"Got you." Spider-Man suddenly grabbed Solus's arm, preventing his movement.
"Solus... this is my last... trump card, something that even a being of your level... ock... couldn't escape from. Totemic essence... venom."Spider-Man spoke while firmly gripping Solus's hand, despite the pain tearing through his chest.
"Do you really think holding my hand will stop me from breaking free?" Solus replied with a look of absolute disdain.
"No... you don't understand, Solus." Spider-Man spoke before falling silent. He didn't want to explain his ability to Solus—that would be stupid, and he had no time to waste.
"Nooo! Damn it, that cursed ability again!" Solus's furious voice echoed as he seemingly recognized what Spider-Man was using.
Indeed, Solus knew the ability Spider-Man was employing—that venom destroys every existing version of its victim, enforcing a definitive death on both a physical and soul level.
As for how Solus knew about this venom? Simple. He had seen it in action thousands of years ago during a battle between his family and Anansi. Anansi had used it to kill his strongest son. The ability had terrified him back then, but he realized that after using it, Anansi was left with no totemic energy and died instantly.
Realizing he faced mortal danger, Solus didn't hesitate—he exploded Spider-Man's heart.
"AAAAAAHHR!"Spider-Man's piercing scream echoed through the warehouse, a cry that evoked unbearable pain, even for the strongest will.
The scream stopped moments later as Solus withdrew his hand from the chest of a Spider-Man he believed to be completely dead.
At this moment, Solus was extremely weakened, the venom instantly reducing him to a normal person.
"Damn it, if I'm going to die anyway, I might as well kill your daughter so she can join you in the afterlife. Tell me, Spider-Man, wouldn't you like to reunite with your daughter? Don't worry, I'll torture her first, then send her to you." Solus's voice was bone-chilling as he spoke, his gaze fixed on Mayday.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the warehouse, Rhino couldn't take it anymore. He was no saint, but he wouldn't allow a child to be hurt in his presence. His conscience wouldn't forgive something so monstrous, yet his rationality warned him not to interfere.
'Move, move, move, damn it! Don't tell me you'll give up like this, without a fight! Don't tell me you'll fail your daughter again!'
Despite his heart having stopped, Spider-Man's thoughts continued. He desperately tried to move, to stop Solus, but he knew any movement would only drain his remaining consciousness faster, fueled by the last traces of energy from his fading blood flow.
He could only watch as Solus inched closer to Mayday. Yet, even knowing true death might await him, he made one last attempt to move his body.
As Solus reached Mayday to fulfill his promise, he was suddenly stopped by a web. Enraged, he turned to see Spider-Man's lifeless body standing upright, one hand raised, the web shooting from it holding him back.
"Even in death, you're just as annoying, you damn spider bastard!" With uncontrolled fury, Solus yanked the web with all his strength, pulling Spider-Man to the ground. This time, picking up a sharp piece of steel, he approached Spider-Man and, still seething, drove the metal into his head.
"Now just watch from the afterlife as I torture and kill your daughter. Carry the guilt of what I'm about to do, you damn pest!" Solus said, pulling the metal from Spider-Man's head and resuming his path toward Mayday while suppressing the venom implanted in him.
Solus only wanted to buy time to torture Spider-Man's daughter as painfully as possible, ensuring that when Spider-Man reunited with her in the afterlife, he would find no peace.
As he stood before Mayday, Solus didn't hesitate—he tried to drive the metal into her ankle, only to be shoved away by a furious Rhino, who now stood protectively in front of the sleeping girl.
This time, Solus didn't speak. He simply lunged at Rhino, intent on killing this new nuisance standing in his way.
Rhino charged back in a pure display of brute strength, quickly gaining the upper hand as Solus had lost most of his powers, including superhuman strength.
Realizing he was losing, Solus stabbed the metal into Rhino's throat with all his might. Unable to dodge, Rhino countered with a full-force strike to Solus's neck, hoping the latter would realize they'd both die if they didn't stop.
Unfortunately, Solus didn't relent—and neither did Rhino.
As both received their fatal blows, they collapsed. Rhino desperately tried to save himself, while Solus fought to stay alive long enough to kill Mayday. Both failed.
In their final moments, they saw an extremely thin, deep-red figure inflating, speaking words they couldn't understand.
Mephisto, severely weakened, slowly rose, spreading his arms as a surge of red energy flooded into him.
"Damn you, Spider-Man! Because of you, I'll die—but don't think I'll let you rest in the afterlife without my revenge! Hahahaha! Did you really think I'd let you go that easily? I'll make them all forget you! Forget who was behind the mask, forget who helped them! I'll erase Peter Parker! Hahaha! And—and you know what happens when no one remembers you, right? No one will know your daughter… no one will care for her. She'll end up on the streets, used by every man like a wh—!"
Mephisto's voice was horrifying as his body ballooned like an overinflated balloon.
The entire warehouse glowed red from the intensity of the light radiating from him.
BOOOOM!
The warehouse exploded moments later.
30 seconds earlier
Mephisto didn't notice—Spider-Man was face-down, but the wound in his chest began healing at an unnatural rate. As life returned to his eyes, he looked toward Mayday and Rhino.
The moment Mephisto's body exploded, Spider-Man moved at superhuman speed, grabbing Mayday and Rhino, and escaped the warehouse.