Fourth Resurrection Match.
As the countdown ended, Charlie switched to his electric arc form, then tapped the device on his wrist, activating the Pym Particles.
With a flicker of light and shadow, Charlie spun and shrank into a tiny insect.
Zzz~
A faint electric arc zipped through the streets and alleys, weaving along the buildings toward the city center.
Along the way, Charlie saw Tony raising his hands in surrender and spotted Wade being chased by a man.
He ignored the two and swung straight toward the conference hall.
But shrinking slowed him down considerably. While it helped him evade Kryptonian surveillance, it wasn't exactly efficient.
Charlie decided to simply enlarge his body.
Buzz~
Crack crack~
BOOM!!
In an instant, a hundred-meter-tall red-and-blue giant appeared in the Kryptonian city, each step causing tremors like an earthquake.
Buildings shook, alarms blared across the city, and countless Kryptonians looked up at the terrifying giant, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Good heavens! What is that?"
"A massive monster! Did it escape from the Genesis Chamber's genetic experiments?"
"Those guys created another terrifying beast!"
"Run!!"
BOOM~
The streets quaked as the red-and-blue giant launched webbing and swung into the sky. Countless aircraft zoomed upward, chasing the giant as it soared.
Buzz~
Bang bang bang~~
Laser beams filled the sky, explosions erupting across the giant's surface, yet they couldn't stop it from nearing the conference hall.
"My gosh, is this guy trying to complete the mission to destroy Krypton?"
Wade, with his tiny head just regrowing, witnessed the scene and clapped with glee.
"Hahaha, that's my idol! This is the real superhero Spider-Man—no, wait, destroying Krypton doesn't sound very heroic, does it?"
He scratched his head. "Hmm, so Krypton must be an evil planet. That's gotta be it."
Meanwhile, Tony, being escorted by soldiers, straightened up at the sight.
"That's my friend. I suggest you let me go—ow, don't hit my face!"
On the other side, elderly Steve and Carter noticed Charlie's destination was the city center's tallest building and quickly formed a plan.
They changed course, heading toward the city center, while the soldiers were too distracted to pursue them.
In a lake at the city's edge, Carnage, wielding a red trident, sensed Spider-Man's totem power. The leech totem within him couldn't resist its greedy instincts, driving Carnage to abandon the "water grapes" at the lake's bottom. Emerging from the water, he sprinted toward Charlie's location.
Back in the city's skies, the red-and-blue giant dove through the explosive flames, electric arcs crackling as it crashed headfirst into the conference hall's tower.
Buzz~
At the same moment, the Phantom Engine guarding the hall activated automatically. A black hole bloomed in the void, unleashing a torrent of cosmic energy.
BOOM!!
A dazzling pillar of energy shot skyward, but the red-and-blue giant, shrinking rapidly, let the beam pass harmlessly through its tiny form and into the heavens.
"It's gone?"
Inside a beetle-shaped aircraft, Zod frowned, staring at the suddenly vanished giant.
"Who is this guy?"
Beside him, Fiora tapped the liquid geometry system, and a virtual model of Dark Strange appeared.
"A strange guy broke into the conference hall before we arrived. It's like he's waiting for us."
"Don't act rashly. His fighting style is bizarre."
"Understood."
Soon, Dark Strange and Zod began negotiating a partnership.
Meanwhile, in the gene chamber on the building's top floor, a tiny figure crept through the dark golden corridor, reaching the gene chamber's entrance.
The room housing the Codex of Life was sealed tight. Even in his shrunken state, Charlie couldn't slip through the gaps.
If Scott were here, his Ant-Man suit's upgraded Pym device could shrink him to molecular size, allowing silent entry.
But Charlie only had a basic Pym Particle device, capable of simple size changes but nothing more precise.
Still, he could wait.
Or maybe he didn't have to.
Joe-El and his wife Laura, taking advantage of the soldiers distracted by the giant, slipped into the gene chamber.
Inside, the Codex of Life glowed mysteriously within a skull-like structure.
Joe-El placed the infant on the platform, his expression complex.
"I know Zod's plan. It might prolong Krypton's existence, but it will bring greater danger. Krypton isn't the only powerful planet in the universe. His invasions of other worlds will doom Krypton's future."
Laura gently stroked her child. "Krypton is beyond saving. We can't convince the elders. To preserve Krypton, we must act alone."
"No, it's up to Kal."
Joe-El gazed at the sleeping infant, eyes filled with worry.
"If I'm right, Zod will act soon. His forces are strong enough to overthrow the current regime. We must send Kal elsewhere, with the Codex of Life, to give Krypton a chance."
"Then let's begin!"
Laura stepped back as Joe-El activated the machine, splitting the Codex of Life into fragments and injecting them into the infant's body.
"This is our future, Krypton's future."
As radiant light poured into Kal's body, Joe-El's eyes brimmed with reluctance.
"Kal must leave this hopeless planet. I hope he can grow up happy."
"That chance is gone."
Suddenly, Laura's gentle demeanor vanished. Her face twisted ferociously as she plunged a dagger into Joe-El's side.
Splurch!
The Kryptonian dagger pierced Joe-El's armor, the blade twisting cruelly, revealing Laura's ruthless side.
"You—"
He tried to speak, but Laura clamped his mouth and nose shut.
Joe-El collapsed, twitching, staring at his wife in disbelief.
Why?
She was his wife.
Why would she kill him?
Yet, as Laura's face briefly flickered green, Joe-El glimpsed her true form.
Tears streamed from his eyes as endless sorrow consumed him.
His life faded in an instant.
Joe-El closed his eyes in despair.
Seeing Joe-El dead, Laura rose with a sinister grin.
"Foolish Kryptonian. Foolish Spider-Man and Carol. This time, I win."
Laura disposed of Joe-El's body, her form writhing as she transformed into his likeness.
Hidden in the shadows, Charlie understood.
Super Skrull Gravik!
This guy disguised himself as Laura, ambushed and killed Joe-El, then assumed Joe-El's form. He murdered the infant Superman, then watched the battle between Dark Strange and Spider-Man, enjoying the show.
For a Super Skrull, blending into Krypton was child's play.
But pinpointing a target and lurking beside them required not just luck but calculated precision.
No wonder this Super Skrull nearly conquered the world.
Wait—if Gravik killed Superman first, why was he still in the Resurrection Match?
Charlie's heart stirred. He glanced at Joe-El's corpse, his expression odd.
Gravik's goal wasn't to kill Superman for two resurrection slots.
He had already killed Joe-El, securing one slot.
Contestants could only complete one task.
Killing Superman was just to prevent other contestants from completing theirs.
He wanted to be the only one to resurrect!
So, after completing his task, he stayed, plotting to let Dark Strange and Spider-Man "destroy each other" while dealing with the other contestants.
Since the Resurrection Match didn't specify that completing a task forced contestants to leave, Gravik saw a chance to orchestrate a "total wipeout" of the others.
Gwen, who hadn't appeared yet…
Could it be?
Charlie's gaze sharpened. As Gravik approached the infant, he didn't hesitate, leaping onto Gravik's body.
Buzz~
Light and shadow flashed as a fist the size of a sandbag tore through the air.
Gravik wasn't Dark Strange.
He couldn't dodge the furious punch.
BOOM!!
The force slammed Gravik into the black organic wall, debris flying as light flickered. Spider-Man, back to normal size, surged forward, driving both knees into Gravik's chest. The terrifying impact made the wall tremble, and Gravik, embedded in it, felt his bones dislocate, screaming in agony.
"Argh!! Damn bug, how did you—"
"I'll smash your skull!"
Bang!!
Another sandbag-sized fist broke the air, burying Gravik's head deeper into the wall.
Charlie pressed his advantage, raining fists like a storm on the figure in the crater. The barrage of explosions shook the gene chamber.
On Earth, such force would have destroyed the room.
But the gene chamber held strong—for now.
The sudden commotion woke the infant.
Wah~ Wah~
As the baby cried, a strand of webbing whisked it to the ceiling.
Bang~
With a whip-like kick, Charlie sent Gravik crashing through a stone platform. Unable to maintain Joe-El's form, Gravik reverted to his true self.
"Damn bug, you've enraged me!!"
The green, muscular creature rose, roaring ferociously as shockwaves and debris swept the room.
Zzz~
An electric arc flashed through the dim room. Charlie dodged the shockwave, appearing behind Gravik.
Before Gravik could react, he vanished in a silver blur.
"Hm? Quicksilver's powers?"
Spider-Sense tingling, Charlie followed his instincts, sidestepping as a silver phantom sped past, Gravik crashing into the wall, unable to stop.
Crash~
Debris scattered as the red-and-blue figure darted around the room. The silver phantom shot out from the crater.
Whoosh~
Silver smoke dissipated, and Gravik easily intercepted Charlie.
"Bug, your speed is just—"
"Pathetic!"
Charlie cut him off, yanking a glistening web. A web trap instantly bound Gravik, the sharp strands slicing into his body, green blood and flesh flying.
But Charlie knew the trap wouldn't hold Gravik for long. Seizing the moment, he flipped to the ceiling, grabbed the infant, and fled.
Bang~
The gene chamber's door was kicked down, and the red-and-blue figure shot out.
"Bug, you can't escape!!"
Gravik, chasing from the room, had disguised himself as Joe-El again.
"Stop him! He stole the Codex of Life!"
At his shout, Kryptonian soldiers rushing to the scene blocked Charlie's path.
The commotion also drew Dark Strange.
The moment he saw Charlie, Dark Strange's gaze darkened.
"Spider-Man, you've finally shown yourself."
Dark magic surged, and Dark Strange attacked without hesitation.
But Charlie had no interest in fighting him this time.
"This is Superman Clark, catch!"
He tossed the infant, drawing Dark Strange's attention.
Dark tendrils shifted toward the airborne baby. Charlie waved his hand, opening a "portal," and vanished in a burst of magical sparks before everyone's eyes.
"Damn it, he escaped!"
Gravik cursed inwardly, watching as Dark Strange caught Superman Clark.
"This is Superman Clark?"
Dark Strange, too busy to chase Spider-Man, studied the infant thoughtfully.
He didn't trust Spider-Man's generosity.
The last Resurrection Match had left a deep impression.
Fearing a trap, he didn't probe recklessly.
Contestants could only complete one task.
If this was tied to another task, he'd lose his only chance.
With that thought, he handed the infant to Fiora beside him.
"Find Kal-El, no matter what," he said.
Fiora glanced at Gravik instinctively. "Understood."
Gravik frowned slightly.
In his mind, Spider-Man didn't even fear Carol, yet he fled from this dark mage without hesitation.
Was this guy stronger than Carol?
With that, Gravik suppressed his eagerness, plotting how to prevent Spider-Man from securing other resurrection slots.
…
An hour later, Fiora returned to her room.
The liquid geometry system activated, and General Zod's face appeared.
"Fiora, keep an eye on Joe-El. Something's off about him."
Fiora nodded. "Understood. But that so-called dark mage is trouble too. He could easily help us deal with the elders, yet he's stalling us."
Zod's face grew pensive. "No matter what, Kal-El is definitely from the El family. Point the blame at Joe-El. Whatever's wrong with either of them, it's not bad for us."
"I understand."
The liquid geometry system shut off. Fiora removed her armor, showered, and began planning her next moves.
But a faint breeze stirred, and a cold Kryptonian dagger pressed against her throat.
It was the weapon Charlie had swiped earlier.
Feeling the faint breath behind her, Fiora's expression shifted, her body tensing.
"Who's there?"
"Super Saiyan."