Ch.133 Spider-Man Got One-Shotted Again

"Boom!"

The red-and-blue figure shot forward like a cannonball toward the motorcycle. Four mechanical octopus arms stretched out dozens of meters, locking onto the speeding motorcycle.

"Caught you… blech, why am I imitating that four-legged lizard—"

At the moment the arms seized the motorcycle, a huge force erupted, instantly hurling it into the air.

"Buzz~"

In midair, the motorcycle engine roared continuously. The black silhouette didn't hesitate to leap toward a streetlamp, then after a few agile jumps, dove into a nearby alleyway.

Seeing this, Charlie flicked his wrist, firing webbing to catch the falling motorcycle, then dashed into the alley.

"Gahaha, you can't escape."

Charlie gave an odd laugh while chasing relentlessly.

But the figure up ahead, apparently not appreciating Spider-Man's sense of humor, just kept sprinting without saying a word.

"Whoosh~"

A shot of webbing whizzed through the air. Charlie flipped several times, using each pull to catapult himself in front of the dark figure.

Unable to stop in time, the figure threw a punch, a fearsome gust accompanying it. Charlie refused to yield, raising his own fist straight at the other's head.

"Boom!!"

The instant the fists collided, a thunderous crash echoed in the dark alley. Under the shock wave, the floor beneath them cracked apart, and the invisible force scattered abandoned debris everywhere. The walls around them groaned under the strain.

"Crack, crack, crack—"

Dense cracks spread along the walls. The dark figure stumbled but merely took one step back, revealing that this person possessed a force of at least several dozen tons. Otherwise, they couldn't have withstood Charlie's blow unscathed.

In the next moment, the figure's helmet cracked and fell away, letting loose a cascade of black hair.

Upside-down triangular eyes gleamed with pale blue light in the darkness—Charlie got a clear look at the person's face.

Korean-American… Cindy Moon!

It really was her!

Charlie narrowed his eyes. To have such tremendous power—could she also be Spider-Man?

After all, in another universe, Cindy Moon was also one of the mutant Spider-People, capable of firing almost infinite webbing.

Thus her nickname was Silk.

But his spider totem didn't detect the other's spider totem, so she wasn't Spider-Man.

If she wasn't Spider-Man, then what was she?

Could the world crisis be related to her?

He didn't know, but he'd find out soon enough.

In a flash of thought, Charlie fired webbing to charge forward, while four octopus-like metal arms unfurled behind him. In the next instant, they wriggled and transformed into metal spider-spears, jabbing at the opponent's vital points from all sides.

"Ying!"

Cold light glittered, the punch's gust stirring debris in all directions.

But Cindy Moon merely wore a sinister grin. Charlie's vision went black again.

Charlie: "?????"

[You have been eliminated. You cannot obtain a revival slot. Reward: +1% Spider Mutation Gene Toxin Resistance.]

[29 restarts attempts remaining. Restart?]

Within the cosmic web, Charlie awoke still bewildered.

"What happened?"

"Got one-shotted again?"

"That shouldn't happen!"

He scratched his head, carefully reviewing the details of the fight.

Nothing seemed off.

No, there was something off!

As soon as she smiled, he died.

I got killed by a smile?

Charlie rubbed his brow. "That's pretty embarrassing if word gets out."

Let's do it again!

Restart!

Third time in the Resurrection Match.

Right at the start, Charlie gave up on killing the other contestants and headed straight for Hell's Kitchen.

Using spatial webbing to glide high, he soon located Cindy speeding along the street, carefully keeping a safe distance.

Before long, the motorcycle pulled into Kingpin's villa.

Watching Cindy enter the villa, Charlie immediately activated 100% crit.

Woman, you're finished now that I have my eye on you!

"Boom!"

The Little Spider bit into his hand, and the spider totem's magical energy poured into his body, sending a brilliant meteor slanting down from the sky.

"Buzz"

At that moment, Charlie was like the brightest star in the night sky, determined to wipe out this troublesome group in one sweep.

"Boom!!"

In the next second, the meteor crashed, and the villa was flattened by raging magical energy.

He didn't see that strange smile this time, yet after the single strike, Charlie once again sank into darkness.

[You have been eliminated. You cannot obtain a revival slot. Reward: +1% Spider Mutation Gene Toxin Resistance.]

[28 restarts attempts remaining. Restart?]

Within the cosmic web, Charlie clutched his head, frantic.

"What is going on?"

"I clearly got a one, two, three, four… nine-kill spree, so why am I still dead?"

Ever since Cindy showed up, Charlie's Resurrection Match had spiraled downhill, burning through his re-open attempts rapidly.

So the real Resurrection Match was only beginning?

No, can't keep rushing.

Restart!

Fourth time in the Resurrection Match.

This time, Charlie joined forces with Elderly Steve and the others, deciding not to fight alone.

On the highest rooftop in Hell's Kitchen—

"See everything clearly?" Charlie asked.

Elderly Steve nodded, the blue glow in his eyes slowly fading.

"Yes, looks like a girl. Probably not as scary as you said."

"She's plenty scary."

Charlie curled his lip, "My superpower tells me I'm no match for her."

"If you're no match, then we certainly aren't," Lizard Parker began to talk himself out of it.

"No, I can!"

Elderly Steve's aged face brimmed with confidence. He stretched out his hand, summoning rolling thunder in the night sky.

Mjölnir landed in his palm, and he grinned.

"I feel invincible."

Seeing this, Charlie guessed that Shiba Inu Thor might have gone off to pee under a tree, leaving his hammer unattended.

Gwen looked curiously at the crackling hammer. "Doesn't your hand go numb holding that?" she asked.

Elderly Steve lifted the hammer again, lightning flickering in the night sky.

"Of course I'm not afraid—this is an artifact."

After flaunting his hammer, he turned to Charlie.

"Little Spider, shall we move now?"

Charlie shook his head, "No, wait."

"Wait for what?"

"Wait for her to leave Hell's Kitchen. Kingpin and that bunch are a hassle. Let's take out that woman first."

With that, Charlie said to Gwen, "Tell me about your friend."

"Which friend do you mean? I have a lot."

"Cindy Moon."

"Her?"

Gwen frowned. "She took a semester off for sickness. I couldn't contact her."

"Why sick?"

"Apparently she was seriously ill."

"I see…"

Charlie rubbed his chin, thinking. It seemed Gwen had no valuable intel.

Thus, as Elderly Steve watched, Cindy rode her bike into Kingpin's villa.

Shortly after, Cindy left the villa and wove through traffic at high speed.

"Judging from the route, she's headed for District D. She'll pass by an abandoned factory on the way. We can take her there," Elderly Steve suggested.

Charlie nodded, "Agreed."

He looked at Elderly Steve. "Remember last time we had that kabob?"

"Kabob?"

Gwen was puzzled. "What are they talking about?" she asked Lizard Parker.

Lizard Parker hung his head, clearly not wanting to recall that Titanic moment.

Elderly Steve feigned ignorance, "I don't remember. I have amnesia. I'm old and demented."

Charlie smirked. "If you don't remember, I'll be sure to remind you. Everyone's quite curious."

"No, I recall it now. Let's go."

With a dramatic slap to the forehead—like he'd just remembered—Elderly Steve first used webbing to "string" everyone together, then casually swung Mjölnir.

"Rumble~"

Instantly, the classic "grasshoppers on a string" scene returned.

In the night sky, lightning flashed intermittently.

From a window, an elementary schooler on summer break was diligently doing homework.

He looked up absentmindedly, and his eyes lit with surprise.

"Mom, I see someone flying… no, a line of them flying!"

"Johnny, you must be sneaking cartoons again."

"No, Mom, I really see them."

His kind mother approached with a slipper. She glanced outside and saw nothing, her gaze turning grim.

"Johnny, lying is wrong, you know?" She brandished the slipper menacingly.

The boy sighed. He seemed used to it.

"Mom, you can spank me, but I have one request."

"What is it?"

"Please stop discussing childrearing with the auntie next door."

"No, her kid turned out to be a top lawyer with that method."

"Mom, if I grow up to be a lawyer, I'll definitely repay you."

"Oh, Johnny, that's sweet. Hold out your hand."

"Go easy. Yesterday's injuries haven't healed."

"Good. You're getting more sensible."

"Smack!"

"Nooo!"

At the abandoned factory, Mjölnir slammed down. They tumbled to the ground, covered in dust.

Except Charlie.

He fired spatial webbing and flipped onto the factory roof, prompting envy from Lizard Parker.

"So graceful, too graceful."

Nearby, Gwen clutched her waist as she got up. "Shit, the buildings around here were too short to swing from. We didn't make it far."

"By the way, did you all hear that noise just now?" She seemed to remember something.

Elderly Steve hefted the hammer. "Yeah, a little boy screaming. Probably a parent abusing their child."

"I heard it too. There was a complicated emotion in that scream. He's in despair," Lizard Parker said glumly, recalling his tragic childhood.

"We'll rescue that kid later. Now, we have to get rid of that woman."

In Charlie's ears, faint sounds of a motorcycle's engine reached him. He quickly hid inside a chimney on the rooftop.

"You guys go first. I'll deliver the final blow."

With that, he stuffed his entire head back into the chimney.

Everyone else: "…"

Elderly Steve shook his head. "Little Spider is more timid than ever. Looks like I'm up."

He turned to face the direction of the roaring motorcycle, his eyes turning sharp.

In his grasp, Mjölnir crackled with electricity, spreading gradually across his body.

Lightning raged about him like the God of Thunder!

"Have you ever seen New York at four in the morning?"

He smirked slightly and spoke softly, "Even though I left the Avengers, I still work out every day—running, stretching.

I'm not trying to show I work harder than anyone. I just want everyone to know.

I, Steve Rogers, even without my shield, am still Captain America!"

Finishing, he suddenly set aside his shield, lifting Mjölnir high.

"Rumble!!!!"

As Mjölnir smashed into the ground, stones and rubble blasted upward, lightning from the night sky struck down squarely onto the oncoming motorcycle.

"Zzzt zzzt~"

"Boom!"

In an instant, the motorcycle exploded with a deafening roar. Cindy leapt through the flames, but the next second Mjölnir flashed again.

"Pow!!"

The factory rumbled. Mjölnir dragged Cindy's figure into the ruins.

Remnants of lightning spread out, pinning Cindy beneath the hammer. No matter how she struggled, it did no good.

And Elderly Steve held the throw stance the entire time.

"Whew~"

A gentle breeze blew by, and a grin tugged at his mouth.

"I'd like some applause from you all."

Lizard Parker wore a look of disgust.

"I've never seen such a shameless man."

Carter nodded, "Yes, you don't have a shield, but you have a hammer."

Gwen was pensive, "I've seen New York at four AM, usually binging shows all night."

Elderly Steve: "…"

Why didn't that go as I imagined?

"Old man, go check her. And be careful. Don't let her smile."

At that moment, Charlie poked his head out of the chimney, caution in his voice. "Whatever you do, don't let her smile."

Elderly Steve rolled his eyes. "She's been beaten to that state. Only an idiot would smile."

He stepped onto the rubble and looked down at half a face buried beneath bricks.

"Don't worry. She's not smiling. You can come over."

He waved Charlie over.

"No, not yet."

"Coward."

Seeing Charlie's behavior, Elderly Steve couldn't help laughing.

This was a rare sight.

Nearby, when Gwen cleared some bricks and saw the face, she cried out in shock.

"Cindy! How is it you?"

Cindy, blood trickling from her mouth, glanced at Gwen, then gave a strange smile.

"No—"

Just one look, and Gwen's world sank into endless darkness.

"She's smiling, she's smiling!"

Elderly Steve shouted. Charlie, who had been about to move, retreated deeper into the chimney.

"What's happening out there?" he called.

"Gwen got mind-wiped by that smile."

"What?"

"I said Gwen turned into a dummy."

"What about you guys?"

"We're fine."

"Drag Gwen over here."

"Where to?"

"Here, to me."

Before long, Charlie cautiously stuck his head out of the rooftop chimney again.

Seeing Gwen still wearing a shocked expression, unresponsive no matter how they moved her.

"She looks like she's been hypnotized," Carter said.

Charlie observed Gwen, rubbing his chin in thought.

"She's still warm."

"What did you say?" Carter asked, puzzled.

Charlie shook his head, "Nothing."

He patted Lizard Parker's shoulder, reassuring him, "Don't worry. She'll be fine. She'll get better soon."

Lizard Parker looked tense, "Really?"

"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"

"All the time."

"Okay."

Charlie shrugged, realizing this guy had him there.

He cast a glance in Cindy's direction, then immediately turned back.

"If I guessed right, her power only works on Spider-People. Her superpower can strip away all the senses of any Spider-Person."

"What do you mean?" Carter frowned.

Elderly Steve explained, "Meaning Gwen can't hear, can't smell, can't see, can't taste, can't feel. She can't sense her body at all. Possibly even her brain is shut down, though she's still alive."

"How's that different from dying?" Lizard Parker was frantic.

"No difference."

Charlie's expression turned grim. "Looks like this is another scheme targeting Spider-Man. But I can't figure out what it has to do with the world crisis."

"I think—" Elderly Steve started to speak.

"What do you think?"

Charlie frowned; he could barely hear Elderly Steve's words.

Elderly Steve continued to speak, but Charlie could no longer hear anything at all.

He felt his body stiffening, and his vision blurring.

"Damn, it's contagious…"

Right before he lost consciousness entirely, Charlie gave Cindy the middle finger.