DC Universe. New York.
Under the cover of night, Diana, as Wonder Woman, swung between skyscrapers using her Lasso of Truth.
She landed in an alley by a residential building, pressing against the wall to eavesdrop on the room next door.
At noon, she'd received intel that a gang of criminals planned to use a bomb to distract nearby cops, allowing their accomplices to slip into a corner bank and steal gold bars in a classic diversion.
As a superhero, this was her kind of job.
Call the police? Never crossed her mind.
Any superhero who called the cops would be shamed forever.
So, here she was.
The thugs were in for a bad time.
But the intel seemed off.
The alley lit up, and armed thugs surrounded her.
"Hey, gorgeous Wonder Woman, you fell for it. Our guy fed you the tip."
The leader leered at Diana, his tone suggestive. "What a sexy little wildcat. Spend one night with me, and I'll keep my boys' guns from firing… for now."
A double entendre, but Diana didn't catch it.
She tilted her head, a faint smile forming as she prepared to unleash her divine power on these lowlifes.
Humans thought guns could handle anything.
Naive.
Didn't they watch the news? Bullets couldn't kill a god!
Before she could act, a shout rang from the alley's mouth.
"Hey!"
The sudden voice halted the mortal-goddess standoff.
Everyone turned to see a strange figure under the alley's lamplight.
Bowlegged, hands twisted outward, chest heaving like he'd just run a marathon. His clothes were crumpled, as if he'd been mugged. His web-covered suit was half-torn, exposing a "bare shoulder" like a tube top.
His iconic mask sat crooked, clearly slapped on haphazardly.
The bizarre sight shocked everyone.
They recognized him—the long-missing Spider-Man!
But the thugs burst into laughter.
"Oh my God, it's Spider-Man! We're so scared!!"
"Terrifying Spider-Man, robbed blind—what a shocker!"
"He's here for a hero save? What a guy."
"He rushed out so fast, bet he forgot his underwear."
"Hahaha, funny kid, thinking a fake Spider-Man can scare us."
"What a joke. Hey, goddess, you know this guy?"
"Look at her face—she clearly doesn't want to."
Amid their mockery, Diana facepalmed, awkwardly eyeing Spider-Man.
"What are you doing?" she asked, exasperated.
Charlie adjusted his mask. "Sorry, got here in a rush. You wouldn't believe what I've been through—hard to explain. But I swear, even if this failed man returns to the DC Universe, I'll protect you without hesitation."
He pointed at the thugs. "Hey! Let go of that goddess!"
The leader shrugged, smirking. "Haven't even touched her."
"Don't care."
Charlie leaped, his shoe soles stubbornly staying behind.
Bang bang bang~
Three seconds later, he stomped the last thug's head into the pavement and turned to Diana.
"I need a new suit. Oh, and underwear—they guessed right. Mine's gone. Sad story."
Diana: "..."
Ten minutes later, a luxury apartment in Brooklyn.
Figures flashed outside, and Charlie followed Diana inside, lights blazing.
Unlike his modest Eisen apartment, the lavish decor made Charlie's eyes widen.
"Reporters make this much?" he said, touring the room, touching a horn-like ornament.
Then, recalling Tony mentioning it was from their "African brother," he flinched, wiping his hand on his suit.
"You rich folks love collecting this stuff. I don't get it," he said casually.
Diana handed him a glass of water, explaining, "A friend's gift. Nothing here's expensive. I sold one gem for this place. Want one? I've got a boxful."
Charlie: "..."
Despite T'Challa's sponsorship, his broke mindset couldn't vibe with divine tycoons.
"Alright, let's talk later. New topic."
He took the women's underwear Diana offered, falling silent.
"I need men's."
Diana shrugged. "Sorry, only these."
Charlie: "..."
He considered. Not impossible.
"I'll think about it."
Setting the underwear aside, he sat on the sofa, fixing his suit.
Diana asked curiously, "What happened to you?"
Charlie waved it off. "Nothing much. Came here with a guy, had a disagreement, fought.
I look rough, but he's worse—eyes blown out."
"Impressive," Diana said absently, then got serious. "So, your mission?"
Charlie paused.
"Don't know."
Diana: "?????"
"You don't know?"
"Yeah, not clear."
He glanced at the prompt before him.
[Scene: DC Universe]
[Mission: Survive one month in this world.]
[Reward 1: Resurrection Slot x1]
[Reward 2: Superman's Body.]
[Participants: Charlie Parker, Victor von Doom, Hank Pym, Kang Dynasty (all members), Inheritor Family (all members), Mature Celestial x1.]
[Time until mission end: 28 days.]
February, non-leap year. Rough deal!
"I need to survive a month here, but I'm not sure what's up," Charlie said honestly.
Diana frowned. "Survive a month?"
She was puzzled. "Your power surpasses gods. No one here should be able to kill you."
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, I could take out Clark now. Can't imagine who could kill me."
In this Resurrection Match, he'd clashed with Doctor Doom in space right after arriving.
They fought over differing ideals.
He was sure Doom couldn't kill him.
Hank Pym, the Kang Dynasty, and the Inheritors—old foes—were too weak to trouble him.
So, he set his sights on Darkseid of Apokolips.
The DC cinematic universe's power ceiling, but still not enough.
That's what he thought.
Diana agreed something was off.
But she dropped it, mentioning something from days ago.
"Bruce Wayne contacted me," she said suddenly.
Charlie raised an eyebrow, guessing. "Steppenwolf invasion?"
"You knew?" Diana relaxed. "If you've figured it out, this is easier.
He invited me to join his Justice League. Should I?" she asked.
Without Charlie, she'd decide alone.
But with him back, she instinctively wanted Spider-Man's opinion.
Charlie spread his hands. "You can decide."
Diana thought. "He's just a mortal but took out Clark. His skills aren't trivial. I'm worried it's a trap—Clark fell for one." She sounded suspicious.
Charlie chuckled. "No wonder you think that. The guy's brain works weirdly sometimes. Teaming up with him is risky, but don't worry. As long as you don't agree to spar, you can crush him.
Definitely don't spar," he advised.
A figure floated outside the window.
"Yeah, you told me that before, but I couldn't resist."
Clark, in his suit, tapped the window, smiling at them.
"Sorry for disturbing you so late."
Diana rolled her eyes. "Use the front door next time."
"You didn't."
"It's my house."
"Fair. You haven't answered—will you forgive me for interrupting?" Clark flew in, asking again.
Diana shook her head. "Nothing's going on with him. Atlanna and Arthur wouldn't allow it."
Clark, serious, said, "I can tell there's no love between them."
Diana: "..."
"And between us?" she asked, exasperated.
Clark studied them solemnly, nodding. "Probably not."
Charlie was speechless.
"You've gotten funnier," he said.
Clark grinned. "Met your clone last time. He taught me a lot."
"Clone?"
Charlie remembered—his clone won the last Resurrection Match.
He gritted his teeth. What a loser, burning through 200 retries.
But good thing—after reversing time, his retries remained.
Enough for this match.
Wait, Clark… Charlie eyed him oddly.
By the timeline, Clark should be dead.
He remembered the clone's Resurrection Match before the time reversal? A possibility struck Charlie.
Marvel's timeline was reset by the Time Tablet, but DC's was unaffected.
This could be interesting.
His mind raced.
Clark turned to Diana.
"Bruce contacted me too."
"Hm?" Diana frowned. "What's he up to?"
"Relax, he's not targeting me anymore."
Clark explained, "Steppenwolf's here, and he's strong. Bruce needs my power, so he won't act against me.
With last time's experience, he can't kill me."
Clark was confident. "To apologize, he bought the bank and returned my farm."
Diana: "..."
"You agreed?" she asked.
Clark nodded. "Yes. Earth's my home. I can't let it be destroyed."
"Not for your farm?" Diana was skeptical.
Clark, serious, said, "Of course not. I'm not that guy."
"I believe you."
Diana thought. "I could buy a bank too. If Bruce comes for us, you'd better help me."
Clark: "..."
Was he the poorest superhero?
No, probably not.
He looked at Charlie.
Charlie: "!!!"
"Why're you looking at me?" he said, face darkening.
Clark's gaze was weird.
Clark rubbed his eyes. "Business—Bruce got intel. Steppenwolf's warship landed on Paradise Island. We need to move."
"What?" Diana was shocked. "So soon? I got no word."
"Because you've been focused on Spider-Man."
A magnetic voice came from the door as Bruce Wayne, in a sharp suit, entered. "Sorry to interrupt, but we need to act.
Spider-Man, perfect timing." He nodded at Charlie with a smile.
Charlie stayed silent. Diana's eyes held a hint of disdain.
"This is my house."
Bruce shrugged. "Sorry, you're renting. I just bought the place."
Diana: "..."
What a jerk.
Behind Bruce, Barry Allen peeked at the group.
Seeing Charlie, he lit up.
"Hey, I'm Allen, superhero Flash. Heard of me, Spider-Man?" He approached cautiously, socially awkward.
Charlie eyed him. "You're the one zipping through time, causing universe restarts?"
Barry Allen: "?????"
Seeing Spider-Man's dark look, Barry panicked, wondering if his greeting was off.
He decided to use his speed to jump back three minutes, rephrase, and try again.
That'd make a better impression.
As lightning crackled, golden webbing snared him.
"What're you doing?" Charlie asked.
Barry blinked. "I… need the bathroom." He stammered, flustered.
Charlie's face was stern. "Hold it."
"Oh." Barry nodded obediently.
Worthy of Spider-Man, reading his mind and countering his speed.
Truly the greatest hero. Best not to mess with him.
Flash, as always, chickened out.
Soon, Charlie's portal opened, and they arrived at Paradise Island.
…
Under the night, countless grotesque parademons crept onto Paradise Island, aiming to catch the Amazons off guard.
This wasn't what Charlie expected.
"The plot's off!" he muttered from a hilltop.
Though Steppenwolf appeared, the cinematic plot was veering into the unknown.
No matter—after this, the cinematic universe would likely restart.
Restart! Charlie's heart stirred.
Could this survival mission tie to a crisis from a universe restart?
Very possible.
He glanced at the unassuming Flash.
Gotta keep an eye on this guy.