The arrival of Corrupted Charlie filled the invincible Spider-Man with newfound confidence.
Though he didn't know how this guy came to be, it didn't matter. Charlie didn't care.
He just wanted to win!
Raising his right hand, Charlie shouted to the infinite cosmos: "Laughing Spider, lend me your power!!"
"What?"
Hearing the familiar line, the Laughing Bat and the Creator Goddess were stunned.
"It's definitely his doing!"
"This guy just got trickier."
Under their wary gazes, nothing happened.
Laughing Bat: "…"
Creator Goddess: "…"
They exchanged glances.
"Goddess, he's playing you!" the Laughing Bat accused dramatically.
The Creator Goddess's face darkened. "I know."
Before they could charge at Spider-Man, an embarrassed Charlie felt a tap on his shoulder. Corrupted Charlie calmly stepped past him.
"Let's begin. This is the last chance."
"Last chance?"
Charlie paused.
He knew this was his final retry.
But a memory surfaced—the words the God of Stories, Loki, had passed through Odin.
One last chance.
What kind of chance? Loki hadn't clarified.
Charlie naturally assumed it was the Time Tablet.
The Time Tablet could give him one more shot.
But now, he understood.
It wasn't about accessing the Time Tablet.
It was… the Resurrection Match!
He had a premonition that the changes in the Resurrection Match's mechanics would be his only chance to alter Spider-Man's fate.
Corrupted Charlie was far more attuned to these changes than he was.
That's why he'd thought of this possibility first.
Realizing this, Charlie's expression grew serious.
"Got it."
He nodded, quickly catching up to Corrupted Charlie.
The so-called good side and dark side joined forces once more.
"The last chance."
Corrupted Charlie murmured, then burst into laughter.
Hahaha~~ It's almost over. Everything's about to end, hahaha~~
The maniacal laughter echoed through the universe, the eight demons swirling around it letting out even more chilling cackles.
This Laughing power was no weaker than the Laughing rules the Laughing Bat wielded.
In some ways, it was even more terrifying.
BOOM!!
In an instant, Corrupted Charlie snapped his fingers, and shattered Laughing Universes surged into this one.
"What's that?"
The Laughing Bat was dumbfounded. "How… Destroyed Laughing Universes, how could they…"
"You stole my stuff!!" he roared, heart-wrenching, forgetting to laugh entirely.
The Creator Goddess, seeing this, was horrified.
"The Laughing… This lunatic actually stitched together destroyed Laughing Universes and successfully seized their power. How is he not crazier than the Laughing Bat!!"
She understood, but too late.
The stitched Laughing Universes now held even more perfect Laughing rules, faintly suppressing the Laughing Bat's own power.
Meanwhile, Charlie formed hand seals, the Cosmic Web spreading, radiant golden webbing sprinkling every corner of the universe.
Each strand's end connected to the soul of a sentient being.
This was a power only the Anti-Life Equation possessed.
But with Corrupted Charlie's emergence, Charlie's Anti-Life Equation passively reversed.
With the universe's yin-yang balance, if there was an Anti-Life Equation, there must be a Life Equation.
And now, the true Life Equation bloomed in Charlie's hands, its dazzling light shocking even the Creator Goddess.
"How could the Life Equation be like this? In his hands? Why didn't I know? Why!!"
The Creator Goddess seemed deeply shaken, roaring hysterically, far from her divine image.
Under the embrace of golden webbing, Charlie gave his answer.
"After completing the task of creation, you should no longer exist."
"Impossible!"
The Creator Goddess let out a shrill accusation. "I created everything, so everything is mine! How could you abandon me? How could they abandon me? No one can abandon me!!" She clutched her head, looking even madder than the Laughing Bat.
Charlie gazed at the falling goddess, her Creator divine power waning, and shook his head.
"You still don't understand why the Life Equation didn't choose you."
"Why? Tell me, why!!" The Creator Goddess frantically gathered cosmic rule energy, trying to reclaim the Life Equation that should have been hers.
No, the Life Equation had never belonged to her.
Because she created the universe but ignored life.
Hum!!
As countless cosmic lives responded to Charlie, the infinitely vast golden web radiated boundless brilliance.
They had countless things to say.
But in the end, it boiled down to one sentence.
"Everyone thanks you for creating the past, but you seek to control the present, the future, even their fates."
Charlie's eyes shimmered with complex equation symbols as life chose freedom in that moment.
"But you never considered the universe's future, life's future, or… your own future!"
With Charlie's shout, all life in the universe heard the call to resist.
"For the unknown future!!"
On Earth, Clark and the others raised their right hands without hesitation, shouting toward the cosmic battlefield.
Life's birth came with pain, torment, struggle, and hard choices, but what kept life moving forward was the future.
Life's hope for a better future birthed the Life Equation.
It could deduce the future, guiding cosmic life toward beauty.
But this was an almost unreachable future.
A nearly impossible dream.
As long as the Creator Goddess existed, the Life Equation could not bypass the Creator God to forge life's future.
Because she had betrayed everyone.
She only wanted to revel in what she currently possessed, caring nothing for the future.
She let all life in the universe sink into suffering.
No future was the most terrifying thing.
So now, the Life Equation was the most terrifying existence for the Creator Goddess.
As Charlie reached out to grasp the countless dangling webs, he had seized the future!!
The next moment, under the horrified gazes of the Creator Goddess and the Laughing Bat, the even madder Laughing rules and the light of the future completely enveloped them.
As their bodies rapidly disintegrated, they let out piercing screams.
"NO!!"
They were unwilling.
Because the future of the Life Equation had no place for them.
Yet this seemed long destined.
After an unknown time, as the golden webs and eight demons faded, Charlie and his dark side stood silently facing each other on a drifting meteor.
A shooting star passed, and a trace of emotion appeared in Corrupted Charlie's cold eyes.
He smiled.
A normal smile.
"This is the last time I'll help you," he said.
Charlie nodded, turning serious. "I know."
Corrupted Charlie felt a pang of sentiment. "Sorry for causing you so much trouble."
Charlie shook his head. "No, you're the dark side. Causing trouble is normal."
Corrupted Charlie chuckled. "We're pretty humorous, huh."
"I'm serious."
Charlie said earnestly, "It's really not trouble. Trouble's self-inflicted."
"You're right."
Corrupted Charlie sat at the meteor's edge, gazing at the twinkling stars around them.
"Time's almost up. In the final moments, I want to see this universe."
"Sure, I'll keep you company."
Charlie sat beside Corrupted Charlie, both resting their hands on their knees, legs dangling.
Time passed minute by minute, but neither noticed its flow.
Finally, Corrupted Charlie spoke.
"Barring surprises, when you return, you'll handle those troubles." He looked at Charlie with a smile.
Charlie just hummed.
Corrupted Charlie continued: "From my calculations, though the Beyonders are strong, there are still many powerful beings hidden in the Marvel Universe. Even with my power, you'll face some trouble.
But don't worry. Also from my calculations, with powers from beyond two Marvel Universes, even if their combined strength surpasses you, they can't counter forces from outside the universe. So, as long as you don't court death, you won't need the Resurrection Match again.
Yeah, so this really is the last time…"
Mid-sentence, Corrupted Charlie paused.
He lowered his head, shoulders trembling.
Glistening tears drifted into the cosmos, reflecting colorful light under the auroras.
He was crying.
He'd never felt this emotion before.
Charlie patted his shoulder, consoling, "You don't have to go."
Beyond that, he couldn't find any words of comfort.
Without Corrupted Charlie's power, he couldn't face the Beyonders.
"No, I have to go."
Corrupted Charlie stood abruptly, shouting into the infinite cosmos: "But I don't want to go, I really don't!!"
His existence was an accident.
His fate was long sealed.
Before Spider-Man broke his destiny, the dark side was doomed to help the good side defeat all enemies.
This was Spider-Man's fate too.
Corrupted Charlie was unwilling.
Truly unwilling.
But he couldn't resist.
Finally, after venting, he sat beside Charlie again.
"Phew~ I feel better after that shout."
Corrupted Charlie stretched. "Promise me, if you succeed one day, let me out to breathe." He looked at Charlie.
Charlie nodded solemnly. "I will."
Corrupted Charlie thought, then laughed. "Kidding. Only an idiot would come out to clean up your mess. I'm not that dumb."
The vanished him could never reappear.
Even if he did, it wouldn't be him.
It might be a fully dark entity or a ridiculously comedic guy.
No need for that.
He checked the time, stood, and patted his backside.
"Alright, our time's up."
He met Charlie's eyes. "You should go. So should I."
He extended a hand, but Charlie hesitated.
"Don't dawdle."
Corrupted Charlie grabbed Charlie's hand, feigning nonchalance. "You're reluctant now, but I bet in ten minutes, you'll forget me and keep up your self-proclaimed humor."
"No, I'll always remember you."
Charlie gripped his hand tightly. "Remember us," he said firmly.
Corrupted Charlie smiled. "Me too."
Hum~
His form began dissolving into dark particles, merging into Charlie's body.
Only this way could Spider-Man save his world.
Save those he wanted to protect.
Charlie quietly watched his dark side vanish, feeling an odd sensation.
He couldn't articulate what parting was.
He only knew he had to keep going.
Carrying another self, always moving forward.
[Ding! You have survived one month, earning 1 Resurrection Match slot]
Mission complete, Charlie received an extra reward.
Superman's Body.
It meant little to him now.
As the void swallowed Charlie, Laughing rules and Creator divine power surged into his embryonic domain, making Spider-Man's world more complete.
But it still wasn't the most perfect domain.
Many domains in the Marvel Universe were stronger than Spider-Man's.
Yet the combined power of Marvel and DC Universes could bypass divine might.
Even so, Charlie felt something was missing.
He still wasn't a match for the Beyonders.
He needed a catalyst.
As for what, he couldn't say or know.
With these doubts, Charlie returned to the Marvel Universe.
Since the universe judged by the Living Tribunal had vanished, Charlie appeared randomly in another universe.
In this universe, he sensed many familiar powers.
No, it seemed… This wasn't a naturally born universe but an artificially created temporary one.
…
Ten minutes later, at a tavern on the edge of a wasteland town.
Old Steve and Totem Steve drank and chatted.
"Old man, you wouldn't believe what I've been through. If Spider-Man hadn't been judged, I might never have come back."
Totem Steve chugged his beer, letting out a satisfied belch.
Burp~ Refreshing! He set down his pineapple cup, shouting to the bartender: "Another!"
Fat Thor, nearly bursting his work uniform, downed his beer mug, then poured more from its self-filling cup for Totem Steve.
"I'm jealous of your magic," Totem Steve grinned.
Fat Thor pouted. "I just want to lose weight."
"Good luck."
Totem Steve raised his mug to Old Steve. "You're Spider-Man's good friend. So, when do you think he'll be resurrected?"
Old Steve glanced toward the door. "I feel he's already resurrected."
Totem Steve was surprised. "You got X-ray vision?"
Old Steve shook his head, serious.
"No, it's a feeling."
"A feeling?" Totem Steve sipped his beer. "I feel your feeling's not that accurate—"
Before he finished, the rickety wooden door creaked.
Bang!!
As a gust pushed the door open, a wanderer wrapped in tattered sackcloth slowly entered the tavern.
"It's him!"
Old Steve's face lit up. "Little Spider's back!"
"That's right, it's me. I'm back."
The "wanderer" sat at the bar, lifting his cowboy hat to reveal a calm, composed face.
"Guess who I'm cosplaying?" Charlie showed off his sharp profile, asking Old Steve in a low voice.
Old Steve thought. "Bladestorm!" he said confidently.
Charlie wagged a finger. "No, no, no—Ultraman."
Old Steve: "?????"
"Your humor… still so unexpected." His old face was filled with pain.
He wasn't the man who understood Little Spider best after all.
What a headache.
He glumly chugged a beer.
Fat Thor approached to greet him. "What'll you have?" he asked.
Charlie glanced at the tavern's patrons. "What do you have here?"
"Everything," Fat Thor said confidently.
Charlie thought. "Five-Spice Double-Distilled Twenty-Four Flavor Cold Noodles with Overnight Soy Milk, plus a thousand-year turtle egg, stirred evenly with a drop of giant squid ink. Got that?"
Fat Thor's face darkened. This guy was here to wreck the place.
"We have it. Give me some time; it's all there," he gritted out.
Charlie smiled, satisfied. "Good. One for everyone here, my treat."
The onlookers: "!!!!"
Then, Charlie leaned close to Fat Thor, whispering: "I'll have two fresh-squeezed juices, thanks."
Fat Thor: "…"