Chapter 442: The Spider-Society Strikes Back!
Seeing Captain Universe Spider-Man left standing with no one behind him, Ethan didn't mock him or rub it in, and didn't offer much explanation either.
To him, this was perfectly normal. He understood why Captain Universe didn't believe in his strength.
A faint smile curved his lips, and his voice was calm and firm. "Now isn't the time to argue about who's right. Time is short. I don't need you to believe in my abilities or my friends'.
"But believe this: we'll prove everything with action."
"Talk is cheap, I know. But rest assured, we'll give it everything we've got." His words carried unshakable resolve.
"Since you're willing to trust me, I won't let you down."
"You should know by now that with your strength, there's no way you can save every Spider-Person. Keep going like this, and it's just pointless sacrifice. So you can stop now. Have the other Spider-People bring their family and friends to my Hell's Kitchen."
"In my Hell's Kitchen, no one will dare hurt you."
"Leave the rest to me."
"I will have revenge for this!"
After all, these Spider-People had suffered a disaster they'd done nothing to deserve. If not for him, neither the Spider-People nor the other universes' Hell's Kitchens would have been attacked.
Ethan was not going to forget this debt.
Ethan swept his gaze over the Spider-People once more. His eyes were like torches, blazing with revenge and resolve.
Face after face passed through his view. At last his gaze settled on Captain Universe Spider-Man's complicated, deep eyes.
"I know some of you come from worlds without a Hell's Kitchen, so you haven't been attacked.
"You can stay out of this. You don't have to join this operation.
"If any of you are filled with fear of these Reincarnators and don't dare take revenge yourselves,
"then hand that hatred and rage to me, Ethan Cross.
"But if you want to get justice with your own hands, then follow me, without hesitation.
"Whatever you choose, I, Ethan Cross, will lead the charge with my friends from Hell's Kitchen!"
His voice was firm and strong and echoed through the headquarters. Every word was like a hammer striking the Spider-People's hearts.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! That's Hell's Kitchen!"
"Now I'm going back to Hell's Kitchen to gather everyone right away and plan our counteroffensive. If you trust me, follow me. I'll be waiting for you in Hell's Kitchen."
With that, Ethan turned and flicked his fingers. A brilliant portal slowly opened in front of him, and he strode through it, every step decisive and confident.
His figure stretched long in the dimming light, looking taller and straighter than ever, like a mountain that would never fall, guarding everything.
There was more than power in that back view. There was an indescribable sense of responsibility and mission.
All the Spider-People looked at one another, their eyes passing complicated emotions back and forth. Some were silent, some worried, some resolute, some afraid.
They looked at each other as if searching for one another's courage and resolve.
Then all their eyes turned to Spider-Man 2099, Miguel. Miguel didn't say a word. He knew that right now, action spoke louder than words.
He gave a slight nod, unshakable resolve flashing in his eyes. Then he followed Ethan, stepping into the portal without hesitation.
His figure flashed through the portal like a meteor across the night sky, as if announcing to everyone that no matter how unknown the road ahead, he would press on without looking back.
"There's nothing to say. I trust Mr. Cross." Young Miles Morales's voice was still boyish, but unusually firm.
He clenched his fists tight, as if psyching himself up, and stepped into the portal without hesitation.
He was small, but his courage and conviction burned like a raging fire that lit up everyone's hearts.
"My world hasn't been attacked, but we're all Spider-People. We should look out for each other." Spider-Gwen's voice was gentle and firm. She stepped into the portal with a smile, the perfect picture of a woman's gentleness and strength.
"Our leader and our boss are really something, huh?" Peter B. Parker, now a dad, shook his head with a wry smile, but complicated emotions flickered in his eyes.
He knew Ethan's decision wasn't impulsive. It had been thought through carefully.
So he stepped resolutely into the portal too, his exasperation with Ethan and his thirst for revenge combining into the drive to keep going.
"Kill someone, pay with your life. That's how it works. I'm in!" Spider-Punk's voice held an uncontainable fury and sense of justice.
He was enraged at the enemies who'd wrecked homes and hurt the innocent, and he believed justice would win in the end.
He stepped into the portal without hesitation, his conviction as one-of-a-kind and powerful as his punk getup.
"Aw, jeez, why's everybody being so tragic? I'm sure with Mr. Cross around, we won't lose!"
"Avenge the fallen Peters!"
"Jerk, I'm not dead! Watch your mouth! I don't want to die!"
"Mr. Cross's speech got my blood pumping! It's like if you don't go, you're not a real Spider-Man!"
"Let's go, let's go. Uncle Ben always said, with great power comes great responsibility. Worst case, we die."
"Charge, brothers! Spider-People will never be slaves!"
"Hey, you up front! Wrong movie, idiot!"
As more and more Spider-People answered Ethan's call, they stepped one by one into the portal.
Their figures wove together in the portal into a magnificent picture of comrades fighting side by side.
Captain Universe Spider-Man couldn't understand what kind of magic this Ethan had, that Spider-Person after Spider-Person was willing to follow him.
"Are they following this Ethan guy to their deaths?"
Watching the number of Spider-People around him dwindle, Captain Universe grew more and more anxious.
Deep down he wanted to stop them, to tell them this might be a one-way trip.
But every time he tried to speak, the firm looks on their faces and the light shining in their eyes made the words catch in his throat, and in the end all he could do was let out a helpless sigh.
Captain Universe closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil inside him.
When he opened his eyes again, they shone with resolve, as if he'd made some important decision.
"Fine. If they trust this Ethan so much, then as a Spider-Man, I have a duty to see it through. Let me see just how far this Ethan can lead them!"
With that, Captain Universe Spider-Man stepped forward without hesitation and followed the other Spider-People through the portal.
With Captain Universe through, the portal's light flared brighter, then slowly closed. In that moment the whole space seemed to go still, leaving only silence and a few lingering wisps of light.
All that remained in the headquarters were a few medics caring for the wounded Spider-People.
And the Deadpool Ethan had locked in place.
"Mmmmmmph!" (Ethan, you jerk, where'd you go?! Let me go already!!!!! Don't tell me you forgot about me again?!)
(Hey, wait. Why did I say "again"?)
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