Duel World.
A massive golden fist print shattered the clouds in the sky.
"Charlie Parker!!"
With a roar that echoed through the heavens, Morlun, wreathed in golden totem energy, shot upward, a blazing golden meteor charging at Charlie, determined to kill the accursed Spider-Man with his final breath.
The entire city trembled under Morlun's power.
Facing Morlun's desperate strike, Charlie raised his fist, golden webbing blooming in the void.
In an instant, an endless golden web spanned the sky.
The web spread recklessly, enveloping the Duel World's Earth in a blink.
Bathed in its glow, the planet turned gold.
Crack crack crack~
Space beyond Earth warped, and an infinitely vast golden spider crawled onto the golden planet, its unmatched totem energy unleashing unimaginable power.
The third-stage totem energy had transformed into divine power.
In this moment, Charlie was a god!
BOOM!!
The golden meteor struck the Earth's surface, sending out ripples of golden energy, like Mars crashing into Earth. The shockwave swept across half the planet.
As the golden Earth quaked, the Spider totem warped again.
Dense void cracks spread in the space beyond, signaling the Duel World's collapse.
The fated battle between Inheritors and Spider-Men was over.
The third-stage Spider totem had made the Invincible Spider-Man a god.
And a god's birth meant another's fall.
The Inheritors' god, Morlun.
Beneath a blackened crater on Earth's surface, Morlun's body was embedded in the ground. His clothes were burned away by furious flames, his chiseled muscles covered in golden wounds.
His lifeless eyes stared at the gray sky as the golden web dispersed, his totem energy draining wildly.
Devoured by the golden Spider totem, it became Charlie's power.
The Spider totem grew more vibrant, expanding.
Below it, the golden Spider-Man floated above Morlun.
Under the god's gaze, Morlun's eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion.
He wiped blood from his mouth, his face full of defiance, but it melted into bitterness.
"You… you won."
The hope in Morlun's heart shattered, leaving him oddly relieved.
Coughing blood, his eyes held no more anger or defiance.
He gazed quietly at the Invincible Spider-Man.
"The prophecy said we'd be ended by Spider-Man. This is our fate… and yours."
Morlun's eyes closed. He was exhausted.
His breathing weakened, yet he murmured unconsciously.
"Charlie Parker, break fate for… us…"
He had more to say, but it didn't matter.
He'd lost, given his all, and had no regrets.
He trusted that even without his words, the Invincible Spider-Man would seek fate's truth.
If he'd won, he'd have done the same.
In his final moment of consciousness, he thought of the family he'd ignored, deemed burdens.
Father, mother, Jennix, Verna, Brix, Daemos, and Karn.
Sorry, I really did my best.
His breathing stopped, and Morlun's body turned to dust in the wind.
Before Charlie, a victory prompt appeared in the Duel World.
The Inheritors' names turned gray.
The names of fallen Spider-Men regained color with Charlie's victory.
Huff~~
At the crater's edge, light particles coalesced into Spider-Men.
"My God, I'm… alive?"
Supreme Peter couldn't believe it.
Thunder God Peter stared at his hands, summoning his hammer.
"My Mjolnir…"
"No way, another Resurrection Match?" Lizard Parker muttered skeptically.
Peering into the crater, he shouted, "Hey, loser, when's the action starting? Use your powers and tell me~~"
His voice echoed in the crater, snapping Charlie out of his daze.
Buzz~
The golden glow faded, and overwhelming weakness made Charlie gasp.
The third-stage Spider totem was stronger than he'd imagined.
No, this wasn't totem energy anymore.
This was true divine power!
Unlike Asgardian gods, this was Spider-Man's divine power.
So…
Charlie raised his hand. "I'm a god now?"
A voice deep within confirmed it.
But he doubted. Becoming a god out of nowhere—what happened?
The Leech totem was gone from the multiverse forever, and the Spider totem had evolved.
Spider-Man won this fated battle.
But it didn't feel like a victory.
Because…
Charlie looked up at the sky.
In this abyssal crater, he felt like a frog at the bottom of a well.
Becoming a god wasn't the end.
He saw cracks spreading across the Duel World.
It was collapsing.
Spider-Men were swallowed by void cracks, returning to their universes.
Charlie stepped into a crack, arriving at the tattered Web of Life and Destiny.
The Master Weaver awaited.
"Charlie Parker, congratulations. We won." The Weaver smiled warmly at the unremarkable young man.
But Charlie shook his head.
"It's not over."
The Weaver nodded. "Yes, not over. You must repair the Web of Life and Destiny. I no longer have the strength."
Charlie shook his head again. "That's not what I mean."
"Hm?" The Weaver frowned, confused.
The Inheritors' power gone, he broke free of his chains.
He looked at Charlie. "What do you want?"
Charlie's eyes were resolute. "Tell me how to change Spider-Man's fate."
"Spider-Man's fate has always been this way. It's the cost of being a hero."
"No, there's a better way."
Charlie looked at the broken Web. "No Spider-Man wants to sacrifice those around them to become a hero."
He raised his head. "I think it's time to end this."
"What?"
The Weaver didn't understand.
Charlie said, "If Spider-Man's lonely fate can't be changed, the multiverse doesn't need new Spider-Men."
"No!"
The Weaver grew agitated. "You can't! Spider-Man's fate is set. Even if it can't be changed, you can't let the multiverse lose new Spider-Men—it'll collapse!!"
"Collapse?"
Charlie scoffed. "Who told you that?"
"It's…"
The Weaver froze, unable to recall who'd said it.
Charlie shook his head. "You're clueless too."
He raised his hand, slicing his palm.
Golden blood dripped onto the Web, driving the Weaver to madness.
"No!!"
Hiss!!
As the Weaver lunged, golden Spider totem webbing bound him.
He could only watch in horror as Charlie's blood spread across a corner of the Web.
"No!! You can't!!"
The Weaver roared. "The multiverse can't lose new Spider-Men!!"
"No one wants new Spider-Men."
Charlie clenched his fist, stopping the blood.
"Being a hero isn't Spider-Man's choice," he said.
The Weaver struggled. "No, that's not true! Becoming a hero, protecting others—that's Spider-Man's duty.
Charlie Parker, have you forgotten?
With great power comes great responsibility. Your power is godlike—you should create more Spider-Men, not stop them!!"
"Bullshit!"
Charlie cursed. "Without Spider-Man, there'd be Cockroach-Man, Batman, Cricket-Man, Lobster-Man. Why must it be Spider-Man?
There are tons of superheroes. One more or less doesn't matter."
"The universe will collapse!"
"I don't buy it!"
Charlie flipped the Weaver off. "No world collapses over an insignificant bug. If it does, it's a lie. They love tricking fools with that, making them sacrifice time, energy, everything, to serve their goals."
The Weaver tried to speak, but golden webbing sealed his mouth.
The world quieted.
Charlie frowned at the Web, now golden with his blood.
Even as a god, his blood couldn't sever Spider-Man's tie to the Web.
Did he really need the blood of the Other, the Bride, and the Heir for a ritual to cut the connection?
Disappointed, Charlie reflected.
He'd ended the Morlun family, freeing multiverse Spider-Men from their hunt.
But Spider-Man's lonely fate persisted.
Only Aunt May's fate was severed, far from Charlie's hopes.
After some thought, he decided to repair the Web first.
A stronger Web meant stronger Spider-Men.
As for severing the Web's tie to Spider-Men, he needed the other three totems to start the ritual.
So, Charlie left his golden Spider totem in the Web, using golden webbing to mend it.
He sealed the dimension with totem energy to keep others from tracking it.
Without the Inheritors, other totem families might come. He had to be cautious.
Done, Charlie slipped into the void, returning to the main world.
On bustling streets, he donned his red-and-blue jacket.
With a thought, he sensed the Web and could access all Spider-Magic knowledge.
He could summon his Spider totem anytime, but with it separated, he was just a man who could destroy Earth.
This gave him an idea.
In this state, he wasn't a lonely Spider-Man.
But other Spider-Men weren't so lucky.
The cost of being a hero…
BANG!
A gunshot rang from an alley. Charlie covered his face.
Fine, he was still Spider-Man.
Three seconds later, he emerged, confiscating a primitive gun.
In the cyber era, who used such outdated weapons?
Charlie patted the golden pistol at his waist.
Just a decoration.
Useful for cash in a pinch.
Nice!
VROOM~
A flying car zoomed overhead. Charlie shot a web, hitching a ride.
...
Bleecker Street.
Charlie landed on a rooftop, leaping into a courtyard.
Knock knock knock~
"Open the door, your VIP's back!"
The door opened, and chubby Kingpin's smile froze.
"You're back. Where's Peter?" he asked.
Charlie shrugged. "Peter? Who?"
"Your dear brother!"
Chubby Kingpin's face darkened. "Did you forget?"
Reminded, Charlie recalled.
After his foster parents returned, Otto Parker did too.
That guy, possessing Peter's body, was up to something.
Charlie grinned, entering. "Don't sweat the small stuff. Let's see your homework."
"Homework…"
Chubby Kingpin paled. "Shit, school starts tomorrow!!"
He rushed to his room to work.
Charlie shook his head.
"Did he forget he used to run Hell's Kitchen?"
Muttering, he noticed Aunt May and the others were out. He opened the fridge for food.
Hiss~
Cold air poured out.
Charlie didn't find food but something eye-searing.
BAM!
He slammed the fridge, muttering.
"An illusion. Yeah, definitely an illusion."
He sat on the couch, turning on the TV.
Zzzzt~
The screen flickered with snow, then showed a familiar figure.
"Hey, buddy, I finally found you. Why didn't you say hi earlier?"
A green Dragon totem toyed with its tail, its beastly face showing human-like resentment.
Charlie: "…"
Okay, he hadn't been wrong.
The fridge held that guy.
The Dragon totem from the Totem Universe!
He rubbed his brow. "Don't mess with me. I just beat a boss. I'm not in the mood to grind mobs. Don't make me punch you."
The Dragon totem grinned mischievously, one claw on its hip, the other pointing at Charlie.
"Spider-Man, who do you think you are? Earth's guardian? That's hilarious!"
Charlie: "…"
"Where'd you learn that line?"
"From the TV."
"Who the hell are you?"
"Just a passing Fin Fang Foom, remember that."
"Oh, Fin Fang Foom. Nice to meet you."
Charlie smirked, ready to summon his Spider totem.
Fin Fang Foom, one of Marvel's iconic monster villains.
A lesser-known but terrifying super-villain.
This Totem Universe boss chasing Spider-Man here was bad news.
Charlie decided to find a chance to take out Fin Fang Foom… no, Fin Fang Dragon.
Why wait for a chance?
Because this was his home. Fighting here wasn't ideal.