"Lord Morlun, please tell us how to deal with this troublesome bug?"
"Yes, Lord Morlun! With Bora and Brix gone and Patriarch Solus still recovering, unless you act, we're no match for that bug!"
"Lord Morlun…"
The gathered Inheritors spoke up, but Morlun raised a hand, silencing the room instantly.
"I'll handle this. I called you here to warn you—keep your underlings in check. Don't let them get involved, or that bug might trace them back to us."
His eyes gleamed with cruelty.
"If you ruin my plans, you're all dead!"
The final word sent chills through the Inheritors, their scalps tingling with dread.
"Yes, Lord Morlun, we'll obey."
They bowed their heads, not daring to entertain stray thoughts.
Since Patriarch Solus handed the Inheritor family to Morlun, they'd seized the Web of Life and Destiny, using it to explore the multiverse, hunting Spider-Men to absorb their totem powers and grow stronger.
Now, the Inheritors were among the totem universe's top nobility, all thanks to Morlun.
No one in the family could defy him, nor question him.
This was the Inheritor family today.
From a despised Leech Totem clan to their current heights, they needed a leader strong enough to guide them to glory.
As long as Morlun remained, their future was bright!
…
Meanwhile, at the Bleecker Street pizza shop.
"Hey, buddy, you look like a friend of mine."
Charlie's sudden comment at the counter made the cashier tense.
He turned to face Charlie, hands covering his backside. "Sorry, I'm straight."
"Funny, so am I."
Charlie crossed his arms, eyeing the man. "Something's off about you." He grinned.
The man's face twitched, forcing a strained smile.
"Customer, you're right, I'm off—I need the bathroom. I can't hold it."
"I know you're in a rush, but hold on."
Charlie blocked him, pointing upward dramatically.
"My grandma told me—ugh, wrong line. There's only one truth!"
He pointed at the man's nose. "Tell me, what's your goal?"
The man: "???"
"My goal is the bathroom. Right now. I'm desperate."
"No, that's just a cover. I've sensed the totem power here—you're no ordinary person."
"Customer, I'm really desperate."
"Hold it."
"No, I—"
"Eddie, go handle your business. I've got this."
A sultry woman—the shop's owner—spoke calmly. Eddie wiped sweat from his brow, sidestepped Charlie, and rushed to the bathroom.
Charlie turned to the so-called owner. "And you are?"
"I'm Irene, the shop's owner."
"You sure?"
"Why? Don't believe me?"
"Of course not."
Charlie squinted at the "Natasha" before him. "I'd know you even if you were ashes."
Natasha frowned, then smiled. "Looks like you've figured it out."
She glanced at Professor Connors, then back at Charlie. "As expected of Connors' friend. I bet you're a totem warrior too. What's your name?"
"Charlie, Charlie Parker."
Charlie scanned the room. "Anyone else here?"
"No, just me and Eddie. We're tracking Professor Connors."
Charlie shook his head and sat down.
"Got any juice?"
"Yes." Eddie, back from the bathroom, answered quickly.
"That was fast."
"Yeah, it was a small one."
"Congrats."
Charlie thought for a moment. "I want you." He stared at Natasha. "Two cups, thanks."
Natasha smiled, standing. "I don't actually like juice."
"Both are for me."
"Got it."
Natasha fiddled with the juicer at the counter, asking, "You don't seem surprised."
Charlie tapped the table, as if timing something.
"Just a hunch. Can you tell me why totem monsters don't break into houses at night to attack citizens?"
Though a native, Connors had only gained totem power through experiments and wasn't privy to the totem world's secrets.
Natasha pondered for three seconds before answering.
"Ever heard of S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "This involves S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Natasha didn't hide it—her mission was already compromised.
With her cover blown, she needed another way to gain Connors' and this mystery guy's trust.
Juicing, she explained, "Totem powers aren't just about boosting combat strength. Different totems have different effects.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Shield Totem is one that protects ordinary people from monster attacks."
"Shield Totem?"
Charlie mused. It sounded impressive, but its power was limited.
It only protected citizens inside buildings. Step outside at night, and the Shield Totem was useless.
Natasha confirmed this. "Totem monsters are the result of failed human attempts to gain totem power. They lose their human consciousness, becoming crazier than beasts, unable to withstand daylight, so they only roam at night.
The Shield Totem uses city buildings as a medium to generate a force that repels totem monsters. You've seen it."
She brought two cups of juice to the table, handing them to Charlie.
Staring into his eyes, she said, "So, man, you know our secret. You've got one choice: join us."
"That's a secret?"
Charlie took the juice unceremoniously. "I know Victoria's Secret too. Can I join them?" He rolled his eyes.
Natasha missed his humor, glancing at the pondering Connors. "If you can convince Professor Connors to join us, it's not impossible."
"So your target's the professor." Charlie smirked. S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't know his identity.
"No problem. As Connors' manager, I'll convince him."
He chugged the juice and stood. "But on one condition: if he joins you, I stay his manager."
"Totem warriors don't have managers."
"I'll be the exception."
"Fine, I can agree on Nick's behalf."
"Alright, let's do this."
Charlie walked to Connors.
Under Natasha and Eddie's watchful eyes, Charlie whispered with Connors for a bit before they approached Natasha.
"Ms. Natasha, I'm willing to join you, but I have a condition."
Connors' face was grave. "I want revenge for Spider-Man. That's my only condition."
Natasha's expression turned serious.
"Of course. That aligns with our goals. Spider-Man was a hero; his death deserves justice."
"Good, I'm in."
"Professor, pleasure working with you. Let's go meet our director."
…
As the sun rose, totem monsters retreated like a tide.
The pizza shop reopened for business. Eddie stayed behind while Natasha led Charlie and Connors to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
In the totem universe, S.H.I.E.L.D. was a secretive underground base.
The entrance was a struggling bar.
Charlie grabbed a bottle of juice used for cocktails and followed Natasha into an old-fashioned elevator.
"Professor Connors, no one can harm you here, not even those vampires." Natasha pointed to the Shield emblem on the elevator, brimming with confidence.
Connors nodded. "I've heard of you."
Charlie curiously touched the Shield emblem on the door, his face showing surprise.
Natasha noticed. "What's wrong?"
Charlie gasped, "This shield's design is hideous."
Natasha: "…"
"Kid, your taste is… unique."
She was speechless.
As the elevator slowed to a stop, she led them out.
They entered a long white corridor, scanners in the walls repeatedly sweeping their bodies.
At the corridor's end, a group of suited men awaited.
"I'm Coulson Phil, and the commander's been expecting you."
Coulson, expressionless, led them to Nick Fury's office.
Charlie, trailing behind, studied the Shield Totems on the walls, his Spider Totem reacting faintly.
With the Shield Totem's protection, this world's S.H.I.E.L.D. should be safe, right?
As he thought, a group of agents rushed past, seemingly on a mission.
"What's going on?" Natasha grabbed one.
The agent hurried, "Something was stolen."
Charlie: "…"
Okay, S.H.I.E.L.D. was the least safe place.
The Shield Totem only protected, not prevented theft.
That familiar feeling.
Soon, the agents vanished down the corridor, and Charlie's group reached Fury's office door.
Knock knock.
As Coulson knocked, the black cotton worker—Nick Fury—quickly hid an ice pack.
"Come in."
Click.
As they entered, Charlie noticed the swelling on Fury's forehead.
"Your commander got beat up," he whispered to Natasha.
Natasha frowned. "I can guess what happened."
"You know?"
"Yeah, but I'm not telling you."
"Stingy."
"That's a senior agent's discipline."
Natasha didn't elaborate on Fury's injury.
Seventy years ago, a captain frozen by a totem woke up, saw his boss was a "black gorilla," and couldn't handle it.
Not being sliced in half by a shield was lucky.
Snapping out of it, she introduced Connors and Charlie.
"This is Professor Curt Connors, and his manager. I mentioned them on the phone."
"I know."
Fury stood, approaching Connors. "I'm Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. director. I need your totem power."
He was direct, and Connors was prepared.
"What can I do for you?"
"Tell me about your experiments, the whole process."
Connors frowned. "The Lizard Totem shouldn't mean much to you, but you seem urgent."
Fury, his thoughts exposed, didn't hide.
Glancing at Charlie, he said to Connors, "The Lizard Totem comes from a mysterious underground civilization. You gained its power, so I suspect your experiment wasn't just about ordinary lizards."
Natasha and Charlie froze.
"Underground civilization?" Natasha frowned.
Charlie mused, "Underground lizard people?"
Connors hadn't fully trusted him, or he'd have known sooner.
Connors didn't deny it, meeting Fury's gaze. "You're right, but if you want my data, help me avenge Spider-Man first."
"That's tricky."
Fury turned to his desk, pulling up Spider-Man's file.
"Peter Parker, your former student. You two were close. But you know the vampires' influence has grown massively. Taking them down is hard."
"Hard or not, it must be done."
Connors' eyes flashed with killing intent, green scales faintly appearing on his cheeks, on the verge of losing control.
"They killed Peter. I want them dead!"
Seeing Connors' instability, Natasha tensed, but Fury's glance kept her still.
"Professor, you need to calm down."
As Fury spoke, the room glowed with the Shield Totem, suppressing the green scales and forcing Connors back to normal.
Charlie clearly felt a power strong enough to crush ordinary totems.
Worthy of protecting cities at night.
It must have evolved.
But was the Shield Totem Fury's personal power or S.H.I.E.L.D.'s collective strength?
Charlie couldn't tell.
Connors, now calm, took a deep breath and glanced at Charlie.
With S.H.I.E.L.D. and this Spider-Man, they could take those vampires down.
He'd agreed with Charlie not to reveal his identity.
After observing Fury's expression, he proposed a compromise.
"I'll give you some of my data. Once you take down those vampires, I'll hand over everything."
Fury frowned. "But we need the underground civilization's power to have a chance against them."
Connors hesitated.
Charlie shook his head.
Connors, a scientist focused on his field, was no match for Fury's cunning.
But this worked out.
The Inheritors hadn't shown enough interest in the Spider Totem—they likely knew who he was and were holding back.
Charlie's plan had failed, so he'd take it slow.
He wasn't confident against Morlun, the Inheritors' strongest. The underground civilization might be a breakthrough. Staying with S.H.I.E.L.D. would give him access to insider info.
Connors sharing the underground civilization's secrets with Fury would let Charlie prepare better.