Perfect Pair

Spider-Man and Spider-Gwen, even without any knowledge of their original stories, seem destined to be a perfect pairing. Both carry the iconic spider names, possess the same incredible abilities, and have endured eerily similar life experiences, including the loss of loved ones in their respective parallel worlds. The moment they meet, there's no need for introductions or adjustments—it's as though they've been partners for years, despite having never crossed paths before.

This is not just speculation either. Charlie had tested this theory out beforehand, and teaming Spider-Man with Gwen in the game revealed undeniable synergy. The buffs they received when working together were unmistakable.

There's an old saying that a man and woman working together never tire. This is doubly true for these two spider-powered heroes. Together, they can execute complex, synchronized combo attacks that random hero pairings could never achieve. Their individual attributes—strength, agility, and reaction time—are also enhanced when fighting side by side. As a result, they can more easily trigger critical strikes in both power and speed, making them a formidable duo.

However, as with any great power, there are inherent risks. While their abilities in the original comics often came at the cost of either their lives or their integrity, Charlie's situation was less dire—though no less taxing. On his side, wielding this level of power didn't mean sacrificing character or life, but it did mean draining significant resources, usually in the form of money.

Spider-Man was already the strongest hero in Charlie's roster, his basic stats far surpassing any of the others. Controlling two Spider-Men—one as skilled as Gwen, both buffed—was doable for short periods. But Charlie knew that managing both at once, for extended periods, could wear down even the most seasoned player, let alone his in-game resources.

The question remained: what would the full potential of this Spider duo look like in action? Today, Charlie had found the perfect target for the test: Link.

The battle kicked off when Gwen struck first, her web-gliding kick launching Link into the air. Spinning in mid-air, Link turned to locate Gwen, but a dark tendril shot out from him, aiming directly at her. He intended to impale Gwen while she was airborne, taking advantage of her apparent lack of movement options. 

But Gwen defied the laws of physics. In an instant, she released her web, seemed to hover in mid-air for a split second, and then leaped upward again. The tentacle pierced nothing but air.

Link: ?

Wait, how is she still moving in the sky like that?

Before he could rationalize this bizarre aerial maneuver, a sharp voice cut through the moment of confusion.

"Hey buddy, keep your eyes on the prize when you're up in the air!"

Spider-Man had swung into the fray without Link even realizing it. At some point, he'd latched his web onto a nearby ledge, yanking himself forward with precision. Link barely registered the attack before another tendril shot out instinctively to defend. Yet Spider-Man, with his unparalleled reflexes, sidestepped the attack, flipping in mid-air, and delivered a powerful kick that connected squarely with Link's torso.

The impact was seismic. The sheer force of Spider-Man's kick shook Link's internal organs despite the thick armor protecting his body. With explosive leg power, Spider-Man sent Link hurtling even higher into the air.

Another web shot past, latching onto the ceiling of the cave. Spider-Man yanked on it, his body quickly following the momentum as he chased Link upward.

Link, now upside down and disoriented, couldn't even see where Spider-Man was. Instinctively, he manipulated more tendrils to strike in Spider-Man's direction. But it was as though Spider-Man had predicted his every move. With a flick of his wrist, he swung effortlessly out of harm's way, using his web to change directions mid-flight. Spider-Man rolled to Link's side and delivered a powerful kick to his face.

The force of the blow twisted Link's head violently, his body spinning in the air. His vision blurred as he struggled to maintain awareness, but his fighting instincts kicked in, and he tried to strike the elusive red-and-blue figure again. But Spider-Man was gone before the tentacle could land, a blur of speed and acrobatics. Then, in the next heartbeat, an uppercut slammed into his jaw from the opposite direction.

What followed was a relentless barrage of attacks. Spider-Man, using his spider silk, darted around Link, too fast to follow. Red and blue afterimages flickered in every direction as Spider-Man landed strike after strike from all angles. Every time Link neared the ground, another kick would send him back into the air, keeping him suspended in a continuous aerial assault.

Link's mind raced as the impossible reality dawned on him: Spider-Man wasn't going to let him touch the ground.

This was the stuff of video games, the infamous "air combo." It was a strategy used to keep an opponent helpless in mid-air, unable to defend or fight back. In gaming terms, it was a "floating infinite combo." But here it was, happening in real life.

Before today, Link would have laughed at the idea. It sounded ridiculous. But now, suspended mid-air, pummeled from all sides, he was living the nightmare firsthand.

Still, Link wasn't without skill. After enduring a series of vicious blows, his sharp mind started to detect patterns in Spider-Man's movements. When Spider-Man swung toward him for another attack, Link lashed out his tentacles to disrupt the spider's trajectory.

Spider-Man, reacting instantly, released his web and twisted in the air, barely avoiding the tendrils that whipped past him. With a flick of his wrist, he launched another web, redirecting his path.

This was exactly what Link had planned. Forcing Spider-Man to dodge meant breaking the flow of his relentless combo, giving Link the precious moment he needed to land on solid ground.

For the first time in this battle, Link allowed himself to feel relief.

But that relief was short-lived.

Just as Link thought he had broken free of the assault, a sharp kick from the side sent him flying again, dashing any hope of recovery.

Spider-Man may have been pushed back, but Gwen had taken his place seamlessly. As soon as Spider-Man withdrew, Gwen dove in, picking up the combo where he left off, her strikes just as precise and brutal.

Link's body flew through the air like a ragdoll, once again trapped in the relentless aerial beatdown. The Spider duo worked in perfect synchronization, with one stepping in whenever the other retreated. Red, blue, and white afterimages swirled around him like a storm, each one a blur of motion, each strike landing harder than the last.

Link's armor cracked and buckled under the onslaught. He was powerless to resist, utterly at the mercy of their combined power. For the first time, doubt crept into Link's mind as his self-confidence crumbled. The ancient demon god's promise of unstoppable power seemed distant and hollow now. How could this be happening?

How could he, with all the powers granted to him by the demon god, be reduced to a punching bag?

"This... this isn't what the demon god promised!" Link thought desperately as another blow knocked him skyward.

His mind whirled as he struggled to comprehend what was happening. He wasn't just losing—he was being utterly humiliated. It wasn't the familiar frustration of facing a stronger opponent or someone with better equipment. This was a level of helplessness that made him doubt everything. He felt like a rookie facing off against a seasoned pro in an online game, completely outclassed.

The only thing keeping him from complete defeat was the knowledge that reinforcements were on the way.

Suddenly, the cave ceiling shattered. A thunderous boom echoed through the cavern as rocks and debris rained down. 

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