Chapter 35: Can We Finally Get to Know Each Other?

But on the other side, how could the Prowler possibly let Gwen get her way?

After a powerful sprint, he leaped forward, slamming into Gwen and knocking her sideways.

She could only watch helplessly as her web, thrown off by the impact, veered off course.

"No!!"

At this moment, Peter Parker was still some distance away from the Bat.

And it was clear he wouldn't make it in time.

The Bat, however, didn't seem panicked. Instead, he simply tilted his head back—then slammed it directly into Kingpin's skull.

The bat mask's unparalleled durability was on full display. After all, something capable of stopping a 9mm bullet at point-blank range wasn't just for show.

At the same time, the brutal headbutt left Kingpin momentarily dazed.

Simultaneously, Bruce used his trapped hand—though lacking raw strength, it was enough for him to make his move.

He drove his fist hard into the same spot he had struck earlier.

Blinded by pain and dizziness, Kingpin instinctively loosened his grip for just a moment.

That was the opening the Bat had been waiting for.

In a swift motion, he wrenched his hand free—his grappling gun still clutched in his grip—and fired the hook toward the falling Peter Parker.

"Not a chance!!"

Kingpin snapped back to his senses, trying to pin the Bat down again, but to his shock, he found himself uncontrollably hurtling backward.

A small propulsion device had been planted directly on his chest.

The fiery burst from the thruster even left faint scorch marks on the Bat's own armor, but that didn't matter to him.

His goal had been achieved.

"I got you!"

Catching the Bat's grappling hook, Peter Parker quickly shot out his own web, swinging himself onto the ceiling for stability.

Kingpin, meanwhile, could only watch helplessly as the Bat drifted farther and farther away—until there was nothing he could do to stop him.

"I won't let you get away with this!!!"

Even as he plummeted, Kingpin's enraged roar echoed through the lab.

He had once believed that his greatest enemies would be the Spider-People.

But now, it was clear—he had been preparing for the wrong opponent.

"BOOM!!!"

The heavy impact of Kingpin's fall was so intense that it momentarily drowned out the collider's ominous hum.

But only for a moment.

At the center of the collider, structures that didn't belong to this universe had begun to appear.

Buildings from the Spider-People's worlds were now pressing into this reality.

If the collider wasn't shut down soon, a black hole would form.

"You're heavier than you look. Maybe you should consider going on a diet or something."

After safely depositing the Bat onto the lab's platform, Peter Parker made his remark—then promptly punched him in the face.

It was clear he had held back.

Otherwise, Bruce wouldn't have just stumbled backward; he'd have been knocked out cold.

"But that doesn't mean you don't owe me an explanation for those two fake keys!"

Peter Parker's frustration resurfaced as he recalled how confidently he had reassured Gwen earlier.

Right now, he really wanted to rip the Bat's mask off and throw it to the ground.

"Phew…"

Taking a deep breath, Peter extended his hand toward the Bat.

"Get up."

The Bat said nothing, simply grasping Peter's outstretched hand and slowly rising to his feet.

At that moment, the other Spider-People swung in on their webs, having just finished dealing with the bio-engineered Scorpion.

"I never should've trusted you with the key," Peni grumbled, clearly still upset over Bruce's earlier deception.

Holding her arm, Peni glared at Bruce, fuming with anger.

Even her spider mech displayed an equally furious expression on its screen.

Suddenly, the surrounding Spider-People all stepped aside in unison.

A white blur shot forward.

Even Peter Parker, who had been closest to Bruce, instinctively let go of his hand.

After taking down the Prowler, Gwen knew the Bat wasn't in any serious trouble, but the fire in her chest refused to subside.

The moment she reached him, she landed a punch squarely into his abdomen.

Even though she was an agility-focused Spider, her strength was far from weak.

That punch definitely made Bruce uncomfortable.

But the real blow came from inside his own head.

"Making women hate you like this? That's not the Wayne family tradition," Thomas quipped. "I suggest you brush up on your social skills."

Bruce could practically hear the amusement in his voice—mocking him for getting smacked around.

But Gwen wasn't done yet.

"I told you—I hate you! And yet you still pull something this infuriating! Say something! Aren't you usually full of words?"

She grabbed Bruce's face and slammed him down onto the ground.

Then she went to town on him, delivering slap after slap from both sides.

Shadow-Spider, witnessing the scene, quietly crept over to Peni Parker and covered her eyes.

She was too young to witness such brutality.

Meanwhile, Peter Parker and Spider-Ham watched with great interest, even debating where Gwen should land her next hit.

Of course, everyone knew Gwen's strikes were precisely measured—just enough to rough Bruce up without actually hurting him.

At worst, he'd just look a little worse for wear.

"Do you even realize? What you're doing could get you killed at any moment!"

Grabbing him by the collar, Gwen shouted furiously.

Bruce, however, said nothing.

He simply pulled out the real key from his gauntlet.

Seeing it, Gwen's expression shifted.

Maybe something clicked in her mind because, behind her mask, tears slowly welled up.

But with the mask in place, no one could see them.

"Go back to your worlds. I'll take care of things here."

Bruce's voice remained unchanged.

Even after getting pummeled by Gwen, he never complained.

"Alright, let's finish this," Peter Parker stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Gwen's shoulder.

He took the key from Bruce's hand and then helped him up.

"So, do you finally get it? You can't just deceive Spider-People so easily."

Taking off his mask, Peter extended his hand toward Bruce.

"And more importantly, we're people you can trust."

"Can we finally get to know each other now?"

At those words, every Spider-Person turned their attention to Bruce.

There was a moment of hesitation—none of them were sure whether the Bat would accept them.

Peter, however, was the first to speak up.

"Peter Benjamin Parker, Spider-Man from another world."

(End of Chapter)

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