The battle was imminent.
Kang, stripped of his core time powers in this universe, relied on his Apocalypse duplicates for defense.
Though Apocalypse's power was formidable, the sheer number of Spider-Men and Deadpools gave them the edge.
With Arthur and Atlanna leading the Atlantean army, the Apocalypse clones quickly fell into a dire situation.
"Ah!!"
BOOM!!
Under a gloomy sky, golden lightning flashed. Arthur, clad in golden armor, raised his trident, unleashing a tidal wave that shattered an Apocalypse clone's shield.
"No~"
BOOM!!
The endless tsunami drowned the mass-produced mutant god. The trident's divine power, sparked by golden lightning, swept through the other Apocalypse clones, charging toward Kang.
Suddenly, Nova flashed in front of Kang.
Zzzzt!
BOOM!!!
Golden lightning struck Nova, blasting her to pieces.
But her flesh writhed, reforming, now crackling with golden arcs.
"That's…" Arthur gasped.
"Heh, lovely power."
Resurrected, Nova smirked, unleashing golden lightning. Charging Deadpools were reduced to mush.
She spread her arms, the ground trembling and rising into a massive hand, lifting her toward the cosmic web in the sky.
Too many enemies—she had to escape.
She couldn't keep this up.
It was pointless.
But Spider-Man wouldn't let her.
Hum!!
A crimson slash cut through the sky, collapsing the giant hand. Charlie, sword in hand, aimed for a panicked Nova.
But a familiar shout stopped him.
"Loser, don't kill her!"
Lizard Parker raised his hand. "Give me the sword! I'll take her down myself!!"
Seeing Lizard Parker's fury, Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"You two… got beef?"
Lizard Parker's eyes teared up, recalling painful memories.
"She… sob… she insulted me." He covered his face, weeping.
"What?"
Charlie and the surrounding Spider-Men were stunned.
The resurrected Deadpools whispered among themselves.
Lizard Parker didn't catch their words, but their odd looks pierced his heart.
He swore that bald woman would pay!
Out of pity, Charlie handed him the All-Black Death Sword.
"Lizard bro, you—"
He patted his shoulder, sighing. "It'll pass."
"Thank you."
Tears streaming, Lizard Parker gripped the sword and charged at the wretched woman.
"Jerk, I said stop using that! You're still at it? I'll tear you apart!!"
Facing Lizard Parker with the All-Black Death Sword, Nova's expression grew serious.
Zzzzt!
Nova, with hundreds of copied powers, turned into lightning and vanished. Lizard Parker swung wildly but couldn't match her speed.
"Ah!!!" he roared, frantic. "Brothers, help me!!"
"What?"
The Spider-Men didn't respond first—the idle Deadpools did.
"Wow, he called us brothers?"
"I'm touched."
"Help him?"
"He's not Spider-Man."
"Doesn't matter. He's Peter Parker. That's enough."
"Alright, let's take down Baldy!"
"Charge!"
The comical battle began, Lizard Parker fighting for his dignity.
Watching, Charlie felt a pang.
Poor guy, even this happens to him.
But what did Nova see in Lizard Parker?
Could it be…?
Charlie glanced down, scoffing. "No taste. Deserves the beatdown."
He turned toward where Clark had vanished.
With the Invincible Spider-Man's network, Kang was outmatched.
Nova's many powers and immortality were no match for the Spider-Men, troublesome Deadpools, and Supreme Peter's magical web. She'd be worn down eventually.
As for Jennix and Karn, Charlie hadn't dealt with them yet.
He needed to support Clark, or he'd get pummeled.
Shooting a web skyward, he passed through Supreme Peter's web, portaling to New York in a blink.
Yes, exactly.
Doomsday and Superman's battlefield had shifted to the city.
BOOM!!
As Charlie arrived, a battered figure crashed through a building, collapsing in a street corner amid rubble.
ROAR!!
The terrifying monster evolved in its fight with Superman, surpassing Clark in strength and speed. Spiked muscles made it a true final boss.
Far tougher than the contestants.
In a pit, Clark, exhausted, stood panting, his eyes despairing as he faced Doomsday.
He hadn't expected such a terrifying foe.
Even if he killed it, it would revive, stronger, until it crushed the Invincible Superman.
Thud! Thud!
Doomsday crushed cars, closing in on the hopeless Clark.
But it stopped.
From a shop's ruins, a red-and-blue figure strolled out, boldly blocking Clark's path.
"Spider-Man!"
Survivors cheered, hope flickering in Clark's eyes.
"Careful, this thing's bad news," Clark warned, clutching his aching chest.
Charlie glanced at him, nodding.
"No problem. I've got this."
"Alone?" Clark blinked. "We'd have a better shot together."
Charlie waved him off. "Nah."
He raised a finger. "One punch. I'll take it down."
"What?"
Clark's eyes widened. "Stop joking. It's not some average thug."
As if proving Clark right, Doomsday roared, its sonic waves shattering nearby buildings.
BOOM!!
Its fist slammed the ground, cracking the earth. Shockwaves erupted, vowing to crush the puny bug.
Zzzzt!
BOOM!
Before Doomsday's power could fully erupt, Charlie turned into lightning, appearing behind it. Full force, his fist struck Doomsday's spine.
Thud!
A dull sound, like hitting cotton, no trace of his usual strength.
Doomsday turned, its ugly face grinning wickedly.
Clark's face darkened. "That's your punch?" He covered his eyes, unable to watch.
"Of course."
Charlie withdrew his fist, opening his hand to reveal green light. Clark felt a sudden weakness.
"That's…"
Clark stared, shocked, at the green fragments in Charlie's hand. "Kryptonite!"
"Nope. Zod destroyed Batman's kryptonite."
Charlie grinned. "What's that got to do with mine?"
In the last Resurrection Match, he'd hidden kryptonite after beating Zod.
With kryptonite, he was the Invincible Spider-Man in the DC Universe.
He pocketed the fragments. Doomsday, still grinning oddly, collapsed.
Clark saw the kryptonite shards glowing faintly on Doomsday's spine.
It clicked.
This monster was Kryptonian too!
That's why Charlie let Doomsday evolve to break the game's barriers.
Watching the gasping Doomsday, Charlie didn't hesitate. He mixed the kryptonite with dirt, forming a pill, gently pried open Doomsday's maw, and fed it.
Doomsday: "…"
It tried to flee but couldn't.
Swallowing the pill, it lost consciousness, its muscles melting into mush.
Charlie reclaimed the kryptonite, storing it in a special container. Clark recovered.
"I didn't think you'd take it down so easily."
Charlie shrugged. "Now help me."
"With what?"
"Shut down those vampires."
"You can do that yourself."
"I'm squeamish about blood."
Clark: "…"
This guy slacked on vampires but was lightning-fast with others.
Not the Invincible Spider-Man—more like the Bitch Spider-Man.
Clark wanted to curse but stayed polite.
Charlie still had kryptonite!
Clark soared off.
Soon, Charlie saw a success message.
[Inheritor faction eliminated. Spider-Man faction rewarded.]
[Neutral faction members who joined Spider-Man faction rewarded.]
Charlie frowned at the message.
He hadn't expected to win so easily.
There were still loose ends in this Resurrection Match.
Notably, Ares never showed.
After losing twice, Charlie thought Ares was plotting something big.
Wary, he doubted he'd win first try.
But Ares had dropped a massive bomb.
Could it be…
Charlie mused.
A war god playing mind games? Interesting.
No matter. He had ways to deal with Ares.
…
Soon, all contestants vanished from the universe, and Ares returned.
On the crumbling island, Ares roared skyward.
"Hahaha, I did it! I won!!"
With a tip from someone, he'd joined Spider-Man's faction.
No effort, massive reward.
Worthy of the Invincible Spider-Man!
Thinking of that bug, his eyes turned hostile.
"Hmph, damn bug. Next time you're here, you'll know fear!"
"Fear?"
A strange voice interrupted Ares' revenge plot.
He looked up, seeing an "S" glowing gold above.
Clark floated, arms crossed, cape billowing.
His gaze was cold. "War God Ares?"
"You—"
Ares stepped back, panicking. He knew who this was.
The Invincible Superman, feared even by that bug without kryptonite.
Now targeting him.
Ares' face darkened.
But that wasn't the worst.
In the sky, Diana swung on her Lasso of Truth, blocking Ares' path.
"Ares, think no one knows what you did?"
Sword in hand, her gaze icy, she closed in. "No chance this time."
Ares gritted his teeth. "Just you two?"
"Of course not. Us too!"
The sea churned, revealing the Atlantean army.
Atop a sea monster, Arthur, trident in hand, glared at Ares.
"You tried to kill my father?"
In her seahorse chariot, Atlanna lounged on a shell bed, yawning elegantly.
"So boring. That guy ran again. Arthur, grab this one. Your father will come to us next time."
"No problem."
Arthur landed, his army encircling the battlefield.
Ares' face blackened completely.
"Damn it, why me!!"
His roar echoed.
The DC Universe gained another god tormented by Spider-Man.
…
Meanwhile, Charlie returned to the cosmic web, tallying his rewards.
[Reward 1: Retry x1]
[Reward 2: Spider Totem x1]
[Bonus Reward: Spider Totem Evolution]
[Current Spider Totems: 30]
"Hm?"
Charlie was surprised by his totem count.
When did… Right, the mission said killing an Inheritor granted their totem power.
Nineteen Inheritors' totems added up.
He hadn't counted them.
Except for Jennix, the others were just extras to him.
With thirty totems, it was time to evolve.
Charlie focused, his chest's spider totem glowing red and blue.
[Spider Totem Evolving]
[Evolution Complete!]
Buzz!
Thirty totems swirled in the sky, devouring each other, fusing into a complex spider symbol.
Still red and blue, but with thicker, intricate lines, detailed limbs, eyes, and fangs.
It looked like a real spider, more vivid than the Inheritors' leech totem.
"This is evolution?"
Charlie stretched, feeling no change.
He'd need to test it back home.
He leaped into the void.
Instantly, he returned to the central universe.
Under the blazing sun, atop the Empire State Building.
Charlie glanced at the antenna. "No way." His mouth twitched.
If he recalled, he should've returned inside Arion's stomach.
But now…
Puzzled, he decided to find other Spider-Men for answers.
But when he tried to open a portal, something was wrong.
The portal failed.
A familiar force swallowed the spatial magic.
Arion!!
Charlie's heart sank.
Arion was in this universe?
"This is bad."
His face darkened.
Arion didn't just devour time and space—it consumed entire universes' matter once it targeted them.
But soon, Charlie discovered something even worse.