I am Fin Fang Foom, a supremely terrifying alien elite creature.
Countless years ago—I can't remember how many—my spaceship crashed on Earth. Then some sly trickster used a bizarre artifact to control me, turning me into a tool for destroying (or ruling) the world.
Luckily, that trickster's gone, and I regained my freedom.
My power is immense. I've clashed with countless superheroes, and cosmic monstrosities are like green recruits in my presence—weak and pathetic.
But bad luck struck. During a battle with superheroes, I accidentally stumbled into a strange world.
That world had no superheroes, only the evil Eight Demons, who ruled everything.
As the ultimate tyrant, the great Fin Fang Foom would never bow to those ugly freaks.
I boldly declared war on them.
Sadly, I lost.
Even a supremely terrifying creature like me couldn't beat them.
It was humiliating.
Barely escaping, I was gravely wounded. My powers were scattered across other universes, and I fell into a deep slumber.
…
Back in the main world, Charlie took a sip of juice and spoke to the golden handgun on the table.
"Done talking?"
The golden handgun flickered faintly. "That's my story."
Charlie rolled his eyes. "So you're a dimension-hopping Fin Fang Foom, huh? The dimensional walls in this Marvel universe are paper-thin. But sorry, your story doesn't move me."
He stared at the Fin Fang Foom totem on the handgun, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"If it was the era of the Eight Demons, you wouldn't have heard of the Twelve Talismans. You're lying!"
Fin Fang Foom jolted.
"How did you—? I'm not lying! How could I deceive you? You're the invincible Spider-Man. Who could fool you?"
"Cut the bull."
Charlie reclined on the soft couch, giving Fin Fang Foom a sidelong glance. "I'm tight with the Holy Lord of the Eight Demons. I know exactly what he's capable of. You think I'd buy your story?"
"What?"
Fin Fang Foom's expression soured. "You actually know the Fire Demon? No way, you're bluffing!" he said with conviction.
Charlie sneered, standing up and laughing. "Hahaha, everyone knows demons don't keep promises!"
Fin Fang Foom: "!!!!"
"Damn it, you really know the Fire Demon!"
He was devastated.
His storytelling skills were trash.
What a disaster!
Fin Fang Foom fumed but forced a strained smile.
"Classmate Charlie, I was just joking earlier. Actually, I—"
"Tell me your second story." Charlie cut him off, pulling out a notebook.
Fin Fang Foom: "."
"Fine. I'm Fin Fang Foom, a supremely terrifying alien elite creature. Countless years ago, my spaceship crashed on Earth—"
"Get to the point!" Charlie snapped coldly.
Fin Fang Foom paused. "Alright. In that world, I met the Eight Demons. I couldn't beat them, so I joined them. But then that world's superheroes chased me out."
"You said that world had no superheroes," Charlie reminded him.
Fin Fang Foom sighed. "It did, and they were strong. I think they were called… the Eight Immortals?"
"Oh, I get it. Lü Dongbin, right?" Charlie said.
Fin Fang Foom took a deep breath. "You really know everything. Worthy of the invincible Spider-Man."
"Of course."
Charlie rubbed his temples. The Marvel universe had hints of ancient Eastern gods, but he'd never taken them seriously.
Now, meeting Fin Fang Foom and hearing about the Eight Immortals, he had to get serious.
No matter how strong Fin Fang Foom was, he couldn't punch through dimensional walls. So this so-called Eight Demons world was likely part of the Marvel universe.
Things were getting complicated.
He looked at the golden handgun. "So, what's your real goal? The Holy Lord's power? Or the Eight Immortals?"
"The Time Tablet!" Fin Fang Foom blurted out.
Charlie frowned. "That thing only works in that world. What do you need it for?"
"To rewrite history, obviously."
Fin Fang Foom explained, "You've seen it—my divine domain is shattered, basically irreparable. But with the Time Tablet, I can rewrite history, and my domain will endure."
Charlie studied Fin Fang Foom, suspecting he was still lying.
But it didn't matter. He had no plans to visit that world, so truth or lie, it made no difference.
"Got it."
He stood, tucking away the golden handgun. Fin Fang Foom hurriedly said, "You owe me one! You should help me!!"
"Everyone knows Spider-Man doesn't keep promises."
"Jerk, I #%&*!"
"Thanks for the compliments."
Charlie sealed the golden handgun with golden webbing, finally silencing the guy's "praise."
He gazed out the window, lost in thought.
The Time Tablet was tempting, but the Eight Immortals were a factor he couldn't ignore.
If he barged into that world, who knew what those guys would do to a weak, helpless Spider-Man?
He'd heard they loved snatching people to be their mounts.
Yup, spiders count as pets too.
Better not stir that pot. It wasn't worth it.
With that, Charlie glanced back at the bathroom.
"Done showering? Come out, I'm ready!"
He shouted, and the sound of running water in the bathroom stopped.
"Alright, cheese flavor today?" Gwen stepped out, wrapped in a towel, showing off a new prop she'd bought.
Charlie eyed it and shook his head. "Nah, I've learned to make props with webbing. Let's try it now!"
"Wow, you're amazing."
"The best is yet to come."
"Wait, toss Venom out first."
"No!!"
As Venom's wails echoed outside the door, a battle was about to erupt in the room.
…
Meanwhile, in the Totem Universe, Underworld.
In the forest, a wild-man version of Totem Steve stood on a cliff, shouting.
"Hey~~~ Anyone out there?"
"I'm lost! Somebody help!!"
…
Main World, three days later.
Stark Tower.
After the Godslayer Armor press conference, Tony returned backstage.
Seeing Charlie waiting, Tony smiled.
"Hey, long time no see. How's it going?" He opened his arms for a hug.
Charlie grinned. "Not bad."
Tony took off his sunglasses. "Heard you got a girlfriend."
"Heard?"
Charlie pulled Gwen close. "No need to hear about it."
"Congrats, you two."
Tony offered sincere wishes, then whispered, "Don't be too loud about it, or Commander Carter will hunt you down."
Charlie's mouth twitched.
Gwen was already pinching his waist.
"She and I are just friends," Charlie said seriously.
Gwen smiled silently.
Charlie shot Tony a resentful look. "I'm sending Pepper those intimate shots of you with that bombshell."
Tony froze. "I've been good lately."
"From another universe."
"That's not me, then."
"I know, but I'll frame you. What can you do about it?"
"You're such a jerk."
Tony was speechless.
He invited them to his private penthouse atop the tower.
"Something to drink? Right, juice."
As Tony juiced some fruit, he asked, "You here for something?"
"Yup."
Charlie toyed with Tony's collectible bull horn. "What's up with the guy in the sun?"
At the mention of the Celestial in the sun, Tony's expression turned grave.
"No movement."
"Nothing?"
"Zilch."
"But you look serious."
"That's anger. He drained my Godslayer."
"Fair enough!"
Charlie shrugged, taking the juice Tony handed him.
"If we go after that guy, any way to keep Earth safe?" he asked.
Tony thought for a moment. "Near impossible. Attacking him could snuff out the sun. No sun, everyone dies."
He looked at Charlie. "Unless you find an energy source to replace the sun."
"What about an artificial sun?" Gwen chimed in.
Tony shook his head. "Compared to the real thing, an artificial sun's too weak. Plus, there's other issues—like, without the sun's gravity, would the solar system's planets crash into each other?"
Charlie mused, "Finding another star to replace it isn't hard. The real trick is swapping it smoothly. That'd take some serious power."
As he spoke, the room flared with dazzling starlight.
The sudden cosmic energy made Tony yelp.
"Damn, that's bright!"
Buzz~
As the starlight faded, Captain Universe Spider-Man appeared before them.
"Spider-Man?" Tony's expression was odd.
"Yup, the legendary Captain Universe," Charlie said simply, then turned to him. "Found them?"
"I did."
Captain Universe Spider-Man thought for a moment, then shook his head. "But it'll take time."
"What's the deal?" Charlie asked, confused.
Captain Universe explained, "I learned from Madame Web that the Other Spider-Totem has a substitute—like you. But the Bride and the Scion are trickier."
He glanced at Gwen. "If you two get married, Gwen's Spider-Totem could evolve into the Bride."
Charlie: "."
"No way. The Bride and a bride are the same thing?"
Charlie was speechless.
That's way too sloppy.
"What about the Scion?" he asked.
Captain Universe Spider-Man shrugged. "Obviously, your kid."
Charlie: "."
Yup, super sloppy.
"So as long as there's a complete Spider-Man family, they can become the three Spider-Totems?" Charlie wanted confirmation.
Captain Universe Spider-Man nodded. "Yup, but sadly, I haven't found a complete Spider-Man family. Spider-Man's fate is like that—happy endings are rare, let alone having kids."
Gwen tensed at his words.
Charlie, though, was thoughtful.
"Guess it really will take time."
"Yup."
Captain Universe Spider-Man added, "I know you've already broken free of Spider-Man's fate, so you want to use the three Spider-Totems' power to sever the Web of Life and Destiny. You're the only one who can."
He glanced at Gwen again. "Doesn't matter who you're with."
Gwen took note of that.
Captain Universe Spider-Man felt a chill down his spine and quickly clarified, "Here's the thing: Charlie's escaped his fate, but Gwen hasn't. Even if you get married and have a kid, there's still a chance they'd die from some random accident."
Gwen's eyes dimmed.
She knew her situation.
Gorr the God Butcher had his eyes on her. If she and Charlie had a kid, Gorr would be the biggest threat.
That was the most likely accident.
Charlie realized this too and dropped the topic.
He knew it wouldn't be that easy.
But Gwen whispered, "Maybe… you should go to them?"
"Them?"
Charlie jolted, then straightened up, declaring righteously, "No way, absolutely not!"
His gaze burned as he swore to the heavens.
"I'd never do something like that. If I even think about it, let me be struck by lightning!"
Boom!!
Instantly, thunder roared, and a flash of white light lit up the room. Charlie's face darkened.
Gwen's secret glee turned to ice.
Captain Universe Spider-Man started enjoying the show.
Tony, meanwhile…
"Hey, Thor! Perfect timing!"
He greeted the uninvited, dark-faced Thor, teasing, "I just invested in a skin-whitening product. Wanna try it?"
Dark-faced Thor, stone-cold, shook his head. "No thanks, I prefer cotton-picking."
"Pick your damn head!"
Charlie cursed, glaring at the guy.
That scared the crap out of him!
Gwen let out a relieved sigh.
His words were probably true, right?
As for dark-faced Thor, getting cussed out for no reason left him baffled.
"What happened?"
"That's my question for you," Charlie said, still dark-faced.
Thor remembered his purpose. "Oh, right. I came to warn you—Ragnarok's coming. Get ready."
"Ragnarok?"
Everyone exchanged glances. Charlie only now recalled it.
"What a coincidence?" He rubbed his temples.
The Celestial in the sun was still a problem, and now Ragnarok?
This world's too dangerous. I'm moving to Mars!
Dark-faced Thor continued, "Father said if a new god appears on Earth, Ragnarok will come."
"New god?"
Captain Universe Spider-Man looked at Charlie. "He's talking about you!" He poked Charlie's shoulder.
Tony, shocked, turned to Charlie.
"You became a god?"
Charlie put his hands on his hips. "Living in the Marvel world, just became the Spider-God."
Seeing Charlie admit it, Thor's expression hardened.
"So it's you."
He said gravely, "Charlie, you're a god now, so Ragnarok is your disaster too."
"What?"
Charlie was losing it.
"Odin never told me this!"
"He's telling you now."
"Fine, I don't mind a little twilight."
"Ragnarok is when gods fall. Be ready."
"No need to remind me!"
Charlie stomped, grinding his teeth. "What a mess!!"
He hadn't even enjoyed the perks of godhood, and now he might croak?
He turned to Tony. "Replace the Statue of Liberty with Spider-Man. I want everyone to know who their god is!"
Tony blinked. "What?"
Charlie pointed at him. "You heard me!"