Finally understanding everything, Charlie felt relieved.
No, even if his body was fine, he needed to sort out who his pure friends were and who weren't.
Otherwise, things could get really awkward.
In his room, Charlie pondered.
For now, he was sure about Felicia, Agent Hill, and Carter.
Carter's attempt failed, but Felicia and Hill had undeniably taken advantage of poor Spider-Man.
As for the others…
He went next door to old Steve.
"Got a question," he said, knocking.
"Shoot."
Steve opened the door, holding a custom magnetic gravity ring.
His face was flushed, clearly from a workout.
Charlie eyed him. "I've got some suspects. Help me confirm."
"No need."
Steve stretched, saying, "Those days, Mary Jane was by your side. No one else had a chance. Relax."
Mary Jane…
Charlie's look turned odd. Judging by his physical state, she'd clearly helped herself.
Viper's mental toxins were no joke.
Confirming another suspect, Charlie waved open a portal, returning to the suburban forest.
Since it wasn't the devouring magic's fault, he'd keep practicing.
This time, he guarded his body in soul form.
High above, his soul formed seals, a massive spider totem glowing brilliantly.
From the magical disc, writhing blood-red tentacles emerged.
"Hydra's evil god?"
Charlie flinched but relaxed when he sensed the chaotic Hydra energy.
Just a dimensional creature mutated by Hydra's power.
He fired a blast of magical energy.
Buzz~~
Boom!!
A dazzling beam pierced the creature, its body dissolving into light particles that surged into his soul like a galaxy.
As his magical energy grew, even raw magic could deal serious damage.
Borrowed magic versus stolen magic—night and day.
He felt the Ancient One's joy.
With a thought, Charlie kept summoning creatures.
A night passed, dawn breaking.
His soul fatigued, he returned to his body.
As his soul merged, the absorbed magic fed his body, making Charlie glow with holy light.
A mage would mistake him for a legendary Sorcerer Supreme.
Kamar-Taj wasn't the only source of Sorcerers Supreme.
In history's long river, many mage civilizations existed.
Each Sanctum had its own Sorcerer Supreme—a symbol of power, honor, and status.
At distant Kamar-Taj, mages sensed a faint holy aura, shocked.
"That's…"
"Another Sorcerer Supreme?"
"No, not quite. Just shy of true transformation."
"Another magical civilization on Earth? Unbelievable."
"A new Sorcerer Supreme could challenge Kamar-Taj's status."
"No worries. This power isn't dark. Even if another emerges, it won't threaten us."
As mages debated, the Ancient One stepped out, gazing at a distant glow.
She smiled. "His fate's shifted again. My retirement's closer."
The thought of retiring lifted her spirits.
In New York's forest, as the holy light faded, Charlie felt no weakness.
He was back!
Stretching, he took a deep breath.
"Great. After hard training, time to enjoy."
He grabbed his phone.
"Hey, Harry, what? Payday? I'm coming!!"
Excited, he opened a portal and stepped through.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Carter's office.
"Your juice."
Carter tossed it to Charlie, then sat.
"As the Avengers' top… pfft, strongest hero, you've skipped missions, so this month's bonus is light."
She tapped her virtual computer, transferring his pay.
His phone's balance satisfied him.
"Thanks for your generosity, Captain Carter."
Carter shook her head. "Talk to Agent Hill. She handles this."
Charlie shrugged. "Spider-Man's friends know I hate awkwardness."
Carter rolled her eyes. "Sure?"
"Totally."
Charlie sipped his juice. "You didn't succeed, so it doesn't count."
Carter's gaze darted, embarrassed.
She changed the subject. "Ahem, old Steve told me. I'll handle Ophelia. I'll notify you with any news."
Ophelia's mental toxins were wild. Except for invincible Spider-Man, no Avenger could resist and catch her.
"Got it."
Charlie nodded, waved open a portal, and left.
"Use the door next time," Carter called weakly as the sparks faded.
…
Leaving S.H.I.E.L.D., Charlie called Harry.
"I'm buying a villa!"
In the coffee shop, his loud voice drew eyes.
He was super confident.
Harry propped his chin, eyeing his friend.
"I could gift you one."
"No way!"
Charlie puffed his chest, nose high.
"After working so hard, if I don't spend, I'll lose motivation."
His experience taught him: Spider-Man's wealth vanished through accidents.
With nine spider totems, it was risky.
Better to splurge than let it sink.
Harry blinked, not getting it but willing to help.
"Fine, I see. You don't need a villa."
He grinned. "Lucky for you, I'm in real estate. I'll get you a deal you'll love."
"No discounts. I don't need—"
Harry cut in. "No discount, a downtown villa's over ten million."
Charlie: "."
"For a mage, suburbs aren't bad."
"One or two million."
"Uh, I'll apply for land and build."
Harry's lip twitched. "So you're broke, right?"
Charlie sighed, head low.
"Guess I overthought it."
He looked at Harry. "I want to spend this month's pay reasonably and enjoyably, but no assets left. Got a way?
You know, as invincible Spider-Man, my salary's enviable."
Harry scoffed. "While we've been talking, I earned half your yearly pay."
"Don't sweat the details."
"Fine, follow me. Spending your pay takes one meal."
"Not literally a meal, right?"
"Guess."
Soon, a luxury quinjet landed at a coastal sky restaurant.
A cyber garden powered by nuclear energy—truly a sky restaurant.
It brimmed with flashy new tech.
S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't bother with such gaudy stuff.
Charlie hadn't seen anything like it.
Stepping off, a maglev disc landed under their feet.
Harry calmly stepped on, floating to a spaceship-themed booth.
Charlie followed.
Below, a whale swam in the garden's "fish pond"—a massive aquarium.
Charlie wasn't too shocked.
Whales? He'd wrangled them.
But he soon lost his cool.
He saw a familiar face.
"Hey, Harry, why're you here?"
A sultry white-haired woman approached, eyes on Charlie.
Felicia smiled. "Charlie, here for me?"
Charlie's face darkened. "No, I'm here to drop a load."
He pulled Harry aside.
"Why's she here?"
Harry blinked. "This is a Hardy family business. You didn't know?"
"Should I?"
"Fair. Felicia's with the Thunderbolts, but she's a colleague. Don't be biased. Her place has great vibes and food, plus surprises!"
Harry leaned in, whispering, "I know your taste. Hollywood stars are too pricey, but this place has island-themed fun. You could take on ten."
Charlie's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say so?!"
"So, Charlie, still dropping a load?" Felicia teased, reading him.
He read her too.
Charlie coughed, regaining composure.
"Just a joke. You know I'm hilarious."
He strode to the booth.
"Harry, why're you lagging?" he called.
Harry blinked. "You're too fast."
"You're too slow."
To Felicia, Charlie said, "Since we're so tight, give me a discount."
"Didn't you say no discounts?" Harry grumbled.
Charlie glanced at him. "This is different.
I want one against ten, please," he said seriously to Felicia.
Harry: "."
Felicia smiled, licking her lips, eyes teasing.
"Don't worry, you'll be satisfied."
She left to prepare.
Charlie sat in the booth's pilot seat, tapping the virtual menu.
Seeing his ease, Harry's look turned odd.
This guy seemed experienced.
What a player!
He cursed inwardly, flipping a discreet middle finger.
Soon, per Charlie's request, maid-clad servers brought dishes.
Then, top-tier actresses appeared.
A time-stopped glasses girl, a shy student, a stern teacher, an evil succubus, a kidnapped heiress, a beaming bride, a mysterious agent…
Charlie scanned them, pointing at the last.
"Agent, out."
He hated agents.
Felicia: "."
Crap, he saw through it.
She removed her bionic mask, resigned. Charlie's face grew stern.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, curious. "You look upset."
Charlie crossed his arms, huffing. "Where's the surprise?"
Harry blinked. "This isn't enough?"
Charlie glared. "I said one against ten!"
"Oh, I get it. One short."
"No, ten short!"
"What? Twenty?" Harry gaped.
Charlie gritted his teeth. "What're you on about?
I want Doraemon piloting Gundam to fight Frieza, using Dragon Balls to wish for Pokémon and Digimon to mega-evolve and crush Konoha ninjas, then team up with Crayon Shin-chan to M78 Nebula to destroy Godzilla for the moon, and finish with a Spirit Bomb slam dunk, driving an AE86 with Totoro to outrace a Mercedes and become Pirate King!!"
He pointed at the actresses, voice ringing.
"Tell me, can they do that?"
Harry: "???"
Felicia: "???"
They exchanged despairing looks.
"Sorry, we don't have that," Felicia said, fists clenched, resisting the urge to deck him.
Charlie snorted. "This place is shady. Fix it and pay fines in three days, or your friendly neighborhood cosmic justice warrior will wreck your restaurant and sue you for taking advantage of a handsome, innocent guy without paying."
He stepped into a portal, vanishing.
Silence fell.
Finally, Harry saw the issue.
"I get it."
He pointed at the actresses' price tags. "You shouldn't have let him see the prices."
Felicia's eye twitched. "For a moment, I believed him."
…
Elsewhere, atop a skyscraper.
On the rooftop, Charlie emerged from a portal, patting his chest.
"Good thing I bolted, or I'd be in debt."
He admired his wit and courage.
Clever excuse, bold escape.
Grinning, he grabbed his phone.
"Hey, I'm a humble citizen reporting—"
Thunder cracked the night sky.
Boom!!
The signal cut out as lightning slashed the darkness.
As white light flashed, a roar echoed.
"Father, I didn't do it!!"
Boom!!
Thunder exploded in the suburbs. In the apartment, old Steve's eyes snapped open. A bolt of lightning shot across the city.
Zzzzt~
As Mjolnir landed in his hand, Steve beamed.
"Haha, Wanda Wilson, you're done."
Wrapped in thunder, he radiated confidence.
The invincible Thunder Captain wouldn't let anyone hold his dark history!
______
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