[You have been eliminated, unable to obtain a resurrection slot. Reward: High-Heat Web Ball 1000°C.]
[Remaining 89 retries. Restart?]
Restart!
Second Resurrection Match.
Atop the Empire State Building, beneath the antenna tower.
Charlie felt a warm surge in his wrist glands, webbing flowing to his palm, slowly forming a glowing red high-heat web ball after ten seconds.
Staring at the energy ball, Charlie's mouth twitched.
Really turning Spider-Man into a Super Saiyan?
But this formation speed was way too slow.
Shaking his head, he dismissed the obviously flawed skill design.
This match's Spider-Men were different from those he'd faced before.
Many were powerful, tough to handle, though not unbeatable.
But Mary Jane's chaotic move put him to sleep.
After that, he lost consciousness.
Maybe other Spider-Men killed him, but more likely, a participant completed the mission, eliminating him.
Charlie leaned toward the latter.
Spider-Men don't kill.
With a thought, the countdown ended.
Before Sorcerer Spider-Man could react, Charlie opened a portal.
"Buzz~"
He leaped in.
At the portal's other end, someone grabbed him from behind.
Charlie: "..."
Damn, too slow.
As he tried to break free, the spider totem on his chest flickered, his spider-sense screaming.
"Buzz~"
"Pfft"
Under another spider magic's interference, the portal's sparks flickered, then snapped shut, a severed head rolling into the hospital room.
Mary Jane: "?????"
Guarding the bed, she screamed in terror.
"Peter!!!"
She rushed toward Charlie's head.
But the door burst open, the real Peter Parker charging in.
"Mary Jane, Mr. Stark sent the money—oh no, what's that?"
Seeing the head, Peter's smile froze.
[You have been eliminated, unable to obtain a resurrection slot. Reward: High-Heat Web Ball formation speed -1 second.]
[Remaining 88 retries. Restart?]
Third Resurrection Match.
"Ah!! Died so horribly!!"
Beneath the antenna tower, Charlie clutched his head, freaking out.
He never imagined dying in a portal.
Worthy of Sorcerer Spider-Man, his magic mastery outclassed Charlie's half-baked skills.
This time, he'd play it safe and travel normally.
As the countdown ended, Charlie switched to arc mode, shooting skyward.
"Sizzle~"
"Oh, it's Spider-Man!"
"Peter Parker… no, so many Peter Parkers!"
Bystanders screamed, watching Spider-Men swing overhead.
Meanwhile, at Stark Tower.
Tony stared at the screen, countless Spider-Men zipping through the city, his face pure shock.
"Peter… is this Mysterio's illusion, or did Peter split?" Pepper's eyes filled with fear.
Happy replied, "Their suits are different styles, so there's a 99% chance they're not the real Spider-Man."
"Real or not, we need to know what they're after."
Tony tapped the screen, analyzing quickly.
"They're likely headed to the hospital," he mused.
Pepper realized, "It's May! Their target is May in the hospital!"
"Notify Natasha, secure the hospital."
Tony suited up, "I'm checking it out."
"Wait, Tony, too many Spider-Men. It's dangerous."
Pepper tried to stop him, but Tony's gaze was firm.
"I created the Accords. These guys look like Spider-Men, superheroes. Their chaos is my responsibility. I have to go."
"But—"
"Beautiful Ms. Potts, wait for me. I'll catch these threats to the global security system."
His Mark armor blasted off, vanishing into the sky.
Meanwhile, Charlie, unsurprisingly, faced resistance.
"Crack crack"
Muscle Spider-Man hurled a car at him.
"Sizzle~"
Arcs flashing, Charlie ignored the car, zipping upward.
"Boom"
"No!! My car loan!!" The owner wept as it exploded.
In the sky, Spider-Men glided in, webs descending. Charlie's crimson beam sliced the clouds, broken red-and-blue figures plummeting.
This time, Charlie wasn't holding back.
"Oh no!"
Spider-Men's broken bodies littered the streets, bystanders fleeing in panic.
"Run!"
"Peter Parker's gone mad…"
"That's not Peter Parker."
"My God, Spider-Man's brutal…"
The streets descended into chaos, nearby Spider-Men trembling at the sight.
"It's Charlie Parker!"
"Damn him, killing so many Spider-Men in a flash."
"We can't let him continue."
"Together!"
"Charge!"
More Spider-Men swung up, using webs to fling each other higher, diving at Charlie.
Charlie's crimson beam bisected the incoming Spider-Men.
"Pfft pfft pfft"
The beam swept, bodies fell, blood raining down.
The sky bled red.
Spider-Men's suits turned redder.
Charlie's eyes glowed blood-red.
"Crack crack"
Blood-colored tendrils spread, unstoppable.
"Bang!!"
A tendril whipped, sending a Spider-Man crashing into a skyscraper, bouncing off walls before hitting train tracks.
"Woo woo woo"
A speeding train roared in, catching the Spider-Man as he stood, dragging him toward a tunnel.
Before he could escape, thunder cracked, a violent bolt slamming Charlie down from the sky.
"Rumble!!"
The tracks exploded, the train veering toward a broken bridge.
"Watch out!!"
Spider-Men shouted, swinging in, firing webs to stop the train.
"Creak creak"
The train halted, passengers staring at the Spider-Men, faces bewildered.
"Spider-Man…"
"Yes, Spider-Man."
A hand gripped the train's front. Charlie rose from the pit, wreathed in white smoke.
"Cough… missed the big moment again, so annoying!!"
With a shout, Charlie became a dazzling meteor, shooting upward.
"Buzz~"
"Rumble~~"
The meteor streaked near the tracks, triggering explosions, burying Spider-Men in rubble.
"Stop him!"
A portal appeared, Sorcerer Spider-Man weaving a massive magical web.
Before it could descend, another "Charlie" appeared behind him.
"Boom!!"
A fist shattered the void, Sorcerer Spider-Man's form collapsing.
"Got you."
Another magical web descended, dispersing Charlie's figure.
"What?"
The real Sorcerer Spider-Man emerged, shocked, "Magic clone?"
"No, physical clone!"
A shout, another Charlie appearing behind him.
"Sizzle~"
A crimson beam swept, bisecting Sorcerer Spider-Man, his broken body turning to light particles.
"Another clone?"
Charlie frowned, then spun, punching.
"Boom!!"
"Pfft~"
Sorcerer Spider-Man's clone dissolved, splitting into dozens of identical figures.
"Worthy of Charlie Parker."
The legion of Sorcerer Spider-Men looked grave, weaving magical webs together.
"Buzz~"
Webs poured like a waterfall. Charlie, cornered, stood still, letting them bind him.
The Sorcerer Spider-Men's faces changed.
"Damn, it's a clone!"
They rushed toward the hospital, merging into their true form.
Charlie's "clone" smirked, crimson beams slicing the webs, erupting in blazing energy spanning kilometers.
"What?"
The beams hit, Sorcerer Spider-Man paling.
"Damn, tricked…"
"Pfft~"
His body was severed, flames burning the wound.
"Bang"
As the charred body fell, Charlie clapped, grinning.
"Nice, now I can use portals."
He drew a circle, magical sparks appearing.
The web blocking portals was gone.
As he prepared to leave, a sudden change hit.
"Buzz~"
A sharp pain stabbed his mind, plunging his consciousness into chaos, and he fell from the sky.
"Bang!"
Rubble erupted, Spider-Men swarming his body.
[You have been eliminated, unable to obtain a resurrection slot. Reward: High-Heat Web Ball +100°C.]
[Remaining 87 retries. Restart?]
In the Spider-Verse, Charlie clutched his head, standing.
"Fell asleep again?"
He shook his head, face grim.
Recalling the fight, he'd been ambushed.
A mental attack, too strong for his resistance.
This guy's mental power surpassed Charles Xavier's.
Just dealt with Sorcerer Spider-Man, now a psychic Spider-Man.
So many Spider-Man variants!!
Charlie facepalmed, choosing to restart.
Suddenly, 89 retries didn't seem like much.
This was a peak match.
Fourth Resurrection Match.
Countdown ended. Charlie skipped the hospital.
Hiding under the antenna tower, he wove hand signs, head dropping, soul ascending.
His ethereal form sped toward the hospital.
Under the blazing sun, his soul felt discomfort.
His body could absorb stellar energy, but his soul couldn't.
Luckily, his soul resisted solar erosion, or he couldn't continue.
He slipped past Spider-Men, undetected.
His choice was right.
Previous matches stalled due to Spider-Men interference.
This time, he needed key intel.
He missed Old Steve's connections.
Without a network, Resurrection Matches were brutal.
His soul reached the hospital's gates.
He saw an invisible web enveloping the building.
Any move would alert Sorcerer Spider-Man.
Charlie hid under a nearby billboard, eyeing a familiar figure at the entrance.
Venom Parker!
Charlie mused. No wonder they knew his story—someone snitched.
Blackened, ten times stronger; redeemed, three times weaker.
Venom Parker was no match for Charlie now, uninterested in fighting him.
But this was different.
In this Spider-Man battlefield, he wanted to win!
For Aunt May!
His only chance.
He waited, black liquid writhing, occasionally forming demonic faces, scaring citizens.
"Buzz~"
A portal sparked, Sorcerer Spider-Man emerging.
"Where's Charlie Parker?" Venom Parker asked.
Sorcerer Spider-Man shook his head, "He's asleep, maybe skipping this mission."
"Asleep?" Venom Parker frowned.
"You don't believe me?"
Sorcerer Spider-Man conjured a mirror dimension, showing Charlie slumped under the antenna tower, motionless.
Venom Parker's brows furrowed, "You sure it's not an illusion?"
"Illusion?"
Sorcerer Spider-Man paused, "You mean he knows clone magic?"
"Of course."
"Damn, why didn't you tell me?"
"You didn't ask."
"Damn it."
Sorcerer Spider-Man grabbed Charlie's body from a portal.
Shaking the lifeless form, he frowned.
"Not a clone, it's…"
He gasped, "Soul projection!"
His face changed, blue light scanning the surroundings.
"Buzz~"
Like a searchlight, it swept the area. Charlie hid quickly.
The light faded, Sorcerer Spider-Man sighing.
"Can't find him."
Venom Parker's face darkened.
"When did he learn soul magic? This is trouble."
Missing matches, he couldn't track Charlie's full capabilities.
With Charlie's soul loose, he was likely planning in secret.
Untracked, they might lose without knowing how.
Seeing Venom Parker's look, Sorcerer Spider-Man crossed his arms, "Buddy, what's wrong? Is he that scary?
First match for me, don't lie." He was skeptical.
"He's not lying."
A phantom figure appeared.
"He shared his memories. I saw the truth."
Phantom Spider-Man told Sorcerer Spider-Man, "That guy's pure trouble. If we don't stop him, we've got no shot.
I've mentally linked all participants, urging them to target him.
We can't find him, but some Spider-Man will sense him."
Sorcerer Spider-Man shrugged, unconvinced.
"Sorry, I shouldn't doubt you, but it's hard to believe without seeing him.
Even if he's strong, there's one winner.
If he doesn't show, I'm done with this game."
Phantom Spider-Man considered.
"Wait a bit. I'll soon know where he is."
"How long?"
"Soon."
In soul form, Charlie's senses were sharp.
Learning the truth, he felt the pressure mount.
Venom Parker had mastered the Resurrection Match's playbook.
Connections and intel locked down, burning through Charlie's retries.
So unfair!!
Charlie leaned against a wall, sighing.
Pym Particles couldn't shake the Spider-Men, and his soul form was no match.
Portals countered, mental strength crushed, no network advantage.
This round was doomed.
Soon, as Spider-Men swarmed the hospital, Charlie saw a glimmer of victory.
He spotted a familiar face.
At the entrance, Lizard Parker eyed Venom Parker, sneering.
"No wonder we were told to take out that loser Charlie. Someone's scheming!"
Venom Parker was serious, "We haven't found Charlie Parker."
Lizard Parker shrugged, "Who cares?"
He glanced at Sorcerer Spider-Man and the eerie Phantom, sneering harder.
"What're you up to?
Three of you teaming up to take out that loser or us?"
The Spider-Men whispered.
"What's going on? They say Charlie Parker's the biggest threat, but he hasn't shown."
"They might be lying."
"Oh my God, they fooled the smartest Spider-Men."
"They're Spider-Men too."
"No, Spider-Men don't lie to Spider-Men. How could they?"
"I get it, Charlie Parker's their excuse!"
"Exactly, they're ganging up to clear us out."
"Charlie Parker sounds like a weak Spider-Man. No way he's that strong."
"Hmph, Spider-Men don't trust Spider-Men!"
"Don't believe that symbiote."
"That blurry guy, can't even see his face, must be ashamed."
"Right, we can't let them win."
The Spider-Men grew furious, itching to storm the hospital.
Seeing the situation spiral, Venom Parker glared at Lizard Parker.
"What are you doing? You know how dangerous Charlie Parker is. Why not tell them?"
Lizard Parker smirked, "He's just a loser. I only lost before because I was careless. I don't take him seriously."
The Spider-Men pondered.
"Even that loser Peter doesn't respect him. Charlie Parker's a nobody."
"Then we don't need to worry."
"Yeah, their lies are exposed."
"Don't trust them."
"No way they'll distract us. We're the smartest Spider-Men!"
"They don't move, we rush in…"
The situation escalated beyond Venom Parker's control.
Sorcerer Spider-Man grew more skeptical.
He looked at Phantom Spider-Man, "Didn't you hypnotize them? Why do they doubt us?"
Phantom Spider-Man pointed at Lizard Parker, "Once doubt takes root, it spreads.
I only hypnotized them, not controlled them."
Lizard Parker jumped out, pointing at the trio.
"See! They hypnotized us!"
"Oh my God, we were hypnotized. No wonder we believed them."
"Damn, we almost fell for it."
"Charge! Take them down!!"
Instantly, under Lizard Parker's lead, countless Spider-Men rushed Venom Parker's trio.
"Wait, let me explain…"
Venom Parker panicked, while Sorcerer Spider-Man shrugged.
"Mosaic Man, your voice was too loud," he said to Phantom Spider-Man.
Phantom Spider-Man clenched his fists, "Your voice was louder."
"Fine, my bad. It's a free-for-all now."
Sorcerer Spider-Man slipped into a portal, leaving the two to face the angry Spider-Men.
"No!!"
Venom Parker was swarmed, while Phantom Spider-Man faded into the void.
Watching the chaos, he sighed.
"Charlie Parker's a real problem. You guys… ugh~"
He shook his head, his mental strength nearly recovered.
"I'll prove it."
Closing his eyes, vast mental energy spread.
Between stopping the Spider-Men and finding Charlie, he chose the latter.
Meanwhile, Charlie, enjoying the show, felt a familiar sensation.
Immense mental energy swept his soul, knocking him out.
[You have been eliminated, unable to obtain a resurrection slot. Reward: High-Heat Web Ball formation speed -1 second.]
[Remaining 86 retries. Restart?]
Fifth Resurrection Match.
Beneath the antenna tower, Charlie recalled Lizard Parker's stellar performance, brimming with confidence.
"Who says I've got no connections in this match!"
A hopeless situation, saved by the four-legged reptile bro.
As the countdown ended, Charlie's soul projected, speeding toward the hospital.
Soon, Lizard Parker's instigation had Spider-Men doubting Venom Parker's trio.
Before Venom Parker could explain, Charlie's soul returned to his body.
He crawled from a corner.
"I'm Charlie Parker! They kidnapped me, don't trust them!!"
Propping up his injured body, Charlie limped toward the Spider-Men, his suit in tatters.
"Don't believe them, save Aunt May!!"
With Charlie's dramatic performance, the Spider-Men fully trusted Lizard Parker.
"You bastards, how could you do this to Spider-Man!"
"Charge!"
"Take them down."
"Wipe out the evil Spider-Men!!"
Countless Spider-Men rushed Venom Parker's group.
Lizard Parker winked at Charlie.
Charlie gave a knowing gesture.
Winning once versus always winning—Lizard Parker knew the difference.
Though he'd lost Uncle Ben and Aunt May, they died when he was young, leaving little memory or attachment.
With shallow obsessions, he didn't care much.
Maybe a chance later, but not now.
He knew his limits. Siding with Venom Parker wouldn't win, so why not help the "loser"?
Stick with Charlie, and death's no worry.
Most importantly, he didn't think Charlie would lose.
Thus, the trap against Charlie cracked inexplicably, Venom Parker's plan disrupted, Spider-Men flooding the hospital, chaos intensifying.
In the void, Phantom Spider-Man regained most of his mental strength.
Before he could scan the city, a dazzling spider totem rose beneath him.
"What's this?"
Under the magic circle, his form twisted.
"Mosaic Man, goodbye."
Charlie teleported in, the totem exploding.
"No!!"
"Boom"
The void's phantom shattered in the blast, Charlie musing.
"Energy form, no wonder his mental strength was unstable."
Initially, Phantom Spider-Man's mental link drained him.
Only later did he recover, ambushing Charlie.
If he stayed at peak, Charlie had no chance.
With Phantom Spider-Man gone, Charlie avoided the hospital's melee.
With so many Spider-Men vying for Aunt May, the fight was fierce, no quick winner.
He decided to explore the unknown.
In a nearby alley, he found Lizard Parker.
"Hey, long time no see."
Charlie greeted him.
Lizard Parker blinked, "Long time?"
"Sort of!" Charlie grinned.
Lizard Parker glanced at the hospital, "Not trying?"
"Not yet."
"I get it, playing the long game, mantis stalking cicada."
"Some culture, but not much."
Charlie fired a web, and Lizard Parker flopped onto a web hammock, relaxing.
"How's it going?" he asked, eyes closed.
Charlie lounged on another web hammock, "Alright, you?"
Lizard Parker opened one eye, "If you hadn't crushed me, my life's one word."
"Miserable?"
"Nope."
"Great?"
"No, vibrant."
"Uh, okay, vibrant needs cash, and you're still broke."
"I'm not the old Peter."
Lizard Parker grinned smugly, "You don't know my new gig."
"Gig?"
Charlie raised a brow, "Superhero?"
"Nope, famous comic artist!"
Lizard Parker stood proud, "I turned our stories into comics. They blew up in New York. I'm rich now." He laughed.
Charlie: "..."
"You've got that skill?" He was skeptical.
Lizard Parker glanced at him, "What's that look? Can't be a comic artist if I'm not Spider-Man?"
"Sorry, shouldn't doubt you."
Charlie recalled most Peter Parkers designed their own suits.
First-gen Peter sketched countless drafts, proving artistic talent.
If not Spider-Man, a comic artist might live better.
"By the way, how'd you die this time?" Lizard Parker asked.
Charlie waved, "Met a nutcase trying to wreck the multiverse. We fought three days and nights. I won, but got too injured, so…"
Lizard Parker cut him off.
"Stop, as a great comic artist, I'm calling BS."
Charlie: "..."
"You're a comic artist, not a novelist," he rolled his eyes.
Lizard Parker smirked, "My novel's about to drop, preorders are hot."
Charlie rolled his eyes again, "You're dead, no family, no royalties."
Lizard Parker froze, realizing something.
Something was off.
"No!!! My money!!
Pain! So painful…"
Lizard Parker wailed, tears of sorrow flowing.
Charlie checked the time.
"Only an hour in, but the fight's heating up. Gotta check it out."
He drew a circle, opening a portal.
"Buzz~"
As it opened, a red-and-blue figure tumbled out.
"May's mine—huh? Why am I here?"
Muscle Spider-Man stood, eyeing Charlie and Lizard Parker.
"All Spider-Men are rivals. You two look scrawny, weak.
Sorry, weaklings."
He cracked his knuckles, approaching. Charlie calmly entered the portal, glancing at Lizard Parker.
"If you're bored, play with him. He's all show, no strength."
"How do you know?" Lizard Parker scratched his head.
"I tested him."
Charlie vanished into the portal.
At the hospital, Mary Jane clutched Aunt May, trembling.
Peter Parker blocked the door, sweating.
"What's happening? Why so many Spider-Men?"
Hearing the chaos outside, Peter's heart raced.
By the bed, Sorcerer Spider-Man checked Aunt May's condition.
"Surgery to remove the bullet near her heart would kill her."
"What?"
Mary Jane paled, "No surgery?"
"Right."
Sorcerer Spider-Man mused, "But I might have a way."
"Your way is tricking kids with magic?"
Thunder rolled outside, Thor Spider-Man hovering, blasting incoming Spider-Men with Mjolnir.
Winds howled, currents surged, his aura spreading. Sorcerer Spider-Man's gaze hardened.
"Now it's getting interesting."
"Interesting, my ass!"
Charlie stepped from the portal, seeing the breathing machine fried by currents, Aunt May's body stiffening in spasms. His face darkened.
"May's dead, and you two did it."
Sorcerer Spider-Man: "..."
Thor Spider-Man: "..."