Inheritor Karn.
A member of the ancient Inheritor family who had been exiled for over a century, and during that extensive period of banishment, he had continued his relentless hunt for Spider-totems across countless dimensions, devouring the mystical essence contained within their souls to sustain his own existence.
At this moment, he had identified Gwen as his next target, and with predatory precision he hurled the energy weapon in his grasp, aiming the blazing spear directly at her exposed throat!
Under normal circumstances, Gwen's spider-sense would have alerted her to any unexpected attack with plenty of time to react defensively. But this time, for reasons she couldn't comprehend, her early warning system remained completely silent. It wasn't until Karn's weapon had already been launched and the burning energy blade was mere inches from piercing her suit and slicing through her throat that Gwen suddenly became aware of the mortal danger.
With reflexes honed through years of combat experience, she bent backward with impossible flexibility, her spine curving like a willow branch as she narrowly avoided the lethal strike.
However, the thrown spear had been merely a feint designed to create an opening for his real attack. Karn had already closed the distance between them with supernatural speed, his broad frame blocking her vision like an approaching avalanche. His massive hand reached out with predatory intent to seize her throat in a grip that would end her life.
"If you underestimate Spider-Woman, you're going to regret it!" Gwen declared with fierce determination, refusing to allow panic to cloud her judgment.
She used the momentum from her defensive backward bend to execute a perfect gymnastics-style flip, launching her right foot toward Karn's jaw with devastating force.
Despite her deceptively slender appearance, the superhuman strength contained within her enhanced physiology was nothing to dismiss lightly. This kick delivered dozens of tons of kinetic energy, enough force to demolish a building or stop a speeding freight train.
However, reality proved far more brutal than her expectations.
The kick connected solidly with Karn's jaw, striking with perfect accuracy and tremendous power, but the Inheritor wasn't launched backward as Gwen had anticipated. His massive frame didn't even tremble from the impact, his head merely tilted slightly upward, as if he had been tapped by a child's finger rather than struck by superhuman force.
"How is that possible?" Gwen whispered in growing horror.
Before she could process this shocking development, Karn shifted his hand from its original target of her throat and instead grasped her extended calf with iron-like fingers.
"You're finished, Spider-totem!" The judgment emerged from Karn's sealed helmet with the finality of a death sentence.
Gwen was preparing to deliver a sarcastic retort and raise her left foot for another kick, but she suddenly discovered that every ounce of strength had mysteriously vanished from her body.
"What exactly is happening to me..." she gasped, her face growing pale beneath the concealing mask as fear and agony filled her expression.
In this terrifying moment, she felt as though all the vitality in her body was being systematically drained away. After this mysterious predator had grasped her leg, it seemed as though he had punctured every blood vessel in her body and was methodically sucking her life force through some supernatural process.
In reality, the situation was far worse than she could possibly imagine.
The Inheritor family represented a species of space vampires, but their sustenance wasn't blood in the traditional sense, they fed on the life energy and mystical power of animal totem bearers throughout the multiverse.
It could be said that the Inheritor Family functioned as the natural predators of Spider-People across all realities. Not only could they neutralize Spider-enhanced superpowers through proximity, but direct physical contact allowed them to absorb a Spider-totem's life essence directly.
If Gwen could have observed the scene from a third-person perspective, she would have witnessed both herself and Karn being enveloped in cascading waves of mystical energy, with her totem power being systematically stripped from her body and flowing into Karn's form like luminous rivers feeding into a dark reservoir.
It wouldn't take much longer before the life energy in her body was completely consumed by this space parasite, leaving behind nothing but a desiccated mummy.
Gwen's delicate features contorted beneath her mask as she released a weak, agonized whimper that barely escaped her lips.
The sensation of having her life energy extracted strand by strand, like spider silk being slowly pulled from her very soul, made her entire body tremble with involuntary spasms. In just a few desperate breaths, her respiratory pattern became increasingly labored, her vision began to blur with approaching unconsciousness, and she could barely summon the strength to lift her hands or feet in any meaningful resistance.
Her heartbeat is weakening, Karn observed clinically as he studied Gwen through the metallic visor that concealed his features.
Even though he had eliminated countless Spider-People across the multiverse and witnessed this identical scene repeated thousands of times, he couldn't entirely suppress a flicker of melancholy for the passing of another young life.
However, he could not halt his predatory feeding, as this represented the inescapable fate and biological imperative of the Inheritor bloodline.
Gwen continued her feeble attempts at resistance, but her physical strength had been almost entirely depleted. Her vision deteriorated into unfocused shapes and colors, while her body temperature plummeted rapidly. Even the warm sunlight striking her face felt cold and distant, as if she were sinking into a dark ocean of ice where breathing itself became impossible.
She turned her head weakly in the direction her father had departed, but all that appeared in her fading eyesight were indistinct patches of light and shadow that held no meaning.
Yet within her heart, an overwhelming sadness expanded like a tide of regret.
I'm sorry, Dad. I might not be able to come home for dinner tonight... Sorry, MJ. I can't make it to rehearsal today...
I'm sorry, Ben. I might not be able to wait for you to come find me...
Gwen felt as though her entire existence had been defined by unfulfilled promises and tragic timing. Every time circumstances seemed to improve and happiness appeared within reach, catastrophic accidents would inevitably occur, and death would circle her like a persistent specter.
Her mother had died when she was still a child, and after becoming Spider-Woman, her best friend Peter had died in her arms during their final confrontation...
Is it true that Spider-People are destined never to find lasting happiness?
The thought filled her with profound despair, as if she were trapped in an inescapable quagmire of fate. Perhaps she had been too genuinely happy recently, she had found a boy she truly cared about, reconciled with her father through Ben's guidance and comfort, and made peace with her own life and traumatic past, so this accident felt particularly cruel in its timing.
This time, the person facing death was herself.
At least it's me and not someone else, she thought with bitter acceptance.
If the person in danger had been Ben, she would have gladly died in his place without hesitation.
Even you can't change Spider-Man's destined misfortune, Gwen reflected sadly. Perhaps tragedy will always define every Spider-Person's existence.
But she still felt overwhelming regret about the circumstances.
She would reach the end of her life without ever seeing Ben again, and the promise they had made during their parting would remain an unfulfilled lie echoing in the void.
And his reassuring words, "Things will be different after meeting me", hadn't changed anything fundamental after all.
Maybe this outcome is for the best, she tried to console herself. At least no one else will be hurt because of me.
Gwen slowly closed her clouding eyes, feeling as though death was already claiming her while the world faded into absolute darkness.
Her consciousness became increasingly unclear and fragmented. In her fading awareness, she seemed to perceive the sun setting behind Manhattan's skyline while stars began emerging in the darkening sky. She imagined she could hear the gentle evening breeze flowing over the Williamsburg Bridge, and she pictured herself sitting upside down beneath a building's overhang, leaning against Ben's much taller frame for support and warmth.
The two of them seemed to have transformed into stone gargoyles perched atop the building, remaining together and watching over the city until the end of time itself.
Karn's eyes, hidden beneath his protective helmet, revealed a sadness that even he wasn't entirely conscious of experiencing.
Under the influence of his supernatural feeding, Gwen's life force had been reduced to almost nothing, barely a whisper of existence remaining in her still form.
Beneath her spider-suit, her originally smooth and youthful skin had become dry and papery, taking on the texture of ancient parchment. She resembled someone who had been deceased for centuries, with her battle suit hanging loosely on what appeared to be withered branches rather than a living human form.
But even in this devastating condition, Karn detected that some trace of vitality still lingered within the motionless figure before him, stretched thin like spider silk, seemingly fragile yet somehow enduring against all expectations.
"Of all the Spider-People I've encountered throughout my hunts, you're proving the most difficult to kill completely," Karn admitted with grudging respect.
Perhaps the raw strength Gwen had demonstrated earlier hadn't been particularly impressive, and her technology wasn't especially advanced compared to other Spider-totems he had consumed, but her fundamental life force exceeded that of all previous victims.
No one had ever survived this long under an Inheritor's direct energy drain, though she could barely maintain even the faintest signs of life.
Given Gwen's current condition, even if Karn abandoned her at this location, she would inevitably die within minutes.
A distinctive buzzing sound and flash of interdimensional light emerged behind Karn's position, followed immediately by the sound of hurried footsteps striking the rooftop.
Karn didn't bother turning around to investigate the interruption, instead moving his palm from Gwen's leg to her throat. He was now preparing to extract the final breath of life from this remarkably resilient body!
"Release her immediately!" Superior Spider-Man burst through the portal just in time to witness Karn in the process of draining Gwen's life energy, and a metallic spider-spear materialized behind him as he launched it toward Karn's exposed back.
Karn casually swung his free hand backward and shattered the projectile weapon with effortless force. Then he lifted Gwen's nearly lifeless form like a discarded doll and addressed the newcomer: "Your timing is inadequate."
I really am too late, the other Peter Parker acknowledged grimly.
Based on Gwen's horrific current condition, he could easily imagine what her body looked like beneath the concealing spider-suit.
The flesh would be completely desiccated, eye sockets sunken and empty, eyeballs likely missing entirely, with wrinkled skin stretched over bone like poorly fitting leather that could never be restored to its original condition.
He had witnessed too many Spider-People die in exactly this manner, their bodies completely drained of life and discarded like empty husks, with their internal organs so thoroughly depleted that even scavenging animals wouldn't approach the remains.
Gwen was technically still breathing, but any hope of recovery appeared nonexistent.
Superior Spider-Man considered the tactical situation and began contemplating withdrawal.
Ever since he had accidentally traveled through the multiverse due to a dimensional experiment gone wrong, he had discovered that someone was systematically hunting Spider-People across all realities. Concerned that he would become a target, he had been tracking Karn for extended periods and had decided to organize resistance against the Inheritor threat.
But at this moment, it wasn't worth engaging in direct confrontation with Karn for the sake of a Gwen who was clearly beyond saving.
What would be accomplished even if she could be rescued?
Her body was already more fragile than that of someone on their deathbed.
Karn couldn't read Superior Spider-Man's thoughts and had no idea that this particular Spider-Person was actually considering abandoning Gwen to her fate. Previously, this annoying pest had prevented him from feeding on several occasions. This time, he was determined to eliminate both the interfering Spider-Man and the Spider-Woman together!
The energy absorption in his palm intensified dramatically!
He was on the verge of extracting Gwen's soul completely from her devastated physical form! Simultaneously, the spear he had thrown earlier materialized back in his free hand through some supernatural process. His muscles tensed with predatory anticipation, knees slightly bent like a great cat preparing to strike.
Superior Spider-Man took a defensive step backward, already half-retreating through his portal in preparation for immediate escape.
BOOM!!!
Just as Karn prepared to make his final move, an explosive surge of energy suddenly erupted from Gwen's motionless body, launching him backward with tremendous force and sending him tumbling across the rooftop!
Karn was completely stunned by this unexpected development. Half of his torso had been reduced to bloody devastation by the energy explosion, and he rolled across the building's surface multiple times before managing to look back toward Gwen's position.
The sight that greeted him defied all his previous experience and understanding.
At this moment, Gwen was completely enveloped in massive waves of pink luminous energy. The power contained immense life force that instantly replenished all the vitality that had been previously absorbed, while simultaneously condensing into a humanoid silhouette of pure energy behind her prone form.
What in the multiverse is this supposed to be? Karn thought with growing alarm. Is this still classified as a spider totem?
The Inheritor was genuinely dumbfounded by what he was witnessing.
This power was naturally Mana, the fundamental life energy of the universe itself! When Ben had left seeds of Mana within Gwen's body during their interdimensional adventure, they had taken root and begun growing within her spiritual essence.
After Karn had systematically absorbed Gwen's conventional life energy, the process had inadvertently stimulated the dormant space power within her body, allowing her to activate what could only be described as a passive ability, completely unleashing the Mana in a defensive response.
At this moment, the dispersed Mana that had been extracted from Gwen's system flowed back into her body like a returning tide, wrapping around her form as if creating a glowing suit of white and pink armor, or directly transforming her into an Anodite entity composed of pure energy.
"What incredibly powerful energy!" Superior Spider-Man, who had been preparing to flee, immediately pulled his retreating foot back through the portal.
Gwen slowly opened her eyes and looked down at her hands with amazement and wonder.
This is Ben's energy!
"It feels like being wrapped in Ben's embrace!" she whispered with joy and recognition.
Even her breathing pattern had completely synchronized with the space rhythm she remembered from their time together.
"Things will be different after meeting me."
Ben's promise echoed through Gwen's mind again, and the hollow ache in her heart was instantly filled with warmth and purpose.
"Ben didn't lie to me," she realized with growing excitement. "Things really are different now!"
"Not even death itself can take anyone away this time!"
In this moment of space awakening, she felt capable of accomplishing anything, even changing Spider-Man's traditionally tragic destiny!
Thinking about these possibilities, her heart became eager with anticipation, and she looked forward to the fulfillment of Ben's other promises with mounting joy.
She couldn't wait to see him again and share this incredible transformation.
If he doesn't come to find me soon, I'll just have to go find him myself! Gwen thought with newfound determination.
But before pursuing that reunion, she needed to deal with the extremely dangerous threat standing before her!
She clenched her fists and turned her attention toward Karn with eyes that blazed with cosmic fire.
Karn's injuries had already healed through his supernatural regenerative abilities, but he continued studying Gwen with obvious caution. This Spider-Woman gave him a completely different impression from all the other Spider-totems he had encountered throughout his hunting career, which meant he needed to exercise extreme care in his approach.
Superior Spider-Man obviously recognized that Gwen had been fundamentally transformed, which filled him with unexpected hope and excitement.
He leaped across the rooftop and landed beside her, only to discover that Gwen was actually floating several feet above the building's surface with her feet no longer touching solid ground.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am, " he began with the traditional Spider-Person greeting.
"You're Spider-Man from another universe," Gwen interrupted efficiently.
After experiencing interdimensional travel herself, she had learned to provide quick responses that bypassed lengthy explanations.
To prevent every Spider-Person from reciting their entire origin story like reading from a menu, she cut off his introduction before it could gain momentum, causing Superior Spider-Man's self-introduction to get stuck in his throat.
However, this particular Peter Parker possessed a personality similar to Ben's, he wasn't naturally talkative or prone to excessive exposition.
"What is this unique energy you're displaying?" he asked with obvious scientific curiosity. "I've never encountered anything like it before."
"Ben energy," Gwen replied with a casual shrug, looking down at him with mild annoyance. "You wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you." Her expression shifted to obvious disapproval. "You were planning to run away, weren't you? You were just going to watch someone die without offering assistance?"
Superior Spider-Man felt his face flush with embarrassment. Has my cowardice been completely exposed?
He attempted to change the subject abruptly, studying Karn with obvious wariness. "Be extremely careful with this individual. I've been tracking him across more than a dozen universes. He's been systematically hunting Spider-People throughout different realities. He represents an extraordinarily dangerous threat. Whatever you do, don't allow him to make physical contact, otherwise, "
The warning was unnecessary, Gwen had experienced the consequences firsthand.
"You said he's hunted Spider-People from more than a dozen universes?" Gwen's heart contracted with sudden fear as she asked urgently, "Was there someone named Ben among his victims?"
"Never heard that name mentioned," Superior Spider-Man replied with a shrug.
But Karn interjected with cold malice: "I have no idea how many thousands or tens of thousands of Spider-totems I've eliminated throughout my existence. Why would I remember the names of those dead insects?"
His tone became even more threatening as he continued: "Ben? Is he someone important to you? Don't concern yourself, if I've already killed him, I'll be happy to send you to join him in death. If not, it won't be long before I dispatch him to the afterlife where he can wait for your arrival!"
Gwen's expression immediately transformed into a mask of absolute fury.
"You're dead," she declared with space authority radiating from every word. "Even divine intervention can't save you now, I guarantee it!"
[After researching, this is Superior Spiderman from Superior Spider-Man (2013) Issue 32 and 33]