The battle between one person backed by an Outer God and one person serving as a vessel for another Outer God.
Who's gonna win?!
...Honestly, the outcome is pretty predictable.
"Oof!"
"Agh!"
"Douh!"
"YIIAOTCHHH!!"
Peter was being telekinetically manipulated by Ghroth, slammed repeatedly into walls and the ground, completely helpless.
Worse still, it wasn't even using full power—despite already being nerfed.
"UWAHH!!!"
Finally, Peter was smashed straight into a glass surface. The cloth bandage wrapped around his head tore open, revealing his forehead gushing blood.
[Well, look how fucked up you are—]
"Don't say anything."
Peter tried to stand, but telekinetic force yanked him forward. He was dragged right in front of Ghroth.
"Kuhh... NYA NYA STAR PUNCH!!"
Peter desperately threw a surprise punch toward Emma, but it didn't even come close—the telekinesis stopped him cold.
[Wow, you're getting better at submitting to my power! Keep this up and the price you pay for using it will drop a lot... maybe even to nothing!]
"THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR THAT—UWAHH!!"
A beam of energy shot from Ghroth's eye straight into Peter's stomach, blasting a huge hole clean through.
"Ah... ahh..."
[Eh, don't worry. You've got me—you won't die.]
Emma, perched on Ghroth's forehead, suddenly widened her eyes.
Her mouth opened wide, revealing sharp, powerful teeth.
[Oh shit, she's about to eat you! Do something!]
"That's what I'm asking YOU! You're an Outer God—why are you only lending me power?! Why not just help me directly??"
[Ehh, about that... later, okay? I don't want to reveal myself yet, teehee~]
"AND YOU SAID YOU CARED ABOUT ME??"
[Look, that's because you're too weak! If you don't know how to use my power properly, what are you complaining about??]
"THEN TEACH ME PROPERLY, DAMMIT!!"
Peter was pulled closer and closer to Emma's reach. She lunged and bit hard into his shoulder.
"Ouch."
[You can scream to show how much it hurts, you know?]
"I've been screaming this whole time."
In one decisive chomp, half of Peter's shoulder was gone. Blood poured all over Emma.
Peter reeled in agony, dizzy from continuous blood loss.
"Ahh..."
[HEY HEY! DON'T GIVE UP THAT FAST! IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES, YOU'LL END UP IN HER STOMACH!!]
Nya's words were clear, but Peter ignored them in his dazed haze.
It really was a one-sided fight. Peter still had a long way to go before he could take on an Outer God—even one in its weakest state...
The frustrating part was that Peter had deliberately targeted Emma, even tried a sneak attack, yet Ghroth's telepathy read him like an open book.
Emma opened her jaws for a second bite. Peter, drugged-like in his pain-induced stupor, couldn't resist as she prepared to devour him further.
Then—rapid footsteps echoed. Ghroth sensed someone approaching and turned around.
BAM!
A chair smashed into Emma, making her scream. Ghroth immediately released Peter and backed off.
Peter collapsed. In his haze, he saw someone rushing toward him, calling his name.
"PETER!!"
The voice felt familiar—like one he'd heard since childhood.
The figure grew clearer as they used something to wipe the blood and staunch the bleeding.
Gradually, Peter recognized them.
"...Harry?"
"Oh thank God you're alive! Get up quick—we gotta get out of here!"
"...Why are you here?" Peter grabbed Harry's shoulder, noticing the hospital gown.
"That's my line! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU FIGHTING THAT WEIRD CREATURE?!"
"Uh... circumstances? Wait—how did you even manage to hit Emma like that—"
"DOESN'T MATTER—GET UP NOW!"
Harry slung Peter's arm over his shoulder and tried to drag him away.
"...Sometimes I forget these ants are still scurrying around annoying me. My mistake, I suppose."
The voice came from below Emma—almost certainly Ghroth.
Instantly, a telekinetic barrier blocked both of them.
"Ugh! Let us out!!" Harry pounded on the invisible wall. Then his body suddenly felt lighter.
"Harry?!" Peter fell as Harry began levitating under telekinetic control.
Harry started choking, as if an invisible hand was strangling him.
Ghroth's eyes glared at Harry like a hunter staring at annoying vines in its path.
"LET HIM GO!!" Peter forced himself up and charged at full speed.
Ghroth's gaze shifted from Harry to Peter.
In an instant, Peter's body was torn apart—arms and legs shredded. He crashed face-first into the ground.
Peter gritted his teeth, rage and helplessness surging through him.
Memories of other Spider-Men flashed before his eyes.
The fate of Spider-Man's best friends... always tragic.
Either they die, or they become his enemy.
No matter what... there's never a good outcome.
He wasn't ready. He didn't want to lose the friend he'd grown up with.
He would never accept it... never...
[...Need help?]
Nya's voice echoed in his head, almost hypnotic.
"...YES! HELP ME—I HAVE TO SAVE HARRY!!"
Nya chuckled softly.
[Of course.]
Just as Ghroth finished with Peter, it turned back to Harry.
Harry struggled, staring into Ghroth's brutal eyes.
[In the end...]
Harry forced a smile.
"Y-you think I came alone, y-you monster?"
[I do care about you, Peter.]
A thin strand of webbing gently descended, brushing across Emma's neck.
"...?"
Then it tightened!
"KUHH!" Emma gasped in pain, choking.
She tried to look up, eyes widening when she saw who was there.
A female figure in a white suit with a design that... looked very spider-like.
"You seem to be enjoying your playtime with Peter, huh?"
"..."
"Come on, say something. Weren't you trying to steal Peter from me? I'm playing fair here." Her head tilted to the side, somehow making her even more terrifying.
"..."
Ghroth's eyes trembled. A beam of energy fired at Gwen.
Gwen simply shifted her body sideways, effortlessly dodging.
"I'll wrap this up quickly."
Her hand moved slightly. Emma's face grew redder and redder.
"Ah..." Emma glanced down at the boy on the ground, who was also looking at her.
Their eyes met—just as Emma began to relax.
Only Peter could hear what she said next.
"...I hope we never meet again."
Slash!
"..."
Peter watched Emma's severed head roll toward him, facing him.
Her eyes were empty, devoid of any light.
Her body began to crack like glass, then shattered and slowly faded away.
"As I thought, this vessel really couldn't be used for long."
A deep voice echoed. Peter stared at the remaining fragment of Emma that hadn't vanished yet—specifically, Ghroth's eye.
The eye turned toward him, its expression unmistakably a smile.
"Doesn't matter. At least I'm not leaving empty-handed."
"...What do you mean?" Peter glared.
"I mean you. I've finally confirmed it." It gradually faded.
Then it left one final line:
"Papa, see you again."
Ghroth vanished completely.
"..."
[...Since when do you have a kid?]
"..."
[Oi, at least answer me. Don't just go silent—]