"Hey, have you made up your mind or not?"
Fin Fang Foom spoke up again, but Charlie ignored him.
Getting no response, Fin Fang Foom pressed on. "We're out of time. Doctor Doom's power is consuming mine. If you don't decide soon, it'll be too late."
Charlie smirked. "What, you think he'd bother consuming your power? You've got some ego."
"Jerk, I'm serious!"
Fin Fang Foom's tone burned with anger. "I'll be straight: I brought some power from that other universe, power even Doctor Doom wants. That's why I can get you out of here.
If you don't decide now, I'm leaving without you."
"By yourself?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead! I'm not going to that world."
Doctor Doom had gathered all these superheroes and villains here, but his endgame wasn't to kill them.
Following Fin Fang Foom to another universe, though? That guy wasn't trustworthy. Charlie couldn't even imagine what might happen next.
Frustrated by Charlie's stubbornness, Fin Fang Foom softened his tone.
"I'm begging you, come with me. It's really dangerous here."
"What's so dangerous? Spill it." Charlie acted fearless, like a pig unafraid of boiling water. "If I can't fight it, I'll just enjoy the ride."
"What kind of twisted logic is that?!"
Fin Fang Foom snapped. "This is all a plot by the Beyonders. They want to destroy all multiverses. You think I'd beg you to leave if it was just Doctor Doom?"
"The Beyonders?"
Charlie jolted.
He knew how powerful those beings were.
Creatures from beyond the Marvel Universe, virtually unstoppable by anyone within it.
Not even the so-called cosmic gods could match them.
His face darkened. "I haven't even dealt with Doctor Doom, and now the Beyonders? This is way too intense!"
"Now you get it."
Seeing Charlie's awareness of the Beyonders, Fin Fang Foom seized the chance to persuade him.
"You know how terrifying they are. No one in the multiverse can stand against them. Leaving is the only way to avoid this catastrophe."
"Then I definitely can't go."
Charlie gritted his teeth. "My family, my friends—they're all here. If I leave, what happens to them?"
"Argh, are you even listening?!"
Fin Fang Foom lost it. "You're all just seeds Doctor Doom left behind. He has no shot against the Beyonders from beyond the multiverse. You have even less. Only by going to that universe and using power from outside the multiverse can you fight them. That's your only chance to save everyone."
"Huh, that makes sense."
Charlie rubbed his chin. "How do you know all this?"
Fin Fang Foom sighed. "Because I used to work under Doctor Doom.
I didn't want to tell you, but there's no choice now. Once Battleworld opens, we'll all be sucked into that realm.
We have to leave while there's still time.
If possible, we grab that thing and come back to stop this disaster."
Charlie: "…"
"That's awfully convenient," he muttered.
Fin Fang Foom continued, "Decide for yourself. I've said all I can."
Charlie thought it over. "How do I cooperate?"
"Use power beyond Spider-Man's," Fin Fang Foom said.
"Beyond Spider-Man?"
Charlie frowned. "What's that mean?"
Fin Fang Foom explained, "Your Spider-Man powers aren't strong enough. You need the other power in you—the one granted by that being after your resurrection. That power can help me open a portal."
Charlie got it.
The power from the Resurrection Match.
"Alright, I understand…"
He hesitated. "You're not tricking me, are you?"
"Argh! Damn bug, you're fussier than a four-hundred-year-old grandma! I'm done—go or don't!"
Fin Fang Foom roared, the golden pistol blazing with intense green light.
The glow filled the bubble. Elderly Steve's eyes lit up.
"Little Spider, you unlocking your cosmic potential? Hurry, get me outta here!"
Fin Fang Foom ignored the old man, his dragon totem spreading.
"This is all I can do. Stay or go—your call."
Charlie didn't dawdle. From Fin Fang Foom's words, he guessed Doctor Doom wasn't the real enemy.
But the Beyonders? That demanded caution.
Worth a gamble!
He formed hand seals, activating the summoning skill from the Resurrection Match.
Buzz!
Mystical energy sank into the void, linking to another universe.
Meanwhile, in the DC Universe's deep sea, Arthur sensed his father's call again.
Hahaha! "It's Dad! He needs me again. Mom, wait—I'll bring him back this time!"
He grabbed his trident, but the summoning energy vanished.
"Huh? Why am I still here?"
After a moment, Arthur stood confused.
Behind him, Atlanna rose, eyeing the calmed void, frowning.
"The summoning coordinates were forcibly altered. What's going on?" she murmured.
In the Marvel Universe's rift, Charlie vanished from the bubble. Elderly Steve, witnessing it, wailed.
"No way! Little Spider abandoned the Captain? Impossible!!"
The massive figure in the void glanced over.
Spider-Man's departure let Doctor Doom breathe easier.
"Finally gone. Good work, Fin Fang Foom."
Doctor Doom exhaled, then waved, pulling more figures from the multiverse.
He could do little for the multiverse, but these were its last hope.
No—the real hope was Spider-Man.
Only power from beyond the multiverse could defeat the Beyonders!
His gaze pierced the cosmic barrier, watching two Earths—616 and 1610—slowly draw closer.
Under the Beyonders' control, they'd collide one day, joined by more Earths, destroying the multiverse.
The Beyonders would use the fragments to create a new world: Battleworld!
A brutal arena where heroes and villains would fight endlessly until all universes collapsed.
That's what the Beyonders wanted to see.
They were curious what'd happen after the multiverse's destruction. That's all.
The cost? Every being in the multiverse, including Victor von Doom!
A disaster, but also an opportunity.
To become a supreme god in the destruction—that was his dream.
But he wasn't certain, so he'd boost the odds of a "god" emerging.
The Invincible Spider-Man was his best bet.
If he couldn't become a god, Spider-Man would save the universe.
Because Spider-Man's power came from… it.
…
Black Robe World
Morning sunlight streamed through the window, warming the room. Charlie's clone stretched lazily.
"Ah~ What a beautiful world. Such fresh air… huh? My body…"
Something felt off.
He frowned at his hands, sensing a difference.
What it was, he couldn't say.
Just a feeling.
Ugh~
The woman beside him stirred, groggily sitting up and leaning on his shoulder.
"Darling, what's wrong?"
The clone pushed Maeve's head away. "Get off. The righteous Spider-Man's got work to do."
Maeve, practiced, slid to the bed's edge.
"Alright, Invincible Spider-Man, get to work!"
"Quiet!"
The clone smacked her rear and began his "work."
Creak~ Creak~
The bed shook—his first daily task.
An hour later, the job was hastily done.
The clone dressed, left the room, and headed to his private office.
On the sofa, Homelander waited.
"Captain, we've got a traitor. Your call."
Homelander forced a smile, handing over files. "Translucent retired, so we recruited someone new."
The clone glanced at the new recruit's profile, smiling. "A sweet Sailor Moon, huh?"
He eyed Homelander. "He's the traitor?"
Homelander nodded. "Yeah, Deep told me."
Deep?
The clone raised an eyebrow. "Good. I'll handle this traitor. By the way, how do you deal with a pretty captive?"
Homelander's smile turned sleazy for a split second.
"Captain, you know."
"Oh~ I know."
The clone grinned. "As expected of Homelander—pure bad. Alright, it's settled. Let's do it!"
He adjusted his collar. "Where is she? I'll pay her a visit."
"In Deep's room."
"In his room?"
The clone frowned. "Why's she there? She should be in my room!"
He stepped through a portal.
The next moment, he was in Deep's room, filled with aquariums of marine creatures that made the clone grimace.
All used!
His ears twitched, catching voices from next door.
"You're too much! I won't give in. Clark told me to stay true!"
"Clark? Who's that? You're listening to him? I told Homelander you're a mole. He'll execute you soon. But don't worry—the new Captain values me. If I vouch for you, he'll let you off."
"Jerk, you failed last time, and you'll fail again!"
"Heh, try me."
"Try and you're toast!"
BANG!
The door exploded, and the golden Spider-Man radiated brilliance, blinding Deep and giving the stunning girl hope.
"Spider-Man!" Starlight beamed.
"Captain?"
Deep's eyes panicked. He tried to explain before Starlight, but the clone slapped him, sending him crashing into the wall.
BOOM!!
Debris slid as Deep groaned in pain, unable to speak.
He could only watch Starlight rush to the clone, recounting Deep's vile actions.
The clone radiated righteous fury.
"Despicable! He's unfit to be a superhero!"
He punched Deep out of the room, then retracted his nano-metal helmet, revealing a devilishly charming face.
"Woman, your defiance of corruption has caught my attention."
"Huh?"
Starlight blushed under his starry-eyed gaze. "Y-you too. At the press conference announcing you as the Seven's leader, I already…"
"Shh!"
The clone pressed a finger to her lips. "Don't speak. I know. No one can resist Spider-Man's charm."
Wow! Scumbag! Scumbag!
I'm gonna be a scumbag!!
I'm so bad!!
The baddest villain!!
Hahaha!!
The clone was thrilled, then remembered something.
"Wait, you mentioned Clark? You know him?"
Starlight snapped back. "Yes, he's a powerful superhuman. He taught me to be a just hero, to hold onto my dreams and not let evil corrupt me."
"Oh~ I see."
The clone nodded thoughtfully.
No wonder Deep failed to manipulate Starlight—Clark's charm at work.
But…
Heh, Clark, you can't beat me!
The clone grinned, pulling Starlight close, his voice soft. "You must be shaken. As an apology, I won't use a… cough, I mean, can I treat you to dinner?"
"Really?"
Starlight, overwhelmed by the sudden happiness, agreed instantly.
There was justice in the Seven!
They left the room, running into Homelander.
"Captain, you handled…" He saw Starlight in the clone's arms and got it.
He winked, and the clone gestured. "Deep's officially kicked out of the Seven."
"Got it," Homelander said seriously. "I knew he was no good. Captain, you did right."
His righteous demeanor gave Starlight a sense of safety.
This was the Seven. This was heroism.
Deep was the exception.
The little lamb in the wolf's den felt lucky to meet good people.
They reached the downstairs restaurant, where the clone spotted Clark disguised as a waiter.
"Well, look who it is—Clark!"
The clone played the villain to perfection, his face dripping with mockery.
Clark glanced at Starlight, his expression darkening.
"Spider-Man, what are you up to?"
"We're just here to eat," Starlight explained. "Spider-Man just dealt with a bad guy."
Bad guy?
Clark looked at the clone's expression, exasperated.
This guy seemed like the real bad guy!
He sighed inwardly, then said, "Good timing. I found traces of that black liquid. That guy's not dead. You don't need to play villain anymore."
"What?"
The clone froze, then clutched his head in frustration.
"Jerk, why didn't you say so earlier?! I was this close to being a perfect bad guy! Damn it, why now?!"
Clark: "…"
Starlight: "???"
"What's wrong with him?" she asked Clark.
Clark thought. "Don't mind him. He's got persecution delusions."
He was baffled by the clone's antics.
If it was the real Charlie, he'd never act like this.
He always believed in Spider-Man!
Thinking of Spider-Man, Clark felt a pang of nostalgia.
Was he okay?
…
"I'm not okay!"
In the universe of the Twelve Talismans, a ragged, beggar-like Charlie cursed at the golden pistol. "Why didn't you warn me crossing the cosmic barrier would hit me with that wild energy? My suit's ruined—ruined!!"
Fin Fang Foom's totem floated out, aggrieved. "I thought you knew."
"Knew my ass!"
Furious, Charlie was about to spit on the pistol when a voice behind him made him pause.
"Hey, buddy, you from the East too?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. That voice…
He turned, startled by a man in a blue sweater with a huge nose.
"Uncle Jackie?"
"You know me?" The young, black-haired Jackie scratched his head, chuckling. "Haha, I've been too famous lately. People recognize me everywhere. Gotta keep a low profile."