"From the blurry footage, we see a mysterious red figure defeating Spider-Man and handing him over to alien warriors. Does this mean there's conflict among the aliens? What is Earth's future? Stay tuned for Daily Planet updates…"
"I'm on TV!"
In the Kryptonian ship, Wade pointed excitedly at the virtual news feed, turning to Clark. "You see that? I'm a household name now!"
Clark nodded helplessly. "Yeah, you're a big star. But big star, if you let Spider-Man escape, Earth is done for."
He turned to Charlie, locked in an electromagnetic cage, frowning slightly.
"You destroyed Krypton. Why come to Earth? What's your goal?"
Slumped in the cage, Charlie propped himself up with one hand. "Who told you I destroyed Krypton?"
"General Zod. He said you're a demon, that Krypton fell because of you."
Clark's expression was stern. "Wherever Spider-Man goes, disaster follows. I won't let you destroy Earth."
Charlie shrugged nonchalantly. "Fine, if that's what you think, I won't explain.
But I'll tell you, it wasn't me who destroyed Krypton—it was you guys…"
Mid-sentence, Zod appeared, cutting him off.
"Damn bug, stop making excuses."
He glanced at a soldier, who nodded, signaling Clark to follow to the training room to master his powers and learn to fly.
Once Clark left, Zod exhaled in relief.
He glared at Charlie. "Your fate is sealed. You can't escape."
Charlie tilted his head, his tone dripping with disdain.
"You're using lies to keep Clark by your side. How long do you think that'll last?"
"It doesn't matter."
Zod said, "He loves Earth now, but Krypton is his home. Merging Earth and Krypton will make him love it more."
"Self-deception."
Charlie lay back, hands behind his head.
Staring at the cage's ceiling, he crossed his legs. "You're weaker than I thought. What made you like this?"
"I don't owe you an explanation."
Zod's mind flashed to a past event.
Back on Krypton, after Spider-Man left, a woman wielding the Necrosword demolished the council hall. Buildings collapsed, and Krypton's proud technology was like a toy before her.
He, Krypton's greatest warrior, was like a rookie against her.
He lost—badly.
At the moment of his near-death, Jor-El saved him.
That man was as kind as ever.
No, indecisive.
They were enemies—why save him?
He couldn't understand and had no time to think.
Jor-El saved him at the cost of his life.
Before dying, Jor-El's final request echoed.
Let Kal-El live happily.
Zod agreed.
So, despite discovering Clark's identity years ago on Earth, he took no action.
He'd promised to let Clark live happily.
Then a sleazy guy calling himself Batman found them, bringing Clark along.
Seeing Clark's face, so like Jor-El's, Zod hesitated.
Making Clark a great Kryptonian warrior to carry on Jor-El's legacy would bring happiness.
So he did it.
He told Clark about Krypton's fall but hid the real reason.
Clark had to live happily.
Happiness meant not knowing the truth.
The truth was cruel; it would kill joy.
He strictly kept his promise.
But Charlie's words froze him.
"You plan to treat Clark like a doll to control, don't you?"
Charlie spoke suddenly. "No, you're a doll too. The Codex's imprint is in your genes, dictating your role and mission. You're controlled too."
At that, a flicker of something passed through Zod's cold eyes.
"What's wrong with that?"
He said, "I've seen Earth's wars, countless tragedies, chaotic disorder.
All because humans are too free, too reckless. Genes don't fully dictate their lives, so they act out, causing this planet's backwardness.
If Earth were like Krypton, with lives scripted in genes, working together flawlessly, it would have a greater civilization."
"A greater civilization that speeds toward destruction?"
Charlie scoffed. "Your elders rejected your off-world colonization plan because of their genetic stubbornness.
They might not have believed Krypton would fall or didn't want to act beyond their genetic programming.
No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't save Krypton.
Its fate—when it was born, thrived, and died—was written in your genes."
Pointing at Wade, engrossed in his own news, Charlie continued.
"This guy isn't supposed to beat the invincible Spider-Man, yet he did. If you keep following your genetic script, you can't beat me."
"Hmph, I've already caught you," Zod sneered.
"Someone else caught me, not you."
Charlie flashed Zod a mocking gesture. "You didn't win."
Zod took a deep breath, resisting the urge to pummel the bug.
"I don't care about winning you. I want Krypton."
"Fine, you want Krypton. Why capture me?"
"To restore Krypton's glory, Earth is the sacrifice. You won't stand by."
"How do you know—"
"Enough, I'm done talking."
Zod waved, losing patience for arguing.
With a gesture, battered Steve and Carter were locked in a nearby cage by Kryptonian soldiers.
"No, if I'm going to prison, I want to be with Little Spider!" elderly Steve wailed.
Charlie: "…"
Carter kicked Steve into the cage without hesitation, muttering about how gross he was.
Zod finally cracked a smile.
He looked at Charlie. "Good. Your woman's cooperating."
Before Charlie could explain, Carter snapped, "Blind Kryptonian, look closely—I'm his boss!"
"They're relatives too," Steve added weakly.
Zod considered. "That's irrelevant."
He turned to Faora. "Begin. Extract the Codex from them."
Faora nodded, stepping forward, but Charlie's exclamation stopped her.
"Wait, no, you're starting already?"
He reached through the cage bars. "Aren't you supposed to torture me, torment me, rough me up first? That fits your villain vibe!!"
Faora looked at Zod. "General, I don't understand."
Zod waved coldly. "Ignore him. Proceed."
"No!!"
As Faora tapped the liquid particle device, three light beams descended from the ship's ceiling.
Under the beams, terrifying currents surged.
Charlie covered his face helplessly.
"Crap, this isn't how I pictured it."
Elderly Steve trembled. "Little Spider, what's your plan? Why don't I know?!!"
"You don't need to."
Charlie eyed Zod. "Just the three of us can't complete the Codex. You sure about this?"
"We'll take what we can get."
"Fine, you win."
"Faora, begin."
"Yes."
Zzzzt~~
"Hmph, this voltage is just a tickle? Crank it up, I'm not—bzzt bzzt bzzt…"
Enveloped in electric light, Charlie shook, smoke rising as he felt life peak.
Beyond that, nothing unusual.
Zod quickly adjusted the liquid particle device.
Finding no Kryptonian genes in Spider-Man, he frowned.
"How is this possible?"
"General, those two have a ton of Kryptonian genes," Faora said excitedly.
Zod perked up, ignoring Charlie, focusing on Steve and Carter.
Wade glanced at the trio undergoing electric therapy, turning away.
Sniff sniff~ Spider-Man watching his friends die before him—so tragic, so touching, so awesome!
The more Spider-Man's friends died, the heavier Deadpool's place in his heart.
The heavier Deadpool's place, the less energy Spider-Man had for his friends.
With no energy for friends, more would die.
The more miserable Spider-Man, the happier Deadpool!
Yup, that's how it works.
Meanwhile, Charlie watched Steve and Carter go still, nodding.
Nice, three long twitches, two short—noted.
Finally, he looked at Wade.
Wade drew his baby knives slowly.
"What are you doing?" Zod instinctively blocked him.
Wade paused. "He was my best friend. He betrayed me, but I still want him to suffer less."
Charlie's mouth twitched at the excuse.
Really?
The next moment, before the knives fell, Zod snapped Wade's neck.
Charlie: "…"
"What are you doing?" he asked Zod.
Zod sneered, pulling out a Batman poster. "This is the real Batman. Wade isn't Spider-Man—he's your friend, right?"
Charlie fell silent.
How'd this guy play double agent?
He sighed.
Fine, this universe really had a Batman.
The undercover plan failed.
But no matter—Deadpool's death had value.
Charlie knew where his target was.
As Zod's eyes glowed red, Charlie obediently stretched out his neck.
"Come on, be a man and chop me!"
…
[You have been eliminated and cannot obtain a Resurrection Match spot. Heat Vision +44°C.]
[Remaining retries: 97. Restart?]
Sixth Resurrection Match.
Under the antenna, Charlie stretched and resumed his mission.
In the amusement park battle, the invincible Spider-Man was captured.
On the Kryptonian ship, as Zod prepared to extract the Codex, a sudden pang hit him.
"Crap, this is—"
Buzz~
Zod's face changed as electronic glitches flickered around them.
The game interface transformed the ship, and the Grandmaster, in ornate robes, appeared.
"Kryptonian warriors, let's play a fair and thrilling game!"
He laughed excitedly, only to be blasted into fragments by charging Kryptonians.
Buzz~
As the fragments reformed into the Grandmaster, Zod's face grew serious.
He waved Faora and the others back.
"Who are you?" Zod asked.
"The Grandmaster."
"Here to save Spider-Man?"
"No, I just want a match with you."
"What's the stake?"
"Your life, and Spider-Man's."
"That's not fair."
"Then add mine."
"Why help Spider-Man?" Zod clenched his fists.
The Grandmaster grinned. "Because the game between you is unfair.
Spider-Man's at a disadvantage, so I'm helping him."
"I see."
Zod muttered, his eyes blazing with laser beams.
Zzzzt~
Boom!!
The Kryptonian ship split in two under the heat vision, yet the Grandmaster "respawned" in the ruins.
"Useless. In the game, I'm immortal," he said with a confident smile.
Faora ruthlessly debunked the lie. "That's just virtual projection tech. Think we Kryptonians are idiots?" she sneered.
The Grandmaster: "…"
His smile stiffened. "Just a joke to show my humor."
He coughed. "Allow me to reintroduce myself.
I'm a cosmic-level gamer obsessed with games. Agree to play and win, and I'll grant any wish."
"I can do that myself," Zod said, waving Faora off to find the Grandmaster's real body.
The Grandmaster didn't care, smiling faintly. "Because you can easily grant wishes, you need me to balance the game."
"I don't need you."
"But Spider-Man does."
"Exactly, I need him," Charlie nodded like a pecking chick.
Zod's eyes narrowed. "Meddling fool. If you can stop me, I'll agree—"
Mid-sentence, Charlie, Steve, and Carter in the cage were digitized into glitches, vanishing into the virtual interface.
"What?"
Zod's heart jolted. "What did you do?"
"They've entered the game willingly. To get them, you have one choice."
The Grandmaster's smile widened; Zod gritted his teeth.
He couldn't comprehend what this guy was or how the mysterious game worked. He had no leverage.
So, he had one choice.
"Faora, come back."
Recalling the warriors, he faced the Grandmaster. "Fine, how do we play?"
"The most thrilling card game, of course!"
The Grandmaster rubbed his hands, and a stack of cards fanned out neatly.
"Game on. First to find Kryptonite wins."
"What?"
Zod was shocked. "You call this a card game?"
The Grandmaster pocketed the blank cards, grinning. "Of course, that's how card games work."
Faora suddenly realized, "You're with that bug!!" Her face darkened.
The Grandmaster and Charlie exchanged a glance, both smiling brightly.
"General, you're in the game, so you're doomed to lose."
Charlie leaped, crashing into the ship's ceiling.
Boom!
Fire burst as he pulled a green gem from a hidden device.
"This is Kryptonite!"
Landing, Charlie displayed his prize. Zod and the others paled.
Under Kryptonite's glow, they weakened, collapsing in staggers.
Elderly Steve finally got it. "I see! Kryptonite, which counters Superman, is key to extracting the Codex."
Carter looked at Charlie, stunned. "Your powers are back?"
"Don't mention my powers."
Charlie's face darkened briefly. He glanced at the smashed ceiling, then smiled again.
It was a gamble, but he'd won.
The device could extract the Codex from Steve and Carter but had no effect on him.
Not because he was strong, but because he wasn't Kryptonian.
Steve and Carter, half-Kryptonians, gained power from sunlight but likely feared Kryptonite like Superman.
Only Kryptonite could weaken them, activating and extracting the Codex.
Seeing that moment, Charlie had suspected it.
His guess was right.
With the Grandmaster stalling Zod, he got the Kryptonite.
Without it, even knowing Kryptonite was close, he couldn't have grabbed it under Zod's nose.
With Kryptonite, Zod's crew was no threat.
He'd won this time.
But then, he caught the Grandmaster's sly smile.
His heart sank.
A bad feeling hit.
Sure enough, the Grandmaster spread his hands, laughing. "Congrats on my congratulations! The invincible Spider-Man got Kryptonite, breaking the game's balance again. So, this time, I side with the Kryptonians."
He flashed behind Zod's group, raising his hand and shouting.
"Down with Spider-Man! Down with the vile bug! This game doesn't allow cheaters!"
Charlie: "…"
Elderly Steve leaped onto the Grandmaster's back, hooking his nostrils and yanking.
"You jerk, messing with Little Spider's feelings? Thor-Captain will end you!"
"Let me at him!"
Wade slid behind the Grandmaster, hands clasped, striking with force.
"Batman's Ultimate Technique: Millennium Bat Kill!!"
Pfft!!
Howl~~
Blood sprayed as the Grandmaster wailed, his flushed face backed by a suddenly pink backdrop.
Faora finally understood.
This wasn't virtual projection tech at all.