"Get to the point."
The Ancient One refused to answer Charlie, instead reaching out to take the Reality Stone wrapped in webbing.
"I know why you're here, and I can help you extract them, but the Reality Stone is mine." She smiled.
"You want this thing?"
Charlie gave her a strange look, sizing her up. "That's a steep fee. Can I give you half?"
The Ancient One shook her head. "It's for your own good. The dark energy in the Reality Stone is accelerating the Black Death Sword's revival. You should know, no matter which universe you use the Black Death Sword in, that guy will lock onto you again."
Hearing this, Charlie nodded.
The Reality Stone could trigger the symbiote power within the Black Death Sword at any moment, making it dangerous to keep around. But tossing it aside felt like a waste.
Handing it over to the Ancient One for safekeeping was the best option.
But what did this woman want with the Reality Stone?
Charlie thought for a moment and then it clicked.
The Ancient One wasn't just a master of white magic—black magic was part of her arsenal too.
It was exactly because she'd borrowed someone's dark magical energy and never returned it that she could extract Gwen and Mary Jane from the Reality Stone.
Looking at the Ancient One, she gently waved her hand, and the Reality Stone floated in midair.
"Mr. Spider-Man, I need a quiet environment," she said to Charlie.
Charlie shrugged. "Don't worry, I won't say a word."
The Ancient One stared at him, smiling without a word.
Seeing this, Charlie threw up his hands and laughed. "Alright, fine, I'm not that curious about your magic. I'll stop looking, okay?"
He pursed his lips, then turned and left the attic.
As he walked away, the Ancient One called after him. "You'll need to help at the last moment. That girlfriend of yours is a bit tricky."
"I don't even have a girlfriend."
Charlie waved dismissively, leaving the room without looking back.
Soon after, as Charlie stood guard at the door, he sensed a deep, dark energy seeping faintly from the room, only to be swiftly contained by the glow of a spell array.
The Ancient One wouldn't let the Reality Stone's dark energy leak, nor would she allow her disciples to discover her use of dark magic.
This was also why she was so eager to retire.
If things dragged on, she feared her secret would be exposed.
But Charlie didn't care about any of that.
When the High Evolutionary came to Earth, the Ancient One hadn't shown up to help.
He wasn't about to let her retire so easily.
This was Spider-Man's revenge on the Supreme Sorcerer!
Hmph, a super vicious revenge!
As time passed, the sky gradually darkened.
Finally, the door swung open on its own, and the Ancient One's voice emerged from the darkness.
"Come in! They need you. You have to help them walk out of this. This is your mess, and no one else can fix it."
"My mess?"
Charlie shook his head and stepped into the darkness.
"Me, an ordinary, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, causing trouble?"
He muttered as he vanished into the dark.
Buzz~
The next moment, the void before him twisted.
A familiar city appeared in his vision.
In the bustling city, a female student with black-rimmed glasses hurried across the sidewalk, clutching books, dodging cars and pedestrians while glancing at her watch.
Under the sunlight, her golden hair fluttered in the breeze, radiating youthful energy.
"Ugh, I'm going to be late."
She muttered, quickening her pace.
Bang~
Suddenly, she collided head-on with a man coming from the opposite direction.
"Ah!"
Gwen let out a startled cry as she stumbled backward, her books scattering into the air.
At the same time, the man opposite her spun with an impossibly suave maneuver, leaping and catching each book midair while smoothly wrapping an arm around her waist.
In an instant, Gwen froze.
Staring at the young face before her, she blinked.
"We've met somewhere before," she said.
Charlie pushed her upright with a gentle nudge. "That pickup line's way too old-school."
He glanced at the nearby pedestrians. "You can clap now."
At his words, the stunned onlookers immediately burst into applause and cheers.
"Oh my gosh, that was amazing!"
"Dude, it's like I was watching a movie!"
"Didn't expect to see something like this in real life."
"So romantic."
"Yeah, disgustingly romantic."
Amid the crowd's praise, Charlie gave a gentlemanly bow. "Thank you, thank you all. I'll keep working on it."
Gwen: "…"
Staring at his back, only one thought crossed her mind.
What a lunatic!!
"Crap! No time!"
The next second, she remembered she was late, hurriedly thanked him, and rushed off.
Charlie watched Gwen's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Hypnotizing herself in a dark world, huh?"
He rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
Gwen only wanted a peaceful life, but meeting Charlie had shattered that calm.
Here, though, Gwen could be herself to the fullest.
But this wasn't reality. A peaceful life would eventually break.
Charlie sighed and looked up at the sky.
"What do I need to do?" he asked.
The Ancient One's face appeared in the sky. "Make her remember you."
"And Mary Jane?"
"Same thing. You'll meet her."
"Got it."
With that, Charlie turned and headed toward Queens.
Soon, at a convenience store on Bleecker Street:
"Welcome!"
Charlie walked in, glancing at Mary Jane, who was busy at the counter.
"Hey, I'd like a juice," he said with a wave and a smile.
Before Mary Jane could respond, a sunny teenage boy emerged from behind a shelf. "No problem, your juice is right here."
The boy crouched, grabbed a juice, and handed it to Charlie. "Anything else you need?"
The boy's smile was radiant.
For a moment, Charlie was dazed.
This boy… wasn't that him?
"Charlie… Parker?" Charlie asked tentatively.
The teenage Charlie looked surprised. "You know me?"
Charlie snapped back to reality, pointing at his own face. "What do you think?"
Teen Charlie studied the man before him, then shook his head. "I don't get what you're talking about."
Just then, Mary Jane, finished with her work, walked over to teen Charlie. "Honey, what are you guys talking about?"
She kissed teen Charlie's cheek, then turned to Charlie. "Sir, anything else you need?"
Mary Jane asked politely, her eyes showing no hint of recognition.
Charlie had become a stranger.
Despite their nearly identical faces, Mary Jane hadn't noticed.
Charlie gazed into her eyes, giving a faint smile. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks."
With a sigh in his heart, he turned and left the store.
Inside, teen Charlie and Mary Jane watched the strange man, falling silent for a moment.
After a long pause, teen Charlie spoke. "That guy's like a dog."
Mary Jane nodded. "Yeah, dogs are man's best friend. He kinda reminds me of someone I know."
Teen Charlie gave her a sideways glance. "I meant he forgot to pay."
"What?"
Mary Jane's eyes widened, and she didn't hesitate to curse. "That jerk, go after him!"
…
New York at night, neon lights flashing.
On a skyscraper's glass wall, Charlie clung to the surface, hands behind his head, admiring the starry sky.
Soon, the stars morphed into the Ancient One's face.
"What are you hesitating for?" she asked.
Charlie took a deep breath. "Without me, they could have the lives they want."
Whether it was Gwen or Mary Jane, their wishes were simple.
But because of him, it all seemed to fall apart.
The Ancient One seemed to understand his thoughts.
She smiled. "The invincible Spider-Man hesitating over something like this? That's not like you."
"People are complicated. So's Spider-Man."
Charlie sat up, hands braced against the wall.
"So meeting Spider-Man was their bad luck."
He looked down at the street corner.
In the sea of people, Gwen and Mary Jane passed each other, like two souls from parallel worlds.
Their lives were never meant to intersect.
"I can make them into what they imagine themselves to be. Are you willing?" the Ancient One asked.
Charlie thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"No."
He looked up at her face in the sky. "That's not their choice."
"Good. You understand."
"I understand, but I don't know what to do."
Charlie lowered his head, his thoughts a mess.
"The more Spider-Man wants something, the more he loses. You get that?" he asked the Ancient One.
She seemed puzzled. "Should I get it?"
"Never mind, you don't."
Charlie lay back down, hands behind his head.
"Give me a little time to think."
The Ancient One nodded. "No problem."
She vanished.
The starry sky sparkled again.
Charlie stared at the galaxy, motionless.
Finally, he closed his eyes, seeming to make up his mind.
"Screw it!"
He shot to his feet. "This place isn't fit for humans. It's barely been any time, and I'm already getting all sappy. Scared of what? Just go for it."
With that, he leapt off the skyscraper, shooting webs to swing between buildings, soon arriving at Gwen's apartment.
Knock knock~
Inside, Gwen, sitting on her bed reading, heard the sound from the window.
She instinctively looked over and jumped at the sight of Charlie clinging to the glass.
"Oh my gosh, who are you?"
She scrambled off the bed, about to run for help, when magical sparks flashed beside her, and a large hand dragged her away.
On the rooftop, the wind howled.
"No!!"
Amid the magical sparks, Gwen, in her pajamas, stumbled out of a portal in a panic.
"Stay back!"
Gwen ran, Charlie chased.
"Stop pretending."
Charlie flicked his wrist, and a web shot out, wrapping around Gwen's waist.
With a gentle tug, her body spun under the moonlight, like a graceful ballerina.
In the next second, she was pulled to Charlie's side.
Their eyes met, and Gwen inexplicably calmed.
She seemed to remember.
Her breathing quickened.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Do you remember what I asked you back then?" She stared into Charlie's eyes, the unfamiliarity gone.
Her eyelashes fluttered. She was waiting.
Charlie nodded, his forehead lightly touching hers.
"You know exactly what happens if I accept my fate."
"I know."
Gwen closed her eyes, standing on her tiptoes.
"You'll beat fate. I believe in you."
"I…"
Charlie opened his mouth, unsure what to say.
He couldn't make promises.
Because he wasn't sure himself.
But looking at Gwen, he seemed to see her beauty for the first time.
In that moment, his heart trembled.
He leaned closer.
Until—
"Shut up!!"
Just as Charlie was about to act, a familiar voice interrupted.
"You jerk, you broke our deal!"
Charlie turned to see Mary Jane storming toward him.
"You—"
"Shut it."
Mary Jane shoved Charlie aside, glaring at Gwen. "Wipe that smug grin off your face. I didn't lose."
Gwen sighed, shrugging. "Sorry, a deal's a deal. I won."
"No, that doesn't count. You cheated."
"I didn't."
"You did. You can't do that. Your performance was a total flop."
"Mary Jane, even if I failed, you still wouldn't win."
"Who says? I was this close. That guy was clearly jealous when he saw I had a boyfriend."
"No, if he was jealous, why'd he come to me?"
"I don't care. You cheated. This doesn't count."
"It's too late. You saw it—he chose me."
"No, this is your trick. I'm not buying it."
"Mary Jane, accept the bet, accept the loss."
"That's not how it works. You used dirty tricks."
"I didn't—"
As the two women argued, Charlie stood by, dumbfounded.
Then it hit him.
These two were doing this on purpose!!
For a moment, he thought he was the lead in a rom-com.
Turns out, he was just a sidekick in a comedy.
His heart sank. Furious, he clenched his fists and stomped.
"What a mess!!!"
In the dark world, Charlie's roar echoed through the city.
…
Kamar-Taj.
In the attic, the darkness faded, and the Reality Stone's black-and-red energy lingered in the Ancient One's palm.
She glanced at Gwen and Mary Jane, still arguing, and frowned slightly.
"Where's your friend Charlie?" she asked.
"I'm here," came a voice from the corner.
The Ancient One turned to see the invincible Spider-Man with his head buried in the floor, his raised hand looking utterly ridiculous.
The Ancient One: "…"
She shook her head. "My job's done. You handle the rest."
With a wave, she drew a circle and vanished through a portal.
Charlie seized the chance to disappear in a burst of magical sparks.
No way was the invincible Spider-Man staying in that awkward situation.
He had more important things to do.
As for the two arguing women…
Sure, he loved watching women fight, but he was willing to give up that hobby.
After Charlie left, Gwen and Mary Jane suddenly stopped.
"Satisfied now?" Mary Jane shot Gwen a look.
Gwen's face was wistful. "I didn't want to pressure him. He's not meant to belong to just me. Knowing the answer is enough."
Mary Jane nodded. "Yeah, he doesn't belong to me either. He's Spider-Man. He's got his own things to do."
They exchanged a smile.
"You could've shown up later," Gwen said suddenly.
Mary Jane rolled her eyes. "No way I'd let you win."
"That's not fair. Don't think I don't know what you did."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."