The man stood staring intently at the warehouse where Spider-Man was for a few minutes before finally beginning to head toward it.
The firm, imposing footsteps of the man in medieval armor began to echo the moment he entered the warehouse, alerting Spider-Man to potential danger.
"Who are you?" Spider-Man asked immediately after noticing the man's approach, at the same time stopping his self-treatment to assume a defensive stance in case the stranger attacked.
The imposing man stared at him silently for a moment before addressing him, speaking calmly.
"You've returned, Spider. It seems waiting a year to strike a deal wasn't a waste of time."
The man's footsteps echoed through the warehouse as he advanced toward Spider-Man, putting the hero on edge and causing him to back away slightly. Seeing this, the man merely smiled as he continued his approach.
"Listen, pal—lately, I've had the worst days of my life. So cut the cryptic act and tell me who the hell you are!" Spider-Man, tired of retreating, took a more obvious defensive stance, glaring at the man.
"We don't know each other well, but you've fought my children many times—and that's why I've come. I have something you want, and you have something I want. That's why I'm here. I simply wish to make a deal." The man spoke serenely yet imposingly.
"And what exactly do I have that you could possibly want?" Spider-Man asked, already sensing this was far from simple.
The man simply stared at him before answering.
"To answer your first question—I am Solus, Patriarch of the Inheritors."
His response stunned Spider-Man so much that the hero immediately recoiled, nearly bolting from the warehouse before his still-open leg wound forced him to stop.
"YOU CAN'T BE SOLUS! KAINE KILLED YOU IN THE SPIDER-VERSE!" Spider-Man shouted in disbelief, resigning himself to the fact that escape wasn't an option in his injured state.
"No. Mr. Kaine only destroyed my multiversal projection in the Web of Life." Solus replied calmly, not waiting for Spider-Man to speak before continuing.
"As I said before, what I desire from you is your totemic essence. In exchange, I will give you something you long for… along with the essence of the one who took it from you." The man revealed two glowing red orbs in his hand—one containing a small, brown-haired five-year-old girl.
Just seeing the first orb froze Spider-Man in place, forcing him to resist the urge to immediately accept the offer from the patriarch of one of the most dangerous families in the Spider-Verse.
When he looked at the second orb, Spider-Man caught a glimpse of a red, writhing figure inside, its crimson hue slowly fading to gray. He knew exactly who it was—the most repulsive being in the multiverse, the one who had stolen his unborn daughter, the first creature Spider-Man had ever wished dead without remorse.
Seeing Spider-Man's fixation on the two red orbs, Solus knew he had him almost convinced.
"Very well, Mr. Spider-Man. In addition to these two, I promise my family will not interfere in the multiverse for a century—provided you accept my deal." Solus threw in one final offer to entice Spider-Man further. After all, he was forbidden from stealing this Spider-Man's totemic essence… but technically, a trade wasn't theft. That way, that being's conscience couldn't descend to judge him.
Spider-Man was torn. He wanted to accept—after all, he owed his daughter a life. But at the same time, he knew that accepting would only make the Inheritors stronger, potentially endangering the entire Spider-Verse.
Seeing his hesitation, Solus decided to employ his final tricks—psychological pressure and a sudden disappearance.
"Mr. Spider, you should know that you aren't very well-liked by the people of this world. They seem predisposed to disbelieve the events that happen to you. For instance, that body swap you experienced a year ago—no one even noticed. It's truly surprising they didn't detect the lack of totemic essence in the impostor who replaced you." Solus began weaving the same psychological traps he used when he was still weak.
"How do you know about my body swap?" Spider-Man demanded.
"Let's just say I've been waiting for my chance to strike a deal with you. But since you seem so indecisive, I'll give you a week to think it over."
With that, Solus vanished, leaving Spider-Man wrestling with his decision—whether to be selfish for the first time in his life and follow his heart, or to listen to his brain and uphold his duty as a superhero of New York and the world.
At that moment, Spider-Man's world spun in circles as he weighed his options. Sitting back down to tend to his wounds, he finally resolved that he couldn't prioritize his own desires over the safety of his so-called allies, friends, and family.
Spider-Man already knew what he had to do.
Because Spider-Man doesn't surrender.
And Spider-Man doesn't negotiate with his enemies.
He must FIND HELP TO FACE SOLUS…