The next day, the triangular shuttle device was complete.
Charlie had brought a friend from another multiverse.
Yup, a Spider-Man friend.
"The man who returned from hell, Spider-Man, pleased to meet you."
Under the odd stares of old man Steve and the others, Takuya Yamashiro struck his signature pose, shamelessly confident.
Tony rubbed his chin, eyeing this Spider-Man. "Looks familiar," he said.
Infinity Tony frowned slightly. "Why's he posing so weirdly?"
Symbiote Tony's lip twitched. "He's even showing off his moves from every angle."
He turned to Charlie. "This guy's a clown. Did you bring him for comedy?"
"He's no clown," Charlie said. "Takuya Yamashiro, one of the strongest Spider-Men. If he uses his finisher, even I'd get one-shotted."
"He uses a sword?" Tony blinked, his gaze dropping to Takuya's… certain area.
Under the scrutiny, Takuya toned down his flamboyant pose.
"When do we start?" he asked Charlie.
Charlie had already briefed him on the mission plan.
A man who'd walked out of hell couldn't refuse saving other Spider-Men!
Charlie looked at Infinity Tony. "Ready to roll?"
Infinity Tony nodded. "Sure, but we need your help."
"Me?" Charlie glanced at Symbiote Tony. "With your symbiote vibes, we can lock onto Gwen's space. What do I need to do?"
Symbiote Tony shrugged. "Sorry, our device picked up Gwen's aura, but opening that universe's channel needs massive power."
"Then I'm up," Takuya said, about to summon Leopardon, only to realize he forgot his spaceship.
"Uh, can you send me back for it?" he asked Charlie.
Charlie: "…"
"I reminded you three times!" he groaned, facepalming, then opened a multiversal portal, personally escorting Takuya to retrieve the ship.
Soon, fire roared above Stark Tower. The spaceship morphed, a colossal robot floating in the sky. A blazing sword slash split the clouds in two.
Yet the triangular device didn't react.
Despite their awe at Leopardon, the three Tonys noted its War Soul God Sword couldn't meet the energy requirements.
Lethal, but its energy output was meh.
"Guess we're doing it this way," Charlie said, tapping his chest's spider emblem. The six Infinity Stones materialized.
"Infinity Stones!" Infinity Tony's face shifted. "You collected this universe's stones?!" he exclaimed.
Charlie waved it off. "Not this universe's—another's.
Grab the device. We're heading to that universe. There, I'm a god!
A little energy? Piece of cake!"
He grinned confidently, only to be interrupted by old man Steve's furious yell, halting his portal-opening.
"Little Spider, I hate you!!"
Old man Steve appeared behind Charlie, shield in hand.
No visible wounds, but his soul was clearly scarred.
"That woman's no human—she's a demon! She… to an old man like me… sob…"
Recalling something horrific, he clung to Charlie, bawling.
Clearly, Lady Deadpool had gotten to him.
Charlie patted his back, soothing, "There, there. You're old—what could she do?"
"She…" Old man Steve sobbed, "I can't say it. I'm so miserable!!"
He buried his face, crying harder. Charlie shook his head helplessly.
"Alright, I'll get you out of this sad place, okay?"
"Sniff Okay."
"Good boy, stand over there."
Charlie sparked a golden portal, and the group hauled the triangular device to another universe's Westview.
In the yard, Scarlet Wanda blinked at three strange Iron Men setting up a weird device. "Which one's Stark?" she asked.
"I'd like to know which Wanda you are," Infinity Tony mused.
Old man Steve recognized her instantly. "Wanda, you… oh my God, Vision and your kids?"
Staring at the "family," he was stunned.
Charlie explained, "I used the Infinity Stones to grant Wanda's wish. You know what to do, right?" He raised a brow.
Old man Steve thought, then plastered on a smile, approaching Scarlet Wanda's family. "Hey, long time no see. How's it going?"
He started his mission while the three Tonys tinkered with the device.
As for Takuya, Charlie made another trip to bring Leopardon along.
He wasn't sure if Leopardon could take down Earth's Celestial.
If one strike didn't kill it, they'd face a Celestial's wrath.
Even an unborn Celestial was beyond Charlie's league.
Finding the Necrosword was the safer bet.
Soon, old man Steve slunk back, dejected. "She won't help."
Charlie stayed calm. "Her reason's wanting a quiet life, right?"
"How'd you know?" Steve asked, surprised.
"Movies always go like that."
Charlie waved it off. "If she's out, she's out."
For this semi-unknown mission, Charlie wasn't confident.
If Scarlet Wanda joined, it might boost or tank their odds.
Her mental state wasn't exactly stable.
So, he wasn't calling other friends.
The three Tonys manned the device; old man Steve and Takuya would roll with him.
No other reason.
They were tough as nails.
"Ready," Infinity Tony said.
Charlie snapped back, leading Steve and Takuya to the device's center. As Symbiote Tony activated it, his armor's symbiote writhed, locking onto Gwen's aura.
Finally, Charlie's six Infinity Stones flared, cosmic energy surging from the universe's depths, enveloping the trio in blinding light.
"Buzz~"
"BOOM!!"
As the light rippled, the three vanished from the device.
Westview's anomaly drew this universe's Avengers.
"Tony!"
"Tony!!"
"Tony?"
When the Avengers arrived, four Iron Men stared at each other, the surreal vibe intensifying.
…
Unknown Universe, Earth Shrouded in Gray Haze.
"Buzz~"
A brilliant light flashed on the planet's surface, scattering the haze before endless shadows swallowed it again.
The Earth returned to dead silence.
In city ruins, the light faded, and three figures appeared amid rubble.
Rot and gunpowder stung Charlie's nose as he scanned the broken walls, frowning. "Apocalypse?" he mused.
"Man who walked out of hell, Spider-Man," Takuya began, only to be shoved aside by old man Steve.
"Little Spider, this looks like a zombie crisis from the movies. No zombies here, right?" Steve's aged face showed a flicker of fear as he subtly hid behind Charlie.
Charlie considered his guess. "Gwen in a zombie universe? Not impossible…"
A sudden fiery streak interrupted him.
"BOOM!!"
A rocket streaked in. Old man Steve raised his shield, blocking Charlie. "No one hurts Little Spider!"
"BOOM!!"
The explosion roared, debris flying, but Steve stood firm.
A rocket's blast couldn't scratch him now.
But while his vibranium shield tanked the impact, Takuya had no such luck.
Charlie yanked Takuya's head from the rubble. "You okay?"
Takuya clutched his head. "I think I saw my dad."
"Not your grandma?"
"Never met him."
As Takuya spoke, a shadow flickered nearby. A black shield shot through the gloom like a specter.
The ground rumbled, something monstrous tunneling beneath, closing in fast.
"I can't handle this—run!" Steve yelped, grabbing Takuya and bolting.
Two explosions rocked the ruins, debris scattering as a terrifying shockwave erupted.
"BOOM!!"
"Crack crack~~"
A crumbling wall collapsed. In the dust, inverted-triangle eyes glowed pale blue, while two pairs of narrow, ghostly white eyes narrowed.
Charlie gripped the eerie black shield in one hand, his foot pinning a massive black head.
"What a creepy guy!" he said.
A shadow leaped, a black symbiote snatching the shield from Charlie's grip with inky tendrils.
The head beneath his foot opened a gaping maw, trying to chomp his leg.
"Crunch!"
"Oh no!!"
A snap—its fangs shattered. The giant black monster couldn't hide underground anymore.
"Crack crack crack"
The ground erupted as the creature burst out, clutching its broken fangs, stomping in pain.
"Ow ow ow! So tough…" it groaned.
"BAM!!"
Charlie threw a blank-faced punch, blasting the monster back into the ruins.
The shadow froze, its voice incredulous. "Impossible!!"
"Nothing's impossible."
A voice sounded behind it. Before the shadow could react, old man Steve swung his shield hard.
"Splat!"
"Gurgle gurgle"
A black head rolled, black liquid writhing at the stump, still pulsing with life.
"Whoops, not dead yet?" Steve grinned, ready to finish it.
Before he could, the head shed its black coating, revealing its true face.
"Wait, your shield!!"
Steve froze, stunned. "Steve?"
Staring at the symbiote-possessed Steve, old man Steve hesitated.
The ground behind him bulged. The black monster Charlie blasted burst out, its maw aimed at him.
"Banner, hold up!!" Symbiote Steve shouted.
Symbiote Banner froze mid-air.
Behind him, Takuya's rope-like webbing bound Banner's body, halting him.
"ROAR!!"
The monster thrashed, but a fist the size of a sandbag quieted it.
"BOOM!!"
Charlie punched Symbiote Banner back underground, calmly rubbing his knuckles. "Spill it. What's going on?" he asked, eyeing the "head" on the ground.
"I…" Symbiote Steve, seeing Banner easily subdued, was stunned. "Can I get my head back on my body?" he asked old man Steve.
Old man Steve nodded, stepping back as black liquid dragged the head to its body.
Symbiote Steve reattached it, rubbing his neck, relieved. "Who are you guys?" he asked, his gaze complex, especially on old man Steve—he could tell this was an older version of himself.
Charlie sensed no hostility. "We're from another multiverse," he said with a smile.
"Man who walked out of hell, Spider-Man!" Takuya struck a half-squat pose.
Symbiote Steve: "…"
"Hell or multiverse, which is it?" he pressed.
"Don't sweat the details," old man Steve stepped forward. "We mean no harm. Why's this place like this?"
Symbiote Steve didn't answer, his eyes on Charlie and Takuya. "You're Spider-Men?" he asked.
Charlie nodded. Symbiote Steve trembled.
"Then you know why this place is like this better than anyone!"
He turned, voice tinged with anger.
But, weighing the power gap, he held back.
Charlie grew curious. "You're saying Spider-Man caused this?"
"Of course. The black Spider-Man. She used the Symbiote Dragon to destroy this world."
Banner crawled from the ground, shrinking as the black liquid receded. The mild-mannered man rubbed his sore neck, sighing. "The black Spider-Man turned this world into a symbiote hell."
"Black Spider-Man… Gwen?" old man Steve whispered to Charlie.
Charlie's face grew grave. "Possibly."
He turned to them. "Where's the black Spider-Man?"
"We don't know," Symbiote Banner shook his head. "No one knows when she appears."
Symbiote Steve leaned toward Banner. "Quick, what's a multiverse?"
Symbiote Banner: "…"
"I thought you were playing cool."
"I genuinely don't get it."
"Fine, I'll explain later."
Banner scratched his head sheepishly, facing Charlie's trio. "Sorry, your suit looked so Spider-Man-like, we attacked."
Charlie waved it off. "No biggie. Can you explain what happened?"
"Sure, but it's dangerous here. Let's head to base."
"Whoa, a base? Zombie crisis vibes!" Old man Steve got oddly excited.
…
Soon, beneath Stark Tower, a secret base.
Through dim corridors, Charlie's group reached an underground fortress teeming with symbiotes.
Since Charlie and Takuya wore normal clothes, the symbiotes on ceilings and stairs didn't scream at the sight of Spider-Men.
But fresh, uninfested humans piqued their interest.
"Oh my God, what a tasty vibe! This guy's mine, back off!" a liquid blob shot toward old man Steve.
Symbiote Steve intercepted it. "Chill, you can't handle them."
"Hah, we don't care!"
The black liquid slipped from Symbiote Steve's grasp, lunging for Steve. A crimson glow flared, high-heat webbing from Charlie's hand radiating scorching energy, startling every symbiote.
"Oh no, what's that?!"
"Terrifying power!"
"Run!"
Symbiotes scattered. Symbiote Steve and Banner's partners sent frantic warnings.
"I see it—webs!" Symbiote Banner's eyes widened, incredulous.
Symbiote Steve marveled, "Glowing, burning webs. A symbiote's kryptonite!"
Amid their shock, they recalled Charlie's target: the black Spider-Man.
A grand tale of light versus darkness flashed in their minds.
"Banner, get it? They're after her to take her down."
"Yup, I figured. A cross-universe war between a dark Spider-Man and a red one—epic."
"Oh, you still haven't told me what a multiverse is."
"Read a book. Stop living in the gym—you'll never outmuscle me."
"That's Hulk, not you."
They whispered.
Soon, another familiar face appeared.
"Natasha?" Charlie said.
"Barton, and Nick," old man Steve added, eyeing the trio covered in black liquid.
"Little Spider, without symbiotes, don't we stand out?" he asked.
"What, you want one too?" Charlie grinned.
"Don't say 'get one,' makes me sound shady."
Old man Steve negotiated with the Symbiote Avengers.
With Symbiote Steve and Banner's guidance, Charlie's group earned their trust.
"Multiversal Spider-Men, welcome. We'll help you capture the black Spider-Man," Nick Fury said gravely.
Charlie gave a vague nod to "capturing" Gwen.
"Why so many unhosted symbiotes here alongside possessed humans?" he asked, voicing his curiosity.
Symbiote Nick explained, "Each symbiote's got its own personality. Violent ones joined the black Spider-Man. Kinder ones get ostracized by their own, so they team up with us to fight the oppressive symbiotes."
Simple enough. Charlie had no doubts.
He'd met symbiotes before—some just wanted to chill with chickens, not fight.
Before he could dwell, Nick invited them to the control room. "Follow me."
Escorted by the Avengers, they entered a massive control room.
Nick tapped the virtual computer, showing scenes of symbiote-human wars.
Natasha took over as narrator. "At first, no one cared about this disaster. Everyone thought it was just an alien creature, a standard superhuman crime, something the Avengers could handle…"
"Until it affected everyone?" Charlie cut in.
Symbiote Natasha blinked. "How'd you know what I was gonna say?"
Charlie shrugged.
Before he could speak, old man Steve jumped in. "Because Little Spider's power is—"
"Shut it!" Charlie covered his mouth, turning back. "Go on."
"Alright," Natasha clicked the computer, the war scenes growing grimmer.
"As the first symbiote hit Earth, more followed. Possessed humans unleashed their darkest impulses, plunging the world into chaos.
But that's not the worst. The worst are symbiotes that don't need hosts to wield immense power."
The screen froze on a winged, dragon-like symbiote from a fantasy flick.
Natasha continued, "This is the Symbiote Dragon. Red spiral marks on their bodies—I think that's their power source. They're far stronger than regular symbiotes, the black Spider-Man's strongest army."
"Symbiote Dragon?" Charlie mused.
If he recalled correctly, Symbiote Dragons were crafted by Knull, the symbiote god, far surpassing the 998th-generation Venom.
Their presence here… did it mean Knull…?
His face grew grim.
Compared to an unborn Celestial, the symbiote god was the real terror.
The mission order was all wrong.
Fighting the boss before the minions? Utterly ridiculous!