Restart, Spider-Man! [167]
Zzzttt!
Just as Xia Luo's hands were about to grasp Gwen, a massive, sandy hand shot through the air, followed closely by mechanical arms.
But Xia Luo was ready.
Whoosh!
Another dazzling portal flared to life, and Xia Luo dove through it.
The enormous sandy hand missed and slammed into the school building instead, crashing through its upper floors.
Meanwhile, a portal opened below, and Xia Luo burst out, catching Gwen in his arms as she fell.
"Oh, a princess carry! How romantic…" Wade couldn't help but spin in circles, his mind filled with pink bubbles. He even began to sing, "Only you~"
As the wind roared past, Xia Luo landed with Gwen safely in his arms. He bent his knees to absorb the impact, finally exhaling as he realized she was unharmed.
So this is why you don't save people with webs.
Without waiting for the Sinister Six to catch up, Xia Luo stepped through a new portal, carrying Gwen with him.
There was no time to waste.
Osborn Tower.
Boom!!
A monstrous figure burst into the office, hurling Harry across the room.
"Hahaha, Harry, my dear friend… we meet again!"
The strange Spider-Man removed his mask, revealing a face so pale it looked sickly.
"W-Who are you?"
Harry struggled to get up, his expression grim.
This guy was too strong; he couldn't resist at all.
The man gave a twisted grin. "Don't you recognize me?"
"Oh, of course you don't—because we're not friends anymore."
This Peter Parker looked nearly deranged as he approached Harry, his muscles twitching, protruding into jagged, unnatural spikes.
"Take a good look, Harry. This is what I've become… because of you."
Peter's voice dripped with fury as he glared at Harry. "When I needed you most, you were off on dates with Mary Jane. I waited for you in your lab, hoping you'd help me keep my cells from mutating, but you wouldn't listen."
"And so, as you wished, I became a monster. The Avengers killed me… Now no one will ever challenge you for Mary Jane's heart. Satisfied?"
"What…?"
Harry gritted his teeth.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I've never had a friend like you."
Peter's expression twisted further.
"Of course not. You never saw me as a friend. Otherwise, you wouldn't have stolen Mary Jane away from me, knowing she was the one I loved most."
As Peter spoke, his body contorted, muscles mutating until they erupted into spikes. His frame swelled, transforming him into a grotesque, upright spider-like creature.
With a roar, the monster lunged.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Harry—because now I can kill you with my own hands!!"
"No!"
Harry screamed, but the next instant, a window shattered as an electric arc shot through, sending the creature flying into the hallway.
Boom!
The walls crumbled under the impact, debris scattering as the creature lashed out with spider-like limbs.
Shnk! Shnk!
The sharp limbs pierced through walls as company employees fled in terror.
Zzzttt!
Flashes of lightning streaked through the air, and though the creature's limbs lashed out rapidly, it couldn't even touch the hem of Xia Luo's suit.
"Gah!! Stop running! I'll tear you to pieces!"
The monster struck out at everything around him, but Xia Luo now had a good sense of his strength.
More than fifty tons—impressive, but no real threat to him.
With a decisive thought, Xia Luo shifted the electric arc to glowing magical energy.
Seeing him clearly at last, the creature's unsettling gaze took on an intense, almost pained gleam.
"Spider-Man, Spider-Man, you're Spider-Man… But who am I? Who am I really?!"
Rage twisted his voice, and he stabbed out with his limbs again and again. Xia Luo dodged easily, firing webs, but the monster's gaping maw absorbed every strand.
Seeing this, Xia Luo swiftly stepped back, bending his knees and charging his right fist with a brilliant burst of magical energy.
"Friendly Neighborhood Meteor Punch!"
The monster lunged closer—and Xia Luo's blow struck like a comet.
Boom!!
The surge of magical energy exploded, blasting the spider creature through wall after wall, until he crashed through the outer wall and plummeted from the skyscraper.
"Oh, crap! Who's tossing stuff out the window?!"
Lizard Parker ducked out of the way as he made his way toward Empire University.
Thud!
The monster hit the pavement below, and Xia Luo dropped down after it. He landed with one foot on the creature's head, and a sickening splatter erupted as he crushed its skull.
Lizard Parker, hiding behind a utility pole, gaped in shock before waving and cheering with the crowd.
"Woohoo, Spider-Man! You're amazing, I love you~~"
Xia Luo: "…Disgusting."
"Gwen's on the rooftop, and Harry's in the building. Take them to Hell's Kitchen."
With that, Xia Luo opened another portal and disappeared.
"This idiot activated yet another cheat," Lizard Parker muttered, watching the portal with equal parts jealousy and resentment.
---
Okinawa Air Force Base.
The artificial sun's light grew ever brighter.
All the soldiers stood by, eagerly anticipating the success of the experiment.
But the arrival of an uninvited guest quickly heightened their nerves.
Whoosh~
A dazzling magical portal opened, a streak of magical energy shooting down from above.
"No! What is that?"
"That's… I know what it is. It's Spider-Man!"
"Spider-Man?"
"The superhero from New York!"
"Damn it, what's he here for—does he want to stop the artificial sun experiment?"
"No way! This is the hope for our nation's resurgence. We can't let him destroy it!"
"Stop him!"
Immediately, the soldiers raised their guns, unleashing a hail of bullets. Other modern weapons locked onto the meteor-like figure plummeting from the sky.
But the officer on duty remained unfazed.
He watched the meteor with a cold stare, silently activating a device in his hand. As soon as Spider-Man came within a certain range, he pressed the button without hesitation.
Boom
In an instant, the artificial sun swelled, its chaotic energy ripping through the military base, enveloping Xia Luo in the blast as well.
Back in the Web of Life and Destiny, Xia Luo awoke and scratched his head.
"So… they already have a contingency plan?"
He leaned on his hand, momentarily lost in thought.
If Spider-Man showed up at any base, Hydra would choose to detonate the artificial sun immediately to try and eliminate him.
Trading one artificial sun for a single Spider-Man?
Fair deal.
Looks like it's time to go stealth mode.
The Seventh Resurrection Trial
Okinawa Air Base – Men's Restroom.
Whoosh~
A brilliant magical portal opened in the bathroom, and Xia Luo stripped out of his nanotech suit.
Out of respect, he took a quick moment to relieve himself.
Then, he picked a poor soul at random to swap clothes with for a bit of cosplay.
With his spider-sense as his guide, Xia Luo nonchalantly made his way to the most dangerous area.
But the base's layout was more complex than he'd anticipated.
Within three minutes, a large group of soldiers surrounded him from all directions.
"You walk nothing like a soldier," the lead officer snapped.
Xia Luo: "…."
"Alright, ever heard of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man?"
As he spoke, webs shot out in every direction, blanketing the area in a sticky chaos. Using the confusion, Xia Luo dove through a portal.
In the artificial sun experiment room, Xia Luo emerged from the portal and immediately began causing havoc.
Smash!
With a single punch, he cracked one of the primary control devices, sending sparks flying as the artificial sun spun out of control.
Simultaneously, warning lights flashed on hidden devices nearby.
The artificial sun flared violently, engulfing Xia Luo in its light.
"Uh-oh… Looks like this run is a bust too."
---
On the eighth attempt, Xia Luo chose not to confront Hydra's artificial suns directly.
Because no matter how he approached it, Hydra had a failsafe to ensure the artificial sun would detonate, taking him down with it.
You had to hand it to Hydra's leadership—killing Spider-Man wasn't even central to their plan. They simply didn't underestimate any pest.
That was how Hydra had survived since the last century, amassing vast, hidden resources.
Underestimate the smallest threat, and you wouldn't survive for long.
On the way to Hell's Kitchen, Xia Luo pondered his next steps.
Soon enough, the group gathered again.
With the help of the dragonbone fossil, Professor X regained his youth. As he swept his mental powers across the globe, he reached a conclusion.
"To disrupt the artificial suns, the only option is to pre-emptively detonate them," Professor X said. "As long as they don't reach full power, they won't collapse into black holes."
"Detonate them all?" Xia Luo frowned. "To destroy thirteen artificial suns, we'd need to sacrifice thirteen teammates. And even if we had enough people… sure, this could stop Hydra, but…"
He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.
"Can we use long-range attacks?" Barton asked. "If I can get close enough to the artificial suns, I'm sure I can hit the core and force an early detonation without risking myself."
Professor X shook his head. "Their plan is airtight. They wouldn't leave such a weakness. Your arrows won't penetrate the sun's shield, and if they could, Hydra would have a contingency."
Everyone fell silent.
In the background, Wade casually swung on a makeshift hammock.
"Hey, Chrome Dome, why don't you just erase everyone's memory? That way, no one could even think about Hydra or know that mutants exist," he suggested.
For a moment, the group brightened.
"That… that might actually work," Carter said, eyes alight with hope.
But Professor X's expression faltered, and he let out a quiet sigh.
"I'm sorry, I can't agree to that," he said. "There's no such thing as a flawless ability, and this world is far stranger than we can imagine. If I tampered with everyone's minds, it could lead to even worse consequences."
He turned to Xia Luo. "I think you understand what I mean."
Xia Luo nodded thoughtfully. "I think I do."
This time, Professor X's refusal felt different. Clearly, he'd glimpsed something disturbing.
In the Marvel multiverse, Earth was the cradle of countless stories. The most powerful beings were always watching it.
For Hydra to try and overthrow the world might be a minor blip in the grand scheme of things. But if Professor X rewrote the memories of everyone on Earth, that would disrupt human history, drawing the attention of some very powerful forces.
And they would not tolerate such interference.
If that happened, then this Resurrection Trial was truly doomed.
Xia Luo didn't know if his guesses were correct, but he decided to play it safe.
After a moment, he opened a portal to Kamar-Taj.
Among the ruins, Wong was busy searching for something.
"Where is it? My new robes…" he mumbled to himself. "It can't have burned, can it?"
"No, no way. The Sorcerer Supreme asked me to welcome Spider-Man in full attire. I can't be caught unprepared. I'll need a bath, too."
Listening to Wong's rambling, Xia Luo finally understood.
No wonder Wong hadn't looked disheveled in their first meeting. He'd been caught up in his own rituals.
With an amused chuckle, Xia Luo turned and stepped back through the portal. The battle here was over; there was no need for him to linger at Kamar-Taj.
He arrived back at a desolate mansion, where Otto was holding Ruth in his arms, both looking somber.
"We failed, and Hydra's artificial sun won't succeed either," Otto sighed.
Ruth nodded. "They know that, which is why they activated this plan."
"When did you join Hydra?" Otto asked suddenly.
Ruth hesitated. "I've always been with them."
Otto's eyes filled with a quiet disappointment.
"So… your younger self, you sought me out on purpose—for that paper I wrote on artificial suns?"
Ruth quickly shook her head. "No, that's not it. You're my husband, and you always will be."
She gazed at him earnestly. "They asked me to approach you, yes, but I chose to marry you. Do you know what that means?"
Otto faltered, his face clouded with grief.
"I see. It was all for the mission…"
"No, Otto, my love," Ruth said softly. "I love you. You've always had this charm, you know that? Over the years, I nearly forgot my other life. I was happy. I know you were too."
She lowered her head. "But then… I got a message. No one knows their ruthlessness better than I do. They had a hundred ways to kill you, to kill us. I had to act. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry I deceived you. I know it's far too late to apologize…"
Her voice grew quieter. Otto's body trembled as he slowly raised his hands to embrace her.
"Yes. As long as we can be together, it's worth it…"
Finally, Ruth's body went slack in his arms.
"Ruth… my love…"
Otto's hands were covered in blood, his gaze fixed on the dagger lodged in her abdomen, tears welling in his eyes.
"I forgive you," he whispered. "Please, don't leave me. I forgive you—just don't die, please…"
He cradled her lifeless form, his voice choked with despair.
Behind him, Xia Luo watched the scene in silence.
"She chose to end her life because she knew you might not forgive her," Xia Luo said gently. "You were protecting her, but she understood that an unspoken rift had already formed between you."
Otto did not turn.
"But now… now I forgive her completely," he murmured through his tears.
Xia Luo knelt beside him, placing a hand on Otto's shoulder.
"We still have the Stone of Time, Otto," he said, dropping his voice. "It can save her, but I'll need your help."
Hearing that familiar voice, Otto jerked around, eyes wide.
"Xia Luo?"
"Yes, Dr. Otto."
Xia Luo pressed the spider emblem on his suit, retracting his mask to reveal his face.
"With great power comes great responsibility."
"Dr. Otto, let's save the world together—let's save Ruth, and save ourselves."
---
T/N: that's his secret technique, spider talk no jutsu
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