Chapter 6: Another Spider-Man (Part 2)
"Correct. The Hameno Stone can absorb a person's power and transform their dark side into another independent entity," Loki explained.
"Dark side?"
"He's the shadow formed from every negative emotion you've ever had. In other words, he is you. He knows every ability you possess and every thought you have."
Loki's lips curled with satisfaction. "So, Spider-Man, how do you expect to defeat yourself?"
From Loki's perspective, the plan was flawless. Spider-Man had no chance of escaping this trap. What he didn't tell him was that this dark counterpart was tied directly to his life. If the shadow perished, the original would die as well.
Win or lose, the end was the same. Spider-Man, this time there's no escape, Loki mused silently.
Hearing this, Spider-Man realized just how troublesome this duplicate would be. Facing himself was hard enough, and he was already exhausted.
"Finish him," Loki ordered the black-suited Spider-Man beside him.
Spider-Man tensed at once, ready to fight.
But to his surprise, the black-suited Spider-Man didn't respond.
"Finish him," Loki repeated, louder this time.
The duplicate finally moved, though not toward Spider-Man. He turned on Loki instead.
Both Loki and Spider-Man sensed something was wrong.
"Loki, looks like your Hamenor Stone isn't as reliable as you thought," Spider-Man remarked.
"You were created by me! You should follow my command! Now get over there and deal with Spider-Man!" Loki barked at the dark counterpart.
The black-suited Spider-Man reacted in a flash. A web shot forward and flung Loki's scepter aside.
Then he drove a punch straight into Loki's face, sending him stumbling.
And he wasn't done. The duplicate grabbed Loki by the leg and slammed him back and forth.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
In the vast silence of the Arctic, the only sound was Loki's body hitting the ice.
Spider-Man folded his arms and watched the scene unfold.
"So Loki actually lost? Didn't think my darker side would also want to take down the bad guy," he commented.
Even so, a sense of unease lingered in him.
Did Loki's plan really fail? Something powerful enough to sit in Asgard's vault couldn't be that simple, Spider-Man thought.
A few minutes later, the duplicate finally seemed satisfied.
Bang!
With one last heavy slam, he hurled Loki into the ground.
Loki lay in the crater he'd created, staring blankly at the sky.
He couldn't understand any of this.
He clearly remembered the description of the Hameno Stone when he took it from the Asgardian vault.
Hameno Stone. The Gem of Fate. It can absorb a being's negativity and give birth to a dark counterpart bound to the original's life. The shadow erases the original's fate from the universe, removing him completely.
Everything matched. So why wasn't Spider-Man's dark side targeting Spider-Man? Why turn on him instead?
Loki simply couldn't grasp it.
"Spider-Man… you've won again," Loki murmured hollowly.
"Won? I don't think so." The black-suited Spider-Man finally spoke for the first time since appearing.
"He can talk? I honestly thought he was mute," Spider-Man blurted out.
He'd assumed a being made from pure negativity wouldn't talk at all. In the movies, they usually didn't.
"But how is he supposed to be my dark side? He's out here taking down bad guys just like me, only quieter. Don't tell me my so-called negative trait is talking too much. I happen to like my quips," Spider-Man wondered aloud.
What happened next answered the question for him.
The black-suited Spider-Man snatched Loki's scepter and drove it downward, aiming straight at Loki's head.
Loki's expression shifted instantly. Spider-Man had never killed anyone, so Loki had never anticipated an attack like this. If this blow landed, it would end him.
Right as the scepter was about to strike, the movement halted.
Spider-Man had fired twin webs, sticking them to the scepter and yanking the dark counterpart backward with all his strength.
The black-suited Spider-Man turned to stare at him.
"Hold on. What are you doing?" Spider-Man gasped.
"Killing," the duplicate stated flatly.
"I know you're trying to kill him. I'm asking why," Spider-Man pushed back, finally understanding why this version counted as his darker self.
While the two Spider-Men struggled over the scepter, Loki seized the chance to escape. Everything had spiraled beyond his control.
Both Loki and his weapon dissolved into a swirl of green smoke.
"Spider-Man, I'll spare you this time," Loki's voice echoed just before vanishing completely.
With the sudden disappearance of Loki's scepter, Spider-Man, who had been pulling with full force, went tumbling to the ground.
"Spare me? Please. If it weren't for me, he'd already be dead," Spider-Man grumbled.
He got to his feet again, only to find the black-suited Spider-Man standing directly in front of him.
"The other me… no, the darker me… either way, this won't do. Listen, man, we're Spider-Man. Spider-Man doesn't kill," he said as he clapped a hand on his counterpart's shoulder.
The black figure lowered his gaze to the hand resting on him.
"Remove it."
Spider-Man awkwardly pulled his hand back.
"Criminals deserve to die," the dark counterpart stated.
"No. Criminals should be arrested and held accountable. We don't get to decide life or death. You remember what Uncle Ben taught us, right?" Spider-Man reminded him gently.
"That's exactly why they need to be killed," the dark one snapped, his frustration boiling through.
"We're talking about the same lesson… right?" Spider-Man asked, uncertain now.
"Spider-Man, we're the same person. If you never had the thought of killing criminals, I wouldn't exist. Face yourself," the black-suited Spider-Man said, pointing a finger against Spider-Man's chest.
His words dragged Spider-Man's mind back to that night.
"I admit I once wanted revenge. Uncle Ben's death broke me. But in the end, I let go. I didn't kill him."
"I learned Uncle Ben's lesson that night. Now it's your turn," Spider-Man urged, his voice sincere.
"Pointless excuses. The only real way to stop crime is to eliminate the criminals," the dark version said, irritation rising. Nothing annoyed him more than Spider-Man's moral lectures.
"Spider-Man, I'm done with your little cat-and-mouse routine. If you can't bring yourself to do what needs to be done, then get out of my way," he snapped and shoved Spider-Man aside.
"Cat-and-mouse…?" Spider-Man echoed, watching the dark silhouette move ahead.