multiverse Spider-Man to prove his worth.
With that, Norman tapped the virtual computer, entering new commands.
"The last one's tricky, but if we handle it, it'll all be worth it."
…
Days later, a new monster rampaged through the city at night.
"ROAR!!"
A bat-like vampiric beast tore through the streets. Peni, piloting the Spider-Mech, battled the creature codenamed Morbius.
"SCREECH~"
"BOOM!!"
The mech's spinning blades gleamed, slicing off Morbius's arm. Green blood sprayed across the streets.
Before Peni could press the attack, grotesque flesh sprouted from Morbius's stump, regrowing a new arm.
"What?"
In Peni's shocked gaze, Morbius's claws slashed, sparks flying from the mech's chest. The force sent it crashing into a building.
"BOOM!!"
The red-and-blue mech lodged in the structure, debris falling. Morbius pounced, claws tearing at the mech, metal shards flying as alarms blared.
"Warning! Warning!"
"Unit damage at 50%~"
"Unit damage at 79%~"
"System failure imminent. Deploy escape pod immediately."
As the Spider-Mech was overwhelmed, the control room erupted in panic.
"This monster's terrifying. Its strength and speed crush Peni, and its regeneration is insane. She's got no chance," Aunt May said, face grim.
Uncle Ben urged, "Find Charlie Parker. He can save Peni."
Norman shook his head. "This is our responsibility. We handle these monsters ourselves."
"But—"
"I've already sent Annie with the Symbiote Mech."
Aunt May frowned. "The Symbiote Mech's test data is solid, but can Annie really handle it?"
"No time for doubts. The mission is to rescue Peni."
Uncle Ben rushed out with a team, Aunt May following.
"I'm going too."
The control room buzzed, monitoring the Symbiote Mech's data.
In the city battlefield, the black mech landed powerfully, sending Morbius crashing into a building with a wail.
"CLANK~"
The black mech stood in the rubble, its narrow golden eyes glinting.
"You okay?"
In the cockpit, Annie controlled the mech, digging the damaged Spider-Mech from the debris.
"You…"
In the smoke-filled cockpit, a disheveled Peni stared at the Symbiote Mech, hearing Annie's voice, stunned.
"Congrats, Annie. You earned the Symbiote Mech pilot slot."
"Thanks. I keep my word. This'll be my first fight to surpass you."
Annie said coldly, charging at Morbius.
"ROAR~"
"BOOM!!"
"BANG BANG BANG~"
Under reporters' lenses, the Symbiote Mech's fists were swift and precise, matching Morbius's speed and strength.
Its eerie black tendrils restrained Morbius, allowing Annie's skilled combat to temporarily overpower the beast.
"Oh my God, this is a real mech hero!"
"Amazing! We thought the Spider-Mech was strong, but this one's stronger. Who's piloting it? I need an interview."
"She'll outshine Peni Parker!"
"Peni's yesterday's news."
The reporters no longer favored Peni, eager to identify the black mech's pilot.
Peni felt a pang of loss but mostly relief.
She could finally rest.
Though her first defeat was brutal, the outcome seemed okay.
She never wanted to be a hero.
The cost of heroism was losing loved ones. She'd never forget her father handing her the mech before dying.
Now, with a better-suited hero, she was genuinely happy.
Peni opened the damaged cockpit, leaping out with her mutant spider.
"Peni, are you okay? Anything hurt?" Aunt May rushed to check her.
Uncle Ben sweated nervously.
For the first time, they realized Peni could leave them this way.
Seeing their worry, Peni smiled.
"I'm fine."
She hugged them, whispering, "You don't have to worry anymore. Annie will take my place as the new superhero."
Aunt May sighed in relief. "I thought you'd be upset. Guess I don't need to worry."
Uncle Ben grinned. "Peni's grown up. She can make her own choices."
Once the Symbiote Mech proved itself in combat, it'd likely enter mass production.
Peni's Spider-Mech could retire.
They'd worked years for this moment.
The Symbiote Mech's battle seemed a done deal, their wish fulfilled.
No more fearing Peni would die fighting monsters.
They could live a peaceful, happy life.
As they dreamed of this future, the battlefield shifted dramatically.
"CLANK~"
"CRUNCH CRUNCH"
The black mech, pummeling Morbius, froze, as if its system glitched.
Morbius seized the moment, launching a ferocious counterattack.
"ROAR!!"
"BOOM!!!"
The beast's assault sent the black mech crashing into rubble.
"Damn it, Annie!"
Aunt May's face changed. She donned a rescue suit, its thrusters spraying white gas as she flew to the black mech's cockpit.
"Stop it!"
Uncle Ben directed fighters to intercept Morbius, but their weapons were useless.
"SCREECH~"
"BANG BANG BANG"
As Morbius pounced, fighters crashed, escape pods slamming into city corners, chaos reigning.
"Ah! Run!!"
"The monster's coming!"
Citizens screamed and fled.
Morbius locked onto Peni again.
But before it could act, its green eyes shrank in a flash of dazzling light.
"What's that?"
Peni was drawn to the light. Everyone turned, seeing a nondescript teen amidst the crowd, radiant arcs sparking in his hand, strolling calmly toward Morbius.
"Charlie Parker!" Peni exclaimed, thrilled.
Uncle Ben sighed. "That old crook Norman said we'd handle it ourselves, but when it counts, he begs for help. Shameless," he grumbled.
"I didn't ask him. He came on his own," Norman's voice crackled through the earpiece.
Uncle Ben flushed. "Haha, sorry, you heard that. Next time I'll mute before badmouthing you."
Norman: "…"
Reporters turned their cameras to the figure.
"Who's this guy? That thing in his hand…"
"Reliable sources say the giant from the other night was a young guy. Could it be him?"
"Likely. Look at Peni's expression—they know each other."
"It's gotta be him. He's finally here, and he's just a kid."
"Huh? Eddie? Weren't you covering the Symbiote Mech?"
Eddie said flatly, "The pilot's my sister."
"Annie?"
"No way, it's Annie?"
"She's still in the cockpit. Why're you here?"
Eddie said coldly, "She won't die. As a top reporter, I'm dedicated to serving the public."
"Impressive!"
Reporters gave thumbs-ups, secretly despising him.
Abandoning family for a scoop? What kind of man was that?
Suddenly, a reporter's gasp drew attention as Charlie was engulfed in arcs.
"ZAP ZAP~"
As arcs raged, nano-metal spread, Charlie's body growing in flashing light.
"THUD THUD~~"
The ground quaked as the arc-wrapped giant strode forward.
Each step shook the earth, his form growing meters taller.
Finally, a fifty-meter giant stood in the neon-lit city.
Neon reflections danced on skyscraper glass, his inverted triangular eyes shining like stars, arcs dazzling.
"THUD THUD THUD~"
The giant charged, debris flying.
The smaller Morbius stared at the approaching titan, its eyes showing human-like fear.
"SCREECH~"
It turned to flee, but the giant's web snared its ankle, trapping it.
"ROAR!!"
With a scream, the giant tackled Morbius, bus-sized fists pounding its head.
"KABOOM!"
"CRUNCH CRUNCH"
Bones cracked audibly, Morbius's regeneration unable to instantly heal its skull.
"CRACK CRACK CRACK"
In horrified gazes, the giant dragged Morbius's head through the rubble, then scooped debris and sprinkled it into its eyes.
"ROAR!!"
The beast's screams grew more anguished, and onlookers' expressions turned bizarre.
"What's this kink?"
"Why's he throwing dirt in its eyes?"
"I get it—he's messing with its vision."
"No, he could rip its head off. Why the extra step?"
"He's torturing it."
"Evil guy."
As Morbius endured the brutal beating, Aunt May, infiltrating the Symbiote Mech's cockpit, uncovered a horrifying secret.
Annie was gone—swallowed by the symbiote core!
She found an empty combat suit.
"No!!"
With a terrified scream, Aunt May vanished from the cockpit.
"Damn it, May!"
Peni noticed something wrong. She and Uncle Ben rushed to the cockpit.
In the black-liquid-filled cockpit, they found two tattered outfits.
"May was swallowed by the symbiote core," Peni said, fists clenched, eyes red.
"No!!"
She lunged at the black liquid, searching for May, but Uncle Ben held her back.
"Get out—it's dangerous!"
"No, I need May. She's not dead—she'll be fine!"
"Go!"
As the liquid writhed, Uncle Ben, choking back grief, dragged Peni away from the mech.
"Norman, you bastard! The symbiote core's out of control. Where'd you get this thing? Activate the backup plan, save May and Annie!" Uncle Ben shouted.
In the control room, Norman remained calm.
"Relax, Ben. They're not coming back," he said, his smile smug.
"What?"
Sensing Norman's off tone, Uncle Ben felt dread.
"You… you did this on purpose! Why? Why harm May? Because she rejected you back then?"
"Shut up! I'm not that petty!" Norman roared, then laughed. "Anyone who can feed the symbiote core's hunger will do.
It's eating—that's good. Shame it only got two useless ones.
If it devours Charlie, that powerful bug, it'll grow beyond imagination.
Then this wretched world can be destroyed, haha…"
Norman's face twisted with excitement.
"The great Mephisto promised me—if I destroy this world, he'll return Harry. My poor boy must miss his father. We'll be reunited soon. I'll succeed, I will…"
Norman stopped hiding, revealing his true intentions.
Meanwhile, the runaway Symbiote Mech moved freely without a pilot.
"CLANK~"
Under a broken bridge, the sleek black mech crawled from the rubble like a demon. Black liquid spread, consuming all living things in its path.
And this wasn't its final form.