Above the Empire Hotel, a Quinjet streaked into the night sky, a fleeting glimmer of light.
By the floor-to-ceiling windows of the top floor, Xu Wenwu glanced at the fading glow, casually lifting a teacup from the table.
Sipping the fragrant tea, he said, "He's gone."
"Yes," Shendu replied from within the Malevolent Dragon Ring. "I can sense the talismans in his possession moving at high speed. He's closing in on another."
"Where?"
"Africa, a mysterious nation. There's a troublesome figure there, which is why I didn't send you to seek talismans in that place."
"Is that so?"
Xu Wenwu smirked. "But things are different now. Spider-Man's headed there too."
"Indeed."
Shendu's eyes gleamed blood-red. "Your chance has come again."
Xu Wenwu pondered for a moment before saying, "I need to recover all Ten Rings first to have any confidence."
He raised his hand, revealing the five rings on his wrist. As they trembled faintly, glowing purple, his heart stirred. His gaze shifted to the direction where the Quinjet had vanished.
"With Spider-Man!" His eyes narrowed, and he stood. "What a coincidence. Time to move."
…
In the night sky, the Quinjet sliced through the air.
Inside the cabin, Aaron was lifting dumbbells, working his biceps.
Nearby, Jade stared boredly out at the dark night. "Mr. Spider-Man, why are we going to Africa? It doesn't seem like there's anything fun there."
Before Charlie could answer, Old Man chuckled. "That's where you'll see the giraffes you've always wanted to meet."
Jade blinked, confused. "Aren't giraffes in the Amazon?"
Old Man and Aaron's faces darkened instantly.
"Jade, have you ever paid attention in class?!"
"So embarrassing!!"
"Old Man, Aaron, stop it! Don't come closer—I'll study harder, I swear… ahh! Stop hitting me!"
Under the combined assault of Old Man and Aaron, Jade wailed in protest.
T'Challa, watching this chaotic yet warm family scene, felt a pang of nostalgia for the days when his father was still alive.
He smiled gently. "They must be a happy family."
Charlie glanced at the shrieking Jade and said to T'Challa, "You can tell you're the kind of kid who never got spanked. What's to envy here?"
T'Challa shook his head. "In their family, I see love—the most precious thing, something money can't buy."
Charlie shot him a look. "Give me that gemstone ring of yours, and I'll show you even more love."
T'Challa, puzzled, handed over the ring.
Charlie casually tossed it to Old Man. "Here, take this. No more hitting Jade."
"No hitting Jade? No way—"
Old Man caught the ring, saw the gemstone, and did a complete 180.
"Haha, of course I won't hit her! Dear Jade, thank your Spider-Man uncle!" He pulled Jade into a deep bow toward Charlie.
Aaron, green with envy, chimed in, "Instructor Charlie, I won't hit Jade either. Can I get one too?" he asked shamelessly.
Charlie shrugged at T'Challa. "See that?"
T'Challa nodded. "Yes, their family is full of love."
Jade glared at the annoying adults, pouting and turning away with a huff. "I'm done with you guys."
Soon, the Quinjet reached African airspace. T'Challa smiled at the group. "We're almost there."
As he spoke, the sun rose, illuminating herds of wild horses galloping across the savanna. Near the ocean, the land seemed to warp and twist.
Zzt zzt~
In an instant, a honeycomb-like energy shield flickered, and the Quinjet dove through a breach in the barrier.
This was a high-tech city unlike New York.
At the city's edge, levitating trains glided along amethyst tracks. Miners harvesting vibranium looked up at the breached energy shield.
"The king's back!"
"We're saved!"
"The king brought Spider-Man!"
"It has to be them!"
The miners cheered as Jade and the others in the Quinjet marveled at the wondrous city below.
"Wow, those buildings are so weird!"
"Are those grass huts over there?"
"Look, a pyramid!"
At the city's heart, a pyramid-shaped palace shimmered, its walls flowing with liquid vibranium. Ancient runes glowed under the sunlight, sparkling like stars.
T'Challa explained, "That's Wakanda's palace, our landing spot. Later, I'll have someone show you around."
Jade whooped with excitement. "Yes! Fun time!"
"Jade, don't think about playing. You've got homework," Aaron reminded, instantly wiping the joy from her face.
The Quinjet soon landed at the airport. As T'Challa led the group out, Wakandan soldiers waiting on the tarmac roared in unison.
"Wakanda forever!"
"Wakanda forever!"
Jade covered her ears against the piercing chants, and Aaron muttered under his breath.
"Why does it sound like 'Wakanda's doomed'?" he whispered to Charlie.
Charlie gave him a side-eye. "Real clever, huh?"
He rolled his eyes, then turned to T'Challa. "You can tell them to stop now."
He pointed to the city's far end. "I can see it—buildings under repair. These soldiers should be helping there, not shouting slogans here."
T'Challa flushed with embarrassment.
He'd meant to create a grand spectacle, but Charlie's words made it feel excessive.
Given Wakanda's current state, everyone knew the score.
With a slight wave of his hand, the soldiers fell silent.
Then, Okoye, captain of the Dora Milaje, stepped forward and bowed.
"My king, we've prepared a grand feast for Mr. Spider-Man."
T'Challa nodded, then turned to Charlie. "Please."
Okoye glanced at the young man before her, stunned.
This was the invincible Spider-Man?
Nothing like she'd imagined.
Not muscular, just a pale kid.
Was Spider-Man really that great?
Doubt crept into her mind.
Charlie ignored Okoye's skeptical look, smiling as he followed T'Challa.
As they toured the palace, they discussed the situation.
"When do they usually attack the city?" Charlie asked.
T'Challa shook his head. "No pattern. It seems like pure predation."
"They eat people?" Aaron blurted out from behind.
T'Challa glanced toward the mines. "No, they eat vibranium." Exhaustion clouded his face.
Charlie mused, "This isn't a normal mutation event."
They entered the opulent palace, where T'Challa sent Jade and the others to tour nearby sites while he and Charlie ascended to the palace's highest point.
Overlooking the futuristic yet primal city, Charlie's gaze settled on the seaside, where smoke still lingered and ruins bore the scars of giant beasts.
T'Challa took a deep breath, his voice heavy with helplessness.
"Our tech weapons are useless against them. They're too massive, and their biology is vastly different from carbon-based life. That's why I turned to S.H.I.E.L.D.—our only hope."
He locked eyes with Charlie. "The invincible Spider-Man will save Wakanda, right?"
Charlie took a juice from a servant. "I'll try my best, but let's be clear—if I break anything stopping them, you're not billing me." He was dead serious.
T'Challa: "…"
"You're serious?"
"Super serious."
"I understand," T'Challa assured. "As long as I'm here, that won't happen."
"Good, I'm relieved." Charlie grinned.
He added, "Give me the data on those things first."
"No problem."
T'Challa linked to Charlie's virtual computer, transferring all relevant footage and data.
Charlie flicked his fingers, and the virtual display showed Wakanda on the day of the attack.
The city trembled as a massive octopus tentacle tore through the energy shield. A hundreds-of-meters-tall octopus monster rampaged, its black mist disrupting the city's power grid, triggering explosions and fires that caused massive economic losses and casualties.
Shaa~~
The giant octopus smashed buildings with its tentacles, its mist sowing chaos.
Buzz~~
Boom!!
Wakanda's tech defenses retaliated, but their energy weapons couldn't dent the creature's body.
Charlie noticed soldiers on fliers recklessly boarding the monster for hand-to-hand combat—a scene that was… well, bold.
He glanced at T'Challa, who saluted the fallen soldiers, his face full of pain.
"They died for Wakanda. True warriors."
Charlie: "…"
"Uh, is it possible they wouldn't have died if they hadn't climbed onto it?" he ventured.
T'Challa's gaze was resolute. "Fighting the enemy to the death is a Wakandan warrior's honor!"
Charlie scratched his forehead. "Did you… hear what I said?"
T'Challa nodded. "I understand your meaning, but the day we become warriors, we accept the duty to give our lives for Wakanda."
Charlie shook his head. "Okay, I get that you don't get me. Doesn't matter."
He continued watching.
The monster tore through defenses, reaching the mines and devouring vibranium.
Charlie noticed it seemed to eat in agony.
It didn't consume much—for Wakanda's standards.
Within a minute, the creature retreated into the sea, leaving ruins behind.
"Just one?" Charlie asked after the video.
T'Challa shook his head. "Not even close."
He pulled up more footage, showing three different beasts: a giant octopus, a crab monster, and a massive jellyfish.
Each time, they struggled to consume vibranium, as if forced by some external power.
Charlie pondered this.
"The real crisis is in the deep sea. Have you explored the nearby waters?" he asked T'Challa.
"We have, but found nothing," T'Challa replied.
Just then, the city's energy shield flickered. A pale purple light streaked across the sky, and a massive claw pierced the barrier. Another monstrous beast descended on Wakanda.
It struck the same ruined area.
Energy weapons erupted in dazzling light, targeting the breach.
But a strange screech echoed through the clouds, and black mist rolled in, nullifying electromagnetic energy. Amid the fading energy particles, a towering red lobster monster strode through the ruins toward the vibranium mines.
Gaga gaga~~
The hundred-meter-tall creature raised its massive claws, cackling eerily.
Its armor was impervious, untouched by any attack.
Seeing the beast, T'Challa's eyes flashed with fear.
"It's here again! Mr. Spider-Man, you…"
He looked to Charlie—Wakanda's only hope.
Charlie wasted no time.
He pulled the Monkey Talisman from his pocket, and in a burst of light, the Spider-Suit enveloped him.
T'Challa expected a towering giant.
But no—just plain old Spider-Man.
"Good Neighbor Nuclear Kick!"
With a shout, the invincible Spider-Man leaped from the heights.
Familiar power surged through him.
Using the Monkey Talisman's power, he mimicked the invincible Spider-Man of old.
Brilliant magical light painted the sky, warping space into a torrent of meteoric heat that crashed toward the lobster monster's head.
Boom!!
In an instant, Spider-Man struck the creature's head, unleashing a storm of magical shockwaves like a meteor hitting Earth.
The dazzling light illuminated T'Challa's face, sparking hope.
But then, the monster's claw shattered the magical glow, sending Spider-Man flying a kilometer away, splitting in two.
"Hahaha, I'm still here! I didn't die! The invincible Spider-Man clone is back!!"
After activating his clone, Charlie noticed something off about it.
"Idiot, why're you yelling so loud? Take it down!"
Charlie grumbled, while the clone's expression grew complex.
After the Resurrection Match, he'd prepared to vanish forever.
But here he was, back again.
With all his memories intact.
He didn't understand what had happened, but it didn't matter.
What mattered was he was still here—always had been.
"Main body, I'm so touched—"
Before he could hug Charlie, the monster's claw snapped shut, crushing the clone instantly.
Charlie: "…"
"Unreliable. Totally unreliable. Guess it's up to me."
He raised the Monkey Talisman, his body swelling rapidly, cloaked in dark golden armor. Six Celestial Eyes spanned the sky, his colossal form shattering the energy shield and piercing the clouds.
The exaggerated scene left everyone dumbfounded.
Even gods were animals!
Gaga~~
The lobster monster froze, its bulging eyes reflecting a titanic pillar descending.
Boom!!
The pillar struck, triggering an earthquake across Wakanda.
In a flash, a giant foot crushed the lobster monster to dust, leaving no trace.
Xu Wenwu, who had followed, witnessed this and was utterly shocked.
"How is this possible? How can one talisman's power be this terrifying?"
"It's not just one talisman," Shendu said, sensing something amiss.
The invincible Spider-Man seemed to understand the Twelve Talismans better than he did.