Main universe, Eisen Apartment.
Charlie returned home, tidied up, and flopped onto the bed.
Finding the Watcher to uncover the truth wasn't in his control.
Unless the Watcher chose to appear, Charlie had no way of tracking him down.
Besides, the truth didn't matter much to him.
If he ever did something that could collapse the universe, the Ancient One would've shown up to warn him by now.
Lost in thought, Charlie sat up, cross-legged on the bed.
Forming hand seals, his head drooped, body slipping into a sleep-like state.
His soul floated in the room, Dark Stephen's forbidden magic surfacing in his mind.
Summon creatures from dimensional spaces, break them down into pure magical energy.
Absorb that energy to amplify magical prowess.
It was a way to claim magic for oneself.
Mastering this magic would let Charlie bypass the cosmic barriers in the DC universe.
This energy, stored in his body, was far more reliable than "borrowing" magic.
With that in mind, Charlie's hands moved faster. A massive spider totem bloomed in the room.
Seeing it, his expression shifted.
It worked?
Buzz~
The spider totem spun slowly, connecting to an unknown dimensional space.
Dark Stephen's experience made Charlie cautious.
He wouldn't start with massive dimensional creatures but the weakest ones.
Puff puff…
A round little head emerged from the totem.
The first creature resembled a one-eyed goblin. It looked cute at first glance, but a closer look revealed its menace—bloodshot veins in its eye spreading as Charlie sensed a killing intent lock onto him.
The caster seeks the creature's magical energy.
But the creature also hungers to devour the caster.
This magic was forbidden because of this dangerous two-way devouring.
One misstep, and the creature could consume the caster, causing catastrophic consequences.
But the bigger the risk, the greater the reward.
For Charlie now, these low-level creatures were no threat.
Before he acted, the spider totem contracted. The one-eyed goblin disintegrated into magical energy, becoming specks of light that surged into Charlie's soul.
As the energy entered, Charlie felt what true magic was for the first time.
Full, warm, flowing freely in his soul's depths, like an innate superpower.
Now he understood why Dark Stephen could use magic on DC's Krypton—this magic made it possible.
Charlie's eyes flickered, hands shifting. The spider totem reconnected to another dimension.
Soon, a pink, small octopus crawled onto the totem.
Another easy creature.
Charlie effortlessly broke it down and absorbed its energy.
His magical energy grew, but compared to the vast magic borrowed from the nine spider totems, it was less than a thousandth.
He needed to keep going.
In the room, the spider totem's dazzling light flickered endlessly.
From palm-sized creatures to calf-sized ones, Charlie "tasted" them all.
The bigger, the tastier.
This rapid growth drove him wild.
No longer satisfied with small snacks, he set his sights on bigger, stronger creatures.
Glancing around the cramped room, he waved open a portal and left the apartment.
Summoning stronger creatures required more space.
The apartment wouldn't do.
After Charlie's soul left, his body slumped onto the bed.
Soon, a knock came at the door. No response.
Outside, Agent Hill, hair dripping wet, fought to steady her trembling.
Recalling TV drama heroines' tactics, she hyped herself up.
Maria Hill, you've got this!
Go for it!
Her excuse: a leak at home, needing to crash for the night.
Reasonable enough, right?
Arms crossed, she waited for Charlie to answer.
Three minutes passed. Nothing.
Hill grew anxious.
"Strange, did I get it wrong?"
She frowned.
She'd seen the room's lights on, so she made her move.
He couldn't be that asleep, could he?
Torn, she tapped into her S.H.I.E.L.D. skills, pulling out a lock-picking device resembling an earbud case.
Beep~
A soft click, and Hill slipped inside.
The bedroom light was still on. She called out softly.
"Charlie, you there?"
No answer. Hill took a deep breath and approached the bedroom.
The door was open. She saw Charlie, passed out on the bed.
"Hm?"
Hill frowned, puzzled.
Actually asleep?
She could faintly hear his breathing.
Though odd, she decided to stick to her plan.
Stepping into the bedroom, she gently nudged Charlie's shoulder.
Still out cold. Hill's expression turned strange.
Could it be…
A thought hit her.
His soul's out gallivanting!
That's it.
Relieved, Hill smirked mischievously.
"Thank the Allfather, even the gods are on my side."
She also owed Captain Carter.
The TV heroine was right—happiness must be fought for.
If you can't win it, take it!
Hill turned and locked the door.
…
The next morning, Charlie's soul returned.
Hiss~
Opening his eyes, he felt sore all over, like he'd fought all night. Exhausted.
Weirdest of all…
Charlie noticed little Charlie wasn't right.
"No way, is this an instinct thing?"
He scratched his head, dumbfounded.
Still in puberty?
Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts aside.
Getting up, a black item fell to the floor.
Charlie: "."
He picked up the black lace underwear, lips twitching.
"Who did this?"
Glancing at the open window, he wondered if it blew in from outside.
With this luck, he should buy a lottery ticket.
No, stocks!
Tossing the underwear in the trash, Charlie started washing up.
Then he noticed something off in the bathroom.
He hadn't showered last night!
But it was soaking wet.
His face grew serious.
Did his body sleepwalk?
Terrifying!!
…
S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Agent Hill, you're in a great mood today."
In the corridor, Coulson hurried to catch up, handing her a file.
Beaming, Hill glanced at it.
"Info on Xavier's School. Charles recruited another student."
She smiled. "Got it. I'll send someone to verify."
Coulson nodded, then hesitated.
"Uh… you free tonight?" he asked, face red.
Hill's expression shifted, meeting his gaze.
"Coulson, your job is to work hard and buy your own quinjet. You can't keep riding shotgun in mine."
Coulson's face reddened further.
"Uh, I'll work on it. I'll get my own quinjet, don't worry."
"Go for it."
Hill brushed him off and walked away.
Watching her, Coulson clenched his fists, determined.
"So she admires driven men. Got it.
No quinjet, no date. I'll work harder!"
Muttering, he reached Carter's office.
"Commander, give me more work!"
His arrival startled Carter.
She exhaled, rolling her eyes. "Agent Phil, knock next time."
Coulson looked sheepish. "I got excited."
Carter shook her head. "Looks like you heard."
"Heard what?" Coulson looked confused.
Carter smiled. "The new funding will keep us comfortable for a while. Don't worry, this month's bonus will satisfy you."
Coulson's eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Commander. I'll work hard."
"You're hyped today."
"No, I just love the job."
"Fine, here's a new task."
Carter tapped her virtual computer.
The screen showed a forest outside New York, glowing with radiant light and echoing with beastly roars.
Coulson frowned. "That light…"
"Looks like Spider-Man's magic, right?"
Carter laughed. "Hill told me Spider-Man was under her surveillance all night, so this isn't him."
"Hill watched Spider-Man all night?"
Coulson's brow furrowed deeper.
Carter noticed, curious. "What's wrong?"
Coulson snapped out of it. "Nothing. Hill's amazing.
She stayed up watching Spider-Man but looks fine today. I can't compete."
Sighing, Coulson lowered his head. Carter caught something.
"Up all night, full of energy… this plot…"
Her face darkened.
"Oh no, she's already moving!!"
Carter slammed the desk, startling Coulson.
"Commander, you—"
"It's fine. Investigate this. Don't mind me."
"Alright!"
As Coulson left, Carter gritted her teeth.
"Maria Hill, you sly fox. Tonight, I'll catch you!!"
Meanwhile, at her desk, Hill shivered.
"Caught a cold last night?"
She rubbed her nose, puzzled.
…
Nightfall. Charlie lay on his bed, soul departing again.
He planned to continue practicing devouring magic.
His soul's strength now easily wielded magic, thanks to absorbing dimensional creatures' energy.
Who knew he'd stumble onto this method?
He had to strike while the iron was hot.
With three free Resurrection Matches, he needed to prepare thoroughly.
Mid-thought, his soul returned to last night's forest.
Buzz~
Forming seals, the massive spider totem spread, enveloping half the forest.
Crack crack crack~
Roar!!
With a thought, a dozens-of-meters-long dimensional python lunged from the totem.
Charlie's eyes glowed with magical energy. Hands sealing, the totem trembled, spawning magical spiders that shot out.
Chitter chitter chitter
The spiders' webs bound the python. As the totem contracted, the python dissolved into pure magical energy.
Buzz~
The energy formed a radiant galaxy, merging into Charlie's soul.
Bathed in magic's glow, his soul shimmered, growing more solid, visible to the naked eye.
In the forest's corner, Coulson gaped at the increasingly clear figure.
"Oh Odin, it's Charlie Parker!!"
He grabbed his communicator to call Carter.
No answer.
Charlie's bedroom.
Carter rejected Coulson's call.
Seeing Charlie fast asleep, she spotted the black underwear in the trash.
Her face darkened.
Picking it up, she examined it, gritting her teeth. "It is you, you sneaky bastard."
She'd seen Hill buy the same pair while shopping.
Combined with today's observations, it was clear—Hill took advantage of Charlie's soul absence.
Carter regretted it.
She shouldn't have shared that cheesy drama with Hill.
The plot was identical.
Hill learned fast.
No, she couldn't let Hill get ahead.
Carter considered copying the plot, but a sound at the door made her freeze.
Her face changed. She dove into the closet.
Footsteps approached.
In the bedroom, Hill saw Charlie in the same state, grinning excitedly.
A few more times, and… what's that saying?
Cook the rice, and he can't back out!
She moved to act.
As she sat on the bed, the door stirred, panicking her.
In a rush, she hid in the closet.
Carter: "."
Hill: "."
Inside, they stared at each other.
Awkward silence spread.
Outside, G'iah peeked in.
Seeing only Charlie, she frowned.
"Strange, I swore someone came in."
Puzzled, she studied Charlie's odd state.
"Soul magic?"
G'iah smirked mischievously.
"Heh heh, since I caught you, don't blame me."
In the closet, Carter and Hill seethed.
That jerk's getting away with it!!
But G'iah grabbed a marker, planning to draw a big cat on Charlie's face.
Then, a faint sound came from the door.
"Crap!"
G'iah's face changed. She squeezed into the closet.
G'iah: "."
Seeing the others, her face stiffened.
"Uh… hi. His closet's really empty!" she said awkwardly.
Carter and Hill, heads down, cringed so hard their toes curled.
But their attention shifted to the next person entering.
"Little spider, can't sleep. Wanna shoot hoops?"
Old Steve entered, saw Charlie out cold, and realized his soul was gone.
"Wow, bad timing."
Disappointed, he pulled the blanket over Charlie carefully.
"Haha, I'm too thoughtful."
Old Steve grinned, tidied the room, and left.
He remembered to turn off the light.
Click~
As the door closed, the room darkened.
The three in the closet decided to stay silent.
Leave the closet, and tonight never happened.
Before they could exit, another sound came.
They sighed in exasperation.
Who now?!
Knock knock~
A red figure climbed onto the balcony, tapping the glass.
"Hey, invincible Spider-Man, you're back and didn't tell your sis? I came to—huh?"
Noticing Charlie's state, Lady Deadpool opened the window, peering at him.
"Dead? No, just super asleep."
She put a hand on her hip, scratching her head, puzzled.
"He's gotta be hurt, bad."
Clapping, she grinned. "Perfect. Let sis soothe your wounded body and soul!!"
She yanked off Charlie's blanket, set a speaker by the bed, and started stripping her suit.
"Baby bye~ bye~ bye"
Blasting dance music, Lady Deadpool swayed, kicking off her night of revelry.
"Oh yeah~ oh ho!"
In the closet, Carter, Hill, and G'iah's faces darkened repeatedly.
They exchanged glances, communicating silently.
You stop her.
Not me.
You then.
Why not you?
I'm the commander. It'd be humiliating.
I'm a senior agent. My shame's S.H.I.E.L.D.'s shame.
I'm an agent and an Avenger.
I could fire you.
Together?
Uh…
What's the reason?
No reason. Lock her up.
Great idea!
They formed a united front.
Before they could act, things shifted again.
"Bitch, stop!"
Whoosh~~
Black liquid surged in like silk, and Lady Deadpool yelped, swept away by the symbiote before she could dress.
The black liquid flooded the room, taking her suit too.
Silence returned.
Click~
The closet door opened. Carter peeked out.
Seeing no one else, she bolted from the apartment.
G'iah and Hill followed.
Vroom~
Three quinjets soared into the night, heading different directions.
They chose to forget tonight.
Meanwhile, in the park forest, Gwen held the Black Death Sword to Lady Deadpool's shoulder, voice furious.
"You can't do that to him!!"
Lady Deadpool shrugged, patting her chest brazenly. "If you want, I'll let you go first."
Gwen's face changed. "Have you no shame?"
Lady Deadpool lounged on the ground, fingers tracing her skin.
"Know why you failed?" she chuckled.
Gwen frowned. "None of your business."
Lady Deadpool giggled. "Heh, girls like you love that push-pull game. But don't say I didn't warn you—you won't get him like this."
"I don't need your advice."
"Fine, boring."
Lady Deadpool stood, leisurely putting on her suit.
Hitching her pants, she added, "Friendly tip: someone's already succeeded. Hesitate, and it's too late."
She flipped into the woods, leaving Gwen conflicted.
"Someone succeeded… could it be…"
A thought hit her. Gwen slapped her forehead.
"My gods, this is insane. Are they all crazy?"
This world's gone mad.
…
The next morning.
Charlie's soul returned.
This time, no exhaustion.
"Haha, my magic practice is paying off. Body's getting stronger."
Stretching, he realized something.
"Wait, who tucked me in?"
"Me!"
At the door, old Steve held breakfast, grinning. "Surprised?"
Charlie smirked. "More like startled. You didn't do anything while I was out, right?"
Old Steve rolled his eyes. "Little spider, I'm old, not that kind of old."
"Good."
Charlie joined him in the living room, eating breakfast while asking, "Why're you still here?"
"You didn't send me back."
"Oh, forgot. I'll do it later."
"No need. I'm staying."
Old Steve grinned. "No pension back there. Carter invited me to this S.H.I.E.L.D. Pay's way better."
Charlie side-eyed him. "Old man, you're a superhero. You're not pure anymore."
Old Steve scoffed. "Retire, rehire—don't sweat the details."
"By the way, where were you last night?" he asked curiously.
Charlie waved it off. "Nothing. Practicing magic."
"Magic?"
Old Steve mused. "I want magic too. Take me tonight."
"Deal."
After breakfast, Charlie swung through the multiverse, hunting for universes with both Infinity Stones and Celestial seeds.
His daily grind.
But the odds were slim.
As night fell, he returned, casting soul magic again.
Downstairs, Carter stood guard at the entrance.
Nearby, Hill scouted for an opening.
G'iah watched the odd duo, plotting.
Lady Deadpool lurked in the shadows.
In the dark, Gwen kept a wary eye on them all.
But soon, sleepiness hit, and they drifted off.
Meanwhile, in the suburban forest.
A strange feeling nagged Charlie.
"Old man, I keep feeling someone's spying on my life. Am I imagining it?"
Old Steve stroked his chin, thinking.
His eyes glowed blue.
"Don't worry. Let me check."
He glanced toward Eisen Apartment.
One look, and he recoiled, horrified.
Oh Asgard, is this human behavior?
He freaked out.
"What's up?" Charlie asked.
Old Steve waved frantically. "Nothing. No one's trying to steal your body."
"Oh, good."
Charlie resumed devouring magic.
Old Steve crouched in the corner, pondering.
No normal girl would do something so outrageous.
Some villain's stirring trouble.
He vowed to find the culprit and clear little spider's name!