Three days later.
In the endless sea, a massive island slowly rose from the depths.
The island bore forests, rivers, a dragon valley, and towering crystal spires.
Simultaneously, TV stations worldwide were hijacked by an unknown signal, switching to the Grandmaster's exclusive channel.
"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce myself. I'm the Grandmaster, a cosmic-level gaming enthusiast and an absolutely impartial game referee.
What follows is the ultimate showdown between superheroes and vile villains. This duel uses the Invincible Spider-Man's revolutionary game design. Contestants will split into two factions, clashing on different lanes, developing, and gaining power to boost their team's odds until one faction destroys the enemy's ultimate crystal, claiming victory.
The winners will reign supreme. The losers will vanish forever."
The Grandmaster's passionate speech left TV viewers bewildered.
"What's happening?"
"A superhero showdown? Sounds fun."
"Is this a new show?"
"Oh my gosh, no ads? Amazing!"
"I love this program."
"No! I don't want game streams! I want McDonald's love stories. Switch it back!"
No one took the Grandmaster seriously.
Except the TV station staff.
They scrambled to debug equipment, while satellites detected the massive island.
This wasn't human power.
Only a god could do this!
…
Meanwhile, at the island's "Resurrection Pool," Charlie's mind flickered, and a display appeared.
[Skill 1: Summon All-Black Death Sword (Summons the god-slaying blade from the Marvel Universe)]
[Skill 2: Spider Clones (Summons eleven clones simultaneously, lasting 11 seconds)]
[Skill 3: Heat Vision (Emits 4900°C beams from eyes)]
[Skill 4: Web Beam (Converts webbing into high-heat beams)]
[Skill 5: ]
[Passive 1: Steel Body (Spider-Man's physique, fused with Eternal Titan strength and amplified by stellar energy, rivals divine durability)]
[Passive 2: Super Healing (Beyond human limits)]
[Passive 3: Spider-Man's Trash Talk (Auto-taunts enemies into attacking)]
Most of Charlie's powers were gamified by the Grandmaster's rules. Diana and the others were no exception.
[Hero: Diana]
[Skill 1: Lasso of Truth (Bound enemies can't escape or lie)]
[Skill 2: Sword and Shield (Summons divine sword and war god shield)]
[Skill 3: ]
[Passive 1: Demigod Body (Born of Zeus and the Amazon queen, with godlike durability)]
…
[Hero: Gwen Stacy]
[Skill 1: Summon All-Black Death Sword (Summons the god-slaying blade from the Marvel Universe)]
[Skill 2: Web Shot (A signature Spider-Man skill)]
[Skill 3: ]
[Passive 1: Immortal Body (Symbiote grants partial immunity to physical attacks)]
…
[Hero: Mary Jane]
[Skill 1: Nightmare Power (Area skill, puts enemies and allies to sleep)]
[Skill 2: Nightmare Fear (Invades enemy dream worlds, weakening their stats and boosting her own)]
[Skill 3: ]
[Passive: Nightmare Immortality (Immortal in dreamscapes)]
…
[Hero: Clark Kent]
[Skill 1: Superman Punch (Simple yet devastating fist)]
[Skill 2: Flight (Supersonic speed, upgradable to lightspeed)]
[Skill 3: Heat Vision]
In the Resurrection Pool, Clark stared at Charlie and the others, dumbfounded.
"Diana? Gwen, Mary Jane… so that's how it is."
He got it, then looked at Charlie. "If I'm right, you're that delivery guy."
Charlie shrugged. "Yep. Thanks for joining my game."
Clark shook his head. "I owe you."
Leaning closer, he whispered, "That handprint on my face…"
"A gift from me," Charlie grinned.
Clark: "…"
He didn't need that gift.
Recovering, he studied the island's virtual map.
"I've never played this kind of game. What do I do?"
Charlie gave a quick rundown, then pointed to mid-lane. "You go there.
Gwen, you and Mary Jane take bot lane.
Diana, top lane."
Hearing the assignments, they looked puzzled.
"What about you?" Diana asked.
Charlie pointed to the jungle. "I'm farming there."
Staring at the fog-shrouded forest, they frowned.
"No towers for support. It's dangerous."
"Trust me. Follow my plan, and we're good."
"Okay."
Skeptical but compliant, they peppered him with questions.
"Our powers feel sealed."
"No worries. Kill monsters, level up, you'll get them back."
"Which skill first?"
"Pick the first one."
"What about summoner skills?"
"Teleport, Flash, Heal… long cooldowns, though."
"I'll take Teleport."
"I'll take Flash…"
Soon, the Grandmaster's voice boomed, and the game began.
"All troops, advance!"
"Let's roll!"
Charlie led the charge, darting past crystal towers into the bot-lane jungle.
As he explored, the jungle's fog cleared.
ROAR!
A blood-scented cave echoed with a beast's howl. Charlie dove in, facing a massive red vampire charging at him.
BOOM!
The bloody aura swept over. Charlie dodged, nanometal suit fragments flying as the vampire's claws grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.
Feeling the sting, Charlie grinned.
"Nice. This game's too real."
He summoned the All-Black Death Sword from the void.
Hum!
A crimson slash forced the vampire back, its health bar dropping by a third.
Charlie swung again, easily killing the first monster.
Shriek!
The vampire wailed, turning into light that surged into Charlie, boosting his power. His level hit two.
Per the Grandmaster, these were their own powers, just gamified.
Everyone started at level one for fairness.
But the rushed game had bugs, and the Grandmaster would tweak balance on the fly.
Sure enough, as Charlie found the next monster, it felt stronger.
The nerfed All-Black Death Sword couldn't one-shot it.
This play-fight was fun.
At least the Grandmaster thought so.
Meanwhile, mid-lane.
BOOM!
A blast of force sent debris flying. Kang's summon, "Apocalypse," was punched away.
"Oh, damn! It's supposed to be a farming game. Why's this guy so aggressive? Does he even know how to play?!" Kang grumbled, retreating with his summon to the tower.
Clark pressed forward but was repelled by the tower's lasers.
He camped outside, giving Kang no breathing room.
Click click!
Fog cleared under the tower, revealing stumbling vampires charging Clark.
"These are their soldiers?"
Clark frowned, punching them down. Light surged into him, unlocking his second skill as he grew stronger.
Zzzzt!
Heat vision swept the remaining vampires. Kang seemed out of options.
But red soldiers appeared behind Clark, giving Kang hope.
"Charge!"
A mob of Deadpools rushed the tower, yelling. Kang, aided by the tower, mowed them down.
Buzz!
A flash of light, and Kang leveled up.
Clark frowned, wanting to stop his soldiers but was warned by the game not to interfere.
He seemed to understand, backing off to ease pressure.
Too late.
Click click!
Chains shot from the lane's bushes. Clark's face fell.
"Crap!"
He leaped, but without Flight unlocked, he crashed, ensnared by chains.
"Kang, let's take him!"
Jennix leapt from the bushes. Kang's summon swarmed the level-two Clark.
At equal strength, Clark's health plummeted.
"No!"
"Clark, watch out! The bot-lane Inheritor's gone—" Gwen warned.
The Grandmaster's voice boomed.
"Clark Kent has been slain by Jennix."
"What?"
Gwen and the others froze.
"That fast?"
Diana's face grew grim, hunkering under her tower. Nova recklessly killed Deadpool soldiers, giving Diana no openings.
Before Nova could gloat, the Grandmaster's voice rang again.
"Kang the Conqueror has been slain by Charlie Parker."
"Jennix has been slain by Charlie Parker."
"What?"
Now Nova's side was shocked.
"That damn bug, how's he so fast…"
"Be careful now."
In the jungle, the Batmobile roared, batarangs drawing out a "Spider-Man" from a cave.
Swish!
Webs shot as Muscle Peter aimed a flying tackle to crush the Batmobile.
"Little bat, you're done—"
BOOM!
Mid-sentence, a laser from the Batmobile's cannon grazed the treetops. Muscle Peter collapsed, twitching, then still.
In the driver's seat, Bruce Wayne glanced at the downed Spider-Man, absorbing the returning light.
Level three!
Upgraded again, Bruce showed no joy.
He'd been facing Wonder Woman with Nova on top lane, but Spider-Man's double kill alerted him.
Spider-Man wasn't on any lane—he was in the jungle.
So Bruce entered the jungle, discovering the secret of leveling via monsters.
The Batmobile roared to mid-lane's ruins.
Kang and Jennix's bodies faded, leaving bloodstains and sword-slashed ground.
Judging by the damage, Spider-Man was at least level four.
Bruce's face darkened. He was behind. If he met Spider-Man in the jungle, he'd lose.
He needed to level up fast.
He targeted Diana on top lane.
A virtual chat window appeared. He meant to message Nova.
But the Grandmaster's voice interrupted.
"Nova has been slain by Charlie Parker."
"What?"
Bruce started. "Impossible. How's he so fast… Teleport skill!"
He realized Spider-Man's powers.
Game summoner skills had cooldowns, but Spider-Man's magic portals didn't.
"This isn't fair!" he yelled skyward.
The Grandmaster noticed and banned Charlie's magic portals.
Charlie didn't object.
Too late to ban now.
While others were level three, he'd killed three enemies, reaching level five.
No shop in this game—level was everything.
This was just a test run. Two more matches, and his foes wouldn't give him chances.
Soon, Charlie helped Diana topple the first tower, bringing her level even with Nova's.
With equal strength, the lane stalemated.
Meanwhile, Batman, roaming the jungle, met Charlie head-on.
Top-lane river.
Splash!
The river roared. The Batmobile switched to speedboat mode.
Opposite, Charlie stood on his spatial web, facing Bruce.
"Hey, Bat-boy, dueling me here?" Charlie called.
In the Batmobile, Bruce gripped the wheel, then turned and fled.
He wasn't Charlie's match.
But before he could escape, a river monster unleashed a waterspout, dragging the Batmobile underwater.
Gurgle!
Underwater, the Batmobile's lights flared.
In the glow, Bruce saw his attacker.
"That's…"
A trident-wielding warrior zipped past, slashing a third of Bruce's health.
"Crap!"
Bruce activated escape mode.
BOOM!
The cockpit ejected. As Bruce surfaced, a chill hit his throat. The Invincible Spider-Man took his head.
"Woo! River crab for the win!!"
A minute later, Bruce opened his eyes in the Resurrection Pool, touching his throat, pale.
That was death?
Terrifying.
He steeled himself and reentered the jungle.
At the bot-lane river, Bruce prowled the shore.
Ready, he aimed to hunt the "sea monster" with the trident.
Killing stronger monsters meant more power.
But the river held no trident warrior.
Instead…
Splash!
Waves surged. A seahorse chariot roared past, trailed by massive sea monsters patrolling their turf.
Bruce: "???"
Seeing the silver-armored queen on the chariot, his face fell.
That's a monster?
No way he'd clear this.
Then, the Grandmaster's voice boomed.
"Kang the Conqueror has been slain by Charlie Parker."
"Jennix has been slain by Charlie Parker."
"Karn has been slain by Charlie Parker."
"Nova has been slain by Charlie Parker."
Finally, red beams swept the jungle.
"Bruce Wayne has been slain by Charlie Parker."
Half an hour later, the jungle was cleared.
Mid-lane high ground fell. Nova and the others rallied to defend the crystal.
But a swarm of Deadpool soldiers poured in. Above Spider-Man, a golden level glowed.
Level eighteen!
"How?! He's max level!!"
"Damn, he's showing off."
"He won't get lucky next time."
At level ten, they exchanged glances and surrendered.
No point continuing.
Click click!
"Spider-Man's faction wins!"
The Grandmaster announced the result. Everyone returned to the Resurrection Pool.
Round two was coming.
Inheritor faction.
Nova gritted her teeth. "We can't let that bug level unchecked."
Kang checked the data. "The Grandmaster tweaked the game. That bug's got no shot."
"Don't get cocky. We learned our lesson. Do as I say," Bruce said coldly.
Jennix glared. "A lowly mortal doesn't tell us what to do."
Bruce frowned. "We're all after Spider-Man. You're brainless, but I won't let you drag me down."
"You calling us dumb?" Nova's eyes flashed, but Kang stopped her.
"Hold it. No more fighting."
Kang said seriously, "Doubt human strength, but not their brains. They're smart, especially now. We need calm and someone to plan against Spider-Man."
Karn nodded. "The Invincible Spider-Man's too strong. We need a mastermind."
Jennix and Nova exchanged looks, knowing their shaky position.
They shut up.
But Nova wasn't convinced.
"What a hassle. Let's ditch the game and fight. This is boring."
Kang sighed. "Without the Grandmaster, Spider-Man would've picked us off already. We wouldn't have this chance."
Bruce listened, growing suspicious.
These guys don't seem like the good sort.
He'd need more backup plans.
Spider-Man must fall, but these guys can't win either.