Chapter 209: Across the Spider-Verse (33)  

The battle between Hobie and Spectacular Spider-Man raged on, with other Spider-People watching from the sidelines, cheering for the Spectacular Spider-Man. Their voices echoed through the area, filled with admiration and excitement.

Hobie, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, smirked. "Seems ya got yourself some fans." he remarked, his voice gritty but still defiant.

Spectacular Spider-Man, standing tall and confident, smirked in response. "And it seems like you don't have any fans."

Hobie chuckled, his voice strained from the toll of the fight. "Nope, but what I have is my free-spirited will!" he declared, lunging toward Spectacular Spider-Man with all the strength he could muster. He knew he was pushing his limits—his body was battered, and he had already fought multiple Spider-Men. Hobie knew he couldn't match Spectacular Spider-Man in his current state, but he wasn't about to back down.

Spectacular Spider-Man saw the determination in Hobie's eyes and prepared to deliver a final, decisive punch. "Then prepare to get beaten!!" he shouted, charging forward.

But before he could land the blow, a massive shadow loomed over them. Spectacular Spider-Man barely had time to register the presence of the giant robot before it swung its enormous fist, sending him flying across the battlefield.

"Holy shi—" Spectacular Spider-Man gasped, unable to finish his curse before he was sent sprawling.

The source of the attack, a giant robot, towered over the other Spider-People. Its metallic exterior gleamed under the dim lights of the battle arena. Takuya Yamashiro, the Spider-Man of Earth-51778, stood proudly at the controls inside the massive mech. His voice boomed from within, "How's my Leopardon, Spider-Mans!" He laughed maniacally, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Inside Leopardon's cockpit, Spider-Man Red sat beside Takuya, shaking his head with a wry smile. "You're starting to look more like a villain than a hero.." Spider-Man Red teased in a lighthearted tone, glancing at Takuya.

Hobie looked up at Leopardon, a grin spreading across his face despite his injuries. "Took ya long enough!" he said, his voice filled with relief and appreciation.

The gathered Spider-People began to murmur amongst themselves as they witnessed the giant robot's arrival.

"Tsk, Takuya really did it again." one of them muttered, their tone a mix of awe and exasperation.

"That big Leopardon… I don't know if we can fight it.." another Spider-Person said, their voice tinged with concern.

Hobie, feeling a surge of renewed energy, knew the tide of the battle had shifted. With Leopardon and Takuya on his side, there was a chance— maybe 60 percent, but a chance nonetheless—to turn the tables.

..............

In the futuristic cityscape of Nueva York on Earth-928, a relentless chase unfolded atop a long, flying train. Miles Morales was on the run, with Miguel O'Hara, Jessica Drew, Peter B. Parker, and Gwen Stacy hot on his heels. The city blurred below them as the train sped upwards, piercing through the neon-lit skyline.

Miles crawled frantically along the side of the train, his heart pounding as he heard Miguel's voice booming behind him. "You don't have anywhere to run, Miles!" Miguel's tone was cold and menacing, and he was closing in fast, his claws scraping against the metal of the train as he advanced with inhuman speed.

Glancing back, Miles caught a glimpse of Miguel's razor-sharp claws, fear gripping him. "What are those, claws?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Dude, are you sure you're even Spider-Man?"

Miguel's eyes burned with intensity as he responded, his voice filled with disdain. "Are you? Who do you think you are? Really?"

Miles stopped abruptly, bracing himself as he launched his body towards Miguel with all his strength. He delivered a powerful kick to Miguel's face, shouting, "My name is Miles Morales!" The impact caused Miguel to stumble, but he quickly regained his footing, his claws embedding themselves into the train's surface once more.

"Aurgh!" Miguel growled, his frustration mounting as he tried to steady himself.

Miles took the opportunity to web the train and sprint forward, his determination fueling his every move. "I was bitten by a radioactive spider. And I'm pretty sure you know the rest, jerk!" he shouted, his voice filled with defiance.

But Miguel was relentless. With a swift motion, he shot a web at Miles, ensnaring him in its sticky threads. Miles struggled, trying to free himself, but the webbing was too strong. As Miguel closed the distance, Jessica Drew and the other Spider-People followed closely behind, their expressions tense and focused.

Gwen and Peter B. looked on, their faces etched with emotion as they watched the confrontation unfold. They wanted to help Miles, but they were also bound by the rules of the Spider-Society.

Miguel reached Miles and, without hesitation, delivered a powerful punch to his face. "You don't get it. You're an anomaly!" Miguel hissed, his voice dripping with contempt.

Despite the blow, Miles fought back, landing a punch to Miguel's chest before attempting to escape once more. "Not if you let me go home." Miles retorted, desperation creeping into his voice.

But Miguel was having none of it. He quickly webbed Miles again, this time swinging him off the train with a brutal force. "Aurg!!" Miles cried out, the wind knocked out of him as he was flung into the air.

Miguel's voice was a low, menacing growl as he advanced on Miles, his words cutting deep. "Everywhere you go, you're an anomaly."

Miles swung back toward the train, desperation driving him. But Miguel was relentless, his pursuit fueled by a sense of duty and an underlying anger. "You're the second anomaly after Michael Wilson!" he shouted, his webbing shooting out to ensnare Miles once more.

With a swift motion, Miguel yanked Miles back and slammed him into the side of the speeding train, the impact jarring. He gripped Miles tightly, his claws digging into the metal around them. "Let me go!" Miles shouted, struggling against the grip, but Miguel's strength was overwhelming.

Gwen, watching in horror, crawled desperately along the train, her voice pleading, "Miguel, stop!" She could see the pain and fear in Miles' eyes and knew this was going too far.

Peter B., struggling to keep up while holding his baby daughter Mayday, shouted, "Miguel, don't do this!" He was torn between protecting his child and trying to help Miles, his heart aching at the sight of his friend being treated so harshly.

Miguel leaned in close to Miles, his voice cold and unwavering. "The spider that gave you your powers wasn't from your dimension." he whispered into Miles' ear, the words like a knife twisting in the young hero's heart.

"No, no, you're lying!" Miles cried out, his voice laced with fear and desperation. He lashed out, kicking Miguel with all his might before scrambling to crawl away.

But Miguel shook his head, unmoved by Miles' struggle. "It was never supposed to bite you. There's a world out there with no Spider-Man to protect them.." he said, his tone almost mournful, as if burdened by a responsibility only he understood.

Peter B. shouted again, his voice filled with urgency, "Miguel, don't!"

Miguel ignored him, his focus solely on Miles. "Because it bit you instead. You're not supposed to be Spider-Man!!" he continued, crawling toward Miles with relentless determination.

"No! You're lying. I'm Spider-Man!" Miles shouted back, his voice shaking with emotion as he fired a web at Miguel's face in a desperate attempt to escape.

Miguel, unfazed, slashed through the webbing with his claws. His eyes burned with a mix of frustration and conviction as he declared, "You're a mistake!"

Before Miles could react, Miguel's webbing shot out again, pinning him down with brutal efficiency. Miles struggled beneath the weight, but Miguel's grip was unyielding.

Gwen and Peter B. could only watch in despair as Miguel tightened his hold on Miles, the situation spiraling further out of control. The train roared through the futuristic city, but for Miles, the world felt like it was closing in around him, his hope of escape slipping away with each passing second.

Miguel's words were laced with bitterness as he pinned Miles down, his voice a venomous whisper in Miles' ear. "If you hadn't been bitten, your Peter Parker would have lived."

Miles struggled beneath Miguel's weight, the words hitting him like a ton of bricks. His mind raced, trying to process the accusation.

"Instead, he died saving you," Miguel continued, his voice cold and unforgiving. "He would've stopped the collider before it ever went off. Spot wouldn't exist. And none of this would've happened."

Desperation filled Miles as he shouted, "Peter! Help me!" His eyes locked onto Peter B., who was crawling toward him, trying to reach him while holding Mayday securely in the baby carrier.

"Stop it, Miguel!" Peter B. shouted, his voice thick with emotion as he struggled to close the distance between them.

Miguel's face twisted with rage as he snarled, "And all this time, I have been the only one holding it all together!" His voice rose to a shout, filled with the weight of his burden, as he pressed down on Miles even harder.

Just as it seemed like Miles would be overwhelmed, a sudden force yanked Miguel off him. A web had latched onto Miguel's back, pulling him away from Miles with surprising strength.

Miguel was flung through the air, his webbing shooting out instinctively to latch onto the train and stop his fall. As he swung back, he saw the figure responsible for the attack—Michael Wilson, clad in a sleek black spandex suit with a dark blue spider logo emblazoned on his chest. His mask was equally dark, but with piercing blue eyes that glowed ominously.

Miguel's fury reached a boiling point as he recognized his adversary. "Michael Wilson!!!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the speeding train.

Michael Wilson stood tall, his presence exuding a calm yet powerful energy. The Original anomaly like Miles, another spider from a different world, and now he was here, intervening at a critical moment.

Miguel's eyes burned with rage as he prepared to face Michael, the battle on the train far from over. The chase for Miles was now a confrontation of ideals, power, and the consequences of choices made across the multiverse.

.................

[In Michael Wilson's universe]

In the underground basement of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters, the tension was palpable. Director Loe Halloway led the way as he and Dr. Stephen Strange approached the door that housed their most volatile asset—the Power Stone. The room was filled with the faint hum of energy, barely contained within its secure environment.

"This Power Stone," Loe began, his voice steady but laced with concern, "it's only at 20 percent power. We've done everything we can with the resources at our disposal, but it's still weakening." As he spoke, the biometric scanner verified his identity, and with a hiss, the door slid open.

Inside, Bruce Banner, one of the top scientists working on the project, looked up from his station. "Sir..." he greeted, nodding respectfully at Loe before his eyes flicked back to the shimmering stone, its energy casting a faint glow around the room.

Stephen Strange, taking in the sight of the Power Stone, murmured, "So this is where you've been keeping it."

Loe nodded, frustration evident in his voice. "I thought we could make a breakthrough with this, but it seems the only thing it got us is trouble."

Bruce, who had been working tirelessly on the project, looked perplexed. "Trouble? Sir, I've been able to create something from this stone." He pulled out a vial of green liquid, the product of his latest experiment.

Loe, not wanting to discuss it further, brushed Bruce off. "Not now, Bruce." He had bigger concerns on his mind. Bruce reluctantly pocketed the vial, though the curiosity in his eyes remained.

Strange stepped closer to the containment unit, his gaze fixed on the Power Stone. "We need to get this stone somewhere safe—before Thanos gets his hands on it."

Loe nodded in agreement, but before they could act, a swirling portal materialized in the room. The sudden appearance of the portal sent everyone on high alert. As the portal stabilized, a figure emerged, staggering slightly, his face contorted with pain. Behind him followed two familiar figures—a raccoon and a tree, both heavily injured.

Loe's eyes widened in recognition. "Star-Lord?"

Peter Quill, battered and bruised, stumbled forward, holding his injuries. His voice was urgent, filled with a mix of desperation and fear. "There's no time—Thanos... he's coming!"

To be continue