The moment the Symbiote Mech gained sentience, its eerie golden eyes fired blazing beams.
"ZAP ZAP…"
"KABOOM!"
The beams sliced through skyscrapers, heading straight for Charlie. The explosion engulfed the giant's form in flames and smoke.
Seizing Spider-Man's distraction, the Symbiote Mech charged at Peni Parker.
"Shit, run!" Uncle Ben shouted, dragging Peni away in panic. But human speed couldn't match the monstrous mech.
"BANG!"
With a leap, the mech's black liquid swallowed them both.
"No!!"
At the explosion's core, arcs flashed. The red-and-blue giant burst through the flames, throwing a punch without hesitation.
"THUD~~"
The punch unleashed a shockwave, turning city rubble into a debris tornado that roared toward the Symbiote Mech.
"BUZZ~"
The mech's eyes flickered, sensing lethal danger. It dodged the terrifying attack.
"CRUNCH CRUNCH"
To the giant's surprise, the mech emitted strange sounds, morphing into a sleek shuttle, slipping under Charlie in an instant.
"Transformers? It can slide-tackle too?" Charlie quipped.
His punch missed, crashing into the ground. The street was obliterated by tons of force.
"KABOOM!!"
The shockwave sent rubble floating briefly. The shuttle reshaped, its black liquid engulfing the wounded Morbius.
"CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH"
As the liquid retracted, the Symbiote Mech's size surged, its attributes visibly enhanced.
"BANG!"
With an explosion, the black liquid burst through the metal armor. Jagged bone spikes protruded, bat-like wings covered in fragmented armor unfurled, and the humanoid mech began mutating into a monster.
"ROAR!!"
The transforming black beast howled, its cry echoing across the city, making countless humans tremble.
"Hahaha, perfect! Keep going, eat Spider-Man, become the ultimate world-destroyer!" Norman laughed maniacally.
The Symbiote Mech flapped its wings, soaring skyward.
"BOOM!!"
Its massive wings whipped up a violent gust, clearing swathes of city rubble.
Watching the creature vanish into the night, Norman was elated.
"Hahaha, yes! Feast to your heart's content!"
At the scene, Charlie eyed the direction of the fleeing Symbiote beast, his gaze flickering.
Aunt May, Uncle Ben, Peni Parker—all consumed.
Next, it'd likely head to the Monster Prison to devour every monster there.
Norman's plan was nearly complete.
Now was the moment for miracles.
"BUZZ~"
Charlie drew a circle, a massive magical spark portal forming. The giant stepped through.
The giant vanished, the portal closing.
In the city, people stared at live feeds of the wrecked ruins, fear lingering in their eyes.
Suddenly, the broadcast cut to black, and a crazed man appeared.
"Hahaha, dear viewers, the Symbiote Core's world-ending moment has arrived. Ready for your final judgment?"
Recognizing the face, people gasped.
"It's Norman Osborn!"
"Oh my God, it's him! It must be Osborn's Symbiote Mech."
"He's going to destroy us."
"My God, what's wrong with him?"
"Destroy the world? That's insane."
"Why's he doing this?"
At the Daily Bugle, employees were stunned by Norman's appearance.
In his office, Jonah Jameson sighed at the aged man on screen.
"Finally… he's chosen this path."
Memories of that day flooded back.
Norman's bloodshot eyes gleamed with rage.
"I'll never forget that day—how you hounded a child.
Mech development takes time. You all thought I'd fail.
You didn't believe I could complete this era-defining tech. Fine.
You mocked my naivety. Fine.
But you shouldn't have told a child his father was a liar.
You all wanted to expose my 'lies,' convinced I couldn't succeed.
Only my son Harry believed in me.
For him, I'd give everything.
But that day, reporters exposed Harry's school, eager to tell him his father couldn't succeed.
What's wrong with a child believing in his father?
Why did you use the vilest words to slander me, forcing a child to prove his father's honesty in front of everyone?
Hahaha, it's laughable. You're more childish than him, desperate to see me fail, even though it gained you nothing.
You just wanted that spectacle.
You relied on your pitiful knowledge, rejecting anything beyond your comprehension.
You're arrogant, prejudiced against everything.
You wanted to prove you were right.
'Haha, mech tech's a joke. Norman Osborn can't succeed. I knew it.'
'I saw through it—Osborn's just scamming money. You fools fell for it.'
'Norman Osborn's a fraud, his kid's a little fraud.'
'We're justice's messengers, exposing Norman's true face.'
'We'll make his kid face the truth.'
'Yes, we'll drive him out of New York, a total failure.'"
On screen, Norman mimicked those ugly faces, growing more unhinged.
He roared at the camera, voice raw.
"I can't stand you anymore, and neither could Harry. He ran, escaping your encirclement, but you wouldn't let him go. Bullying a child made you proud?
Fine. He got hit by a car and died.
It was his birthday.
I was waiting at home to celebrate his seventh birthday.
But I'll never see him again.
He was killed by you idiots.
No, he didn't have to die. No one at the scene saved him.
Even after he left this world, you mocked him.
You and I killed him.
My annual donations fed you too well!!"
Norman roared, then collapsed, laughing hysterically.
"Hahaha, I still remember your stubborn faces when the mech was unveiled.
Keep denying it!
I don't care, because the mech wasn't made to save you—it's to destroy you."
Norman's smile twisted. "I know you now. To shut you up, I created monsters in secret.
Yes, monsters.
They were human once, but it's no different.
Humans are monsters!!
The monsters silenced you. All doubts about me vanished because I'm your savior, your god!"
Norman's words chilled viewers.
So that's the truth behind the monsters.
He continued, "Harry was most excited for the mechs, so I'll never stop.
The monsters are my revenge, to destroy you and this filthy world.
I struggled, torn between angel and devil.
But I chose the devil's side.
I miss my son. I love Harry. You'd do anything for love, right? That's what you taught me.
You taught me to admit my failure to protect my child. I'm a loser.
So I'll make it up to him.
By destroying you, proving I'm right.
The meteor that crashed to Earth is my trump card. The alien Symbiote will end this early.
Sadly, the multiverse Spider-Man refused to pilot the Symbiote Mech, so the core couldn't consume him.
No matter. Once it devours all the monsters, even invincible Spider-Man won't stand a chance.
It'll consume him, everyone, and destroy this world."
Panting, Norman murmured, "Of course, it'll destroy me too.
But I don't care. You destroyed my life long ago."
He pressed a button, switching to the Monster Prison.
The massive Symbiote beast had landed on the island.
"BOOM!!"
Its golden eyes fired energy beams, collapsing the ground, exposing the underground base.
Listless monsters sensed the Symbiote, writhing uneasily but too weak to resist.
"CRUNCH CRUNCH~"
Black liquid spread, absorbing each monster, fueling the Symbiote Core's growth into a hundred-meter terror.
"ROAR!!"
The black beast howled, sporting Lizard Monster scales, Octopus Monster tentacles, Scorpion Monster tail, Mysterio's hallucinogenic gas, Vulture Monster claws and beak, Electro Monster arcs, Chameleon Monster shifting scales, and Morbius's red eyes and fangs.
The combined features shocked all who saw it.
"BOOM!!"
Its wings trembled, arcs spreading. The island's tower teetered.
"CRASH~"
As walls collapsed, Norman, exhausted, looked up.
In that moment, he saw light.
In the surging blue arcs, he glimpsed Harry.
Still a cute kid.
Norman smiled, opening his arms toward Harry.
After venting a decade of resentment, he realized.
The devil's promises were never kept.
Harry wasn't coming back.
"GAH GAH GAH~"
"BANG!"
The Symbiote beast's maw snapped, swallowing the tower's peak.
"Osborn!"
Jonah Jameson, witnessing Norman's consumption, paled, slumping in his chair, staring at the monstrous figure under thunderclouds.
Years ago, starting the Daily Bugle, he'd joined the crusade against Osborn to grow his paper.
He had little influence then, but he'd done it.
He regretted it, but it was too late.
The beast's wingbeats stirred thunderclouds. Fighters couldn't approach, leaving it to absorb lightning, its scales glowing brighter.
Its size kept growing, unstoppable.
No—someone could stop it!
On the island's reefs, a red-and-blue figure watched calmly.
"This its final form?"
Charlie gazed at the terrifying creature.
Without Pym Particles, he'd be no match.
But there were no "ifs."
His goal wasn't just to defeat it.
Per Mephisto's hint, the real Mary Jane would appear beside him.
But only one chance to choose.
The odds of picking right were slim.
Unless there was only one option left.
The Symbiote Core had consumed so many—choosing it couldn't be wrong!
Charlie activated his arm device, Pym Particles flaring. The red-and-blue giant rose.
"ROAR"
Spotting the giant on the coast, the Symbiote beast's narrow eyes twisted.
It no longer feared Spider-Man.
"KABOOM~"
"THUD THUD THUD~~"
The massive beast crushed forests, charging at Charlie.
The island quaked, but Charlie shook his head.
"You've got wings—why not fly? Too slow."
His head drooped, the blue glow in his eyes fading.
"It's happening!"
Seeing the giant "sleep," Jonah Jameson's eyes lit with hope.
This state made him invincible.
No enemy could wake this sleeping giant.
Except himself.
As expected, the beast's claws slashed, tentacles whipping down.
But the red-and-blue giant dodged with a simple spin-flip.
"KABOOM!"
"BANG"
Tentacles slammed the ground, shaking the island. The giant's eyes flared.
"BUZZ~"
Spider totems spread. Charlie's hand shot out, striking the beast's side.
"WHOOSH~"
The beast froze as tangled, twisted souls peeled from its body.
Aunt May, Uncle Ben, Peni, Annie, Norman… Otto, Connors, Morbius, and more.
Charlie frowned.
These souls…
He saw it!
Fragments broke from their souls, coalescing into a familiar figure.
Mary Jane!
It clicked.
Her soul wasn't in any one person but split, hidden deep within their souls.
That's why soul magic couldn't detect her.
Sly Mephisto. Without the Resurrection Match's "training," Charlie would've had no chance.