"Is this the world of The Boys?"
In the The Boys world, atop the Empire State Building, Charlie's clone ignored the endless dark energy in the sky. He glanced at his palm, then examined his body, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement.
It was his first time being so far from his main body.
Without it, he felt so alone, so lonely, so scared…
"So free!!"
The next moment, the clone let out a triumphant roar. The golden Spider Totem surged into the darkness, and the Invincible Spider-Man faced the abyss. Golden webbing spread, and dazzling magical energy exploded in the dark, accompanied by the shocked cries of Knull's clone.
"How… your power—no, it's my dark power!"
BOOM!!
A golden fist shook the void, forcing the darkness back. The golden Spider-Man floated in the sky, pulling vast swathes of golden webbing.
"This universe's dark energy feels foreign, doesn't it?"
Charlie's clone sneered. "Save your strength, or you won't last long. That'd be boring."
Buzz~
Golden webbing, infused with void energy, sank into his palm. The golden Spider-Man unleashed another earth-shaking punch.
RRRUMBLE!!
BOOM!
The battle reignited in the sky, stunning the other contestants hidden in the city's corners.
"They're fighting already?" Fiora's expression shifted. "That's not Spider-Man's style."
Zod frowned beside her. "The roster says it's a clone. Didn't expect him to play it like this."
Fiora caught on. "He sent a clone, so his main body…"
"Isn't here," Zod said gravely, taking a deep breath. "He's minimized his risk."
He paused. "Or maybe he's dealing with something tricky that forced his hand."
Fiora nodded. "Maybe. But this is good. A clone should be easier to handle."
"Handle?"
Zod shook his head. "Don't rush. Wait for them to settle this, then we decide whether to join."
Fiora understood.
If Spider-Man lost, they'd join the dark side to secure the Resurrection Slot. Without Spider-Man's interference, they could easily complete either task—destroy or save the world.
If Spider-Man won, they'd quietly align with him. Joining didn't mean showing up, and they knew how to exploit that loophole.
Ares, the God of War, had already tested it.
Their goal was resurrection, not a life-or-death clash with Spider-Man.
They'd seen Spider-Man's "superpowers" and weren't foolish enough to oppose him again.
Meanwhile, atop the Empire State Building, the original Peter Parker met his companions—Amazing Peter and Third-Gen Peter.
Staring at the terrifying figure in the darkness, fear flashed in their eyes.
"It's him. Knull, the God of Symbiotes. He's here," Original Peter sighed.
Amazing Peter frowned. "You know him?"
Third-Gen Peter blinked. "You guys know him?"
The three exchanged looks.
"Yeah," Original Peter said bitterly. "I was killed by the Symbiote Dragon. You?"
Amazing Peter shrugged. "Same."
Third-Gen Peter scratched his head. "Me too. He was after some Gene Lock, and I just happened to be there."
Silence fell.
Their deaths were why they missed the final battle against the Inheritor Family.
The darkness in the sky was endless, but golden webbing surged on.
The battle's shockwaves rocked the city, sending terrifying blasts through the streets.
Panicked citizens fled, and the three Peters sprang into rescue mode.
It was a duty etched into their bones.
Swish~
Webbing shot out as they split up.
Red-and-blue figures swung through the city, while another red-and-blue figure lifted an entire building, soaring overhead.
The three Peters froze, stunned.
"No way, is that real?" Third-Gen Peter rubbed his eyes. "He's carrying a building!"
Amazing Peter's jaw dropped. "That's too much."
"It's Superman," Original Peter said thoughtfully. "Charlie mentioned him—an invincible Superman from another universe. Who could've killed him?"
Only death granted entry to the Resurrection Match, so the invincible Superman had died?
In a flash, Clark Kent relocated the building to safety and doubled back.
Spotting the three Spider-Men, he gave a friendly wave.
"Hey, you're Charlie's pals, right?"
"Uh, we're—"
"No time! Their fight's getting intense."
Sensing something, Clark sped up his rescue efforts without waiting for Original Peter's reply.
BOOM!!
An airburst erupted, and Clark vanished from their sight.
Meanwhile, at the Seven's Tower, the superheroes led by Homelander watched the cataclysmic battle in the sky. Their faces were pale, bodies trembling.
Terrified, they ignored their company's orders.
Rescue civilians under these godlike forces?
What a joke!
Homelander quietly raised his phone. "Hello, it's me. Book me a ticket to Antarctica."
Under the pressure of these near-divine powers, he forgot he was a superhuman too.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion rocked the sky. Endless vengeance flames swept through, melting the golden webbing. The golden Spider-Man couldn't withstand the absolute dark fire and vanished from view.
"Spider-Man's dead!"
Zod's spirits lifted, but he stopped a restless Fiora.
"Don't be rash. That guy's cunning. We can't be sure yet."
Fiora stared at the cautious Zod, speechless.
"General, it's just a clone."
Zod: "…"
…
[You have been eliminated. No Resurrection Slot granted. Reward: Main Body's Approval +1.]
[Remaining Retries: 299. Restart?]
In the cosmic web, the clone stared curiously at the prompt.
"This works?"
He grinned.
The main body's cheat finally acknowledged him.
Nice!
He gave a thumbs-up and chose to restart without hesitation.
Buzz~
As the clone's body was swallowed by the void, he reappeared atop the Empire State Building.
Knull's clone was still dazed.
"What the—"
Before he could process, Charlie's clone roared from the sky.
"Knull, you old thief, meet your end!!"
BOOM!!
Golden webbing erupted, and the golden Spider-Man dove as a streak of light, vowing to crush the darkness while it was confused.
Knull's clone, facing the ferocious assault, sensed something off.
"This guy's too aggressive."
Gripping the All-Black Necrosword, he unleashed endless darkness to battle Spider-Man.
RRRUMBLE!!
BANG!
Darkness and golden webbing clashed, toppling skyscrapers in the wild energy.
"How… my power…"
"Knull, you old thief, take this!!"
"Argh!! Damn clone, what's with the attitude?!"
BOOM~~
Vengeance flames spread, and the reckless Spider-Man met his demise.
…
[You have been eliminated. No Resurrection Slot granted. Reward: Clone's Confidence +1.]
[Remaining Retries: 298. Restart?]
Restart!
"Knull, you old thief, die!!"
"Such aggressive vibes."
BOOM!!
Darkness spread, golden webbing spanning the sky.
Sizzle~~
BANG!!
Immense force struck the Necrosword, sparks flying. Knull stumbled back, shocked again by Spider-Man's power.
"How… my power…"
BOOM!!
Golden webbing gathered colossal energy, surging forward. Knull, with no time to think, prepared to unleash vengeance flames to annihilate the puny clone.
"Die!"
As he raised the Necrosword, endless webbing shot from the void, binding him.
Pfft~
"Hand it over!"
The clone grabbed the webbing, trying to seize the Necrosword, but Knull sneered.
"Naive insect."
BOOM!
The Symbiote Dragon Totem flashed blood-red, and vengeance flames roared.
The clone, helpless, let go.
"Aw, man, this round's busted too."
…
[You have been eliminated. No Resurrection Slot granted. Reward: Failure's Man (Badge) +1.]
[Remaining Retries: 297. Restart?]
Restart!
[Remaining Retries: 296…]
Restart!
[Remaining Retries: 267…]
Restart!
[Remaining Retries: 201…]
Restart!
On the hundredth restart, atop the Empire State Building, the golden Spider Totem swelled, surging into the ground as immense totem power.
The next moment, the dazed Knull clone was tightly bound by golden webbing erupting from the earth.
"What?"
As he reacted, the All-Black Necrosword was forcibly yanked from his grip.
Humm!!
The Necrosword was dragged into the sky by webbing, and the golden Spider-Man leaped, grabbing the hilt.
"One slash… to crack your skull!"
Humm!!
BOOM!!!
Thunder flashed in the webbing-covered sky. As white light gleamed, the Invincible Spider-Man wielded the sword, unleashing radiant golden sword light.
His divine power overpowered the Necrosword's blood-red hue, his invincible figure dominating all contestants' views.
"He…" Fiora's eyes widened. "That power…"
Zod was stunned. "They're fighting already?"
"General, that line sounds familiar."
"What?"
"I think that's my line."
"Doesn't matter. The question is, how do we help Spider-Man save the world?"
Fiora: "…"
The general's motives were hard to read.
The golden sword light slashed down, shaking the earth. The terrifying strike split the street, its trench swallowing countless figures.
Clark, about to act, paled. "Spider-Man's clone is too brutal!"
He rushed to the ruins. "You're not Spider-Man!"
He accused the clone. "Who are you?"
Panting, the clone grinned with relief.
Hahaha! "Who am I? I'm Spider-Man, the Invincible Spider-Man!!"
Laughing, he raised the Necrosword, roaring to the sky.
"Knull's dead! I'm the strongest!!"
BOOM!!
Thunder cracked in the overcast sky, white light briefly illuminating the clone's face. Clark saw madness and indescribable emotion in his eyes.
"This…"
He was terrified.
Stumbling back, his face darkened.
How could this be?
Surveying the devastation, Clark lost all hope.
Spider-Man's clone had lost control!
But soon, eerie flames flickered on the Necrosword, and Knull's laughter echoed across the city.
Gagaga! "Not bad, Invincible Spider-Man clone. You've impressed me."
The clone's smile froze.
It was like a bucket of cold water had doused him, snapping him awake.
"Heh, I knew it."
"Die!!"
…
Charlie was unaware of the events in the The Boys world.
He was now encased in an invisible bubble, surrounded by endless darkness.
In the dark, he saw others in similar bubbles—superheroes and villains alike.
White-haired Hulk, righteous Steve, peak-beauty Natasha, still-mortal Clint Barton, Iron Man with his super armor, Cheetah, Abomination, Ultron bots, Thanos, and more.
Charlie realized these were all captives of Doctor Doom.
He pounded the bubble, cursing into the darkness.
"Motherf—! What's with these losers? Why am I stuck with them?
You did all this just to show me this?
Come out, you little trash! I demand justice, an explanation!
I'm a god!
Want these nobodies? Just tell me, I'd have rounded them up for you!
Let me out, I need to pee~~"
But his tirade didn't summon Doctor Doom. Instead, the surrounding bubbles stirred.
"Oh my God, it's Spider-Man!" Natasha frowned. "He curses like a sailor."
Clint nodded. "Yeah, he really looks down on us."
"I know him. Invincible Spider-Man, Charlie Parker," Iron Man shrugged. "Other Peters told me he's the strongest Spider-Man."
"Strongest?"
Abomination grinned savagely. "Just a pathetic bug. No big deal. When Battleworld opens, I'll tear him apart!"
"Hey, big guy, you sound confident!" another Spider-Man teased. "Don't cry later."
Abomination snorted. "All Spider-Men deserve to die!"
Hulk: "???"
Since when did he like anyone?
Charlie, still cursing, got no response from Doom. He swallowed hard, calming down.
"He's probably not home."
"Perfect. We can make a fun escape."
The golden pistol trembled, and Fin Fang Foom's totem floated before Charlie.
"I know a way out. Come with me to find the Chronicle of Ages!"
"Fin Fang Bro, I'm rejecting your suggestion."
Charlie crossed his arms in the bubble. "You forgot—I've got a helper."
"Helper?" Fin Fang Foom was puzzled.
"Yup, my clone."
Charlie was certain. "Once he finishes the Resurrection Match, he'll find me."
"No, find us."
A new bubble appeared beside Charlie. Elderly Steve pounded it, beaming.
"Little Spider, don't be scared! I'm here. Thunder God Captain will never abandon Spider-Man!"
Charlie: "…"
…
Meanwhile, in the cosmic web:
[You have been eliminated. No Resurrection Slot granted. Reward: Main Body's Longing +1.]
Clone: "…"
"Longing's useless!" he muttered.
As the "Failure's Man," he'd impulsively burned through plenty of retries.
He hoped the main body wouldn't cry later.
After several more beatdowns, he still couldn't defeat Knull's clone, feeling utterly discouraged.
Both clones, yet the gap was huge.
But he calmed down.
Brute force wasn't working. He'd have to think like the main body and find backup.