The news was broadcasting a video. Peter 1, wearing his mask, faced the camera and said,
"Hello everyone, I'm right here."
He patted the surroundings and continued,
"An abandoned building. Yeah. I just want to say—if you want to kill me, come find me here. That's it."
Peter 1 turned off the camera.
Elsewhere, Aurora Noah watched as Peter 2 assembled a portal using metal parts around him.
"Are you sure you can open a portal using random steel like this?" Aurora asked.
Peter 2 replied,
"In my blurry memories… this is how it worked."
Aurora sat down and said,
"I'm sorry… for taking your memories away."
Peter 2 waved his hand.
"It's fine. I don't care anymore."
"I didn't have a choice," Aurora said softly.
Peter 2 looked at her. She continued,
"People like me—dark-skinned—are treated badly everywhere. I just wanted to become stronger, so I learned magic. And I spent half my life learning it."
Peter 1 walked over and said,
"Don't talk about that now. When they show up later, fight with us to the end, and make up for your mistakes."
Peter 1 reached out his hand. Aurora took it and stood up.
At that moment, Peter 2 hammered in the final screw. Just as he stood up, a ball of black fur grabbed the portal device and tossed it away.
Peter 1 immediately dove down and caught the portal with his webs.
Hairymon — Dr. Austin appeared in front of Peter 2.
Peter 2 shot a web upward, swung, and then kicked Dr. Austin right in the face.
Enraged, Dr. Austin wrapped Peter 2 in his fur and hung him in mid-air.
Peter 1 placed the portal down safely and was about to assist Peter 2 when Ze the Swordsman charged in with his blade.
Ze slashed, cutting Peter 2's web, then swung horizontally at Peter 1. Peter 1 did a perfect backbend to dodge.
Once he recovered, he quickly shot a web, snatched Ze's sword, and tossed it off the ledge.
Dr. Austin said to Peter 2,
"I could let you use both hands and you still couldn't beat me."
Peter 2 struggled and said,
"Obviously! You're using hair to fight me!"
Dr. Austin removed Peter 2's mask and asked, confused,
"You're a Spider-Man from another universe?"
Peter 2 said,
"What do you think? I don't even know who you are."
Dr. Austin growled,
"I think you're extremely rude—"
Before he could finish, Aurora swept her arm, slicing through the fur trap, then magically immobilized Dr. Austin.
Peter 2 fell as the fur dissolved. He shot a web, swung in a half circle, kicked through a glass window, and dropped into the lowest floor.
The shattered glass suddenly began reacting.
Peter 1 said to Ze,
"Just surrender. I'll send you back to your world, and then you can go find the Peter Parker you're trying to kill. Sound good?"
Ze reached for his waist and pulled out a chain.
Peter 1 shouted,
"Oh my God!"
Ze swung the chain at him. Peter 1 dodged and started running while Ze chased him, wildly whipping the chain.
Dr. Austin, still immobilized, looked at Aurora and said,
"You're another universe's Spider-Man? A female one."
Aurora showed a helpless expression.
Peter 2 had just gotten back on his feet when Mirror Woman — Olivia Miller attacked.
She slashed Peter 2, shoved him down a staircase, and he tumbled all the way down—only to land on Peter 1 who had just run past. Both fell.
Ze attempted to swing the chain, but accidentally struck Olivia instead.
She staggered back and yelled,
"Who the f*** are you?!"
Ze replied,
"Mind your language."
They looked down—both Spider-Men had vanished.
Suddenly, Peter 1 shouted,
"Now!"
Both Spider-Men pulled a massive web trap, wrapping Ze and Olivia inside.
Peter 1 and Peter 2 jumped down to look at them. Olivia glared at Ze and said,
"This is your fault."
Peter 1 walked over to Dr. Austin and removed his mask.
Dr. Austin looked at him and said,
"You've grown."
Peter 1 hurried to a backpack, took out a bottle of antidote, and said,
"I've kept this ever since you died. I always wondered… if I had this back then… would you have survived?"
Dr. Austin asked,
"How… did I die?"
A voice shouted from the distance,
"Crushed by a helium tank! Hahahahaha!"
A rope shot across the gap between two buildings, and Crew Mark slid across it.
Peter 2 powered the portal with a spark, and it activated. He excitedly told the trapped Ze and Olivia,
"I did it!"
They both stared at him speechlessly.
Crew Mark stood before Peter 1. Peter tensed, ready to fight, but Crew Mark backed away.
"Hold it, hold it! No need to rush. Let's talk like civilized people, alright?"
Peter 1 snarled,
"I'm not playing any of your games."
Crew Mark grinned,
"No games. Just a deal."
He glanced at Aurora.
"Is this the female Spider-Man?"
Still restrained, Dr. Austin said,
"I believe so."
Aurora snapped,
"Will you shut up?!"
She magically sealed Dr. Austin's mouth.
Crew Mark said,
"Anyway, I want you guys to sell me that portal."
Peter 1 asked,
"And if we don't?"
Crew Mark shrugged,
"I won't steal it. Worst case, I blow up this entire abandoned building. You have five minutes to decide. Starting now."
Downstairs, a timer began counting down.
4:59… 4:58…
Peter 2 swung in behind them.
Crew Mark continued,
"And if you don't want to sell it… that's fine too."
He opened his coat.
"You see this device on me? It monitors my heart rate. If my heart stops, the bombs stop too."
Everyone froze. No one wanted to become a murderer.
Crew Mark sat on the edge of the building with a chair.
Aurora released Dr. Austin, then used magic to freeze Crew Mark in mid-air.
He laughed hysterically,
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
Aurora ripped the device off his chest with magic and dropped him back down.
The bombs stopped counting.
Aurora said,
"I'm not stupid enough to play mind games with you."
Crew Mark slowly stood up,
"If you won't play fair, then don't blame me."
He reached into his pocket.
Peter 1 and Peter 2's senses flared. Their pupils widened.
Before they could react, Crew Mark yanked out a detonator and pressed it.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire building began collapsing.
Crew Mark grabbed the rope he used earlier, swung across, crashed through a window, and escaped.
Peter 2 shouted,
"I'll save the two below! You guys run!"
Peter 1, Aurora, and Dr. Austin all started escaping.
Peter 2 swung through falling debris and reached Ze and Olivia.
Before he could help, the building collapsed inward, pulling all three—along with the portal—down.
Ze fell directly into the portal midair.
Moments later, Peter 2 and Olivia were buried in the rubble. Olivia simply shattered into glass fragments and walked out of the debris uninjured.
Just as she tried to escape, Peter 1 webbed her and threw her into the portal.
Crew Mark emerged from another building. He approached a hand sticking out of the rubble and pulled Peter 2 out.
"You've already worn yourself out before I even fought you," Crew Mark said.
Behind him, Peter 1 said,
"Crew, you wanted the portal, right? I'll give it to you."
Crew turned, confused.
Dr. Austin hurled the portal toward Crew Mark. Crew looked at it and burst into laughter:
"Hahahahahahahahaha!"
The portal swallowed him whole.
Dr. Austin looked at Peter 1. Peter 1 helped Peter 2 up and asked,
"Are you okay?"
Peter 2 gave him a thumbs-up.
Peter 1 smiled and tossed the antidote to Dr. Austin.
Dr. Austin looked at his fur-covered body, injected the antidote, and quickly returned to normal.
Peter 2 said,
"You look way better bald than covered in fur."
Dr. Austin replied,
"Thanks."
He walked toward the portal.
Peter 1 said,
"Spend more time with your daughter."
Dr. Austin waved,
"I know. Goodbye."
He stepped into the portal.
Aurora said to Peter 2,
"Once you're back, stop her. Mage Morquill, understand?"
Peter 2 nodded,
"I will. Don't worry."
Aurora smiled at both Spider-Men and entered the portal.
Peter 1 said to Peter 2,
"Good luck, brother. I'm heading out."
Peter 2 smiled,
"Bye-bye."
Peter 1 entered the portal.
Peter 2 watched everyone disappear.
"Why do I still feel a little empty?"
He laughed softly, then stepped into the portal as well.
——— To Be Continued ———