CHAPTER 24

Gwen Stacy suited up in her Spider-Woman costume and prepared to leap out the window.

George Stacy's forehead furrowed, and he grumbled, "Can't you just use the door?"

Gwen stuck her tongue out playfully. "I'm used to it."

Then she leapt, shot out a webline, and swung into the night, the wind rushing through her hair as the city below shrunk.

Suddenly, another shadowy figure dropped from the skyline, blocking Gwen's path.

"It's me, Russell," the voice called.

A small spider emblem appeared on Gwen's suit. "This is a Spider Mark I made," Russell continued, "It has positioning and early-warning features. When your Spider-Sense is triggered, this will alert me, and I can assist you through the signal."

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "This spider mark won't track me or spy on me, right?"

Russell raised an eyebrow. "Does your Spider-Sense track or spy on you?" He smirked before continuing, "I split the Spider-Totem from Earth-1610. Most of it resides in this mark. Absorb it, and you'll get a power boost. A smaller part of the totem stays with me. The two halves communicate through quantum entanglement."

Gwen blinked. "So, if you're in danger, will my mark alert me?"

"Yep, the signals are linked," Russell said with a slight shrug. "Though, I usually just crush things before the danger even starts, so don't worry."

Gwen smiled. "Thanks, Russell. I love the gift."

As the conversation continued, the news blared from the television.

"It has been confirmed that renowned philanthropist Wilson Grant Fisk passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage after failed attempts to revive him. Mr. Fisk, let us all take a moment to mourn."

"Kingpin is dead?!" George blurted, staring at the screen.

Being a high-ranking officer with the NYPD, he knew exactly how dangerous Wilson Fisk—aka Kingpin—was, and what that would mean for New York City. "This city's going to be a warzone tonight, and probably for a while."

"Sorry, Russell. Duty calls," George said, quickly turning to grab his jacket.

He had planned to bond with Russell, to build a relationship with his future son-in-law, but the severity of the situation meant he had to return to the precinct.

"Go do your thing, be safe," Russell said, sending a wave of mental energy toward George's wrist, enhancing his safety. The NYPD job was dangerous, and George could use all the help he could get.

"Oh, and by the way, it's early morning in Nepal, right?"

Russell stepped forward, and a portal shimmered to life. "Right," he muttered as he entered the mystic doorway, finding himself at the Sanctum Sanctorum.

"Ah, Master Russell, sit. Breakfast?" Ancient One's voice rang out from within the room.

Russell took his seat. "One beef ball, one steamed spare rib, rice noodle rolls with lean meat, and a glass of milk. Thanks, Master Gu Yi."

Gu Yi gestured to the table. "Help yourself. I've opened a portal to my friend's place for this." Another portal opened beside them, revealing a quiet morning tea shop.

Russell paused before extending his energy into the shop. A few moments later, he pulled the breakfast items through, bringing them back to the table without needing to leave his seat.

Gu Yi chuckled. "You've learned to channel energy to pull things in. Just remember, you're still working on precision."

The two settled into their meal, though Russell's metabolism meant he could easily absorb the food almost instantly.

"I've been working with the Time Gem," Russell said, breaking the silence. "The past makes sense, but the future is harder to deduce."

Gu Yi's face grew serious. "The problem with the future is that it branches endlessly. And every branch requires immense energy to navigate."

Russell nodded. "Too many possibilities, too much strain on the gem."

Gu Yi sighed. "Energy consumption is inevitable. The Infinity Stones tap into multiversal energy, which far exceeds anything we can draw upon. However, you don't need every branch, just the pivotal choices. Focus on them."

Russell's brow furrowed. "But if you make a wrong choice early on, everything you've predicted becomes irrelevant."

Gu Yi's gaze sharpened. "Have you tested this?"

"I did," Russell said. "It's a vicious cycle if the initial step is wrong."

Gu Yi didn't give a direct solution. Instead, he asked, "What will you do then?"

"Use deduction to navigate and choose the path I want, regardless of the interference," Russell replied.

Gu Yi raised an eyebrow. "But what about external interference? Everything in the multiverse interacts."

Russell made a fist in response. "If something stands in my way, I'll crush it."

Gu Yi nodded. "A good answer."

There was a long pause before Gu Yi spoke again. "Have you altered the future already?"

"Yes," Russell admitted. "I interfered with Kingpin's plans, which could affect George and Gwen."

Gu Yi studied him with a contemplative expression. "The future you've changed is more complicated than you think."

Russell didn't push for more answers, but instead changed the subject. "Mage, is there a spell to make the world forget something—like a major event?"

Gu Yi smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see. You're thinking of the spell Doctor Strange used in Spider-Man: No Way Home."

Russell grinned. "Exactly."

"Would you like to learn it?" Gu Yi teased.

Russell shook his head. "No, I just need it cast. I've got portal spells to perfect."

Gu Yi frowned. "You're still obsessed with portals instead of the Time Gem?"

Russell shrugged. "The past can stay where it is. I'm more focused on what I've already lived through."

Intrigued, Russell continued. "By the way, if someone alters the past, do they create a new parallel universe, or does the original universe change?"

Gu Yi turned the question back on him. "What do you think?"

Russell paused. "Maybe time and space aren't separate. Maybe there's only the present, no past, no future."

Gu Yi's eyes widened. "Did you feel that, or is this a conclusion you've reached?"

Russell answered calmly. "It's more of a feeling."

Gu Yi was silent for a long moment, processing this insight.

Suddenly, a mirror dimension surrounded them. The portal reopened, and they arrived back in New York.

"Look," Gu Yi said softly, gesturing to the scene below. "The future you've altered is unfolding."

A group of NYPD officers, using police cars as shields, surrounded Gwen—the Ghost-Spider—while George stood protectively in front of her.

"The future has changed," Gu Yi observed.

Russell nodded slowly. "Yes, it has. But now, I control it."

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