The next day, a swarm of police officers cordoned off the scene, allowing only major totem families to enter.
Reporters tried every trick to sneak into the restricted area, but most were swiftly cleared out by the authorities.
Only a few lucky ones managed to evade the police and capture footage of the scene.
In the ruins of a dilapidated building, a man and woman hid in the shadows, catching sight of the red-and-blue figure. They were utterly shocked.
"Oh my gosh, I saw it! It's Spider-Man—he's still alive!"
Young Jonah Jameson snapped photos with his camera, face flushed with excitement.
Beside him, Jessica Drew was equally incredulous. "My God! It's really Spider-Man. He's not dead. Boss, we have to tell everyone!"
"Of course! This is the Bugle's chance to rise, and the moment our idol returns!"
Jonah grinned smugly.
"Haha, as expected of me, the great Jonah Jameson! My first scoop is this explosive. I deserve to be your boss!"
Seeing her boss's narcissism, Jessica rolled her eyes.
"Great Jonah, you've only got one employee left—me. You'd better appreciate me."
"I know."
Jonah's face flickered with painful memories.
"Damn it, Peter and Eddie, those jerks, vanishing without a word for three years. If I find out they ditched us for another paper, I'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget!"
Jonah gritted his teeth, oblivious to the odd look in Jessica's eyes.
Unlike Jonah, she knew why Peter disappeared three years ago.
But Jonah believed the timid Peter must have done something to betray the Bugle.
It was a wound he'd never heal from.
Because Peter was the Bugle's most "cost-effective" employee, bar none.
A hundred bucks for Spider-Man photos? An absolute steal!
But with Spider-Man's death, Peter was gone forever.
Jonah didn't understand what happened, but he'd thought it over: if Peter came back and apologized, he'd give him a raise and a chance to keep working.
In a flash, Jonah noticed a patrolling officer approaching. He ducked into a corner, holding his breath.
Only when the officer left did he exhale.
"Damn totem families. They don't just control vast wealth—they're calling the shots with the police now," Jonah muttered bitterly.
Jessica snapped a few more photos of the Spider-Man figure, whispering, "Boss, we've got enough shots. Should we leave?"
Jonah shook his head. "No. My veteran reporter's sixth sense tells me these totem families are planning something big. We wait. There's bound to be an even bigger scoop!" he said with certainty.
Jessica's expression turned odd.
"Wait?"
"Yes, wait."
"How long?"
"Forever."
"But, boss, we haven't eaten breakfast."
"Jessica, as the Bugle's top reporter, you should fear neither hardship nor hunger. To bring the truth to the people, any sacrifice is worth it. Forget breakfast—even skipping lunch, dinner, or starving until you can't speak…"
Twelve hours later, at night.
"Jessica, I'm so hungry~"
Starving and speechless, Jonah stared at Jessica, swallowing hard.
More accurately, he was eyeing the burger in her hand.
But Jessica ignored her boss's hunger.
She took the last bite, patting her stomach contentedly.
"Great Jonah, what's wrong?" she asked, feigning innocence.
Jonah's face crumpled. "Didn't you hear me? I said I'm starving!"
"Oh, sorry, I was so hungry I hallucinated and didn't hear you."
"You ate a burger! How could you not hear me?" Jonah snapped, face darkening.
Jessica shrugged. "I've got a big appetite, so I'm still hungry."
"You jerk, you did that on purpose!"
"Oh my gosh, boss, sounds like you're not that hungry."
"I'm starving!"
"Then how do you have the energy to talk?"
"I—"
As Jonah opened his mouth, he noticed movement in the night sky and ducked back into the corner.
"Shh! Quiet, they're back."
The two hid, watching.
Several helicopters landed on the scorched ground, more totem family members arriving.
"Father, over there!"
Behind Norman, Harry pointed at the glowing inverted-triangle eyes in the dark.
"Hm, I see him. It's him."
Norman locked eyes on Spider-Man, frowning before a sly smile crept across his face.
"So alike," he murmured.
Spider-Man's disappearance years ago had a little to do with him.
On the other side, a man in black samurai armor stepped off a helicopter, coldly scanning the crowd. His eyes, hidden behind a dark visor, flashed with disdain.
"So few people. Looks like they're using us as guinea pigs."
Anthony Masters, Taskmaster, clenched his fist, eyeing the motionless Spider-Man.
"Spider-Man, finally a chance to meet you," he thought.
Norman approached Anthony. "Taskmaster, we could work together." He extended a hand, smiling.
Anthony neither outright refused nor agreed.
Ignoring Norman's hand, he turned to a blind warrior in red.
"Daredevil, I'm very interested in your Night Demon Totem."
Matt Murdock, eyes closed, tilted his head. "I'm not the only one with a Demon Totem."
Anthony nodded. "Green Goblin Totem, Night Demon Totem—I'm interested in both."
Norman's eyes narrowed, sensing Taskmaster's slight against the Green Goblin Totem.
But soon, someone else craved the Green Goblin Totem.
"Hahaha, the Green Goblin Totem is one of my hunting targets too. I love weird totem powers."
Kraven the Hunter returned, now in a more lavish fur coat, trailed by a mutated white tiger—super intimidating.
His previous wolf had been scared witless and was useless now.
With the Hunter family's arrival, Aleksei and Felicia returned too.
They'd done their homework.
"Everyone here?" Felicia asked.
Harry shook his head. "The other families probably won't show."
"They're not interested in Spider-Man?" Aleksei grinned. "Guess that's a win for my boss."
"Not necessarily."
Anthony stepped forward, a strange totem flickering on his black chestplate.
It shifted, morphing into a rhino totem, and immense power surged into him.
Boom!!
His armor trembled. Aleksei and the others gasped.
"The Mimic family's Taskmaster!"
They were stunned.
Anthony coolly waved a hand, approaching Spider-Man.
"Let's test this guy first."
Harry quickly warned, "Careful, he's dangerous within ten meters."
As he spoke, Anthony charged at Spider-Man.
Boom!!
Magic light flared, and under the energy surge, Anthony stumbled back, nearly falling and making a fool of himself.
Luckily, he was only probing, not going all out, or it wouldn't have been just a stumble.
He brushed his chestplate, switching the rhino totem to a Green Goblin Totem. His eyes glowed eerie green, and green claws extended, piercing the energy shield.
Zzzzt~
Bang!
Thick smoke erupted, electric arcs crawling up Anthony's body. The crowd gasped.
"He got hit!"
"He should be fine."
"Yeah, he doesn't look fazed."
Anthony silently returned to the group, his armor smoking.
Felicia realized, rolling her eyes.
"Fine? He's clearly fried."
Anthony: "…"
Damn cat, was it necessary to point that out?
Norman, thoughtful, muttered, "It's been almost 24 hours, and those guys still haven't shown up to claim the Spider Totem. What are they waiting for…"
In the shadows, Jonah and Jessica captured the scene.
"Did you see? Green Goblin Totem, Daredevil, Taskmaster—they're all here. It's a totem warrior party, all for Spider-Man. Our wait paid off!"
Jonah was thrilled, but Jessica quickly reminded him, "Boss, you're not hungry anymore?"
Jonah's legs wobbled.
"Jerk, don't remind me!!" he hissed.
After teasing Jonah, Jessica's smile faded, her gaze locking on the totem warriors.
Spider-Man's state was odd, but those guys wouldn't pass up this chance.
The Spider Totem was what those filthy vampires feared most. They wouldn't tolerate its existence.
They'd make a move.
…
On familiar Bleecker Street, at a corner pizza shop, Charlie's wrist device projected the scene.
Opposite him, Totem Connors ate pizza, monitoring Harry and the others.
"Does your clone need pizza?" he suddenly asked.
Charlie shook his head. "He just ate."
"When?" Connors looked confused, then gasped. "I get it—you switched just now. You're the clone."
Charlie shot him a look. "What are you talking about?"
"It's not?"
"Alright, you got me."
Charlie shrugged, forming hand signs. His body briefly glowed.
"There, switched back."
Tapping the table, Charlie asked, "Professor, you said the ones chasing you were the Inheritor family?"
"Yes, definitely them." Connors' face grew serious. "That filthy totem power—I'd never mistake it."
"If it was them, you wouldn't have escaped." Charlie frowned.
Connors was puzzled. "Are they that strong?"
Now Charlie was confused.
"They're not strong?"
"Very strong?"
"Not strong?"
"Very strong…"
"Gentlemen, please keep it down. It's the totem monsters' night."
The waiter's reminder cut their conversation short.
They exchanged looks.
Awkward!
Charlie's thoughts returned.
He stared at the totem warriors on the screen, deep in thought.
Their totem powers didn't seem strong. The magic borrowed by his Spider Totem could easily handle them.
But he felt he was missing something.
From his past dealings with the Inheritors, totem warrior strength had nothing to do with other factors—only the totem's power mattered.
Stronger totems meant stronger warriors.
Magic, superpowers, physical strength—all secondary.
Before his Spider Totem evolved, numbers could overwhelm weaker totems.
Post-evolution, it was a no-contest.
But if a Spider-Man from outside the totem universe could evolve his totem, there had to be a way to do it in this dedicated totem universe.
So, these totem families couldn't be that simple.
After much thought, he decided to wait.
This wasn't a Resurrection Match. No retries. He couldn't afford to be reckless.
Awoo~
Outside the pizza shop, totem monsters stirred, but the staff remained calm.
Charlie watched, thoughtful.
…
Meanwhile, in a castle in a dark forest, a roundtable meeting of vampires began in a chilling hall.
A towering figure stood with his back to the gathered vampires, speaking slowly. "Spider-Man has appeared. A Spider-Man from another universe."
The gaunt Inheritors whispered among themselves.
"Incredible. A bug daring to come to the totem universe."
"Such a brave bug. I'm brave too, so he's mine."
"No, he's mine."
"Stop fighting. Listen to Lord Morlun."
"Exactly. This bug dares invade our world—he's no ordinary bug, or Lord Morlun wouldn't call a roundtable for him."
As they murmured, Morlun spoke again. "You're right. This isn't an ordinary Spider-Man."
His chair turned slowly, his face alight with excitement.
"It's the invincible Spider-Man, Charlie Parker. You've heard of him."
The Inheritors gasped.
"Oh my gosh, the one who defeated Karn!"
"No way, the one who killed Raina!"
"My God, the one who took down Jennix!"
"Impossible! The one who beat the Spider Alliance?!"
Their shocked exclamations showed Charlie Parker's multiversal fame.
After all, Spider-Men who could kill Inheritors were rare, and one who'd repeatedly done so and won the Spider-Man civil war was unique.
The invincible Spider-Man had even slaughtered legendary Celestials!