BOOM!!
A deafening explosion rang out as the crimson ray pierced the rubble. Scorching heat waves spread, sending red-hot stones flying. The group scrambled back.
"Is he dead?"
Felicia and the others stared as the crimson glow faded from the ruins, their faces filled with anticipation.
Erik landed calmly, his expression grave. "Apocalypse isn't dead."
"What?"
Their faces shifted.
"Impossible. Under that terrifying high-energy attack, his cells would be completely vaporized. No way he could come back," Felicia said with certainty.
Erik shook his head. "You have no idea what Apocalypse has been up to."
"What did he do?"
"He—"
"Watch out!"
Hill's shout cut him off. As space warped, a blue energy beam erupted, engulfing the red-and-blue figure in the pyramid.
"He's really not dead!"
In the group's disbelieving gazes, Apocalypse emerged from a spatial tunnel.
Floating in midair, he lowered his right hand, faint white smoke rising from his palm.
Staring at the ruins where Spider-Man lay, Apocalypse panted, a trace of fear lingering in his eyes.
"Damn bug, you won't get another chance."
Spider-Man's power surge after resurrection was staggering, strong enough to make even him tremble.
But no matter. He wasn't the old Apocalypse anymore.
Though he hadn't claimed Spider-Man or Carol's bodies, he'd acquired another's, inheriting all their abilities.
If Carol faced him now, he wouldn't flee in disgrace like before.
Witnessing Spider-Man's resurrection again, his greed intensified.
Indeed, the more Spider-Man died, the stronger he became—the perfect vessel.
Compared to Spider-Man, even Carol, despite her power, paled in comparison.
Defeating Carol was only a matter of time for Spider-Man.
He had to claim Spider-Man's body first!
His secret weapon would finish this bug.
As he thought, a red-and-blue magical circle flared beside him.
Sensing the magic, Apocalypse activated an energy shield without hesitation.
Buzz~
BOOM!!
The crimson ray erupted again, its terrifying light hurling Apocalypse's body toward the shattered pyramid.
BOOM~~
Crack crack crack~~
The pyramid was pierced by his body, crashing into the underground base's stone wall.
BANG!!
On a coastal hill, a battered figure shot through the rock, soaring skyward. Blue energy was drowned by the crimson ray as space warped again.
Whoosh~
High above, fierce winds howled. Apocalypse's armor had melted, and the horrific burn on his chest healed visibly. His stone-like skin sloughed off, replaced by writhing red flesh.
"Not bad, Hydra's power. Where'd you steal it from?"
A mocking voice came from behind. Apocalypse's face changed.
"Go to hell!!"
In the sky, blue energy exploded again. Turning, Apocalypse unleashed a torrent of power into a magical circle, which redirected it at another angle.
BOOM!
BOOM!!
A blue streak plummeted into a coastal city, crashing through a skyscraper and into a park lake.
Splash~~
The lake erupted in waves, quickly freezing as frost spread, sending citizens fleeing.
"My gosh!"
"Run!"
"Is this the Ice Age?!"
"A mutant…"
Onlookers screamed as the spreading frost threatened to engulf them. A spark of magic flared on the frozen lake.
Buzz~
BOOM!!
A tremendous force struck the ice, radiant magical energy surging into the lakebed, melting the frost and freeing the civilians.
"It's Spider-Man!"
"I saw it—Spider-Man's magic!"
"He's finally back."
"I knew he wasn't dead…"
"Or maybe he resurrected."
Safe from danger, the fleeing crowd slowed, turning to watch ice shards scatter across the lake.
Crack crack~
BANG!!
Under their gaze, the lake's ice stacked chaotically, surging toward the shore.
A blue figure shot skyward, the lake boiling as a terrifying crimson ray chased Apocalypse.
"Damn it, doesn't this thing have a cooldown?"
Apocalypse cursed, forced to escape through a spatial tunnel again.
Buzz~
The crimson ray pierced the warped space, vanishing into the sky, tinting the clouds like a blazing sunset.
"My God! What is that?"
The crowd marveled as the ray disappeared.
Emerging from the water, Charlie shook his head.
Repeated Web Ray use outpaced his stellar energy conversion, unable to sustain full power.
Too far from the sun, his energy absorption was limited.
Rubbing his wrist's web glands, Charlie switched to standard webbing.
Buzz~
Opening a portal, he dove in.
A boundless desert appeared before him.
"Where is this?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. Why was Apocalypse here?
Before he could ponder, a golden pillar of sand rose from the desert.
Whoosh~ Whoosh~
A raging sandstorm obscured his vision.
But focusing, Charlie realized it wasn't a pillar—it was a thousand-meter arm.
"Hahaha, invincible Spider-Man, you're too arrogant. I'm not the old Apocalypse!!"
Apocalypse's mad laughter echoed as the desert sand climbed the arm, forming a thousands-meter-tall sand giant.
At its feet, the desert was stripped bare.
He'd show everyone sand wasn't infinite.
Buzz~
The sun was eclipsed by the giant, its shadow making Charlie tinier than an insect.
Meanwhile, at the underground base.
Erik abandoned fighting Felicia's group.
Gathered together, they watched the desert scene via satellite, stunned.
"Is that… Sandman's power?" Felicia gasped. "How does Apocalypse have Sandman's abilities?"
Erik exhaled. "Super Skrull."
"Super Skrull?"
Hill frowned. "Carol shattered the Super Skrull. How did Apocalypse get his powers?"
Barton mused, "Did he take Sandman's body?"
"No, Sandman left no body. I couldn't find him," Felicia said, confused. "I suspect he's not dead, but I've got no proof."
Erik toyed with a metal shard. "The Super Skrull's body was fragmented, but collecting enough pieces could reconstruct it."
"That's absurd!" Johnny snapped. "How do you find that many fragments? Some were atomized. It's impossible."
"Apocalypse can break objects into molecules and reassemble them. He restored the Super Skrull's body, activated its cells with a healing factor, and took it over, gaining all its powers," Erik explained.
"Gravik didn't resurrect?"
"Mary Jane" suddenly spoke.
The group turned, puzzled.
"When did you get here?" Hill asked, surprised.
G'iah, disguised as Mary Jane, shrugged. "Traffic. Just arrived."
They didn't dwell on her sudden appearance. Erik glanced at G'iah curiously, then continued.
"I'm puzzled too. Gravik's body regained vitality but didn't resurrect, becoming a vegetable. Apocalypse easily took it over."
"Why does he still look the same?" Felicia asked.
Erik pondered. "I'm not sure, but after taking a body, he reverts to his original form. Probably another power."
G'iah mused, "So Apocalypse became the Super Skrull, stole Sandman's genes, and gained his abilities."
Their faces darkened.
"If he can steal Sandman's powers, he can steal more."
"Yes, so…"
They looked at the desert scene, uneasy.
The massive Sandman stomped, a sandstorm engulfing the tiny figure.
"Where's Spider-Man?"
"He can enlarge himself. He'll be fine," Natasha said.
As she spoke, the giant Sandman roared in panic, frantically slapping its body.
"Damn bug, get out!!"
In the barren land, the Sandman flailed as the tiny bug rampaged inside, magical energy shattering swathes of sand.
"Big guy, who taught you bigger is stronger?"
Amid endless sand, Charlie darted, grabbing a sailor hat from the debris.
"Whoa, a sailor hat in the desert? Perfect."
He slapped it on, waved a circle, and torrents of seawater burst from a portal.
Splash~~
The portal became a high-pressure water cannon, washing away sand.
"No!!"
As his legs dissolved, Apocalypse's massive sand face contorted in fear.
"How…"
Roaring, he abandoned Sandman's powers.
BOOM~
Sand cascaded like a waterfall, and a fiery streak shot skyward.
"Die!!"
As Human Torch, Apocalypse fired blazing pillars. Charlie, wielding the portal, met the flames with seawater.
BOOM!!
Puff puff puff
Steam rose, shrouding the desert in mist.
BANG BANG BANG!!
BOOM!
In the mist, radiant magic exploded, electric arcs flashed, and Apocalypse's screams echoed.
"Damn bug, I'll defeat you!!"
As space warped, a golden hand grabbed Apocalypse before he could escape.
"What?"
He turned to see a golden Spider-Man salute mockingly.
"Sorry, I caught you."
"You—NO!!"
BOOM!!
Golden light flared, and the desert fell silent.
Ten thousand meters up, golden Spider-Man dragged Apocalypse downward, friction igniting flames. They plummeted like a meteor.
Crack crack~
Apocalypse's body burned and healed repeatedly.
But healing couldn't keep up, his body disintegrating visibly.
Charlie, powered by stellar energy, glowed brighter, a protective film shielding him from the heat.
Apocalypse gritted his teeth. "Bastard, I won't die!"
BOOM~
Space energy surged, but he couldn't open a tunnel.
"What?"
He noticed Charlie's radiant gold.
It was interfering with his spatial transfer.
"Damn…"
As heat threatened to melt him, he activated fire powers, becoming pure flame.
"Hahaha, now you can't kill me!" he laughed.
"Really?"
Charlie's golden eyes flashed. He slapped Apocalypse's chest.
Buzz~
Apocalypse's gaze dulled, his flames fading, and he crashed into the desert.
BOOM!!
The ground shook like Mars colliding with Earth, debris soaring thousands of meters.
In the crater, Apocalypse's body vaporized.
In midair, his ethereal form stared, stunned.
"I… this is?"
He raised his hands, seeing his translucent body, his pupils shrinking.
"My soul?"
Panicking, he tried to flee, but magical webbing sealed the space.
"Argh!! Get away!!"
Apocalypse tore at the webs, his immense mental strength ripping a hole. He darted into the sky.
"Hm?"
Charlie was surprised.
He hadn't stripped Apocalypse's soul immediately because his mental strength was formidable. Without preparation, he could escape.
But his preparations weren't enough.
As Charlie moved to pursue, Apocalypse's soul doubled back, diving into his mind.
"Hahaha, damn bug, thank you."
In a daze, Charlie heard Apocalypse's triumphant laugh.
"I needed a consciousness transfer device, but you freed my soul, letting me take your body without it. You killed yourself!!"
As Charlie's consciousness cleared, he opened his eyes to Bleecker Street, Queens.
In the garden, Ben Parker tended to plants.
In the kitchen, Aunt May fried his favorite steak.
"Hey, dear Charlie, wash up for dinner," May called to him outside.
Charlie snapped back, ignoring her.
Scanning his surroundings, he squinted. "Consciousness space isn't your turf? Hiding even here? The so-called mutant god is just a coward."
His tone dripped with mockery, but Apocalypse didn't appear.
"Charlie, it's gonna rain. Come home," May urged.
Ben stood, waving. "Charlie, don't stand in the street. It's dangerous."
"Come back!"
"Return…"
May and Ben kept calling, but Charlie ignored them.
This was his consciousness space; the scene was his old fantasy.
Apocalypse using it to create illusions meant he'd underestimated him.
"Charlie, I'm hungry."
A child's voice came from behind.
Charlie turned to see young Mary Jane looking at him pitifully, stirring memories.
Buzz~
The scene dissolved, replaced by a bright church.
"Mr. Charlie Parker, do you take the woman before you as your wife, in sickness and health, riches or poverty, forever faithful?"
The solemn priest recited vows. The woman before Charlie gazed at him lovingly.
Gwen, radiant in a white gown, held exquisite flowers, her face flushed beneath her veil, shy yet expectant.
Below, Harry and the others waited anxiously.
"Buddy, what're you doing? Speak!" Harry urged, wishing he could say the words.
"Idol, you look like an idiot. If you don't want her, I'll take her," Wade rambled, only to be tossed out by elderly Steve.
"Little Spider, congrats, but don't be shy. Everyone's waiting," Steve said.
"I object!"
Carter stood, raising her shield, but Steve and others held her back.
Charlie: "…"
Glancing at May and Ben below, he facepalmed.
"Great mutant god, what's your game? Sneaking an attack while I'm crying?
Please, you've watched too many movies. Who gets married these days?"
Before he finished, a familiar figure appeared at the door.
"Charlie, don't agree!" Mary Jane cried.
Charlie: "…"
"Another one? Okay, this plot's cliché, but being fought over is nice. Too bad there's no fight. Mutant god, I love watching women brawl. If you make them fight, I might cry—uh, no way! This illusion's too much."
In Charlie's stunned gaze, Mary Jane leapt, webbing shooting from her fingers to the ceiling.
"No!!"
With an incredulous cry, Apocalypse, caught in the webbing, was exposed.
"Damn woman, you ruined everything! Die!!"
Furious, Apocalypse destroyed the church, swelling into a ten-meter giant.
"Die!!"
He stomped, but Mary Jane dodged, her webbing binding his massive form.
Swish swish swish~
She flickered, evading his attacks while tightening the webs.
"Still standing there? Finish him!" she shouted, passing Charlie.
Charlie: "???"
"Uh, great performance, but I suddenly want to marry."
He rolled his eyes, turning to Gwen.
But Gwen's face was now Carter's.
Charlie: "…"
"Damn it! Wrong goods! You can't do me like this."
He shouted at Apocalypse.
Apocalypse tore at the webs, glaring. "Damn bug, what're you playing at? Why—"
His face was covered in webbing.
Mary Jane landed on his head, strangling him with webs.
"They're all fake! Help me!" she yelled.
Charlie rolled his eyes again. "Don't say I'm not following the script. Even if it's Carter, I'd still—ugh!"
Turning, he gagged.
"What's an old geezer like you doing?" he yelled at elderly Steve in a wedding dress.
Steve grinned. "I knew you rejected them for me."
"Go to hell!"
Charlie clutched his head, kicking Steve away.
As he relaxed, the audience stirred.
His face darkened. "You… stay back, or I'll kill you…"
"Spider-Man, love me again!" Hill rushed the stage, lips puckered.
"No!! This is too much!!"
Charlie clenched his fists, stomping.
Finally, he grabbed something and hurled it.
Hum!
A black sword light flashed, shattering everyone like glass.
"What's this?"
Charlie raised the black sword, eyebrow raised.
"Black Death Sword? How's it here?"
As he wondered, Apocalypse flung Mary Jane and swung a car-sized fist.
"Damn bug, no matter your tricks, you're dead!!"
Charlie shrugged as the fist came. "Can you be direct? Your lousy performance makes it hard to play along!"
He raised the Black Death Sword, glowing darkly.
Hum~
Rip!
The sword light slashed Apocalypse, freezing the giant mid-punch.
Charlie: "???"
Curious, he swung again.
Puff~
"Ugh~"
Apocalypse groaned, collapsing, face full of resentment.
"Bug… you win…"
His head drooped, his massive body dissolving in the wind.
The Black Death Sword vanished into the void.
Charlie scratched his head. "Anyone gonna explain?"
He looked at Mary Jane in the church's ruins.
She stood, her expression complex. "The bride wasn't me."
She took a deep breath, holding back tears. "Thank you for everything, but I understand. I won't make this hard."
She turned, walking toward the door.
In the white light, she glanced back. "Spider-Man, be happy. If…"
She paused. "Never mind. Goodbye."
Her figure faded in the light.
In the wrecked church, Charlie stared at the spot.
"Uh… anyone there?"
He scanned around. "Wanna keep going?" he asked tentatively.
No response.
"Hey! Anyone?"
"I'm leaving if you don't show."
"Really leaving!"
"Mutant god, stop playing dead."
"I'm begging you, come out. Stop messing with me…"
…
S.H.I.E.L.D. Medical Ward.
Charlie flailed dramatically on the bed, while Harry and the others exchanged odd looks.
"Send him to a mental hospital?" Harry asked.
Carter frowned. "No need. Apocalypse's last resort was possessing his body, but Charles said his mental strength is strong. He shouldn't lose to Apocalypse. It'll end soon."
Wong, nearby, mused, "You said that half an hour ago."
Carter: "…"
To avoid awkwardness, she smiled at Wong. "Thanks for bringing him here."
Wong's face twitched. "You thanked me ten minutes ago."
Carter: "…"
Tony entered. "All sorted. Explaining was a hassle."
He glanced at Charlie, adjusting his sunglasses. "He's back, but not fully."
Harry rubbed his chin. "At least he's okay."
Carter shook her head, walking to the window overlooking the familiar landing pad. "It's been a while. Feels strange."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Commander Carter, we've been in hiding, dealing with all the trouble. How will you explain this to the public?"
Before Carter answered, Tony grinned. "Our Captain Carter planned for this. The Carter Family's logistics ensured few knew we died. We quietly handled the troublemakers, so there's little opposition now. We've got things under control."
Carter turned. "Yes, the Skrull chaos was an opportunity. The senators are our people now. When Charlie wakes, he'll see a different world."
"I'm awake."
Charlie sat up, still dazed. "What just happened?"
Harry poured him water. "You beat the mutant god. Now you're…"
"The God of Humanity?" Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"No, the God of Spider-Man."
"Ugh, lame nickname."
Charlie stretched. "Question: found Mary Jane?"
"Mary Jane?" Harry blinked. "She was just here."
Carter shook her head, making Charlie frown.
He'd given the extra slot to Mary Jane. She should be revived.
"By the way, Gwen's body is gone, and the Black Death Sword the Carter Family kept is missing too," Carter said.
Charlie's frown deepened.
Mary Jane, Gwen, the Black Death Sword…
So the sword was real.
Mary Jane was real.
Apocalypse's death was real.
He hadn't found Gwen in the Resurrection Match, but she'd revived.
It made sense. The match had many tasks. If Gwen was lucid, securing a slot wouldn't be hard.
And only if lucid would she avoid him.
Killing a friend isn't something anyone faces easily.
But what was with Mary Jane?
Wishing him happiness?
How many Spider-Men are happy?
Maybe a few.
Shaking off his thoughts, Charlie eyed the prompt.
[You, as the Friendly Neighborhood, slaughtered the mutant god. Retries +19.]
[You, as the Friendly Neighborhood, maintained world peace. Retries +49.]
"Maintained world peace?"
The unexpected reward made Charlie smile. It wasn't what he expected, but it was plenty.
Saving the world was easy; keeping peace was harder.
He understood what Carter's group had been up to.
At the window, he spread his arms, breathing deeply.
"Ah~ The air's so fresh, the world's so beautiful."
Awesome!!
"Beautiful world's Spider-Man, time to keep your promise," Charles said, approaching.
"I gathered harmless mutants as you suggested. They need a home."
Charlie turned. "No problem." To Carter: "The Carter Family has tons of estates. Spare one?"
Carter scoffed. "Asking for an estate? Big appetite."
"Commander Carter, don't be stingy. You're getting promoted."
"I know."
At the mention, Carter smiled. "Fine, I'll give two estates."
To a delighted Charles: "What's next?"
Charles grinned, scratching his head, pulling out some hair. "I'll open a school for mutants and start a mutant Avengers, helping people accept and respect them."
"Got a name?" Tony asked.
Charles, embarrassed, scratched again, losing more hair. "X-Men, how's that?"
Charlie: "…"
This guy's going bald.