Time blurred as Charlie roamed the small planet of Qward, unable to sense its passage.
Eventually, he memorized the strange symbols, piecing them together into a cryptic, mystical formula.
Anti-Life Equation = Loneliness + Alienation + Fear + Despair + -Self-Worth ÷ Mockery ÷ Condemnation ÷ Misunderstanding × Guilt × Shame × Failure × Judgment; n = y, y = Hope, n = Foolishness, Love = Lies, Life = Death, Self = Dark Side~~
When the formula coalesced into a glowing orb in his hand, Charlie claimed his own Anti-Life Equation! Unlike the Life Equation, which represents hope and the future, the Anti-Life Equation wielded only the power to corrode and consume life, binding freedom and sowing despair.
This force began rapidly reshaping Charlie's body.
Without interference, Spider-Man might have transformed into a stone giant like Darkseid.
Or perhaps something else.
But, as expected, an accident occurred.
The Purification Power allowed Charlie to truly possess the Anti-Life Equation while shielding him from its corrupting grasp.
Spider-Man wouldn't become a heartless monster.
He would only… play abstract.
"I am destiny!!"
BOOM!!
At Qward's highest peak, Charlie raised the glowing orb, shouting a cringe-worthy line in imitation of Thanos as lightning slashed across the sky.
The next moment, the Omega Beams merged with the Anti-Life Equation, and Charlie felt the cosmic rules descend upon him.
The eerie auroras of the Anti-Matter Universe swirled into a nebula, pouring into his body and granting him new power.
The Invincible Spider-Man became a New God of the DC Universe! The divine powers of the Marvel and DC Universes sparked a wondrous reaction within him.
It was hard to describe.
In summary: Cool!Strong!
BOOM!!
As Charlie fully embraced the Anti-Life Equation, Qward trembled violently, collapsing into the orb in his hand. It transformed into star-like particles orbiting the orb in radiant rings.
Qward vanished, and the Invincible Spider-Man, clutching the Anti-Life Equation, unleashed a divine power that wove a dazzling Cosmic Web.
Whoosh~
Wherever it passed, the Cosmic Web tore through the eerie strangeness, instantly shredding the barrier between the Anti-Matter Universe and the normal universe.
The moment anti-matter met matter, explosions erupted in a cascade of cosmic fireworks. Amid this spectacle, the people of Apokolips witnessed the figure of the Invincible Spider-Man.
Yuga Khan gazed at the scene, a flicker of doubt in his eyes, overshadowed by wariness.
He had never taken the Anti-Life Equation seriously.
As the mightiest New God and King of Apokolips, neither the Omega Beams nor the Anti-Life Equation posed any threat to him.
But what stunned him was that Spider-Man, having obtained the Anti-Life Equation, had harnessed the rules of the Anti-Matter Universe.
Not only that, the rules of the positive-matter universe also acknowledged Spider-Man's divine power, bolstered by an unfamiliar cosmic force.
With these dual divine powers combined, even Yuga Khan had to tread carefully.
Yet his goal was the Source Wall, and the stronger Spider-Man became, the greater his chances of fulfilling that ambition.
With a snap of his fingers, Yuga Khan summoned a massive meteor above Apokolips, hurtling toward the returning Spider-Man.
He wanted to test Spider-Man's strength.
But in response to Yuga Khan's probe, Charlie's eyes flashed red. Before the Omega Beams could fire, the enormous meteor exploded under the pressure of his divine power.
BOOM!!
The shattered meteor rained fragments onto Apokolips.
But in the next moment, Charlie's remote control reduced them to dust.
Yuga Khan: "???"
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Charlie lowered his head. "Sorry, I'm used to saving the world."
A superhero doesn't let debris crash to the ground! It's basic protocol.
Amid the swirling dust, Yuga Khan's gaze warped space, unleashing a burst of cosmic energy above Apokolips.
BOOM!!Hum~
As the energy surged downward, Charlie's golden Cosmic Web expanded, and with a mere heat vision blast, he shattered the cosmic energy.
Under his divine power, all cosmic energy disintegrated.
Before Yuga Khan could act again, Charlie raised his hand, unleashing the Anti-Life Equation.
Hum~~
The eerie orb, wreathed in star-like rings, pulsed as Charlie's lips moved, reciting his Anti-Life Equation, its power echoing across Apokolips.
Every Apokoliptian who heard it instantly lost their free will, becoming Spider-Man's slaves.
Including the dear Second Prince, Darkseid.
"Long live Spider-Man!!"
Darkseid knelt first, fervently shouting Spider-Man's name.
Yuga Khan paid it no mind.
He calmly observed Spider-Man wielding the Anti-Life Equation, a faint smile on his lips.
"That's not how you use it."
"I know."
Charlie's eyes blazed with Omega Beams.
Zing!!Pfft pfft pfft~~
Instantly, where the Omega Beams passed, black holes tore through the void.
Amplified by the Anti-Life Equation, nothing could stop the Omega Beams. Everything in their path—time, space—was devoured.
Yuga Khan merely glanced at the Omega Beams, as if millennia had passed.
But as they neared his body, he vanished in a flash.
Yet the Omega Beams zigzagged, locking onto the teleporting Yuga Khan.
Under their pursuit, streaks of light flashed across Apokolips' skies, chasing Yuga Khan across the star system until they erupted on a barren planet.
BOOM!!
The meteor exploded, radiant light shimmering in the cold cosmos.
At the blast's epicenter, Yuga Khan gripped the shattered planet, its energy raging, along with the Omega Beams pursuing him.
The Omega Beams struggled, but Charlie emerged from the surging Cosmic Web.
Yuga Khan glanced at the beams in his hand and shook his head.
"Your strength surprises me, but if this is all, I'm disappointed."
Charlie crossed his arms, grinning. "Mightiest New God, if you say that, I'll have to get serious."
To Yuga Khan's astonishment, the Omega Beams in his hand burst into a web-like lattice, ensnaring him in a cage before he could react.
Zzzzt~Pfft pfft pfft~~
In an instant, the Omega Web contracted, slicing Yuga Khan's body into countless fragments.
Under the Anti-Matter divine power, his godly form was effortlessly torn apart.
Even more terrifying, Yuga Khan's immense power couldn't immediately restore his body.
The fragments floated in space, his large eyes filled with shock and fear.
Charlie watched as Yuga Khan slowly reassembled himself, with no intention of finishing him off.
This guy's goal was the Source Wall.
And, conveniently, Charlie wanted to know what the Source Wall was.
Finally, under Charlie's gaze, Yuga Khan restored his body.
Gone was his earlier composure; his wariness of Charlie turned to… excitement.
"Invincible Spider-Man, you're indeed the perfect companion to explore the Source Wall!" he said eagerly.
Charlie: "."
"I haven't agreed yet!"
"You will."
Yuga Khan stepped closer. "I don't know what happened before the cosmic restart, but your goal must align with mine.
Without the Source Wall's permission, this universe couldn't have restarted."
"Hm?"
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "It allowed it?"
"Yes, the Source Wall is a god, older than the New Gods—a primordial deity."
Yuga Khan recalled his time trapped in the Source Wall. "While I was bound there, I sensed Its presence. It's a god, a true god!" he said with certainty.
Charlie's interest piqued.
"Fine, I'll go with you. Time and place?"
"Now."
"Now?"
Charlie eyed him skeptically. "You could get trapped in the Source Wall again."
"I know." Yuga Khan showed no fear, only boundless curiosity.
Charlie scratched his head. "So you're not going to settle things on Apokolips?"
Yuga Khan shrugged. "No need. Uxas is fit to be king."
"He'll kill his mother and brother," Charlie reminded.
Yuga Khan didn't care.
"I know, but so what?"
His face grew stern. "A king must abandon family, friendship, love. These weaken a king, exposing Apokolips' vulnerabilities to other worlds.
A king must be utterly ruthless, rational, selfish, and driven by ambition. Only then can they lead Apokolips to glory."
Charlie pondered. "Is that how you were?"
Yuga Khan didn't answer, but Charlie knew.
The old Yuga Khan was like that.
But the Source Wall changed him.
His thirst for exploration threw Apokolips into chaos and trapped him in a mire of desire.
Yet a ruthless, ambitious king didn't guarantee Apokolips' glory.
It could just as easily lead to ruin.
Nothing was absolute.
After reaching an agreement, Yuga Khan punched through the cosmic barrier.
He knew where the Source Wall was.
Soon, they stepped into a shattered void wormhole.
In an instant, Charlie crossed the universe's edge, beholding an infinite wall separating the multiverse.
A thin layer of blue particles formed the wall, but instinct told Charlie it was no ordinary barrier.
"This is the Source Wall."
Yuga Khan pointed to the distant structure. "Those are my followers, still trapped there."
Charlie looked and saw colossal cosmic beasts, frozen mid-roar within the Source Wall.
They had followed Yuga Khan to breach it and were forever bound there.
After the cosmic restart, only Yuga Khan had escaped, returning to Apokolips.
In another direction, various beings were similarly trapped—some by accident, others seeking the Source Wall's secrets like Yuga Khan.
Charlie's eyes flickered. "What's next?" he asked.
Yuga Khan grew excited.
He took a deep breath. "We go inside, of course."
"Inside?"
Charlie was stunned. "Won't that trap us?"
"What's the problem?"
Yuga Khan said, "Only by entering can we uncover its secrets. Don't worry, I have experience."
He stepped forward, slowly reaching for the Source Wall.
"Wait—"
Hum~
Before Charlie could finish, Yuga Khan was enveloped by the Source Wall's power.
Smiling, he was embedded into the particle wall, his nose hairs visible to Charlie.
"Ugly smile."
Charlie smirked. "Not moving, huh? Too scared to try."
Yuga Khan was sealed in the Source Wall again.
Charlie hadn't even asked his other questions.
So reckless.
Then, glancing at his prompt, he realized it was the final day.
Tension gripped him.
As per Resurrection Match tradition, the last day always brought trouble.
Sure enough, when he looked back, Yuga Khan's body was gone.
Charlie: "!!!!"
He scanned around. "Damn it, you playing dead on me?!"
He cursed, noticing the beings trapped in the Source Wall vanishing one by one.
Worse, the vast particle wall had developed a crack.
Crack crack crack~
The fissure spread visibly, the wall trembling as its color faded. Cracks webbed across it until it collapsed with a roar.
BOOM~~
The Source Wall crumbled.
Amid the scattering particles, Charlie's eyes widened.
He saw a familiar figure in the debris.
Black cape, bat-suit, metal visor, and sharp black teeth.
"Ahahaha, Invincible Spider-Man, long time no see. How will you deal with me this time?"
The Laughing Bat doubled over with laughter in the particle cloud.
Clearly, the cosmic restart hadn't affected him—he'd only been temporarily banished.
Charlie forced an awkward grin.
"Good friend, can we hold off on fighting for a bit?"
The Laughing Bat wagged a finger. "No, no, no, I can't wait to have you."
"Go to hell, you freak!"
Charlie cursed, unleashing a vast Cosmic Web. The Omega Beams and Anti-Life Equation roared at full power, shredding the cosmic ruins around the Source Wall into fragments.
But within those fragments, a cosmic explosion erupted.
The blast's energy was confined to the ruins, obliterating both matter and anti-matter.
BANG!!
At the ruins' edge, Charlie was hurled into an invisible barrier, then bound by a sudden particle wall.
"The Source Wall?" Charlie frowned.
As a New God of the DC Universe, the explosion hadn't killed him instantly, but the Source Wall's reappearance was bad news.
The Laughing Bat had mastered the Source Wall—absolutely terrible.
Thankfully, the Laughing Bat's response eased his mind.
"No, no, no, this isn't the Source Wall. This is my World Barrier. You could say… my universe."
The Laughing Bat raised his hand, releasing radiant orbs.
Each orb was a distinct universe.
His "Laughing Edition" universes.
Spider-Man's face darkened completely.
This was not good news.
The Laughing Bat's update was way too fast!