Collider Laboratory
"Warning! Temporal stability collapsing!" the lab's AI blared with a piercing alarm.
May Parker swiftly pulled up data: "Someone's remotely controlling this black hole! 2099 was just a puppet!"
James wasn't surprised. "As expected."
He snapped his head up, heat vision blasting straight into the black hole's core!
Zing! Boom!
The crimson beam pierced the void, eliciting a pained roar from within, as if a higher entity had been struck! But the next second, the black hole expanded violently, countless golden chains shooting out, aiming for James!
"Careful!" Gwen shouted.
James didn't bother dodging, letting the chains wrap around him.
"Got you," a deep voice echoed from the black hole's depths.
James smirked. "No, I got you."
His arms flexed with force.
Crack!
All chains shattered instantly!
Then, James charged into the black hole, grabbing its edges, muscles straining to their limit under everyone's shocked gazes.
"Open… now!"
Rip!
The black hole was torn apart!
Inside, a golden data space revealed a black-robed figure on a throne, staring at James in astonishment.
"You! How could you…?"
James didn't give him a chance to speak. His eyes flashed red.
Boom!
The robed figure's head vaporized!
The golden space began collapsing, the black hole contracting violently, finally sealing shut with a deafening explosion!
The lab fell silent.
All Spider-Men stood dumbfounded.
Holland-Spider gaped: "Should I clap?"
James dusted his hands, turning to them. "Problem solved."
May stared at the data screen. "All temporal rifts… repaired?"
James nodded. "Mastermind's dead. You can all go home."
Blue light enveloped the Spider-Men, their return process activating automatically.
Holland-Spider shouted, "Wait! At least tell us who you are?!"
James smiled faintly. "Superman."
A Spider-Man fumbled with his fading hands. "Whoa! This is weird! Like Thanos snapped his fingers!"
Gwen shook her head, turning to James. "Whoever you are, thanks for saving us all."
She hesitated, then gave James a quick hug. "If you visit my universe, find me for coffee."
Garfield-Spider scratched his head, extending a hand shyly. "Your fighting style's scary, but… thanks."
James shook it, but Garfield lowered his voice. "If you see Gwen—my Gwen—could you…?"
"Nope." James cut him off. "Chase your own girl."
Garfield's face reddened.
Noir-Spider emerged from the shadows, saying nothing, offering an ancient knight's salute.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Spider-Ham bounced over, pulling a mini spider plush from his pocket. "Souvenir! I sewed it myself!"
LEGO Spider-Man built a crude trophy. "To the coolest non-Spider-Man!"
Peni Parker handed over a mech model. "You're a true hero!"
Tobey-Spider approached last, his weathered eyes meeting James's. "You taught me something—sometimes, you have to break fate."
He pointed to his spider emblem. "Take care."
The Spider-Men vanished.
The lab doors closed behind James, sealing away the mechanical wreckage and scorched battle marks. New York's night sky was unusually clear, starlight bathing the quiet streets, as if no chaos had occurred.
James stood at a corner, gazing upward. The black hole was gone, but the system remained silent.
[Task Status: Ongoing.]
James shrugged. "Not that simple, huh?"
Hands in pockets, he strolled down the street. His black cape fluttered in the night breeze, the six Infinity Gems on his chest still dim.
This universe's rules limited some of his powers, but even so, he was invincible across the multiverse.
Rustle!
A faint sound came from an alley.
James paused, not turning. "Tired of following me?"
A petite figure stepped from the shadows. May Parker removed her mask, smiling awkwardly. "How'd you spot me? I blocked all bio-signals."
"Heartbeat." James tapped his ear. "Yours is 30% faster than normal."
May's eyes widened. "Super hearing? That's cool!"
James faced her. "You didn't go back?"
May winked playfully. "How could I miss studying an outsider like you?"
She adjusted her wrist device. "I tweaked my return coordinates to stay in this universe for now."
James glanced at her. "Your family know you're this reckless?"
"Hey!" May puffed her cheeks. "I inherited my dad's brains and my mom's judgment. I can handle myself."
They turned a corner, the 24-hour convenience store's lights illuminating May's young face. She grabbed two sodas, tossing one to James.
"Tell me," James popped the can open with telekinesis, "how'd you become Spider-Girl? Where's Peter?"
May's expression dimmed. "In my universe, Peter Parker was my dad. He didn't come back from his last mission."
-----------------------------------------
50 chapters in advance on my patreon.
Chûnin-Rank Plan: Read 20 chapters in advance + free waifu.
Jônin-Rank Plan: Read 30 chapters in advance + 10 waifu
Hokage-Rank Plan: Read 40 Chapters in advence
patreon.com/The_Fool007