The Laughing Bat, imbued with the power of a dark universe's Manhattan Bat, wielded immense Crisis Energy to recklessly craft a "Laughing" version of the multiverse.
At this moment, the Laughing Bat might rival the power of the Creator Goddess, Perpetua, and perhaps one day surpass her entirely.
The Laughing Bat before Charlie was likely this exaggerated version.
Charlie's thoughts flickered, and the web patterns on his suit began to glow with golden light.
Hum~
BOOM!!
In that instant, the Spider Totem roared, its peak totem power erupting.
Simultaneously, Anti-Matter divine energy fused with the forces of the Marvel Universe, spreading an eerie power.
As Charlie clenched his fists, the Laughing Universe's barriers restricting his movements cracked and shattered.
Seeing this, the Laughing Bat's grin widened.
"Hahaha, after the universe restarted, your power's grown stronger. This just got more interesting."
He bent over, yawning, and casually pointed at a glowing orb. The Laughing Universe began to expand, with familiar figures flashing within.
Superman, Batman, The Flash, Wonder Woman. Hum~
In an instant, a Laughing Superman wearing a clown mask shot out from the universe, charging straight at Charlie.
BOOM!!
Laughing Superman's eerie smile twisted as his eyes fired red beams, sweeping through the ruins. A chain of explosions engulfed Charlie's figure.
Immediately after, the Laughing Universe unleashed more figures.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
A black-clad Laughing Batman, backed by a Batmobile, descended into this world. The Batmobile's weapon systems activated, firing a barrage of dimensional bullets. Meanwhile, Laughing Diana, wielding a divine sword, leaped into the fray. Her suit, infused with Laughing Joker elements, was far more seductive and alluring than other universes' Wonder Woman.
But this allure was shattered in the next second by pure power.
BOOM!!
A deafening roar erupted as dazzling red and blue light shot into the sky, effortlessly breaking through the encirclement of Laughing Superman and Laughing Batman. A colossal figure loomed, infinitely majestic.
BOOM!!
A fist the size of a planet slammed down, shaking the ruins and trembling the universe's edge.
In the terrifying explosion, Laughing Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were reduced to dust. A fleeting bolt of lightning spread from the fist to the giant's body.
Zzzzt~
Purple-red lightning flickered and vanished, consumed by an Anti-Matter web formed from Omega Beams.
"NO!!"
With a scream from Laughing Flash, the lightning extinguished.
The Laughing heroes were annihilated. The Laughing Bat watched with intrigue.
He looked up at the infinitely massive Spider-Man, grinning maniacally.
"Hahaha, fascinating. I'm starting to like you more and more."
Neither a cosmic explosion nor his corrupted Laughing heroes could trouble Spider-Man. This was the opponent he'd always craved.
Yes, he longed to corrupt the invincible Spider-Man, turning him into the ultimate tool to conquer the multiverse!
With a roar, the Laughing Bat summoned an abyssal maw behind him, spreading endless Laughing Virus.
The tangible virus formed a black mist, enveloping the cosmic ruins and the giant Spider-Man.
But a blinding light erupted from the virus's core.
This light dispelled the black mist, blinding the Laughing Bat.
"Argh~ Is this the light?"
The Laughing Bat shielded his eyes, unable to face the radiant purifying force.
Sensing his power weakening rapidly in the light, he was shocked but didn't hesitate. He hurled Laughing Universes at Charlie.
BOOM!!
As the Laughing Universes exploded, the cosmic ruins dissolved into nothingness. The resulting energy spread to nearby star systems, birthing black holes that dragged planets into their maws.
In moments, these black holes devoured star systems within billions of light-years. At this rate, Earth in the distant Milky Way would soon be consumed.
Worse, the Laughing Virus spread rapidly, transforming this universe into the next Laughing Universe.
Entangled by countless black holes, Charlie saw the situation but was powerless to stop it.
He could withstand one Laughing Universe's explosion.
But the Laughing Bat wielded not ten or eight, but hundreds—thousands—of Laughing Universes!
This was a shift from quantity to quality. Even with Marvel and DC divine powers combined, the invincible Spider-Man couldn't escape death.
Unless Charlie's power underwent another qualitative leap, he couldn't change this outcome.
He could only watch the countdown in the mission prompt.
In the final hour of the mission, Charlie could no longer hold on. In a blink, he was torn apart by the Laughing Universe's energy.
…
143 retries remaining!
The moment Charlie appeared atop the Empire State Building, he noticed a strange change in his body.
"You damn bug, why won't you—"
Doctor Doom, standing nearby, began to speak, but Charlie's eyes blazed with crimson Omega Beams.
Pfft!
In an instant, before Doctor Doom could react, he stared in shock at the hole in his chest.
Under the power of Omega Beams and the Anti-Life Equation, Doctor Doom's life force was utterly frozen.
Not dead, not alive.
An eternal state of existence.
"You—" He maintained wide-eyed shock before Charlie slapped him down.
Bang!
Doctor Doom collapsed, his face frozen in disbelief.
Since when did Spider-Man become this strong? Even Spider-Man himself didn't know.
Charlie carefully sensed the Anti-Matter divine energy within him, thoughtful.
After the restart, his power remained at its peak from the last retry.
What did this mean?
Charlie had never encountered this before.
Did this prove that even outside the Resurrection Match, this power was still his?
He raised his left hand, releasing Omega Beams, while his right manipulated the Anti-Life Equation.
With both powers in his grasp, what about Darkseid?
Thinking of this, Charlie descended to Apokolips.
"Darkseid, I'm here to negotiate—"
Before he could finish, he saw Apokolips in desolate silence.
No endless armies of Parademons. No universe's sole New God, Darkseid.
Everything was consumed by time.
The universe's sole New God was the invincible Spider-Man, the final New God.
Gazing at the barren planet, Charlie fell silent.
Was this the aftermath of a universe restart?
Could even a retry not fully erase these effects?
He pondered, then returned to Earth.
Diana's apartment.
"Hey, you're back."
A figure flashed outside the window. Diana tossed her Lasso of Truth onto the couch and looked at the pensive Charlie with curiosity.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Diana unchanged from before the universe restart, Charlie sighed in relief.
He stood, hugged her, and smiled faintly.
"Good. You're still here."
Diana: "?????"
She gently pushed him away, her expression odd.
"Have you figured something out?" she asked cautiously.
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Don't ruin this rare warm moment. I see you as a friend, don't overthink it."
Diana: "!!!!"
She glanced at the Lasso of Truth on the couch, tempted to strangle him.
"A friend? Then why hug me?" she asked, face darkening.
Charlie smirked. "Isn't hugging normal?"
"Not for you. You don't like hugging girls."
"You're mistaken. I just don't like back-to-back hugs."
"I don't get your humor."
"Your loss."
"Hmph!"
Diana glared at Charlie, uninterested in his nonsense.
She turned to her bedroom, changing out of her battle suit while asking, "What's your mission this time?"
"Nothing. Vacation."
This time, Charlie didn't tell her the truth.
He glanced out the window, fingers curling slightly. Clark, hiding outside, was dragged into the living room by a terrifying force through the glass.
In that moment, he felt the force was as vast as the universe, impossible to resist.
"You—"
"You were peeking while she changed," Charlie interrupted.
Clark flushed awkwardly. "No, I only looked after she was done."
Diana stepped out of the bedroom. "I can confirm, I was done changing."
"I can confirm too."
The door opened, and Bruce Wayne said solemnly, "I didn't see, but I vouch for Clark's character. He's trustworthy."
Charlie's mouth twitched. "Fine, I believe you."
He waved. "I've got things to do. You guys chat."
Hum~
Space warped, and Charlie crossed the cosmos to the universe's edge.
The Source Wall.
Charlie looked up, locking eyes with the imprisoned Anti-Monitor.
If a universe restart couldn't shake the Laughing Bat, he'd have to take the fight to him.
Staring at the blue-particle Source Wall, Charlie sensed something.
It was as if this had been his destination all along.
Just a detour.
Without hesitation, he reached out to touch the blue wall.
Hum~
His palm sent ripples of light across the wall.
The next moment, Charlie entered the space within the Source Wall.
In this world, everything was frozen.
Anti-Monitor, cosmic beasts, unseen New Gods, and… a young man with golden hair in a Superman suit.
Superboy-Prime? Interesting.
At the deepest point, Charlie faintly saw a majestic statue of a deity.
One glance, and a name surged in his mind.
The multiverse's creator, Perpetua!
She was sealed within the Source Wall.
Before he could think further, a golden light descended in the frozen space. The golden wall bore a metallic mask resembling an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, its eyes emitting blinding light. An ancient voice echoed through time.
"Spider-Man, you've finally come."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"
"The Source Wall," it replied.
Charlie: "…"
"Alright, Source Wall, you knew I'd come?" he asked.
"Yes."
The metallic mask spoke slowly. "The mysterious force in your body sensed my will. It brought you here."
"Mysterious force?"
Charlie looked at himself. The Resurrection Match's organizers?
From Doctor Doom to Darkseid, then the Laughing Bat's threat, and finally meeting the Anti-Monitor.
All this to find the Source Wall?
What a genius move.
Why not just issue a mission to find the Source Wall from the start?
He shook his head. "Tell me, what's your purpose?"
"To prevent the Source Wall's destruction."
The metallic mask continued, "I sense my limit approaching. An unprecedented dark force will soon destroy me. I must save myself."
"Sorry, I can't help you," Charlie said, spreading his hands. "I'm barely surviving myself."
"You can."
The metallic mask insisted, "Your body holds power from beyond the universe. That's the turning point."
Charlie: "…"
"I've tried. It's useless."
He sighed. "I don't have the power to save the universe."
"No, you do."
The mask's eyes blazed with golden light, surging into Charlie's body.
Simultaneously, all frozen beings in the Source Wall—except Perpetua—turned into particles and merged into Charlie.
Anti-Monitor, cosmic beasts, unknown New Gods, Superboy-Prime…
Charlie felt their power.
"This is…?"
Spider-Man's body underwent a qualitative transformation, but Charlie frowned.
"Is this okay?"
"It's fine," the mask said. "I freed their souls. They gave their power willingly. It's worth it."
The mask's light dimmed.
Finally, light walls swirled around Charlie—the Source Wall's final gift.
"Use this power to become the ultimate New God."
"The ultimate New God?"
Charlie touched the light walls, understanding dawning.
"Got it."
With resolve in his eyes, the Source Wall opened a rift.
On the other side, the Laughing Bat's shock was clear.
He hadn't even tried yet!
The Source Wall opened itself?
"Hahaha, what a fun toy."
He strode into the Source Wall, ignoring its stickiness.
With countless Laughing Universes, he was a near-Creator God.
His steps were light, entering the final stage of his multiverse conquest.
But soon, a figure blocked him.
Spider-Man, the invincible Spider-Man!
Step… Step…
In the Source space, Charlie approached.
The Laughing Bat laughed, growing more excited.
"Hahaha~~ Here it comes, the ultimate battle every Laughing Universe demands."
He was thrilled, expectant.
As Laughing Universes filled the surrounding space, he stood fearless, believing himself invincible.
But this time, Charlie was different.
His steps didn't falter. He reached into the void.
Hum~
Under the light walls, Anti-Matter rules flooded an isolated space.
Omega Beams and the Anti-Life Equation wove through, the space expanding infinitely.
Amid the expansion, with the Anti-Monitor's and others' powers, the first universe was born.
In the chaos, golden webs spread, light walls solidified, hellish space overlapped, and blood-red sword light cleaved the chaos. The twelve talismans of Shendu merged, birthing new life.
The Spider-God's domain began to take shape.
No need for quantity.
It was qualitative from the start!
At the same time, the dark side sealed within Spider-Man began to awaken…