I am the Grandmaster, a cosmic-level elite gamer from some universe.
Due to my carelessness, Spider-Man took me out.
I ended up in an unknown universe, participating in this so-called Resurrection Match.
I thought I'd found the perfect game for me.
But losing to Spider-Man over and over left me frustrated.
I'm not afraid of failure, but losing to Spider-Man in inexplicable ways gave me zero gaming satisfaction.
So this time, I decided I'd fight hard!
I gathered the four biggest villains for this Resurrection Match, planning a super surprise for the Invincible Spider-Man.
But Spider-Man surprised me instead.
He apologized for beating me before and offered a sincere, wildly fun suggestion.
Hero League—this game captivated me.
I knew it could be spectacular.
So I accepted his idea.
But the Invincible Spider-Man gave me another spark.
Using those vampire Inheritors and a bunch of clownish Deadpools as soldiers, with Atlantis's Aquaman and his son guest-starring as river crabs.
The game got better, but Spider-Man said it wasn't thrilling enough.
He tipped me off for free.
A loser named Luthor created a Kryptonian monster called "Doomsday" using Kryptonian warrior genes.
A terrifying creature, not yet fully grown.
Perfect for the game's highlight.
So I made it the jungle's strongest monster.
Defeating Doomsday would grant overwhelming stats to crush opponents.
Nothing could be more exciting.
I didn't doubt Spider-Man. He must've thought he'd win for sure.
But he didn't expect I'm a super fair referee. I wouldn't let him win twice in a row.
For the final game, the superheroes would face an ultimate challenge.
But I never imagined the Kryptonian monster would undergo an unknown change.
Oh my gosh, I fell for that bug's trick.
Doomsday evolves constantly!
Designed as Superman's ultimate weapon, it adapts to its opponent and environment, evolving rapidly.
It's a ticking time bomb. After adapting to the game, it gained player-like traits.
No, it might keep evolving, fully adapting to the game, breaking its world, destroying everything, and descending into reality.
It could even kill the game's creator!
That's me, the Grandmaster, an elite gamer called the Master.
As a cosmic-level player, I was a bit worried at first.
But soon, I got super excited.
The real game had begun!
I didn't care if Spider-Man lured me into adding this monster or what his true goal was.
At match point, this thrilling game would get everyone's blood pumping.
Thanks, Spider-Man, for making it beyond imagination.
Being his enemy was the right call.
Lingering in the Resurrection Match world was the greatest gift for an elite gamer.
Next time, I'll face that bug again.
He surprised me once more.
I love Spider-Man!
I love Charlie Parker!
…
Meanwhile, top-lane jungle.
The dragon valley quaked, a beast's roar deafening.
ROAR!!
BOOM!!
The void cracked. The Invincible Spider-Man shot out from the blast.
The humanoid monster behind him radiated terror, making Bruce Wayne tremble.
"Oh my gosh, something's off with this monster."
Sensing Doomsday's malevolent glare, he turned the Batmobile and fled.
On the other side, Clark, guarding a tower, felt his blood stir.
He frowned, turning toward the jungle.
"That's…"
Suspicious, he paused. Diana stopped too.
Their lane opponents had retreated under Bruce's orders.
The ultimate boss had appeared. Defeating it would grant crushing power.
"They're all heading there," Gwen said, arriving.
Diana frowned. "We're going too."
"Charlie hasn't signaled us."
"Now he has."
Charlie appeared via a portal.
The ground trembled as Doomsday closed in, drawn to Superman's presence.
Charlie looked at Clark. "It's up to you now."
"What?"
Clark blinked, confused. "What do I do?"
"Run!"
"Run?"
Clark's look turned odd. "Honestly, I've never run. Hardly any opponent can match me—"
Before he finished, Doomsday's massive form burst from the bushes.
Clark's eyes widened.
The monster's speed was beyond imagination.
So was its strength.
BOOM!!
One punch sent Clark crashing into the jungle.
ROAR!!
Doomsday bellowed, hammering its chest. Its terrifying aura shocked Diana and the others.
"What a monster!"
Gwen gripped the All-Black Death Sword. "Hulk?"
"No, more like Abomination," Mary Jane said.
Charlie waved. "It's Doomsday, it's—"
BOOM!!
A massive fist shook space, and Charlie vanished.
Gwen blinked. "It's what?"
ROAR!!
The beast roared, saliva flying. Gwen raised the All-Black Death Sword, black liquid surging into it, the dark blade poised to cleave all.
Hum!!
Slash!
ROAR!!
The sword pierced Doomsday's chest, but the unstoppable blade couldn't destroy it.
Gwen watched, stunned, as Doomsday pulled it out.
"This isn't scientific…"
"Let me!"
Mary Jane stepped up, locking eyes with Doomsday, chanting, "Sleep, sleep, sleep…"
ROAR!!
A fist slammed down, burying Mary Jane in the ground.
"Mary Jane has been slain by Doomsday," the Grandmaster's voice announced.
Diana, on guard, groaned. "No need to broadcast now!"
She cursed, leaping with sword and shield.
BOOM!!
Divine power erupted, golden lightning flashing.
But to Doomsday, it was child's play.
Crack crack!
BOOM!!
Doomsday crouched, then leaped, breaking the sound barrier. Diana was hurled into the game's barrier.
Click click!
The invisible barrier cracked, and Diana vanished.
"Diana has been slain by Doomsday."
"Gwen Stacy has been slain by Doomsday."
"Clark Kent has been slain by Doomsday."
"Charlie Parker has been slain by Doomsday."
Spider-Man's team was decimated. Doomsday turned to the Inheritors.
ROAR!!
BOOM!!
The jungle exploded. Nova and the others fled, too weak to face Doomsday.
Unlike Spider-Man's team, they didn't provoke it, using tricks to avoid death.
Doomsday chased players across the game world, killing countless monsters.
Its health bar changed color, then showed a game level.
It had evolved.
It gained player powers, reaching max level in no time.
It fully adapted to the game!
Its eyes grew fiercer.
ROAR!!
The monster's roar shook the game world. The barriers wobbled.
Having killed Superman, its Kryptonian kin, it now sought to break this world restricting its freedom.
It wanted freedom!
BOOM!!
The ground cracked under Doomsday's feet. It leaped, piercing the sky, shattering the game's barrier, collapsing the Grandmaster's world.
Click click!
The island's sky fractured, game rules crumbling. Players in the Resurrection Pool regained their full powers.
"Damn, it's unstoppable. No attack kills it, and it absorbs them to evolve," Nova spat, pale, disgusted by Doomsday's mimicry of her powers.
It surpassed her.
Bruce, stripped of game powers, was mortal again.
On Charlie's side, Clark eyed the magical aura around him, frowning.
"Why's this here?" he asked Charlie.
"To hide your Kryptonian scent. It's after you," Charlie explained.
Gwen mused, "If it senses Clark, it'll come back, right?"
"Exactly."
Charlie nodded, drawing a circle. Supreme Peter stepped from the magical sparks.
"Ready," he said.
"Good. Begin!"
"Got it."
Charlie formed seals, pouring vast magical energy into Supreme Peter.
Buzz!
Supreme Peter unleashed an infinite cosmic web, enveloping the collapsing island, sealing its spacetime, trapping Nova and the others.
"What's this?"
Diana realized. "The game wasn't the point. You used the fair game excuse to lure your targets here and take them out?"
"Bingo!" Charlie grinned. "Winning the game didn't matter. Someone needed to break it."
"The real fight's starting," Gwen said, gripping the All-Black Death Sword, her expression cold.
"Let's do this!"
"Wait, one more prep."
Charlie looked at Clark. "Your scent will leak soon. Stall that monster. Once I'm done, I'll handle the rest."
Clark nodded firmly. "No problem. I'll beat it."
Charlie: "…"
"Did you hear me?"
"Loud and clear. I'll beat it."
"I said stall it."
"I can beat it."
"You'll die."
"Superman lives forever!"
Charlie: "…"
He gave up arguing.
Without kryptonite, Superman couldn't even take Doomsday down with him.
Quick fight, no problem.
He opened a portal.
"Accountants, let's roll!"
At Charlie's command, the Deadpool army in the crystal towers awoke.
"Oh my gosh, where are we?"
"I hear Spider-Man!"
"Our friend needs us."
"Deadpools, move out! For our idol, Spider-Man!"
"Kill!!"
The Deadpool army surged, hunting the Inheritors.
Jennix and the others noticed the cosmic web sealing the island.
"Damn bug, we've been played," Kang shouted skyward. "Grandmaster, get us out!"
A severed head fell in response.
Thud!
Staring at the brutally twisted head, they paled.
"That monster did it!"
Bruce's eyes narrowed, quietly slipping away from the Inheritors.
The now-defenseless towers fell to the Deadpools. The Inheritors' vampire army retreated.
Click click click!
On the high ground, a red silhouette in heels strutted, golden ponytail swaying.
"You're the one hurting our little spider?"
Multiverse Lady Deadpool, masked, pointed at Nova and the others, voice icy.
Behind her, bizarre Deadpools advanced, surrounding Nova's group, hurling insults.
"Oh man, a busted bald chick. I like her."
"She needs laxatives."
"I'll pee on their corpses."
"I'll poop."
"I'll kiss her toes…"
"Charge!!"
Wade raised his baby knife, and the Deadpools attacked.
Nova glared, crushing Deadpools with earth manipulation, the ground swallowing them.
Kang activated his device, summoning Apocalypse's mutant team, fearless against the Deadpools' killing intent.
Jennix flung chains, and Karn swept with his red fork.
BOOM!!
BOOM!!
The high ground cracked, Deadpool bodies scattered, quickly slaughtered by Nova's team.
But Deadpools don't die.
They rose like zombies, cracking joints and necks.
"Wow, great massage."
"Could've been rougher."
"Their technique sucks."
Mocking, they were crushed again and again.
Outside, Spider-Men watched, pausing.
"Should we help?" First-Gen Peter asked.
Superior Peter shook his head. "They're not done playing."
Third-Gen Peter mused, "They're wearing them down."
"Selfless Deadpools," Thor Peter agreed.
Clark shot into the sky, Doomsday's roar echoing.
"No!!"
BOOM!!
Clark hit the sea, waves surging. Doomsday, a sea monster, chased him beyond the island's waters.
Charlie, watching, mused.
As expected, the battlefield would shift to New York.
Typical movie trope.
First, deal with these guys.
He waved, the All-Black Death Sword slashing down, his black-and-red suit covering him, darkness enveloping the sky.
Hum!!
A colossal crimson slash split the island.
Splash!
As seawater flooded the rift, the leech totem roared into the sky.
"Damn bugs, you're no match!!"
Jennix bared his fangs, endless eerie chains spreading from the void.
The chains halted the island's collapse, draining the Spider-Men's strength.
Jennix's totem power crushed all spider totems, including Charlie's.
Weakness hit, the sky's darkness thinning.
The All-Black Death Sword dimmed.
In Spider-Man's hands, it was suppressed by the leech totem.
Charlie tossed it to Diana.
"Get him!"
"Got it."
Diana, wielding the sword, erupted with divine power. Golden light fused with dark energy, darkening the sky again.
Hum!!
A crimson slash shattered the chains.
Jennix smirked. "The great Inheritors won't fall twice."
"Karn, stop her!"
At his command, conflicted Karn went all out. A hundred-meter red fork phantom smashed the crimson slash.
"What?"
Diana gasped. "How…"
"Don't worry, keep going," Charlie said.
Jennix's totem was stronger against Spider-Men.
But Karn, with Kryptonian Origin Chamber power, outclassed Jennix in raw strength.
Against non-Spider-Men, Karn was better.
As Karn and Diana clashed, evenly matched, Charlie smiled.
Time to flex his connections.
"Arthur, your dear dad needs you!!"
Yelling over the surging sea, Arthur arrived, lightning crackling, riding waves to the battlefield.
"I'll protect my father!"
Atop the waves, Arthur, in golden scale armor, trident in hand, hair flowing, radiated power.
Behind him, Atlanna led the Atlantean army, encircling the battlefield.
Charlie relaxed.
His network finally paid off.
This was a sure win.
Gwen and Mary Jane exchanged odd looks.
"Father?"
"His kid?"
They glanced at Charlie with pity.
That trident-wielding hunk clearly wasn't Charlie's.
For the win, the Invincible Spider-Man had sacrificed too much.