In an instant, like a firework blossoming in the New York sky, all Spider-Men were catapulted away. The skyscrapers of New York were inexplicably shaved off a layer, and the gun platforms and surveillance equipment Dr. Octavius Parker had placed on top of every high-rise were reduced to dust.
Peter held out his hand, frozen in place. He swallowed, walking over to the recently thrown Amazing Spider-Man and asked, "What about your Spider-sense? Didn't it go off?"
"It did, but it was too late," answered the Amazing Spider-Man, picking himself up from the ground. "After all, it was us who ambushed him. For him to counterattack, it only requires an instant thought. Even if our Spider-sense went off, we didn't have enough time to dodge. Thankfully, that move didn't have much force; otherwise, we would've been done for..."
Yet at this moment, the Amazing Spider-Man noticed a surprised expression on Peter's face. Following Peter's gaze, he saw the figure who had repelled them was now holding an enormous black sphere in his hand.
The figure extended one hand and the sphere slowly floated into the air. The Spider-sense of all Spider-Men began to ring alarmingly, and Captain Universe Spider-Man shouted, "Quick! Stop him!"
Red Bee with Peter rushed towards the sphere at great speed. But as they approached the sphere, they discovered that the black sphere was emitting a powerful gravitational pull, drawing everything nearby towards it.
"Don't come over here, he's trying to take us out in one fell swoop!" shouted Peter.
But it was too late; many agile Spider-Men were already close to the sphere, flailing as they were pulled in by it.
Even though Captain Universe Spider-Man didn't know what the sphere was, he knew he had to destroy it. With that, he began to levitate, his body radiating beams of white light as countless flickering sparks appeared in the air behind him.
In an instant, he delivered a punch imbued with the Power of Eternity, hitting the center of the black sphere. Captain Universe Spider-Man felt as if he hadn't touched anything, but Peter shouted, "It's working! The gravity is weakening! Attack the sphere!"
All Spider-Men sprang into action, using their unique moves to attack the black center. However, they soon found out that not only Spider-Men were being drawn in by it, but there were countless fragments of buildings too.
Under the sphere's gravitational control, these fragments clustered towards the center, and like a burr, they chased after the Spider-Men, adhering to their bodies and encasing them in an inflexible shell, leaving them immobile.
Peter, using Red Bee's speed, tried to counter the terrifying gravitational pull and helped the other Spider-Men fend off the fragments, but this exhausted his and the symbiont's energy greatly. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
Besides the energy attacks of Captain Universe Spider-Man which were somewhat effective against the sphere and reduced the gravity pull, the other Spider-Men's attacks were completely ineffective. Even the combined efforts of several Spider-Men were not as useful as a single strike from Captain Universe Spider-Man.
Recalling that magic energy would have considerable effect on the sphere, Peter thought of employing it; however, he didn't know any magic. As he was feeling anxious, he suddenly remembered -he might not be able to use magic, but the magic wand could!
Peter hurriedly produced the magic wand, recalling the spells the Potions Professor Shiller had taught him, channeled his internal magic energy into the wand.
The magic wand facilitated not only supportive spells but destructive ones as well. Peter recalled the spells, found one that could effectively ruin the sphere, extended the wand, and pointed at the sphere, yelling, "Shadowless Divine Edge!"
In a flash, the gravitational pull constricting him had lessened. Peter continued to attack the sphere using the magic spell.
In between Peter's attacks, he glanced downwards to see Shiller, standing on the rooftop, was also looking up at him. His eyes alone were enough to make Peter's heartbeats flutter.
Shiller's eyes on top of the building were devoid of whites, the interior of his eyelids was completely light purple covered in circular patterns, and the surrounding area of the pupil was darker. Those eyes sent chills down anyone's soul when they focused on them.
Peter squinted to have a careful look. He realized that this Shiller was quite younger than Doctor Schiller he knew, seemingly in his twenties.
More importantly, his nose was pierced with three black rods, there were two more below his lower lip, and his ears were perforated by a long black rod with multiple black earrings on both sides.
Such an appearance, coupled with those eyes, sent shivers down one's spine. Peter noticed that Shiller was not in a hurry to attack, he seemed to be observing the group that was assaulting him.
But Peter knew very well, they had to deal with this black sphere that was continually attracting them, first.
Most Spider-Men were terrestrial beings. Being drawn into the air, they had not much power to resist. If Shiller on the ground decided to attack, that would be a problem.
Peter sped up his attack, so did Captain Universe Spider-Man; the two heavy-hitters gave all they got. Shortly after, the gravity was reduced to a barely detectable level.
But then, Shiller, still standing on the skyscraper rooftop, suddenly made a strange gesture. Peter's Spider-sense reached its peak, and Red Bee, carrying him, immediately left their initial position.