The night was thick.
Ares sat alone in the room arranged by the Queen.
At the desk, he took out paper and pen, dipping a quill in mysterious golden powder, slowly sketching an ancient pattern.
Buzz~
As the golden powder turned blood-red, symbolizing war, Ares dropped his divine disguise, drawing a gentle gaze from Olympus.
The blood-red pattern was replaced by warm light, and a radiant glow of beauty and hope filled the room.
"Ares, you've finally shown yourself."
From the light, a rising sun emerged, transforming into a man of breathtaking beauty.
Dressed in splendor, he smiled, occasionally strumming a lyre, his soothing voice harmonizing with the melody as if it were part of his song.
Ares regarded the man coldly.
"I need your help. Turn off that noise."
"Caught me."
The man's smile stiffened, dropping the act.
He tossed aside the lyre, pulling a small speaker from his robes.
Click~
He switched it off, glancing around cautiously. "No one's nearby, right?"
Ares rolled his eyes. "Relax. No one will know the God of Light and Art, Apollo, can't actually sing."
Apollo scratched his head awkwardly. "Can't help it—gotta keep up the persona. But that speaker you gave me is great. Everyone's been praising my 'magnetic' voice lately."
"It's called a cassette."
Ares didn't want to waste time. "Find two strange Celestials. Use your divination."
The legendary Greek god Apollo was almost perfect, but Ares knew the guy was useless at art—worse than a war god like himself. Besides his looks, which charmed women, only his divination was worth anything.
Apollo didn't argue.
He pulled out his divination tools, asking curiously, "How strange are these Celestials?"
"Massive, planet-sized gods. Not sure if they're new or from another realm. Terrifying."
"Why find them?"
"Don't ask. I have plans."
Apollo paused. "You're not still plotting against Zeus, are you?" He shivered.
"I don't get you war-obsessed types. Take my advice—sing, dance, and goddesses will flock to you. Life's sunny, and you can live off your face."
"Shut up!"
Ares cut him off, snorting. "Just do it, and don't tell anyone."
"Got it."
Apollo's face grew serious.
The peace-loving God of Light and the War God shared a tacit understanding to drop the subject.
Half-brothers with different powers, they were opposites but got along best among their siblings.
In public, they showed no connection.
They knew Zeus's paranoia and cruelty.
If Zeus learned of their ties, Apollo's fate would be no better than Ares's current state.
Ares knew this well.
He didn't linger on the topic, urging, "Done yet?"
"Done."
Apollo tossed strange cards into the air, chanting obscure spells.
The cards shattered, forming a galaxy of stars in the room.
In the starry expanse, Apollo looked at Ares. "Describe who you're looking for."
Ares detailed the Celestials' forms.
The starry sky spun, revealing two planet-sized gods behind the blazing sun, absorbing stellar energy while avoiding Earth's orbit.
They seemed afraid of being noticed.
Apollo's face paled. "Such massive gods. Their power's terrifying. You're finding them to…!"
His expression shifted. "Ares, you're starting a war?"
"It's already begun." Ares's eyes gleamed, ready to head for the sun.
"Wait."
Apollo blocked him, warning, "Don't be foolish. If you drag them into this, Earth will be destroyed. Zeus won't just suppress you—he'll erase you."
Ares gritted his teeth. "I have no choice. I dream of revenge. I can't wait."
"No, you can't go—"
Apollo grabbed Ares, and they argued.
Suddenly, both sensed something.
They looked up at the calm ceiling, divine power in their eyes revealing a terrifying soul.
"Hades found our secret!!" Apollo exclaimed.
Ares glared at the soul above. "Not Hades. Spider-Man."
"Spider-Man?"
Apollo was baffled, but Charlie, who'd been watching, grinned.
"Thanks for finding those two. How can I repay you?"
His hands formed seals, ripples spreading as his body appeared in a portal.
Buzz~
His soul and body merged, unleashing a destructive aura.
"No!!"
Boom~~
An explosion rocked the room. Apollo's handsome form was torn apart by a massive fist in the firelight.
"Wait~"
On Olympus's sacred mountain, the artless God of Art opened his eyes, horrified.
"What a terrifying Spider-Man. What realm is he from to shatter my light clone so easily?"
He paced his temple, frowning.
"No, Ares is in danger. I must… No, I can't leave. It'll expose everything."
He agonized over contacting Ares.
…
Paradise Island.
The explosion woke all the Amazon warriors.
"Quick, Atlantis's envoy was attacked!"
"It's Spider-Man!"
"Damn it, he's back."
Diana jolted awake, hair unkempt, donning her armor and grabbing her sword and shield.
In the sea of flames, two blood-red divine forces drew all eyes.
"That's…"
Diana stared in disbelief at "Orvax," shrouded in blood-red power.
"That power is…"
"The God of War," Hippolyta said, joining her, staring at Ares.
"He was suppressed by Zeus. His presence here means war drew him."
"God of War?"
Diana frowned. "Isn't he Orvax?"
Hippolyta shook her head. "He's posing as Atlantis's Orvax to use us to prolong this war. If Spider-Man defeats us too soon, his power stops growing."
"What?"
Diana trembled.
She recalled Spider-Man's odd behavior.
She was sure he wasn't evil, despite his dark power. She trusted her instincts.
But his sudden attack on Paradise Island could only mean Ares was pulling strings.
Yes, that's it!
It was the only explanation.
As expected, in another blood-red aura, Charlie looked at Diana.
"Hold him off for two minutes. I'll be back to save the world."
"What?"
Amid the Amazons' stunned gazes, Charlie vanished.
"What did he say?"
"The evil Spider-Man's saving the world?"
"What a joke."
"Maybe I misheard."
"One person might mishear, but not a crowd."
The warriors whispered. Ares warily eyed Diana.
As he pondered an explanation, Diana aimed her sword at him.
"You did this, didn't you?" she asked coldly.
Ares: "???"
"Did what?"
"All of this."
"No, you can't trust the evil Spider-Man."
"But I don't trust you either. Your divine power repulses me."
Diana charged with her sword.
…
Island.
"Found those two Celestials."
Charlie gathered his team, scanning the Peter Parkers, his gaze landing on Venom Parker.
"You're up."
"What?"
Amid confused stares, Charlie handed Venom Parker the Black Death Sword.
"Only you can barely wield its power. Take everyone, deal with those Celestials, and you'll all earn Resurrection Match quotas."
"Me?"
Venom Parker's hands trembled as he took the heavy sword.
Blood-red light flickered, the blade's black liquid merging with his venom cells.
Crack crack crack~
"Oh man, I feel insanely strong!!"
Demonic power extended, Venom's maw widened, cells swelling. Jagged bone spikes protruded from Peter's body, his form turning demonic, a blood-red symbiote dragon mark glowing on his chest, radiating destruction and evil.
"I…"
Venom Parker raised his hand, feeling the transformation, his narrow eyes tightening.
"I get it. We'll save the world again!" His gaze was resolute.
Charlie nodded, satisfied. "Good. It's on you. They're behind the sun."
He prepared to return to Paradise Island.
"Wait."
Lizard Parker stopped him. "You gave us the Black Death Sword. What'll you use?"
"Me?"
Charlie summoned a black-red spider to his palm.
"I'll manage."
The Black Emperor form erupted in infinite darkness, and Charlie vanished into the night sky.
The Peter Parkers glanced at Venom Parker's Black Death Sword, recalling the scene.
"What just happened?"
"Two Black Death Swords?"
"No way, that's wild."
…
Yes, two Black Death Swords.
Before the Resurrection Match, Charlie borrowed Gwen's Black Death Sword.
If the Parkers used his sword to kill the Celestials, it might count as his involvement.
Gwen's weapon was safer.
As he thought, Charlie landed on Paradise Island, where Ares and Diana's battle intensified.
Boom!!
Ares, in blood-red armor, wielded a war spear, divine power crumbling the earth. Diana's Lasso and shield were knocked away.
Zzt zzt~
Bang!!
Golden divine power clashed with blood-red war intent. Diana felt overwhelming force, her body hurled into a hill.
Rumble~~
The hill shook, Diana buried in rubble.
Sensing Charlie, Ares shot skyward, trying to escape.
Rip~
The night sky tore open, a thousand-meter blood-red gash swallowing Ares.
"No!!"
Ares's spear ripped through, escaping the blood-red world.
Before he could breathe, a black-red figure flashed before him.
"What…"
Ares raised his spear, but a blood-red blade struck it.
Zzt~
Boom!!
A blood-red halo shook the void. Charlie's power crushed Ares, sending him into the ocean.
"Damn it~~"
A blood-red streak hit the sea, waves drowning Ares's curses.
Charlie wiped the Black Death Sword, his eyes glowing red.
"The legendary War God Ares? Kinda average!"
He chuckled, diving after him.
Buzz~
A second blood-red streak plunged into the sea.
Meanwhile, a black meteor shot from the island, streaking toward the cosmos.
"Peter, I'm so pumped!"
On the meteor, a demonic face laughed wildly.
"I know you're pumped, but don't overdo it."
"I'm afraid of heights. You guys?"
"A bit, but I'm good."
"Our target's the sun. Sure we won't get roasted?"
"No problem—we're insanely strong!"
On the meteor, Spider-Men were fused by black liquid.
With their combined power, Venom mastered the Black Death Sword further.
Their chatter didn't annoy him—it fueled his excitement.
"Grahaha, charge!!"
Boom!
The meteor breached the atmosphere, morphing into a giant Venom Spider-Man.
"I'll form the head!"
In the cramped black space, Lizard Parker pushed through, becoming the head Spider-Man.
"Let me try!"
Taking control, Lizard Parker aimed at the sun, swinging the Black Death Sword.
Hum!
A black sword light crossed the stars, grazing the sun and stirring a distorted sunspot, forcing the two newborn Celestials out.
Buzz~
Twelve Celestial eyes glowed with stellar light, elemental beams vowing to erase the black Spider-Man.
"My turn!"
Supreme Peter shouted, dragging Lizard Parker back. His hands formed seals.
Buzz~
Spider magic flared, the Black Death Sword slashing black webs that enveloped the elemental beams.
Thunder God Peter raised Mjolnir, cosmic lightning coating the webs, absorbing the beams' divine power.
Zzt zzt~
Rumble!!
Lightning flashed, the webs channeling Celestial power back into the black Spider-Man.
Like a power-up pill, the Spider-Men groaned in delight, merging into the starry sky, vanishing from the Celestials' sight.
But the Celestial eyes caught a cosmic magnetic disturbance.
"They're cloaked."
"There."
"Eliminate them before that guy frees up!"
The Celestials conjured cosmic energy, two planet-sized energy orbs skimming the sun, hurtling toward the void.
"Crap, they found us!"
"Dodge!"
The black Spider-Man evaded, the orbs heading for Earth.
Rumble rumble~
Splash~~~
In the endless sea, a blood-red sword light tore the ocean, a slash triggering a ten-thousand-meter tsunami.
The light repelled the water, exposing reefs. Fish flopped, and Ares, trapped in the rocks, bore a ghastly sword wound.
"Damn bug, I—"
Ares tried to rise, but searing pain snapped him back.
"I'll be back!!"
Leaving a threat, he grabbed his spear and fled into the rolling waves.
Charlie was about to pursue when two massive cosmic energy orbs descended.
"Those Spider-Men are so unreliable."
Muttering, he slashed skyward.
Buzz~
Pop!
A sword light spanned thirty thousand miles, a dense blood-red gash swallowing the orbs.
Hum!
The Black Death Sword, absorbing the vast energy, trembled in Charlie's hands, its blade glowing with even more destructive evil.
"Wow, upgraded effects."
Charlie smiled, vanishing into a portal.
Ares was locked on—he wouldn't escape.
…
In the cosmic battlefield, the giant Spider-Man faced the two newborn Celestials with the Black Death Sword.
But the Parkers couldn't fully wield its power, relying on the sword's own force to erode the Celestials.
Their battle's fallout began distorting Earth's orbit.
Thankfully, Supreme Peter's magic, aided by the sword, adjusted their strategy, avoiding worse consequences.
Meanwhile, Charlie chased Ares to Atlantis.
In Atlanna's palace, Ares gripped her throat, sneering at Charlie.
"Invincible Spider-Man, guess when I figured out you two were hooking up?"
Charlie glanced at a drawing on the table, his lip twitching.
"Why draw me for no reason?" he asked Atlanna.
She forced an awkward smile. "Anyone who's been a Queen's friend knows queens have no real work, so I kill time with my little art skills."
Ares nodded deeply. "True, you lot don't have much work, but here's a harsh truth: your art skills are worse than Apollo's."
"Thanks for the compliment," Atlanna said, flattered.
Ares's face darkened. "I'm not complimenting you."
"You totally are."
"I'm not—ugh~"
His chest wound, corroded by dark energy, flared, and he tensed.
"Bug, let me go, or I kill her," Ares threatened, using Atlanna.
Charlie shrugged. "Sorry, we just met."
Ares and Atlanna's faces changed.
Ares: Damn, she really can't threaten him?
Atlanna: Damn, he really won't save me?
Before Ares could speak, Atlanna blurted, "I'm carrying his child. Keep threatening him."
Ares's eyes lit up.
Charlie's widened. "Are you insane?!"
Furious, he clenched his fists, stomping. "What a sin!!"
Atlanna grinned. "To avoid being silenced, I had to tell him the truth."
"Heh, clever," Charlie said, smiling thinly.
Ares, learning the "truth," grew confident.
"Hahaha, pathetic bug, now you'll let me go, right?"
He mimed slitting her throat, smirking. "Everyone knows War God Ares is the cruelest god. I'd do it."
Charlie stepped back. "Fine, you win."
"Then I—"
Before Ares finished, a cold sensation hit his waist.
"Let her go, or I'll heehee you."
"What?"
Ares froze, startled.
In his peripheral vision, another Spider-Man leaned toward his shoulder.
"Surprised?"
Seeing those eerie blood-red eyes, Ares glanced at Charlie.
"What… are you two?"
"That's how it is."
The clone freed Atlanna, then placed fingers on Ares's temple.
"Don't move. You're under arrest. Anything you say can be used against you."
Ares: "…"
That thing at his waist was just fingers?
"Jerk, you tricked me!!"
Enraged, Ares resisted, but the clone's fingers shot a blinding beam.
Biu!
Boom!
The energy blasted Ares through reef walls, sinking him into the deep sea.
"You let him escape on purpose?" Charlie glared at the clone.
The clone shrugged, collapsing into light particles before explaining.
Atlanna, saved, patted her chest, looking where Ares fled.
"That's the deep sea where the Trench Clan lives. He won't survive those savages."
"Won't?"
Charlie scoffed. "Woman, you've no idea how tough a war god's muscles are."
The Trench Clan?
His eyebrow rose. Isn't that where the Aquaman Trident is?
He beckoned Atlanna. "Come on, let's see if that thing's pure gold."
Atlanna blinked. "What?"
"Oh, I mean, let's find the Trident."
"Great! Mr. Spider-Man, you really keep your promises."
"Of course. Spider-Man never deceives women, especially about feelings."