Web of Realms: A Multiversal Journey

Sitting next to a beautiful girl who didn't want to talk to him, Peter found himself lost in thought. She just wanted to sit in silence, and frustratingly, she wasn't about to tell him why.

Left with nothing else to do, Peter's attention was soon drawn to the screen in front of him.

The person on the screen was Mary Jane—someone he and Noir Spider had glimpsed from a distance near Aunt May's house a couple of nights ago. The footage appeared to be from an interview she gave the day before.

Mary Jane's face bore a subtle sadness, a lingering shadow of grief that hadn't yet dissipated. She still seemed exhausted, clearly struggling to recover from Peter Parker's loss.

According to Aunt May, ever since Ultimate Spider-Man's identity was revealed and the news of his death spread, Mary Jane had been overwhelmed by constant harassment.

Some visitors were fans of Spider-Man offering their sympathy, while others were criminals he had once faced, now seeking revenge. Fortunately, the New York police had stationed guards to protect her, keeping most of the threats at bay.

But the majority of the chaos came from the media—television networks, newspapers, and every other outlet imaginable. For the past two days, "The Death of Spider-Man" had been a surefire headline.

Even Aunt May's house had become a hotspot for attention. This was one of the reasons Noir Spider and the others stayed hidden in the underground Spider Den.

Peter and Gwen had managed to sneak out early that morning when the streets were still quiet. If Mary Jane hadn't absorbed most of the public's focus, the crowd outside Aunt May's house would have easily doubled.

On the screen, Mary Jane's voice echoed:

"My husband, Peter Parker…"

"He was just an ordinary man."

"He used to say, anyone could be the person behind the mask."

"He just happened to be bitten by a spider."

"It wasn't something he chose."

"But he made the choice to become Spider-Man."

"What I loved most about Peter was how he inspired strength in all of us!"

"We all have our own strength."

"In our own ways, we all play the role of Spider-Man."

"We… need you."

For some reason, those words struck a chord deep within Peter.

Unconsciously, he found himself thinking about a line often associated with Spider-Man:

"With great power comes great responsibility."

That was Uncle Ben's heartfelt advice to Peter Parker, a final lesson from a caring elder to his beloved nephew.

In his old world, Peter had seen countless debates and interpretations of that famous line.

Some argued it should be, "With great authority comes great responsibility," but Peter found that absurd. Was that the kind of thing a kind-hearted uncle would say to a young man? Of course not. If it were, Uncle Ben wouldn't be Uncle Ben, and Peter Parker wouldn't have grown into the Spider-Man admired by so many.

Taking words out of context and twisting their meaning? That was nonsense.

Of course, Peter himself had no "Uncle Ben," and his upbringing was vastly different from Spider-Man's.

But that didn't stop him from pondering the meaning of power.

Is it because one has power that they become who they are? Or is it because they strive to be someone they admire that they work to gain power?

"Anyone can be the person behind the mask," Peter murmured, feeling like he'd found a new sense of purpose.

The choice was his: to become a "Spider-Monster" lost in power, or to be a "Spider-Man" driven by a moral compass.

The power was in his hands.

He didn't have an "Uncle Ben," but maybe Ultimate Spider-Man could be his guide, showing him how to harness his strength without losing himself.

"Anyone can be the person behind the mask…" Peter whispered again, letting those words guide his heart forward.

A soft murmur broke Peter's train of thought.

It was Gwen-Spider's voice!

Peter turned his head in surprise. This was the first thing Gwen-Spider had said since she had been sitting there, silent for so long.

"Did you know," she began, her tone low and solemn, "I knew a Peter once. We grew up together, childhood friends. I was always a bit of a loner, and he was my closest—and only—friend."

Her voice carried a deep sadness, tinged with regret. "But I never truly understood him. I was so caught up in my own world… until it was too late to make things right."

Peter didn't need to hear more to piece together what had happened. It reminded him of how Garfield-Spider lost his Gwen in The Amazing Spider-Man. Clearly, Gwen-Spider had suffered a similar loss—she had lost her Peter.

Her next words confirmed his suspicion.

"In my world," she continued, "it was me who got bitten by the spider and gained powers. Peter Parker, meanwhile, remained just… Peter, an ordinary boy."

She paused for a moment before adding, "Sometimes, he'd get bullied by Ned, and I'd step in to protect him."

Her intentions had been pure—shielding her best friend from harm. But her well-meaning actions sometimes became a burden for Peter Parker.

"He hated feeling weak, hated always needing my protection," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "So, he created something… a biological serum—the Lizard Serum."

Peter listened intently, his heart heavy.

"He drank it," Gwen continued. "And it changed him. His body mutated. His mind… unraveled."

"He became a monster."

"A massive lizard."

"A Lizard Peter."

Her voice trembled as she recounted the rest. "Consumed by vengeance, he stormed into a school gathering, grabbed Ned—the one who'd tormented him—and prepared to take his revenge."

"I stopped him just in time."

"But I didn't know," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "I didn't know that the monster I was fighting… was Peter."

They had battled fiercely, and in the end, Gwen emerged victorious. The effects of the serum eventually wore off, and the creature reverted to Peter's frail, broken form.

"His body… the serum had destroyed him completely. He died… in my arms."

Her voice cracked as she finished her story. "After that, I stopped trying to make friends. I became a lone wolf."

Peter felt a wave of understanding wash over him.

So that's why she acted the way she did. From the moment he met her, she'd carried an air of detachment, like a wall that kept everyone at bay. What he had mistaken for aloofness was actually a shield—a way to protect herself from more pain.

Reaching out, Peter placed his hand in front of Gwen-Spider.

She snapped out of her memories and turned to look at him, surprise flickering in her eyes.

Neither of them wore their masks, baring their true faces to each other. After all, they weren't from this world; there was nothing to hide.

Besides, no one seemed to notice them. Ever since Ultimate Spider-Man's death, New York had erupted in a wave of Spider-Man cosplay.

Especially here, in the very city he had protected, nearly everyone wore something to honor him. Whether it was a full Spider-Man costume, a mask, or just some merchandise, people silently expressed their grief for the fallen hero.

Even in the subway car where Peter and Gwen sat, there were several dressed similarly.

To most, they likely seemed like just another pair of cosplayers.

Looking into Gwen's eyes, Peter said earnestly, "I'm so sorry about your friend. In my culture, we have an old saying: 'Though the departed are gone, the living must carry on.' It means that we should mend the regrets of those who've passed by cherishing the people who are still with us. Those of us who are alive… must live well."

When he recited the proverb, Peter spoke in Chinese.

Gwen blinked, startled. Then, in clumsy Chinese, she repeated, "Though the departed… are gone, the living… must carry on."

Peter broke into a bright smile. "If you don't mind… could I be your friend?"

(End of Chapter)

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