CHAPTER 25

C25: I Am the Mastermind Behind This?

"The future is different, mage."

The original plot was that George was alone with a gun and asked Spider-Gwen (Gwen Stacy) for her identity.

The future deduced by Russell mirrors the scene before them.

The difference is, Gwen wasn't injured.

In the original timeline, Gwen was in danger due to her injury.

The situation in front of them seemed dangerous, but Gwen was unharmed and could escape unscathed.

"Is it different?" The Ancient One asked. "Do you wish to continue interfering?"

The Ancient One didn't know what Russell's future vision would bring.

He was retired and no longer had to focus on this all day long.

Otherwise, retirement would be pointless.

"Certainly."

Russell chuckled and stepped out of the mirror space.

"When you ask the mage to cast a spell later, erase my existence as well."

This kid.

The Ancient One raised an eyebrow.

Just walk out of my mirror space like this?

No portal needed?

Stepping out of the mirror space, Russell sighed.

Ugh, why can't I cast spells through the mirror space?

I'm still too good at it. I need to practice more.

Russell telepathically connected to George.

"George, it's Russell. I just took Gwen away. Later, this matter will be forgotten. Find your own way to explain it."

A portal opened beneath his feet, and Russell and Gwen disappeared into it.

Back in the mirror space, the Ancient One raised his eyebrows again.

Hey, whose mirror space is this?

You who come in and out like this—don't you want to show respect for me, the former Supreme Sorcerer?

Russell suddenly slapped his forehead.

"Russell, what's wrong?"

Gwen asked, concerned.

The Ancient One also looked over.

Could it be that forcibly entering and exiting the mirror space consumes too much mental energy?

"It's nothing," Russell said. "I just realized I'm really dumb."

He shook his head, indicating he was fine.

"I knew the portal could connect the mirror space to the outside world and let you enter and exit freely, but I didn't know you could open a portal first and then cast a spell through it."

To clarify, mental power can't escape the mirror space directly, and spells can't be cast within it. However, if the portal is opened first, spells can be cast once the mental power exits through it.

Gwen looked confused. What was Russell talking about?

The Ancient One asked, "Is there a difference?"

"You can take a few less steps," Russell said, "and it seems more mysterious."

He turned to Gwen. "By the way, Gwen. What's going on?"

The mastermind behind the scenes had been revealed, but the timeline didn't match. Still, the events unfolded.

Gwen was equally confused.

"I'm not sure either. It seems like after Kingpin's death, the underworld forces got more aggressive. There are gangsters, criminals, and cops everywhere tonight. I ended up surrounded by the police."

Russell was silent.

Kingpin's death was his doing. The chaos among his subordinates had been triggered by the death of Matt Murdock, which he had ordered.

Gwen had gone out tonight, but George had stopped her and tried to persuade her.

So, am I the mastermind behind this?

Russell turned his gaze to the Ancient One for guidance.

Feeling Russell's eyes on him, the Ancient One stroked his beard and replied slowly:

"Time, place, cause, process, and result—all have changed. But the similarities remain."

"Isn't this the same thing as before?" Gwen wondered. "Can't these mages be clearer?"

The Ancient One nodded and waited for Russell's answer.

From Gwen's perspective, it made sense.

Russell hesitated. He thought about a joke regarding time travel—like how Spider-Man can never escape the fate of Uncle Ben.

"Is the remaining similarity just 'destiny'?" Russell asked.

The Ancient One nodded in approval.

"Children can be taught," he said. "We can choose to accept fate, change fate, or fight against fate. The key is understanding destiny."

The Ancient One continued to guide him:

"So, Russell. Have you figured it out?"

Gwen's gaze flickered between Russell and the Ancient One.

Since Russell had become a sorcerer, he had become more talkative.

Russell had a guess but couldn't confirm it.

His guess was based on his wisdom and understanding of the plot, but he needed proof—real power, hard evidence.

Russell shook his head, then added, "Someone is coming."

His guess was that Gwen was about to be recruited to the Spider-Verse, joining the multiverse of Spider-People as one of the maintainers of the Spider-Verse.

Outside the mirror space, the police had left. A portal—scarlet in color and not belonging to Kamar-Taj—opened.

A tall man in a red, purple, and blue spider suit stepped out, radiating an aura of ferocity and danger.

The leader of the Spider Alliance, Miguel O'Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099!

As the mirror space dissolved, the three of them appeared before Miguel.

"You don't belong in this universe," Miguel said coldly. "You've tampered with the fabric of time and space."

He glanced at the Ancient One and Russell.

"Who are you? Where are you from?"

"Yo, yo, yo, young folks today are impressive," the Ancient One chuckled.

"Earth-616, The Ancient One."

"The Ancient One? Supreme Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj?" Miguel raised an eyebrow.

The Spider Alliance, an organization spanning the multiverse, relied on the Web of Destiny to navigate different realities. Miguel had heard of Kamar-Taj and its sorcerer.

The Ancient One nodded with a smile.

Miguel relaxed slightly.

When time-space disturbances occurred in Earth-65, he expected an evil villain to be the cause, but with the Supreme Sorcerer here, it seemed like a misunderstanding. He thought he could clear things up without needing to fight.

"Miguel O'Hara, Spider Alliance, at your service," Miguel introduced himself, before asking, "Master Ancient One, can you explain this situation to me?"

The Ancient One's gaze shifted to Russell.

Suddenly, Russell was the center of attention.

"Earth-404, Supreme Sorcerer of Kamar-Taj and Master Spider-Man Russell."

The next Supreme Sorcerer was also the Supreme Sorcerer. The Ancient One raised an eyebrow but didn't expose Russell's secret.

Miguel frowned.

He knew of Kamar-Taj, but who was this "Master Spider-Man"? And why was Russell the one being called the Master Sorcerer?

"Meet Master Russell," the Ancient One said.

Miguel was still confused, but he showed respect. "Meet Master Russell."

Russell stayed silent. He was trying to figure out how to explain himself.

Dealing with decent people was always a hassle. If it were a villain, he'd just say, "I've done what I've done. No need to explain."

An idea sparked in his mind.

"Spacetime hasn't been disturbed," Russell said.

Miguel's anger flared. "We detected spacetime fluctuations."

"What you detected was interference with the Spider-Man Web of Destiny," Russell lied smoothly.

"You're not the real Spider-Man. Nor are you a wizard. You don't understand the Web of Destiny or the multiverse."

Miguel scowled.

"I am Spider-Man. I may not have been bitten by a radioactive spider, and I don't have the usual powers, but I am still Spider-Man."

Russell just stared at him.

The power dynamics were clearly different.

"Well then," Russell said, "Would you like me to explain?"

"Tell me about the Spider Alliance. What is the Web of Destiny? And what's this multiverse theory you're talking about?"

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