[In the dimly lit basement, Ned reached for the light switch mounted on the stone wall. As soon as he flipped it, multiple mystical torches burst into flame simultaneously, immediately illuminating the entire underground space with warm, flickering light.]
["This is absolutely amazing!" Ned walked into the chamber with barely contained excitement. When he spotted an ornate crossbow resting on an ancient wooden table, he immediately approached and picked it up to examine its intricate craftsmanship.]
[Spider-Man attempted to explain the complexities of the Oblivion Spell situation to his friends: "Listen, guys, about this whole spell situation..."]
[MJ interrupted him with understanding reassurance: "It's totally okay, Peter! We get it!"]
[Spider-Man looked genuinely surprised by their acceptance: "Wait! Really? You're not angry about this?"]
["Yeah! I completely understand your motivation! You just wanted to solve our college problem, so... maybe next time, talk to us first before taking action! That way, when you're thinking, 'Hey, what I'm about to do might accidentally destroy the entire universe,' we can help you think it through and come up with a better solution together, or... at least brainstorm alternatives!"]
[Spider-Man smiled with genuine relief and nodded gratefully: "Absolutely! No problem! I promise to include you both in any major decisions!"]
[Then he turned to check on his other friend, wanting to gauge his reaction: "Ned? How do you feel about all this?"]
["Oh! It's completely fine! Seriously, bro! It's really no big deal at all! Oh my God!!! There's a torture rack over here!" Ned ran toward the medieval-looking contraption with unbridled enthusiasm before he had even finished his reassuring words.]
[MJ corrected him with practical knowledge: "That's actually equipment for Pilates exercises!" Then she pointed toward the darker area on the opposite side of the basement: "And that over there is..."]
["A wine cellar!" Ned finished excitedly.]
[MJ walked over to begin their investigation: "Okay! So here's the plan - we locate the other interdimensional visitors! You teleport them over here using that magical wristband, and then the magic doctor will send them back to their home universes! After we're all successfully admitted to MIT, I'll treat you both to expired donuts from the convenience store!"]
[Ned joined them and declared in an excited tone: "Let's go catch ourselves some guys from parallel universes! This is like the ultimate scavenger hunt!"]
[Otto, observing that Spider-Man had brought two additional people into this strange situation, couldn't help but shout from his mystical containment: "Hey! Who exactly are these two people? More of your accomplices?"]
[Spider-Man politely introduced his friends' identities, then turned back to Otto with curiosity: "I'm sorry, but what is your name? I don't think you properly introduced yourself."]
["Dr. Otto Octavius!" he replied with professional dignity.]
[Hearing this rather unusual name, all three teenagers burst into laughter simultaneously: "Seriously! What's your actual real name?"]
[Before Otto could respond with indignation, Ned noticed Dr. Connors on the other side of the basement and exclaimed with wonder: "Oh wow! Is that actually a dinosaur?"]
[After attempting to break through the mystical barrier multiple times without any success, Dr. Connors, who had been sitting resignedly on the ground in his lizard form, glanced up at Ned with intelligent but weary eyes.]
"Dr. Connors! Has there been any significant progress on his genetic regeneration medicine recently?" Captain George Stacy asked 2nd Gen Spider-Man with professional interest. He wasn't personally familiar with Connors' research.
"Unfortunately, no!" 2nd Gen Spider-Man shook his head with disappointment. "Various accidents and complications always occur during simulation experiments. Dr. Connors has never been able to maintain the genetic modifications in long-term biological balance. As time progresses, dangerous imbalances inevitably occur, leading to serious accidents and setbacks."
"I see! Well, I hope he succeeds eventually, but let's pray he doesn't cause any more public safety problems." George didn't seem particularly concerned, having asked mainly out of casual curiosity.
"Oh! He definitely won't be causing any more incidents. Osborn Industries can no longer withstand any additional controversy or turmoil. Harry told me that the company has become much more conservative in recent years, and many of their more dangerous research projects have been permanently discontinued."
Speaking of Osborn Industries, 2nd Gen Spider-Man felt genuinely sympathetic. Such a massive corporation had seen its total assets shrink by one-third or even nearly half after several major public relations disasters, and the company was still struggling to recover its former stability and reputation.
[Spider-Man carefully removed his battle suit from his backpack, revealing that it was still stained with stubborn, indelible green paint from his recent encounter.]
[MJ held her smartphone and continuously scrolled through various online videos showing unusual or inhuman activities that might indicate the presence of interdimensional intruders.]
[Ned pulled out his tablet computer and began conducting his own systematic digital investigation.]
["If you can't manage to wash that paint off your suit, just give it to me and I'll handle it for you!" MJ offered helpfully.]
[Spider-Man continued scrubbing at his suit while simultaneously talking on the phone with Aunt May: "NO! NO! NO! Aunt May! We absolutely have to locate these interdimensional people first before I can come home!"]
[Aunt May had no choice but to accept his priorities: "Well! Alright then! Just complete your mission safely, then come over when you're finished! We're planning to organize a canned food donation event for the community shelter!"]
[Spider-Man held up his suit to examine his cleaning progress, but discovered that the green paint still couldn't be completely removed. He suddenly had a practical idea and simply turned the garment inside out so that the green stains couldn't be seen from the outside.]
[At this crucial moment, Ned shouted with excitement: "I found one! I've got a lead!"]
["Oh! May, I have to go immediately!"]
[He quickly hung up the phone and hurried over to join Ned, with MJ also converging on their location.]
["What exactly did you discover?"]
["Outside the city limits... there was a major disturbance near a classified military research institute! Multiple witnesses reported seeing a flying creature or monster moving through the air at high speed!"]
[Spider-Man made an educated guess: "That should definitely be the same person I encountered on the bridge earlier! Right?"]
[Otto, who was imprisoned in his mystical cage, suddenly interjected with authority: "That's completely impossible!"]
[All three teenagers turned their attention toward him. Spider-Man had already suspected this connection and walked closer to the containment barrier: "You know him personally! Don't you? You said his name when you first saw him!"]
["Norman Osborn! Brilliant scientist, military researcher and industrialist! He lost his way because of unchecked greed and ambition!"]
[Spider-Man pressed for more information: "What exactly happened to him? How did he become dangerous?"]
[Unexpectedly, Otto suddenly became furious and explosive: "Haven't you asked enough questions?!! Boy!!! Leave me alone!"]
[Spider-Man was genuinely startled by Otto's violent outburst and responded quietly: "Okay! Uh... I need to go handle this situation. Where should I go to find him?"]
[When Spider-Man returned to Ned and MJ to determine the exact location for capturing this interdimensional visitor, Otto spoke again with reluctant concern.]
["It cannot possibly be him!"]
[MJ looked at Otto with growing confusion: "Why are you so certain?"]
["Because Norman Osborn has been dead for many years! So either we are dealing with someone else entirely... or you are about to rush into the darkness to fight against a literal ghost!"]
[Spider-Man studied Otto's completely serious expression and felt convinced that the scientist was not lying to them. However, he had definitely seen the individual that Otto identified as Norman Osborn on the bridge during their recent encounter.]
"That's a genuinely puzzling contradiction. Why would this be happening?" Tony also realized the logical inconsistency. According to the video footage they had seen from the screen, they knew that Norman had already died during the events that led to Otto's own downfall and transformation.
But the figure on the glider was unmistakably the Green Goblin. Could it possibly be 1st Gen Harry instead, having somehow acquired his father's technology and identity?
Tony expressed his doubts aloud, and many people present shared his confusion about this apparent contradiction.
Strange responded with calm authority: "The explanation is actually quite simple. Although these individuals are from the same universe, they are not necessarily from the same temporal point in that universe's timeline!"
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Tony's eyes widened with growing understanding.
Strange sighed and waved his hand to produce a brilliant golden timeline with multiple branching nodes marked along its length. He casually extracted a glowing point of light from one location, and immediately a new branch appeared on the main timeline.
However, Strange demonstrated that he could still extract another light point from a much later node on the original timeline.
"The Forgetfulness Spell has the power to pull these individuals from parallel universes across different time periods. The moment they are transported to our reality, entirely new parallel universes are born. However, the temporal periods these parallel universes represent may not correspond to our current timeline at all."
Wanda provided additional clarification: "What Stephen is explaining is that the Forgetfulness Spell's effects transcend more than just spatial dimensions. Everyone who has ever known that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, from ancient times to the present day, can potentially be affected! The consequences may manifest differently, but without exception, they will disrupt the original cosmic balance."
Tony nodded thoughtfully, processing this revelation. He hadn't expected this magical spell to be so incredibly complex that it could even transcend the normal flow of time itself.
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