After speaking, he turned and leaped off the bridge.
First-generation Peter's figure vanished from the bridge, the gusting wind lifting his clothes as they fluttered down.
The next moment, a red-and-blue figure shot out spider silk, swinging upward, drawing gasps from the crowd of onlookers.
"It's Spider-Man!"
"Peter Parker."
"He's my best bro!!" a male classmate in the crowd declared proudly.
"Click~"
Suddenly, mechanical tentacles climbed onto the bridge, Doctor Octopus violently shoving aside surrounding cars.
"Peter! Peter!!"
Doctor Octopus glared at the approaching red-and-blue figure, unhesitatingly using his mechanical tentacles to hurl a car toward first-generation Peter.
In an instant, first-generation Peter swerved to dodge the oncoming car.
Confirming no one was inside, he shot spider silk to lock onto the airborne car with one hand, while the other shot silk to anchor onto the bridge's iron frame.
"Swish!"
"Boom!!"
Spider-Man's strength was unleashed to its fullest in this moment, the car at the other end of the silk swinging in a wide arc under immense force before crashing back onto the bridge.
"Rumble!!"
The car, carrying tremendous force, smashed Doctor Octopus directly into a stone pillar at the bridge's edge.
The pillar crumbled, and Doctor Octopus vanished from the bridge once more.
Seeing the car smashed to pieces, a man in the crowd screamed in horror, "No, that's the car I just got a loan for!!"
First-generation Peter wasted no time, immediately leaping down, shooting spider silk along the way to dodge sneak attacks from the mechanical tentacles.
"Bang bang~"
"Boom!"
The onlookers on the bridge only saw mechanical tentacles sporadically piercing through concrete, tearing cars apart, before quickly retracting beneath the bridge.
The battle below was unseen, but one could imagine its intensity.
Charlie, observing from the sidelines, stroked his chin and nodded.
First-generation Peter, now middle-aged, was still in his prime as a man, his strength undiminished, his combat experience exceptionally rich.
Whether in the past or now, Spider-Man had never dealt a killing blow to Doctor Octopus.
This time was no different.
Soon, Doctor Octopus, his four tentacles twisted and tangled together, was tossed onto the bridge. First-generation Peter swung and landed in front of Charlie.
"Peter, either you kill me, or you'll regret it!" the disheveled Doctor Octopus shouted.
First-generation Peter ignored him.
Panting heavily, he turned to Charlie.
"What's next?"
Charlie opened a portal, "I'll take you to find Iron Man."
"Iron Man?"
First-generation Peter looked puzzled, carrying Doctor Octopus through the portal while saying, "What's that, a metal guy?"
"You should watch more TV news."
"Sorry, I've gotten used to not watching news. You know, I'm busy with work."
"Still delivering pizzas lately?"
"No, it's a newspaper job. I finally got a permanent position."
"Jonah actually made you permanent? That's weird."
"Yeah, he's been getting weirder lately, even saying good things about Spider-Man in front of me."
"We're here."
The portal closed, and the two appeared directly in Tony's armor lab.
"Peter?"
Seeing first-generation Peter, Infinite Tony's face lit up with joy.
But soon, he noticed something off.
"You're not Peter. Young Peter doesn't have a beer belly." Infinite Tony scrutinized first-generation Peter.
First-generation Peter awkwardly rubbed his stomach, then removed his mask.
"Hi, I'm Peter. You know Spider-Man?" He glanced at the lab's luxury, feeling slightly uneasy.
Infinite Tony understood immediately.
"Alright, Spider-Man from another universe, why'd you bring this octopus here?"
He stood up, eyeing the frustrated Doctor Octopus, shaking his head, "I'm not into seafood lately."
"Damn you, what did you say!"
Doctor Octopus cursed with a dark face, but Charlie's spider silk sealed his mouth.
"This guy's controlled by his mechanical tentacles. You need to make a new chip to control them…"
Halfway through, Charlie suddenly remembered something.
He rummaged in his pants, finally finding the spare chip Otto Doctor had given him.
"I think I have this thing." Charlie smiled.
Infinite Tony's cheek twitched, "You're not wearing your suit. Why do you still stuff things in there?" he asked.
"Habit."
Charlie said, moving behind Doctor Octopus, roughly installing the new chip.
"Sizzle~"
The chip device sparked with electric light, and the restless mechanical arms gradually calmed.
Doctor Octopus's eyes were no longer crazed.
"I… I feel good."
He looked up at first-generation Peter, "Little guy, did I lose control again just now?"
First-generation Peter crouched down, "You should be fine now."
Infinite Tony, seeing this, shook his head again.
"So you don't need my help anymore, right?" He looked at Charlie.
Charlie grinned, "Of course I do. Aside from some inherently evil Doctor Octopuses, others are controlled because their chips burned out. I need your wealth to mass-produce these chips."
Infinite Tony nodded, "Alright, I'll have Happy cooperate with you, but he's probably busy comforting May. With Peter missing, Happy likely has no time."
Though he said this, he still called Happy's comms.
"Happy, how's it going over there?"
Infinite Tony spoke, but saw Happy's stiff face on the screen.
"Tony, I think I'm a homewrecker."
"What?" Infinite Tony frowned, "May has a boyfriend?"
He instinctively looked at Charlie.
Charlie shrugged, "In my world, Aunt May belongs to Uncle Ben. If he can't win this world's May, I can introduce him to single Mays from other worlds.
No need to thank me."
But on the screen, Happy cautiously glanced to the side, "It's not that, it's… complicated."
"Yes, very complicated."
Happy was shoved aside, replaced by a middle-aged man with dark circles and a grim face.
"Tony Stark, your friend dared to pursue my wife. Do you know what kind of behavior that is?"
The man resembled Charlie's memory of Ben Parker by seven or eight points, but it was clear from his demeanor that this guy was a full-on villain.
Seeing this, Infinite Tony sensed something wrong.
"I get it. People related to Spider-Man include Ben Parker, but your wife probably isn't this world's May. I advise you to think carefully about the consequences of crossing Spider-Man."
With Charlie present, Infinite Tony was quite brazen.
As expected, the Ben Parker on screen was enraged by these words.
He sneered, aiming the camera at a bound May, "The consequences of crossing Spider-Man? You tell me."
Infinite Tony didn't speak, but first-generation Peter and Doctor Octopus had strange expressions.
Because they saw magical sparks flash on the screen.
"Let me tell you."
Charlie's voice was cold, Ben Parker's face shocked.
"What?"
The next second, a loud crash, and the screen went black.
Infinite Tony shrugged, "Well, someone's telling him for me."
First-generation Peter thought, "Uncle Ben seems off. I need to check."
"You should calm down."
Doctor Octopus comforted Peter, "That's not your Uncle Ben. You should know, no Ben Parker can replace the Uncle Ben in your heart."
Hearing this, first-generation Peter froze.
"Yeah, no one can replace Uncle Ben, not even Ben Parker."
Infinite Tony glanced at the two, turning to tinker with his lab equipment.
"Since Happy's busy, I'll do it. Mr. Octopus, please lie down. I need to thoroughly check your body, and the chip."
…
Meanwhile.
Queens apartment.
"Boom!!"
The glass window shattered, a battered figure blasted out of the room, crashing into the green lawn below.
In the wrecked living room, Happy stared at the fist as big as a sandbag, following the arm to Charlie's face.
"What a powerful young man. What's your name? Interested in joining the Avengers?" he marveled.
Charlie glanced at him, "You should untie Aunt May. If someday a rotten-faced guy applies to join the Avengers, make sure to firmly reject him. That guy's a jerk."
"Uh~"
Happy didn't understand but knew he shouldn't waste words at a time like this.
He hurriedly ran to untie May, "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.
Still shaken, May shook her head, turning to look at Charlie's back, her eyes complex.
"He reminds me of Peter."
"Peter?" Happy was stunned.
Before he could think, Charlie leaped from the balcony.
"Wait, this is the eighteenth floor!"
Happy exclaimed, rushing forward. Peering out, he was shocked.
"It's not Peter—it's Spider-Man!"
Then, May, also peering out, saw the scene.
In mid-air, red-and-blue nano-metal rapidly covered the boy's body, pale blue eyes glowing faintly.
Swinging on spider silk, Spider-Man landed on the grass, while Ben Parker, embedded in the muddy lawn, rose, laughing maniacally.
"Hahaha, Spider-Man, what a coincidence!"
Ben Parker gritted his teeth, his limbs sprouting grotesque bone spikes resembling spider legs, his pupils turning scarlet, fangs glinting coldly, and his forehead bulging with dense eyes.
As his body swelled, his clothes were torn by terrifying spikes, a monster resembling Spider-Man appearing vividly before Charlie's eyes.
"I'm Spider-Man too!!"
The mutated Ben Parker hissed, saliva flying.
The grass beneath his feet exploded, his body, aided by the force, becoming a blur that closed in on Charlie instantly.
"No!!"
The surrounding crowd fled in panic, but the monster's screams drew their attention back.
They turned, seeing the red-and-blue Spider-Man pinning the monster's head to the ground, rubbing it back and forth.
"Ah!! Damn guy, let me go…"
"I'm gonna throw some dirt in your eyes!"
"Oh no!!"
The deafening screams made Ben Parker stumble back, clutching his bleeding eyes, cursing loudly.
"Damn bug, can't you tell the difference between throwing dirt and wiping eyes?"
Charlie locked his throat, "You look more like a bug than me right now."
With that, he casually tossed him, the monstrous Ben Parker crashing through a roadside fire hydrant, water spraying everywhere, the red-and-blue figure stepping forward slowly.
"Step~ Step~"
Water droplets gathered into streams, sliding off the metal suit's surface.
In the rain, pairs of inverted triangle eyes glowed brightly.
Spider-Man had "split."
"Oh my god, it's Uncle Ben!"
"Good lord, how can we do this to him?"
"Who did it!!"
"Your bug eyes are blind, that's not Uncle Ben, it's Ben Spider."
"Obviously a villain."
"Get him!"
"Wait, I can't bring myself to do it."
"I'll cover your eyes, problem solved."
"Thanks."
Thus, under May and others' horrified gazes, nine Spider-Man clones swarmed, surrounding Ben Parker in a frenzy of kicks and punches.
"Oh no, too brutal."
"Good lord, what kind of Spider-Man is this?"
The onlookers couldn't bear to watch.
Nine seconds later, the barely conscious Ben Parker lay in a pit, his bruised face barely opening one eye.
"You… you win."
Charlie gazed at the Ben Parker before him, silent.
As he took another step forward, a red-and-blue figure swung down.
"No, please wait, he's Uncle Ben, you can't do this to him. After all, we're all Peter, right?"
The sudden Spider-Man made Ben Parker's body tremble.
He looked at Charlie in disbelief, "Peter… you're Peter? Impossible, Peter's long dead, it's me…"
The name "Peter" seemed to stir bad memories in him.
Trembling, he lay in the pit wailing, "No, it's not me… it's me, I ate him… no!!"
The monster clutched his head, crying blood tears, his sobs mournful.
Charlie's raised hand paused in mid-air.
No matter who became Spider-Man, they seemed to have unbearable pasts.
Seeing this, the other Spider-Man wanted to comfort his Uncle Ben.
Before he could act, an eerie totem surged from the ground, drilling into Ben Parker's body.
"Click~"
"Trouble!"
Charlie's face changed, rushing toward Ben Parker, but only finding a desiccated corpse.
The gray leech totem burrowed into the ground, Charlie's gaze turning sharp.
"Trying to run?"
"Sizzle~"
Instantly, crimson rays pierced the ground, a shrill scream echoing.
"Rumble~"
The ground trembled, a familiar figure bursting out.
"Damn bug, what kind of spider silk is this?"
Rina, "resurrected," had half her body charred, her right face covered in shocking rotten flesh, but she still glared fiercely at Charlie.
Charlie's eyes flickered. Wasn't this guy killed by Gwen's sword?
In his thoughts, he ignored Rina's questions, flashing to her side.
"Puff~"
A palm struck, the illusory totem force forcibly stripped, then dissipating with the wind.
"No soul?"
In Charlie's astonished gaze, Rina's body rapidly melted into a puddle of muck.
So, this guy escaped after all.
Charlie turned to the desiccated Ben Parker, shaking his head slightly.
Resurrection Match contestant +1.
The other Spider-Man knelt before the corpse, "Uncle Ben…"
Finally reuniting with an Uncle Ben, only for him to be killed by a mysterious figure in an instant.
Nothing could break a Spider-Man more than this.
Charlie reached out, patting his shoulder.
Before he could comfort, the other shook his head.
"No need to comfort me, I know you're hurting too."
Charlie thought, "I was gonna say, my Uncle Ben isn't dead."
Spider-Man: "."
Suddenly, he seemed to realize something.
"You're Charlie, Charlie Parker!" he exclaimed.
Charlie raised an eyebrow, "Heard of the Invincible Spider-Man's story?"
"Yeah, you just beat me up not long ago."
"Oh, I remember, you're from the Spider Alliance."
"Yes, how's Harry?"
"He was doing great at first."
"You beat fate, congrats."
"Not really, he got killed by Gwen later."
"What?"
Spider-Man was shocked, "Because of a love triangle?"
"Do you have to joke about this?"
"Sorry."
"No worries, go tell Miguel to handle the Spider-Men who came here."
"Still sorry, my traversal device doesn't work. This place seems sealed by some mysterious force, only entry, no exit."
"Is that so?"
Charlie's heart jolted. He told the other to go to Stark Tower to find Tony, then used the golden spider to test universe traversal.
"Buzz~"
The golden portal slowly opened, but the other side was still the wrecked street.
The portal failed.
So what kind of forbidden magic did that guy use?
Charlie had an ominous feeling.
Opening space-time rifts, sealing an entire universe.
Could Dark Stephen really do this?
Charlie felt an inexplicable urgency but didn't know where to start.
He could only bury Ben Parker's body in the soil first.
Turning, he saw Happy and May watching him nervously, waving.
"Hey, it's fine now. Go hide at Tony's place for now. There are lots of Spider-Men there, you'll be safe."
With that, he opened a portal and vanished.
If the original plot held, Aunt May would've been blown up by Green Goblin by now.
But May didn't die, so Spider-Man was in danger.
Per the Life and Fate Web's usual pattern, one of them had to die.
So third-generation Peter might be gone.
Back in the basement, Charlie pondered, suddenly feeling intense drowsiness.
He closed his eyes, gradually falling into a dream.
In the dream, he arrived at Bleecker Street.
The familiar street, a familiar girl waiting for him to come home.
"They're fighting, I'm so hungry."
Little Mary Jane stood at the door, clutching her stomach, looking pitiful.
Charlie glanced at Mary Jane's house, chuckling, "You could knock. Aunt May and them should be home."
"They're not."
"Oh, maybe they sneaked out to party."
"I'm hungry."
"Alright, come in."
The moment Charlie opened the door, something felt off.
"Seems I forgot to buy groceries."
He facepalmed, turning to Mary Jane, "Let's eat out—uh, who are you?"
Seeing Mary Jane instantly grow into a young beauty, Charlie's mouth twitched.
This is too exaggerated, right?
He inwardly grumbled, then brushed the doubt aside.
Teen Mary Jane squinted and smiled, "I already agreed to your date with Annie tomorrow. You said you'd treat me to a big meal."
Charlie rolled his eyes, "What Annie? I'm not interested in her."
"You were clearly sneaking peeks at her today."
"I was just interested in her designer bag."
"A guy liking bags?"
"No, I just like money."
As they talked, Charlie subconsciously walked into the kitchen.
"Right, what were we doing?" He forgot.
Mary Jane rolled her eyes, "You're treating me to dinner."
"Did I agree?"
"Of course."
"Alright, I remember, let's go eat."
"You're broke."
"I've got plenty. Nanotech patents pay a lot—I'm broke?"
Charlie rummaged his pockets, bewildered.
"Weird, I'm a pauper again?"
"Come on, my treat. You've always been a pauper."
Mary Jane hooked Charlie's arm, dragging him out.
"Wait, let me lock the door."
The scene shifted to a bustling street.
Before a glass display, Mary Jane pointed at a red dress inside, eyes full of joy.
"I've had my eye on this dress for a while." She glanced at Charlie.
Charlie "oh"ed, then pointed at the discount supermarket across.
"I think the clothes there suit you better."
"Still so stingy."
Mary Jane pouted, dragging Charlie to keep shopping.
"Feels like our first time shopping together," she smiled.
Charlie thought, "Actually, no guy likes shopping with girls. I'm just being me."
"Talking with you is so boring."
Mary Jane huffed, letting go of Charlie and running ahead.
Under the sunset, Mary Jane, in her favorite red dress, gradually vanished into the glow.
Charlie stared blankly at the scene.
After a while, he smiled.
"So that's it, I get it."
The scene shattered, Charlie on the spider silk hammock snapped his eyes open, instantly spotting MJ observing him with a magnifying glass.
"What are you doing?" Charlie asked expressionlessly.
MJ jumped, shrinking back, patting her chest in shock.
"I noticed some Peters look similar, so I wanted to see what's the same between you and the Peter I know."
"Sorry, I don't want to be deeply studied."
Charlie stood, stretching lazily. MJ suddenly asked, "What's with Mary Jane?"
"What's with what?"
"You were talking in your sleep."
"Damn! What'd I say?" Charlie's face darkened.
He didn't mean to.
But someone did it on purpose.
Too cunning.
MJ laughed, "Didn't say much. Oh, Peter's looking for you, uh, that Peter."
"Which one?"
"The tall, handsome one."
"Got it, where is he?"
"Next door."
Soon, Charlie arrived at the cluttered storage room next door.
He immediately spotted a white giant cocoon wrapped in spider silk.
"You guys had a baby spider?" he asked the two Peters on site.
Second-generation Peter shook his head, "He's Professor Connors. I ran into him outside, brought him here to ask if you can cure him like Otto."
"This isn't inviting, it's kidnapping."
Charlie stepped closer, poking the cocoon with his finger, then hearing curses from inside.
"Damn Peter, let me go!"
Annoyed, Charlie casually pushed the cocoon over, "I've got experience curing them, and I've handed it to Tony. Results should come soon."
"Wow, classmate Charlie, you seem omnipotent," second-generation Peter said excitedly.
Charlie waved it off, "Just so-so. In my world, these villains are small fries. If I don't beat a few daily, I can't sleep."
Speaking of sleep, both thought of Charlie's sleep-talking.
"How's it going with Mary Jane?" first-generation Peter cared most about this.
Charlie's face stiffened, "She's not bar-hopping, not a stage actress, and definitely not cheating, you know."
First-generation Peter was silent for a moment.
"She's not a bad woman," he suddenly explained.
Charlie facepalmed, "You're hopeless."
Second-generation Peter thought of someone else.
"Sigh, our relationship was too rocky. If I could turn back time, I'd hold her hand tight," he said, gaze firm.
Charlie thought, "That's partly my fault. I didn't remind you not to use spider silk to save people."
"I'll remember," second-generation Peter said, dejected.
"It's time."
Charlie glanced at the wall clock, raising his hand to open a portal.
"Deal with those troublesome guys, and it'll be easier later."
In his plan, urging the Spider-Men to capture the scattered villains would make things smoother if they faced Dark Strange later.
The Spider-Men agreed with the plan.
"Yeah, let's do this!" second-generation Peter clenched his fist.
First-generation Peter stretched his back, "With great power comes great responsibility. I don't feel tired at all."
"I'm tired."
The three stepped out of the portal. Charlie said to first-generation Peter, "How about we rest, and you handle it?"
First-generation Peter paused, "Is that humor?"
"Of course."
On the night-shrouded skyscraper, Charlie clapped his hands.
"Let's go, friends."
"Oh yeah~"
Immediately, Charlie led, leaping down, the two following closely.
"Swish~"
"Whoosh~~"
The wind roared as the three shot spider silk in mid-air, swinging between skyscrapers using each other's silk.
This feeling thrilled them.
"Oh~ I never thought we could do this."
"Yeah."
"I see it, a big scorpion. Anyone got experience?"
"Not me."
"I do, let me handle it."
Charlie dove down.
One minute later, the three red-and-blue figures continued swinging through the city's skyscrapers.
"It's Doctor Octopus," first-generation Peter locked onto a green figure in the city.
Second-generation Peter landed on a high wall, "A green fat guy, not what I imagined."
"I've got experience with this," Charlie wiped his mask.
Pride!
Second-generation Peter gave a thumbs-up, "Classmate Charlie, you've faced every enemy. So cool."
"Yeah, I've even fought aliens."
"Good lord, I'm so jealous. I've never faced opponents like that."
"I have, a black symbiote, also from outer space," first-generation Peter finally got to brag.
Charlie put his hands on his hips, "Haha, I met one too, but I tamed it with love."
"Oh my god, classmate Charlie, you're my idol. I've never succeeded," second-generation Peter's eyes sparkled.
"Just so-so."
Charlie waved, "That's how Spider-Man should be."
With that, he led the charge to beat down Green Platter Doctor, sending him to Stark's "prison" via portal.
Keep going!
Three hours later.
Charlie crushed Mysterio's glass helmet, casually tossing him into a portal.
"How many is that?" he asked.
First-generation Peter counted, "Eighteenth."
With that, he leaned against the staircase railing, supporting his waist.
"I'm done. My back hurts. Help me out," he said to second-generation Peter.
"No problem."
Second-generation Peter pressed first-generation Peter's back, "When did you get this injury?" he asked curiously.
First-generation Peter exhaled slowly, "My powers suddenly vanished, so I fell from the sky and hurt my back."
"Suddenly vanished?"
Second-generation Peter didn't understand why, looking at Charlie, "You ever have that?"
Charlie shrugged, "Early on, my spider sense would suddenly vanish."
"Now?"
"Super reliable."
"Congrats."
While capturing villains, the three chatted sporadically, sharing their experiences.
Until they saw this scene.
In the night-shrouded abandoned building, mechanical tentacles lashed out, debris flying as a bald man on a hoverboard grinned ferociously, tossing pumpkin bombs.
"Rumble!!"
Firelight soared, another Green Goblin circled overhead, giving Harry a thumbs-up.
"Kid, that's it. Take this guy down, show Spider-Man we're not to be messed with."
Laughing, several large lizards climbed the building, surrounding the explosion's center from different directions.
On a nearby skyscraper, the three lurked in the shadows.
"Who are they fighting?" first-generation Peter frowned.
Second-generation Peter mused, "Maybe another Spider-Man."
Charlie scanned the nearby streets, "More guys are coming."
In the chaotic streets, lizard men and rhino men charged toward the abandoned building, shadows streaking through the night sky, joining the unfair beatdown.
But strangely, the "Spider-Man" in the abandoned building never appeared.
"Is he injured?"
First-generation Peter guessed, "We should help."
"Wait, something's off."
Charlie raised a hand to stop him.
The next moment, an invisible force spread from the abandoned building, distorting the void, instantly enveloping the nearby villains.
Including the three.
Instantly, they felt drowsy.
"I… I'm so sleepy."
Second-generation Peter fell asleep first, first-generation Peter following.
Only Charlie could resist the force a bit longer.
Under his gaze, the attacking villains collapsed one by one, unmanned armors in the night sky swiftly arresting them.
"Hey, you're here too."
An unmanned armor floated before Charlie, Infinite Tony's voice coming from it.
"Someone tipped us to pick up these guys here. Your doing?"
Charlie shook his dizzy head, "What do you think?"
With that, he fell asleep.
Infinite Tony: "."
He shrugged, "Wow, Spider-Man's sleep quality is great. Steve should be jealous."
"I haven't dared sleep yet!!"
In the armor lab, dark-circle-ridden old Steve shouted into the comms.
"It's definitely that guy. She can drag people into dreams. We must catch her."
"Steve, calm down. She's probably on our side. You should apologize to her."
"No way, she screwed me over. I'll definitely… do I need to prepare a gift for an apology?"
Old Steve started checking his balance.