"Spider-Man, to survive the Celestials' rules, you must face a trial."
With that, the mature Celestial forged a warhammer from endless stars, intent on destroying Spider-Man's universe.
"A trial, huh?"
Charlie stared coldly at the colossal figure. Hellfire engulfed him, and the fiery Spider-Man drew a circle, summoning a Hellgate spanning galaxies in the starry void.
Both Mephisto and the Celestials were multiversal powerhouses beyond a single universe. Charlie wasn't sure half a Hell's power could suppress a mature Celestial, but it was perfect for testing their strength.
Grah grah grah
The Hellgate opened slowly, its abyssal depths swallowing countless stars, threatening to consume even the Celestial.
"What?"
As the star-forged hammer jammed in the Hellgate, the Celestial's six eyes blazed.
"Mephisto's power… Heh, poor insect. You don't know—the original Hell was created by Celestials!"
After a brief shock, the Celestial scoffed, shattering the Hellgate with its hammer. Celestial power coalesced into barren planets, demonstrating the process of creation.
In an instant, massive planets turned into a meteor shower streaking through the cold void, warping space with immense force as they descended on Charlie.
Faced with this onslaught, Charlie frowned, trying to open another Hellgate to swallow the meteors.
Buzz~
Boom!!
But as the Hellgate formed, Celestial power disrupted it.
The Celestial had altered the universe's rules!
The surrounding space grew viscous, like a swamp. Charlie abandoned using Hell to suppress the Celestial.
Unlike nascent Celestials, a mature one's power far exceeded them. Ordinary means wouldn't work.
Charlie drew a circle, the twelve talismans spinning above his head.
Buzz~
Instantly, the twelve zodiacs materialized, their cosmic rules taking form, bombarding the immense Celestial.
"Hm?"
Curious about the strange power, the Celestial swung its hammer. The zodiacs darted, clashing with surges of cosmic energy.
Before the Celestial could decipher them, Charlie acted again, the Eight Immortals' artifacts glowing.
But the next moment stunned him.
The artifacts flashed briefly, then dimmed, showing no intent to attack the Celestial.
Charlie: "…"
Great. These things only work on evil forces, huh?
The Celestials, inheriting the Creator Gods' power, wielded pure light and creation energy. Sensing no evil, the artifacts slacked off.
Fine.
Charlie's eyes glinted blood-red.
Buzz~
The void rippled as a long-dormant power surged into the universe.
Sensing the faint blood-red energy, the Celestial grew uneasy, a strange panic rising.
"What… is this?"
Under the gaze of its six eyes, the fiery man was overtaken by darkness and crimson. Menacing scales and bone spikes covered Spider-Man's body, demonic horns sprouting from the blood-red aura.
In the darkness, a crimson streak expanded infinitely, forming a cosmic sword light that landed in Charlie's hand.
Buzz!
Spider-Man, Black Emperor Mode!
At this stage, Charlie still wielded the full Necrosword.
Unlike last time, he was now confident he could prevent Null, the Symbiote God, from consuming him through the Necrosword.
As expected, the Celestial gasped as the Necrosword's vengeful flames spread from the blade to Charlie's body.
Ignoring it, Charlie raised the Necrosword.
"Celestial? Hah!"
With a sneer, the Invincible Spider-Man swung the blade across the cosmos.
Hum!!
Boom!!
A cosmic storm erupted, black holes spawning. The crimson sword light stretched endlessly, extinguishing all starlight in its path.
The Symbiote God's power roared, its vengeful flames targeting the Celestials.
The primal universe's darkest force unleashed a terrifying aura.
Under the Necrosword's light, no Celestial could escape destruction.
None could face the vengeful flames.
Boom!
"No!!!"
The colossal figure touched a spark of vengeful flame, twisting and melting, consumed entirely.
During this, the Celestial couldn't use any power, frozen in place, devoured by vengeance.
The Necrosword, forged by Null for the Celestials, was destined to drink their blood from its creation.
Meanwhile, other Celestials sensed the Necrosword's aura and abandoned invading this universe.
If the Necrosword hadn't fully awakened, they'd have destroyed it at all costs.
But now, with its vengeful flames fully ignited, Null could slaughter Celestials through it. They had no way to stop it.
So, they retreated to scheme another day.
As for Charlie, after one swing, the vengeful flames nearly consumed him.
He'd never felt Null's presence so clearly.
In the spreading flames, he glimpsed a withered figure sealed in a dark abyss—pale skin, a ghastly face, and eyes swirling with symbiotic dragon totems.
"Grah grah grah~ Spider-Man, give me your body!!"
Atop a cliff, Null raised his hands, laughing maniacally.
With Spider-Man's body, he could escape this wretched place and begin his revenge on the Celestials and Light Gods.
But his joy was cut short as his link to the Necrosword severed.
"What?"
Null's smile froze.
He lost his connection to the Necrosword and his chance to escape.
Even the vengeful flames couldn't consume Spider-Man's soul?
Null fell silent, unwilling.
His opportunity was gone, left to wait for another.
He couldn't fathom why Spider-Man resisted the flames.
Why?
Null pondered…
—
Meanwhile, the Eight Immortals' artifacts orbited the Necrosword in the cosmos.
Buzz~
In the Bagua shadow they cast, the cosmic crimson tide receded. The vengeful flames, meeting their nemesis, retreated into the Necrosword, dormant.
The artifacts severed Null's link to the Necrosword, earning Charlie a satisfied smile.
Perfect. The artifacts countered Null's power. This would be fun.
Charlie tossed the Necrosword into the void and recalled the artifacts.
In the vast cosmos, the Celestial's massive body floated in darkness, stars shining again.
Closer inspection revealed vengeful flames still consuming its flesh, exposing golden bones and organs.
This formed a cosmic spectacle.
A god's end.
One whale falls, all life rises.
Someday, when the flames consumed the Celestial's flesh, its bones would become treasures fought over by cosmic civilizations.
Including Tony, who'd been monitoring the battle.
At Stark Tower, Tony lowered his starscope, eyes gleaming with desire for the Celestial's remains.
"What a cosmic showdown. The Invincible Spider-Man wins again. Time for me to handle the cleanup!"
Smiling, Tony designed a space suit to claim the Celestial's husk the moment the flames died.
His armor lab buzzed with activity.
Charlie stepped through a portal back to Earth, seeking Future Jade to discuss the Beyonders.
The main world's crisis was resolved, but the multiverse's deadly threat loomed.
He still had no clues about the Beyonders destroying the multiverse.
But if he couldn't find clues, they'd find him.
At home, Future Jade was absent. Instead, a familiar yet strange foe awaited.
In the room, a man in a green cloak waited.
Seeing Spider-Man, Doctor Doom tilted his head.
"Congratulations, Spider-Man. You're stronger than I imagined. I have nothing left to teach you. From now on, we'll face the Beyonders together to save the multiverse."
Charlie, just entering: "???"
Well, damn. Is this the "road appears when you reach the mountain"?
Straight to the main event?
—
Meanwhile, in the Dark Dimension.
Buzz~
In the lifeless void, a dark vortex bloomed on an asteroid.
Eerie auroras flared as Future Jade, in her black dress, stepped into the dimension.
Facing the massive, menacing head, she approached with a smile, looking up at Dormammu's face.
"Dormammu, I've come to bargain."
Dormammu: "…"
His purple eyes opened, voice thick with rage.
This line stirred painful memories.
"Damned human, that line angers the great Dark Lord, you know!"
His voice echoed through the Dark Dimension, its tremors bringing invisible pressure from all sides, as if to crush the impudent human girl.
But Future Jade was unfazed.
She smiled. "Can't we talk?"
Dormammu, sensing she wasn't an ordinary "mage," hesitated, then asked, "Do you have the Time Stone?"
Future Jade shook her head. "Nope."
Relieved, Dormammu resumed his arrogant, cruel demeanor as Dimension Lord.
"Human, you can die now."
With a roar, he unleashed a kilometer-wide purple beam, its dark energy capable of obliterating planets.
To Future Jade, it was pathetic.
Boom!!
Her eyes flashed, and dark elves beside her effortlessly devoured the beam.
Whoosh~~
The scattered dark energy whipped her dress. She sat in the void, Hell's throne appearing behind her. Familiar Hellfire framed her chilling smile, making Dormammu realize something.
"You… you devoured Mephisto's Hell? Impossible!!"
Dormammu was shocked.
Mephisto was stronger than him, a terror among dimension lords. How could a human mage consume him?
He grew cautious.
Suppressing his doubts and rage, he asked, "What do you want?"
Future Jade tapped the throne's armrest. "Two choices. One, hand over your Dark Dimension. Two, submit to my Hell, and keep your dimension."
"What?" Dormammu roared. "That's not a deal!"
Future Jade shook her head. "It is, but only after you submit. Then we can discuss your… salary."
"Impossible!"
Dormammu's fury shook the Dark Dimension.
"The Dark Lord is no slave! Die!!"
"Hmph, you said it."
Future Jade stood, her gaze icy.
She struck the throne, opening a Hellgate in the Dark Dimension. Eerie Hell power spread, claiming Dormammu's world.
"What? Impossible!"
Dormammu felt his control slipping. Panicked, he roared, "This isn't Mephisto's power! Who are you?!"
"Just a passing Jade. Remember that!"
Mimicking Charlie, she flicked her dress, pointing at him.
"Now, let's tally your sins!"
Dormammu: "…"
After eons of evil, he couldn't count them all.
"No!! I won't count!!"
"Old Man said, use magic to defeat magic!"
Against Dormammu's defiance, Future Jade formed seals. A dark magic array bloomed beneath her, Hellfire spreading through the dimension.
"Ulalu, Dark God, rise!"
Her voice was crisp, but the dark claws slithering from the array filled Dormammu with dread.
"Black Magic, bind!"
Boom!!
Endless claws engulfed Dormammu's head. Dark elves shot from the array, dragging him into it.
The other side was the Endless Hell—where the eight demons were once sealed.